Interesting, Cha Ming said. Then he frowned. Was that a munching sound? Huxian, do I hear you eating snacks through our bond?
I’m on vacation, Huxian said.
And is that arguing? Cha Ming asked.
Huxian sighed. It’s those two bickering ladies that are the problem. But hey, let’s not focus on my problems. Let’s talk about you. What are you doing next?
I’m going to find myself a teacher, Cha Ming replied. Any tips?
I recommend setting yourself on fire, Huxian said.
Cha Ming rolled his eyes and made his way through the streets. He ran into a few showboating phoenixes, so he was forced to slap a few faces. On the ninth and final floor, the buildings were much shorter. The tallest had three stories, but many only had a single floor. Despite the ceiling hanging a good hundred meters overhead, it was still the shortest floor with the least amount of room to waste. Yet all around him, Cha Ming saw the same glass decorations and colors, and even parks with trees. An elaborate waterfall system had been built into the tower, and it trickled down from the top at several locations. Cleverly arranged pieces of tinted glass and clever lighting made every single one of them a spectacle.
It didn’t take long for Cha Ming to track the smokestacks and the vents that led outside the spire. A whole quarter of the entire floor was devoted to the two fire-based crafts of alchemy and spiritual blacksmithing. As for which one was which, it was obvious from the metal-on-metal noises on the one side and the toxic smoke on the other.
Cha Ming walked through narrow cobblestone streets flanked by one-story workshops. They were mostly made of stone, and every roof was made of some sort of glazed tile. He made his way to a central administrative building where a confused member of the Phoenix Clan looked him up and down. Her plumage was red, and her station obviously low.
“A human,” she said. “How interesting to see one up here. They usually don’t let those past the eighth floor.”
“Apologies,” Cha Ming said. “I was instructed by the First Feather to seek an alchemy mentor, and I’m really not sure how things work around here.”
The woman paled at the mention of the First Feather. “Yes, yes, of course! Um…” She looked around nervously. “And you are some sort of prodigy?”
“I’m just a beginner,” Cha Ming said. Her expression fell. “Sorry.”
“Not a problem, not a problem,” she said, nervously looking around and flipping through some papers. “Let me just see who’s looking. That’d be the place to start, yes. I keep these here, these profiles in case someone comes to show off their latest experiments. Um…” She picked up a sheet of paper and tossed it to the side. “Nope. Definitely not. Hates humans. I’d rather kill myself than recommend her.” She did this sheet by sheet, throwing most to the side until only three sheets were left.
“These elders are the only ones currently looking for apprentices,” the receptionist said. “You need to go to their personal workshops and greet them yourself. And usually a gift is involved, and… I really don’t know how you’d go about this.”
“Of these three,” Cha Ming said, “who has the most students?”
“That’d be Elder Iridescent Smoke,” the woman said. “They say he’ll take just about anyone, though to be fair, the standards here are quite high. By ‘anyone,’ they mean one of the more promising students from the academy.”
“The academy…” Cha Ming said.
“Right, you might not know about the academy,” she said. “Um. So you don’t have qualifications?”
“No?” Cha Ming said hesitantly.
“Never a dull moment in this job,” she said. “One day it’s twelve students picketing outside Old Smokey’s door, and the next it’s a stray cat terrorizing the city.”
Cha Ming glanced up and was surprised to see a poster showing a black-and-white cat wanted dead or alive. Or was that dead and alive? The writing was smudged. The feline bore a resemblance to Mr. Mao Mao, but he dismissed the possibility.
She cleared her throat. “Right, you probably don’t care about that, do you? Humans like cats. Let me see… The one with the least number of students is Elder Iridescent Charity. She’s got the best students too. Your last option would be Iridescent Torch.”
“I’ve noticed a lot of people have iridescent as part of their name,” Cha Ming said.
The receptionist’s eyes widened. “Of course! Why wouldn’t they? They’re heaven’s chosen. Phoenixes who’ve achieved five burnings and iridescence all have iridescent as part of their names.”
“Right,” Cha Ming said. Another part of Phoenix society. He grabbed the three papers. “So these are my only options?”
“Yes, unless someone takes particular interest,” she said. “I don’t know. Just… knock on doors and hope someone doesn’t kill you on the spot or a cauldron doesn’t blow up in your face. If you’re lucky, you’ll stumble into someone willing to take you.”
“Thank you,” Cha Ming said. “I think.” He walked out of the building feeling even more confused. Fortunately, the profiles contained a picture and some sort of address. He just needed to find them. No problem, right?
Cha Ming ran out of Old Smokey’s workshop coughing and wheezing, doing his best to expel the medley of half-burnt alchemical ingredients from his lungs. The burning in his eyes and lungs made him wonder whether Elder Iridescent Smoke had chosen his lordly title or whether it had been forced upon him. Five-colored smoke oozed from all entrances of the building as, one by one, Iridescent Smoke’s horde of students escaped, some of them clutching their juniors and others salvaging important, smoke-sensitive equipment.
“Definitely not,” Cha Ming muttered. He’d been in the workshop for all of five minutes, and in that time, he’d noticed a mess of books, drinks, and food scattered all around, and open beakers kept next to unprotected flames. The place was loud and raucous, and very undisciplined. Iridescent Smoke had been the one giving the demonstration that had resulted in this disaster. So, after making some brief excuses and promising to come back later, Cha Ming extricated himself. He followed directions to the next workshop.
Iridescent Torch has six disciples, Cha Ming thought. Not as many as Iridescent Smoke but more than Iridescent Charity. Perhaps there was something to be said for being selective about one’s disciples.
Iridescent Torch’s workshop was mid-sized, not as large as Iridescent Smoke’s, but well-painted and decorated. She definitely cared more about her reputation than Iridescent Smoke did, at any rate.
The door opened as Cha Ming knocked on it. It hadn’t been locked, or even properly closed, so he let himself in. Inside, he found three female members of the Iridescent Clan mixing ingredients in cauldrons within the confines of protective formations. One of them was a peak initiate, and the others middle initiates.
“Like what you’re seeing?” a voice asked.
Cha Ming saw that a Phoenix Clan elder had appeared at the back of the room. “You must be Elder Iridescent Torch,” Cha Ming said, noting her iridescent feathering. He bowed. “I come with the recommendation of the First Feather. I was wondering if you would consider taking me as an apprentice.”
Everyone in the room froze. The three who had been so focused on their alchemy stopped mid-process, letting precious ingredients burn away. Iridescent Torch let out a piercing cackle, and everyone in the room followed suit and laughed.
“That is quite possibly the funniest thing I’ve heard in a decade,” Iridescent Torch said. “Most know that I only teach women, though I do get the occasional audacious man to beg on his hands and knees. But a human male? I’ve never heard of someone so brave. Or so foolish.”
“I’ve come with the recommendation of the First Feather,” Cha Ming said again weakly.
“Like I care what that old harridan wants?” Iridescent Torch said. Then her eyes flickered to her peak-initiate apprentice. She grinned. “I’ll tell you what, however: Defeat my apprentice in an alchemical flame duel, and I’ll consider taking you on.
”
“All right,” Cha Ming said cautiously. “What are the rules of engagement?”
“You’ll start off with a weakened flame and increase its power until your opponent can no longer resist,” Iridescent Torch said. “No limit breaks. Flame techniques are allowed.”
Flame techniques? Cha Ming wondered. He didn’t have those, but there was no way her apprentice could be as strong as Iridescent Virtue. “Very well, I accept,” Cha Ming said.
“Must I?” her apprentice asked, severing her link with her cauldron.
“Iridescent Smile, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Iridescent Torch said. “A talent among talents has offered to test your meager skills. Don’t underestimate him. You’ll regret it if you do.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I see. I won’t disappoint you, Master.”
Cha Ming suddenly had a bad feeling about this.
“Apprentices, clear the floor,” Iridescent Torch said.
They stepped away, and the workbenches moved at the elder’s command, leaving only Iridescent Smile and Cha Ming in the center of the room. Iridescent Torch powered up a formation that would shield others in the room from their battle. Compared to Iridescent Smoke, Iridescent Torch was organized and prepared. She was arrogant, but it was a flaw he would forgive in a competent teacher.
“Please take it easy on me,” Cha Ming said with a bow.
“I wouldn’t dare,” Iridescent Smile replied, returning a nod instead of a bow. A worrying sign. She clearly thought him below her notice.
They both summoned their flames, Cha Ming’s tiny and gray, hers the same size and iridescent. He could tell at a glance that it was frighteningly powerful. He wasn’t sure how it would compare to Iridescent Virtue’s, but at this level, it beat out his own. Had he bitten off more than he could chew?
No, Cha Ming thought. Worst case, I’ll forfeit. Their flames grew in sync. They pushed and shoved, with neither giving an inch, but the more they grew, the more they drained their users.
Several minutes passed before finally, it became clear that Cha Ming couldn’t defeat her. Her flame overtook his. “I yield,” Cha Ming said, retracting his flame. But to his surprise, hers only grew hotter. “I said I yield!”
She ignored him, and he could only summon his flame to resist. The large iridescent fire forced him backward until he bumped into the formation’s edge, which, instead of letting him through, stopped him.
“He’s stronger than he looks, Master!” Iridescent Smile said with an evil grin.
“Don’t hold back, then!” Iridescent Torch answered.
She’s trying to kill me, Cha Ming realized. Her flames intensified, and they transformed into a large iridescent phoenix. A flame technique, he guessed. Cha Ming gritted his teeth and summoned his domain to strengthen his defenses. Unfortunately, he couldn’t block out all the heat. His skin began to blister and burn, and while his body healed him, it was excruciatingly painful.
“Master, he’s broken the rules!” Iridescent Smile said in a panicked voice. “What should I do?”
“You need to defend yourself, of course,” Iridescent Torch said.
Cha Ming’s eyes narrowed as the flames intensified, threatening to consume him. They licked at his body, but fortunately, he wasn’t completely helpless. He had his seldom-used lesser-elemental-affinity technique. He was fire, and fire was he. His physique transformed, merging with the flame element and slowing it.
“Enough,” Cha Ming said. “I admit defeat.”
“Master, he’s too strong!” Iridescent Smile said. She activated her dominion and drew power from the nearby Five Fire Mountain Range.
“I said enough!” Cha Ming bellowed. He erupted with his fourfold domain, and two pairs of white wings burst out. He summoned the Clear Sky Staff in pillar form, stabbing it forward. It smashed into her chest, forcing her into the shielding formation, which held for a split second before shattering. He banished the Clear Sky Staff just in time to see her fly into a shelf full of alchemical ingredients. “Enough.”
“You dare harm one of my direct disciples?” Iridescent Torch said, her eyes glowing. She summoned a suit of iridescent armor, and all around her, the environment transformed. Cha Ming blinked, and before he could react, she summoned a violet cauldron and hurled it at him. It caught him in the chest, smashing bones and burning away his vitality stores with iridescent fire. He smashed through the door and landed outside the workshop, and she flew out, wings alight with living fire.
“You don’t want to fight me,” Cha Ming said, summoning the Clear Sky Staff once again. He summoned the Crown of the Starry Sky and the Clockwork Boots of the Golden Dragon.
“You dare come to my workshop and attack my students?” Iridescent Torch said. “I’ll teach you a lesson you’ll never forget.”
“I attacked no one until your disciple tried to burn me alive unprovoked,” Cha Ming said. All around them, phoenixes were gathering.
“Ah, there you are,” said a familiar voice behind Cha Ming. “I see I didn’t make it in time. I was going to warn you against asking her for an apprenticeship.”
“Iridescent Virtue,” Cha Ming said with a nod as the Iridescent Phoenix clansman approached. “You should probably get back. This could get ugly.”
“I don’t believe Iridescent Torch will fight us,” Iridescent Virtue said calmly.
“Stay out of this, Iridescent Virtue,” Elder Iridescent Torch said. “Juniors should stay out of my affairs.”
Iridescent Virtue smiled. “Just so,” he said. “You are an esteemed elder, and I a mere junior. Clear Sky here is my colleague, also presumably a junior when not acting in his capacity as envoy of the Star-Eye Clan. So is the supposedly wounded Iridescent Smile, though I’m sure that with her strong body, she would be able to withstand a single strike from a mere human. Or am I mistaken?”
“You!” Iridescent Torch said with a snarl. She looked around. Then, seeing the audience they’d attracted, she stowed her cauldron and withdrew her armor. “It is as you say. You are both nothing. He merely took my apprentice by surprise with an underhanded strike. We won’t abase ourselves further by dealing with you lot.”
“But, Master!” Iridescent Smile said, picking herself up from the rubble.
“Enough!” she said, then glared at the onlooking Phoenix clansmen. “What are you all looking at?”
They scattered. She then shut the door, leaving the burned and wounded Cha Ming outside. His vitality was overworking itself to heal him, though it was having a hard time with the wounds inflicted by Iridescent Torch. Dao scars from an investiture-realm demon were nothing to scoff at.
“Are you all right?” Iridescent Virtue asked.
“I’m fine,” Cha Ming said, putting away his staff and withdrawing his domain and his wings. “They just took me by surprise.”
“They don’t like humans,” Iridescent Virtue agreed. “Or men, for that matter. Plus, it takes a lot to shame them. You’re lucky Elder Iridescent Smoke had his accident, and so many of his disciples were here to watch.”
“Nice trick,” Cha Ming said. “Abasing us to make her look like a bully if she acted and downplaying my attack to save Iridescent Smile face.”
“They would lose much if they acted,” Iridescent Virtue agreed. “I take it by your ruined attire and your burns that you still have not found a master?”
“I was intending to inquire with Elder Iridescent Charity next,” Cha Ming said.
“Ah,” Iridescent Virtue said. “Master is out at the moment, and she won’t be returning until tomorrow. You’d have to try again then. Though…” He hesitated. “I do not think you have a chance at being accepted.”
“I see,” Cha Ming said. “Is there a reason? Does she dislike humans as well?” He was starting to see how the demons in the Burning Lake Prefecture might feel.
“Nothing like that,” Iridescent Virtue reassured. “She often speaks to humans. She has human friends. It’s only… her alchemical arts are special. They are b
ased on the principles of iridescent fire, and no human that I have ever met has been able to muster the required amount of iridescence in their natural flames to meet her standards.”
“I could try,” Cha Ming said.
Iridescent Virtue winced. “I’m not very good at this. Come, walk with me.”
Cha Ming did so. They left behind the gawkers and the jeerers and left the elder workshops behind. Others gave them a wide berth as they walked, though he wasn’t sure if that had to do with his exchange with Iridescent Torch or if it was just that Iridescent Virtue was that well-respected.
“As I was saying, it is not a matter of trying,” Iridescent Virtue said. “Some humans manage to gain a hint of iridescence, yes. We make pills to aid in this all the time. They’re popular among human alchemists, for iridescence, once gained, stays and helps with flame control and power. The problem is that humans have human bloodlines. There are no iridescent god bloodlines or special physiques. Even splicing the Iridescent Clan’s bloodline, as monstrous as that would be, would fail to give a satisfactory effect. Even when you look within our clan, it would be impossible to produce a rich enough flame without undergoing all five burnings.”
“You mean that all four of your apprentice brothers and sisters are fully iridescent clansmen?” Cha Ming asked.
“They’re all apprentice sisters, but yes,” Iridescent Virtue said. “I’m sorry. I could recommend you, but I don’t see how it will do you much good. I like you, and I don’t want to see you fail.”
“I see,” Cha Ming said. “You wouldn’t happen to have a solution, would you?”
“In fact, I do have something in mind,” Iridescent Virtue said. “I came to find you when someone alerted me that you’d gone to see Iridescent Smoke, and I worried you might bother Iridescent Torch. I’m happy you survived insulting her, by the way. My master will be happy to hear the story.”
“Bad blood?” Cha Ming asked.
“Like you wouldn’t believe,” Iridescent Virtue said.
The young Phoenix clansman brought Cha Ming to the tower’s back wall. North and south were confusing in the circular city, so Cha Ming gave up on traditional bearings. There were youngsters here, many as young as ten, but some as old as twelve or thirteen. They all carried books and jade tablets in their arms and small packs on their backs.
Claddings of Light : Book 12 of Painting the Mists Page 14