The Grandmaster

Elder Sima held out his palm. "Is it alright if I hold it?" he asked.

Elias hesitated. There has to be a reason the crystals have been glowing since they've first met last night, he needed a full explanation first. "...Why?" he asked for the fifth time.

Elder Sima retreated his hand and sighed. "Alright, I shall tell you both then," he began.

He backed up a few steps and waved his arm above his head once, releasing a vibrant air element.

The liquid-like draft of air swirled around above them, before thinning out to create a live image before their eyes.

"This," said Elder Sima, "was Mystic Sky Sect's previous grandmaster. His name was Kohan Feng, or simply, Grandmaster Feng."

Eryn glanced up at the shimmering image of the grandmaster. The transparent portrayal showed him wearing long, elegant, and ornamented robes with a high, decorated collar. His exceedingly long hair was barely held up with a shining hair crown, and strangely, this image of him looked quite young despite being the age she presumed him to be.

She glanced down to his hands and noticed he held a closed fan in one.

His eyes seemed to move and stare down at the four beneath him.

"While the elders and disciples were busy fighting the enemy, our previous grandmaster went south and scouted the entire region to find someone who is able to bring fortune to our side, someone who is able to turn it all around. He was already getting close to the end of his lifespan at that time, we were fortunate to find that he'd succeeded in his mission before he passed."

Elder Sima glanced back down at the pendant in Elias' hands. "It should be that he left something with the one he chose so that once we find them, we should be able to recognize that person," murmured.

Eryn glanced at the elder's hopeful expression, then at Elias' black crystal, then lastly up at the floating live image above her head.

'Remember the note?' Aragnes asked.

'Yes, I do.'

'The crystals are a guide made by that old man's own bare hands. Though I don't remember whether his name was Feng Kohan or not, or whether he was a sect leader or not, but the fact that he traveled the nation just to find you and your brother is true...let the elder take the crystal,' said Aragnes. 'You'll see.'

Eryn nudged Elias with her elbow. "Just give it, it's fine," she said.

Elias was reluctant. "But haven't you noticed that it's been-"

Eryn silenced him with a look.

Elias clamped his mouth shut and handed the crystal to the elder unenthusiastically.

The elder flashed Eryn a grateful smile as he began mumbling a few words to himself, turning the stone back and forth in his hands. His eyes seemed to lighten up as he noticed something. Then, he held out his palm and let the crystal drift up and away from his hand until it came to a stop right before the image of the grandmaster.

They waited patiently.

"Er, is something supposed to happen?" Teacher Li asked, looking up uncertainly.

Elder Sima frowned, a little frantic. "It should have reacted!" he cried out. "Perhaps I was wrong? But it cannot be a mistake. I definitely felt a remnant of his soul residing within the stone."

'Your stone,' Aragnes reminded.

"Ah," Eryn said out loud. Her hand flew to hers that was hanging from around her neck. "I apologize," she said to the elder. "I almost forgot mine, as well."

Elder Sima was shocked as Eryn placed her white crystal in his hands.

Two? Both of them have been chosen? he wondered in astonishment. I thought there was only one...but-

His eyes widened as he located the sliver of the grandmaster's soul in the white stone, but what was startling was that the presence in the sister's stone was far stronger than the one he felt in Elias'.

He glanced up at Eryn, appalled. "You...who is the elder one between you two?" he asked. He couldn't believe he forgot to ask such a significant question.

The sibling pair blinked.

"I am, of course," Eryn said.

"I thought you already knew," said Elias.

Elder Sima's jaw dropped. Heavens...there really was two of them, and Grandmaster Feng had given Eryn, not Elias, the more powerful fraction of his soul.

Teacher Li darted his eyes between them, still confused. "Something wrong?" he asked.

The elder shook himself out of his thoughts and exclaimed, "Nothing! Nothing is wrong! In fact, it's quite well!"

He quickly turned to Eryn, his expression apologetic. "Alas, I'm deeply sorry, as I've been quite negligent and ignored you," he said. "I was so immersed with your brother's situation and all this chaos..."

Eryn smiled in returned. "It's okay! You didn't know, and I didn't mind."

Elder Sima stopped in surprise, then beamed.

Teacher Li shook his head. "Aish...if only our disciples were as mature as she..."

Elder proceeded and let Eryn's crystal float up into the air alongside her brother's, both drifting in front of the image of the grandmaster.

Suddenly, the image flickered, and it began to move.

The transparent hand reached out and grabbed the strings of the two crystals before bringing it in front of its eyes as if it were examining it.

Elder Sima closed his eyes and murmured a few more phrases. "Soul Searching..." he mumbled.

The image flickered once more, and suddenly, it started to descend to the ground, its form shrinking and shaping, gaining colors to fill its empty spots.

Elias stared, mesmerized.

In front of them no longer stood a simple painting made by the string of air the elder summoned. Instead, what, or rather, who stood in front of them was the actual Grandmaster Feng...seemingly in the flesh and blood.

"Grandmaster Feng," Elder Sima greeted, bowing low.

Teacher Li did the same, and the twins decided to follow suit, bowing awkwardly.

"Hmm..." said the deep voice.

The grandmaster wriggled in his vibrant clothes, pulling at the golden robes and black seams. "Aiyah," he muttered, sounding annoyed. "Who put me in these types of clothing? I never liked these- ah. I forgot."

He glanced at the four figures he just noticed standing before him and lightened up as if he'd just remembered what he was doing there. He glanced at the two crystals he held in the palm of his hand and smiled almost sorrowfully.

He glanced up at the twins, his eyes sparkling. "So they've found you," he mused. "Ah, eighteen already, I see. I've been watching since the day you two have been born. I'm very contented."

The twins only stood there, not knowing what to say. This grandmaster...something about him felt very different. He had a strange aura around him, something great...like what they felt when Ying was standing nearby.

Feng Kohan turned his attention to Elder Sima, who stared at him, the respect and awe visible in his eyes.

But his expression also looked tragic, depressing, almost.

"Ah, yes! Elder Sima!" Grandmaster Feng said brightly. "Long time no see. Eh- why do I feel you are sad? There's no need to be sad! Tell, me, how's my disciple doing?"

Elder Sima bowed again, too overwhelmed with emotions after seeing such a great figure everyone loved in front of him again after such a long time. "Grandmaster Wei is doing well, he still struggles from time to time, but he is doing his best!" he told him.

Grandmaster Feng smiled, his eyes bright. Then he noticed Teacher Li. "Mister Li, I hope your sect is holding up well?"

Teacher Li nodded politely. "We're holding up...better than the others, I suppose," he answered.

Grandmaster Feng stepped forward. "Still nothing, yeah?" he mumbled. "But don't lose hope! You have to resist! And things will change from now on..."

He winked at the twins.

"Eh?"

The twins glanced at him awkwardly. This grandmaster...he was being a little too carefree, wasn't he?

The grandmaster was suddenly in front of them, his eyes twinkling excitedly. "Oh, come on! Don't act so surprised in front of me!" he complained. "I've been with you since birth, even if you don't know it!"

Elias retreated a step. What- what was with this weird situation?

"Grandmaster F-" Eryn started.

He turned to face her. "Hey, don't call me that! You'll make me feel very sad and estranged! ...you are like my own flesh and blood. You can say I technically raised you both! Call me 'grandpa' instead!"

"Huh?!?" It was Eryn's turn to back away.

"C- call you...grandpa?" Elias repeated, cringing.

They stared at the grandmaster's sparkling face. He looked so incredibly young and had such a carefree and light personality, something that they didn't expect at all. How can they address him as a grandpa? How old was he?

The grandmaster grinned sharply, annoyed. "Elias, you little brat! How dare you treat me like that! I have lived over a thousand years! Is it wrong for you to address me as your ancestor after I've watched you grow up?"

"A thou- a thousand years?" Eryn repeated. "Really? You- you look so young!"

"Of course, dear," he said, smiling. "I have my ways!" He scratched his chin. "Hmm, if you don't want to call me grandpa, how about...call me 'Uncle'? Or I can be your godfather!" he bubbled eagerly. "You'll be my godchildren and when you meet my disciple, he'll be your godbrother!"

"Uh-"

Elder Sima broke in to save the twins. "Uh, Grandmaster Feng, isn't this a bit...inappropriate?" he said, chuckling nervously.

"Nonsense!" he cried. "How can-"

Suddenly, the building shook violently, and little chunks of debris fell from the ceiling. Screams were heard from outside, and footsteps echoed through the halls.

The little group whirled their heads towards the doors.

"It's happening again," Teacher Li whispered dreadfully. "They're attacking!"