《Sonnentanz》


 Prologue

    Joy.


    It blossomed within his state of tranquility, of nothingness.


    Then, he couldfeel.


    For a time, Cifer did not understand. It took a long time for him to understand, in fact. His mind felt sluggish, blurry. Harder to concentrate, and instincts paved his every action. Most of the time.


    His unused muscles tired itself quite quickly, so sleep came naturally to him. Time was all he had. Unfortunately.


    When the first monthended, his eyesight slowly developed, as did his hearing. The world was bright, and the soft sunlight shown through the mud-brick window was blinding. He loved the light.


    It was the first time he laid eyes on his mother and his father.


    Cifer''s mother was a beautiful young woman, and so very young. A girl, really, barely into her adulthood. His father was no less different of age, or in stature, though baring strong arms and tanned skin. He loved them instinctively.


    They lived in a single small dwelling, and a humble one. The straw-filled cots on the corner were well kept, and maintained. The fireplace kept them warm, and the walls kept the heat in. The thatched roof was constantly looked after, in case of rain or storms. They didn''t have visitors often, and the neighbors were quite nice. The old woman down the street gifted mother with oils to soothe her legs, and the village guard brought ale to drink with his best friend, his father.


    His father would go out every day, and hunt for game, or work for the local merchant.He would come back, sometimes with game, or some oddity for Cifer to play with. They would carefully preserve the food for winter stores. A certaintythat would befall them in the coming months. And sometimes, they would enjoy deliciousfruits when the parts and materials of the game were traded or sold. Nothing was wasted, and the few times they were able to afford luxuriousdelicacies, most of the portions were fed to him.


    His heart ached from their generosity,but felt grateful all the same.


    Cifer was in the care of his mother most of the day. Sometimes, in the moonlight, when he was awake, his mother would hold him close to her breast, and sang to him. Her voicewas lovely, andsad. Otherwise, she would regale himwithstoriesoffables and myths, and of the great mythical beasts.


    What interested him the most, was when she told him stories of their great nation of Song. The Four Great Immortals that rests upon the lofty seats of their great mountains. These four are the only known immortals to exist, closest to the heavens. Even the greatest noble houses of cultivators would serve the great immortals at their behest.


    Then she spoke of the Jade dynasty, ruled by the Exalted Prince of Everlasting. He was known for his legendary battle prowess, and the three fabled knights that accompany him, the Song dynasty and the Jade Empire have been bitter rivals for over a millennium.


    His mother told him of many stories and fables, but they all had something in common.


    "And so, the strong shall rule, and the weak serve," His mother said, with a soft smile. "You will be a strong boy, one day. Gods are smiling on us, I think,"


    Cifer was fivewhen he first gazed upon the martial might of a cultivator. It was a loneman, and even young. A man of great beauty, with a strong, and graceful figure. His hair was long, and his eyes were a piercing green. While the farmers and the laborers were dirty, and wore dark wool and cotton, the cultivator wore an elegant white silk and blue cloak. It was as if a demi-god, or a prince himself, had descended upon their lesser lands to greet them.


    His name was ShanFeng. He was in need of a place to rest.


    His father, and mother, bowed low. They offered theirhome freely. The lone traveleragreed, grateful.


    It was in that same night, as his father held him, huddled in the back of their house, on a rainy night, that Cifercould hear thethump-thumpsound that came from within.


    Cifer shut his eyes closed in dismay, and fear, and huddled closer to his father. The tarp covered them from the rain, but it did not hide the tears from his father.


    Shan Feng was gone the next morning, leaving them with a pouch of silver taels while his father was there to see him off. As was his mother.


    Finally out of sight, Cifer looked upon her mother. She looked miserable, in pain. There was fear, and sadness, and hurt. So muchhurt, that Cifer could feel it in his stomach, as if a pit had opened up.


    His father staggered upon her, and hugged her fiercely. How could he not? They are weak, and the strong rule absolutely. The poor, and the weak, shall do naught but endure. And hope. For hope, was the greatest power they had.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Cifer looked upon himself and closed his eyes.


    The gods are cruel, and the world was unfair. To rule is to be mighty, so would they blame him should his ambitions to bear fruit?


    The boy shook his head slightly with a sardonic smile.


    That night, when his mother and father were asleep, Cifer pulled his legs into the lotus position. The mediation came to him, as easily as breathing. To cultivate Qi, is to cultivate and refine life itself through the three dantians; navel, heart, and the forehead. The refined Qi gets circulated through the vessels of his meridians, then it flowed back to the dantians.


    A never-ending cycle, and the first breath toward immortality.


    It was never as easy as it sounded. Cifer knew what he was doing. Anyone could achieve Qi circulation, but to achieve it requires time, nutrients, and a certain state of mind.


    He thought of teaching it to his family, and dismayed. They were too old, and have never received such training at a younger age. Furthermore, they were simply far too busy trying to survive the next season.Should he even try and teach to his parents, they would fail miserably.


    It was the difference between the Heaven and the Earth.


    It had been five years since he began, mostly due to boredom. As a newborn, he didn''t have many options to escape his boredom, and to cultivate his Qi was the only source of diversion. And so, Cifer continued to cultivate.


    Nine months later, Cifer gained a sister.


    It was a dampened affair. His father knew the truth, of course. They both did, but steeled themselves to love her all the same. Still, the hate was all but vanished. How can they not love her bright green eyes, and tufts of dark hair? She was their bundle of joy, and perhaps, Cifer felt, was the second happiest day of their lives.


    They named herRuo Fei.


    Cifer smiled.


    On the tenth of his year, Cifer was surprised when Fei picked up cultivation so quickly. She was a natural! Despite her... giggling nature, and bright emerald eyes shining with mischief, Fei was a studious student.


    "I think I understand, brother," She replied, her voice squeaky. Fei closed her eyes, and as she cultivated her tiny flow of Qi, Cifer held her wrist. He checked her heart-beat, the navel, and the forehead. The channels were working perfectly, and the Qi she had been taught were being refined with perfect clarity.


    Cifer smiled, gratefully.


    Then, he pushed.


    "Hey! Big brother, what was that for?!" Fei rubbed her bottom, her eyes slightly tearing up. She sniffed.


    "Tag, you''re it!" Cifer pivoted, and ran for his life!


    Fei stared at his back, uncomprehending. Then, she gathered to her feet, squinted her eyes in a frown, and quickly rushed off after her brother. With a squealing yell, "I''ll get you!"


    Their laughter was like bells that echoed off the forest.


    Perhaps fate was a cruel mistress, when she tossed the dice across the board.


    "Cifer, do you know where we are?"


    Said Cifer, hoped he didn''t show any worry on his face. That might scare his little sister. They have been walking for hours, with no luck at finding their way back home. That did not bode well for them, he knew.


    He glanced down at her with a smile, and said, "Of course I do, sis''." He mussed her hair for good measure. Fei squealed, swatting his hand away. Still, it brought a giggling smile to her tiny, heart-shaped face.


    Well, no. He doesn''t know where he was. Cifer gazed into the... jungle around him. This place shouldn''t be anywhere near their home, and he had spent years exploring the surrounding village almost on a daily basis.


    The trees were thick and as wide as his home, and so tall they seemed to reach the sky. The treetops were thick tangles of leaves and boughs, and only a few strays of sunlight beamed through the crown of the trees.


    Underneath his feet, he could feel the soft rich soil of the jungle floor, fed by the dead leaves, wood, and dead animal matter. This, in turn, was a place of incredible nutrients for growth of green foliage, plants, and vegetation.


    In the distance,Cifer''s ears caught the chitters, screeches, and hows of wild animals that have made their home here.


    Cifer looked down at his little sister. She was only five, and hunger had already set in. He knew this because he could hear her stomach grumbling like a tiny lion cub. Fei hadn''t complained, of course. She had faith in him, and that disquieted him with a depth of guilt and worry.


    Food was the most important fact in their survival. Well, that, and a temporary home. He might be able to make a tipi from fallen branches and cover it with fur. Luckily, he had a knife tied to his waist. It was sharp, and it could easily skin a deer.


    A rustle of leaves caught his attention.Then, through the brambles and bushes, it came through.


    Fei gasped, her hands covering her dropped jaw. There was a prettiness to it that Fei instantly fell in love with.


    It was a deer, but not like any animal he''d ever seen. It was a huge thing; with its curved and branched golden antlers, it stood over nine feet tall. Its fur had a golden sheen, almost as if it contained an inner light made of the very sun itself. Its eyes were the hue of a rainbow, given form and reality.


    There was a certain kind of grace to the creature, almost otherworldly and supreme in its stature.


    Her eyes stared at the deer pretty, awed at its beautiful golden fur and its graceful gait.


    Then, everything clicked. His mother always told stories of certain kind of beasts that have lived since the inception of their world. When the beasts were born from the womb of the world itself, the very ocean boiled, and the earth was red hot with the rainfall of a million stars.


    Earth Shakers. Ruination. Nature Gods.


    Cifer wrapped his arms around sister closer to his chest, and then, heran.

 1.1

    Ten Years Later


    "So, this is what a city looks like," Mused Fei, eyes wide as she glanced about in every direction. "I didn''t think anyone could fit in so tightly like this."


    Cifer and Fei looked like a couple of country bumpinks. The city market square was tightly packed with throngs of people. Exotic fruits, cut meat, and fresh fishes and vegetables of all kinds were sold at the market at every corner of every street that extended itself for half a kilometer long. The smell of it was easily carried for miles by the soft salty breeze from the seaside coast of the city.


    Hope city, they also say, was the home to the premier academy of the entire nation of Jade.


    Cifer grunted.


    Fei sent him a searing glare. Then, a thought must have occurred to her. "Please tell me you haven''t lost the bag of coins,"


    "Watch it, young lady. I changed your diapers!"


    His sister groaned out loud, perhaps in embarrassment, or exasperation. "You''re impossible, brother! I was like, one! And that''s irrelevant. You tend to be absentminded at the best of time. I ended up having to take care of you because your cooking sucks!


    "My cooking does not suck," Cifer grumbled. He crossed his arms. "It''s not like we had any seasoning to go with it at the time. It would have been better if we had salt or pepper."


    Fei rolled her eyes, and replied, "Oh, please. All the seasoning in the world wouldn''t have saved my tongue from ever recovering,"


    Though they bickered, there was no heat in their arguments. It had been a long time since they''ve traveled back to civilization, and Cifer smiled bitterly at the reminder of what they''ve lost and, ultimately, gained along the way. Reintegrating into society was a painful, troublesome experience for the both of them. The urge stop lashing out at every sound in every dark corner had been a working progress. To say the least.


    "Hey...," Fei was in one of her introspective moods again, thought Cifer. "You ever... think we''ll ever see our ma and da again?"


    Cifer could hear the quiver in her voice. There was fear, yes, but also hope. It was a bitter thought, that when you accomplished something you''ve sought for so long, that you realize that you''re nowhere near your ultimate goal. Surviving was one thing. However, how does one find a tiny village without a name to place it?


    Their parents were probably still waiting.


    "We''ll find them," Cifer said with confidence he didn''t think he had. Changing the topic, he asked, "What do you think about joining the academy?"


    Fei snorted. "The academy? For those rich snobs? Can we even get in? We could barely afford a room and a meal in this city. Everything''s way too overpriced! Besides, we should try the other schools. They take in anyone, so long as they have the potential, we should be fine,"


    Cifer shook his head. "They might take us in, but their connections aren''t as wide-reaching as the academy. And they''re directly controlled by the ministry of education, who has the least power among the six ministries that rule the government. And furthermore, the minister rarely ever visits the other, lesser, academies other than from intermediaries. As for the Acadamy here, the sons and daughters of the government and powerful merchants have been receiving their education here for the last six centuries, and not only in the arts of war and cultivation, but on how to rule," Cifer shook his head again. "No, our best bet is to make allegiances in the Acadamy of Everlasting,"


    While it was true that the school accepted many of those with prestige bloodlines, the instructors were incredibly stringent on their students'' own talents and hard work. Should the son, or daughter, fail in their studies and duties, they will be sent back home in disgrace. And furthermore, the school also pooled in gifted students from other, lesser, schools into their programs from around the country. And despite their lesser, and perhaps even those of common birth, many of those went on to become generals, war heroes, and perhaps even ministers that rule the government. Certainly, an accomplishment was there, along with all expenses paid with those of less... prestige on their backgrounds,"


    Indeed, there was an opportunity here Cifer intended to take full advantage of. He glanced at his sister, and wondered whether she was up for the challenge. Then again...


    "I doubt they would help us simply by asking. Even if by some miracle they let us join the school, brother," Fei looked up with a frown.


    "Absolutely, you''re right," Cifer smirked. "Don''t worry. I''ve got a plan."


    His sister''s face paled. She swallowed, then uncorked her canteen and drank half of it before corking it and strapping it back by her waist. She darkly said, "Your plans are worse than your cooking. We always end up running for our lives..,"


    Cifer ignored her.


    It was another hour before they found themselves in the far richer district. The streets were cleaner, and the manses were four, sometimes ten stories high. The roofs with their sweeping curvatures that rises at every corner of the roof added a grace that the middle class, and the less wealthy, lacked. And despite their great heights and beautiful architecture, these homes were built with the emphasis on breadth and less on height, with acres of land for their gardens and parks, ponds, and even a few man-made lakes at one point.


    An area solely built for the rich and the powerful, dignitaries and foreign nobility, the more likely to encounter the guards that have the practicum of cultivation.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    It was only luck that they were not stopped from reaching their destination. Cifer and Fei looked more like village hunters and trappers than the sons and daughters of great nobility or deed. Indeed, while they looked like poor wretches, there was a certain confidence that even the guards noticed. The few cultivators among the guards knew to let none bar their way. However, they did get followed at a discreet distance.


    Cifer ignored them, too.


    It was another hour before they reached the Acadamy of Everlasting. Built in the name of their exalted prince, the school was heavily subsidized by the government. In fact, many graduated alumni have donated heavily to the school over the years, in terms of both coin and favours.


    The academy was built by the hands of a foreign architect, and the size of it was breathtaking. Even from outside the city walls, you could see the turrets and towers reaching a hundred feet into the air. A monstrous thing, taking up an entire quarter of the city upon the cliffs by the seaside. Despite its ugly, almost hellish construction, there was a certain kind of beauty and grace to it.


    The sun was high in the sky, and the six-hundred-year-old castle casts a wide shadow over the inhabitants of the Hope. The castle was the only thing that seemed to clash with the local culture.


    Cifer and Fei made their way across the winding paved road, and up the hill and toward the heavy, iron gates. A small army of soldiers, heavily armored and holding gleaming spears and halberds by the guard houses that overlooked the road. Sneaking in would have been near impossible. Every year, someone adds another layer of defenses to the castle. They may be spectral wards or detection crystals, centuries of improvement had made the academy near impenetrable.


    So, they walked directly. The chances of being refused entry were high, but Cifer had noticed a weakness.


    When they arrived closer to the gate, the more guards that seemed to pop up out of the excessively massive guard halls. He also noticed the crossbows following him, watching him from up in the guard halls.


    The guards wore curious looks, some wary, and others lit with anticipation.


    Cifer noticed their shining armour. They were made well with steel plated and leather. A hundred guards were stationed outside the castle walls, by his estimation. Possibly thousands more from within the castle.


    All of them were cultivators, every single one of them. They were strong, no doubt. These hundred men could quell an uprising from a small town, no doubt. But still, they were employed as staff guards to hold against whatever foolish enough to attack their precious school.


    He wondered, then, whether his ruse would actually work. He was strong, yes. As was his sister. But would he put her in danger in front of these hundred men, regardless of their martial might? No, Cifer didn''t think he could. Only the glaring and prodding by Fei did he forced to move his legs every step forward.


    When he stopped before one of the guards, Cifer bowed low in respect.


    Cifer intoned softly, respectfully. "I must respectfully ask for an audience with the dean of this honourable institute. I hope that he may be willing to meet two lowly cultivators? We''ve come a long way, milord, to greet with this learned man,"


    The armoured man raised brow may be an indication of cautious optimism and curiosity. He did seem to have been caught flat-footed by his well-spoken manners and politeness, however. They didn''t get kicked out just yet.


    "I''m no lord, boy," His voice was like gravel being crushed. "Never been one, and I think I would know if my father had told me. That being said, you''d have the look of orphans and street rats. The dean doesn''t just meet with anyone. And you must know that, amirite?"


    Cifer bowed once more. "Indeed, sir. Our importance and status are those of serfs, and to entice such a meeting with the dean is to bring a gift worthy of such," Cifer glanced at his sister with a look, though she must have known already. He took the leather bag she gave him, and brought out a carved wooden box from inside.


    Though he did not present it to the guard, Cifer looked behind the senior guard, and to the dozens of his entourage that stood curiously behind him. The man must have noticed his worried expression, before shooing them away with barked orders. The rest left with curses and grumbles under their breaths to their posts, though their curiosity had piqued.


    "Come, lad. We''ll talk in my office," Cifer nodded gratefully, and followed after the man. Fei shot him a glare, but Cifer ignored her. He got very good at that, lately.


    Eventually, the guard led them toward the largest guard hall within the area. It was spacious, with a large table and a few chairs and couches. A few documents and miscellaneous articles, weapons, and even a uniform littered about. But the office was orderly and clean. Clearly, he was a military man through and through.


    Still, there was a warmth to the interior. A picture hung up on the wall of his family, painted with such exquisitely detailed it was almost indistinguishable from the real thing. It must have cost quite the sum, and Cifer knew it was worth every single one.


    The wife was a beautiful, long-haired, and traditional Jadian beauty. Her eyes were brown, and her clothes were traditional of Jade culture. The daughter she held in her arms was a tiny thing, and tufts of light blond hair and large blue eyes.


    The guard must have seen his surprised expression, for he said, "My ancestor was a foreign man. The man, Klein Hartmann, an aide to the architect himself that built this wonderful castle, fell in love with a local woman. It was a bit of a surprise at the time, but the man decided to stay with his new wife and kids when the rest of his people left," The man gestured to the chairs before the office table, and sat behind it, once Cifer and Fei politely inclined to his request to make themselves more comfortable. The guard steepled his hands, and leaned forward. "My name is Ju-long Hartmann. How may I be of service?"


    "As I said, we wish to meet the dean," Cifer said. "We wish to offer him a gift, worthy enough that he might spend some of his time on our hopeful request,"


    The guard''s dark eyes narrowed. "And what request is that?"


    Cifer glanced at his sister for a moment. "We wish to join the academy,"


    "Such a request will not be filled so easily. Even if you two have been trained in the arts of martial warfare and cultivation, the chances are still slim," Ju-long shook his head in sympathy. "I''m sorry, but to even have a chance at meeting with the dean, you''re asking for a miracle,"


    Cifer glanced at the wooden box on his lap. He didn''t have any fear that the man might steal their treasure. Corruption was rare due to the secret police, spies, informants, and whathaveyou, that had been entrenched in every level of the government and institution possible. And though they might not care to give them justice, should things take a turn for the worse, the guard and his accomplices would be quickly arrested and executed. The prince was apparently a good administrator. Very good.


    He carefully opened the lid, and showed the guard the content of the box.


    Lu-long''s breath caught in his throat, hardly daring to breathe. "Is that...?"


    "Yes, it is," Cifer smiled. "The heart of an undead sage: a magnum corpus."

 1.2

    To clarify, a magnum corpus is more than just a container of the soul of the undead sage. It also contains the written records of the sage''s history, memories, scrolls and spellbooks and possibly even treasures and artifacts of power that most could only dream of. It was a world unto itself, kept safe and locked in a room that may vary in size.


    Should anyone encounter, and possibly even defeat the lich sage, any attempts on unlocking the secrets would be extremely difficult, and near impossible. There are safeguards and wards, mental defenses, soul entrapments and more tricks and magical defenses than you could shake a stick at. Even with resources backed by a kingdom, it might take years to unravel such a mysterious, and miraculous object. A simple mistake, even a carelessness of luck or fate, the magnum corpus would destroy itself. And the soul with it, possibly along with the fools that tampered with it.


    Of course, you would first have to defeat the lich first, then find the hidden magnum corpus. A near impossible act without an army of a few hundred thousands at your back, and a few or dozens of battalions of martial cultivators and sages by your side.


    In the last few thousands of years, few ever encountered the undead sages. But their actions and conducts have been accounted for and well detailed in history books with a thorough examination. Meeting a lich was dreamt of by the scholars and sages everywhere.


    What a wonder it would be, they say.


    Yes, a wonder, and a horror beyond reckoning. Liches are rare, yes, but their might are equal to those of the famed immortals and the exalted prince and his knights. Legendarily rarer still, are their containers. What treasures might be hiding? What spells of power, or wisdom, might they hold? A sage might give up one''s own first born for a chance at rediscovering its secrets.


    And in their entire history of meeting the liches, only one has ever attained the container after the lich''s defeat. That woman, Zhi Ruo, a famous sage of the Dragon clan of the Song empire, somehow managed to unlock its secrets. A happy news for the house of the Dragon, no doubt.


    Then she disappeared without a trace, and the magnum corpus with it. The House of the Dragon''s political and influential powers were shattered overnight, and an immortal himself declared the house persona non grata. This was two hundred years ago, and since then, no one has heard of them since.


    As for Zhi Ruo, the rumour was, she had taken the secrets of undeath to become one herself. Just rumours, of course, but perhaps also a hint of truth. Cifer didn''t know, but anything was possible.


    Hells, aside from the secrets of undeath, a magnum corpus may contain so much more. With that thought, Cifer wouldn''t be surprised if a sage murdered an entire department of his own colleagues to get his hands on such a priceless treasure.


    The young man eyed the magnum corpus crystal within the box. A clear cut glass, so perfectly spherical he cannot even spot an imperfection anywhere. Its light within was dull, but still resonating with a faint heartbeat. The interstellar cloud of magic within the crystal was weak, almost hungry in its desire to feed.


    It was dying, barely held together by the magic that once sustained it.


    "You think this is a good idea, just handing over our treasure after all we went through?!" Fei''s hissed words whispered into his ears. "The lich would give us away in an instant! We''re screwed if they found out we''re screwing them!"


    Just before Lu-long Hartmann left, barking orders to the rest of his men to make sure they stayed put, he brought the siblings coffee, and whatever biscuits he could scrounge up before departing in a hurry. He could hear dozens, perhaps all them, moving in tandem to guard the doors, while the man left to get the dean''s attention. No doubt to ensure they don''t leave. Cifer thought the man was too paranoid. They won''t leave.


    Cifer sighed. "No, I don''t think it''s a good idea. But we''ve already looted everything inside, and the soul is dying anyway. Even if they managed to get past its defenses, it would take a year at best to succeed. Fail, and... well," Cifer made a wooshing sound, as if to mimic an explosion. "Its magic is falling apart. The soul would be half mad and incoherent even if, by some terrible luck, they managed to get past its defenses. By the time they get through, everything within would be destroyed due to the decay of magic,"


    Fei grumbled, and kept fussing with her clothes. She was nervous, and had every right to be. If they found out, execution would be the most welcoming option. At worst... Cifer didn''t dare to think about.


    It was another two hours before he heard voices shouting outside the guard halls. The door slammed open, and in walked the dean himself. There was an educated air about him, despite his rotund apperance. The robes he wore were a rich blue, over white and gold trimmings. His hair was cropped short, and the glasses that hung from the nose made him look less like a sage, and more of a librarian.


    "You-...," The dean said at last, and stepped forward. "You are the one... may I see it?"


    Cifer bowed deeply. Fei didn''t bother, rather, she crossed her arms with a scowl.


    "Yes, I am the one with the treasure, milord," Cifer straightened his back, and held his box close to his chest. "This is a gift for your honourable self, milord,"


    The man, the dean, snorted. "There are no lords here, boy, not in this country. I''m guessing you''re from that barbaric country of Song, yes? It doesn''t matter. They''re fools, all the same," The dean walked up until the man stood only a foot away from Cifer. He gave but a curious glance at his sister, but dismissed her. Good. "My captain here says you brought me something. Specifically for a favour, yes?"


    There was greed in his eyes, yes, but also anticipation. He couldn''t blame the dean. Even he himself had salivated at the thought of such secrets hidden within the container. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    "Sir... ah, yes sir," Cifer bowed, and held out his gift toward the dean. "My gift, sir, in the hope that you would give us a chance to prove ourselves before you. We hope... sir, that we may attend the Academy of Everlasting, with your full blessing, along with certifications and proper documents as a listed citizen of the Jade Empire,"


    The dean carefully took the box, and opened it. His seemed to squeal, squeak, and cough at the same time. Cifer thought the man was having a stroke for a moment, but that passed. The man''s eyes seemed permanently stuck wide open as he stared into the content of the box, frozen as a statue.


    "Do you... boy, do you have any idea how much this is worth?" The dean breathed out, his hands quivering ever so slightly. He seemed to have trouble breathing. "Boy, this thing alone would cost you hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of dollars in cash, boy! You could have bought your own bloody keep if you sold it. Instead, you''re both here, gifting it to me, as if it was some trinket!"


    The dean nearly screamed near the end of his tirade. With a calming of several breaths, the dean forced himself to calm down when he noticed the agitated expressions of his captain, and the children standing before him.


    "My apologies, young sir, lady!" His eyes glanced at the treasure within the box one more time, before closing the lid with a gentle akin to holding a newborn babe. "You must understand, boy. This treasure you gifted me, it is a treasure worthy of emperors and god-kings! I cannot, in good conscience, keep this!"


    Cifer wore an alarmed expression, because the dean calmed them down with his next words. "Do not worry, boy! You''ve earned whatever it was you asked for, and so much more! All your wishes will be granted, provided that you have some talent in your ability for cultivation."


    It wasn''t a question. Not yet.


    The young man bowed again, this time with much deeper gratitude and a wide smile stretched across his face. "My thanks, my most honourable sir. I''m afraid we did not have much in terms of money, and you''ve given us a most precious gift,"


    The dean waved his hand dismissively. "Yes, yes. The captain tells me you are both trained in the cultivation of qi, yes?"


    "My grandfather once served in the military of the Song dynasty as a levied soldier, a long time ago," Cifer''s lies were like fine wine when he spoke. "Eventually, he settled in a farm to raise his family. He had some small talent in the sage arts, but did not teach cultivation until I and my sister were born, sir,"


    "A sage, you say? If your grandfather is as determined as you two young warriors, then I''m very glad the foolish Song dynasty did not elevate his position higher in their military," The dean eyed the box with an expression of contentment. The man was barely listening at this point, though the captain Lu-long certainly was, "Just how was it, that you''ve come across such a great find?"


    "That was quite the adventure, honourable sir," Cifer bowed again. "I''m afraid, it''s another great tragedy that befell us. It was only luck, and the trick of fate, that we encountered this great find within a tower hidden deep in the Summer woods," The young man bowed, then gestured toward the box in the dean''s hands."And I''m sure you''re far too busy to listen to us children when you have much bigger concerns to examine,"


    "Yes, absolutely you''re right, my boy! Your foresight shall lead you far in the academy!" The dean replied spiritedly. "My name is Liu Hui, the dean of the honourable Academy of Everlasting, appointed by the minister of education himself! And you, my young children, have quite the adventure to begin. Yes, yes!"


    --


    They escaped any speculation quite splendidly, and the dean had sent an aide to gather their full name, age, and birth. Eventually, they were led to an expensive tailor shop that catered to the rich and the powerful. Once their measurements were taken, their uniforms would be ready in a few weeks. The aide then led them to a dormitory a mile away from the academy, located in the Cloud district where they will be staying for the rest of their terms.


    The dorms were gender segregated, so they will be separated into different sleeping quarters. They would, of course, share a room with another student. The buildings were spacious and roomy, and quite lavish. Their backyards and courtyards were filled with gardens and koi ponds and beautiful fishes. The gardens and maintenance were well kept and maintained all year around.


    While they hadn''t seen anyone within the vicinity, the aide explained that it was the summer holidays. The students had left to visit their homes and families in other cities. Once the first term starts, the dorm would be quite crowded, filled with challanges and duels.


    Their dorm rooms will be provided for them within the academy, free of charge for the first four years. Their scholarships would be paid for in full, and a monthly stipend would be sent to their personal accounts to the city bank. It was quite a lot of money, and Cifer wondered if it was possible to use them for business ventures within the city.


    A warning was also given; Cifer and Fei were expected to do well in all of their coursework. If they were found to be unfit for the academy, they will be removed, and possibly placed into one of the lesser schools of thought in another city. Or a town, if they showed little appetite.


    As such, they will have to be tested before they could actually join the Everlasting academy. Their strengths in both the sage arts and the martial arts, respectively within their specialty, as well as their ability to cultivate. Their education in both numbers and letters, ancient history, calligraphy, and the laws of this country. They would be tested by the examiners and placed appropriately depending on their testing results.


    They were given a month''s time to study before they would take the test, and the textbooks would be given to them the following day. Cifer didn''t think he or his sister needed that long to study it, so they opted to explore the city.


    Still, Cifer was glad everything seemed to be going smoothly.


    Fei couldn''t help but sigh in relief as she munched into her second cake, at the local cafe. It wasn''t a ritzy area, but held a comfortable atmosphere. The cafe was located within the middle of the government district, and it was where many of the civil servants, businessmen, barristers, and the middle-class families often tend to visit when they thirst for caffeine in the working hours.


    "I can''t believe that worked," Fei was happily munching on her third cake. Cifer couldn''t help but stare at his little sister''s enormous appetite. The tension and the waiting must have gotten to her. She grinned. "Holy shit, I can''t believe that worked!"


    "It''s only the first step," Cifer looked out the window, and smiled. "We will find our parents, and we will bring about our plans to fruition,"


    Fei choked on her cake, then glared balefully at her brother. "Just concentrate on your studies and passing the school, brother. The last thing we want is attention,"


    Cifer snorted. "Far too late for that, I''m afraid. No one just brings a magnum corpus without consequences. They''ll be investigations, and spies in place. They''ll be watching us for a long time before they relent."


    "I hope so, brother," Fei went back to eating her cake. "I hope so."

 1.3

    The dorm they''ll be living in for the duration of their stay here, turned out to be for those students with less than well-off income families, the scholarship students, and the lucky few. Despite the lavish rooms, silken beds, comforters, and the beautiful courtyards were the bare minimum the administration was willing to hand out. The rest of the money goes to the castle, and to those with old money, connections, and the prodigies were allowed to stay.


    Fei was still dumbstruck by the sheer opulence they were willing to throw at it. So was Cifer, if he was honest with himself. This one room he was staying in, would have fed his family for the rest of their lives without a day of work. It was quite the dizzying comprehension when it dawned on him.


    And he wasn''t even going to mention the number of zeroes Cifer and his sister''s stipend contained. He didn''t dare touch the money unless necessary, so the money was still sitting in the bank.


    It took some time to get used to their new lives, especially since they now had to share the room with a stranger. Where they were more used to the idea of sleeping under furs on hard ground, they now made their home in a room as large, and twice the size of his village home.


    It took several hours to fall asleep, before finally giving up. Ultimately, Cifer fell asleep on the carpeted floor by the bed.


    Cifer didn''t have much to unpack, other than a few leather pelts, the coin purse, and the new ID card and legal documents given to him by the school''s administrative office.


    The days went by pretty quickly, and Cifer stayed indoors most of the time, reading up on the textbooks for the upcoming exams. Fei was usually out, wandering about the city, and finding trouble wherever she went. How she found herself in the middle of an underground fighting ring, was beyond him.


    They have never been a city before. Sure, he read about it. Even a small city might consist of a few hundred thousand people. A city as large as Hope, with a population of a million? It was inconceivable.


    Still, Fei did come home with ten thousand bucks in cash. Apparently, her new boss wanted her back in the ring.


    Cifer might need to pay the man a visit, just to ensure that nothing... inappropriate or inconvenient happens to his sister. Although, the chances of him being involved would be slim, considering the temperamental nature of his sister''s personality. Still, a brother should worry about his sister, regardless of her capabilities.


    Anything could happen, especially in a city like Hope.


    "Oh! I''m sorry, I... are you my new roommate?"


    A boy of about fifteen walked in, dragging a few pieces of luggage and a chest into the room. His hair was white as the snow, and it fell across his scrawny figure like a waterfall. He looked like a doll, with his androgynous features, thick pink lips, and light hazel eyes.


    There was a delicate air about him, a shy-like countenance. It looked like a breeze might blow him away with barely an effort. Hells, the boy barely came up to his chest!


    Cifer stared, then he wondered whether the boy was even in the right place, considering the curriculum they would have to be studying. Then again, the boy might be a sage in training.


    "My apologies, you startled me," He lept to his feet and bowed low. "You have me at a disadvantage. I thought the school will not be starting for another two months?"


    "Ah, yes, you''re correct," The boy looked uncomfortable holding on to all that luggage. "I decided to come early, as I have a lot to read up on for my second year''s studies,"


    Cifer nodded, then apologized again. He was quite surprised the young man was a second-year student. The students of second years are usually seventeen, perhaps younger depending on their intellect and achievements. "Let me help you with your luggage. It must not be easy coming here from... I''m assuming you live far away?"


    The boy confirmed it with a nod. "Yes, I live in a small town of Earthstrom city, down in the south. It''s near the border to the Song," He seemed startled for a moment, then placed his belongings by the second, empty bed in the room. "I have not introduced myself. My name is Liang Zexi, pleased to meet you,"


    Cifer shook his hand, and responded, "A pleasure. My name is Ruo Cifer."


    "I have not seen you around, Cifer," Zexi seemed to be thinking of an instance where he ever met Cifer. "I have met most of the students in my year, though I must admit the new students for their first year haven''t arrived yet. Are you perhaps a new first year?"


    The boy looked a little uncomfortable, and probably wished to point out his age. It was a reasonable assumption, and considering that most of the first year students arriving must be as young as fifteen, and the oldest being sixteen. The fact that Cifer looked like a graduated student seem to put off the boy.


    "I am... indeed, a new student," The idea of the Everlasting academy accepting students as old as twenty for their first year would be an absurd notion. A laughable idea, in fact. "There was a special circumstance that allowed me to enter the academy. I will be having my placement exams by the end of the month, so I''ll be preparing much of my time on that endeavor," A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    The boy''s brow raised until they disappeared into his bangs. "I am surprised. You must be an exceptional student to be accepted into the prestigious academy so late. May I ask what your major will be?"


    Cifer shook his head, and smiled. "Not at all. I''ll be majoring in the sage arts, and minoring in Alchemy. And you?"


    The boy, Zexi, puffed out his chest and gave a beaming grin. "I will be majoring in the Martial Warfare, and minoring in Military Strategy and Tactics."


    Cifer''s expression barely flickered, but his lips twitched up in a polite smile. It took every conceivable strength of his will not to gape open his mouth like a koi fish. The last thing he wanted was to alienate a valuable, and possible ally so early in the game. Still, Hells and Gods! Was this boy serious?!


    "My congratulations on your passage to the second year of your studies," Cifer gave a slight tilt of the head in a bow. "You must have done quite well for yourself. Are you perhaps wanting to enter the military once you graduate?"


    "Yes, absolutely. My wish, my ambition, is to become the unit commander of the Black Mountain," Zexi finally replied, almost boastful.


    You may as well wish for the sky to fall, and usher in an eternal utopia. Still, Cifer nodded and smiled. Attaining the rank of a unit commander is to attain the highest rank within the military. A near-total control over the entire military of the cultivators of the Jadian empire, second only to the Exalted Prince himself. The boy... unless Zexi could prove himself not only in the field of battle, but in the political arena, and the connections required to climb the military ladder, he would be going nowhere.


    Then again, Cifer doesn''t know the boy, and Zexi did pass his first year after all. Only the best of the best ever really enter into the Everlasting academy, and the fact that the boy came from a middling city, with parents that might not be as influential in the courts, or in the government, says something about Zexi''s ability in both martial might and intellect.


    Still, if he passes the college successfully with ninety percentile mark, he would automatically become a colonel in the field.


    If Zexi wished to earn a much safer rank, then perhaps a different role be a preferred choice. Zexi could transfer to the strategist department of the military arm if he so chose, where he would be learning the ins and outs of being a military strategist. And if he was ambitious enough, then ultimately, he could be a strategist advisor to a unit commander of the Black Mountain himself.


    Attaining such a rank would be an honorable mark upon one''s lifetime, and a very noble profession.


    However, Zexi wants to attain the rank of a unit commander among the cultivators. In which case, he would have to be out in the field, where death came easy. And to climb the ranking soldiers of the cultivators was to be the best among them all.


    Cifer carefully examined the boy once more.


    Yup. Zexi''s a goner. He''s gonna get raped and killed out in the field. He really hoped the boy prepared a will of some sort before all this. It would be a tragedy for his family to lose him like this so soon.


    He coughed politely behind his fist. "Quite the ambitious plan, Zexi. I must admit, even I wish I had your strength of will to achieve far in my life."


    "Oh? What is it you wish to pursue?" Zexi asked, grinning.


    The boy was getting comfortable around his presence. Cifer had to admit, he was also letting his guard down around the boy. "Why, to become an immortal of course."


    A beat of silence followed.


    Cifer and Zexi let out a laughter, a full belly one.


    After a time, Zexi wiped the tears from his eyes, and said, "I must admit. You had me going there, Cifer. Truly splendid! Still, I am glad that you are to be my roommate for the next few years. I think we shall get along quite nicely."


    The door slapped open again. Cifer resisted the urge to sigh. Had he become popular today? Has fate decided enough was enough, that whatever peace and quiet he earned, was not enough? Cifer had the sudden urge to curse.


    "Hey, brother, you want to help me train?" Fei strode into his room as if he owned this place, though her eyes did flicker to the boy. She thumbed at Zexi, and asked, "Who''s the pipsqueak?"


    Said pipsqueak, looked like his face just turned into a tomato. Oh, Zexi looked angry. Desist! Desist!


    "Sister, please be polite to our fellow senior," He directed toward Zexi with a slight bow. "His name is Liang Zexi, and a potential to be someone great in the future. Zexi, my friend, meet my sister, Ruo Fei. She''s majoring in the same field as you, in fact,"


    Zexi still hadn''t spoken, clammed up like a shell. His face was still as bright as the sun, and the tips of his ears looked like a hot poker.


    "Hey, sup! So, you wanna have a match sometime? I wanna know how strong you are," Cifer looked upon Zexi''s steaming face, and then he looked back at his sister. "So, how about tomorrow morning? I specialize in spears, so I could totally kick your wussy ass!"


    Cifer frowned. His sister wore a rough, and slim fitting sleeveless blue tank top. There was just a slight hint of cleavage, despite the bindings wrapped around her chest. Her hair was done up in a slightly messy tail. Her nose and her left cheek had a bit of dirt smudged on it. Her arms were bare, and it showed off the athletic toned muscles and the darkened sun-browned skin. As for her pants, it was just as tight fitting and slim as her top. She must have custom ordered it from the tailor they ordered the uniform from.


    She must have been training all day, considering just how drenched she was in her own sweat.


    His gaze zeroed in on Zexi, once more.


    Fei was as tall as he was, and had neither the grace nor the sophistication that traditional female cultivators presented among the Jadians, and especially among the Songs. To a Jadian boy of middling worth like Zexi, Fei may as well be an otherworldly creature from an extrinsic culture.


    Zexi looked like he had trouble breathing, because he could only nod to her request.


    "Great! I''ll see you there! At the training hall! Be there before the sun''s up!" Fei''s narrowed eyes found his. "At least someone is willing to help me train!"


    Then, she was gone, slamming the door behind her.


    Cifer sighed.


    Zexi was still staring faintly at the door.


    Shit. "Shit," Cifer muttered. Zexi''s in love.

 1.4

    The month followed, and Cifer prepared for the upcoming examination. There wasn''t much he hadn''t already known, and except for his terrible calligraphy, he should be able to pass whatever exams they present him. Other than that, he spends most of his time with Zexi.


    Well, whenever his sister was nearby, the boy had about as much subtlety as a rampaging elephant in the middle of a chicken coop. His brain seemed to stop working, and he would freeze up like a mouse about to be a cat''s plaything. Not that Cifer could blame him. From what he understood, his sister beat the boy black and blue in their first "practice" sparring.


    Either Zexi''s crush on his sister was a disability during the spars, or the boy really was that terrible. Or, perhaps, his sister was just that good. Cifer felt a rush of familial pride at the thought.


    Still, the boy seemed to follow Fei around like a lost puppy whenever she was within the vicinity. Honestly, such an infatuation was dangerous if he decided to get possessive. Not that that would matter, considering Zexi was from a family of minor civil servants. Still, it''s better to put the boy down gently, before things take a turn for worse.


    Who knows? Maybe his sister might return Zexi''s feelings, mused Cifer. If that were the case, he would give his full blessing. If not, a few days in the recovery ward of the hospital should deter any emotional feelings toward her.


    It was, however, amusing watching Zexi flubber and fluster his way through a conversation with Fei. He had to keep hiding his smile behind a cuppa from transforming into a full-blown grin.


    And then, finally, the day of the exams arrived. I dressed appropriately by wearing the student uniform. When the foreigners landed on the shores of the Jadian nation so many centuries ago, they also brought within them not only the technology, but also their culture. It became a beloved cultural assimilation into the Jadian society, and persisted to this very day, despite the harpings of the traditionalists within the government.


    Also, they were much more economical than wearing robes most of the time. In other words, it costs less.


    The uniform was a pristine white buttoned shirt, a black blazer, a grey vest, and black trousers. The shoes were ankle-high leather boots with leather uppers and black as midnight. From what Zexi told of it, these boots were made from the hide of a lesser drake, and the clothes themselves were made from the very same silk that belonged to the children of the Spider Queen herself, the Blackfire spiders. Strong, durable, and light as a feather. And so comfortable you could sleep in them.


    It was finished off with a silk black tie tucked into the vest, close to his breast, and a custom pin clipped to it. The pin itself was an emblem carved into the likeness of a winged dragon of the foreigners. It was made of pure gold. The dragon itself represents the school''s symbol. A point of pride for those alumni.


    Fei, on the other hand, slightly deviated. The knee-high leather boots and black trousers, a flaring black coat, and the usual ensemble of a grey vest, white buttoned up shirt. The same gold emblemed pin pinned to the black thin tie.


    Zexi couldn''t stop staring at her, with his wide saucer eyes and pale features. Cifer smirked at his dumbfounded look. He sang a tune under his breath, as they both trodded up the path toward the castle gates. Zexi accompanied them for a while, before giving his farewell and wishing luck, before leaving to get some lunch.


    The guards let them in, this time with much more welcoming arms.


    "You guys ready for the exams?" Cifer turned to watch the captain, as he walked toward them in a slow, relaxed manner.


    Cifer nodded with a smiled. "I hope so, captain. We''ve been ready for a while yet, and the waiting has been quite nerve-wracking,"


    His sister grunted, staring with narrowed eyes at Hartmann. She didn''t trust him, and more than likely was here to gain their trust. Still, whether or not he was a spy or not, doesn''t change the fact that friends should be made everywhere, regardless of their motives.


    "Well, I should hope to get some happy news when you walk out of these gates," Captain Hartmann ordered the guards to open the gates. "I would wish you two luck, but considering how smart you kids seem to be... well, I have no doubt you''ll do well in your exams."


    "I would be more than glad to have some of that luck, captain," Cifer thanked him, then gestured at Fei toward the paved path leading to the castle.


    Just as the gates were closing, the captain called out with a yell. "Oh, by the way! If you see my daughter, tell her the curfew''s at ten!"


    Cifer, and even Fei was startled, but waved their goodbyes and left.


    "Huh, I didn''t expect his daughter to attend the same academy as us," Said Fei, with a puzzled expression. "She must be really good if she''s living in the castle,"


    "I don''t expect anything less from the daughter of captain Hartmann," Cifer replied with a smile. "Besides that, are you ready for the exams?"


    Fei snorted. "We''ll pass easily enough. What I''m concerned about are the combat trials. If I held back, the examiners would notice. They''ll know something''s up."


    "Keep your eyes peeled, then. Don''t hold back," Cifer circulated the qi within his body, regulating his body with calming breaths. "The sage trials will be no different, I expect. Harder, if possible. They don''t just let anyone just join the sages in their fields without considerable competency."


    The gardens were expansive, as expected. The statues of past heroes, innovators, philosophers, generals and more lined their path. They were all once alumni of the Everlasting, achieving great things for the betterment of their society as a whole. The academy was proud of their achievements, and they had every right to be. Even Cifer was in a little awe of them. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    It took twenty minutes to reach their destination. A long way to go despite the enormous castle. The entrance doors was wide open, cleared and well paved. There were no guards of any sort. Just statues, as large and imposing as the likeness of the pair of war heroes standing by the entrance.


    Except, of course, for a gilded and beautiful wheelhouse. It was so large, twenty horses were harnessed to the thing just to drag it.


    Cifer and Fei were both surprised to find it. They didn''t see anyone else go up the path toward the castle, so the mystery guest must have been here since morning.


    Interesting.


    Just as they were about to enter the castle, another came through.


    He was tall, almost as tall as Cifer. Following the young man was an entourage of government officials like ducklings following their mother.


    Cifer''s puzzling question was, why was the young boy leading them looked foreign? The young man''s skin was dark brown, and his hair was a messy rat''s nest. His clothes, however, were luxurious of gold and white ropes and expensive jewelry. A ring adorned on his middle finger, with an emblem of a tridant. He had strong jaws and a perfectly symmetrical face.


    His aides, however, were about as Jadian citizens as they come. Yet, they looked upon him with neither malice or fear. There was only obedience, and order.


    Just who was this boy?


    They stopped when they saw Cifer and Fei. Specifically, the boy''s eyes seemed to be glued on to his sister.


    Great, thought Cifer. Another admirer.


    Before he could speak, and politely introduce themselves with a bow that may as well reach the bloody floor, his sister interrupted them with her usual subtlety. It''s like watching a dumb animal herd of oxen running off the edge of a mountain. In slow motion. He could not possible look away from horror.


    "Oh, well look at you! Dayum! You look fine, boy!" Fei grinned, with her fists on her hips. If possible, the hard looking, and the finely sculptured adonis'' cheeks tinged with red. "You joining the academy, too? Or are you our senior? I''m taking the exams with my bro, see if we have the brains to join the academy, you know?"


    The bristled and red-faced aides behind the boy looked ready to murder and hide the boy.


    Honestly, Cifer was ready to blow up on her sister himself and grovel to the important looking man and hopefully, their life would be spared. Where the hells does she get her idioms and slangs from?! In fact, most of the things he picked up were from his sister. Even the songs! Gods above and below, Cifer had been infected!


    Cifer could feel a headache coming on, but before he could bow and apologize to the young master, Fei continued.


    She sometimes referred to herself as a motormouth. Whatever that meant. He liked the term applied to her, however, because that was exactly what she was doing.


    "You''re strong, though, right? I beat up this kid back in the dorms. A second year. Not bad, but his swordwork need some work, and the guy''s way too hesitant to strike me," Fei''s eyes seemed to narrow at the young man standing opposite of her, and grinned. She showed her teeth. "So, you got the balls to take me on, or are you gonna flop like a little bitch?"


    "How dare you!" One of the aides exploded, spittle coming out. His eyes were red, and his cheeks were flushed with red. "You dare.... address your prince, the heir to the throne, like a common whore-"


    "Enough." Ah. The prince Xun Delan was the only child and heir to his father, the Exalted Prince himself. We''re fucked. Great, now Cifer was speaking like his sister. He wanted to cry, but he didn''t think it was appropriate until the day of the execution. He had some pride not to blither and beg in front of an audience.


    The prince''s eyes didn''t waver, and when he spoke next, his words were directed at his aides. He spoke softly, but the steel in his words was as sharp as a runic blade. "You will leave us,"


    The aides looked about ready to protest, but they complied. His words may as well be law. Of course, the aides shot him, and his sister especially, with a withering glare so strong he thought they might have turned into a muddle of meat and unrecognizable flesh.


    Fei whistled appreciatively. "Thanks bro! Those guys looked about as stuffy as a wet rag,"


    The prince, if possible, looked puzzled. He got the meaning, however. A smart cookie, he was. Dammit! Cifer really needed to purge his thoughts of his inner Fei.


    "Yes, they can be quite... overwhelming," The prince gave a slight nod. "You are here to take the exam?"


    Fei responded with a grin. "Sure am. We''re gonna do our exam, and kick some poor schmuck in the combat trials. And what about you? What are you here for?"


    "I have had business to conduct with the dean," Deland, the prince, replied. "I was sent by my father to inspect a valuable artifact found by...," His eyes flickered, then seemed to change his mind. Cifer noticed, and had his sister. But she was damn good at playing dumb. He curiously asked, "You say you have bested another student of the academy, and yet you are just joining the academy?"


    "Oh yeah, totally," Fei nodded. "He''s good. Real good, but he''s afraid I''m gonna get hurt," His sister''s mouth was all teeth by this point. "So, you got the brass balls to spank me?"


    Oh yeah, the prince was definitely blushing now. If the boy''s face was any more inflamed, the walls might be glowing from a second sun.


    "I will... attend the training, since my lady keeps insisting," The prince said, as cool as ice. "You may give my aide your place of residence, so that we may conduct our training. Tomorrow evening?"


    "Oh oh! Since you''re the prince, I''m sure you''ll find out where we live without our little help," Fei chuckled, then walked past the prince. Cifer would have breathed out a sigh of relief, despite the breaking of decorum and tradition when dealing with the royalty. Not before, however, when Fei decided to do the one thing he really wished she hadn''t done.


    Ever.


    Fei struck the prince. In the arse.


    The sound of the smack in thr arse must have echoed throughout the entire castle.


    Cifer''s heart stopped.


    "Peace out. I''ll see your fine arse tomorrow. Get ready for a beating, bro!" Her voice echoed down the hall, and then she was gone.


    Cifer froze.


    He locked eyes with the prince'' golden orbs.


    An awkward moment of silence followed.


    The prince coughed behind his fist, then left.


    Cifer muttered, then followed after his sister. "I''m going to die one day, and it''ll all be because of my sister."

 1.5

    The castle was huge. He knew this. It was also a breathtaking sight when he looked upon it on a summer''s sun morning, from a hilltop outside the city. A breathtaking view.


    It took up a small chunk of the city. A twelve-point-four-kilometer long behemoth, and a half-a-kilometer high of nigh-impenetrable stone. This did not include the lands that surrounded it; the gardens, pools, and anything that might of use for preparing its next generation of students.


    It was a very large academy.


    So it surprised Cifer, when he noticed that the castle wasn''t as it should be. A normal man, even those with extensive martial cultivating training, wouldn''t have noticed the distinctive, and subtle shift in space. It was there, just at the preception of his peripheral vision, like an itch. The magic that fixated into the very bedrock of the world, sharp and as distinctive as the smell of wood smoke.


    The reality of space stretched itself out just a little bit wider.


    In other words, the castle was bigger on the inside than it was on the outside.


    A lot bigger.


    A mindboggling achievement that must have taken centuries to suffuse the inscriptions and runic magic of such sophistication into something as large as the Everlasting castle. Countless specialized sages, calculations, and decades of work to ensure that nothing goes wrong and collapses in on itself, just from interfering with the castle wards itself.


    And that was just the basic first step.


    He certainly assumed that such a massive undertaking hadn''t interfered with the warding schemas and defenses outside the castle. Or perhaps, they didn''t have to. The inner walls of the castle might be separated from the outer walls. It might be that the wall separated two rooms inside the same building, at the same time.


    It was beautiful, like looking into a world within the space of his imagination. Gods, the costs to engineer something of this magnitude, within a space as large the castle must have been an undertaking of centuries.


    And the cost of it all... he didn''t think anyone had the kind of money to achieve something like this. This undertaking must have taken centuries of savings and massive investments to complete from start to finish.


    Cifer shook his head and cleared away his thoughts.


    It wasn''t the time. They had an exam to complete, and he would be damned if he got distracted by something he only theorized.


    The paintings and carpeted hallways ended when Cifer and Fei entered into what must be their main hall.


    Another surprise awaited them. While Fei hadn''t sensed the spatial distortion of the world within, she did notice what was above them. There was no roof, but a mass of shifting, endless stars within the backdrop of inky blackness, moving minutely. It was a painting, he realized.


    A moving painting?


    Cfier blinked.


    The painting shifted. The night sky shifted into another beautiful art. Cifer recognized it, as did Fei.


    Two men, armoured and armed. The painting told of their story, of their animosity, and the rage for one another. An interesting tale, one of betrayal and sacrifice, but once he heard of from his mother.


    Choezom the Enlightened, with his six arms, and six holy weapons, beheld himself before his adversary in his ready stance: his brother, Ahuizotl, the man who founded the Song dynasty and ushered in a new era of war and strife.


    So they claimed.


    The Songs would say otherwise.


    Cifer grasped his sister''s arm, and shook it lightly. Fei''s wide eyes flickered, glaring at him. He said, "Come on, let''s go."


    The great hall inhabited a few students, studying or eating their morning breakfast. Their uniforms were absent, and wore casual clothings. It was a relaxed atmosphere, and Cifer noticed a few drinking and card games amidst the few that studied from their papers or ate their morning breakfast.


    These must be the students that came back to the academy early, or had never left.


    "Welcome," The young girl was a tall one, with hair as red as the fires of the sun. Cifer shifted uncomfortably underneath the pair glaring golden orbs. He sensed her distaste for them. She didn''t even try to conceal it. She sneered, "You must be the new students. I have heard much of you from the dean,"


    He assumed she was a student of this school, possibly one of great regard and achievements. Cifer bowed low. "In our hope, the news presented us in a good light?"


    The woman didn''t even blink. "He did say you were polite," Then her eyes moved to his sister. "Though it is a disappointment that your sister had not learned any manners,"


    Fei yawned, her mouth hidden behind her fist. "Keep yapping. You''re about as important as the dung I stepped on getting here,"


    The student bristled, then pivoted on her feet stomped away. Well, she didn''t actually stomp away. She was far too graceful for that. "Follow me. The examiners are waiting for you."


    Cifer quickly followed. He leaned toward his sister, and hissed, "Do you want to get us killed?"The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Oh please. She''s nothing we can''t handle," Fei smirked. "I bet she''s all show and no bite."


    He sighed, then quickly followed after the girl.


    Eventually, they were led up the stairs, passed classrooms and auditoriums and up another floor. It was another ten minutes before they were eventually led into a large classroom, filled with desks and chairs and a chalkboard on the front wall.


    "This is where I bring your sister with me to another classroom," Fei wasn''t even acknowledged before the student walked away.


    Fei sniggered. "She''s way too sensitive, brother," She said, before following after her charge.


    Cifer rolled his eyes, and called out his farewell before he entered the room. A short and balding man sat before the table, drinking a cup of coffee and munching on snacks.


    "Ah. You''ve arrived," The man stood from his desk, and with a smile, he held out his hand. "My name is Tang Cai. You may call me Mr. Tang,"


    Resisting the urge to bow, Cifer shook his hand instead. It held a strong grip, calloused and rough. "Sir, it''s a pleasure. Are you do be my language examiner?"


    "Oh, yes. You may take a seat wherever you like," He indicated to the large classroom, and handed him clipped, and crisp papers, as well as a pen, and an eraser. "You have two hours to complete the exam before the time''s up. No extension. Your results will be provided for you before you leave,"


    Cifer took the exam papers, and picked out a table near the window. Two hours later, he was led to another classroom by the same young woman.


    She didn''t speak, and neither did Cifer. Inbetween the hourly breaks between the exams, it ended up costing him half the day. It had exhausted him.


    It was the trial Cifer was more worried about. He had constantly circulated his Qi to strengthen his mind, and the body. Tea helped, as did the light lunch in the cafeteria. He prepared as best he could for the sage trial.


    He wondered how well his sister was doing. When the trial for sage arts came, it arrived from an unexpected examiner. The student.


    "I''ll be your examiner for your sage trial," She crossed her arms, her eyes glaring down at him. Well, up at him. "I am the examiner Qiao Fu, and I''ll be testing your capabilities to not only your ability to cultivate, but the ability to draw upon your magic,"


    Cifer blinked.


    "So, I shall face you in combat," Her qi lit up around her, in tiny pinpoints of light surrounding her. Fu looked part fae, surrounded by the arcane lights. "Are you ready?"


    The three dantians within his spirit lit up like suns, igniting his soul and invigorating his mind.


    There are many schools of thought, in both martial cultivators and sages. Limitless possibilities existed so long as the human mind could achieve it, and time. Fu, it seemed, was an arcane specialist.


    "Should you concede defeat, it will not go against you. This exam is to test your capabilities not only in times of war, but your ability to push through stress and creativity. Everlasting does not accept fools and unimaginative layabouts. Oh, also, I will not let anything come to harm you," Fu smiled evilly, her hands outstretched. "Let''s begin!"


    The world exploded in motion: a blue rain. Like arrows, the arcane magic targeted him with frightening speed.


    Cifer breathed out.


    He felt his heart speed up. The world slowed down. His fingers twitched, and walls of earth formed from the arena floor. The arcane bolts struck the earthen barrier and exploded. The chunks of the wall went missing, and the smaller shrapnels would have struck him if Cifer hadn''t already been moving.


    Cifer manipulated a small circle of the earth beneath his foot, and formed it into a small platform. He braced himself, and he moved harmlessly out of the way.


    A line of sight helped him manipulate the earth beneath the feet of Fu, his examiner. The girl looked bored, though focused on her magic.


    Her eyes locked on to his.


    Jagged spikes of rock and earth erupted beneath the girl, hoping to bind her legs and arms as quickly as possible.


    No such luck.


    A pulse of disruptive magic echoed around her like a bubble. The spikes went inert, having lost the magic that powered it. "Not so easy. You''re good with earth manipulation. Have you studied other elemental spells?" Examiner Fu sneered. "Come, show me what you got!"


    The points of light expanded into spikes, thicker and wider than arrows. The air cracked like thunder when they shot toward him.


    Cifer didn''t even have to think. Lightning flared into existence. The ability to manipulate lightning was a complex piece of art. They were nearly impossible to control, due to their static nature and their absurd speed. At least, not with this kind of control and precision. Lucky for him, Cifer had a trick up his sleeve.


    His heartbeat slowed to a near-stop, and the world around him stopped moving. Cifer''s body stopped catching up with his brain.


    The spikes of arcane bolts slowed, only a few feet away from striking true and impaling him to the wall behind him. A death sentence. Was she trying to kill him? Unlikely. There might be a fail-safe or some countermeasures that would prevent him from killing him.


    A worry for later, and Cifer threw away his troubling thoughts.


    He could feel the blue-white tendrils of pure light forming into thick branches of lightning. It was beautiful, to watch the nature''s power in such vivid details.


    He knew his body would not react to such extreme speeds, but his ability to manipulate magic was in the will of his mind. Directing every branch of lighting toward every spike that came his way.


    Cifer resumed his previous speed.


    The world exploded in the sound of cracking thunder. He could feel every strand of hair on his body stiffened. The arcane bolts, every one of them were deflected or outright destroyed. The wall behind him was impaled by some of Fu''s spell instead.


    "Enough!" Fu stepped forward, eyes narrowed. "That was lightning,"


    Cifer wished to respond with a sarcastic wit, but he knew that would be a bad sign.


    "That was... impressive," Fu dismissed the rest of her bolts with a flick of her hand. "I have never seen anyone manipulate lightning with such precision, before. And to block my spell so precisely... if I were to face a martial cultivator, they might be able to deflect most of my attacks, and leap away before engaging again. Even a sage would have formed a protective barrier to outright escape it, before retaliating with a spell of his or her own,"


    Cifer smiled, but disinclined to talk. There wasn''t a question.


    Fu''s frowned deepened. "The dean was correct to enroll you into our academy. You are gifted. Your cultivating ability is passable, and your ability to manipulate both qi and magic are the exact types of students this academy accepts," Fu sighed. "In that light, welcome to the Everlasting Academy."


    "Thank you," Cifer bowed low. "May I ask how my sister has done?"


    She looked annoyed, but reluctantly answered. "She did well in all her exams. Her combat trial with my fellow colleague was... exemplary,"


    Cifer raised his brow. There was something she wasn''t saying. "Meaning?"


    Fu grimaced. "She beat the fourth year classmate of mine by a fraction of a margin. A close call for both combatants. She''s a prodigy, and far more gifted then most martial students."


    Cifer grinned, showing teeth.