Chapter 3: Tatsumi Yu

Sarah's expression became brighter as she ran up to Alphonse. Alphonse instinctively looked away as he backed up and tried to move his arms to no avail. "Ah, did I scare you? Sorry..." Sarah said.

"It's... Fine..." Alphonse said.

"We should sleep, we will go to the city in the morning." Sarah said as she picked up her sack and grabbed a blanket. "Will you be fine?" Sarah asked. Alphonse nodded.

"I'll... Keep watch..." Alphonse said.

"Okay, wake me if you are tired!" Sarah said as she covered herself in her blanket.

...

(Fifth moon, eleventh day, 459 Lu 10:00)

Alphonse was stopping the fire as Sarah woke up. "Did you stay up all night?" Sarah asked.

"Map..." Alphonse said. Sarah showed a confused expression.

"How did you know I have a map?" She asked.

"You... Knew... where... To go..." Alphonse said apathetically.

"O-oh... I suppose you would be able to guess... Well, you can't hold while I can." She said.

"Can... You read... A map?" Alphonse asked. Sarah lowered her head.

"N-no... But you can't hold it, so it doesn't matter, we will just have to guess as to where we have to go!" Sarah said.

"You hold... The map... I will... Read... It..." Alphonse said. After a few moments, Sarah agreed and they started walking towards the city.

(Fifth moon, thirteenth day, 459 Lu)

"Finally!" Sarah said with excitement. "I'll be staying with my uncle who lives in this city, where will you be going?" Sarah asked. Alphonse shrugged as he looked at the city walls. The walls are about eight feet tall and three feet thick and made of a pale tan rock that is quite smooth. "Oh, well I hope things work out for you..." Sarah said as she entered the city.

Alphonse entered the city after looking at the walls for a few moments and saw several vendors running their stalls. "One sack of rice for just five Cowrie Shells!" One vendor yelled. "One low-quality spirit stone for two-hundred Cowrie!" Another vendor yelled.

{This city seems to be quite active in trade, they even appear to have currency, something I never saw in your home.} Prism said. Alphonse continued walking along the street until he saw something strange. Alphonse saw an object with a similar shape to a carriage, it is quite fancy and ornate. After a few moments, someone in high-quality robes walked out.

"Sect Leader!" A man walked up to the person with the high-quality robes. "We have come to this town to scout talent, but no one here even does martial arts." The man said.

"Calm down, my divinations are never wrong. In this town lies someone with great martial prowess." The man in high-quality robes said.

"Sect Leader Shi, we have already been here for over a day, we cannot spend much more time here!" The man said.

"Gong Jiao, calm yourself, I have already done another divination, we will meet them soon." Sect Leader Shi said.

"Okay, thank you Sect Leader Xiao Shi..." Gong Jiao said. After listening to the exchange of words, Alphonse continued walking. A few seconds after he continued walking Xiao Shi was in front of him.

"Hello." Xiao Shi said. Alphonse ignored him and continued walking. "Child, I sense Spiritual Ki emanating from you." Xiao Shi said. Alphonse stopped walking and stood still. "It's not a lot, but it is more than the average Amethyst Crystal Wolf." Xiao Shi said. Alphonse turned around and faced Xiao Shi. "Do you know martial arts?" Xiao Shi asked.

Alphonse nodded. "Will you demonstrate?" Xiao Shi asked. Alphonse shook his head. "Why not?" Xiao Shi asked.

"My... Arms... Will not... Move..." Alphonse said.

"I see... Wait here." Xiao Shi said. Alphonse did as he was told and after a few moments, Xiao Shi came back with an Amethyst crystal wolf man.

"This is the bo-" The man started to ask a question, but quickly stopped. "Are you Edrit's?" The man asked. Alphonse looked at the man with a confused expression. "Ah, I should introduce myself... My name is Tatsumi Yu, your mother knows my older brother Tatsumi Jiyomu, how are they?" Yu asked.

Alphonse looked away. "They..."

"Uncle, when are we going to the house?" Sarah asked. "Oh, hey Novák Alphonse!" Sarah said.

"Do you know him, Sarah?" Yu asked. Sarah nodded.

"We met in the forest, he was fleeing the city as well." Sarah said.

"Um... The two... You... Spoke... Of... They're..." Alphonse paused as a few tears began to form. "They... Died..." Alphonse finished as he choked back his tears.

"I see, they didn't make it out of the city, did they?" Yu asked.

"The chief had dad executed..." Sarah said.

"I'm... Sorry..." Alphonse said.

"How did Edrit go? We were friends a long time ago..." Yu said.

"Pro... Tecting... The... City..." Alphonse said.

"Tatsumi Yu, can you still do what I asked, or should I find someone else?" Xiao Shi asked.

"I can do it... I just need a moment... And my niece will be guaranteed entry into your sect?" Yu asked. Xiao Shi nodded. Yu took a moment to gather his thoughts, then began to heal Alphonse's shoulders.

"Th... Thank... you..." Alphonse said.

"I don't need any thanks, I was just doing it for my niece's future." Yu said.

"I will come to get her in two days, in the meantime, Alphonse, was it? Will you show me your martial skill?" Xiao Shi asked.

"In... What way?" Alphonse asked.

"I will have you spar one of my sects members." Xiao Shi said. Alphonse nodded in agreement. "Min Li, it is your turn, yes?" Xiao Shi asked. A woman walked forward.

"It is, but to fight a child, isn't that making fun of my strength?" Min Li asked.

"It is just a spar, don't worry, if you hurt him we can get him some healing materials or ask Yu to heal him." Xiao Shi said.

"Whatever... Kid, get ready." Min Li said as she went into a leopard stance.

'That's an aggressive stance... She is going to go pure offensive.' Alphonse thought to himself as he copied her stance. 'I've never tried this one, it feels weird, but if I copy her movements, then I can become proficient.' Alphonse thought to himself.