They were finally allowed inside, being escorted by a pair of guards. They saw the Town Lord sitting at an open aired pavilion, one which was used to meet with esteemed guests to admire the nearby pond. It was quite typical in most noble’s estates.
The Town Lord was tall and graceful, a man in his fifties. He was handsome, with long hair which was peppered with silver throughout the black, and a long, but well groomed, moustache and beard, which flowed down towards his stomach.
He was sipping tea gracefully, and was wearing long robes, blue, with patterns along the hem. He wasn’t manly, but more refined, like a gentleman.
Instantly, Ken didn’t trust him. Those Town Lords who were like gentlemen often hid something away from others. Ken could feel his heart ache, and a stinging pain fill him as he recalled the betrayal.
[Calm down!]
He inhaled deeply, and then sighed. “This one greets you, Town Lord,” Ken said, holding his hands out respectfully. Emerald bowed slightly, not belittling herself in front of the Town Lord, exactly as an Alchemist would behave.
“I didn’t expect such great guests,” the Town Lord said, smiling at them. “Please, join me for some tea.”
“You honour us, Town Lord. I am Disciple Ken, and this is my Master, Alchemist Emerald. I hope that you will forgive me for speaking on my behalf, but my Master prefers that I deal with such matters.”
"Alchemists always have one or two interesting things, a quirk of their profession.” The Town Lord smiled and motioned to the tea, which was floral scented.
Ken and Emerald had sat down, while Nimi took her place beside Emerald. She couldn’t sense the various Experts all around them, though Emerald could.
"What beautiful tea you have,” Ken said, first smelling it and then sipping it. It was quite floral. “You've stored the leaves quite well, as I don’t taste any loss in flavour."
"Thank you.” The Town Lord smiled more. “I pride myself in such things!”
[My father always forced me to look after the tea, that old bastard.]
“Do tell me more about yourself, Disciple Ken. How is it that you are so familiar with tea?” Town Lord Goldenthunder noted how Ken had held the cup and sipped the tea.
"If I didn’t know this much about tea, how could I be my Master’s disciple? Master would tell you I am a decent enough young man, as she’s known me an entire life time.” Ken chuckled playfully. “Master and I have been travelling in order to find a place to settle down for a while in order to practise our alchemy, and to test a few recipes. It’s a little awkward to do so on the road.”
[Settle down? It’s my lucky day! It seems I can get them to stay if I play my cards right!]
“Speaking of which, I hear that you can use White Fire?”
“My Master is certainly amazing,” Ken said, nodding his head. He sipped some more of the tea.
“I would love to see such fine alchemy, if it isn’t too rude of me to ask.” The Town Lord smiled politely, though it was obvious he was testing them.
“Will the Town Lord perhaps provide a furnace?” Ken asked. “That way Master can show her true skill, one which will not take into consideration a magical artefact. I’m sure you understand.”
The Town Lord nodded, waving a hand and a servant went to go fetch a furnace which could handle White Fire.
"Would the good Town Lord like to pick a high grade earth pill for my Master to make?”
"How about the ki surging pill?" The Town Lord needed the pill for his son, who, although quite a genius, was lacking in his ki due to his troubled birth.
"What a lovely choice,” Ken said. It was quite a difficult pill to make, one which could show Emerald’s abilities to the Town Lord. “Do you have the ingredients on hand?"
The Town Lord revealed the herbs, which he always kept on hand. He had been meaning to ask the Alchemists in the town to assist him, but they were always stuck up, and his son refused to take a pill which was made by them since they had slighted him when he was young.
Emerald took the herbs and then placed them within the furnace. She placed her hands together and then summoned out her strength, calling forth the White Fire.
It was all a show, though. Summoning White Fire was easy for her, as she had been making pills for so long that even creating a high grade earth pill was simple for her.
The White Fire danced in the air, splitting off into the two channels within the furnace. The Town Lord watch, enraptured by the process. Even his town didn’t have anyone who could use White Fire, but here was Emerald, wielding a fire he had never seen before. He could feel the heat of it, its great strength.
[Amazing! I need to get them on my side!]
The pill shot out, and Emerald reached out a hand. The Town Lord watched, waiting for her to refine the pill during its final step, but by the time it landed on her hand, it was done.
“Amazing!” Town Lord Goldenthunder burst out with surprise.
Even one of the secret Experts had accidentally let out a gasp, one which revealed him to everyone around. He turned red and coughed, whistling casually as he walked off, as though he was just a passing guard, though he was wearing attire which was entirely dark, definitely someone who was a member of the Elite Guard.
“To think I would have the honour of seeing such a great sight!” The Town Lord raised his hands together in gratitude, bowing his head slightly. “This Town Lord invites you to stay within the town! I hope you are willing to accept such an invitation.”
“Actually, Town Lord, we did have some plans in that regard, but we require some assistance.”
“If I am able to assist, I am willing!” The Town Lord nodded his head.
[I’ll even move mountains for you, you glorious brat!]
“We've bought a large number of slaves, roughly 200 slaves, so we require a place which can house that many people. In fact, it would be best if it can house closer to 500.”
“500 people?” The Town Lord sipped his tea. 200 people were easy to house, but 500… "That is quite the ask."
"We would be willing to rent such a place, if it is too much to ask to buy such a place. We were planning on selling our pills and elixirs in this town, so the matter of coin isn’t an issue at all.” Ken smiled.
“If your skills are this good, I’m sure you won’t need to worry about renting such a place. The issue is that there are few places within this town which will have such a capacity.” The Town Lord motioned a hand to his servant. “Have Steward Goldenthunder find a suitable area for the great Alchemists.”
The servant bowed and quickly left. The Town Lord continued to think of places. “If you are willing to temporarily house so many people, I can easily find such a place for 200 people.”
“If that is easier for you, Town Lord, we would like to offer our gratitude for such a task.” Ken bowed his head towards the Town Lord. “We have also come to speak with you about a certain matter.”
“What matter would it be, Disciple Ken?” The Town Lord was certainly intrigued with a matter which an Alchemist has brought to him.
“We understand that the Town Lord is responsible for stacking enough supplied of various pills and elixirs.” Ken remained silent, allowing him to finish the thought.
“That’s true,” the Town Lord replied with a nod of his head. “It is the duty of the Town Lord to procure enough supplies within our warehouses for the Beast Hordes which plague our town.”
“It is quite a difficult matter, isn’t it?” Ken smiled. “Having to supply so many pills and elixirs for your people, all the while, the Alchemists understand that they are able to make so much gold from the taxes which are sent to the Town Lord, increasing the price of their pills and elixirs, all the while offering the minimum they can so they can auction off their pills and elixirs to other families as well.”
The Town Lord sighed, bowing his head. “Everything you say is true, Disciple Ken. It’s not that I believe that you Alchemists are in the wrong for such matters, but it does make my heart bleed when I think of how many of my people suffer due to such matters.”
“I, too, understand, Town Lord.” Ken bowed his head. “I was lucky to have met my Master, who is as kind as she is beautiful! Don’t you think my Master is beautiful, Town Lord?” Ken motioned to Emerald, who was blushing slightly, but also looking at Ken, a little annoyed.
[I only want you to see me, Master!]
“It’s true that she is beautiful.” The Town Lord coughed into his fist, finding it awkward to speak to the young man about such a matter.
“So isn’t it true that she would be so kind since she’s as kind as she is beautiful!”
“Yes?”
“Right, right.” Ken nodded his head.
“…”
[What’s his point?]
Ken was busy thinking about how he was so lucky to have Emerald, so he forgot to finish his point.
They were finally allowed inside, being escorted by a pair of guards. They saw the Town Lord sitting at an open aired pavilion, one which was used to meet with esteemed guests to admire the nearby pond. It was quite typical in most noble’s estates.
The Town Lord was tall and graceful, a man in his fifties. He was handsome, with long hair which was peppered with silver throughout the black, and a long, but well groomed, moustache and beard, which flowed down towards his stomach.
He was sipping tea gracefully, and was wearing long robes, blue, with patterns along the hem. He wasn’t manly, but more refined, like a gentleman.
Instantly, Ken didn’t trust him. Those Town Lords who were like gentlemen often hid something away from others. Ken could feel his heart ache, and a stinging pain fill him as he recalled the betrayal.
[Calm down!]
He inhaled deeply, and then sighed. “This one greets you, Town Lord,” Ken said, holding his hands out respectfully. Emerald bowed slightly, not belittling herself in front of the Town Lord, exactly as an Alchemist would behave.
“I didn’t expect such great guests,” the Town Lord said, smiling at them. “Please, join me for some tea.”
“You honour us, Town Lord. I am Disciple Ken, and this is my Master, Alchemist Emerald. I hope that you will forgive me for speaking on my behalf, but my Master prefers that I deal with such matters.”
"Alchemists always have one or two interesting things, a quirk of their profession.” The Town Lord smiled and motioned to the tea, which was floral scented.
Ken and Emerald had sat down, while Nimi took her place beside Emerald. She couldn’t sense the various Experts all around them, though Emerald could.
"What beautiful tea you have,” Ken said, first smelling it and then sipping it. It was quite floral. “You've stored the leaves quite well, as I don’t taste any loss in flavour."
"Thank you.” The Town Lord smiled more. “I pride myself in such things!”
[My father always forced me to look after the tea, that old bastard.]
“Do tell me more about yourself, Disciple Ken. How is it that you are so familiar with tea?” Town Lord Goldenthunder noted how Ken had held the cup and sipped the tea.
"If I didn’t know this much about tea, how could I be my Master’s disciple? Master would tell you I am a decent enough young man, as she’s known me an entire life time.” Ken chuckled playfully. “Master and I have been travelling in order to find a place to settle down for a while in order to practise our alchemy, and to test a few recipes. It’s a little awkward to do so on the road.”
[Settle down? It’s my lucky day! It seems I can get them to stay if I play my cards right!]
“Speaking of which, I hear that you can use White Fire?”
“My Master is certainly amazing,” Ken said, nodding his head. He sipped some more of the tea.
“I would love to see such fine alchemy, if it isn’t too rude of me to ask.” The Town Lord smiled politely, though it was obvious he was testing them.
“Will the Town Lord perhaps provide a furnace?” Ken asked. “That way Master can show her true skill, one which will not take into consideration a magical artefact. I’m sure you understand.”
The Town Lord nodded, waving a hand and a servant went to go fetch a furnace which could handle White Fire.
"Would the good Town Lord like to pick a high grade earth pill for my Master to make?”
"How about the ki surging pill?" The Town Lord needed the pill for his son, who, although quite a genius, was lacking in his ki due to his troubled birth.
"What a lovely choice,” Ken said. It was quite a difficult pill to make, one which could show Emerald’s abilities to the Town Lord. “Do you have the ingredients on hand?"
The Town Lord revealed the herbs, which he always kept on hand. He had been meaning to ask the Alchemists in the town to assist him, but they were always stuck up, and his son refused to take a pill which was made by them since they had slighted him when he was young.
Emerald took the herbs and then placed them within the furnace. She placed her hands together and then summoned out her strength, calling forth the White Fire.
It was all a show, though. Summoning White Fire was easy for her, as she had been making pills for so long that even creating a high grade earth pill was simple for her.
The White Fire danced in the air, splitting off into the two channels within the furnace. The Town Lord watch, enraptured by the process. Even his town didn’t have anyone who could use White Fire, but here was Emerald, wielding a fire he had never seen before. He could feel the heat of it, its great strength.
[Amazing! I need to get them on my side!]
The pill shot out, and Emerald reached out a hand. The Town Lord watched, waiting for her to refine the pill during its final step, but by the time it landed on her hand, it was done.
“Amazing!” Town Lord Goldenthunder burst out with surprise.
Even one of the secret Experts had accidentally let out a gasp, one which revealed him to everyone around. He turned red and coughed, whistling casually as he walked off, as though he was just a passing guard, though he was wearing attire which was entirely dark, definitely someone who was a member of the Elite Guard.
“To think I would have the honour of seeing such a great sight!” The Town Lord raised his hands together in gratitude, bowing his head slightly. “This Town Lord invites you to stay within the town! I hope you are willing to accept such an invitation.”
“Actually, Town Lord, we did have some plans in that regard, but we require some assistance.”
“If I am able to assist, I am willing!” The Town Lord nodded his head.
[I’ll even move mountains for you, you glorious brat!]
“We've bought a large number of slaves, roughly 200 slaves, so we require a place which can house that many people. In fact, it would be best if it can house closer to 500.”
“500 people?” The Town Lord sipped his tea. 200 people were easy to house, but 500… "That is quite the ask."
"We would be willing to rent such a place, if it is too much to ask to buy such a place. We were planning on selling our pills and elixirs in this town, so the matter of coin isn’t an issue at all.” Ken smiled.
“If your skills are this good, I’m sure you won’t need to worry about renting such a place. The issue is that there are few places within this town which will have such a capacity.” The Town Lord motioned a hand to his servant. “Have Steward Goldenthunder find a suitable area for the great Alchemists.”
The servant bowed and quickly left. The Town Lord continued to think of places. “If you are willing to temporarily house so many people, I can easily find such a place for 200 people.”
“If that is easier for you, Town Lord, we would like to offer our gratitude for such a task.” Ken bowed his head towards the Town Lord. “We have also come to speak with you about a certain matter.”
“What matter would it be, Disciple Ken?” The Town Lord was certainly intrigued with a matter which an Alchemist has brought to him.
“We understand that the Town Lord is responsible for stacking enough supplied of various pills and elixirs.” Ken remained silent, allowing him to finish the thought.
“That’s true,” the Town Lord replied with a nod of his head. “It is the duty of the Town Lord to procure enough supplies within our warehouses for the Beast Hordes which plague our town.”
“It is quite a difficult matter, isn’t it?” Ken smiled. “Having to supply so many pills and elixirs for your people, all the while, the Alchemists understand that they are able to make so much gold from the taxes which are sent to the Town Lord, increasing the price of their pills and elixirs, all the while offering the minimum they can so they can auction off their pills and elixirs to other families as well.”
The Town Lord sighed, bowing his head. “Everything you say is true, Disciple Ken. It’s not that I believe that you Alchemists are in the wrong for such matters, but it does make my heart bleed when I think of how many of my people suffer due to such matters.”
“I, too, understand, Town Lord.” Ken bowed his head. “I was lucky to have met my Master, who is as kind as she is beautiful! Don’t you think my Master is beautiful, Town Lord?” Ken motioned to Emerald, who was blushing slightly, but also looking at Ken, a little annoyed.
[I only want you to see me, Master!]
“It’s true that she is beautiful.” The Town Lord coughed into his fist, finding it awkward to speak to the young man about such a matter.
“So isn’t it true that she would be so kind since she’s as kind as she is beautiful!”
“Yes?”
“Right, right.” Ken nodded his head.
“…”
[What’s his point?]
Ken was busy thinking about how he was so lucky to have Emerald, so he forgot to finish his point.
