Chapter 43 - Calm Beneath the Sky

Lia sits on the edge of the walkway in front of her house, staring blankly at the lone maple tree in the middle of the courtyard. She watches as a gentle breeze plucks a golden-red leaf from the tree before carrying it across the courtyard. As the leaf approaches her, Lia cups her open palms, resting them on her lap. She closes her eyes and waits as the leaf sways back and forth.

Please come home.

Upon feeling the cold sensation in her palms, Lia smiles. She falls back onto the walkway with the leaf in her hands. Lia extends her arm towards the sky, holding the five-pointed leaf in front of the sun. Her eyes begin to water as she gazes at the star-shaped glow around the leaf.

***

The shadows from the buildings grow ever so slightly longer as Sun and his students make their way through the bustling town, heading north towards the valley. The girls, walking in front, whisper indistinctly amongst themselves. After a few blocks of walking and whispering, the girls turn back towards their instructor and the boys. Maoyi steps towards Sun with her hands behind her back. Upon arriving, she brings her hands together in front of her before opening her fingers.

"Instructor Sun, we got this for you. We agreed that it would look great on you!" Maoyi exclaims as she gazes at Sun with her large eyes. "We even bought a pin!"

Sun stares down at the red object in her hands, feeling apprehensive about the gift. Chunhua, curious about the item, sticks his head out and around Sun's side to peek at the item. Upon seeing the item up close, he takes a few steps backwards to get a better view of his instructor's face. His eyes squint as he tries to picture Sun wearing the item, nodding as he determines that the girls are right in their assessment. Seeing the hesitant look on his instructor's face, Chunhua sighs before stepping back towards Sun. He places his hand on Sun's shoulder, patting lightly.

It's okay, Instructor Sun, I know it all too well… The price of being handsome… You're not alone.

Sun turns to meet Chunhua's eyes, confused by the strange expression on the boy's face.

"Instructor Sun, I agree with Maoyi." Xi, following Maoyi's lead, says as she puts on her best begging expression. "At least try them on? Yuyu picked them out."

The girls watch with anticipation as Sun's apprehension disappears. He smiles as he kneels onto the stone-lined road, nodding towards the girls. Upon receiving his permission, Maoyi and Yuyu jump in excitement. Dan watches them from the side, chuckling to himself.

You should've mentioned that part first.

"Mister will look g- Hehe. Instructor Sun is this handsome." Yuyu says as she extends her arms outwards. She stretches her arms even further out as she continues. "With them, Instructor Sun will be this handsome."

Sun chuckles at Yuyu as she applies a measurement to handsomeness. Maoyi, eager to see her instructor try on their gift, dashes towards Sun with a pin in her hand. She moves Sun's hair aside, asking him to hold it in place. With no obstructions, Maoyi places her hand behind Sun's ear before setting the tip of the pin onto his earlobe. Determining that she found the perfect spot, Maoyi pushes the pin.

"Eeeeeeh?!" She exclaims as she stares at the bent pin between her fingers.

Prompted by her confusion, Sun turns to look at Maoyi. Upon seeing the state of the pin, he chuckles before taking the pin from her. Holding the pin parallel to the ground with one hand, Sun pinches the pin with his other hand before pulling it straight.

"Tell me when to stop." Sun says as he places the tip of the pin on his earlobe, moving it around slowly.

"Right there!"

With the pin in place, Sun tilts his head upwards, aiming the back of his earlobe at the ground behind him. He infuses the pin with aura and pushes it gently. Wei and Chunhua, standing behind Sun, watch as the needle slides through their instructor's earlobe. Their eyes widen as a thin line of distorted space, fleeting and nearly invisible, shoots from the tip of the pin, disappearing into the ground. A cold shiver runs down their spine as they watch one of the stones that lined the plaza split.

Chunhua and Wei turned toward each other, silently questioning the reality of what they had just witnessed. Despite the remnants of cat whiskers on their faces, neither felt any urge to laugh. They turn to look at Dan, wondering whether his lack of reaction indicates that he hadn't seen it or if he was aware that their instructor was a monster. Feeling their gaze, Dan turns towards Wei and Chunhua. Upon seeing their expressions, Dan chuckles quietly before giving them a slight nod.

"Look! Instructor Sun!" Maoyi says as she pulls out a silver case from her sleeve, opening it and holding it in front of her instructor. "I told you. Yuyu has good taste."

Sun gazes upon the pair of earrings dangling from his ears. The earrings, resembling a feather with its end cut off, appear to be crafted from a crystalline material. At first glance, they give the impression of being red, but under the sunlight, they transform into a pale shade of pink.

"They're beautiful." Sun says as he turns towards the four girls before him. His eyes close into a crescent as he smiles. "Thank you… I hope it's not expensive."

"The price tag said forty-five g-"

"Forty-five coppers!" Maoyi exclaims frantically, cutting Yuyu off. "Just something we picked up from a small street vendor! No big deal! We even got a discount!"

Xi and Anning discretely exchange nervous looks, knowing that the "small street vendor" Maoyi is referring to is in-fact one of the associate branches of the Golden Treasures that they had visited after lunch. As for the "discount" they received, it would be more accurate to call it a gift, as the manager insisted that Maoyi take it for free. They turn back towards their instructor, breathing a sigh of relief upon seeing his lack of suspicion.

"Still, thank you. I'll treasure it regardless." Sun says with the soft smile still on his face.

Having engraved their kindness in his heart, Sun turns towards the sky. He holds his hand in front of him to protect his eyes from the brilliance of the sun. He sighs upon seeing the brilliant glow grow dim from a cloud rolling by.

He lowers his gaze towards the girls standing in front of him before turning to look at the boys behind him. Their beaming smiles make him feel weary. Their blissful innocence makes him feel burdened. Despite a rocky start, their budding friendship makes him feel uneasy about the decision ahead.