Chapter One Hundred And Forty - I meet an old friend

Every so often, the Ascending Mountain Institute would organise an expedition. Depending on the severity of risk and importance of the mission, the number of Teachers leading the expedition could number from two to five. Each school would usually send two students; one senior and one junior, though occasionally others would be added. For example; if the expedition was seeking to tame or defeat certain beasts, there would be more beast taming students and the Teacher in charge would also be from that school.  Or if it was in a particularly dangerous area then more martial artists and mages might participate.  Has to be mentioned that the original Leo never once mentioned in his diaries that he had been on one of these expeditions.

On this day, an expedition to seek rare herbs in the Northern Wilds, thus a Teacher from the alchemist school was leading the expedition. That Teacher happened to be Teacher Pitre. And right at this moment, Teacher Pitre was witnessing his stubborn, proud and temperamental mount, who happened to only tolerate his rider, fawn like a puppy against someone else.

"What is this?" The Teacher boomed loudly, but his voice happened to be directed at his mount.  The beast glanced over at its rider, giving him a quick stare then looking haughtily away.  "Ridiculous, what pride!  Are you not afraid this display will make your species lose face?!"  The Mesmyr snorted, relaxing its crown thus it no longer was in battle mode, but did not stop eyeballing Jin Li, who had his hand upon his sword in self-defence.  Leon pattered the beasts neck and the Mesmyr whinnied like a horse spirit and leaned into his touch.

Teacher Pitre narrowed his eyes at the short boy in blue-dyed robes.  He wore his strange, striped hair like a noble, crowned and pinned, but though the cut of his cloth was well done, it was still just of rough hemp.  And then there was those cheap glasses made thick due to them being ordinary and the boy of poor eyesight.  Had the boy really been rich, he could have afforded enchanted spectacles of thin glass and better taste!  From the green stains on the tips of his fingers and the scent of herbs lingering on him, Teacher Pitre deduced him to be of his Alchemist School, but he did not recognise him.

"Just who are you boy?" Teacher Pitre demanded of him.  "And what have you done to my Mesmyr?"

"T-t-Teacher, I've d-done n-nothing?" Well, Leon didn't think he had, he just assumed that the Mesmyr was friendly.  After all, it was the only one in the stables, how could he compare?

Just then the bark of a canine could be heard and black and white hound came rushing forward and jumped up at Leon's legs, while wagging it's feathery indigo and white tail. The youth was slightly startled, but noting the long, rabbit like ears and the four glistening black eyes he realised this was a cooshee and he knew only one of those.  Sure enough, he glanced up to see the blond haired youth jogging towards them.

"Xiao Xiao!" Tor called out to the adolescent beast.  "What trouble are you getting me into this time... oh Leo!  Long time no see!"

"En," Leon agreed with an amicable smile.  Jin Li's eyes narrowed; his small alchemist was smiling at another man, cannot be tolerated!  However, how to reclaim him from a difficult beast such as a Mesmyr?  Jin Li was not so foolhardy as to think that defeating such a proud beast would be unchallenging, Mesmyrs were also known to fight to the death rather than flee.  While they would submit to a person who wished a partnership with them as rider and mount, they would never die without a fight!

As it happened, beneath the strong pressure of the Teacher, Leon was backing away from the Teacher's Mesmyr.  Jin Li was poised to grab him the moment he came into reach, alas the Mesmyr was quicker, grasping Leon's sleeve with its teeth.

"Leo...?" Teacher Pitre suddenly looked thoughtful and recollected that a certain apprentice that had been mentioned frequently of later, much due to the fact that his Master/Teacher was considered a fool to take such an average student beneath his wings by others and that student was named Leo.  Teacher Pitre was never one to listen to others judgements, preferring his own eyes and ears, but being aware of rumours cannot help but colour a first impression.  Still, no matter his skill in alchemy, it was clear that this boy in blue, with wooden charms dangling from his belt, was not so simple otherwise would his Mesmyr be so thoroughly charmed by him?  Plus this cooshee seemed fond of him as well. 

After taking a good long look, Teacher Pitre dismissed any thoughts about him and turned to his mount.  "We are going out for a bit," he told the beast, who finally turned to him, letting go of Leon's sleeve, an almost invisible shiver flexing along its flank.  As if it wasn't excited to be leaving the stables, it nodded its head twice then.  Teacher Pitre chuckled and patted its nose.

Leon yawned, his minimal energies feeling spent as he shuffled back to Jin Li's side without thought, the cooshee still attempting to curl about his legs as he walked.

"Aw, Tor, your cooshee is growing so fast!" The girl, Maimai said having followed Jin Li after all was settled.  She knelt down in an attempt to gain favour with the young beast, but was once more snubbed.  She pouted as Tor laughed.

"Xiao Xiao is almost a half season old now," Tor reminded her as he looked fondly at his beast-partner.

"Has it really been so long?" Maimai asked.  Tor nodded, offering the girl a kind smile, but his eyes had long since wandered over to where Leon was standing closely to that Martial Artist friend of his.  Honestly, Tor did not have a good impression of the tall youth, his nature was naturally arrogant and overbearing and he felt that due to Leon's gentle and kind demeanour, Jin Li was using him for some gain or advantage. Of course, Tor's thoughts leaned towards a Martial Artist's keenness for Pills; who wouldn't want free pills and medicines when they were offered? Didn't know that his thoughts were close to being right, but it was the body Jin Li wanted! Tor also could not help but notice the wooden charm dangling from the Martial Artist's sword.

"Gathering at the stables, assume you are here to ride?" Tor said and then asked; "Where are you all headed?"

"Oh, I just thought to take Piku for some exercise!" Maimai said, casually. "It was a coincidence we met here today. What about you?"

"Joining an expedition," Tor grinned brightly. In truth, he knew he'd be taking care of the mounts used when they set up camp. Well, all except the stubborn Mesmyr. But he was too excited to care.

Jin Li, who had noticed the direction of Tor's sight, wrapped his arm around his small alchemist and abruptly offered; "Well don't let us keep you," before guiding the boy away and leaving Tor wide eyed and jaw slack.

"Oh! Wait for me!" Maimai called to them, bringing her handkerchief to her tingling nose, before rushing after them.