The First Elder whistled as Emerald pushed Ken into the estate and they were led into the treasury vault. Chandi was set to return back to the inn, since she probably wouldn’t be allowed into the estate.
The estate was quite large, as expected of one of the great families, and there were many onlookers, who saw this cripples young man being wheeled by a famous Alchemist within the town, and the First Elder of another family. The confusion on their faces was palpable.
There was a large deer statue, one which had a tower built atop its head to lookout across the entirety of the estate. A few people glanced down towards them, and then one held their gaze down at them.
“You have quite the gall on your, young cripple,” First Elder Wildroar said.
“What ever do you mean, First Elder Wildroar?” Ken asked, wondering if the First Elder would start a fight.
“Isn’t this the famous Alchemist?”
“It is.”
“And she’s your servant?”
“Something to that effect,” Ken replied back.
Wildroar roared with laughter again. “That’s exactly how you should be! Surround yourself with beautiful women and enjoy life while you can! As a cripple, it’s so much rougher for you, so why can’t you indulge?”
“I have some skills to allow me to indulge in beautiful women, but don’t you have the same strength?”
First Elder Wildroar sighed. “Unfortunately, I have a different sort of burden. I carry the name of Wildroar, so there are things I can’t do.” He crossed his arms. “Once I become the Supreme Elder, then maybe I can find myself a dozen young beautiful to keep at my side?”
Ken almost choked on his breath, looking aside to see Patriarch Blackdeer trying to keep to himself. He pretended as though he wasn’t hearing such nonsense. To think a First Elder would say something so audacious, Ken hadn’t expected it.
[What did I get myself into?]
They were led underground, where several statues stood tall. Ken’s eyes glanced around, and he could see that there was an array set up, one he wouldn’t be able to break through unless he had time.
The Patriarch reached into his cloak to reveal a talisman to the wall ahead, and then a crack formed, before opening up to reveal the treasury of the family. The four stepped inside.
[You must be confident if you’re coming in alone.]
Ken wondered what other methods the Blackdeer family had to protect their treasure vault, but then quickly his eyes scanned the treasure vault.
There were many different weapons all across the walls, pills, herbs, orbs, and various other items.
His family had a treasure vault too, though it would have been awkward to return to it. It wasn’t unlike this vault, though he supposed his family had far more weapons.
[[There aren’t many great items within the vault.]]
He continued to look around, eyeing up so many items. The Patriarch remained stone faced, not revealing any information about anything. Ken saw a rack of manuals, each with many different types of martial arts.
“I wonder what I should take,” he said aloud, though he was prompting the goddess.
[[This queen has no use for anything here. Since they had the folly to start some terrible business with you, then take the statue in the shape of a black deer, which is wedged between the worthless items over to your left.]]
Ken smiled and then motioned with a hand. “Emerald, take me there.” Emerald did as he commanded, and Ken picked up the black deer statue. “This looks good enough.”
The Patriarch bit his lower lip and his brow pulsed. Ken then handed the statue to Emerald. “You can keep it for now.” He had no idea what it did, but seeing the response given by the Patriarch, and the First Elder trying to hold in his laughter, he felt like it was the best item he could have chosen.
With that, he waved his hand, and left the estate, feeling the glares of many of the Blackdeer family.
“First Elder Wildroar?” called out an older man with a long beard.
“First Elder Blackdeer, how are you?”
“I am doing quite well. I didn’t expect to see visitors on this day, especially not one as auspicious as yourself.”
“My ugly face was here just to see the fun,” Wildroar replied, grinning wide.
First Elder Blackdeer looked to Ken, then Emerald, then back to Wildroar. “Then allow me to escort you out personally.”
“Then I will excuse myself,” Patriarch Blackdeer said, gritting his teeth as he marched away. He was fuming no doubt, but he also seemed subservient to the First Elder.
Ken wondered what the dynamics between the three were. He didn’t feel as though the two First Elders were at with one another, though Wildroar was definitely at odds with the Patriarch.
“Who is this young man?” First Elder Blackdeer asked.
“This cripple greets you, First Elder Blackdeer.” Ken bowed his head. “I am Arrayist Ken.”
“An Arrayist? So young?” The man’s eyes began to sparkle. “I didn’t expect such a thing.” He was obviously prompting Ken to reveal some of his abilities.
“The last time I showed a Blackdeer my array abilities, it ended up with them at near death and compensation through a visit to your treasure vault.”
The First Elder seemed puzzled by the way Ken had said it. A Blackdeer had been wounded and yet they had to compensate Ken?
“How did it come to be?”
“The Young Master had attacked me and I had to defend myself.”
“Ah.” The older man sighed, and within the sigh came an understanding.
“He became more black than deer.” Wildroar chuckled.
The First Elder led them out and then bowed his head lightly. “I hope we can meet again under better circumstances.”
“I will pray for such a day,” Ken said, surprised to see that the man was so amicable. He wondered if perhaps he was just pretending.
“I’ll bring some tea next time,” Wildroar said.
“Or some fine wine,” Blackdeer replied as he smiled.
“Right, right!” Wildroar roared with laughter as he left with Ken, until it finally died down. “How unfortunate you had to meet that First Elder.”
“How do you mean?”
“He’s as weird as me, though in a different sense. If you had killed the Young Master, then he would most likely find a way to kill you in the next month, but since you’ve only wounded the Young Master, you should be safe. If he does let you go, you can trust that he would be quite polite to you next you meet.”
“I’ll keep your warning in mind,” Ken replied back.
[Why would he be polite? I almost killed one of his relatives…]
“If I’m beside you, you don’t have to worry. He might be stronger than me, but he’d still think twice about making a move.”
“Why was it that you helped me?” Ken asked, his curiosity getting the best of him.
“I wanted to see their vault, but seeing the Patriarch’s face…” Wildroar thought back to it and then began to laugh again. “Damn it! If only I had a scroll, I would have tried to capture the spirit of his face in a poem! The black deer looks on, spiteful. The black deer looks on, mournful.” He nodded his head, as though he had made a masterpiece.
“I’ll thank you again for your escort,” Ken said. “With you at my side, I felt much more comfortable within the estate. It isn’t much, but please accept my gift.” Ken reached out a high grade earth pill. “Take this under a waterfall and cultivate for two days for the greatest effect.”
“Oh? Then I won’t stand on ceremony!” The First Elder took the pill and eyed it up. “You made this?”
“I did.”
“I think your skill in alchemy is better than your skill in arrays.”
“You think so?” Ken replied, rubbing the side of his neck awkwardly.
“I feel as though you can fight off against plenty of Martial Experts with your arrays, though Martial Masters…”
“I assume you’re a Martial Master?”
Wildroar grinned. “Don’t worry, I won’t be coming after your life. You showed me quite the sight. If you ever get stuck in some trouble, you can call for me. As long as you have the right amount of rewards for me!” He slid the pill into his robes and laughed.
“I pay everyone for their fine work, especially Martial Masters. I should return to my other beauties.”
“How many beauties do you have?”
“I’m eight short of a dozen, but I’ll gather many more to please you.”
“That’s right! You aren’t a man unless you have a dozen beauties!” Wildroar roared with laughter again and then left him.
Ken wondered if his name was Wildroar because he roared so much, though he realised he would have gained his name as a child, so he was just fortunate that it fit so well.
The First Elder whistled as Emerald pushed Ken into the estate and they were led into the treasury vault. Chandi was set to return back to the inn, since she probably wouldn’t be allowed into the estate.
The estate was quite large, as expected of one of the great families, and there were many onlookers, who saw this cripples young man being wheeled by a famous Alchemist within the town, and the First Elder of another family. The confusion on their faces was palpable.
There was a large deer statue, one which had a tower built atop its head to lookout across the entirety of the estate. A few people glanced down towards them, and then one held their gaze down at them.
“You have quite the gall on your, young cripple,” First Elder Wildroar said.
“What ever do you mean, First Elder Wildroar?” Ken asked, wondering if the First Elder would start a fight.
“Isn’t this the famous Alchemist?”
“It is.”
“And she’s your servant?”
“Something to that effect,” Ken replied back.
Wildroar roared with laughter again. “That’s exactly how you should be! Surround yourself with beautiful women and enjoy life while you can! As a cripple, it’s so much rougher for you, so why can’t you indulge?”
“I have some skills to allow me to indulge in beautiful women, but don’t you have the same strength?”
First Elder Wildroar sighed. “Unfortunately, I have a different sort of burden. I carry the name of Wildroar, so there are things I can’t do.” He crossed his arms. “Once I become the Supreme Elder, then maybe I can find myself a dozen young beautiful to keep at my side?”
Ken almost choked on his breath, looking aside to see Patriarch Blackdeer trying to keep to himself. He pretended as though he wasn’t hearing such nonsense. To think a First Elder would say something so audacious, Ken hadn’t expected it.
[What did I get myself into?]
They were led underground, where several statues stood tall. Ken’s eyes glanced around, and he could see that there was an array set up, one he wouldn’t be able to break through unless he had time.
The Patriarch reached into his cloak to reveal a talisman to the wall ahead, and then a crack formed, before opening up to reveal the treasury of the family. The four stepped inside.
[You must be confident if you’re coming in alone.]
Ken wondered what other methods the Blackdeer family had to protect their treasure vault, but then quickly his eyes scanned the treasure vault.
There were many different weapons all across the walls, pills, herbs, orbs, and various other items.
His family had a treasure vault too, though it would have been awkward to return to it. It wasn’t unlike this vault, though he supposed his family had far more weapons.
[[There aren’t many great items within the vault.]]
He continued to look around, eyeing up so many items. The Patriarch remained stone faced, not revealing any information about anything. Ken saw a rack of manuals, each with many different types of martial arts.
“I wonder what I should take,” he said aloud, though he was prompting the goddess.
[[This queen has no use for anything here. Since they had the folly to start some terrible business with you, then take the statue in the shape of a black deer, which is wedged between the worthless items over to your left.]]
Ken smiled and then motioned with a hand. “Emerald, take me there.” Emerald did as he commanded, and Ken picked up the black deer statue. “This looks good enough.”
The Patriarch bit his lower lip and his brow pulsed. Ken then handed the statue to Emerald. “You can keep it for now.” He had no idea what it did, but seeing the response given by the Patriarch, and the First Elder trying to hold in his laughter, he felt like it was the best item he could have chosen.
With that, he waved his hand, and left the estate, feeling the glares of many of the Blackdeer family.
“First Elder Wildroar?” called out an older man with a long beard.
“First Elder Blackdeer, how are you?”
“I am doing quite well. I didn’t expect to see visitors on this day, especially not one as auspicious as yourself.”
“My ugly face was here just to see the fun,” Wildroar replied, grinning wide.
First Elder Blackdeer looked to Ken, then Emerald, then back to Wildroar. “Then allow me to escort you out personally.”
“Then I will excuse myself,” Patriarch Blackdeer said, gritting his teeth as he marched away. He was fuming no doubt, but he also seemed subservient to the First Elder.
Ken wondered what the dynamics between the three were. He didn’t feel as though the two First Elders were at with one another, though Wildroar was definitely at odds with the Patriarch.
“Who is this young man?” First Elder Blackdeer asked.
“This cripple greets you, First Elder Blackdeer.” Ken bowed his head. “I am Arrayist Ken.”
“An Arrayist? So young?” The man’s eyes began to sparkle. “I didn’t expect such a thing.” He was obviously prompting Ken to reveal some of his abilities.
“The last time I showed a Blackdeer my array abilities, it ended up with them at near death and compensation through a visit to your treasure vault.”
The First Elder seemed puzzled by the way Ken had said it. A Blackdeer had been wounded and yet they had to compensate Ken?
“How did it come to be?”
“The Young Master had attacked me and I had to defend myself.”
“Ah.” The older man sighed, and within the sigh came an understanding.
“He became more black than deer.” Wildroar chuckled.
The First Elder led them out and then bowed his head lightly. “I hope we can meet again under better circumstances.”
“I will pray for such a day,” Ken said, surprised to see that the man was so amicable. He wondered if perhaps he was just pretending.
“I’ll bring some tea next time,” Wildroar said.
“Or some fine wine,” Blackdeer replied as he smiled.
“Right, right!” Wildroar roared with laughter as he left with Ken, until it finally died down. “How unfortunate you had to meet that First Elder.”
“How do you mean?”
“He’s as weird as me, though in a different sense. If you had killed the Young Master, then he would most likely find a way to kill you in the next month, but since you’ve only wounded the Young Master, you should be safe. If he does let you go, you can trust that he would be quite polite to you next you meet.”
“I’ll keep your warning in mind,” Ken replied back.
[Why would he be polite? I almost killed one of his relatives…]
“If I’m beside you, you don’t have to worry. He might be stronger than me, but he’d still think twice about making a move.”
“Why was it that you helped me?” Ken asked, his curiosity getting the best of him.
“I wanted to see their vault, but seeing the Patriarch’s face…” Wildroar thought back to it and then began to laugh again. “Damn it! If only I had a scroll, I would have tried to capture the spirit of his face in a poem! The black deer looks on, spiteful. The black deer looks on, mournful.” He nodded his head, as though he had made a masterpiece.
“I’ll thank you again for your escort,” Ken said. “With you at my side, I felt much more comfortable within the estate. It isn’t much, but please accept my gift.” Ken reached out a high grade earth pill. “Take this under a waterfall and cultivate for two days for the greatest effect.”
“Oh? Then I won’t stand on ceremony!” The First Elder took the pill and eyed it up. “You made this?”
“I did.”
“I think your skill in alchemy is better than your skill in arrays.”
“You think so?” Ken replied, rubbing the side of his neck awkwardly.
“I feel as though you can fight off against plenty of Martial Experts with your arrays, though Martial Masters…”
“I assume you’re a Martial Master?”
Wildroar grinned. “Don’t worry, I won’t be coming after your life. You showed me quite the sight. If you ever get stuck in some trouble, you can call for me. As long as you have the right amount of rewards for me!” He slid the pill into his robes and laughed.
“I pay everyone for their fine work, especially Martial Masters. I should return to my other beauties.”
“How many beauties do you have?”
“I’m eight short of a dozen, but I’ll gather many more to please you.”
“That’s right! You aren’t a man unless you have a dozen beauties!” Wildroar roared with laughter again and then left him.
Ken wondered if his name was Wildroar because he roared so much, though he realised he would have gained his name as a child, so he was just fortunate that it fit so well.
