The Fifth Realm

by Michael Chatfield

  The Ice Empress of the Elsi clan had publicly shamed the Mai clan and Young Master Perkins by using the marriage ceremony to escape the city.

  The Stone Fist sect had been angry, with multiple elders voicing their anger. The Ice Empress joined the Fighter’s Association, with many of her disciples who held powerful positions within the Stone Fist sect joining as well.

  Others broke off their ties with the Stone Fist sect.

  “Just what the hell is happening over there?” Hiao Xen asked the air. “I hope that Erik meeting her didn’t have a part to play in all of this.”

  He put the message to the side when there was another sound transmission from another source in the Fighter’s Association.

  “Benny, what’s up?” Hiao Xen asked.

  “You been looking for more information on why the Ice Empress joined us? Here’s a message she just sent out to the entire Stone Fist sect,” Benny said with a gloating voice.

  Hiao Xen received a second sound transmission.

  “My name is Mira Elsi. The other day, I was supposed to marry Young Master Perkins. I did not wish to shame the Mai clan, but actions cannot be undone. I made a promise, a contract with the Stone Fist sect and my own Elsi clan when I returned. For years, I thought that this contract had been carried out by both parties. I was wrong. The Stone Fist sect and my own Elsi clan worked together to break the contract. I left my children for the sect, only to find out that they sent down assassins to poison my children. Even at this point, I do not know what their current condition is. They used formations to make sure that I wouldn’t find out about the broken contract until later. It would probably have been years after I was married to Young Master Perkins.”

  Hiao Xen could feel the cold fury in her voice as she talked. He gritted his own teeth in anger, thinking about what would have happened if the same thing happened with his son.

  “With the contract broken between us, I was free from the sect and my clan. I passed word to my followers, a number of whom believed as I did, that a clan or sect that does this to their members, treating them like goods instead of like their fellow sect members, does not deserve fealty. With this information, you, too, can break your contract with the sect as they have broken their own rules and their word to us.”

  The sound transmission ended.

  “So, I guess that tells you what happened,” Benny said.

  “Is the Fighter’s Association going to do anything?” Hiao Xen asked.

  “Officially? No, of course not. We wouldn’t meddle in any sect issues. Unofficially, it’s pissed off a lot of people. Most of us were independents who joined the sect for the protection and the ability to increase our cultivation and combat fighting skills. She’s a powerful fighter, but they were going to use her to try to give them another person with the ice emperor constitution. Went so far as trying to poison her children. It’s pissed off quite a few people over here. So it looks like there might be a cleansing.” Benny’s voice lost his joy and turned serious.

  “I’m reminded by the second name that some people called the Fighter’s Association the Sect Monitors,” Hiao Xen said.

  “Breaking one’s word isn’t a light thing. We’re all people here. Sure, we fight one another all the time—sometimes there are just people who need to die. For the most part, we need to clear those pieces away, or else the Ten Realms will have a bunch of useless groups.”

  “Why do you monitor the different sects and judge them?” Hiao Xen asked.

  Benny laughed as Hiao Xen sighed, smiling. He knew Benny wouldn’t give him a direct answer.

  “I heard you’re working in Vuzgal now—acting city director. We’ll have to have a drink soon! If you want to know more, you should increase your standing in the Blue Lotus. There’s still much you don’t know about the Ten Realms,” Benny said mysteriously.

  “Seems more like I’m corralling children around, but you’re welcome anytime,” Hiao Xen said.

  “Talk later!”

  The channel went dead as Hiao Xen sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers.

  “Unless she says something, there is nothing to link Erik to what she did. If he did something and we said it, we’d piss off the Stone Fist sect and it would look bad that we’re meddling in other people’s affairs. Though it would also make the Fighter’s Association closer with us.” Hiao Xen thought through different scenarios before he shook his head and stood, stretching.

  “I don’t even know if it was Erik who passed her the information. Let’s just see what happens.”

  He looked out over the gardens. They had transformed. There had only been a few buds with plants of heavy Earth and Metal attributes; demonic-looking plants had covered the city.

  “Even though most of the city was damaged, the mana gathering formations were buried deep and the mana here, although it was heavy with Earth and Metal mana, it wasn’t as heavy as we thought. In fact, there was a lot of pure mana in the area. With the higher mana, it allows people to focus their mind more as they feel more relaxed. It also increases the power of people’s spells. Just for these points alone, a lot of people came over. If someone was to grow up in this environment, with us cleaning up the mana with different attributed plants and grasses to convert the mana from just Earth and Metal to Fire, Water, and Wood, they’d have a much higher advantage over people from other cities.”

  Hiao Xen smiled as he looked over the odd plants that were slowly helping to restore the balance within Vuzgal and were growing voraciously.

  The apartments for the administration of Vuzgal had been completed and the grounds restored with Alchemy plants.

  The head of the Alchemy Association seemed interested in them when he came over last.

  He was proud of all that Vuzgal had become and knew that this was only the start of their path.

  He took in a deep breath, taking in the fresh air. He rotated his mana, revitalizing himself, and he turned back toward his desk. He had just sat down when there was a hurried knock on his door.

  “Come in,” Hiao Xen said.

  Dougie walked in, frowning but also with his fists clenched together. He held a report. He quickly closed the door behind him and walked to Hiao Xen’s desk.

  His unnatural expression focused his mind and he forgot his earlier peaceful thoughts.

  “Someone is stirring up trouble in Vuzgal. The craftsmen we hired through the associations, they are taking breaks and barely doing their work. The foremen mentioned the delays to me. Construction has essentially come to a halt. The work on the castle has stopped completely. Only the work on the workshops in the city has continued. There are people who are trying to renegotiate their contracts, applying pressure that they won’t keep working. Also, a high number of crafters have started bad-mouthing the Crafting trial dungeon, saying that it is not the best atmosphere to work in and that we are demanding too much. Others have left the workshops, saying that they’re subpar, but they’re still paying for their time so people can’t access the workshops even if they’re empty. They are saying that we don’t even have Expert-level crafters, so how can we say that we know anything about crafting. They’re saying that a council of crafters should be made because we are taking advantage of them. The crafters are hanging out in the bars and other places, bad-mouthing the people of Vuzgal.”

  “Who is behind this?” Hiao Xen asked. His relaxed expression from before had disappeared.

  “It looks like the Expert crafters who are close to Zhen Fu are the source of these issues. None of them have hidden their hands,” Dougie said.

  “Well, it looks like she really intends to go head-to-head with us.” Hiao Xen’s expression was complicated. “Collect the names of the people who are acting as their mouthpieces and those who are renting the workshops but not using them, as well as those who are exerting their influences for Zhen Fu. Do it over the next three days. I want all of the names.

  “Once we have them all, add in a new clause for the workshops. If someone rents a workshop
and they don’t show up, then their slot goes to someone else after ten minutes. If they appear but aren’t using the workshop or working on their own projects after twenty minutes, they’re to be kicked out. Also, people using the workshops must go through an interview. Independent or from an association or sect—it doesn’t matter. Make sure that they’re actually there to work. We can’t waste the time in our workshops. Work with the crafters we have pulled to our sides and use this as a recruitment. See how driven they are and check that their words meet with their actions before offering them a position within the Vuzgal Crafter’s Association.” Hiao Xen saw that Dougie’s face was strained.

  “What?”

  “There are a number of crafters who wish to increase their remuneration, or they will walk. Others have already left.”

  Hiao Xen stood, letting out an angry breath as he held his hands behind his back.

  This is something that I need Erik and Rugrat to make a final decision on. This could be seen as a test of my abilities. If I ask them for help at the first obstacle, won’t it look bad on me?

  “If they are willing to pay out their contract, let them. Our recruitment must not be that good if people are already willing to leave. Talk to the recruiters and express my displeasure. Make another recruiting department. Model it after the Vuzgal army’s recruiters. It doesn’t matter one’s level or their skill, only their dedication. The recruiters aren’t looking to just fill positions but people who live for their job. The army has veterans as recruiters as they have a sense and knowledge about who will make a good soldier and those who can be molded into one.

  “We should do the same with the crafters. Those we trust, we offer them a recruiter position. They can do that instead of teaching and they can get more resources to incentivize them and allow them to improve when they’re not dealing with recruiting. We should have a number of people for general crafting recruiting, then have recruiters for each of the different crafts we work with. Filter out the crap. If we only have five crafters instead of fifty, but those five are more determined, we aren’t wasting resources on those who will just leave at the least problem.”

  Dougie had pulled out a pad of paper and recorded down everything that Hiao Xen had said.

  “We have only been passively recruiting at this point. We should also have our recruiters go to different cities and see if they can’t draw in some independent crafters. Send them to the lower realms. If level and Experience isn’t an issue, as Erik and Rugrat have said, there are hundreds of people who would be willing to learn from us, especially with the ability to pay off their contract and the freedom to leave, instead of most sects that one is bound to, who then make all of their decisions for them. People there will be much more willing, though don’t tell them that we’re from the Fourth Realm. Just recruit them solely based on their interest in crafting.” Hiao Xen, pacing, felt a new energy fill him.

  “I feel like I might thank Zhen Fu by the end of this. It’s made me look at things differently. The outside influence will only filter out more people who are only wishing to use us and not give anything back. If they not only learn but help make products and support Vuzgal, then sending them on to learn more should be celebrated instead of those who learn and then are bought out by some group.”

  “There have also been a number of people who had left the Stone Fist sect who have expressed interest in settling down here,” Dougie said. His shock had calmed down and his mind was able to think of other items of interest.

  “We don’t discriminate. As long as one obeys the rules and doesn’t create trouble, they’re more than welcome to come to Vuzgal,” Hiao Xen said.

  “Yes, sir. Just wanted to check.”

  Hiao Xen smiled. It seemed that Dougie had seen through it, just as he had.

  “Make sure that all of those names are recorded. Get all of our ears in the city, from the Sky Reaching Restaurant and the Wayside Inns, crafting workshops and guards. I want to know just who we’re dealing with here.” Hiao Xen stopped his pacing.

  “I will have it done,” Dougie reported, straightening up. He felt his dismissal, bowing to Hiao Xen and leaving.

  Nothing is ever easy!

  Chapter: Lord Returns

  “Have fun and don’t make too much trouble,” Erik said as he shook Rugrat’s hand.

  “I’m interested to see what Matt and Hiao Xen have been up to while I’ve been gone,” Rugrat said. “Have fun in the Third Realm.”

  Erik nodded and Rugrat turned back to the forty or so people with him. There were people from every academy department represented. They would make up the core of the teaching staff.

  The academy’s construction was nearly complete, with the final touches taking only another week and a half before it was done.

  In a couple of months, a competition would be held among the departments. The winners of the contests would travel to Vuzgal or to the Division Headquarters in the Third Realm to expand their horizons. Everyone was working hard to get the opportunity to see these new places.

  The departments were filling up, with hundreds of people now attending the academy.

  Just the people we’re taking in is more than all of the students the academy had when it first opened.

  Rugrat looked at Tan Xue. “Ready?”

  “I’d be better prepared if you told me sooner,” She said darkly.

  Rugrat let out a forced laugh and looked to Taran who was coming with them to see Vuzgal. He would only be there for a few days before he needed to return to Alva and take over his old position as the smithing department head.

  Rugrat turned and accessed the totem.

  ==========

  You have reached Level 50, meeting the requirements to ascend to the Sixth Realm.

  ==========

  Do you wish to ascend?

  ==========

  YES/NO

  ==========

  His level hadn’t increased since he left Vuzgal, remaining at level fifty-seven, just a few levels ahead of Erik as he opened all of his mana gates and unlocked the Mana Gathering Cultivation stages, like the Body Cultivation.

  “Nope!” Rugrat went on to select Vuzgal.

  He winced at the amount of mana stones that were required and light enveloped them all. Alva disappeared as the noise of a growing city and a cool breeze rolled over them.

  The area where the other totem had been had already been turned into warehouses and sorting houses.

  There were people using the totem constantly, moving across the Fourth Realm and even on to other realms.

  Sky Reaching Restaurants pushed up into the sky and the castle had been fully repaired, looking nothing like it did when Rugrat had first seen it. The pillar stood above it all, looking down on the city.

  It was as if time had gone backward to before Vuzgal’s final war.

  Still, there is a lot more building that needs to be done. We’ve still got a lot of land to develop. What will this look like once we have people populating all of Vuzgal?

  “Move on, don’t clog up the totem!” a guard yelled. He wore the emblem of the Fighter’s Association, a bored expression on his face.

  Rugrat moved forward, leading the group. He was about to walk through the gates when a few guards stood in front of him.

  “Everyone has to pay the toll.” The woman’s eyebrows pinched together.

  “Be kind of dumb to pay myself,” Rugrat joked.

  The woman didn’t seem to think it was funny.

  “Uh, you don’t know who I am?”

  “Even Expert-level crafters have to pay the toll,” the woman said.

  Rugrat dug around in his storage rings. “One second,” he said as people started to get annoyed with the hold-up as the group milled around.

  “There you are.” Rugrat pulled out a medallion for Vuzgal.

  It was a simple round design, showing the inner city walls, topped with pillars for the mana barrier and the main castle with its pillar on top.

  The medallion was made
from mana stone and reinforced with a special gold. Most would have stars above the medallion. One star was the sign of Hiao Xen, while two stars were the heads of different controlling bodies within Vuzgal that managed the city.

  Rugrat’s didn’t have any stars on it.

  She took it and used an identification key on the medallion.

  Her expression changed as she quickly came out of the booth she was in and knelt on the ground, bowing to him.

  “City Lord, I am sorry for my grave mistake!” She held up the medallion.

  “No worries. I’ve been dealing with other things so I haven’t been around much.” Rugrat took the medallion as he laughed awkwardly and pulled her to her feet. “Keep up the good work.” He smiled.

  She cupped her hands and bowed. “Thank you, City Lord!” she said. Others looked over as Rugrat coughed at the scene.

  He waved for the guards to move aside. They did so and Rugrat scurried away before people could see his identity.

  I wanted to surprise Hiao Xen—how will I do that now?

  They left the totem and headed through the city.

  As soon as they were away from the totem, Taran and Tan Xue burst out into laughter. The others from Alva all smiled or chuckled.

  “What? I was busy with other things!” Rugrat complained.

  “The lady at the totem doesn’t even know who you are—you sure we’re in the right place?” Tan Xue snorted and put her hand on Rugrat’s shoulder to steady herself.

  Rugrat’s head sunk down, a nonplussed look on his face as he resigned himself to accept the word-based abuse.

  Rugrat took them toward the first crafting districts. There were people trying to work on the buildings but there were others just lying around the place, making it hard to have any progress and increasing the build time considerably.

  “These will be where the new tier-three workshops are built.” Rugrat frowned at the odd atmosphere as people moved around.

  “Maybe in three years’ time! If the city lords think that we will work on an unsafe jobsite, they’re kidding themselves! We’re worked to the bone. Only when they acknowledge their misdeeds will we renegotiate with them!” a worker said, overhearing them.