The next morning I gathered Betsy and my new wagon train, and we got about getting ready to do what we did best; transporting goods. The new wagon was kind of a waste since at the moment all I had to transport was the beaker with what we were calling void mana. It was currently in a small crate filled with hay and kept right in the bunk part of the lead wagon.

  “We could just leave the bed wagon here, I guess?” I looked at Betsy and asked.

  She bellowed and shook her head.

  I put my hands on my hips and looked over and watched Hisai and Niku make their way from the town to where me and Betsy were. We were on the edge of town, where there was a communal barn set up. It seemed like this village operated like a large commune-sort of situation. Although villagers may have cultivated small plots of land on their property, the village collectively farmed most of the land to feed itself. Honestly, I approved. It was a good way to make sure everyone was fed; I thought.

  “I have good news,” Hisai said once they walked up.

  “Oh?” I asked and stopped hooking the wagons up together to look at him.

  Niku stayed silent, just watched us with a smile and her hands in her robe pockets.

  Hisai looked between the two of us, and his smile grew a little larger. “Actually, I suppose I have two bits of good news.”

  I raised an eyebrow.

  “First, it seems like there’s a caravan heading north that you’ll be able to join as they pass through on their way to a stop up the mountain at the sect,” he said this and sounded very pleased with himself.

  I had my doubts. The only time I tried to ride with someone else, it didn’t go that great. I mean, it went fine, but there was no way they could keep up. “Ehhhhh…”

  Hisai raised a palm. “Yes, I know. You’re much quicker than regular caravans that use mortal horses or plow animals. The sect has some things to send north to sell in the caravan, however. The caravan doesn’t have the room, but you do.”

  I raised my eyebrows and looked over at Betsy. “I guess you were right about not wanting to leave the other wagon.”

  “What?” Hisai looked between me and Betsy.

  I turned back and waved the question away with a small laugh. “Nothing, they gonna pay?”

  Hisai inclined his head. “The Jade Mountain sect is not only named because of the color of the forests, but because they have deep pockets.”

  I blinked.

  Hisai frowned. “I guess that doesn’t make sense. Anyway, they will pay, and quite well, I would imagine. They will be sending along cultivation aids and weapons and whatever else they feel might sell in the north. Along with wanting to make some money on this journey, you might want the company.”

  It was my turn to frown then. “Why’s that? More rebels?”

  “Heavens no, we are far from the border and the woes that the Song region has with our glorious Emperor. No, there is a sect that roams the desert between here and there. Well, they’re officially a sect, in practice they’re a bit more cultish,” Hisai explained.

  My frown deepened. “A cult?”

  Hisai gave me an obviously fake forced smile. “Quite. The Veil of the Silver Night is a group of illusionists who like to both follow dragons annnnnd cause problems for traveling caravans.”

  “Dragons?!” I let out a strangled gasp.

  He waved that away. “They’re usually sleeping, but yes, there are one or two that are known to be in that area. The caravan has guards, but they are worried about the ‘sect’,” and he used air quotes when he said the word sect.

  “Will give them problems and try to waylay them on their journey. A powerful cultivator and spirit beast like yourself and Betsy may earn extra money from the caravan master. Also, I believe a sect mate of Fang Min’s will be on the trip as a guard. A fellow by the name of William.”

  I blinked and sighed. “William?” How come there’s a William here but I can’t be Michael?

  “Yes, he’s from the Western Island Kingdoms. One of them, I can’t remember which, but he came to these shores as a young boy and got involved with the Iron Claw sect,” Hisai said with a nod.

  “So he’s a battle maniac.”

  Hisai looked at Niku for help and then back at me. “A powerful ally to have in a fight, Maikeru, definitely not a battle maniac.”

  Niku just lost and shrugged when he looked at her for help. “You still haven’t told him the other piece of good news.”

  He raised a finger and smiled broadly. “And so I haven’t.”

  He put a hand on Niku’s back, and she smiled.

  “Master Moritoshi is sending me with you,” she blurted out before Hisai could say it.

  Hisai frowned and looked at her betrayed. “I thought you said I could tell him.”

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  I didn’t hear Hisai, and I just gave a shout of excitement. “That’s awesome!”

  “There is one caveat that I’m not sure how you’ll react to,” Hisai said and stopped my excitement.

  I looked over at him and then at Niku.

  “We have to stop at an inn every night so I can get a room. It’s something Master insists, and I’m sure my father would agree with him,” she said with a smirk. She crossed her arms against her chest and looked at me with a raised brow and mischievous grin.

  “Oh, why would that be a problem? I can make sure we get somewhere with a room. Maybe I’ll be able to call the Lily,” I said and shrugged.

  Niku’s eyes went wide, and her eyes shone with some excitement at that. “I’d love that. I’ve heard so many rumors.”

  I smirked and shrugged. “I mean, I can’t promise. Both times I’ve found it, it was by accident, but maybe.”

  “Um, Maikeru, I know we haven’t talked since the other morning about it, but have you given any thought to taking an element for your core?” Hisai asked.

  I stepped away from the wagon, and Betsy, who gave a soft bellow, and I nodded my head. “I have, actually. Ever since Taimei said wind would be cool for a storm with Betsy, I can’t get this image out of my head of us rolling in an epic storm with lightning striking in the background and the wind and rain.”

  Hisai’s eyebrows rose. “Oh my. Well, you and your familiar may be powerful, but I don’t think you’re there yet.”

  I smirked and shrugged. “No, but it would still be cool.”

  “Rain, huh?” Niku added with a raised brow.

  I looked at her, and my eyes went wide. “Oh, well, I mean, we could probably get an artifact or something.”

  “Yeah-huh,” she nodded.

  “You riding down your enemies with Betsy and the illusory dragon your shamisen makes flying above you would put fright into those that oppose you,” Hisai agreed and scratched at his chin softly.

  I blinked and looked at him. “I’m sorry, illusory dragon?”

  He blinked.

  I stared at him.

  “Um, yes?”

  I kept staring at him.

  “Haven’t you noticed it when you played?”

  “No, I’ve mostly been looking at the book trying to teach myself,” I explained slowly.

  Hisai smirked. “Well, let me ask you. Outside of your run-in with those yokai in the mountains on the border, have you had a particularly easy time getting around?”

  I thought about it.

  Hisai’s smile widened. “Just so. The instrument is imbued with spirit gems from illusory beasts. The bachi is engraved to give the illusion of a dragon. You could get other bachi and engrave other things, but the one I gave you molds it into a dragon.”

  I gaped.

  “That might come in handy against the cults,” Niku said.

  Hisai inclined his head. “Just so.”

  “So, wind, hm?” Hisai said a moment later and looked to the sky. He stuck out a finger to gauge the wind.

  “Yes. I think since the universe likes synergy, and wind and lightning go together in a storm. That and the wind is always moving and I’m on the path of transportation,” I said and trailed off.

  Hisai raised his eyebrows. “Path of transportation?”

  I shrugged. “Yes?”

  Betsy gave a bellow and nodded indignantly. It was her path as well since she was my familiar and spirit animal.

  “We’ll have to workshop the name. It’s not very windy out today, but…” Hisai said in thought.

  “I can walk him through it if we come upon on a windy day,” Niku offered.

  I looked between the two of them. “Walk me through what?”

  “Building your core, of course. Niku has offered to start your elemental cultivation path, and I do believe it is right for you. You are correct that the universe loves synergy. If this truly is your path in the universe, you might be more powerful than the rest of us in the very near future,” Hisai said and crossed his arms and looked me over.

  Niku whistled through her teeth.

  “Oh, please,” and just on cue Moritoshi was there to ruin the fun.

  I frowned and looked over at him. “Moritoshi.”

  The man sighed and ignored me to look at his student. “You have everything you need?”

  Niku seemed to straighten at her teacher’s attention, and she gave him a soft bow. “I do, Master. I have my spare set of robes and my equipment pack waiting to go. I just wanted to make sure Maikeru would accept my going along.”

  Moritoshi now looked at me. He seemed like he was trying to be pleasant, but it was very forced. “You know, the least you could do is call me Alchemist Moritoshi, even Cultivator Moritoshi would be acceptable.”

  I shrugged at him. “Anyway, yeah, she can come with me. We’ll get an inn every night so she can bunk there and I’ll sleep in my wagon. No worries about anything like that. I’m not a deviant.” Or, well, not completely. Though I didn’t tell him that.

  He nodded his head. “Good, and loath as I am to admit it, you are much stronger than I originally thought you were. You’ll protect my student?”

  “I will,” I said and even gave him a soft bow of my head.

  This made the man finally smile at me, and he relaxed his posture a little. “Very well then. She’s going with you so she can explain to the emperor’s representatives what we have found and what she believes. It will be better coming from an alchemist rather than just a wagoneer.”

  “Even though that’s a made-up occupation,” he added under his breath.

  I frowned. “Man, you just can’t help being a dick, can you?”

  Now Hisai stepped in. In the blink of an eye, he was standing between Moritoshi and I with his hands outstretched towards each of us.

  Moritoshi just looked at him with an eyebrow raised. “What’d you think I was going to do — swing at him?”

  “Um, yes?” Hisai gave Moritoshi a smile.

  Moritoshi clicked his tongue. “I’m not some savage who’s going to brawl in the street with a nobody.”

  My eye twitched, and I stared at Moritoshi. “And you’re scared.”

  I hadn’t realized it but Betsy had turned herself and the wagon, and she was standing directly behind me at this point. Moritoshi looked at me and then behind me at the ox and rolled his eyes.

  “Look, anyway, if you promise to ensure my students’ safety and that nothing untoward will go on she has my blessing to go with you. Like I said, the news will be better coming from an alchemist trained in the field,” Moritoshi said. He was once more straining to be polite.

  “Of course I would do that. You don’t need to worry, Alchemist Moritoshi,” I said with a nod. I figured if he could try to be civil, so could I, and I’d even give him his damn title he wanted.

  “Very well, thank you, Cultivator Maikeru,” he said towards me with a bow of his head. Then he looked over at Niku. “Niku, you have the money and supplies and the messenger so you can keep me in the loop.”

  “Yes, Master,” she replied softly.

  “Good.” was the last thing he said before he walked off towards the elders’ homes where we all had been squatting.

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