"Kaisin! Where have you been? I've been searching all over for you!" A girl's voice cut through the clamor of the marketplace, her determined strides closing the distance between them quickly.
Turning to face her, Kaisin couldn't help but smile at his younger sister, who moved with an assuredness that belied her sixteen years. "Running from admirers, obviously," he quipped, his tone light, eager to steer away from his deeper troubles.
"I was starting to think you'd joined a monastery to escape my wrath," Laurel teased, reaching him with a playful scowl.
"Escaping your wrath? Never," Kaisin responded, an amused smirk playing on his lips. "I enjoy our little chats too much. Speaking of which, I heard from Slade about your little mail adventure. Trying to stir up drama?"
"Oh, absolutely. Sending those letters was too tempting," Laurel said, flipping her long black hair back with a laugh. "Besides, imagining you scramble to stop them was the highlight of my week."
"Me? Scramble? You seem to forget I have a Spiritual Body Realm aide," Kaisin retorted with a chuckle, brushing off the idea that he was outmatched.
"Well… Imagine being weaker than your sixteen-year-old sister!" Laurel exclaimed playfully, sticking out her tongue. The playful banter was a brief respite that Kaisin welcomed wholeheartedly.
In the bustling heart of Grand Ridge City's market, a street performer captivated a dense crowd with her display of fiery orb juggling. The orbs, alight with an intense blaze, danced elegantly around her in a dazzling spectacle. Yet, amidst the awe, one fiery orb betrayed her skilled toss and veered off course, hurtling directly toward a stall stacked with dry goods.
The crowd inhaled sharply, the collective gasp hanging in the air as the orb threatened disaster. But before panic could fully take hold, Laurel was in motion. She tapped into the Warflow Clan's revered War State Technique, specifically the Fearless Phantom Step. This movement art, known for its swift, almost invisible executions, allowed her to cover ground rapidly, her form barely a blur to the onlookers.
Laurel reached the rogue orb in mere seconds, her movements fluid and precise. With a deft flick of her wrist, she channeled her Qi, the energy flowing through her veins like a river unleashed, to extinguish the flame enveloping the orb. She caught it effortlessly, her actions as smooth as if she were merely plucking an apple from a tree.
"Beautiful execution!"
"The emblem on her robe! She's from the Warflow clan!"
The market erupted into applause, the spectators marveling at her swift intervention.
The performer, a young woman with an unmistakable foreign accent, rushed over, her cheeks tinted with the flush of embarrassment and relief. "Thank you! I'm so sorry, I usually have better control," she stammered, gratitude evident in her eyes.
"It happens to the best of us," Laurel reassured her with a warm smile, then turned to her brother Kaisin, a triumphant glint in her eye.
"You're progressing quite fast in the War State technique," Kaisin observed, his voice carrying a mixture of pride and jest.
"Of course, I'm not a slacker unlike a certain someone," Laurel teased, giving Kaisin a playful side-eye. "By the way, how far are you with the Fearless Phantom Step movement?"
Kaisin scratched his head, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Secon-... Okay, no, first… stage…hehe."
"Pfft, seriously?" Laurel burst out laughing. "No wonder the Patriarch has his sights on you. You really are the slacker of the Warflow Clan."
Kaisin chuckled awkwardly, his thoughts turning inward. *I'm really too weak. Argh, if it just wasn't so boring and painful to cultivate and train. To reach peak mastery of a technique, I need to reach the seventh level,* he thought, his mind sarcastically adding, *just like climbing a small, casual mountain of eternal torment.*
The War State Technique was a cornerstone of their clan's martial prowess, divided into three main Arts: the Fearless Phantom Step, Blade of Resolve, and Fortress Body Art. Each Art was crafted to enhance a warrior's capabilities in distinct aspects—speed, attack, and defense, respectively.
As the crowd began to disperse, Laurel's playful mocking continued, but it was clear that her ribbing was laced with affection and a deep-seated respect for her brother's potential. Despite his slower progress, she saw in him a latent strength that just needed the right push.
"Come on, let's grab something to eat. I'm starving, and you owe me for saving your reputation today," Laurel said, tugging at Kaisin's arm as they started walking toward one of the city's famous eateries.
As they settled into a bustling restaurant known for its exquisite fusion cuisine, they spotted Alden Mayr from the Mayrs estate. Alden, always keen on stirring trouble, sauntered over with a sneer.
"Look who it is, the Warflow prodigies. I see Laurel's saving the day again. What would you do without her, Kaisin?"
Before Kaisin could reply, Laurel stepped in, her tone icy but composed. "Probably the same thing we do with you, Alden—tolerate."
Alden scoffed, but before he could retort, Lady Cynthia entered the restaurant, her presence commanding immediate attention. Seizing the opportunity, Alden turned to her, raising his voice just enough to be overheard. "Lady Cynthia, just discussing how Kaisin here nearly set the market on fire. Thankfully, his sister was there to save the day."
"I-I did not!" Kaisin retorted, but that just made him sound more guilty.
Lady Cynthia cast a disdainful glance at Kaisin, her lips curling slightly. "How... heroic," she commented dryly, before moving to her table, leaving a trail of whispered snickers.
Laurel's gaze hardened as she watched Cynthia walk away, then she turned back to Alden, her voice low but fierce. "At least when we make a scene, it's worth watching."
Alden's smile faltered, and he retreated back to his table, his exit less triumphant than he intended. Laurel turned back to Kaisin, her expression was one of disdain.
As Laurel and Kaisin perused the menu, trying to decide between the aromatic dishes listed, Kaisin's mind briefly wandered back to Lady Cynthia's scornful glance and Alden's smirking face. Yet, feeling Laurel's presence beside him, he managed to push those thoughts aside.
"Let's try the grilled sparrowgrass with that spicy wildberry sauce. It sounds adventurous enough for tonight," Laurel suggested, bringing Kaisin's attention back to the lighter and more pleasant matters at hand.
"Sounds perfect," Kaisin agreed, grateful for his sister's knack for distraction. They placed their order and settled into the comfortable buzz of the restaurant, filled with the clinks of cutlery and low hum of other diners' conversations.
As they waited for their food, Laurel's earlier demonstration at the market sparked a new topic. "You know, you really have gotten good at the Fearless Phantom Step. It's like one moment you were beside me, and the next, you were extinguishing that fire," Kaisin remarked, his tone full of admiration.
Laurel chuckled. "Thanks. But remember, it's all about the balance of Qi flow and physical movement. You could master it too, with a bit more practice... and maybe a bit less daydreaming."
"Perhaps," Kaisin mused, his thoughts briefly wandering. "It's just that sometimes I feel like there's something more I should be doing or learning. Like, maybe..."
"Like dreaming about Cynthia..." Laurel interjected with a sly grin. "I've read those letters, you know. 'My dearest Cynthia, under the moonlit sky, your beauty rivals the stars...' Really, Kaisin?"
Kaisin's cheeks flushed a deep shade of red. "You weren't supposed to see those..."
"Oh, please," Laurel waved a dismissive hand, still grinning. "If you spent half as much time on your training as you do writing those soppy lines, you'd be master of the War State Technique by now."
Kaisin sighed, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward. "Maybe you're right. But it's hard not to think about her."
"Forget her," Laurel said bluntly, her tone firm yet caring. "She doesn't care about 'weak losers,' as you put it. Focus on getting stronger, not just for her or anyone else, but for yourself. Prove to everyone that you're more than what they think."
Kaisin nodded, her words sinking in. "You're right, as always."
Just then, their food arrived, interrupting their intense conversation. The flavors were a welcome distraction, rich and perfectly spiced, drawing their attention away from heavier topics.
The meal passed with further light conversation, filled with laughter and shared plans for the upcoming city festival. But as they prepared to leave, the thoughts of Alden's mocking and Cynthia's disdainful glance loomed back into Kaisin's mind, darkening his mood once again.
"Let's not let people like Alden get to us," Laurel said firmly as they stepped out into the cool evening air. "We know who we are, and we're better than that. Besides, we have bigger things to focus on than his petty games."
Kaisin took a deep breath, the fresh air clearing his thoughts. "You're right. And thanks, Laurel, for everything today."
"Anytime, bro," Laurel replied, giving him a reassuring pat on the back. "Remember, we're in this together."