"Well, we have the most diversity out of all the countries in the northern continent, not being at war and accepting most immigrants being the main reason. There's beast races and monster races like wolfkin, foxkin, liama, arachne, orcs, as well as different elven races and demonkin. The wrapped wings sect is pretty diverse itself, despite being the second strongest in the country it definitely receives the most hate and criticism for our unorthodox practices, like accepting disciples with looks being a main criteria. Take the few foxkin we have for example, their basically feed with a golden spoon by the sect because of their innate charm and illusion magic potential."
'This means that…'
From an outside view Alders expression may have looked contemplative, however if one were to peek into his is inner dialog they'd probably burst with a nosebleed and go cherry red in the face before cursing the pervert for his sorcery like mental imagery.
Soon arriving at the scene of a few groups of men loading carriages, Alder and Kara walked up to a middle-aged man with a stack on papers in his hand overlooking the crew. Kara speaking from within his embrace being the new normal.
"Excuse me, are you traveling near the wrapped wings sect?"
The man took a quick glance at a grey carriage located a few down from his own. "Try that grey carriage there, old hank will be going straight through that sect"
Kara thanked the man and passed him a tip before we headed over to the lone grey carriage. Two men sat on the opened rear side of the carriage, a middle-aged man with a bit of blond stubble and a bald head, and the man that was presumably old hank, a tall grey-haired fellow with a relaxed look.
"hello, we head you might be passing through the wrapped wings sect?"
The bald man stood up. "Shure are, you two interested in a ride? We could always use some added protection on our trip anyway" Seeing the butterfly wing tattoo on karas shoulder he figured we'd be some muscle. Kara replied.
"I'm in the early ascending realm so I can be useful in a fight"
"Great! same as me, with you along we'll be able to scare most bandits off, how about you?"
Shifting his gaze in my direction prompted me to reply. "Mid foundation myself"
"I see, well it's not nothing you shouldn't be messing with any bandits. Just pass a few white crystals my way and enjoy the ride"
Once again Kara spotted me.
"Were waiting on some crates so it'll be another hour until we set off"
With a nod we walked off to pass the remaining time. Meanwhile I asked. " is there anywhere I can exchange these red crystals? I don't like always making you pay my way"
"don't worry about it, all I've gotten us are cheap daily necessities anyway"
"I know, still I'd like to actually be able to use it."
She led me to a small stone building back on the vender street. (managed to spot a few demi humans out and about this time around) "this is a branch of the merchants guild, they'll be able to break down your red crystals here for a small fee'' walking inside and up to a small counter I rang a miniature hanging bell.
Once the clerk came forward I saw, to my pleasant surprise, another demi human. A brown furred wolf girl with much less hair than that wolf man had. Shoulder length brown hair, pointy brown ears with white furs dotted around. A professional expression as she came forward to great us. "hello that can I help you two with today?"
"Hey, I'm looking to break down some red crystals into green and white, I'd also like a bit of gold." As I gave my request, I pulled out the 5 of red crystals.
"Certainly." She then asked how I wanted it broken up while taking a glance at my storage pouch, to which I randomly decided. The clerk took the 5 crystals and set them on a tray that flashed red for a second before handing me 450 green crystals 4750 white crystals and 2500 gold coins. (Thankfully I don't have to carry these around. Golds coins are shockingly heavy)
"Alder, I can't believe they didn't charge you anything, the merchant guilds incredibly profit oriented, she must have assumed you were a member"
"Haha, I certainly won't be correcting them! Anyway, you want to just go wait by the carriage? There's nothing else I need to do, and I'm excited to see the sect"
"Sounds good honey, I know you'll get in the sect without trouble"
"yeah yeah, I'm perverted enough I get it" giving her a peck on the lips I joked.
"hehe..well that and your illusion magic"
"Oh? I never used any? You mean because of my affinity"
"weren't you all active when I cast my charm spell on you? If you didn't cast magic, then how could you move? At your level it's probably more accurate to call it a paralyzing spell than a charm spell. Unless…"
Her eyes got big as she stared at me like I'm some kind of freak. " was that just your natural resistance? The b… those books are so perverse…"
I bent down to whisper in her ear. "yeah, I have all magic affinities along with the bloodline and soul marking I had already used on you"
Kara blushed a bit remembering the feeling of the bloodline merging. But before long she snapped out of it. "ALL?" she nearly shouted. "Alder there's only been a few people in history who've been able to achieve that! The founder of this country for example! They must have a godsent try-elemental talent from birth and only by using certain soul books can they achieve it. It's impossible without the book's power!"
She was a bit to exited so I wrapped my other arm around her to give her a full hug. "Calm down babe, it's definitely amazing but…"
"no, Alder I mean the sect going to know when they test you! You can't let anyone know about the books power. it's to preserve, someone would hurt you for that power, and I wouldn't be able to take that!"
"Shit, how do they test me? Can I get around it somehow?"
"I doubt it, after all the testing stone they use looks at your qi to determine your affinity…well, base elements that is, rare magics have separate stones and the sect wouldn't bother testing you for other rare elemental affinities."
"Then…am I not able to enter the sect? na, I have to be able to get in somehow, I'm dead set on wrapped wings after all!" I clench my fist and stand by my decision. I won't let kara leave the sect for me and I'm certainly not going to any other inferior sect!