Amdirlain's PoV - South Wind's Court - Ayutthaya

The river around the island—Ayutthaya—teemed with fishing and trade boats as Amdirlain and other practitioners raced along the waters in the early dawn. They'd been in the guest house for days without invitations or obligations. While Kadaklan had shown Klipyl, Sarah, and Jinfeng the sights, Amdirlain had studied the first stages of the technique that Zhūquè had researched for her. The local forests and mountains to the north and along the Malay peninsula to the southwest provided a diverse terrain for practice. She'd crisscrossed multiple countries and kept her meddling to a minimum. Tales of the sudden recovery of children, fleeing monsters, and found loved ones were all attributed to Quan Yin's grace or the actions of other immortals.

Before she came into view of the city, she concealed and shielded herself to stop stories spreading and reduce the gusts of air she raised. Though it wasn't as bad as if the technique had focused on speed alone, her Quickness exaggerated every increase in physical speed the Power provided.

Her flowing steps carried her through the crowd of boats close to the docks as she returned to their accommodations after another night of training. A tipping figure caught her eye, and Amdirlain set a boy upright—a clash of boats had tipped him—ensured his footing was secure, and then sped on her way. While the locals were used to practitioners, at Amdirlain's speed, Ki Movement was an eye-catching display with vapour streaming off her even without her mastering the technique.

The flowing parkour movements fit Amdirlain's combat style; though she'd needed to restrain her Protean from trying to fit itself into Ki Movement when she'd taken shortcuts up sides of mountains and through dense forests. A flash of insights into the Power settled into Amdirlain as she hit the docks. She became a smoke cloud that rushed through any available gap, tendrils of dust motes, and a brief haze that obscured the sunlight, her flesh only a vague concept of cohesion. A rush of smoke gusted among the wood slates of colourful stalls, oxen-drawn carts, and carried sedans, the largest of which was carried by four people, without a sign left in her wake.

[Ki Movement [G] (14->15)

Ki Movement [G] (15) evolved into Phoenix's Trail [G] (1)]

Though she soon found a new balance within the technique, Amdirlain continued through the city, rushing across rooftops, alleyways, and streets to stabilise the Power's feel. As she approached Zhūquè's palace, her restricted range overlapped half the court grounds and offered a double surprise. At a distance, she sensed two silver-haired gentlemen sitting across a low table from each other in some of the local attire. Bahamut wore red silk with silver trim, matching motes across the material, and a gold and black sash around his waist. The Jade Emperor had dressed in white and gold, with a black and silver sash. They were partway through a game of Go with Bahamut just setting in place the fortieth piece. Tossing up what to do, she pretended she'd seen nothing, wafted past the guard outside the South Wind's Court, and twisted her way between the buildings and trees, venturing towards their guest house.

The open and airy feel matched that of Kadaklan's house at the Outpost, though this residence's layout was for housing people rather than catering to incoming patients. The decorative carvings of the wooden screens all featured various birds instead of flora, and the lacquer turned the teak used in their construction a warm brown.

As she appeared by the dining table with a pleased smile, Kadaklan's eyebrows lifted. "You look satisfied about something."

"I got Phoenix's Trail working, and it wasn't the music but the imagery that tipped it over the evolution," explained Amdirlain.

"Here I thought you might have given lost children hints about the way home again," said Kadaklan.

"It wasn't a hint—I merely pointed towards the trails to use," huffed Amdirlain. "The only help I gave today was a nudge to help prevent a fall between some boats."

"You're in such a pleased mood. I hope I'm not about to spoil it."

"Are you talking about the invitation from the South Wind last night?" Amdirlain sat across from him and floated the scroll from the stack to her hand. "She's been patient and given us nearly a week free of social obligations. Is the General Bunma being mentioned of any importance?"

"Since she used his military title and not his court rank, it's a business meeting. Which means there will only be attendants floating about the place." Kadaklan motioned to the broken seal on the scroll. "She addressed it to us all, which is extremely casual. Sending an invitation to a household is something only done with those you consider close friends or family."

"You married my baby sister, and she considers you a relative, so I find it understandable. I'm sure she knew I've been flitting about the countryside, and considered it best to message someone she could easily contact. What are your thoughts?"

"Probably a follow on from the compound, or there is a different issue. The first date offered is tomorrow night, so it has priority but isn't urgent."

Should I keep my yap shut about places where I'd heard concentrations of Di Yu energy? Some seemed to be dormant gates that might relate to other agreements.

"That gives me a little while to work on mastering my Ki Flight technique and sparring with Jinfeng. She and Klipyl are over at the training ground. Is Klipyl having fun driving the practitioners nuts with her shields?"

"They seemed to find it a touch frustrating at first, but now they've said they're treating it more like a challenge," replied Kadaklan. "A curiosity to explore and test their techniques against, yet it's helping Klipyl strengthen her new powers."

"It's driving them nuts, no matter what they say to save face," said Amdirlain, as she considered the strength of Klipyl's next opponent.

"Frustration can be good for someone who has had things too easy," replied Kadaklan. "Isn't that part of the lesson you taught Indra Ka?"

As a strike gathered enough strength to crack the outer layer of Klipyl's barriers, Amdirlain created a bracelet around her wrist.

Klipyl's puzzlement projected across their link. 'What's with the jewellery, sis?'

'Just paranoid about the special cargo you cooked up with Kadaklan last night,' returned Amdirlain.

At the training ground, Klipyl's barriers doubled in intensity. 'What?!'

'I'm in the dining room at the guest house.'

Klipyl hurriedly ended the training session and teleported to them, delight brightening her face. "Please tell me if you're kidding."

"I'm not kidding. The twins are healthy humans with a regular pace of growth, though with half Celestial traits."

Kadaklan and Klipyl's eyes went wide.

Amdirlain hugged them both. "I'll leave you to discuss where you plan to live."

I'll give them some privacy and train with Jinfeng.

She left the stunned pair and teleported to Jinfeng at the arena. Unlike the stadium seating at the other courts, surrounding the arena was a ring of scaffolding that supported five flat, seatless platforms. An official in yellow and orange robes directed various contestants who'd been trying to crack Klipyl's shield towards the five circles spread around the arena floor.

"You just missed Klipyl. I heard her mental comment about you giving her jewellery, and then she squealed and vanished," said Jinfeng.

Amdirlain nodded. "I gave her some private news. She and Kadaklan have some things to discuss."

"I guess I'll be travelling alone after you leave," said Jinfeng.

"There are places that could use your help."

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Jinfeng smiled. "You've mentioned some and I've been thinking about them, but I've obligations within the kingdoms. There are frequent clashes along the southwest borders."

"The choice is yours. Upcoming is an invitation to meet with Zhūquè tomorrow night. Do you want to come along?"

"You were overly protective of me meeting Bai Hu. I'm sure the same reasons don't apply with Zhūquè. It would be an honour to meet the South Wind."

"That's settled then. Would you like to spend this morning sparring?" asked Amdirlain.

Jinfeng's gaze lit up. "Where are we going off to? I don't want to spar with you here and cause further difficulty with the plinth."

"Fine, let's find a deserted beach," said Amdirlain.

Amdirlain shifted them to a southern beach near the tip of the Thai peninsula. Jinfeng glanced at the sky to gauge the shift in angle.

"Only a little west of where we were, though a few hundred kilometres south," reassured Amdirlain.

"A quick run?"

Amdirlain waved southwards. "If you want to work on your technique, I can jump us further."

"Afterwards." Jinfeng drew her blade and squared off against Amdirlain.

"Blade or weirdness?"

Jinfeng smiled. "Weirdness at a pace that pushes me, Sifu."

Bladed tentacles bristled from Amdirlain, and she spun along the beach; Jinfeng slid along the strikes and flowed with her. Amdirlain altered the pattern of attacks and forced Jinfeng away. More tentacles burst from the sand to hem her in, and Jinfeng sprinted among them, seamlessly incorporating Ki Movement into her fighting style.

After spending the morning sparring with Jinfeng and an ocean run of a thousand kilometres, Amdirlain sprawled out in the canopied bed in her room for the rest of the day. In between exchanging messages, she cycled. Each session was now safely executed behind a barrier to prevent dramatic occurrences from her overflowing Ki.

When Sarah slipped into the room, the walls and drapes around the bed were awash with golden light. The flames within Amdirlain's sigil blazed through clothing nearly transparent from the glow. She lay on the bed to hold Amdirlain's hand as Ki continued to loop through her sigil.

"How do you find the local enchanters?" Amdirlain asked when she completed the last loop she'd planned. The sigil's glow faded as the Ki drained through the conduits towards her Soul.

"They're a mixed group. Though none of them have progressed to proper infusing, they've got some interesting approaches to problems," said Sarah. "They've got a method to set up rune arrays to amplify the outwards effect. It should combine well with techniques I've seen in other places. It'll take some initial research effort, but I'm sure there will be some decent gains."

Amdirlain turned on her side to kiss Sarah's cheek. "Then you've got a few things to keep you busy."

"Are you still going to study here a few years?" asked Sarah.

A shiver ran up Amdirlain's spine, and she jerkily shook her head. "I'm going to Hades sooner than I had planned. I got Ki Movement evolved into Phoenix's Trail working today, but despite the head start I had trying to get Ki Flight to improve, it's still stubborn."

I intended to sneak in, find my family's souls, and then use the domain's conflict to provide cover to eliminate any attacking armies and gain levels in my non-True Song classes. Now I've got an actual siege going on.

Sarah stroked a finger slowly down Amdirlain's nose. "You've not exactly put in a lot of flying time the last few years. It could be because your original Flight Power doesn't possess the same elemental nature as Ki Flight."

"Someone will have to revoke my pilot's license since I teleport so much," joked Amdirlain.

"Truly terrible behaviour if you had one," replied Sarah. "You're preoccupied."

"I saw the Jade Emperor today, so I'm coming to the end of this trip," Amdirlain sighed. "I expected more time to figure out contingency options for Hades. The forces range from foot soldiers to demon lords on the Abyss side, a lot of variety among the devils, but they weren't supplemented by kytons."

"Were the devils from within Hell's hierarchy or a dark deity?"

"The latter," confirmed Amdirlain. 'They were all wearing the insignia of another dark power from Hell, not Moloch's boss. Which is annoying since I wanted to drive a wedge between them.'

"Why?"

"I'd hoped to fake that she had frustrated his attempts to get my family's souls. It could have led to some fireworks between them. She's a tyrant, so if he'd gone demanding answers, she might have stripped him of the energy that allowed his promotion to divinity."

"Can you tell me why you started cutting off the entries into Hades?"

"How did you know?"

Sarah smiled. "I might have put a few things in place to spy on the boundary. My own eyes in the sky, so to speak."

"I sensed a large contingent of partly transitioned souls inside Hades."

"The treaties don't cover them?"

"No, they don't. If either side captures them, they don't have to take them to Judgement."

"How would they have gotten here?"

"Hades had a relic he used to transport my family's souls, I can only assume something else hid the souls from Gideon's transition. I can tell they aren't his faithful but still bound to his Domain. That must have kept them in place when the hag stole his Mantle."

"Oh Amdirlain, you're playing a perilous game. I see why you're keeping the demons and devils busy, but it will be a fine line to avoid drawing too much attention from other dark powers."

Amdirlain nodded firmly. "The forces of Hell and the Abyss have a different perspective of time. If I don't slam them too hard, they will happily fight on the border against visible foes, and I'll get inside. With Energy Drain I could have drawn in one Soul at a time. With Enervating Aura, I can sweep up thousands a second, perhaps even more now since I've got my Ki Movement technique working. Then I'll have them and Cerberus."

"What about Cerberus?"

"I'm going to adopt a rescue puppy." Amdirlain playfully clasped her hands against her cheek. "I've missed having pets."

"Really?" spluttered Sarah. "We don't have a place to live and you're going to adopt a hill-sized dog?"

"He's not that big, only a hundred metres tall," protested Amdirlain.

Sarah rolled her eyes. "You know the definition of a hill."

"A landform that is under three hundred metres."

"His feet stay on the ground and he is under a three-hundred-metre-tall. He is a hill-sized dog," declared Sarah.

Amdirlain fluttered her eyelids. "Are we going to argue over Cerberus?"

"Don't make me the bad one. You still have to take a trip to the Abyss and I don't want to be stuck looking after him. I'm not cleaning up after he chews apart towns."

"He's a good boy."

"Amdirlain," grumbled Sarah.

She caressed Sarah's face, drawing forth a groan. "For me?"

"We can find him somewhere, but we're not adopting him. That would be irresponsible," declared Sarah.

"I was going to send him to Atonement," sulked Amdirlain playfully. "Can't he guard the portal there?"

"Really?"

Amdirlain nodded enthusiastically.

"Sweetie, why didn't you lead with that?"

"It was far more fun this way," replied Amdirlain. "I plan to get him to hassle Nazie. He seems partial to tasty treats."

"Cerberus or Naz?"

"Cerberus. Naz deserves all the cheerful slobbering."

"Let's discuss rules of engagement for meeting with the South Wind." Sarah tucked a loose strand of hair behind Amdirlain's ear.

Amdirlain sighed. "Yeah, I give you veto for this occasion."

♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

A guide escorted them to the palace the following evening. The white stone walls surrounding it didn't block their view of the multi-tiered towers that rose through the wooded canopy beyond the walls, nor the palace's buildings' red and green roof tiles. The inner walls have stone engravings that helped channel the wind within the compound.

They presented themselves to the guards at the main gate well before the meeting. The guard's armour was a leather cuirass, with attached segments to protect their thighs from front blows, greaves and vambrace. Though only armed with shields and spears, their combat Class levels made it clear they weren't there for ceremonial function alone, though none were practitioners. The commander greeted them politely and signalled for news of their arrival to be passed along—the call barely got beyond the walls, before the order came to open the gates.

As the gates opened, they saw the raised walkways that ran through the palace grounds, crossing waterways that crisscrossed the place and teemed with fish. The raised floors continued through the palace, and Amdirlain could feel the energy flows, which used breezes channelled through stone vents beneath the ground floor to keep the buildings cooler. A male and female servant—both Tai, a culture group native to northern Thailand—were wearing traditional loose cotton garb, both black-haired and well-tanned.

The woman wore a bright green sinh, with accents of gold, the tubular skirt ending just above her ankles. It mingled well with the light pink of her sabai. It started wrapping around her high above her waist, and looped up to cover her breasts, before dangling back over her shoulder. Even with the amount of fabric wrapped around her, the cloth still descended to her ankles. The man's pakama covered him from waist to mid-shin. It was a single piece of cloth wrapped around his legs with a broad red sash securing it around his waist—an arrangement that reminded Amdirlain of a Scottish kilt. He was bare-chested with two colourful beaded strands forming an x across his chest, looping from shoulders to upper hip bone.

They took turns offering greetings as they worked through the group, intoning each person's name and bowing.

Finally, they stepped aside in unison and turned to face each other. The man swept an arm towards the palace, beckoning them in. "Please accompany us. Lady Zhūquè and General Bunma are already inside, awaiting the pleasure of your company."

"We're here to ensure you have everything you need during your visit today," the female servant said with a friendly smile that politely warmed her gaze.

With that, they set off walking along the side of the path, flanking the group.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.