The Aster Grounds
"Nice to meet you again too, we will be in your care."
Jilun returned the bow, as it was courtesy, though Jia couldn't be said to have the same values.
The cloaked figure rose up again.
"The Aster Grounds isn't very far from here as this warehouse is also towards the center of the city."
She raised her hand, pointing it in the northern direction. The soft wind fluttering the sleeves of her uniform.
"It is not but an hour walk from here at a steady pace. We should reach it before sundown."
She then started walking in the grounds direction, prompting Jilun and Jia to follow her.
***
The Sun was starting to set, laying a shadow over the City of the New Moon. In the far distance, the white Moon started to take its stage.
Jilun and Jia accompanied the cloaked figure.
As Jilun was now on foot, it was much easier to take in the scenery compared to staring through a square window. Now, he felt as if he was apart of the atmosphere.
The sounds were more prominent, as he could hear the sounds directly in comparison to through a sealed carriage. Though the atmosphere was darkening, it still failed to lessen the busy streets at all.
Jilun watched as many families, walking with children of all ages browsed the vendor filled streets. All kinds of trinkets and souvenirs stood on display on wooden homemade racks either on the floor or on a table.
Candles lay on the sides of the street, giving it a warm feel that paired with the orange skies.
Bracelets, Necklaces, Rings, Cards, all kinds of miscellaneous items and jewelry attracted many of the families with people.
Although Jilun found a necklace or two very suitable for Jia, he had not an idea how to obtain the currency. He didn't wanted to ask of anything from his parents, and even rejected their share of fortune many times. He wouldn't be so bold as to steal his family's hard work of over 5 years to satisfy his spends and necessities.
He is sixteen now, as he has been working since he was 8, he was plenty old enough to earn a living on his own, especially in this new world, relying on his parents was out of the question.
The cloaked girl seemed to notice his gaze as she also followed his eyes. Though the glance was quick, it seemed to put her in a state of thought as she proceeded forward.
***
The Aster Grounds took up a large area of the city. With its large space, from the outside, it would seem like a city within a city. It too had large walls that separated the grounds with the main city. It allowed for almost a separated world from reality to exist within the grounds. It had its own economy, and currency system for disciples.
All the disciples lived within the grounds, it could be said to be almost like a training camp. They wouldn't leave until they either left the grounds, or graduated it.
Many disciples, if their talent was great enough, could go on the become outer or even inner elders. Though, one could easily understand how rare it was as there were not more than 20 inner elders and 100 outer elders... with over 100,000 disciples.
This was all told to him by Old Gi, as he had once stayed within the grounds for a period of his life. Though much of his story is subject to change, as this time period was several decades ago.
***
As the group walked closer and closer to their destination, Jilun noticed that the amount of people in the street, as well as vendors and the like, got smaller and smaller. It was only then did he see the tall gates down the road in which they walked. Although distance still separated them, its majestic gates where clear for all to see. No shops or people stood within the vicinity of the seemingly 'holy' grounds. It seems that the Aster Grounds had garnered great respect from the people within the city.
The cloaked girl also saw their destination was soon approaching as she turn to speak to the duo behind her.
"I have other matters to attend to before my return. As I have already informed you on the procedures of entre, the process from now should be smooth. I'll leave now."
She disappeared from before the two of them, leaving only dust in her wake.
Jilun looked at the dust cloud as he signed.
"She should've told us that she had things to do, we shouldn't have burdened her with having to haul us around"
The last thing he wanted to do as soon as he arrived here was burden someone. As he was used to doing everything by himself, being a burden didn't make him feel to well, in fact, it made him feel useless.
Jia laughed at his conclusion.
She knew him all too well, his thoughts took her but a second to understand. But she knew the true reason she left, and even felt a bit of jealousy towards her.
"She's going to have some fun~" she said in a laughing and cheery voice.
***
*Swoosh!*
The cloaked girl appeared in an alley far from Jilun and Jia. Stepping down from thin air, even with landing at her fast speed, she failed to make any noise.
"You have already noticed us, then you should know what we are here for."
Several figures stepped out from within the shadows, surrounding her front and back.
The cloaked girls black eyes wandered around the many men that surrounded her, powerful auras excluding from them.
They all had weapons at the ready, and they didn't seem like normal ones.
'They're cultivators'
She looked at the man in the middle, seemingly their leader, who had just spoke.
"And? What of it to you?"
The man grinned as he heard her response.
"Your life, or the things in your possession. It is up to you. Don't think that with your talent at your age that you are untouchable, you have only just begun to see the edge of the world that is of the strong. I'd advise you not to be so arrogant… as should you abide with our words, taking you as a concubine is not out of the question."
The other men frowned upon hearing his words. It seems he had already claimed this beauty for himself. They all signed within.
Even though her face was masked and a cloak adorned her body, just her pearly white hands and mesmerizing eyes were enough to seduce any man.
"Oh? You want me?" A look of surprise waved over her.
Her eyes glistened, sending waves of pleasure down the men. Their desire to obtain her only increasing, wanting nothing more than to pounce on her like a rabid dog.
"But I must warn you, seeing my face only guarantees that your life is fulfilled~"
The leader paused for a moment, caught of guard by her sudden change in tone and demeanor. The lust and desire to taint her raising above his control. He slowly inched towards her, approaching mere meters away from the edge of her feet.
"Your mask…"
He lifted a blade from his waist, pointing it at her face with somewhat heavy breathing.
"…take it off"
The cloaked girl smiled, not at all afraid of the armed man. She carefully brought her hands to her face, lifting the black mask off.
As soon as the mask separated from her skin, her hair suddenly turned white, leaving behind the pinkish color as it seemed to cascade out of the tips of her hair.
Her eyes, no longer brown, shone a deep, infinite blue that seemed to contain all the truths of existence within them.
The world itself seemed to gain new meaning with her appearance, the night turning to day, as it seemed that the moon was afraid of basking in her brilliance.
The combat uniform disappeared, a loose white robe taking its place. She seemed to be the embodiment of beauty itself, the pale robes only fit of matching her white skin and hair.
*Schwoo!*
From her back, two large wings appeared as they flapped close behind her. They were pure white, feathers of the softest silk, a mythical feeling prevalent with their presence.
All the men seemed to lose sentience.
She looked like a holy maiden, birthed from the concept of pure itself…
an Angel…
A/N: If anyone is wondering why the cloaked figure didn't take of her mask in the carriage with Jia and Jilun, it's because she already had knowledge prior to meeting the two of them, and knew that Jia wouldn't act so disrespectfully in front of Jilun, as he knows what a powerful person wearing a mask means (they like to live private lives, and prefer secrecy). But as for how she knows, it's up to your imagination…