“I beg your forgiveness and understanding, master,” Kel said with his head bowed. “Though you handled the disrespectful confrontation with tact and grace, I am ashamed by my family’s conduct. For him to have challenged your honour in such a way—”

  “I don’t really understand what you mean by that,” Micro replied with a honey bun in each hand and one in his mouth. “He seemed harmless enough. Kids can be rude, but that doesn’t make them evil.”

  Tae sat across from Kel and Micro at their usual table, overlooking the beautiful landscape below. The sun was still high over the hills in the horizon, but the wind had grown colder in the mountainside temple. The steam which rose vigorously from the bowls of meat next to the mountains of baked treats in front of Micro made it hard for Tae or Kel to see him properly, but they were relieved to hear him sounding content.

  “Just admit it, Ke—” Tae stuttered as she did her best to stifle her own laughter. “Be honest, young master. You enjoyed that even more than I did.”

  “Words best left unsaid, as you surely know,” Kel replied with a look of disapproval. “Vale and I were close friends once, before my father…”

  “Would it not be within your rights to challenge him outright for such disrespectful words?” Tae pleaded. “I know you are strong enough to put him in his place, but—”

  “I wear the title of coward because I have earned it, Tae,” Kel interrupted her with a somber look. “My honour will not be reclaimed in a petty squabble between cousins.”

  “I see…” Tae bowed with a bitter frown. “I know you are correct, but—”

  “I will not show the sect I am worthy to inherit the sect by punishing one of the hundreds of disciples of this sect who are right to criticize me,” Kel continued. He pointed to himself with a firm gesture. “It is my own weakness that I must first defeat, and then they will see for themselves whether I am a coward or a worthy heir. The tournament is where I shall repair what I have broken.”

  “Is your cousin going to the tournament?” Micro asked.

  “Not this year, master,” Kel replied, shaking his head slowly.

  “But he looked confident.” Micro thought aloud.

  “One might say his greatest virtue is his confidence, but I have robbed him of that chance this year.” Kel half smiled as he explained the situation to Micro. “His grandfather was the elder brother to my own, you see? If my grandfather hadn’t challenged his elder brother and won the position of sect leader long ago, then the position of heir to the sect would naturally have fallen to him. If I hadn’t mastered the Jade Fire Turtle Art, he may well have been granted the opportunity to attend the tournament this year in my stead.”

  “So you’re his boss then?” Blue asked, popping her head out from behind a bowl with a mouthful of beef. “You don’t seem the type.”

  “What would a pixie know of leadership?” Kel retorted with a frown.

  “Huh?” She shouted with an intense glare. “You’re looking at a leader right now! You see that little yellow guy up there? That’s what being bossed around really looks like!”

  “I see…” Kel turned a confused glance to the small bulge in Micro’s chest pocket where Trill was likely sleeping, then shook his head to dispel the awkward mood that arose from picking a fight with Blue. He cleared his throat and turned back to Micro to continue.

  “While it is his right, perhaps even his duty, to challenge me for the position of heir to the Jade Fire Mountain Turtle Sect, that does not excuse his arrogance, though it cost him dearly today,” Kel said, finally unable to completely stifle his laughter. “But I’ve never seen a Core Card won or lost so quickly, master. I will never underestimate another after witnessing you today.”

  “I was surprised that he just gave it to me!” Micro laughed along. “Your family really is kind. You’re lucky, Kel…”

  “Master…” Kel suddenly bit his lip, his eyes beginning to water. “I realize how petty a matter my family’s history must be to someone who has overseen the passing of entire generations. I humbly thank you for sharing your perspective with this lowly friend of yours…”

  “Family is important,” Micro replied, his own eyes closed as he enjoyed another honey bun. “I hope we meet them again soon.”

  Kel’s worries were alleviated as he enjoyed his meal with Tae, Micro, and Blue, and soon the sky was dark once more. However, as Micro yawned while looking over the barren dishes on the table, he was surprised to see Kel stand up suddenly and stretch his legs.

  “I think it’s about time we prepared to depart,” Kel announced to the table.

  “I believe so, young master,” Tae added, standing up and beginning to stretch her own legs.

  “What’s happening?” Micro asked shortly before belching.

  “Always so busy…” Blue mumbled while lying on the table half asleep. “What now?”

  “The tournament is tomorrow morning, master,” Kel replied. “It’s time to go.”

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  “Oh!” Micro shouted happily. He stood up quickly, but sat back down immediately after realizing how full of beef and honey buns he had become.

  “One minute, please…”

  “Of course, master,” Kel replied with a bow, then walked to the edge of the balcony with Tae to discuss something while Micro began the process of converting all the food he’d eaten into energy he could freely circulate through his body. He was surprised by how fast the process went this time thanks to the experience he’d accumulated in the Jade Fire Mountain dungeon.

  “I think I’m getting the hang of this, Blue!” he said while patting his stomach. “I feel much less likely to explode now!”

  “It feels easier to do after climbing that stupid mountain…” she sighed as she did the same.

  “Young master, the sect leader will see you now!” a young man suddenly called out from the entrance to the cafeteria.

  “Wonderful, thank you,” Kel replied to the man, prompting him to return the way he came. “Come now, master. There is one remaining formality which requires our attention before our journey can begin.”

  ~

  After digesting his food and returning to the guest room to collect his belongings, Micro soon found himself at the centre of attention in a large hall, along with his new friends.

  “So, it’s already that time again,” the sect master said with a nostalgic smile. “And we have so many representatives this year… My heir, a guest, an attendant…”

  Micro and Tae knelt behind Kel in a large hall, surrounded by sect elders and disciples, all of whose heads were bowed in the direction of the sect leader as he spoke.

  “I thank you for giving me this opportunity, grandfather,” Kel said confidently, lifting his head to meet his grandfather’s eyes. “I will bring honour to this sect!”

  “I have no doubt, but I expect you will bring us something more than that…” The sect leader grinned. “I have considered your words for some time now, and I must admit to you all that my ambitions may have dulled with age!”

  “No, master!” several disciples cried out.

  “Your long reign has seen us thrive despite what is happening in the world!” an elder shouted.

  “Thrive…? I wonder,” The sect leader said as he raised his hand to quiet his comrades. “For a wandering soul to drift in with an ominous breeze and master our sacred art with ease… For us to be so shaken by the whims of fate, I wonder where we lost our way…”

  “Grandfather…!” Kel gasped.

  “I thought your father was a fool for chasing unreachable dreams… Dreaming of an Amber Fire Mountain Turtle Sect…” The sect leader closed his eyes. “I was a fool to discourage him… But I will not make the same mistake twice.”

  “I don’t know what to say…” Kel’s voice quivered.

  “Say nothing, if it suits you,” the sect leader said resolutely. “Carry our sect to a higher realm. Bring us the power to survive what is to come. Do what my son never had the chance to do…”

  Kel held back his tears and bowed deeply without a word. The sect leader then turned his eyes to the attendant kneeling behind Kel.

  “Young Tae, your family has long served the sect, but I was blind not to see such talent could come from them…” the sect leader said, then bowed his head slightly. “I offer you my blessing, as well as my apologies.”

  “You honour me, master!” Tae blurted out with excitement, her face revealing her pure joy.

  “It is you who brings honour to our sect, child,” the sect leader stated, shaking his head humbly. His words cause elders in the room to become agitated, some whispering to each other in disapproval, but the sect leader ignored their remarks. “You remind us all that the path which disciples of this sect walk is not just a matter of fulfilling one’s duties, but a quest with unknowable rewards, regardless of the potential costs. And the one called Micro…”

  “Hello again, ba—I mean master!” Micro said as he stood up and waved, drawing a dozen rage-filled glares from the surrounding disciples. Several of them gasped when his feet left the floor for a moment, still having trouble controlling his strength outside of the Mountain Art Dungeon.

  “Hello, indeed,” the sect leader replied with a gentler tone. “The path ahead will not be easy for you, as you know…”

  “I have to fight people so they’ll be my friends,” Micro replied with a frown. “I’m not clear on the details, but I’ll do my best!”

  “I trust you will, but your fate is somewhat beyond our comprehension,” the sect leader continued. “The evil goddess, Nora, and her twisted cult… We can only hope their business with you is finished. Our sect cannot protect you in the Imperial City to the South, so keep your wits about you. The magicians are invisible to us, but they are always out there, waiting…”

  “I’ll try not to run into any of them,” Micro said in agreement. “Thanks, master!”

  “Very well.” The sect leader rose from his seat, followed by the rest of the people in the hall. “I really must be getting old… Look at me rambling like this…”

  He cleared his throat and suddenly filled the room with a powerful aura, causing almost everyone who could hear him to take a step back. Micro, Kel, and Tae were the only ones who seemed to be truly unaffected by the immense pressure of his spiritual energy, a fact that went unnoticed by few.

  “As is the tradition of our ancient sect…” the sect leader declared with a booming voice. “I give these young ones before me who have mastered the Jade Fire Turtle Art the blessing of the Jade Fire Mountain Turtle Sect in defending our honour at the annual Jade Conference Tournament in the Imperial City.”

  “Honour to the Jade Fire Mountain Turtle Sect!” Kel and the rest of the people in the room shouted in reply, startling Micro. “Honour to the Jade Fire Mountain Turtle Sect!”

  “There, you will display the sacred arts of our ancestors before the world. There, you will learn of the world. And there, you will challenge the world. May you grow through this experience, young ones,” the sect leader continued.

  Kel straightened his back and summoned his turtle armour for all to see, filling it with as much energy as he could muster and letting his aura radiate throughout the room to the delight of almost every disciple present. Tae then followed his example, lifting her fist into the air and coating herself in the same armour. Enjoying the spirit of the event, Micro was the next to display his armour.

  The smiling sect leader then watched in horror as a pixie-sized suit of turtle shell armour jumped on Micro’s shoulder, though the odd spectacle went unnoticed by most of the people there.

  “This is fun!” Micro shouted to his friends in matching armour.

  “I’m glad, Master Micro!” Kel replied.

  “Let’s kick some cultivators in the head!” Blue laughed, kicking Micro’s ethereal helmet.

  “Let’s go make some new friends!” Micro cheered.