Chapter 10: Market

Chapter 10: Market

Sakura

The walk through the forest was pleasant. Yu and I chatted pleasantly about things of little consequence, and through that conversation I learned a lot about the world. As memories from Sakuras life surfaced prodded on by seemingly random things.

When I asked about Kajin, Yu grew quiet and melancholy. I so wished for that boy to take to cultivation and magic as you did dear. But he just didnt have the grit for it. I fear this year might be his last visit with us, but he will do his duty and oversee the Choosing.

What is the Choosing mother? Uncle said something about it, but before he could explain we were interrupted.

We were growing close to the edge of town, the industrious peasants were going about the market in a frenzy. So much so it reminded me of a small ant colony, as workers brought in wood from the forest, parents watched their children play as they shopped for goods, and craftsmen sold their creations to the handful of traveling merchants who had arrived not long before we had.

Odd your tutors have yet to explain it. But then again, your studies were interrupted by your illness. The Choosing happens once every ten years when the Grand Kame are once again ready to lay eggs. All of the young Kame from the previous cycle will be about to hatch and bond with those lucky enough to be chosen, while the great tortoises who have lost their cultivator companions will be looking to bond with new ones.

And being chosen by a Kame is important?

Yu smiled, and did a poor job of covering it with a hand. Of course dear. Every member of the inner family has either been chosen by one of the great tortoises, or has married someone who has been. I am not bonded with any of the grand creatures, but from what your father has said it is an incredible honor. And from what I have observed, it is in some ways a heavy burden.

Duty is as heavy as a mountain, and death as light as a feather. I said the words quietly, quoting from a Japanese proverb I had heard my father use, during that ill fated year I lived with him.

Yu seemed intrigued by the saying. Where did you hear that? It is true, but rather stark my dear. Wise words to live by I think. But never forget how much joy and wonder life brings us every day.

She motioned around us towards where the peasants haggled with merchants and craftsmen over prices on food, clothing, and other goods. Even here, on the edges of civilization, in a small town with no greater defender than a Knight, these people are happy. Their lives are toil, and filled with difficult work. And yet, I do not think many of them would trade it for the blissfulness of the void. Do you?

The Genji part of me rebelled against that statement. But as I observed the faces of the people around us, I found most were happy. Not all perhaps, but even those with good lives did not live every moment in pure bliss.Witness the debut of this chapter, unveiled through Ñôv€l--B1n.

Sakuras eyes tended to fall on the toil, and the inefficiencies, the dark places where a handful of people lived in gutters covered in mud. Those who were crippled, ill, or simply without work. But here, in this village, there were few of those. And of those that did exist, they were largely still engaged with the people around them. Perhaps they did not have the best lives, but they still had their measure of happiness.

And I, for the first time in either life, saw it.

The love of life, despite hardship, despite the deprivation and difficulties. It reminded me of Shen, and the other women at the farm. Though to an even greater degree.

Here, the people were largely free to act as they would, to pursue their goals as they would. Perhaps it was not this way everywhere in the Empire. But here in this village, the people, even those in the most dire of straits, found some comfort, some opportunities, and had made for themselves a life worth living.

It wasnt perfect by any means, but it was worth continuing. At that moment, I felt something shift inside me. A reason, a purpose grew like a seed my parents and experiences in both lives had planted long ago finally watered by rain.

These people are worth protecting. I said it quietly, so no one without a cultivator's ears could hear. More of a whisper than a spoken word.

Yu smiled broadly as she pulled me into a hug. When she let me go, I caught her blinking away moisture from her eyes. Thats my girl. Yes dear. These people are worth protecting. It usually takes cultivators born to privilege decades to learn that lesson, if they ever learn it at all. She trailed off, as if remembering something from long ago.

Oh, theres that tailor shop!

***

By the gods you are our savior Mr. Fen, thank you so much! Yu was excited, much more so than I was at the lineup of dresses and traveling clothes the man had available.

Yes well, I can see you were getting somewhat desperate, my lady. It is my duty and honor to serve you my lady, in the humble way that one of my station might. The old man bowed so low he had to use his cane to right himself. I have three sets of traveling cloths, breaches, along with a cut that is specifically designed to protect and provide for modesty.

It was essentially a scort, or a skirt with trousers. It was all made from a sturdy material that, I was not happy to learn, itched badly. But he assured me it would get softer with each washing.

When I asked Mr. Fen what it was made of, his response intrigued me. It's a material few other towns cultivate. It is only thanks to the hard work of our Lady Tawen that we even have silkworms as she keeps and cares for them. This fabric is grown from the byproduct of silk worms after the silk is harvested. Mixed with flax, and a few other regional products in a bath. The process is involved, but it leads to a material that is hardy, and after a few washings, nearly as comfortable as silk.

Right now it is in our cellar. But there are always moths that sprout off season, so I have a small hatchery there under a mana lamp that imitates the sun. Lady Tawen sipped the tea one of her daughters had brought them. I would be happy to show her.

Yu smiled, but I could tell she wasnt happy about it. That should be fine then. But please, dont allow my daughter to bore you with her fascination with things best left to others.

Lady Tawens face turned an almost beat red color. Of course my lady. A child's fancy with the work of a lower class should not divert their path.

My mother must have realized what she had said. Yes. Not that there's anything wrong with your work Lady Tawen. Only that Sakura tends to flit from thing to thing, like a butterfly and grow distracted from her work at cultivation or mana craft. Please forgive

My lady is too kind. Sir Tawen said, interjecting himself before something else could happen. Your meaning is clear my lady. We would not make someone as kind, honorable, and esteemed as you are into an offender for a misunderstood word. He shared a look with his wife.

Of course. Lady Tawen stood and bowed.

Yes. Thank you. Yu sipped her tea as Lady Tawen led me inside.

***

The cellar of the manor house was smaller than I expected. It contained several shelves where the noble couple kept their wine stock, and two boxes filled with gestating silkworms. The only other thing in the cellar was a wooden frame that ran from floor to ceiling, and between the wooden frame pieces was a thick netting. While spools of netting were stocked off to one corner that would be used later when the worms outside would begin to transform.

Moths danced inside, flitting from plant to plant that filled the small space. With Lady Tawen, and her two youngest daughters, the cellar was pretty cramped. But even looking at the setup gave me ideas of how to replicate it.

This is incredible. Id love to learn more. Might I strike up a correspondence with you Lady Tawen? The noble woman looked uneasy for a moment, but as suddenly as the dawn rose she smiled.

Of course young miss.

We stood there for a while, as she explained the types of plants that the moths typically liked to lay eggs on, and how best to care for the creatures until they did. It took nearly an hour before I felt I understood enough to stop pestering her with questions.

Thank you. I have learned a lot about this process. You said your family are known for this skill?

Lady Tawen took on a pained expression. Yes young miss. My family was known for our silk growing prowess. But even more than that, our skill at developing spirit-beast lines of silk worms was highly sought after.

You say was. What happened? Did your core family lose its position?

She hesitated. Nno. They lost their lives. The core family lived on the far south western boarder. Nearest the elven territories. We had always had a peaceful understanding with our sharp eared neighbors. We were not a family of warriors. Never had been, and had no designs on becoming such. And yet, that did not stop them from burning our villages, and taking what few remnants of my family were alive back to their forest as slaves.

I stood there shocked. I knew, Sakura knew on an intellectual level that border clashes with the elves along their Great Forest near the southern tip of the mountain range that made up most of the western border of my families territory had increased. But for entire families, albeit non-combat oriented families, to have been destroyed overnight seemed far more than a slight escalation.

It sounded more like a declaration of open war.

I am sorry to hear about your family's fate. Sakura was talking now, the Genji side of me had retreated. The desire to run, to flee as far east as possible filled her soul. An urge that Sakura rejected outright. I embraced Sakuras instincts. How did you survive?

I had promised to protect these people after all. I fully intended on keeping that promise.

I was visiting your uncle's encampment, bringing freshly made garments enchanted by some of our best crafters, and infused with powerful chie constructs. They were an order for his lieutenants. Lords and Knights all. I received word of the raid when a patrol party found the ruins of my familys home. Lady Tawen wiped at unshed tears. But that is not a concern for one so young. Your family has done right by what remains of my family, and our arts.

I would like to begin a correspondence with you and your husband Lady Tawen. Primarily on the processes you and your family were so well known for. They sound revolutionary in many respects, the way you explain them. Would you be willing?

Of course young miss. As we began ascending the stairs to go back with my mother, she stopped. Young miss please wait one moment. I have something for you. I waited there in the staircase heading back up to the manor house for nearly ten minutes until she re-emerged. This time carrying a small box, and a much smaller version of the net from before. I would be honored if you would begin learning this art the way I did. With a single pair of worms. She bowed and handed them to me.

I took them awkwardly. The stairs made it difficult to return the gesture of respect. Thank you. The only thought other than gratitude that filled my mind was Yu is going to be mad.