The Grand Tourney was an important event in Asher City, and every citizen of this great city loved the tournament that featured several other First Class Cities. As such, the Grand Tourney was held with much adulation and praise, and the money that went into organizing the tournament was no small sum. Every First Class City that participated in the Grand Tourney was a sponsor of the tournament. Only the city that housed the most recent winners were spared the heartache of dipping into their coveted pockets and contributing to this great tournament. Amongst the many expenses that the money gathered from the first class cities were used to cover was housing accommodations for the participating teams. Each city was given a mansion, and the teams they sponsored had to share this mansion. Only the teams that reached the Semi-Finals of the Grand Tourney were given their own mansions.
These mansions were lavish and beautiful, and were assigned based on the discretion of the Asher City Lord. So obviously, the best went to Asher City's team. However, the other mansions weren't bad either. They were all gorgeous, extremely spacious, and the dream homes of many of the citizens in the city. One of these houses was the large mansion that housed the members of the Orange Team. As a team that had beaten and kicked out the current champions by forcing the Captain of the Indigo Team to surrender without fighting personally, they had drawn the attention of many. However, the last scene that led to Celestial Fairy's surrender had more eyes glancing towards the mansion of the Orange Team than its members appreciated. But there was nothing they could do. They could only allow the spies sent by the other cities to keep gleaning for information. They wouldn't want to cause any more problems by meeting them with violence.
"Is he okay?" Vital Orange asked a middle aged healer who had just stepped out of a room. This healer smiled slightly when she heard his question and replied, "He is fine. He is awake now and is able to make small movements."
"That's great," a feminine voice that didn't belong to Vital Orange squealed in delight. An elated Orange Ivy stood next to Vital Orange with a happy smile upon hearing the words of the healer. Vital Orange also breathed a sigh of relief. He wiped the sweat that had been forming over his brows and felt a bit more relaxed.
"It's good he's fine. It is very good that he is fine." Vital Orange said with the voice of one eased from carrying a great burden.
"I want to see Master. Can we see him?" Orange Ivy asked pleadingly. The middle aged healer couldn't help but shake her head wryly. Although Orange Ivy was in her middle ages, much like herself, that was just her chronological age. Psychologically speaking, Orange Ivy was still very much like a woman in her twenties – age wise. Added to the fact that she was very beautiful and had never given time the opportunity to leave any marks on her face, it was very easy to forget her real age.
"You can see him. But I suggest that you don't encourage him to make any movements. That kick to his abdomen cost him a few good ribs. He would have to refrain from any major movements until he's fully healed." The healer didn't see anything wrong in acceding to Orange Ivy's request. She only asked that her patient was treated like a patient, and not a Predator. They were not to encourage any sudden movements from Black Hand.
"Thank you," Vital Orange was the first to express his gratitude to the healer. This healer was no ordinary one. She was one of the best in Asher City, and maybe in the world. Even The Citadel didn't have more than 10 people with her level of skill. They were grateful for her help. If not for her, Black Hand wouldn't have made so much progress in his health in just a day.
"Thank you very much. It's because of you that Master has woken up so soon!" Orange Ivy added and expressed her gratitude as well. She had been awed by the skills of this woman in just a day.
"It's no problem. It is the duty of a healer to save lives and extend them." The healer smiled kindly and said. "If you'd excuse me, I will be taking my leave now. I will return tomorrow morning to check up on him. In the meantime, make sure he takes the herbs I recommended for him." The healer added.
"By all means. Thank you once again." Vital Orange stated one more and then tried to walk the healer out. However, she refused, saying that she already knows how to walk out of a house and didn't need any help for that. Instead she asked that they refocused their efforts on helping Black Hand in every way that they could. Vital Orange and Orange Ivy still watched her leave the room though. They only entered Black Hand's room after her figure disappeared from their sights.
"How are you feeling Master?" was the first thing Black Hand heard when the door was opened. Orange Ivy rushed to his side with a very concerned expression and asked him how he was. Vital Orange was right behind her. But seeing that Orange Ivy had started a conversation with her Master, he chose not to say anything.
"I have been better," Black Hand smiled wryly and admitted. He lay upon a neatly organized bed with a lot of room for an additional person. His face was slightly pale, and they was a large bandage around his entire torso. The bandage was made with hardened plaster that kept Black Hand from turning freely.
"But at least you're still alive after tapping into that power," Vital Orange who had planned not to say anything couldn't help himself. He had interrupted the Master-Student conversation even before the two could share two sentences each.
"Well I guess that's something to be thankful for," Black Hand nodded his head and said. He grimaced slightly from this tiny action.
"Don't be moving so much. Those are the healer's orders and you must listen to them Master." Orange Ivy chided with concern, and Black Hand sighed in surrender.
"How many people are watching us now?" Black Hand asked. Although he had just woken up, he knew that after his display, there was no way the other force would be watching with their hands behind their backs.
"Many," Vital Orange replied simply.
"I see," Black Hand said expressionlessly.
"Why did you do it Master? I don't think that the Dragon Lord will like this." Orange Ivy shook her head with a look of fear in her eyes. The Dragon Lord was the title of the Lord of The Citadel. The man was as powerful as he was stern, and she feared him more than she respected him.
"Why would he have a problem with my actions?" Black Hand stated with a frown. "After all, it was his idea," he added. Vital Orange didn't have any extreme reaction to Black Hand's words, but Orange Ivy was stunned silly. It was clear that Vital Orange knew about this also. She was the only one left out. It wasn't surprising. The Dragon Lord wasn't inclined to let a Thrasher know of his plans, even if that Thrasher was the student of a member of the Family of Dragons.
"So that's why you did it!" Orange Ivy exclaimed in understanding. Now that what she was most worried about wasn't a problem anymore, she was much more relieved.
"Mane and the twins?" Black Hand asked. The only thing that worried him were those three. Those three were people that they wanted to recruit, and the fact that they were keeping secrets from them wasn't going to make that job any easier.
"They left to see Sutton. They didn't even bother to hide where they were going." Vital Orange smiled bitterly and said. Next to him Orange Ivy had a displeased look on her face at the mention of those three.
"They are our partners yet instead of sticking with us, they choose to go to the City Lord when they need something?" she huffed angrily.
"And why wouldn't they?" Black Hand asked. "Would you have given them the answers they wanted?" he added, and Orange Ivy kept her mouth shut.
"They don't owe us anything, and neither do we. If I were to be in their position, I would have made the same choice." Black Hand admitted.
"So what do we do? We can't allow Sutton to take such good talents from right underneath our noses." Vital Orange stated the most important thing. He was seen as the leader of the Orange Team on the outside, and he was actually the Orange Team's leader. That much was true. But when it came to affairs concerning the fate of The Citadel, Black Hand who outranked him naturally took charge. That was one of the many reasons why he had been so anxious when Black Hand was unconscious, and why they had rushed to get the top healer of Asher City to come and see him.
"The fact that they didn't sneak away means that they haven't made any major decisions yet. And that means we still have a shot." Black Hand stated. From Orange Ivy's words he was able to come to a few conclusions. And he understood that they still had a good shot at recruiting those talented youngsters.
"So how do we make that happen,' Vital Orange asked.
"We bait them with benefits," came the response.
"But we have nothing valuable on us," Orange Ivy argued with a confused expression on her face.
"We aren't the ones going to supply the items. We need help." Black Hand said.
"Are you saying…?" Vital Orange narrowed his eyes.
"That's exactly what I am saying. We need to contact the Dragon Lord."