Giving the Pill

The disciples and elders all around them were surprised at the sudden drama. The First Elder turned to look at what was going on and saw Alex.

"Young man, is that you?" he asked. He had only seen this face of Alex for a week back over 10 years ago, so he wasn't quite sure he was looking at the same person.

Alex let go of Wen Cheng and bowed towards the first elder. "Greetings senior, it's good to see you," he said.

"It's good to see you too. Where have you been all this time?" the first elder asked.

"I was over on the other side of the Southern forest," Alex said. "In a place known as the Luminance Empire."

"You were there? You weren't captured by the beasts?" Wen Cheng asked.

"No, master. After I rescued Pearl, I managed to escape, but in doing so I ended up on the other side," Alex said. "I only now managed to improve my relations with them and returned."