Where are the other? Rein looking around.

He put his disguise and went downstairs. His friends were in the middle of having a breakfast.

"Morning Rein." greeted Eleanor.

"Mam, extra dumpling please.." Rose raised her hand.

"Where's Cade, Garland, and Fabian?" Rein asked.

"They are outside, helping Fabian fixing the bed.." said Dianna “Laylah is with them..”

"Here you go son.." the owner handed him a wooden tray filled with steamed dumpling and a bowl of noddle.

"Thank you, mam. Oh! i'll pay for today's fee."

"You can stay as long as you like my dear.."

"Eh?"

"Your friend was really helpful to us," She smiled before went back to the kitchen to steamed more dumplings.

"Fabian healed her back pain and her daughter coughing," Eleanor explained.

"Apparently the cost of visiting a doctor is 500 shilinq.." Rose added.

"500?" he appalled.

“That only for a quick check up by the way..” Sierra waving her chopsticks "Medicine might cost even more.."

"Doctors are rare in this country.."

"I see.."

Rein quickly finishing his noodle and the dumplings before went outside to find the other. They were at the yard, fixing not only bed, but also other furniture, although Fabian wasn't with them.

"Boss!" Garland called.

"Why are you fixing all those furniture?" he asked "and where's Fabian?"

"The owner daughter asked us to fix the furniture in the house.." Kincade shook his head "and Rose forced us to obliged.."

"Fab went around to do some check up around here.." Garland mumbled

Rein saw Fabian returning. “How is it?” he asked.

"Everyone should be fine now.."

"Good then, now help us fixing your mess. Boss, you help too.."

 

It took them quite a while to fixed everything. When they were done it was already afternoon. They left the bar and went to their stall

"Rein, i need to go back to our ship," said Sierra "Last night i told Asha to make more merchandise.."

"Isn't returning to our ship take days?"

"She already sent it with drones, she dropped it not far from here.. maybe only half a day.." she looked at Garland "I'm going to need you and Deedee."

"Okay," said Garland.

"I'll help too," Dianna smiled.

Sierra made a weird expression "Alright.." she sighed.

"I'll go with you," said Kincade.

Sierra shook her head "no need.."

"You sure? what if that bandit appears again?"

"Relax.. I’m with them,” said Garland.

The three left to the stable. While waiting for them to returned, seeing the sign now said the festival area was open to public at noon, they decided to opened their stall and sell what's left of their inventory. As soon as they opened their stall, the locals and merchants quickly gathered to buy their stuffs.

While they were busy dealing with the locals, Rein noticed several palace guards rushed towards them, telling the crowd to move aside. The guards glared at them for a while before informing them they were summoned by the emperor.

“His majesty the emperor is interested with your unique pottery.”

Rein was skeptical seeing the guards don’t seemed friendly, but he complied as to not angered the emperor. The Guards told them that only the men allowed to entered the palace.

“Rein.. I have a bad feeling..” Eleanor whispered.

"It seems they are not interested with our stuffs," said Rose.

“It will be alright..” he replied. He grabbed their most intricate vase.

They were escorted to the palace by the guards. Some of them stayed with the girls.

 

At the palace gate entrance, they were greeted by a man with funny hat, he’s one of the minister. They followed the minister walking through a large garden where they could see six gates with different iconography. Rein asked the minister about the gates but was ignored. He led them to the gate with a spiral horn iconography. When the gate opened, he was astonished seeing the green palace up close. It shone brightly under the dimmed sky. There was a wall with carving of the five holy animals bowing at the spiral horns creature.

“Wait a minute..” said Kincade “That spiral horn creature.. it looks like-”

“I see.. their intention-” said Fabian

"Oh no.." Rein groaned.

The minister told them to entered the palace. When they were inside, several people was already waiting them. The emperor sat on the tallest throne made of the same green stone, a man that looked exactly like the emperor stood beside him. Behind them were the ladies from yesterday and the butterfly girl.

"The minister informed me that mere commoner dare to catch the holy Qirlin, and treated them like a pack mule!" shouted the man beside the emperor.

"Deedee is the holy-" asked Kincade.

Rein bowed to the Emperor "We- i am sorry your majesty, we are from a kingdom further south, we don-"

The Emperor glared at him and raised his hand. The guards restrained Rein and forced him to kneel, however they were unable to restrained Fabian and Kincade. To not further angering the emperor, Rein told them to followed the order. Both nodded and knelt beside him.

The man beside the Emperor inquired him to threw them to the dungeon and publicly executed them as a warning for defiling the symbol of the royal family. The Emperor however despite furious, seemed hesitant giving them the capital punishment.

"My great emperor.." the butterfly girl stood up from her seat "please have mercy-"

"They defile our royal family symbol!" the man grinned.

"If an emperor impulsively executed foreigner because they are not familiar with our culture, our people will-"

“Your majesty! Brother, there are no crime more heinous than defiling the symbol of our family!”

The Emperor raised his hand to stopped his brother and the butterfly girl. He seemed conflicted and kept glancing at the old lady with butterfly iconography. She just stared back at him with calculating expression.

"Even the great empress agreed with me, brother!" he smiled "Guards! sent them to the dungeon! And bring their female companion here!"

The butterfly girl was about to protested, but she suddenly slumped onto her chair, everyone was surprised. The Emperor's eyes widen and ran to the girl. The girl was really pale and hyperventilating.

“Should we use this chance escape?” whispered Kincade.

The Emperor shouted "Guards! Call- summon doctor Tosho!"

one of the guard hurriedly left the room.

Rein said "Your majesty! if i may-"

"What are you waiting for!” the brother yelled at the guards “throw them into the dungeon!"

"Wait your majesty! my companion here," gesturing at Fabian "Is a renowned doctor in our kingdom!"

The palace went silent. The Emperor stared at them suspiciously, however one of the guard informed the minister about a rumor of a strange doctor in a Guorong costume treating the citizen whenever he goes, even the patient with severe illness was miraculously recovered.

"Surely you don’t believe that baseless rumor," said the brother.

The guard returned with the really old frail looking man carrying a bag full of herbs. He must be the doctor Rein thought. They watched him checking the girl pulse while grinding the herbs. He asked the girl to inhaled the powder, however it only worsen the situation. The doctor tried everything he could but none seemed working.

Fabian stood up and approached them. The guards tried to stop him. Rein and Kincade butted in and wrestled with the guards allowing Fabian to past through. The emperor drew his sword, but Fabian ignored him and knelt beside the girl to checked on her before examining the herbs and started grinding it.

“What are you doing!?” the doctor squealed “That herb is for- someone stop him!”

Fabian told the girl to inhaled the powder, although Rein saw him swiftly injecting a medicine to the girl’s upper arm with his other hand while the other were distracted by the powder. In just a few seconds, the girl calmed down and opened her eyes, although she still looked pale.

Everyone was appealed, the doctor looked like about to lose his mind while the emperor was relieved. Rein noticed the brother and the dragonfly girl don’t seemed happy with the butterfly girl recovery.

"How did you do that?" the doctor perplexed “That’s impossible! A herb for mild stomachache!?”

“It only temporarily alleviate her,” said Fabian. He bowed to the Emperor "Your majesty, I inquire you to pardon us, in exchange i will do my best to heal the princess-"

The Emperor quickly granted it and waved at the guards to let them go. Fabian bowed to the emperor once more before went back to Rein and Kincade.

"I have to stay here for few days," said Fabian "Rein, please get my equipment from our ship.. check your watch, i will sent you a list of item i need.."

"Okay, I’ll help you later after getting your equipment," said Rein.

"Do not worry about me," Fabian replied.

“Are you sure?” asked Kincade.

“Yes,” he said before returning to the girl and asked the Emperor to prepared a secluded room.

The doctor was eager to learned about Fabian’s technique, but he kindly told the doctor that his technique was passed down by his master before him and a guarded secret which shocked the doctor. The poor old doctor kept pleading until the Emperor sent him away. He threw a tantrum like a child while being escorted by the guars. The emperor ordered the other guard to prepared a room and told the attendant to helped carrying the butterfly girl there. Fabian left with attendant leaving Rein and Kincade. The Emperor stared at them before ordering the guards to escorted them from the palace.

They bowed to the Emperor and followed the guards. When they left the palace gate they were surprised to see Eleanor, Rose and Laylah were waiting for them there.

"Rein! Kincade! You two alright?" Eleanor worried "The guards tried to apprehend us."

"But Laylah kicked their butts!" Rose waving her fist "You should have seen her, she's awesome!"

"Good work.." Kincade patted Laylah's head which made her blushed.

"Uh.. where's Fabian?" Eleanor looking around.

“Oh yeah! he’s not here, where is he?” Rose asked.

"He stayed at the palace, to treat that girl."

Eleanor and Rose were shocked. Rein told them about the situation.

"He asked to get his equipment from the ship, hopefully Garland is still on the way.." he contacted Garland with his watch.

"What is it boss?" replied Garland.

"Where are you?" Rein asked.

"We are returning to the palace-" said Garland.

"I need you to return to our ship, Fabian requested to fetch his equipment, i’ll sent you the list-"

"What? why?"

"He’s is currently treating that sick girl. By the way, also return Deedee back to his herd."

"Eh? Who’s pulling the cart then?"

"Use our transport craft, but try land on a place far from the locals. Anyway return Deedee, we don’t want to get into more trouble, and don’t forget Fabian's equipment, hurry.."

"What do you mean trouble?” he asked.

“I’ll tell you later..”

“Uh.. Okay, boss.."

"What is it Gar?" he heard Sierra asking before turning off the comm.

Rein looking at his friends "let's wait for them at our stall.."

"Wait! before that, let's find something to eat, I’m starving..” said Kincade.

"Yeah all those intensity makes me hungry," Rose elated.

"How about the noodle stall yesterday, it's delicious.." Kincade suggested.

"The one we had the competition?" said Rose "it's closed.."

"Eh?"

"You see.. when Laylah sent the guards flying, on of them landed on that stall, destroying it.. and it's not the only one getting destroyed.."

"We gave them our coins for compensation.." said Eleanor.

Laylah lowered her head. But Kincade cheered her up, saying he's proud of her.

"But that steamed cake stall still opened," Eleanor suggested "Shall we eat there?"

"A cake? Oh well..” Kincade sighed.

Rein chuckled "Okay.."

 

“There they are,” Rose waved at Garland who just entering the town square, pulling a carriage behind him; Sierra and Dianna were on the carriage.

"Boss!" he called.

Rein and the others helped pushing the cart to their stall. Dianna and Sierra hopped out from the carriage.

“Here you go,” said Dianna, handing Rein a cloth bag.

“What is this?” he was confused looking at it.

“It’s Fabian’s equipment..” Dianna tilting her head “What else?”

“Oh i see.. thanks.”

“I disguised it,” Sierra crossing her hands smugly.

Rein contacted Fabian. He told him he will be waiting for them at the palace gate. Rein ran to the gate along with Kincade. He gave the bag to Fabian.

"How's the girl?" he asked.

"She is fine, for now..”

“What kind of sickness?” Kincade wondered.

Fabian shook his head “With this-" Fabian clutching the bag "i can examine her more thoroughly.."

"You sure you don’t need help?"

"I will let you know if i need help," Fabian went back inside.

They walked back to the stall. As soon as they finished putting their stuffs, again the locals quickly surrounded them. Some of them asked about the incident with the guards.

“Calm down people!” Kincade waving his hands “Watch out for that vase!”

“Maybe we should raise the price a bit?” Sierra suggested.

“Let it be..” Rein replied.

“Hey! Isn’t that the minister?” Kincade looking at the podium.

The minister announced that tonight sky lamp event will be delayed until further notice from the Emperor.