I hated those social events.

They were a waste of my time: too much talking, not enough doing. The only reason I came was to find out how the tasteless kid took out two brother-assassins of the red hand.

I carefully made my way through the crowd, reducing my speed to almost normal to avoid harming anyone. The bulk of those attending the event were blades but there were also some who weren't as resilient and even a couple commoners since the kids' families were here.

Those were more fragile and I'll have to be extra careful around them. Husnd knows I would never forgive myself, and neither would he, if I ever harmed someone by being negligent. This was also one of the reasons I didn't enjoy interacting with people, they were brittle.

Having to move this slowly felt like a needless drag. It reminded me of the pesky time-stretching illusions some Aumama mages would use. I've always despised illusionists, smokes and mirrors would only slow you down but in the end, only strength in the tangible world mattered. My fists broke more than one illusion and my hands tore more than one illusionist's heart out of his ribcage.

The other reason I avoided these gatherings were the gossips. Even if I tried my best to lower my hearing sense, I'd still pick up almost any conversation held in the room. Having to listen to the last nocturnal escapade from blade Majari, or the latest trend in skirts and ribbons, or whatever they had to say about me or anyone else wasn't my thing. I'd rather enjoy the silence atop the lighthouse. It was the best place to feel the tremors of the world and enjoy a taste of serenity.

Thankfully, Iroto's speech was kept short enough. He had a tendency to love the sound of his own voice but he knew that his mere presence was startling the commoners and he was an excellent host. Frightening his guests was not a hobby of his.

It still felt too long if one was to ask me but I know it could have been worse if it was the current Shield leading the festivities, he liked speeches even more than his father-in-law.

* * * *

The kids were today's center of attention. The unlikely saviours of the princess.

They stuck close to their parents, not because the children were afraid but rather because the poor adults weren't accustomed to the stares of so many powerful people. I approved of this attitude and so did Husnd.

The girl's trail was the easiest to taste in the crowd. She had Akolaï's distinctive sugariness on her, though with a slightly different aftertaste. True powerful Akolaïtes were so sweet that they were almost sickening to feel. The girl had a milder sweetness, like a ripe karepe, sweet but with a hint of tanginess and a bit of astringent effect. She didn't have the sticky feeling of Akolaï's blessed ones either; she was just doted on by the god but not contracted. At least not yet.

It would be for the best if she didn't fall in the hands of the temple. Our Shieldom could well use her talents and she had shown loyalty. This was the best quality of all, a Husnd's one.

That's why I spent so much convincing the Enchantress to take her in. She could become a great asset for this country in the praetorian guard. My grandnephew will hate me for that deal but it was for the greater good, I'll make him understand.

The boy was far harder to find. I couldn't taste his chi at all from this far and had to rely on other means. It was the faint murky taste of his Shinpilo's blessing that gave out his location.

His condition was still a mystery to me. I've asked a dozen other masters and none of them ever met this situation. He had Chi, I knew it. Just that it felt “old”, “stale”. Not rotten or overripe but more like “dusty” and “vapid”.

It was both faint and immovable, like a rock rather than a flavoursome, tantalizing dish.

Iroto told me how hard it had been to cure the boy's wounds. The healers had to expand thrice as much regenerative Chi as they should have. I've checked the boy's condition at his demand but there was no rot of Fusaad to be smelled. It wasn't his aura that had already shrunk either; it was just his strange Chi somehow resisting the healing. We were lucky the kid had so little Chi, otherwise we would have exhausted all the healers in the palace.

* * * *

After enough talking, Iroto announced the real deal. They now made both kids free citizens and put them under his care. This was a bold move. He was basically stealing two talented commoners from their blade. I don't know who was the blade who got robbed in plain sight but that can't be pleasant. It was necessary though. Both kids needed to be nurtured and we couldn't let the central Temple snatch the kid from us. Fortmo had agreed that this was for the Shieldom’s best interest.

Now that the party was on, it was time to move on, I couldn't waste more time here and wouldn't wait for the end of the festivities.

The kids were now back with their families. Iroto, the prince and even the Duarch's kid were there to handle the parents. Now was a good time to handle my business.

Despite my best efforts at constraining my aura and restricting my Chi's influence, the crowd reacted at my approach, parting naturally to give me way. My senses could feel the blades tense up and the commoners freeze like hunted preys sensing their demise. Only Iroto remained unfazed, the old devil had seen far worse than me and knew no fear.

I decided to quickly handle the girl.

The Enchantress never wanted an apprentice. She had created her own magic, a feat worthy of legends, and intended to die with her knowledge. Truth was that suitable pupils were almost non-existent. The girl appeared just at the right moment, the Enchantress will never find a better apprentice.

She was naturally afraid of my mere presence. She hid it well enough but I could feel her heart thumping through the air and the sour smell of fear taint her taste. Her purple eyes were a nice oddity. They were claiming her link with Akolaï in a very public manner. It must have been quite unpleasant more than once. Akolaïtes had a poor reputation in the Empire, a by-product of Jalea's influence. Husnd too was wary of marriage wreckers but would always give everyone a fair chance before judging them. 'Deeds comes above words', 'Judge someone on his acts.' The girl risked her life for my friend's granddaughter, this should earn her my sympathy, Akolaï or not.

I went straight to the point, “Iroto told me you have a predisposition for magic?” I didn't wait for the girl to answer and tried to ignore her parent's dumbfounded faces. If I got annoyed my aura might leak out and petrify them. “Would you like to start studying what you can do with it? I think I know someone who is looking for an apprentice and you look suitable.”

Getting a mentor was a tremendous boon for a commoner. I don't know if the girl can understand the extent of my offer. Wait, did she even know who I am?

I could see the boy give the girl an elbow strike in the ribs to prompt her to answer. This would spare me some time, thanks kid for getting me.

The girl was still brain-frozen but sorted out an answer. “Huh? Of course. I mean, yes my lord, Sir. I would be glad to.” The boy had a smirk on him like some father watching over his clumsy daughter.

The girl was handled, I'd let the Enchantress deal with her from now on.

The boy looked strangely unaffected by my aura. This was quite unusual for someone with so little Chi. He should feel threatened by my aura. I won't complain, this would make it easier to talk with him. “Come with me, you, we need to talk.” It was an order that could suffer no rebuke.

I grabbed him by the wrist, being careful not to break his delicate bones while dragging him.

Now was the time to quench the thirst that made me come, check the boy's “magic”.

How did a Chi-less kid obliterate two brother-assassins with just coal? This sounded like one of those Beastkins’ riddles.

Just as I was dragging him to a secluded table, the young one-eyed-Suji came to us. He was now a General of the army, I still had a hard time realizing it. I'll let him stick with us, not only as a military representative but also because he was more a people-person than I was.

As soon as we sat around the table, I spread a bubble of Chi around us. The nasty taste of mud on my tongue told me Fortmo was in it. I sent him a Chi tremor to tell him he wasn't as stealthy as he thought. This brought him out of his hiding illusion. “A nice barrier you have there,” he commented without praise, “Even I would have a hard time eavesdropping through it,” he claimed.

In his dreams only. The cardinal was way over himself if he thought he could ever spy on me. This bubble was like a second skin to me and I could instantly tell if his intent touched it. Unless his god helped him spy on me, it wasn't a feat he could pull off and even then, he would need Husnd to not warn me either.

“Congratulations for your promotion,” started Suji, probably trying to reassure the child. Sujji had always been a diplomat, trying to talk his way out of some battles. Diplomacy was a waste of time in my opinion, in the end only strength mattered. I only talked with those I defeated, the discussions were shorter.

The boy's poise was worthy of praise. Even after being dragged here by me and surrounded by a general and a cardinal, he was looking calm. His heart rate was giving him out but few would notice and I doubt anyone could read anxiety or fear in his Chi, I couldn't.

“I suppose you want me to talk about [gun]powder,” he answered.

I nodded, “Yes, I want a demonstration.” I was getting tired of talks, time for actions. Suji was brave enough to give me a disapproving glare for my lack of sensitivity. That's why I like the young general, he was bold enough to point out some of my failings. Not that I would take heed of his criticisms, I was past the age of wasting my time on shallow conversation.

* * * *

The kid's workplace was as small as him. A tiny desk with a few tools, a small tube of average grade bronze he called his “gun” and what little powder he could produce.

No one had messed with his work, because the thing had proved dangerous and because it was a proof of good faith.

The second princess was waiting for us in her courtyard. “Care if I join you gentlemen for this demonstration? I'm curious to see how I was saved.” She claimed with faked uneasiness.

I knew Iroto sent her to watch over us and report back to him. Ah, foolish Iroto, if I wanted to become Shield, I would already be sitting on that throne. My oath to Husnd was making it impossible though, but the old drunkard didn't know the exact terms of it and I liked to keep him on the edge.

The Shinpilo-kid filled his crude bronze tube with his powder and a lead ball. I'm still surprised this flimsy-looking rod could hurt anyone. He lighted a fuse and pointed the tube at a wooden dummy, a few steps away.

I knew it was going to be noisy but the explosion still startled me a bit, my hearing making it painful. There was a small plume of smoke and the wooden dummy's head had a hole in it.

It was both impressive and disappointing.

Sure, the thing was able to do some damage, but the requirements were harsh. It took time to settle and fire and it required to be in close range. Not ideal for commoners facing monsters or enemy fighters.

“Nice.” applauded General Suji before giving me a wink with his remaining eye. Once more, he knew how to be more diplomat than I could. “Now could we see what you used to kill the second one, the thing that hurt your hand?” he inquired with a concerned expression, like he was feeling some empathy for the wounded.

The kid's hand was still rosy and wrinkled like some koati had chewed on it for weeks, not fully healed despite the amount of regenerative Chi poured on him.

He showed us his “grenades”. Simple balls of clay, the size of my fist, filled with powder and pebbles. “Just light the fuse and throw it at the target. After a few heartbeats, the thing will explode like a fireball,” he explained to us. It was relatively simple enough, just that the time before the explosion was a bit imprecise. This would impede precise throwing.

“Can't I just put it on fire when I need it to?” Asked Suji. This took the kid by surprise and for once he lost a bit of his composure. He must not have known that Suji was also a low-rank fire mage. “Euh, yes. Sure. Just be careful that it is far enough from us,” he warned him.

I do not expect his clay ball to be able to harm any of us but I had seen the head of the assassin, so there might be some caution to be advised.

Suji threw the “grenade” in a straight line towards a stone dummy. Right before it crashed on the stone, he threw a spark in it. I must admit it was an elegant move, of great precision and Chi mastery. Almost no Chi spillage and the disturbance was minimal, I could only faintly taste the spiciness of his fire Chi.

The result was impressive, an explosion and a cloud of smoke. Pebbles and clay parts were projected in all directions, strongly enough to cause damage in a close area. When the smoke dispelled, the dummy's head was partly blown away.

The strangest part of this was that other than the spark, there was no Chi involved. No disturbance in the Chi flow. The explosion didn't taste of fire Chi and it was like purely natural, like something that was meant to be, rather than a Chi manipulation.

“What level do you think this would be for a fireball?” asked Suji to the princess.

She pondered for an instant, trying to feel the Chi around but just like me, she must've sensed no fire chi. She then only focused on the damages done to make her assessment. “At least a 3rd rank fireball. Maybe a fourth rank with a bit more power.” She concluded.

Suji nodded in approbation, he was satisfied with the princess' evaluation. He had been one of her mentors in Chi perception.

The limit of this “grenade” was the risk of someone else lightning it when you carried it, just like Suji did. With a little bit of Chi interference it should be fine and it only meant that it would be harder to use when facing fire mages, but not against monsters.

I agreed that it was a rank 3 fireball, but useable by anyone who had a flint or a flame nearby.

“How much of these can you make?” I pressed the kid.

He awkwardly scratched his head with his left hand, the move sent tingling in his wounded hand and I was able to catch a brief pained expression. “It depends on how much niter I can get, how many helpers and how much money can be spent on the project. Given enough resources, I would say I can equip a battalion with guns and grenades,” he casually deduced.

A battalion was a hex of troupes. That many third rank fire mages were a huge firepower, more than what the Shieldom could muster for an expedition.

“You'll get as much as needed, just get to work,” I ordered him.