After the win was announced Fae slumped to the ground, this trial felt way more taxing than it really was. The pressure to win for his team, the fighting, the running, Fae felt like just sleeping.
As Fae stood up and began to walk off the field, planning to find a place he could rest, when suddenly a voice spoke beside him. "Effy." Fae jumped when he heard this, he couldn't hear anyone beside him and was surprised when a voice just appeared. He looked up to see that it was Ling Xao.
After Ling Xao noticed he had 'Effy's' attention he continued to speak. "Thanks for helping me out back there, I know you could've just went for the flag and won." Ling Xao said as he bowed to Fae. "No need to thank me, you took on two people alone for the good of the team, you deserve the thanks." Fae said as he nodded his head at Ling Xao.
"Your praise is wasted on me, I wasn't strong enough to handle them alone in the end." Ling Xao said as he looked down with a sad expression while clenching his fist. "Chin up Ling Xao, you did your best, and you were able to hold them off until you could get help." Fae understood how Ling Xao felt, Fae had spent his whole life feeling like he was too weak to make a change.
Ling Xao felt a bit better after hearing this, he looked up at Fae and saw Fae looking back at him with an affectionate smile. "You're a good man Effy" Ling Xao said as a carefree smile appeared on his face, "there's a restaurant here that the participants can eat at, would you care to go?" Ling Xao continued.
"I wish I could, but I spent all my money on the entrance fee." Fae said with a sad expression, he didn't want to make Ling Xao feel like he was purposefully avoiding him, but he simply didn't have the money. "I invited you, of course I plan to pay." Ling Xao said as he told Fae to come with him.
Ling Xao was an interesting man. When 'The Rising' first occurred the entire layout of earth changed causing a lot of races to be spread all throughout the world and most defining features of races to mix and muddle out, but it was clear Ling Xao was of a strong Asian descent, most likely a descendant of a 'Lineage Protection' group which refuse to breed outside of their race and ethnicity, hoping to keep their lineage alive.
He was tall about two inches taller than Fae rounding out to about 6'5, with very delicate and soft facial features. Leading into his body devoid of any bulging muscles, but far from lanky or skinny. He walked with a silence and elegance that surprised Fae heavily, after Ling Xao gained his bearings he seemed entirely different from before when he was sad about being too weak.
As Fae stared at Ling Xao walking away he turned back to look at Fae "Well aren't you coming? Hurry up." Ling Xao said as he laughed and Fae began to walk after him.
***
When Fae and Ling Xao finally stopped Fae looked at the restaurant they stopped in front of. 'Dragoon's Delights' Was flame etched into the air above the restaurant. "Did they spell that wro-" Before Fae could finish his question the door to the restaurant opened and a man pulled Fae and Ling Xao in. "Welcome to Dragoon's Delights, my name is Dragoon sit over there and I'll be there soon to receive your order." the man said as he waved his hand and a seat on the far corner of the restaurant began to glow with a weak flame. Dragoon was a small man, standing about 4'8 with a tail coming from behind him and two horns poking out from his forehead. After Dragoon spoke to the boys he turned around and walked towards another table.
Fae and Ling Xao sat at there table and waited for Dragoon to come take their order, while waiting they began to talk. Fae told Ling Xao more or less his life story, his time at the orphanage, fond memories of his childhood, miserable memories of abuse, he spilled everything. Leaving out of course the fact he didn't always have a bloodline and hiding the fact he had this system. He didn't plan on becoming anybody's lab rat any time soon. Ling Xao sat and listened, he was a great listener, he laughed with Fae as Fae recalled the good moments and was quiet and sad with Fae as he recalled the bad.
After awhile Dragoon finally showed up and it was time for the boys to order. Ling Xao ordered a decent meal, while Fae just tried to order the cheapest thing he could. "Can I just get blessed water please?" Fae said to Dragoon, Ling Xao immediately putting a stop to it "Effy, I didn't come here for us to drink, I came for us to eat. There's no need to hold back you can get whatever you want." Fae's stomach grumbled as he heard this, Fae hadn't really eaten in the past few days, he was always to busy and as a result was just living off the bare minimum nutrition bloodline energy provides. Fae decided to take Ling Xao up on his offer and ordered what he really wanted. "Can I get 3 servings of dragon meat?" Fae asked Dragoon causing Dragoon to smile and head back to the kitchen.
Fae and Ling Xao began to eat, make jokes, and laugh. Fae enjoyed this as he felt as if he finally had a real friend. "Effy I feel you're truly a good man who has been through too many of life's hardships. From this point onward we shall be brothers." Ling Xao said as he took a knife off the table and cut a slit into his palm. Fae understood what Ling Xao meant and cut his palm too, and after shaking his hand. This was a very old rare ritual done to signify someone as your 'blood brother'.
"From now on refer to me as Brother Li." Ling Xao said with a smile. After a few seconds of consideration Fae spoke. "In that case Brother Li, call me Fae."