“Adventurer Kite, adventurer Dragonfly. While we do appreciate your offers of contribution in this matter, I’m afraid that neither of your power sets or expertise are of a kind to lend the sort of assistance that would make a significant impact,” Maximilian Brackenstar, deputy director of the adventure society’s Heavenward branch, frankly explained.

  While the somber elf would easily have come across as rude to more prideful individuals, Kite did get the feeling that it wasn’t meant as a slight to their skills, and took it for the honest evaluation that it was.

  “I see. We do hope that you will call upon us, should it be needed. I do have some experience in regards to restricted magics, but will admit that my experience with - and aptitude for - proper investigations is a bit lacking. We were just… concerned… after the display at yesterday’s clash.”

  “As is the branch director. But as local laws are a lot more lax in that regard than we’d like, the adventure society can only make our own preparations and investigations. Because not every source of power like that will be directed against a single person. You should know enough of the power that can be found in means like sacrificial rituals and the like to have a decent grasp of the potential threats,” the deputy director replied with a nod. “Now, I will have to excuse myself and move on to other, scheduled matters. Good day, adventurers.”

  Without further ado, the gold-ranked elf was gone, the now open door to the small meeting room being the only trace left of his passing.

  “Well, it’s still out of our hands then,” Dragonfly said, leaning back in her chair. “I’m not sure if I’m relieved or disappointed. Honestly, I don’t picture myself as the investigating type, but just carrying on as usual? The thought makes me restless.”

  “If it’s any consolation, you will get used to it. There is sometimes a bit of a relief to be found in the knowledge that some battles just aren’t yours to fight,” Kite said, looking at the open door with a thoughtful look. “Still, it was nice of the deputy director to even meet us. I would have assumed that we’d just get to leave a message with a functionary.”

  “The way that receptionist looked when you told him your name, I wouldn’t be surprised if they had you on some kind of list of well-meaning troublemakers. Given what happened last time you were here, they might even have invented the list then and there,” Dragonfly noted with a giggle as she joined Kite in making their way back towards the entrance.

  “At least things have been calmer this time. The way things look at the moment, I will be winning our little bet. Only three duels fought so far, and with the leisurely pace we’re looking for during our last week in the capital, I’m even starting to feel a bit confident in the matter,” Kite shot back.

  “Cursed clash for the throne stealing all the attention,” Dragonfly grumbled, before dramatically turning her head towards the skies - or rather, ceiling - in supplication. “Oh Warrior, this humble adherent begs you to send a few arrogant young masters or mistresses our way.”

  “Not my way?”

  “I’m allowed some fun too. Even if I lose, the experience and tempering is great!”

  “Then we’ll just have to subject ourselves to the whims of fate then and see what it has in store. But for now, I’d like to seize destiny just a little bit for ourselves and go to that calligraphy exhibition which Sage has been clamoring for these last few days. And lunch after that? I’m in the mood for lots of grilled meats today.”

  While Dragonfly had started to look a bit doubtful at the mention of the gallery, the promise of good food in good company swayed her most quickly. At that time, the pair had just exited the administration building of the adventure society and had just begun planning which route they would take to their destination when destiny - ever the fickle one - decided to seize them instead.

  “Excuse me? Pathbreaker?”

  Kite and Dragonfly halted at the polite call, turning to see a runic woman in the black, white and blue robes of the Silent Horizon sect approach them. As she drew closer, a privacy screen sprang up around them while she gave them each a polite bow.

  “Ah, Inner Disciple Star was it? Lone Star Lights the Way?” Kite asked in way of greeting, mirroring her bow. While they hadn’t previously interacted, Inner Disciple Chime had pointed her out during their time spent with the sect, silver-ranked memory now making the recall easy.

  “That is correct, Pathbreaker. Both you and Dragonfly here left quite an impression during your stay, but that is not why I have come seeking you. At least not entirely.”

  “Oh?” Kite asked, even if his experience with sect students - and therefore warriors - seeking him out did make him willing to hazard a guess as to her errand.

  “I would like to challenge you to a clash of paths-”

  “I knew it!” Dragonfly half-whispered in triumph, the inner disciple giving her a meaningful look before continuing.

  “- as would five of my fellow inner disciples who did not get the chance to temper themselves against you during your stay. But we chose to send me as the lone messenger to further show that we simply seek to test ourselves and learn rather than some show of force. There will be no prize demanded should you lose.”

  “Well now…” Kite began, almost not knowing what to do with himself in face of this most polite of challenges. While not the only one delivered with tact and respect that Kite had received, it had immediately soared into the highest reaches of such a list.

  Mistaking his response for hesitance rather than the slight stupefaction that it was, the inner disciple quickly continued. “The sect elders have also pitched in for a small reward for you, should you accept,” she added, sweetening the deal.

  This did make Kite a bit suspicious, even if nothing he could sense in the woman’s aura hinted at her having ulterior motives. Curious, he asked:

  “That is most generous. Will one of Warrior’s acolytes be officiating as well?”

  “Of course, Pathbreaker. As is tradition.”

  Hearing that, Kite allowed his curiosity to shove his suspicions to the side, and he bowed politely to the disciple.

  “Then I believe I will accept, as long as Dragonfly here can accept the change of plans-” he began, but stopped as he noted that Dragonfly had once more resumed her theatrical prayer towards the skies, this time in thanks for wishes granted.

  Obsidian Crow Unseen on Skies of Night - or Senior Brother Crow as he was mostly called by the local members of the clan - was seated in meditation when the part of his awareness which monitored his dense network of shadow threads alerted him to something that might warrant his full attention. A slight expenditure of mana had his awareness follow the particular thread as it snaked and weaved through the clan compound via all manner of nooks, crannies and cracks. The slight gaps between the paved pathways leading to each and every house was his most favorite ‘highway’ for his network, and after a slight falling sensation that had long since stopped causing even the slightest sense of vertigo, Obsidian Crow found the conversation in question.

  “-and Kite accepted?” Little Crow asked another member of the clan, one of the eyes and ears of the Tengu who was currently spending the mandated years in the direct service of the family upon reaching silver rank.

  “He did, but not until after he verified that a priest of Warrior was to be present. They didn’t object to Dragonfly’s presence in the slightest either.”

  “Well, how nice and trusting of Kite to take their word at face value. Still, the Silent Horizon sect hasn’t given him reason not to trust their word so far,” Little Crow answered with a sigh and a fond shake of his head.

  “Given that they let him choose the venue for the clashes, I believe that his choice was the correct one. Still, after what happened last time, I thought it worth reporting immediately, as the sect showing such an interest in a single outcast remains outside the norm.”

  “Thank you for bringing it to our attention. Still, this time I believe that it might just be an opportunity for tempering they are looking for. Kite and Dragonfly did catch the attention of many within the sect while there, if our informants are to be believed. But there is no need for us to do anything more at the moment. Let us-”

  Hearing that Little Crow was about to make a reasonable - if partially faulty - decision, Obsidian Crow decided that it was time to step in.

  “No. I will handle it.”

  Even after all these years, it was still rather satisfying to note the startled surprise in the auras of the two silver-rankers even if they both schooled their expressions rather well.

  “Senior brother? Was I that mistaken?” Little Crow asked with a concerned look. Most times, Obsidian Crow would only step in when there was a true danger to the clan’s interests, be they tiny or grand in scope, so the younger man’s worry was reasonable. If also unfounded.

  “No, at least not given what you knew. But I believe there is a part in this that is above your station. I will handle it myself, even if the threat level itself is negligible. Mostly, it's a matter of decorum.”

  “In that case, I will be glad to leave it in senior brother’s capable hands,” Little Crow said with a respectful bow.

  Obsidian Crow said nothing further, but simply withdrew his presence back along his network of shadow threads, only to immediately send it out in another direction. He felt his perception snake out of their compounds and out into the city, following hidden and ever so thin shadowy pathways in the constantly shifting web.

  At gold rank, the network could technically have covered most of the city, but the realities of politics and other gold-rankers made that unfeasible at best. Because of this, there were great holes in the network of shadow threads crisscrossing the city, Obsidian Crow refraining from making any ambitious undertakings within the domains of the other golds. A thread here and there was just good sport, a bit of a game between powers. But more than that might be seen as the clan taking action against someone, and Obsidian Crow would not flippantly show any such intentions.

  Still, the adventure society campus was mostly neutral ground - the inner parts and private rooms of the administration building excluded - and as such it was easy to cast his awareness out in that direction, combing through the different dueling arenas to find the one which the watchers had reported. It took only a moment for Obsidian Crow to find what he suspected and, with a sigh, his body melded into the shadows as well. The conversation that was to come was one best held in person, after all.

  Kite’s staff intercepted the diamond-like blade of his opponent, neither weapon even slightly nicked by the collision. Instead, the usual chiming echo that the ringed staff gave off seemed to be further amplified, leading to each exchange becoming a surprisingly melodious affair even though such a thing was part of neither combatant’s path.

  “Flashfire!”

  “Ward!”

  The inner disciple that was Kite’s opponent once more cast her quick spell as she briefly released her hold of her blade with one hand to punish the stalemate, sending out a thin, white-hot ray of flame. And once more, Kite’s ward appeared to intercept, only for a quick thought and a flick of the woman’s eyes to send the ray snaking around the barrier to lash at him like a - well… - snake. But as painful repetition was the mother of learning, Kite had become wise to the disciple’s tricks. The snaking flame was agile and would split and attack from multiple angles, acting as a frequent and constant harassment that also seemed to impair healing and regeneration for a time.

  “Attrition to outpace some endurance fighters. I’m not surprised that such a path on a skilled user can rank highly in the local dueling scene. I will need to up the pace as well,” Kite thought, his tattoos flashing as the spectral arms of his mantle flashed into existence for the first time during the duel. Much like with his duels with the different sect leaders of the north, he kept the channeling to a brief moment, but with two extra sets of arms, a brief moment could make a world of difference.

  One arm of the mantle swept a descendant of Matra through the incoming tendril of fire, Pattern-Shattering counter dissolving the flame that had previously been too fast for Kite to shift a free hand of his own to intercept. At the same time, another wavy-bladed sword swept towards the arm of the inner disciple which still held the sword locked against Kite’s staff. The spatial tears of Void-Sunders-Firmament unfurled inside the lower arm of the woman, temporarily mangling the limb. While Kite still fought mostly with his mana-draining attacks, he had continued weaving in the crippling special attack when targeting limbs and the like. A swordsman unable to use an arm or a leg for a while would make landing further blows that much easier, after all.

  To her credit, the inner disciple was quick on the uptake, disengaging from Kite in a flash of flame while sending another series of fire bolts towards him to hamper any attempts to pursue. Unwilling to let her reset the initiative, Kite let the arms of his mantle flash again as Heaven-and-Void Warding intercepted the incoming projectiles while sending a few attacks of his own in pursuit, carried the distance by All is Void before Intent. He was about to continue when his foe surprised him with another cascade of the snaking flames, this time five at the same time as crystal spikes started erupting from the ground.

  “Heavens, I will accept this humble reminder that I’m not the only one who might hold back a bit as I gauge my opponent,” Kite thought with a wry smile even as he sprang into the air, ascending on panes of force like a stair even while all three of his arms along with ward started intercepting the incoming attacks.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Like the other disciples of the Silent Horizon, Chime among them, his current foe showed that the sect’s reputation in the capital was one earned through clash after clash. Each exchange and clash had Kite and his opponent push each other further and further, and he could really feel parts of his technique and path becoming more clear and familiar with each blow, feint and deflection.

  “Thank you Fortune and Warrior, for this opportunity. Honestly, with nothing but tempering at stake… I will admit that this is quite fun. It seems like Dragonfly has further rubbed off on me.”

  Outwardly, Ardent Horizon Seeker showed little in way of emotion as he sat on a simple stone bench in the private dueling hall, observing the clashes between the inner disciples of his sect and the young man called Pathbreaker.

  “Or Kite,” the gold-ranker thought, still having trouble wrapping his head around the fact that what was in all likelihood his and Tranquil Divide’s defiant legacy in the flesh. Ever since Inner Disciple Chime had brought her observations before him, the possibility of this young man actually being his progeny had gnawed at Ardent’s mind.

  Finding one of the young man’s duels recorded at his last visit to the capital - which had turned out to be anything but low-key in the dueling circles - hadn’t been hard. Ardent had seen the likeness then, but knew that it could be simple happenstance. Then he had found an opportunity to covertly observe the Pathbreaker across the arena during the clash for the throne, which had done little to reinforce his convictions in said happenstance. And now, seeing the young man square off against what was the young elite of Heavenward, his aura both resolutely solid yet triumphantly alight, Ardent had to admit that this boy was indeed the sum of the defiance of past, tragic love.

  “Sect leader.”

  The voice interrupted Ardent’s musings, but as he instantly recognized it, he also knew that there was no cause for alarm. Had Obsidian Crow Unseen on Skies of Night wanted to strike at him, the assassin would not have greeted him first.

  “Master Obsidian Crow,” Ardent replied, turning his head to look at the man in dark combat robe and stark red mask now seated next to him. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

  Of the golds more or less permanently residing in Heavenward, Obsidian Crow was the only one close to being Ardent’s equal when it came to the more subtle nuances of aura manipulation. As such, both men sat undetected by the gathered silver-rankers through mastery of aura alone, the attention of the younger generation sliding off them as if they weren’t there.

  “Officially within the clan, I got reports that made me suspect that one of the golds of the city was taking an interest in a guest of ours. And while I would not have expected foul intent from you, our tenets of hospitality means that the clan will at least want to show that we know of you.”

  “I see,” Ardent noted, eyes not leaving the finale of the duel in front of them, where the Pathbreaker managed to hold on to an impressive counteroffensive that kept scattering Inner Disciple Cinder’s relentless coiling flame as multiple sets of arms kept scattering the offensive magic time and time again. From how Cinder was flagging, it was only a matter of time until her mana ran out, at least of Ardent was to be the judge of it. “But from your phrasing, I will assume that there is an unofficial reason?”

  “You assume correctly. I also came here because someone apparently needs to tell you that arranging circumspect duels just to get a better opportunity to observe a young man - who is potentially your son - is just being creepy. You’re a gold-ranker, Ardent. You can just walk up to him or summon him, and few if any within the city would want - or even be able - to stop you.”

  The Crow’s words did cause Ardent Horizon Seeker to wince slightly, before turning to regard the masked man. “While I am not surprised that you know, I do not know if I should be touched that you care or insulted by what you are implying,” he said, somber countenance somewhat tinged with a bit of annoyance. “Besides, if you know how young Kite here came to be, then you also know that our karma is well and properly severed. Both we and our sects made sure of that.”

  “And putting Kite through a series of clashes just for your own wants is a surefire way to keep it nice and balanced?”

  “Your sarcasm is not appreciated, Obsidian Crow. I’ll have you know that I even arranged for things to maintain equilibrium. My disciples will ask for nothing but tempering - a good deal in and of itself for all parties - and I even arranged a reward for young Kite’s time. Which turned out to be extra warranted, as he has given me some thoughts of how we need to include a path like his in our training regime.”

  “What is the meaning of this, then? Balanced karma is all well and good, but intentions carry their own weight,” Obsidian Crow asked, not letting the other man change the subject.

  “Honestly? I just wanted to get a closer look at him. And his path. I never expected that I would get the chance, after all. It would seem that he did indeed use both of the essences Tranquil and I provided. A piece of both of our paths in him, combined with something of his own choosing. The symbolism of it all does feel right and proper.”

  “You gave the child essences, and are surprised that he used them?”

  “Obsidian, we sent him away with the express orders to find a remote, loving family. It said nothing of their affluence. For all we knew, he might have been adopted by a far-flung city lord already, disinterested in having any part of his heritage. Although I will agree that sounds rather… unlikely…” Ardent finished, adding the last at what felt like a flat stare from the red mask.

  “And you only wanted to see? To satisfy your curiosity?”

  “Yes. Even if it turned out to be a bit more… complicated… than expected. Some old wounds still itch as I see him. Looking like me, even though the feel of him is a lot more like Tranquil. Their auras have some similarities; a fond kindness and optimism beyond that resolute exterior.”

  “And that he seems to take to fighting with the same ease you do,” Obsidian Crow noted archly.

  “Kind words, old friend. For convenience's sake, I will forego the humble excuses and just take the compliment for what it is. So yes, from what I have heard, that might be a seed inherited from me. Even though he has apparently nurtured it into something of his own. See how he shifts between offense and defense, only to upset it all with those arms of his to do both at the same time. He has been through a gate, correct?”

  “Two, actually.”

  “At his age? Heavens, I’m glad that he’s still alive. Most don’t enter until silver for that very reason.”

  The pair remained seated like that through two more duels with some breaks in between, making comments, observations and speculations through both. They were closely fought, even though the Pathbreaker ultimately proved victorious, and the sixth and final one was well underway when Obsidian Crow chose to bring matters back on topic.

  “While this has been a most pleasant distraction, old friend, I do believe that I shall get going. But before that, I will need to know of your intentions going forward.”

  “As I said, young Kite has nothing to fear from me. My curiosity is at least somewhat sated, and our karma remains in balance.”

  “And do you know that he would want it to? You know that such a balance matters little to the bonds forged between people.”

  “From what you’ve told me, Obsidian, he’s already surrounded by strong bonds with loving family and friends,” Ardent replied with a sigh. “I may be his progenitor, but I cannot try to claim to be his father. That was ever how things were meant to be. But I will thank Fortune for the opportunity for some closure, at least.”

  “For you, that is,” Obsidian Crow retorted. “Imagine his questions though, ones that might never be answered. And besides, there are a lot more types of bonds between people. Ever thought of that?”

  “I…” Ardent began, eyes looking distant even as they kept observing the sixth duel’s finale; an intense running battle within a conjured half-maze of barriers where projected attacks and elemental spells were traded in every brief opportunity. “I will meditate upon what you have said, Obsidian. As always, I will not take your counsel lightly.”

  “No, that is true,” the Crow agreed with a thoughtful nod. “But it is also true that you tend to take your sweet time in making up your mind, Ardent. And that you rarely - if ever, since the war - put your own wants and curiosities before duty and decorum. Waiting a year or two won’t help the matter along.”

  “Well, such is my path. Reflection and meditation, proper deliberation and-”

  “That was why I actually had a third, even more personal reason for being here,” Obsidian Crow noted. And Ardent Horizon Seeker did not like the slight smile creeping into his voice.

  “Obsidian, what are-”

  The man didn’t get further before Obsidian Crow’s aura suddenly blasted outward with full force; a spiritual volcano going off in the enclosed space which sent all the silvers stumbling while it scattered Ardent’s own concealment. Within a second, eight very surprised silver-rankers - along with the officiating bronze-ranked acolyte of Warrior who seemed to handle the pressure surprisingly well for his rank - were staring at the two golds in their midst, Obsidian Crow calmly rising and giving them a shallow bow in response before finishing.

  “Sometimes, Ardent, old friends need to do more than counsel. Sometimes, them giving a good old push for someone’s own good is a lot more appropriate.”

  And with that, the man melded back into one of his shadow threads and vanished, leaving Ardent alone and meeting Kite’s confused gaze even as the disciples had all started throwing themselves to their knees, calling out their respects and greetings to their sect leader.

  “We greet the honored sect leader!”

  While being silver rank helped one to easily shift attention and adapt to new situations quickly, what had just occurred was pushing that to the limit. One moment he had been trying to grasp victory in an ever more tense duel, his opponent very skillfully conjuring and directing stars of elemental fury according to her needs as they fought a running battle. The next he had found himself staggering from a sudden spiritual pressure greater than that from any of the silver-rankers present.

  This led to Kite now looking straight at Ardent Horizon Seeker, with the form of Senior Brother Crow vanishing after delivering a few final cryptic words. The silence which now reigned after the outburst of the disciples felt deafening, and while part of Kite’s mind did find some amusement in seeing a mighty gold-ranker looking as lost and confused as he did, the rest just wanted to get away from the awkwardness of the situation. Not knowing which path to take, Kite decided that decorum rarely led one astray.

  “We also greet the honored Sect Leader,” he belatedly followed, giving a deep formal bow which was soon mimicked by Dragonfly, who in turn did her very best to pretend that she did indeed possess powers of stealth powerful enough to let her meld into the wall behind her.

  The formalities seemed to help Ardent Horizon Seeker to snap back to the moment, as his expression was once again schooled into the somber mask that had started to show some cracks before.

  “Disciples. Outcasts,” he greeted, a nod to each of the groups in acknowledgement hinting that neither word was said in derision. “I will apologize for how the esteemed Obsidian Crow interrupted the end of your clash. He and I will have words about that at a later date.”

  “It is no trouble, honored Sect Leader,” the inner disciple in question answered, forehead still pressed to the floor. “How can your disciples be of assistance to you?”

  “I have no demands of you today, Disciples. It was simply curiosity on my part that brought me here. Keeping up to date with the capabilities of the disciples of my sect is important after all, and I thought that these bouts of tempering which you sought out would be a better demonstration than the ordinary sparring yard. I will commend all of you for battles well fought, and will leave my thoughts and pointers to your respective masters.”

  “Thank you, honored Sect Leader,” the disciples once more called as one, even though Kite picked up more than a little worry from the auras of some of them.

  “Still, there is one duel left unresolved, which leaves me with the opportunity for a question,” Ardent Horizon Seeker continued. “Inner Disciple Opal?”

  “Yes, honored Sect Leader?” answered Kite’s final opponent, whose clash with him had not been properly concluded.

  “In your judgment, how would your clash have ended?”

  The question was straightforward enough, even if the test in it was clear. Inner Disciple Opal, to her credit, took a few seconds to ponder the matter in silence, before sitting up and looking at her sect leader while delivering her answer.

  “I had some potential avenues of victory left, Sect Leader, but those were slim at best. Neither of us seemed to have shown our most potent powers, and my mana was already flagging. I am honestly unsure if I would have remained on my feet if I had unleashed Cataclysmic Flux, given its great cost, whereas my opponent’s defensive path and plentiful dispel would be in a better position to endure it.”

  Ardent Horizon Seeker regarded her for a few seconds before giving a slight nod and turning his eyes to Kite.

  “And you, Pathbreaker? While you are not part of my sect, and therefore not obligated to answer, I would like to hear your thoughts nonetheless.”

  As taking the time to think was apparently most acceptable, Kite stayed true to his nature and did just that before answering as honestly as possible. Trying to weave in unnecessary falsehoods before the judging spirit of a gold-ranker was folly, after all.

  “I will agree with the judgment of my honored opponent, Sect Leader,” he began, managing to keep his focus as the object of many a recent speculation stood before him. “While I will not divulge more than necessary of my path, it should be possible to piece together from my previous clashes that singular, potent attacks is something which my path is well equipped to handle in most cases. Still, I would like to give Inner Disciple Opal my deepest respect for her skills. In most cases, those relying more heavily on mana-intensive spells tend to falter a lot more quickly against my path than she did. Her capabilities of adaptive attacks are commendable.”

  Ardent Horizon Seeker gave his words the same regard, before nodding. “Then I believe that the clash can be called, in the favor of the Pathbreaker. I agree with both your assessments, which do you both credit. Neither bluster nor false humility will help you reach the heavens. Please give the Pathbreaker the arranged reward, so that the karma between you may be properly severed, allowing your paths to keep climbing towards the heavens without entanglements or imbalances holding you back.”

  “Of course, Sect Leader!”

  Kite was promptly handed a small, lacquered box, and while he had other things warring for the forefront of his mind, decorum demanded its due. As such, he opened it to reveal the sphere of an awakening stone inside; a blue orb with a clear horizontal line visible in its midst that gave one the impression of looking into the far distance.

  “An awakening stone of the horizon,” the Inner Disciple clarified. “A traditional gift of thanks from our sect to honored opponents. May it one day empower someone you find worthy.”

  “I thank the Silent Horizon sect for the most generous compensation,” Kite replied, bowing to each of those present before closing the lid shut. “It shall indeed be put to good use.”

  Another moment of silence followed, during which Kite thought that he noted the slightest hint of indecision on the face of Ardent Horizon Seeker. Whatever it was though, the man seemed to make up his mind rather quickly as he turned to all of those gathered.

  “Then, Disciples, I believe that it is time for us to return to the sect and reflect upon today’s tempering. As for you outcasts, I believe that I might have heard of the offer of membership being extended to you. An offer which you both politely declined,” he said, looking to Kite and Dragonfly. “And while I will respect your decision, I would still like to invite you to a meeting where we could at least continue to personally discuss it further.”

  While Kite thought that he understood the actual meaning of the question, he wasn’t entirely certain how to interpret the somber man with the intense eyes. Fortunately, the ever decisive Dragonfly was either more keen in that regard or perhaps simply more willing to give Kite a nudge of her own.

  “While I am very thankful for the opportunity, honored Sect Leader, I do not believe that the sect is for me. But I do believe that certain discussions might still have a bit of interest to you, Kite?”

  Kite met her gaze and couldn’t help but smile. Dragonfly clearly hinted that she thought that he should take the opportunity and would let the two of them meet in private, but still left a clear way to extricate himself as well in a socially acceptable manner.

  “Why, I do believe that you are correct, dear Dragonfly,” he said, giving her spirit a nudge in thanks as he turned back to the sect leader. “While I will make no promises, I will take up your offer, Sect Leader. As long as a meeting with just me would still be worth your time?”

  Sect Leader Ardent looked between the two of them, and Kite thought that the intense gaze might have softened just a little bit as he replied: “That will indeed be acceptable, Pathbreaker. Then if you’d please accompany us back to the sect, we can sit down for a talk.”