Chapter 312 - One Hundred and Twelve - This feels familiar, but not... (1/2)

Looking at his old 'Master' now, Tor had no wavering feelings in his heart, just shame.  Shame regarding what had occurred during those times they'd both walked these grounds together.  He glanced with cold eyes at the other man and also cast a glance over the youths that followed him here now.  There was a flicker of interest; they did not appear to be Caprian's usual lackeys...

It wasn't hard to make a deduction of how Caprian came to be here; his family must have made the decision to enrol him into another school.  Considering the reputation of the Red Savage Sands Force, the fact that the Mage Tower's school did not accept bribes (just high, annual tuition fees) and that the Azure Heights Finishing school was for girls, then it was likely Caprian had enrolled into the Qilin Academy of Excellence.

Tor inwardly sighed.  If not for Caprian's innate, but unused talent, how else would he have swept the previous situation under the carpet to gain this chance?  He doubted that the other had changed his lazy habits, however.

Sure enough; ”Why isn't it that my friends are interested in discovering the great talents hidden within the Institute's alchemy school?”

*****

Leon tossed the dirty water soiled from the breakfast dishes onto the wild flowering patch outside his courtyard home.  Stalks holding blossoms of white, purple, yellow stretched tall over smaller plants with pink, red, blue at their hearts, while grasses with jade green droplets dangled over everything else.  The tallest plants could easily reach Leon's slender waist and none were worse for wear considering the grey and other waste waters tossed over them from time to time.

The flowers began to move without the aid of the wind and two large bright eyes peered out from in amongst them.  Leon shook his head and sighed.  It was good that these wild flowers were hardy, or how else would they survive the frequent abuse of both man and feline?

Jin Li had left earlier with Wu Ye, hunting for whatever meat they could find and kill in the wilds of the mountains for their bottomless stomachs.  Li Ming had remained behind as the small alchemist's guard supposedly.  Few true guards would abandon their duties to track and chase butterflies after all.  The prey was indeed quite large, about the size of Leon's palm and it was attractive, but surely not much of a meal once caught.

Li Ming leapt out of the flowers, spraying petals and pollen everywhere as it clawed at it's prey... and missed.  The butterfly nonchalantly drifted on a convenient breeze up and out of reach.

The coeurl stared after it longingly before seeking pity from its Master.

”There, there?”

Apparently, Li Ming was that easy to satisfy, lowering its neck to nuzzle Leon's c.h.e.s.t with its large head.

Just as Leon began to reciprocate, stroking that soft halo main about its head and neck, a loud barking caught their attention and their first thoughts were that Brother Tor was coming to visit. However, here was Xiao Xiao running up to them frantically, but no beast tamer in sight.

Xiao Xiao used its teeth to grip the hem of Leon's sleeve and tugged it with a growing w.h.i.n.e. Li Ming growled in response, a warning, to which the Cooshee quickly responded;

'Master says that I should protect human Leon from the bad humans wanting to hurt him.'