Chapter 31

Hall of Elders

The Elder’s Hall.

Here is where the big choices are made.

I say “big”, but it’s usually stuff like lending out seeds and rations during bad harvests, or answering endeavors for wisdom at season’s end, things like that.

It’s typically required to have at least one elder present in the hall because usually, one elder is enough to authorize such matters.

Usually, one elder is enough.

When something requires all elders to be present, it could be said that it concerns the valley’s survival. There has been no such gatherings in the last decade, but today...

“All elders have arrived.”

With that single announcement, the clamor is quieted and everyone looks towards us who’ve just entered the room. The heavy door creaks and bangs as Douzhen closes it behind us, trapping us amidst the silent stares of the people inside.

There are no chairs and no tables in the hall. Instead, the groups of augurs and drachtals are sat down on the matted floors. On the other end of the room, there’s a wide, short podium on top of which five people sit— the elders.

“I’ll do the talking,” teacher whispered. “You just follow my lead.”

With teacher’s assuring hand on my back, we walk towards the front while ignoring the curious stares of the people we walk pass. Those stares are particularly aimed at me, probably being the only person here that came uninvited.

“Sister Inzhi, I express my gratitude for your presence here,” the elder in the middle said.

Gaolad— the oldest of the augurs. With eyes that hide beneath his brows and a beard that sweeps the floor whenever he sits, people say it’s impossible to read his face.

“My greetings to you, elders. I apologize for my tardiness,” teacher replied.

“Which, I’m sure, stands for good reason.”

This time, the one who spoke is Anmal, the only elder besides my teacher to have no facial hair obscuring their mouths. His face is reminiscent to that of Anlong’s, not unexpected considering they’re father and son.

“It is as you said, brother.”

As Inzhi replied, Douzhen calmly walks past us and takes his seat on the podium. With his eyes on us, I find mine avoiding his for some reason.

Erm… don’t ask.

Teacher, however, stayed by my side as she continues to explain.

“I have reasons to believe that the issue we have here is related to my apprentice. However, I need to know what it is we’re dealing with before I can decide how relevant it is.”

“Hmm… very well,” Anmal clears his throat. “Early this morning, a fellow augur encountered strong signs of a demon. We have called this meeting for the purpose of constructing actionable plans against it.”

“A demon...”

“So it’s true?”

Such were the stunned comments from the augurs and drachtals behind us.

“If there’s a demon in the valley, we have to warn the people!” one of the elders said. “We have to start safeguarding the cattle and have the fields protected by elite drachtals. If the demon is as cunning as the legends say, that’s what it will go for. The people won’t have anything to eat if the fields are destroyed.”

Elder Jerchah, I think his name is. A drachtal responsible for managing the common court. It may sound like he cares about the common folk, but from what I heard from teacher, he’s probably just worried about his own assets.

“Don’t be rash, Brother Jerchah. We must handle this matter with care,” Anmal said.

“Bah, I am not being rash! This is a demon we’re talking about, is it not?! If it’s as strong as the legends say, even a hundred arms won’t be enough! We must act quick!”

“And that’s exactly why we need to be careful,” Gaolad spoke out. “We all know the legends. We are all afraid of demons. If we carelessly let this news slip, that fear will breed panic, and our own destruction would be set.”

That seems to have shut him up, but the others are already riled up from Jerchah acting up. Anxious whispers are heard from the others attending the meeting.

“How strong were the demons of legends…?”

“Strong enough to erase countries from history.”

“Will a lot of people die?”

“That’s not the question. Will the valley even survive this?”

“My son just started acquisition…”

“Ahem. To what extent are we certain that it’s a demon?” teacher asked, silencing the others.

As expected of her, while the others are already thinking of far-fetched scenarios, teacher is asking the real question no one thought of; is it really a demon?

“No, we are not certain at all. But there are signs,” Gaolad answered.

“Signs?”

“A large trace of destructive mana, and the change in the behavior of the vale’s beasts— those were the signs reported by the brave augur.”

“Couldn’t it be a demonic beast? An alpha, perhaps. They could also bring about the signs you’ve mentioned.”

“The beasts you’ve mentioned were, indeed, witnessed,” Gaolad answered with his hidden mouth. “Two such beasts, in fact. Alphas of their respective kinds. Together, those alphas and their spawns cornered a party of three drachtals and one augur, only one of which survived to convey us this news.”

Teacher, that’s...

“I know.”

A demon is known to bring beasts under its control. Unlike alphas, however, this control spans over multiple races, whereas an alpha can only control those of its own kind. There has never been a case with two different alphas working together...

...other than cases where a demon is controlling them, that is.

Moreover, this particular demon is powerful enough to control two alphas, both of which being at least a |B|-level threat.

The Mother... she is certainly capable of that.

“...Honored elders, augurs and drachtals, brothers and sisters, I believe there is something you must know.”

Teacher looks at me, and I nod in confirmation before she continues. “I have reasons to suspect that this demon is after my apprentice.”

The elders look at each other before Gaolad speaks, “And may I ask the reason why, elder sister?”

“My apprentice performed a demonic covenant, one that has been broken.”

“A… demonic covenant?”

Ah…

I guess it’s the same everywhere.

No matter what place, a demonic covenant is considered something of a heinous sin. Even the elders seem surprised— Gaolad stops stroking his beard, and Anmal takes in a sharp, stressed breath.

I can see the judgment in their eyes as they turn their heads to me.

Scorn. Disgust. As is expected.

Unlike the others, Douzhen's features remain free of emotion. I’m glad I’m not earning his disdain, but that intense stare isn’t any better for me. Please stop it.

“Elders, please hold your judgments. With that covenant, my apprentice risked her own life to save the group of people she was with. She did it in the utmost honor possible.”

Gaolad lifts his chin as his fingers begin molesting his beard again. “And she said this to you?” he asked, skepticism clear in his grouchy voice.

“Yes. By my honor, her words are trustworthy.”

Pfft.

...Stop it, Fay. This is serious.

“May I interject?” Anmal said. “From what I’ve read on demonology, a covenant would leave a mark on the promiser’s body. May we see this mark?”

I look at teacher, and as she nods at me, I take off my robes and the shirt beneath it. Not everything, of course. Just enough to show them the mark clearly, yet for some reason, the elders shifts their gaze in discomfort as I do that. Hey, I haven’t even shown you the mark...

...Oh, right.

In a community where everyone wears thick robes that covers everything from the neck to the wrists and ankles, showing this much skin might count as... “improper”.

Hey, you’re the ones who asked to see it, you know.

“As you can see, on her right shoulder...” teacher lifts my arm to show them the horrible mark. The twisting and deformation on my skin, like an old burnt scar that gives you an ominous feeling when you look at it.

Ah, they’re staring....

Uwaah... he’s staring so intently. I can’t suck in my stomach for too long. Shite, let go of my hand, teacher...

“That’s enough. We don’t wish to embarrass the young one further,” one of the elders said.

Teacher drops my arm and cocks her head at me as if to say -You think this squirt is embarrassed of anything?- and then, -The heck?- is what she mouthed wordlessly when she notices my ordeal.

“That said,” teacher looks back at the elders, “there’s no way to be sure if it’s the same demon. I just believe it’s in the monastery’s best interest for everyone to know.”

“How long have you known this, sister?” Gaolad asked, his eyes still hidden beneath his thick, grayed brows.

“From the beginning.”

“So you’re saying, you brought her here, knowing it would risk the safety of the vale?”

“Yes.”

“You are aware of the options we must weight now.”

“I am aware.”

I can see her swallow nervously as she said that. This is her home after all, a fact that sometimes slip my mind. Meanwhile, various opinions can be heard from behind us.

“Eviction.”

“Damn right. She endangers us all.”

“Deathbringer. The old tales sing of a white-haired demon lord. I knew she was trouble from the start.”

Gaolad silences them with a single raise of hand. “Young Sister Fay, is it...?”

Yes.

“Elder, she is‒”

“No,” Gaolad cuts teacher off. “I want you to speak for yourself, scribe. What will you do now, bearing in mind that your existence here endangers us all?”

I want to follow what teacher wishes. If she thinks it better for me to leave, I will. If she wants me to stay, then I will stay.

I just passed all the judgment and pressure to her. But she said to trust her, so I did. Looking at her smile, that’s also what she expected of me.

“I see... then what does the teacher want?”

“I will follow whatever the elders decided. However, know that should she be evicted, I will follow her. If she is not to be one of the vale, you will also not hear from me ever again.”

With those words, I can feel the agitation from the people behind us doused. The elders too, look at each other and seems as though they’ve come to an agreement.

“The decision on this matter will be put on hold. However,” Gaolad turns to teacher, “for the potential threat you’ve brought us, we hereby pronounce you no longer suited for your seat among the elders, exile or not.”

More unrest follows that declaration. And yet...

“I understand, elders,” teacher said without much of a pause. “I will abide by your decisions.”

--- --- ---

After that talk about the covenant, the meeting moved on and I ended up becoming a wallflower in the party of old men, with serious chatter discussed over solemn faces instead of merry drinks. Hours were spent on planning countermeasures against the demon. Hours, wasted on making plans based on mere speculations.

They didn’t ask me anything about Lyrfanas, so I didn’t tell them anything. I guessed it would be pointless to make plans against her when we’re not even sure, anyway.

Meanwhile, the thing about teacher’s exile is put on hold for now. Hopefully, forever.

By the time the meeting is over, the sun had long passed its peak.

“So?” teacher said as we walk out the Hall of Elders.

So what?

“What’s on your mind? What’s the demon-expert thinking after all that?”

Honestly, I doubt it’s Lyrfanas.

“Why not?”

It’s just... it doesn’t feel like her to go after me herself. She would’ve sent her swarm after me instead.

Also, if I’m right about her, she wouldn’t have left her children without protection. If she’s really here, I figure her ten-billion children would be here as well, and I haven’t heard anything about anyone seeing eight-legged creatures so far.

“So you think it’s a different demon?”

Maybe.

“Huh... well, it’s good if it’s really like that.”

What do you mean? A demon is a demon, teacher.

Also, it’d be quite an omen for me to be encountering two demons within such a short span of time.

As we make our way down the steps, I look back to see if I can catch a glimpse of a certain someone. That someone is currently with the other elders, talking about something.

He knew, didn’t he?

“Sorry?” Teacher looks at the direction I’m looking at.

He must’ve known about me. That’s why he didn’t react.

“Err... Who are you talking about?”

Douzhen, of course.

“Douzhen? There’s no way. I never told anyone, not even him.”

Maybe he knew from something else.

Suddenly, teacher leans her face in front of me.

That’s dangerous to do on the steps, teacher.

“You’re acting weird, you know.”

Weird?

“You’ve been acting really weird for a while now.”

What do you mean?

“I mean, back then when we’re showing your mark, and even now you’re still... you’re acting like...” her face contorts into horror as she comes upon a horrifying realization.

“Dear gods. You’re acting like a girl.”

Uhm...

“Are you sick? Are you hurt somewhere? Is someone bullying you at school?”

But, am I not a girl...

No, I just... if you’re going to be exiled, I...

“I won’t.”

Even if you’re right, you’re still no longer an elder.

“That? You shouldn’t worry about that. I wasn’t being a very good elder, anyway,”

Oh, that’s okay, then.

“Hey, isn’t that too quick?!”

More importantly, should I get back to Acquisition? I don’t really want to, though...

“Oh, uh… you probably should. Hold on.”

She waves at someone that I recognize as Karyat, the drachtal from this morning.

“Elder,” he greeted as he approaches us.

“Karyat, you’re going to Acquisition, aren’t you? Could you escort my apprentice there?”

He looks at me with appraising eyes. “Don’t worry, your pupil is safe with me.”

“Thanks, Karyat. I appreciate it,” she said before turning to me. “I’ll pick you up in the evening. Be good until then, okay?”

Yes, yes.

Wait a minute. ‘Pick me up?’

Suddenly there’s a fist on my head.

Ow!

“Promise me, Fay.”

Promise you what?!

“That you’ll stay with Karyat and not go running off on your own.”

Err... why would I go‒

Another fist.

Y‒Yes, yes, I promise!

The look she gives me after is something I can’t quite comprehend. If I don't know any better, I would’ve thought she doesn’t trust my word, but then, why make me promise in the first place? Not to mention that I don’t see any use in ‘running off on my own’, as she put it.

Heh.

I guess this is how it is between us. Always with a wall between. A bit funny, really, considering how close we appear on the outside, close enough for that “rumor” to show up.

“...See you in the evening, then, Fay.”

Yeah, see you.

Neither of us looked in the other’s eye when we parted.

--- --- ---

I’m sorry for the trouble, I said to the drachtal walking beside me.

Teacher can be a bit fussy some times.

“A demon is after you, young sister. I, too, think it’s best to have someone by your side at all times.”

I should’ve known teacher would do this. She can get overprotective at times, even though we don’t even know if it’s really Lyrfanas. Having someone protect me all day would really cramp me, you know. How do I get out of this…

“Don’t worry about your teacher,” Karyat suddenly spoke. “I’m sure the elders will understand her decisions.”

Right…

Truth is, I don’t even care if they kick us out or not. As long as we’re together, teacher can still teach me, and I can still become an Arcanist. If anything, the lack of facilities may push her to finish the teaching faster. Just maybe.

As we walk through the dirt path, I notice Karyat subtly stealing glances at me.

Is something bothering you, mentor?

“So you’re her apprentice, huh.”

Um... yes?

“You’re a faean, are you not? I’ve never seen one of your kind before. I understand why she’s very interested in you.”

Yes, I am a faean...

“To tell you the truth, I didn’t think she’d find someone this quick, seeing how her life was being an arcanist and an augur. She really didn’t seem to be the type to settle with another.”

Umm. Somehow, his words seem...

“Inzhi has done more for the monastery than I ever could in a lifetime. The way I see it, she’s still an elder, and I’m sure I share this perspective with many brothers. I would gladly protect the one important person to her while she’s not around. I feel honored to have her trust‒”

Mentor, are you curious about our relationship?

“.......Erm. –cough- ”

You can stop prying around now.

“...I’m sorry if it sounded like I was probing around. Inzhi is an important person to the vale, so naturally...”

I don’t mind, mentor. I can tell you what you want to know.

“Oh, well... the truth is, there’s word going on that the relationship you share is... more than that of a teacher and apprentice. More intimate, perhaps. The two of you are, maybe...”

Ah, I see.

So the “rumor” has spread, even though I’ve only talked to a couple of people. Words do travel fast in such an enclosed community. Seeing she didn’t say anything about it, it probably hasn’t reached teacher’s ears yet. I wonder how she’d react when she hears this.

Fufu. We’ll see, we’ll see...

It’s true, mentor. She’d probably be too embarrassed to admit it, but she’s not just a teacher to me, and I’m not just a pupil to her. We’d embrace each other time to time, to the point it’s becoming a habit.

“-cough- Wha‒“

It’s the kind of relationship where she’d engross herself in watching me bathe, and I’d let her. And then, at night, we’d do all sorts of ‘experiments’, most of which we couldn’t tell anyone about ever. Ah, but I suppose I can tell you how we‒”

“Enough! I think I get now,” he turns his face away to hide the redness of it. How innocent these drachtals are.

Honestly, I don’t know why I’m doing this. Well, I did. But I forgot.

Maybe it was to take revenge on teacher for lying to me about the mountain path being the only entrance, or perhaps because I was curious about how the monastic community see such an… unconventional relationship.

It doesn’t matter. Technically, I’m not even lying. I just want to see her face when she hears it, at this point.

...Ah, it has become awkward.

Damn it. The Hall of Acquisition is still quite a walk away too. I should’ve saved that talk until later.

Oh, well...

=== === ===

--- --- ---

=== === ===

Around that time, Inzhi is on her way towards her lab. She was walking in contemplation when a familiar voice calls out to her.

“Inzhi.”

“Ah, mentor?”

She turns to see Douzhen walking up to her.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m quite fine. Why?”

“They won’t exile you. They can’t. They owe you too much. We owe you too much.”

“Oh, I don’t care either way,” she chirped out. “As long as she stays with me, I won’t even mind getting evicted.”

“...I see. That’s how important she is to you, is it?”

“Yes. She’s my only pupil, after all.”

Douzhen drew his brows together.

Her only pupil, huh...

The rumors he heard implied something more.

“Anyway, will you be okay?” she threw back his first question at him.

From the previous meeting, it was decided that Douzhen will be leading the scout party in search for the unseen demon. Although they said “scouts”, the team will be compromised of drachtals and the arms’ elites. In other words, he’ll be spearheading the monastery in the upcoming battle against the demon, thus her worry.

“Who do you think I am?” he replied with a taunting smile.

If anyone from Jade were here, they’d think it was an illusion. After all, such a smile is something he’d show to very few people.

“You’re the strongest living drachtal...‒”

“That’s right‒”

“‒and yet, you’re still human.” She frowns at him, only to incite a chuckle from the other person.

“It’ll be fine, girl. We’re just out to confirm the demon’s existence,” he said as he rubs her head. Inzhi shakes his hand off in frustration.

“I’m not your student anymore, you know.”

“And you still call me mentor.”

“It’s a habit.”

At that point, she realizes she does the same thing to her own apprentice.

So he’s the source of it, she thought.

Meanwhile, Douzhen rummages the inside of his robes and pulls out an envelope.

“Here,” he hands it to her.

“Err… what is it?”

“You asked for a report on your girl’s progress in my class.”

“Wow, I was... I only meant something like occasional updates or.... You wrote an actual report?”

“It’s nothing bothersome. I have a profile on everyone in Jade class. Everyone I’m expecting to stay, at least.”

“Thanks, mentor.”

Inzhi reaches out to grab the envelope, but found that the man is holding it tightly. She looks at him questioningly.

“Open it after I’m gone.”

While Inzhi becomes confused at his words, the sound of the monastic bell rings softly through the wind.

“That’s my call. I have to get the others ready.”

“Wait, mentor‒”

Douzhen stops her with another head-rub. “When I come back, I’d prefer if you call me by name.”

Dumbfounded, she can only stare at his back as he walks away. She looks down to the envelope in her hands.

Open it after I’m gone.

Those words makes her think there’s something else in the letter aside from the report, and that scares her. It scares her enough to do exactly as he instructed. Tucking the letter in the creases of her robes for later reading, she silently curses and hopes that there’s nothing else in there aside from the report.

After all, more complications is the last thing she needs right now.

“Don’t let it be what I think…” she prayed to the empty air.

Of course, it ended up being exactly what she thinks.