Chapter 21 Part 1 of 6 (Patreon)

“Elder Elsi, I was happy to get your invitation to meet,” Low Elder Luo said as a sound cancelling formation took effect over the room.

Elder Elsi chuckled.

“It is my honor to host a venerated elder of the Willful Institute!”

“I was most interested by the contents of your letter.”

“I have heard, whisperings  that Vuzgal city’s current leadership is due for a change. I find it a shame, but times are changing and the Elsi clan is most interested in the rumors about the Valiant Willful Institute leading the charge.”

“Oh?” Elder Luo’s voice dipped. It is just the Elsi clan, not the Stone Fist Sect that wants to ally with us. What do you think a middling clan of the fourth realm can accomplish? You have barely gained a foothold in the fifth realm!

Elder Elsi laughed off Elder Luo’s change in tone while his eyes turned cold.

“To be honest I am not much of a fighter anymore. I have taken up a new passion in trading. I do find warehouses are the greatest source of income and can turn a city on its head if they are not managed well.”

The warehouse district has been under the control of new gangs in Vuzgal. That was his doing?

“Certainly, they are a main artery of a city.”

“Agreed, much like the roads, I’ve certainly noticed that they’ve become more dangerous around Vuzgal,” Elsi pressed his lips together and shook his head. “Its most sad the state of affairs. Luckily my own traders have been able to make it through unscathed.”

“Bandits are a help and a hinderance,” Low Elder Luo caught on.

“They are aren’t they, a trouble to manage! There are always plenty of ex-fighters in the fourth realm looking to make some extra coin,” Elder Elsi sipped his tea, never taking his eyes off of Elder Luo.

Elder Luo smiled.

“I know that the Willful Institute is always appreciative of allies with proper foresight. Especially those with resources that are able to guarantee safe passage and disrupt our enemy.”

“I couldn’t agree more. I don’t dare take all the credit, it takes the support of local lords to truly establish oneself.”

“I think that we would be able to cooperate. What would you want?” Luo’s voice turned serious.

Elsi’s playfulness disappeared. “Chonglu’s head, one hundred training slots at the battle arena per month. Thirty slots per month to the training dungeons.”

“I will have to check with my sect, but that depends on what you can offer?” Luo sipped his tea.

“Totems to transport in, support, guides to Vuzgal.”

“You have the agreement of other city lords?”

“Yes.”

“Very good, I don’t doubt that the sect head will be pleased.”

***

Julilah let out a heavy sigh sitting in Alva’s parks. She sat back on the bench looking at the pond without seeing it.

She shifted as someone sat on the bench. She pressed her lips together in a smile to nod at them, surprised.

“Don’t worry I’m not as loud as my boys,” Momma Rodriguez gave her a genuine smile.

Julilah let out an awkward laugh and pulled back her wild hair behind her ears.

Momma Rodriguez sat there, her eyes taking in the park, looking atht the people that were grouped together, those that were there by themselves. People were playing games or reading books or on a date.

The world continued to move even as they were fighting against the Willful Institute. People didn’t just stop their lives.

Julilah looked at the people in the park instead of staring off blankly.

The newest minaturized formation might not have worked, but its just a matter of time. I’m just so tired from it all. I want to do more, I’m not sure if my body is holding me back or if it is just me making excuses.

Julilah once again felt and impending headache coming on.

“Something bothering you?” Momma Rodriguez asked, bringing her out of her own thoughts.

“Sorry, just tired is all,” Julilah smiled.

“I’ve raised three of my own children and countless others. There’s more to it than simply being tired.”

Julilah opened her mouth to make an excuse.

Momma Rodriguez pursed her lips making Julilah close her mouth and look at the pond.

“I’m not sure if I am really tired or if I’m making excuses or whatever. There is so much going on, so much that needs to be done.”

“And you’re overwhelmed with it all and suffering in silence, Praline?” Momma Rodriguez held out Pralines in a box.

“Thank you.” Julilah took one and bit into it. The sweetness, slight saltiness and the texture of the nuts inside made Julilah perk up.

“Feel free to have another,” Momma Rodriguez put the box down between them and took one herself.

“In hard times, one wants to do so much. Though doing too many things is a sure way to get nothing. Just focus in on one thing, do only that. Pick out what will have the greatest impact and get excited for it. If you treat it like a chore, try to make excuses to get away from it, to do other things then you won’t get anything done.”

Julilah took a second praline and nibbled on it.

“It makes sense, it is just hard to get my brain to obey.”

“Ah, you’re young and there is so much to do in the world. There is a reason why we work with others, because we can’t do everything ourselves.”

Julilah’s stomach rumbled, making her grimace and reach for a stamina potion.

“Another thing I know is that you can’t live off of just stamina potions. You look like you need some food, a shower and some sleep.”

Julilah turned to make an excuse.

Instead she was met with a Momma Rodriguez look as she bit into her praline.

“You’re right,” Julilah felt warm inside and a weight lift off of her shoulders. “Thank you. Everyone is doing something so.”

“So you haven’t had anyone to talk to, so you let it get all bottled up.”

Julilah nodded mutely.

Momma Rodriguez pinched her cheek.

“You’re so young but you have so much on your shoulders. Come on, lets get you something to eat. Fresh food is the best, no matter what my son says about these storage rings and I was just able to get a new kitchen, if I don’t put it to use it would be a waste.

“I don’t want to interrupt your break at the pond,” Julilah rubbed her hands together nervously.

“Girl, I don’t have anything I would rather do than make you something to eat.” Momma Rodriguez put her hands around Julilah’s and looked up into her eyes.

All of Julilah’s reluctance crumbled.

“Okay,” Julilah relaxed, letting her worries go and smiled, genuinely.

“Good, I’ll need your help in the kitchen!” Momma Rodriguez patted her hands and stood up.

***

Erik woke up, startled, looking around the Expert alchemy room.

“Crap,” He wiped his beard and the drool running from the corner of his mouth.

A knock at the door came again.

“I’m coming!” Erik stretched out his legs, getting creaks and pops, his body shaking.

He’d fallen asleep cultivating mana and reading a book cross legged on the floor.

Hip needs to pop.

Erik collected all of his belongings into his storage room and opened the door.

“What!?” He yelled at Rugrat on the other side.

“Gonna go check on Gilly and George, plus we’ve got a training slot in the dungeons.”

Erik rubbed half of his fac.

“Sure.”

Rugrat pulled out a breakfast burrito and stuffed it into Erik’s teeth.

Erik glowered at the grinning redneck, grabbing the burrito and taking a bite.

“Lets go!” Rugrat led the way out of the crafting workshop.

Damn this is a good burrito, hard to be pissed off. Sometimes he’s a genius, other times he’s an idiot.

“How have things been?”

“Since you laid the smack down on the Tolentinos and Willful Institute? Quiet. At least on that front. The Adventurer’s guild have been sending more people for training and healing. Its becoming a common practice for them to burn their cultivation in moments of need,” Rugrat’s voice darkened.

“We can only help so much, it will leave a sequela in their bodies that we can’t heal or repair.”

“I know, but what would you do in their situation?”

Erik held up his burrito and bobbed his head. “The same thing.”

“Right. Anyway I have been switching from Vuzgal to Alva throughout the last week you’ve been hidden in that alchemy room. Done some work in the factories but they can make the gear faster than I can in my workshop and making custom weapons can take days.”