Welcome home Lifeng." Baiyun, the mother of Valeria greeted her daughter barely looking. She was focused on the steam from her freshly brewed white peony tea. Valeria tossed her bag onto the bamboo built couch that was cushioned with feathers. She flopped down onto the chair and raised her legs onto the table. Only then, did her mother actually look at her, with disapproval.
"Not much of a greeting after your daughter risked her life to get this flimsy card." Valeria waved her Hunter's license before putting it away when she made sure that Baiyun saw. Baiyun barely glanced at it as she got up to tend to her nightingales in a golden cage.
"Stop being a kid. We've prepared you for situations like these and it's the bare minimum of what we expect from you." She pulled out seeds and fed it to the birds. Valeria frowned. She already expected the indifferent response from her parents. But it still hurts for her. Even though she was constantly betrayed by her personal expectations and even though she was used to the environment, after her exam, the numbness faded. Frustrated, she left without a word and went to her room, making sure to shut the door.
Her room remained untouched from before she left. Her shoujo mangas were still on the shelf and carpet, exactly as she left it. She picked up a manga, titled "O*ran H*gh Sch**l H*st Cl*b". She flipped through the first few pages and then closed it, tossing it back onto the carpet. She looked out from the open balcony connected to the room, overseeing the Lavine's territories and cliffside houses.
She then heard her father calling for her name and Valeria decided to slip out. She jumped out of the balcony and in the middle of their peach courtyard. She followed the stone path and out of the circular entrance of the courtyard. Weaving through more corridors, she pushed open the heavy iron gates of the Lavine entrance.
The street of the Lavine clan was busy and had numerous stands selling different things. What Valeria was looking for the most, was the traditional Che'ang Soup dumplings, made with fresh ingredients. The Lavines were located on the cliffside with an abundance of resources including animals and greens. Even though Valeria hated the numerous, violent traditions of the Lavine clan, she didn't particularly hate the Che'ang culture. The buildings were interesting and the food was definitely amazing.
She purchased a bowl of soup dumpling and sat down on the benches and tables next to the stand, watching people pass by. As she continued eating, someone sat down across from her. A girl with long brown hair, half tied up in a bun greeted her. She was dressed in male clothes and had a slightly androgynous look to her. She was the only one that Valeria could call a "friend" within the clan. Shion wasn't the only one she grew up with.
"Yo, Tianyu. Don't tell me the time I was away you've also subjected to the brutality of the clans." Tianyu crossed her arms as she smiled at Valeria and sat down. "You aren't the only Lavine who wants out. I'm still the same old, Lifeng, or I mean Valeria."
"Don't joke like that. You know how much I hate it when you call me by that name." Valeria waved her hand weakly, sliding her bowl to Tianyu. Her friend accepted the gesture and took a dumpling with a new set of chopsticks before pushing it back to her. "Well, you only adopted a common name a few weeks before you left. Before that, as childhood friends, I always called you by your native name. It's hard to adjust, give me a break."
"So? How did you know I was back?" Tianyu froze as she shifted her gaze to the side, looking almost shameful and uncomfortable. "Hongshi visited while I was training." Valeria glanced at her friend before sighing and continuing to eat. "Why do you look as if you're guilty? You've done nothing wrong and your family is close with his grandfather. It's not as if you're hanging out with him behind my back."
Tianyu relaxed a little as she watched Valeria pay the bill. The two got up and began walking down the busy street. As they crossed the bridge and went to the open pasture, the more remote part, outside of the clan's village where it is filled with long grass and wheat. They've enjoyed horse riding in this part as they were younger with Shion. Speaking of the devil, Valeria and Tianyu stopped as they saw the red haired male play a flute. As he finished his last phrase he then, out of nowhere he appeared right in front of them and began attacking. He first grabbed, Valeria's face and stuffed it hard into the ground, hard enough to make the ground around them crack and create a dent of a meter radius around them. Then he smiled at Tianyu, not even letting her withdraw the sword from her side and grabbed her, kneeing her hard in the stomach before attempting to kick her. Tianyu then grabbed his leg and with a swing, sent him flying into the side of the mountains, hard.
Shion grinned as he got up, unscathed, and dusted himself. Tianyu clicked her tongue in annoyance as she commented: "What a pain, that ability of yours."
"Don't complain that it's unfair, it would sound like a brat having his candy taken away from him." Shion adjusted his twisted arm and it began to heal itself. Valeria got up and felt her eyes widen at the monster. Even if Shion was supposed to be stronger than both of them, Tianyu was pretty strong herself. She and Shion were the same age but Valeria noticed that the brunette grew in power. But what scared her most was the fact that Shion could regenerate himself quickly.
"I heard of monster strength and speed, but not incredible regeneration."
"That's part of the reason why I brought you back. I'll be training you on how to be a hunter." Shion shouted, as he dodged Tianyu's attack, as she swung her sword and created a strong shockwave to leave a deep cut in the mountain.
"Even if you wish to be a man, it doesn't change the fact that you are still weak, Tianyu." Shion appeared next to Tianyu and delivered a swift and precise kick that sent her being flattened against the ground. The girl groaned as she she wiped the blood from her mouth as Valeria then attacked from behind and grabbed the male by the head and throwing him into 5 trees.
"Weren't you training Wendao? Where is my brother now? What training would you do for me? Kill me?" Valeria helped up Tianyu who grunted in pain as her whole body ached. Shion lifted himself up and returned the ever so irritating close eyed smile. "Wendao is also back, though I'm not sure he acknowledges you as his sister. And you're still as clueless as ever aren't you. No human can just regenerate instantly no matter the training. You can be invincible, thought. It's Nen. Once you unlock that, you can be strong." Valeria saw a spark of excitement and bloodlust in his eyes. "Oh, and Tianyu can use it too." Valeria glanced at her friend who nodded. Suddenly, she remembered something more important.
"Where's Wendao? You didn't do anything to him right? That's why I was against you taking him in the first place." Valeria bit her lip until it bled as she trembled angrily. Tianyu placed her hand on her shoulder, attempting to calm her down. "He's safe, Valeria. I saw him. In fact he seems more well built and healthier than the last time we saw him."
"See? Want to go visit him?" Shion crossed placed his hand on Tianyu's back, healing her. Tianyu slapped his hand away, with disdain in her eyes. Valeria also stepped in between them to protect her friend. "Yes."
—
Valeria peered from the side of the column as she watched Wendao bowing in greeting to his father. As usual, Donghu was a complete jackass to his children by asking about whether or not his son actually did anything to be admired or if he's just dawdling. Wendao still had the patience and bowed, as he calmly explained everything. Valeria bit and teased at her handkerchief in irritation.
"That damn geezer! I'll tear him apart and teach him a thing or two about respect."
"That's fine and all...but why are we stalking your brother?" Tianyu sighed as they crouched down behind the ledge. Valeria began to sweat profusely as she looked away with a somewhat ashamed face. Shion raised his hand, as if answering a question. "It's because Wendao hates his sister and Valeria is too much of a wimp to confront him. So she stalks him."
"It's your fault you satanic bitch. If you didn't feed him the words of the devil then none of that would have happened. Scum. Bastard. Piece of shit. Asshole. Booger." Valeria scowled.
"I wouldn't say it's entirely my fault. Your brother was the one who easily subjected to some words. Blame him for being so weak." Shion laughed good naturedly, causing Valeria to grab him by the collar and started shaking him. His bright red braid was spotted by Wendao and he wandered over.
"Teacher? What are you doing here-" Wendao froze as he saw 's eyes kept flitting around as she tried to find her words.
"Er. Wendao. Long time no see. H-how are you?" Valeria asked as Wendao helped Shion up. He glanced at his elder sibling and sighed. "I have no time for this. I'll see you later, teacher." He bowed to Shion and then left. Valeria bit her lips before hugging her legs in defeat. Tianyu looked at Valeria with sympathy. It was probably a year since Valeria saw Wendao since he left with Shion and he probably still hates her.