Lance at the West Manor

The journey to the West Manor by train and continued by horses was relatively peaceful. The world was healing after she closed the most significant holes over the capital. The neighbourhood she passed during the trip rebuilt itself with more trades and building works. As for the areas under the smaller holes, Azure Ao wrote to her about the progress of rebuilding.

It was good to watch the people claiming back their life, something that Chiaki hadn't seen when she was still an awake person in the physical world. How was it there, by the way? Given that she was still alive and breathing in this realm, her body in the Dome's ward was still intact. The physical body was still suspended with the life-supporting device, then. It meant the physical world didn't change much because they still needed the Dreamers.

Or, maybe World War Three had erupted, the Unified Global Government had been overturned, but the Dome was as strong as a fortress. Living on a borrowed time. Chiaki couldn't care less. She had her own mission; there was no time to spare for those not in this world.

She scratched the arborescent lightning scar on her right leg from over her dress.

"You know the old saying of not picking at the scab?" The deep voice sounded all so sudden, startling her from getting absorbed in this not very fun activity.

"I know my limit."

Shrugging, he still trained his gaze on the horizon. "I'm just saying."

Why did he even care if her scar left a deep mark or even raised scar tissue? It wasn't like he was going to see it. Chiaki wore either a long night robe or comfy loungewear at night, Lance Hua wouldn't have a chance to see that ugly marking on a daily basis.

They reached the arches of the West Manor. Their horses clip-clopped under one of them, stopping at the checkpoint to have the stable hand help take over the reins. Chiaki and Lance Hua descended and walked a few hundred metres before reaching the manor's front entrance.

Unlike South Manor that had been designed to reflect the modern architectural style, the West Manor resembled the Northern Lord's castle. Jasper Wymark's manor had more turrets and one belfry. Chiaki looked up to watch the guards make a round on the parapet walk before somebody from the household escorting them to the reception hall.

The ballroom transformed into a reception hall was modest instead. Clean and polished, six or eight tables arranged on each side, two decorated seats on each. Jasper invited some of the elders who were adept at music.

A boy ushered Lance and Chiaki to the table with the name card: South Guardian. They sat opposite the North Guardian, who surprisingly didn't sit alone like in the previous years, but with none other than Gin Burtenshaw.

Was Azure Ao feeding lies and hatred to her beloved nephew's ears, so he left her side to join his officials? Or simply did he see that General Ao's army was more valiant to enrol?

What was this? A toxic masculinity trait taught at the academy? Chiaki couldn't stand this. The youth even had the nerve not to look at or stand for respecting the coming aunt and uncle.

"Wait," Lance Hua muttered lowly. His breath was so close to her cheek that the area flushed red. "I need to ask the servants for more snacks to watch you make a scene here."

Hearing this, Chiaki aborted her movement. She huffed under her breath, lowering her face to hide it from everyone. She almost became a drama queen just because of one Gin.

This can't do. Everyone will know Gin is my weakness. What's the point of Path of Indifference discipleship if I can't tame my emotions for everything related to Gin?

She recited another passage she remembered from the handbook: Anger breeds power struggle. Power struggle breeds retaliation. Retaliation breaks the relationship.

"You love him so much you even bend your practice to allow anger seeping through the hairline cracks on your indifferent heart," Lance Hua still whispered from the corner of his mouth. To the Wymarks and other guests, he was speaking amiably to her, face still saluting them with a smirk. But he kept bombarding her with an unsolicited lecture.

Having her flaw pointed out verbally by this worst person did a number on her control. "I'll get some fresh air before Jasper starts the banquet."

She felt Gin and Azure's eyes boring into her back as she left the hall, greeting the elders politely and smiling. Niceties kept her out of unnecessary trouble.

She let off the disappointment as she regulated her breathing. Walking in the side garden of the hall, she zoned out as she watched the brocade carps swimming lazily in the clear pond. From the arched bridge over the long pond, came the tapping steps of a lady, her accessories jingling merrily.

"Welcome to the West Manor," Janice's sweet voice reached her ear. Today she wore a long skirt the colour of the gable roof, earth brown. On her, it exuded authority and firmness, but her disposition shattered the imagery. "Why does Sister not stroll with the husband?"

Why do I even have to be tied to him 24/7? Can't I walk on my own to enjoy your house?

"Taking a breather outside helps alleviate my occasional tiredness from the last barrier patching step."

Janice Wymark didn't follow this train of thought because she didn't reply with an appropriate commentary on her condition. She said, instead, "Is it possibly amplified by the fact that Gin Burtenshaw is with the North Guardian?"

Bingo, lady! Now you jab at the right spot.

"It's quite surprising, but nothing of a matter of discussion with outsiders," Chiaki answered with a clipped tone.

"Sorry." Her face said no sorry at all. "But surely living with Lord Hua feels amazing, too? Sister doesn't need to worry anymore about which Guardianship house Gin Burtenshaw will join because you have someone else as the new apple of your eyes."

The realm tried to test her patience now, but she wouldn't back down. This was a challenge to stay pure in her indifference, she would ace this test.

"We can't simply compare the two like that."

"Then, Sister must love Gin more than Lord Hua, I reckon. It seems the arranged marriage burdens you so much. I feel sorry for you and wish nobody else has to live like this. A relationship should bloom from the unfettered mutual affection, never enforced."

"And your point is?" Chiaki challenged her to go straight to the point.

"Now your joined power has patched the holes and restored the barrier integrity. Why not divorce him?"

This girl . . . "It doesn't work that way. The union has to stay on in order to harvest the benefits. It means I must stay married to him to protect the people."

Janice's mouth shaped an 'O', and she nodded briefly. "Then, I assume it's harmless if I can get closer to the lord. You don't love him, and it's likely he reciprocates the feeling. You two, like oil and water, can coexist in the same jar but never dissolve thoroughly."

Before Chiaki answered this, a loud voice from the emcee sounded from the hall, asking everyone to get in because the speech would start soon. Janice never waited for her response. Her light footwork came next to Chiaki; she slipped her hand around Chiaki's arm and dragged the apathetic lady inside.

The emcee introduced the purpose of this event, which was to welcome autumn that was just around the corner. As the earth went colder, this ensured the barrier stayed locked in place until after winter, when the earth was reborn.

The musical competition was held in a friendly sportsmanship spirit among the commanders and staff of any Guardian household. Chiaki eyed the team brought by Azure Ao; that god of war knew how to pick his men. His commander and officials brought the violin cases, some others had their holographic screens floating in the air displaying the score sheets as if memorising the intricate tunes before the performance.

What made this different from any recital and competitions Chiaki ever watched on the internet back then in the physical world was the impact of the tunes on the barrier.

"Music is the oldest magic known to humankind," Jasper Wymark spoke. His brown eyes glanced over the guests and smiled briefly at Chiaki at the end. Recalling old memory, the last time they went to a battle together was two years ago, defeating shadow puppets.

"Sure, words are their own magic. Otherwise, why is it called spelling? But music melts icy hearts or hardens the hesitant without words, unlimited by the components of an alphabet."

Chiaki consciously blocked her mind from resurfacing embarrassing memories with this person. Honestly, the effect of being promiscuous was it reminded you not of a proper past event but those behind closed doors. However indifferent Chiaki Spring's heart was, the current Chiaki did not receive such education from the beginning. She only relied on her bad experiences with men to close her heart to any romantic advances, not from the things that had happened.

"Since the notes also produce energy, combined with one's innate power, the effect can raise the indicator here, strengthening the barrier over the West jurisdiction." Jasper waved his hand to the monitoring screen.

"The person who can deliver the highest bar with a musical instrument will be given a prize from my private collection."

The crowd gasped and rubbernecked to see what that was.

But Jasper only mentioned its name, not showing the item itself. "The Skeleton Medallion."

Silence suddenly descended upon the hall, followed by a collective murmuring sound as if the mass woke up from the initial shock.

Chiaki caught the hushed remarks from all across the guests.

"It's said there's only one forged by a mysterious goldsmith."

"But what does it even do? It's just another piece of jewellery."

"Does he want to throw away this scrap metal? What a cheap Guardian!"

"No, it's just not written publicly in old texts, but my grandfather's cousin's aunt's neighbour's friend's niece ever said in a town meeting that it can revive the dead."

Someone smacked this person with a long history of contacts. "Are you an idiot? What kind of relic can defy life and death?"

Well, Chiaki had accepted that if the genre could even be changed, mechanics like this would be probable.

But soon after the wave of reaction ebbed out, the hall was split open again by Lord Hua's explosive, side-splitting laughter.