Aimless Ascension

The Wang's Inn was neatly lit in colourful light constructs. From the lights around the gate and walls to the actual inn, all emitted light in brilliant vibrant colours, standing out far more than the surrounding houses and stores.

Gale spectated from up as he approached his destination. The drum rolls and music were easily reaching here as well, as the Inn was just around the centre marketplace.

Gale didn't fly around ceremoniously and landed directly on the lawn with a bag full of food in his hand. Mostly meat rolls, dumplings, some other versions of spring rolls and meat-related fast food, along with some sweets.

As if known by his appearance through the bond, Xiaolin was already waiting on the open veranda, sitting with her chin on her palm. She noticed his presence before he even landed.

Delight spread through her face as she found her master landing before her.

"Master!" Xiaolin called, standing up. She couldn't stop herself from leaping to embrace him in one large movement. Gale was off balance, but not by a lot. He barely took a step back to welcome her embrace.

"Sorry," Gale apologised, rubbing her head, "I'm late."

Xiaolin hummed, holding him with all her might, wrapping her arms around his back. Gale hadn't taken her for that much of a clingy type, but it seemed she missed him more than he did. He wasn't sure if the bond influenced it somehow.

Well, it could be, but Gale wasn't worried about that. These kinds of spirit bonds were very intimate. If there was no genuine affection between the two people, it might as well weaken and eventually break off. So whatever its influence might be, it should be related to the affection they already possessed. Just bouncing off each other through the bond.

That reminded him Vale should be around here somewhere as well.

"Woof!" The very moment a large furry hound barked gleefully, coming from the house to jump at the two of them in delight.

Gale sided his disciple on his left in case the jump injured her and caught his big boy with one arm. Gale felt all his fatigue wash away as Vale licked his face and he caressed him. Gale stroked both of their back, feeling his spirit restored after long tiring work.

He found a slender figure walking out of the house in their direction at a fast pace, probably noticing the disturbance. It was obviously the innkeeper, Wang Li. Thankfully, she hadn't jumped at them.

"Xiaolin, so your master finally is here," Wang Li said. "Well, after keeping you waiting for hours."

Xiaolin withdrew from his embrace in the presence of her elder sister with a faint blush on her face and neck, that could be seen even in the glow of colourful light.

"How long have you been waiting for me?"

"Since you got here," Wang Li answered in her stead. "As for today, she was waiting on the veranda since she intuited you're coming through the bond."

"I guess I can only apologise for my belatedness," Gale said, bowing his head.

He put most of his effort into completing the Longread quickly, but that thing needed pretty exceptional work to complete. His diminished capabilities didn't even let him fly at the top of his speed, which slowed him down further. Then he helped the blind girl and spend some time in the jewellery shop. At best, he could've cut half an hour, but that was it.

Gale found no point contemplating on spent time. He picked back the bag of hot food. "Look, I bought food for everyone."

He had barely taken a quarter of an hour at the jewellery shop. Thankfully, the old jeweller had enough experience to work around the gems and ornament he wanted for Xiaolin.

Of course, it would take time for him to create it. With almost the promise of four times the payment of his actual fee, Gale managed to convince him to make the ornament. Gale was fine wasting tens of that number on special occasions like this.

Still, his four times fee wasn't much to Gale, barely a few hundred gold coins, not including the rare gems. Well, Gale provided the gems for it. He had miscellaneous stuff inside his void lock, which included different gems of different shapes, sizes, and abilities.

"Alright everyone, come into the house," Wang Li called. "It's getting late already. We should prepare to burn the incense now. Gale, you probably aren't aware, but we have a long tradition of burning incense and candles for the people we lost before the festival."

"Hmm," Gale narrowed his eyes. "I have come across something similar during my travels as well."

They spend some time eating the food Gale brought as Wang Li prepared everything to complete today's tradition of burning incense for lost souls over the long years. Well, other than incense, she prepared candles, most of which were handcrafted by her or Grandma.

She welcomed him to join in burning incense for the people he lost. Gale guessed these were the gestures that bring people together.

Gale went near the small pond, along with Xiaolin as they lit the candle first. Xiaolin had a pensive look in her eyes, even though she was burning the incense for her mother—whom she had never seen in her life. As for her father, he was missing for over a year now, though his disciple was still struck by the idea that her father was alive, but just in trouble.

"Mother, I never have seen you," Xiaolin prayed. "But I always pray for you. I wished you were always there for me like father had. I wished you were there to encourage me, even when the whole world deemed me as someone worthless. I wish you were there at the bad times with Father. I was too useless to help him. And now . . ."

Xiaolin broke into tears as she burned the incense.

Gale hadn't told her he commissioned Twilight to find out more about the disappearance of her father. Obviously, he feared to give her false hope, knowing clearly how cruel and brutal the martial world was.

Although Xiaolin should be mentally prepared to get bad news, Gale just didn't want to upset her, as after so long, she had managed to get something she ever wanted.

So he silently burned incense for Saarya, his first master, his first love. For Cameron, his first friend in this world. For Selene, his first unhealthy relationship whom he grew to care for and cherish.

For all the people who lost their lives because they chose to stand by his side and depend on him.

"I'm sorry I failed you all," Gale said in a cracked voice. "I wish there was more I could have done, but I guessed I'm not the Hope you guys are looking for."

Wang Li watched everything from the back, her eyes wavering at their figure. She heard them both of their preys, and stayed stood there silently, praying inwardly that they would find happiness in themselves.

____

Oh my god, I became more sentimental writing the last 300 words than I ever assumed when I started this story.

I guess that's the magic of storytelling.