“Outer Sect Member Braun greets Elder,” the novice said. That he was able to pretend nothing untoward had happened spoke volumes about how often he may have found himself the center of attention.

“Merchant Belea. Identify the shop’s property that has been pilfered,” Elder Shadow commanded ignored said shrugging off Braun’s greeting.

Store security guards approached the three men, each of them armed with a store scanning rod that would beep when stone chips that had not been removed or deactivated triggered a response. The only bit of deference or respect they offered Braun was to allow him to watch and wait as the other two men were searched first.

Item after item was discovered, the amount of loot they had stolen more than seemed possible considering they weren’t using a storage device. Their Hanfu had been modified with extra bits of cloth stitched into linings and folds allowing deep pockets. Space that allowed items to be hidden without disrupting the natural line or flow of the garments.

As the security guards finally approached Braun to begin searching him, he protested. “There has been a mistake. I was simply leaving at the same time as they were when I was trapped. It was bad luck, a matter of serendipity. I had nothing to do with their theft. I had no idea they were trying to steal.”

His denunciation of the other two shocked both men. Perhaps he thought they wouldn’t dare identify him as part of the con they had used to pilfer the third floor, how he had used his position as a Sect member to draw the attention of the floor supervisor allowing them to steal without attracting attention. He was wrong; they refused to be the silent fall guy, both men began protesting loudly and immediately. Protesting that the plan was Braun’s, and that they were acting in concert with him.

They went further and began explaining and detailing the plan, opening a money pouch, and displaying an amount of wealth that was more than seemed likely for such young men.

“Elder,” the oldest of the two said calming down enough to respond respectfully, “Sect Member Braun hired our services to gather certain items on the third floor. He supplied us with the tailored Hanfu, paid us half in advance, and promised that there would be no problem if we were caught.”

“Why would there be no trouble?” The store owner asked.

“Exactly,” Braun agreed, “obviously they are lying.”

“You told us we weren’t really stealing!” the second young man disputed vigorously. “That the Sect was testing you and the shop was aware that someone would make an attempt to steal. It was supposed to be a paid commission the Sect accepted to test the anti-theft procedures!”

“You paid us a mid-level beast stone each,” the first said pointing out the stone as proof, “and promised each of us another if we were successful in getting the items out of the store without being detected.”

“What nonsense,” Braun sneered. “If the Sect were commissioned to test the stores protocols, who would believe that couldn’t be done without engaging individuals with no ability to even detect the store's arrays?”

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“David, show them the device he gave us,” the younger of the two demanded.

David looked at the store owner and Sect Elder asking permission before he brought out a packet, something wrapped carefully in silk. Untying the fabric, he opened it to reveal a strange contrivance. A device made mostly of metal with a network of wires and blinking embedded stones that appeared to by powering the device. It looked impressive, at least to an untrained eye like mine.

I wasn’t sure what the device was supposed to do, but both the store owner and the Elder scoffed in derision when they examined it. “This is nothing. It does nothing. The wires connect in a circular circuit,” the store owner said. “I see a half dozen of them a year. Some fool finds a scroll, or parchment that contains the schematics to create an array blocking device and try their hand at thievery.”

“The design is one the Sect has destroyed when found, but it seems no matter how many copies we find more pop up. The copies seem to breed as fast as insects,” Elder Shadow agreed. “This is one of the better-crafted attempts, but the power stones were wasted, they do nothing. At least whoever made this, used stones that were recycled and discarded from failing arrays.”

“I have no idea what that thing is supposed to be, or where they got it,” Braun accused, “but I have never met these people before. I think they are trying to place the blame on me, include me in their failed plan because they know the Sect would intervene.

“Lies,” I said.

I hadn’t realized I’d said that aloud, not until Niake jabbed me forcefully in the ribs. Turning to look at her I saw her eyes widened in disbelief. It made no sense for us to get involved in this. The Sect Elder was advanced enough that his ability to discern the truth was easily accomplished. I could only credit my outburst on my disbelief that a Sect novice would be so stupid.

But it didn’t really matter why I’d labeled him as a liar, that one word had focused the attention of everyone, including the Sect Elder, on me.

“You have something to add, something that might clear up, and help establish the truth in this instance?” The store owner asked.

It was too late to prevaricate or fade into the background. I had spoken, my voice heard, and the only way forward was to soldier on and share my thoughts and the actions I had seen between the three of them on the third floor.

I looked to Niake for help. Maybe a distraction that would deflect the attention that I had garnered. She raised one eyebrow signaling to me I was on my own, and that I was an idiot for having gotten involved.

It’s strange, what I mostly thought about at that moment wasn’t how I may have gotten involved in something I shouldn’t. What drew my attention instead was the realization of how Vulcan Niake’s appearance was. I’d never drawn the comparison before. Never realized that Mr. Spock from Star Trek was Sci-Fi’s version of the fantasy Elf.

“Do you know Novice Braun?” Sect Elder Shadow asked commanding my attention.

“Not really,” I answered, “although we’ve met. He was the novice that escorted me from the baths after gaining my elemental affinity yesterday.”

“You are a Sect inductee?” The Elder asked surprised.

Bowing deeply to acknowledge his words I introduced myself, “Honorable Elder. I awoke my spirit roots and affinities just yesterday, Sect Initiate Jai Myche greets Elder.”

His stare was becoming more discerning as I felt a pulse of Qi probe my body, a technique that Cultivators could use to assess level and talent. His realm was so much higher than mine that I would not have been able to block his probe even if I knew the technique that allowed me to attempt it.

“Platinum Spirit Roots. Water and Wind affinity,” he announced thoughtfully.

“Who are you claiming is the liar? And why have you reached that conclusion? Or do you know one of these other young men?” He asked his questions quickly, giving me little chance to process let alone answer the questions he raised.

“I apologize, Elder Shadow, I did not mean to speak out of turn,” I said trying to delay answering hoping for a solution that would not pit me against a Sect Novice or a Sect Elder. I did not want to start my journey as a Sect Initiate with either as an enemy.

Perhaps the Elder understood my hesitation but understanding mattered little to him. My journey as a Sect member was not his primary concern at the moment, which pissed me off more than anything. I knew, since he had the ability to scan my body to determine my spirit roots and affinity, that same scan could be used on Sect Member Braun to determine if he was telling the truth.

He didn’t need my testimony. That he chose not to use a Qi probe might mean he didn’t care that by speaking I may be making an enemy for myself, or that he was actively encouraging that possibility. I wondered how stupid Braun had to be not to realize that a simple Qi probe would reveal the truth.

Or maybe he wasn’t stupid, maybe he was well connected, and the fly in the ointment, the arrival of Elder Shadow instead of someone else, someone he had expected to respond if he were caught, had changed the trajectory for this event.

The future was mutable, but the possibilities for a resolution to this situation had coalesced. A future he hadn’t expected.