[326 years before B.B.]
"Drop death."
"I already said I'm sorry, didi! Stop being cruel to me!"
"No way. We're late for our first day at the Academy because you wanted to see a man-eating flower!"
"Didi, it was a unique specimen of shadenight, I couldn't let it pass! This specific breed can only be seen in two places in the entire Pure Lans: Here, at the Academy, and in the heart of the Second's territory. This was my only chance to see it!"
"Bulshit! We have four years to learn. Explain to me then, why it had to be today of all days? Huh?!"
Wuxian opted to not answer that, causing Xie Zhang to intensify his glare. Both knew that Xie Zhang was totally correct, they had only stopped to see the flower today because Wuxian had a stupid need to live on the edge of the knife all the time.
"Drop death, Wuxian." Xie Zhang repeated.
"Less cursing and more running, didi! We can still make it." Wuxian, being the utter menace Xie Zhang knew he was, threw his head back and laughed as if nothing was wrong in the world.
"I hate you." Xie Zhang informed him.
"I love you too, didi!"
They continued running, Xie Zhang cursing the fact that they hadn't mastered the step* yet. If they had, they could have arrived at the classroom in the blink of an eye and worries about time would be a thing of the past.
Wuxian stopped abruptly, reaching with his hand to stop Xie Zhang's momentum and avoid passing through the door. There was no marking that indicated this was the classroom. Yet, Xie Zhang would bet his right hand that it was indeed the correct room even before he felt the chilling effect of the stone.
Wuxian opened the doors, chin raised and a layback energy that Xie Zhang envied. He was sweating like a pig! Fortunately, no one would notice as eyes were drawn to Wuxian without exception.
"Safe!" Wuxian declared loudly, noticing the absence of their teacher. "See, I told you we were going to be fine. You're too dramatic at times, Xie Zhang."
Xie Zhang rolled his eyes.
"Sure, I'm the dramatic one." Grabbing Wuxian by the arm, he forced himself to ignore the glaring. Fake it until you made it, right? "Come on, there are unused seats near the back."
"At the back?" Wuxian inquires, sounding confused. "But we…"
"At the back. Wuxian." So we can stop being so bothersome for the rest and they can return to ignoring us.
"...as you say, Xie Zhang."
Incredibly thankful that his xiong wasn't arguing for once, Xie Zhang led them to the back. Just in time, too. Because as soon as they sat, the teacher entered the room. He was an old man with a severe expression, obviously a retired Reaper. His aura mild in the range of senses affected, with two of five without summoning his sword; strong spices, burning wood and the hoot of an owl.
In unison, the students stood and held a fist salute showing their respect.
"Good morning, Professor!"
Sharp eyes wandered through the room, stopping on every student for a few seconds. Xie Zhang could tell just by that small interaction that their teacher was a no-nonsense man and that it would be their best bet to not anger him.
"As students of the advanced class all of you are held as talented reapers so I expect you all to behave as someone of your position. I don't care about if you were born here or in the districts, blood and status don't matter inside my classroom. I will punish anyone who disturbs my lesson. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Professor!"
Xie Zhang was relieved to hear this. He expected it, as most of the nobles who were outspoken with their prejudice were always small flies. Always acting all-mighty but being poor in terms of power and ability. And yet they all looked down at his brother, the bastards.
"I'm Li Guang. Third Seat of the Sixth division until two decades ago when the Academy extended an invitation for me to teach the newer generations."
An honour, really. One he deserved if he had actually reached the position of Third Seat under the Kagemori's patriarch, Kagemori Guren. Xie Zhang felt his respect and awe grow up, heart filled with hope and determination of someday being able to reach a similar level.
"You will learn under me four of the eight paths: Calligraphy, Mathematics, History and Rites. Failure is not accepted in my classroom. If you fail an exam, you will be demoted immediately. The Advanced Class is only for the deserving. Your levels of power and talent may vary and determine your notes in other subjects but in my class perseverance and diligence are the values that will define your future."
In other words: Keep up or be left behind. Harsh but just, something that only elevated the teacher in the students eyes.
"Take a seat, we will start immediately."
Obeying, the students sat. Parchment and ink appeared in front of them as Li Guang started his monologue about the foundations of Silver City and the blood it had built on. The story was familiar to anyone who had grown inside the walls, unfamiliar to the ones that lived outside.
Once again, showing he was a fair teacher and would teach all of them equally.
Xie Zhang had grown up with tales of the Seven Founders, the Six Noble Clans and how order and peace was brought along as these families fought and won the right to rule the Pure Lands, the creation of Silver City itself and the unique recording of the King in the Skies making presence in their world.
Yet, he couldn't help but to be captivated like a little kid all over again as Li Guang painted the images on the air with his voice. It was a more harsh truth that the one his father had entrusted him and Wuxian but fascinating nevertheless.
In a blink, two hours had passed.
"You will be allowed ten minutes to rest before we continue."
Xie Zhang sighed as he closed his eyes, suddenly tired. It was like he had been running laps across the mansion and had just been allowed to stop. Except there hadn't been physical effort at all.
"That was intense, right?" Wuxian asks, slightly touching his shoulder.
«Are you ok?»
"Totally." Xie Zhang allowed with a smile, silently answering his brother's question.
«I'm fine.»
"Ah, who would have thought the day I would miss Old Yamamoto's lectures would come." Wuxian whined, resting his arms and head on the desk. "But, I can't say I'm disappointed. The advanced class is sure to be another thing entirely, I'm glad I can be here with you, Xie Zhang."
"So am I, Wuxian." Xie Zhang smirked back, feeling reinvigorated.
Yeah, that was right. No matter how difficult the lessons were, he would conquer them and graduate with honours. He would demonstrate he deserved to be here. No matter what he would make his parents proud.
"Hey, do you know who that is?"
"Hah?"
Xie Zhang followed Wuxian's finger, frowning as he found a student serving the teacher some tea as they talked between them so quietly that he couldn't hear what was being said. Dark hair in a ponytail, grey eyes and sharp bone structure, he resembled a prince or some shit.
"No idea. Why? Does it seem familiar to you?"
"...I don't think so? I mean, I haven't seen him before in the house if that's what you mean."
So not someone that their family would have contact with. Still, his demeanor screamed 'noble' and 'wealth.' That made him someone they probably should try to have a friendship or at least not annoy too much. King, he hated politics.
"But there's something about him that… is not familiar exactly, but intriguing?" Wuxian frowned, feeling confused at his own train of thought.
"You can talk to him, you know?" Xie Zhang rolls his eyes, "After class. If that's what you really want. After all, the Academy also serves to promote alliances between houses so making a friend is not something that would bother anyone."
Wuxian pouted at him, "Are you saying you want to get rid of me?"
"I didn't say anything like that!"
"It sounded like that, though? What other reason would you have to say something as ugly as that? You know I can't handle politics. So I would probably mess things up and Madam Wen would finally decide enough it's enough and kick me out! Waaaah, Xie Zhang, why don't you like me any— Mmm. Mmm! Mmm!"
"Ah! Shut up." Xie Zhang said, flushing red. "King, you're so embarrassing."
Wuxian licked his hand, smiling evilly at the shrieking he got in response.
There's a pointed coughing that makes them look back at the teacher, he's glaring at them. Both boys pale dramatically and look down to their own papers in shame, utterly thankful that this happened during the recesses and not during class. Both of them shiver at imagining the consequences that their actions could have.
«You're the worst.»
«You're the one who yelled!»
«You licked my hand!»
«You covered my mouth, stupid didi. What were you expecting?»
«A mature answer?»
«Is my name still Wuxian?»
«Good point. You're a three year old. A spoiled three year old.»
«Hey! I'm still your older brother, show some respect!»
They spoke with just their eyes and eyebrows, an ability gained from decades of being together; something similar to what Wuxian knew as the infamous twins' telepathy. It was something that made the ginger happy and Xie Zhang shared the sentiment when Wuxian informed him of this little fact.
Silly things like this were one of the many things that made Wuxian special in the eyes of many, he remembered being human—A rashka. Someone who had arrived in the districts, finding himself in the afterlife after dying in the human world.
It always threw Xie Zhang off the loop to acknowledge this, Wuxian had been at his side for so long that it was hard to remember the time his brother wasn't with him.
Li Guang cut their conversation short as he started his speech again. The brothers shut up and pay attention to the mildly interesting but terrifying introduction to what was without a doubt the most boring of the seven arts: Calligraphy.