Guran guided Lena, Micro, Kolt, and Kira quickly through the bustling communities which surrounded the sect’s expansive temple of stone. Even from within the small villages, the sect’s main buildings were clear to see atop a small hill. Its stone walls were painted yellow, but large wooden structures of finer quality than Micro had yet seen on his new world stood alongside humbler stone structures.

  “Wow…” Micro was pleasantly surprised not to draw much attention from the villagers he passed. Though he couldn’t help but compare them to the average villagers of his homeworld, he noticed that they appeared cleanly dressed and well fed compared to other non-cultivators he’d met. “Gold really does make a difference.”

  “Those under the sect’s protection want for nothing, I assure you,” Guran replied proudly. “The tributes which adorn this land speak to the true value of our sect to this kingdom.”

  “Hmm…” Micro nodded, but noticed a sudden change in the air around them. While villagers had seemed indifferent to the group before, the sound of Guran’s voice seemed to cool the warm atmosphere of the settlement instantly. Men and women stopped walking and bowed their heads as Guran passed, offering no words of greeting as they walked by. Micro sighed as the familiar scene unfolded. “Fear…”

  “Fear? Hardly…” Guran stated with a sharp glance. “They live happily in their place. And they know their place well.”

  “I see,” Micro replied quietly, turning to find Kolt and Kira wearing equally nervous expressions.

  “We’ve arrived at our first stop,” Guran announced. “You have journeyed far, and you must have accumulated as much fatigue as your clothes have gathered… filth…”

  “That’s a fair assessment,” Micro said with a laugh. He patted his robes once, sending a cloud of dust into the air. “It’s been a long walk…”

  Guran cleared his throat and bowed his head, hiding an unpleasant expression as several women gathered around him. Behind Guran was a large building of wood and stone, decorated with colourful tapestries and flowers. Guran looked up at Micro, doing his best not to let his glare fall upon the children behind him while Lena looked around the town with disinterest.

  “If it pleases you, allow us to aid you in restoring your outerwear to its fullest potential,” Guran spoke formally. “To enter the sect in such a state would be…”

  “Oh, it’s a clothing store,” Micro said as he looked into the building through a window. “That’s convenient.”

  The store was full of shelves displaying fabrics of many colours, though there was a clear preference for the yellow colour worn by Guran and many other cultivators walking about the villages. Several people remained inside, some sewing while others cleaned, though most of the staff had exited the building to meet Guran with bowed heads.

  “I don’t need anything expensive, but the little ones could use warmer clothes,” Micro said to Guran.

  “Expensive?” Guran blurted out. “We would not charge you for the honour of making you presentable before our masters. It is our privilege to be of service in this way!”

  “Cultivators do business in other ways,” Lena quietly remarked to Micro. “Don’t be discourteous by trying to pay for goods with your gold coins here. You would insult them by offering mundane currency in exchange for their services.”

  “How should I pay then?” Micro asked as he returned several gold coins to his storage, a sight which caught Guran’s eye instantly.

  “I’m sure your time here will be of great value to our sect,” Guran assured him with a conflicted look. “The depth of your skills is difficult to discern.”

  “It would be discourteous to reject their hospitality,” Lena remarked to Micro, still wearing a look of disinterest. “Not that it is worth much…”

  Micro shrugged and followed Guran into the store, where the group was greeted warmly. Upon the staff’s insistence, the four were led to the back of the store where warm baths were prepared, and their clothes were taken to be washed.

  After a short time spent relaxing in the soapy water, they were provided temporary robes while their clothes dried. Lena rejected their persistent offers of new robes, but Micro felt it would be best to have newer clothes to wear while his Fire Mountain Turtle Sect robes were in such a weathered state. Micro was worried about what might happen to Blue and Trill in a washing machine, though he soon noticed them resting atop a shelf, out of sight of the shop’s busy employees.

  “Forgive me if I am mistaken, but I believe your robes belong to an eastern sect of the jade level. Are you not the leader of an amber level sect, young master?” Guran asked while several other workers took measurements of Micro, Kira, and Kolt.

  “That’s true,” Micro replied, giving the matter some thought for the first time. “Kel’s sect was very kind to us, but the Truck Sect itself would be called amber level now, I guess…”

  “So your attire was borrowed, I see…” Guran nodded with an eyebrow raised. “You have quite the variety of close friends.”

  “Then, might I ask what colours adorn the members of your sect?” an old man dressed in fine robes asked, appearing from behind a large pile of fabrics. “I’m sure your sect has its fair share of skilled craftsmen, but I would strive to provide you with such garments that you would hesitate to exchange for any others.”

  The old man’s eyes always seemed to be travelling from one corner of Micro’s body to another as he spoke, memorizing his form as naturally as he breathed. Micro felt impressed by the man’s enthusiasm for his craft.

  “Well, green is nice. But I was always white and grey before,” Micro replied, and he was soon surprised by an intent aura surrounding the old man. Though the man possessed no core, an excited energy swirled around him as he spoke.

  “White and grey…” The old man’s eyes widened. “What a splendid combination… Unique… Simple… Proud… Yes…”

  “What about you?” Micro turned away from the old man, whose face oozed enthusiasm, and addressed the children behind him. “Trucks come in lots of colours.”

  “I’ll wear the same!” Kira shouted happily.

  “Umm…” Kolt mumbled, having been staring at a vibrant red roll of fabric with gold patterns glistening at its edges. “The same, I guess…”

  “Forgive my ignorance, young master, but might I ask what sect you lead?” The old man asked with a humbler tone, having calmed himself slightly.

  “The Truck Sect,” Micro replied.

  “The… what?”

  “We’re efficient and reliable, among other things—” Micro explained. “It’s a new sect.”

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Efficient and reliable… I see…” the old craftsman repeated, nodding deeply. “I haven’t heard of the honourable young master’s sect, but I promise that the robes I prepare for you on this day will ensure that you are recognized wherever you go!”

  “Thanks…” Micro replied timidly.

  “Haret is my name!” the old man said with a dance-like bow. “I am a servant of the sect, but I am a slave to my art!”

  “He’s a passionate fellow,” Guran remarked, rolling his eyes slightly. His voice carried a sharp burst of aura directed at the old man. “Please do see to the task at once. Their patience may wane.”

  “My craft always has my full attention!” Haret replied, somehow unaffected by the harsh aura of guide. “You may play outside if you like, little Guran!”

  “Well, no hurry,” Micro shrugged, and smiled to the old man called Haret. “It’s always worth taking the time to do a job well.”

  ~

  The shop became lively as the old craftsman called Haret led his staff in the creation of three new robes of white and grey. Kolt was increasingly intimidated by the energy he perceived in everyone around him, especially without Trill on his shoulder to supplement his energy stores, but Micro and Kira enjoyed looking around the shop at all the colourful fabrics on display. The staff were happy to show them around and proudly explained the patterns and their origins across the kingdom.

  Though Micro had been suspicious of the relationship between Guran and the workers, he was relieved to see them working happily to fill his order. Haret’s hands moved too quickly for Micro to track, shouting orders with a voice full of passion and urgency, and his assistants cooperated efficiently with smiles on their faces.

  “What sort of clothes do trucks wear on your world?” Kira asked cheerfully while unfurling a large tapestry.

  “Trucks are made of metal and plastic mostly, so there’s no need for clothes,” Micro replied. “A coat of wax helps protect the paint though.”

  “That sounds really uncomfortable,” Kira laughed.

  “Now that I can feel the temperature with my skin, clothes do feel quite nice, to be honest,” Micro replied. “And I like all the colours people wear. Changing clothes is a lot easier than washing and waxing a truck too. I should learn how to wash clothes soon…”

  “That reminds me!” Kira said, leaning closer to Micro and looking into his eyes. “How come some people have one eye that’s a different colour from the other one?”

  “Oh, that happened recently,” Micro sighed, pointing to his red left eye. “That’s what happens when you look at chaos energy too closely. Why do you ask? Have you seen eyes like this before?”

  “I saw a few people like that back home,” Kira replied. “Sometimes rich people passed through town on their way somewhere. Some of them had odd coloured eyes, but I never had a chance to ask about it. They were scary…”

  “Magicians often deal with chaos energy, so that might explain it,” Micro replied with a shrug. “Magicians aren’t all bad, but you should avoid getting involved with them. They don’t get along well with most cultivators.”

  “I see…” Kira replied quietly. “Magicians and cultivators were enemies, huh? I figured they were all just doing their own thing…”

  “I know, it’s a little confusing,” Micro explained. “Just focus on getting stronger though. The stronger you get, the less you have to worry about.”

  “That’s not entirely true…” Lena added softly from across the room with a conservative smile.

  ~

  Lena’s robes and armour were soon returned in nearly perfect condition. Micro noticed they even smelled of flowers. He also noticed a metal dagger among the clothes when they were presented to Lena, and was surprised to learn Lena possessed a weapon.

  “I thought you relied more on energy than weapons,” Micro remarked. “You can even make swords of energy, so why do you need that?”

  “Most cultivators carry a blade, though its utility varies,” Lena replied as she tucked it beneath her armour. “Your friend who practices the Turtle Art carried a sword, did he not? Jade level sects often dispatch monsters with a material blade to conserve energy. Most elders in my sect carry blades inherited from ancestors.”

  “That makes sense,” Micro said, nodding as Lena’s story continued.

  “Our sect was not always so strong, and these heirlooms connect us to our roots,” Lena explained as she moved the small blade playfully through the air. “They keep us humble on our path to immortality.”

  “That’s nice,” Micro replied with a smile. “You might need a few more of those though…”

  “Is there a similar tradition on your world, young master?” Lena asked.

  “The old man kept a pair of pliers in the truck which his own father gave him as a child. The rubber on the handles wore off years ago, but he never let a tool rust,” Micro recalled with a smile. “Well, there was a saw blade he dropped in the snow one year, but that was an accident…”

  Lena nodded, content that they shared some appreciation for the sentiment despite an apparent language barrier. Shortly after Lena had returned to her usual appearance, Haret marched through a door followed by several assistants crying tears of joy.

  “Young master, your work of art is complete!” he announced so loudly that the shop was shaken by his excitement. “Behold, the pinnacle of style and comfort!”

  “Oh, thank you…” Micro replied somewhat awkwardly. “Was it a lot of work?”

  “It was a monumental task to do your order justice, but it was such a pleasure that I regret having completed it in less than a day…!” Haret cried out with a sincerity which surprised Micro.“ So simple, so elegant, so dignified… A style which exudes confidence and nobility…!”

  Haret’s assistants then unfolded the three sets of robes before Micro, Kolt, and Kira, and all three customers understood Haret’s proclamations.

  “Beautiful…” Kira whispered.

  “So cool…” Kolt added, reaching out to touch the sleeve of the robe closest to him. “I’ve never felt cloth like this!”

  “They’re perfect,” Micro stated. “It even shines the same way my old coat of paint did…!”

  The robes were made of a silky material which glistened in the light which came in through the window, but a dark grey fabric made up the edges of the robes. Even Lena raised her eyebrows at the sight of the robes.

  “The soul sects I know of typically wear white, but for any other sect to wear such a thing…” Lena said mostly to herself. “You will certainly provoke many.”

  “Provoke them?” Micro asked.

  “Cultivators wear colours to which they feel some attachment,” Lena explained, then pointed to the subtle patterns embroidered on her sleeves. “We carry the traditions and stories of our sect with us, honouring our traditions and ancestors. I believe most would see your own robes as representing the philosophy of transcendence, a trait few would dare to claim publicly.”

  “So, the simpler a robe is, the prouder I look?” Micro asked.

  “If any other sect leader wore those garments, I would assume they were terminally arrogant,” Lena said with a serious tone which caused the old man called Haret to take a defensive stance. However, she soon smiled again. “But for one with such an approach to cultivation as yours, I dare say those colours are well suited to you.”

  “Transcendence…” Micro mumbled. “Of what?”

  “Few cultivators have ever declared their intention to master every Core Card,” Lena added, but her words were accompanied by an intense aura. “But neither am I aware of any who have mastered as many as you.”

  “Well…” Micro replied, beginning to feel uncomfortable after being praised in such a threatening way. “Thanks, Lena.”

  “A master of many Core Cards, you say…” Guran mumbled, his eyes narrowing as he took a loser look at Micro. “How intriguing…”

  “Shall we continue on our way?” Lena interjected before Micro could reply to Guran. “We aren’t here to be gawked at by the likes of you.

  “Indeed, we have—” Guran began to answer politely, but he was interrupted by a rumbling sound.

  “Sorry…” Kira whispered, her face turning red. She held her stomach and looked down in fear. However, Lena cracked a smile at the situation and nodded.

  “I’m sure one may find only the finest of delicacies in such a sect,” Lena said to Guran, who only revealed his impatience for a brief moment before bowing deeply. “Or will we see the limits of your hospitality today?”

  “Once the young masters are dressed, I shall show you the finest food known to the kingdom,” Guran stated boastfully, though he did appear flustered at the change in plans. Micro and Kira did nothing to hide their excitement at his suggestion, though Kolt feigned a more stoic expression, similar to the way Lena carried herself. Micro couldn’t help but raise his voice in excitement.

  “Do you have honey buns here?!” Micro asked.

  “Honey happens to be a specialty of ours,” Guran answered, nodding to one of the workers waiting nearby. The young woman bowed and disappeared around the corner. “I’ll see to it that you experience all we have to offer.”