"Do you know any cultivator?"

"I do. Several in fact." I answered. "They were our customers at one point, supplying materials so mom could make them something directly. We even had to upgrade our tools to work with all those valuable materials." I explained.

"Did any of your customers leave unhappy, swore revenge, or something similar?" He asked.

"Not that I remember. They all seemed quite happy with our products." I said.

"Do you know of amy cultivator that would want to kill your mother or you?" Aru asked.

"No. Wait, yes. Mom told me my father was a cultivator, and killed by a bunch of them." I remembered.

"Do you know who they were, where they were from, anything?"

"No. Well, not from here." I said, my head hanging sadly.

Aru sat up straight suddenly, his eyes focused.

"Do you remember your father? The robes those that killed him wore? What sect he was from? His power?" He shot out.

"No, he was long dead before I was born." I answered lifelessly. "But mom said he was at the peak of the second realm."

The guard in front of me nearly whistled, before catching himself. He opened his mouth for a moment, but no sound came out. He tried for another few times, before giving up with a sigh.

"We'll have to wait for the captain to continue with that." He finally said. "Can't do much more without our records, which means I might as well get you registered now. Wait here, I'll be back in a moment."

While I waited for the guard to returned I focused inwards, on my own cultivation, and did my best to quiet the turbulence I found there.

Yet that turbulence led me straight back to my own thoughts, away from the little island of sanity that would allow me to function until my emotions overwhelmed me.

I just hoped I could keep up until night fell, I was alone and could mourn in peace. Luckily the guard returned before I managed to sink into a pit of sadness and loss, and sat down loudly.

I gave him a grateful smile, wiping any new tears from my eyes and face, before refocusing on the man in front of me.

"So what now?" I asked, happy for the interruption.

"Now you'll get registered. Any human settlement with a cultivator more powerful than yourself expects you to announce your stay. If you don't you'll get in some serious problems." He explained. "Which is why we are confident to find your mother's murderer, at least in name, if not in person. Now. Let's get to it, you ready?"

"Yes."

"Ok. State your name, and how to write it if you know." He started.

"Triss." I said, telling him the syllable it was made of.

"Good. Since when have you been a cultivator? He continued.

"I broke into the first realm with ten. When my body reached equilibrium with the ambient qi." I answered.

"Why didn't you come to the watch? We would have taken you gladly." He said.

"I was happy. I didn't want to fight. I just wanted to work and live my life. And I didn't know I had to tell anyone, neither did mom." I said.

"The answer to this question is obvious then, but I have to ask nonetheless. What's your occupation, and what did you do in the town?" He asked.

"I am a seamstress. Well, officially an apprentice, but I already learnt everything mom could teach me. And I planned to work here for the rest of my life." I said.

"You planned? What about now?" He asked.

"I don't know. I will have to think about it." I said honestly.

"Thank you for your cooperation. You are currently under the protection of the mayor, and will have to sleep in here if you want to keep it. I can show a free room to you." He said, eyeing the setting sun outside.

I nodded, and the both of us stood up, with Aru leading me towards another part of the compound.

Once in the room I only closed the door, pulled a table in front of it, and collapsed onto the bed with my clothes still on.

I hugged the small pillow to me chest, and allowed myself to go. Deep, long sobs wracked my body as I mourned my mother, and slowly drifted off into an uneasy, and nightmare filled sleep.

After a way too short night I was woken by someone loudly knocking on the door. I opened my eyes, and shot up, where was I? Why did my eyes feel raw? I didn't know anything in this room!

When whoever woke me knocked again my eyes focused on the door, the door I barricaded, everything came back. No. A sob escaped my throat, before I managed to gather myself a little better, now that I slept a night and cried myself out.

I needed some water.

First I would need to open the door though, because someone didn't stop knocking!

I got up resolutely, marched to the door, removed the obstacle, and opened a small crack, glaring at the man standing in front of me. It was one of the two that accompanied the big guard yesterday, but I didn't know which - they looked the same.

“Yes?” I asked.

“The captain wants to see you.” He said.

“No.” I stated. “I will not leave this room like this. I need at least a bowl of water to refresh myself.”

“One of the servant is already on her way, don't worry. The captain even send her to get you some fresh clothes.” He said kindly, before leaving.

“Don't take too long, the captain is no patient man.” He added.

I nodded in agreement, before slamming the door closed again. A few minutes later an older woman knocked on the door again, one of our standard robes and a bowl of water in her hands.

“Hello there honey.” She said kindly. “Is there anything else I can help you with?”

I shook my head, took her offerings, and returned into the small room. After getting fresh, and changing into the robe. Why a robe? I hated those things!

At least it somewhat fit.

A guard - this time a mortal - was waiting for me when I left the room, as composed as I managed. Which was hard, because even though I already went through puberty once it still influenced me.

And I needed to be at my best now, dealing with cultivators always did. They were all arrogant pricks, though the guards seemed decent enough.

Well, they did work as guards for mortals.

Except the captain. He was a prick like all other cultivators I had met so far.

On the way to wherever I'd meet the captain I thought about what I wanted to tell him. That heavenly oath did absolve me of crimes after all, so he shouldn't be too suspicious.

Cultivators were rude people though, and he was one, even if not all that talented. Well, I did not know how talented he was, I had never tried changing my aura after all. It did sound like a good skill to have, anyone more powerful than me could easily lick me up like this.

How did the mayor not do so until now? It wasn't like I even knew could could hide or control your aura until now. I'd just have to ask.

I would have to ask a lot of things. How did the watch deal with murderers? Would I get punished for hiding until now, even though I didn't know about that law. … Well, better not ask about that last one, no need to remind him of that small little detail.

Perhaps I could probe the guard in front of me for some information?

"Excuse me, where are we going?" I asked meekly.

"To the captain." He answered, gruffly.

"What for?" I continued.

"You'll see." He said.

"Are we there already?" I asked.

"No."

I pouted. That wasn't fair! He should answer me, I was but a small child after all!

"What happens to me now?" I asked him.

"Ask the captain, we're here." He said.

And knocked on the door, and mentioned me in when we were bid entry. The captain was still a giant, even sitting he was nearly as tall as me. How was that fair! I wouldn't grow all that much anymore, yet here he was, towering over me!

"Good to see you are still here." He said to me, before turning towards my escort. "Private, I can take it from here, return to your post."

"Yes Captain Tiger." The man answered.

Captain Tiger? I barely managed to keep the grin off my face. Who'd name himself tiger? A five year old?

"Did you sleep well?" He asked.

I gave him a blank stare, trying to express just how stupid he was asking that question in my eyes. Of course I did not sleep well! Didn't he know how to use his eyes?

"Right. Stupid question. Anyways, I read through your interview yesterday. Triss. How did you come to that name?" He asked.

"I liked how it sounded." I said.

How did he chose his name? Differently. The giant sighed, before speaking up again.

"Right. Of course you did. So what do you plan to do now? I know, or at least think I know who killed your mother. And he's not someone even the mayor can afford to offend or kill." He said.

"I don't know." I said.

Mom's loving face appeared in my mind, and. my resolve hardened even more. I would get revenge. He would regret killing my mother for the rest of his life!

"But I will get revenge, no matter what." I continued, steel in my voice.

The giant sighed, sadness entering his eyes.

"And how do you plan to kill him? You're a thirteen year old, and he's a fresh second realm cultivator. A true talent considering he is only eight years older than you are."

So a pushover. Nevertheless, I fixated the man with my eyes again, once again showing just what I thought about him.

"Why would I kill him? That'd just make me like him. And he'd not be able to regret his actions if I did! Oh no, I am going to destroy him. And everything he holds dear." I explained, savage glee entering my voice as I thought about my revenge.

After all vengeance was a dish best served cold.

"So, who was it?" I asked.

"Treden, youngest son of the patriarch of the Waid Clan." He said, obviously expecting a reaction.

So? Who was that? Did he expect me to know every random family in the world? I was just a seamstress's daughter for heaven's sake.

"And?" I said.

"The Waid Clan is powerful. They have several branches in the region, with their main branch in Goldbloom City." He explained.

Wow. That was really helpful, I felt like I knew what he meant now. Not. How could you explain something without mentioning a single detail? That guy really was a musclebrain. It should've been obvious I lacked anything resembling common sense to him!

"So will you stop your doomed vengeance, and do something with your life instead?" He asked. "I am sure the mayor would be delighted to hire a spirit seamstress. Cultivating crafters are the most precious resource a town has after all. You can also join the watch, and make sure something like this doesn't happen again." He said.

"Can I think about it? I need a little time. And some fresh air. Where is the mayor by the way?" I asked.

"Of course. You have two weeks. You can stay in the barracks for that time. I will need an answer by that time though, we don't feed freeloaders." He said. "And the mayor is out of the city, or the clan member wouldn't have dared kill your mother, he's in the mayor's own town after all." He said.

"Ok." I said.

Now. What to do? I had two weeks, which wasn't much time to plan my future.

I'd also have to find a way to control my aura, and should try to find one to mask my cultivation. Great.

I left the building and made my way to the forest, I needed some time to myself, and nobody went into the forest but me. Well, I saw some kids do so for a few minutes once, but that was likely as a challenge of bravery or something like that.

It was just what I needed now.