Shoe Sheng Lang (Bai Hu)

Slipping out of his hands, he took a step back and looked sternly at xiao.

— Stop fooling around, the most important thing now is to understand what is happening to you. Undress. I need to examine you and find out how far the process of changing your skin has gone.

Kofi

The game is in full swing. The Master obviously doesn't understand that such skin color is quite normal. He is in no hurry to reveal his secret, not wanting to miss the opportunity for fun. He doesn't even think about stopping fooling around. Realizing that he will have to undress anyway, he slowly began to untie his belt and snorted discontentedly, continuing to try.

— What kind of clothes are these, the maiden will have time to give birth while you take all this off.

Shoe Sheng Lang (Bai Hu)

— What are you making up? These are regular clothes.

After waiting for Kofi to undress, he frowned and walked around from all sides. Contrary to expectations, no blank spots were found. The whole body was the same color, except for the palms.

— Get dressed, let's go have breakfast. We're wasting too much time. Tell me about yourself on the way.

Kofi

Having assessed his body once again, he realized that it was gradually returning to the form it had in his previous incarnation. He had to strain himself greatly.

Putting on his robe, he looked at the master with despondency.

— I'll go like this. I still haven't learned how to put on these normal clothes of yours, — he emphasized the word sarcastically, — clothes. By the way, master, these are not normal clothes, but very uncomfortable. Why don't you worry about the sword and the adepts? Haven't you noticed how soundly they sleep?

Shoe Sheng Lang (Bai Hu)

He waved the question away. Even while they were at the fire, Sheng put two and two together. The unexpected general drowsiness was clearly caused by the magic of the song, but that would come later. Shaking his head, he approached and, abruptly yanking the robe off the young man, began to dress the young man, explaining what and how to put it on correctly, surprised that he had managed to lose this basic skill, in general. How much time had Kofi already spent in xiao?

Kofi

He had no desire to put on a bunch of clothes, and he stared at the master, who was painstakingly and for some completely incomprehensible reason smoothing out every fold.

— Why put all this on? Do you think I'll freeze in a robe? It's warm outside, we've already left the cold lands. Master, — he pointed to the uncomfortable clothes, — why are you all torturing yourselves like this?

The long sleeves reminded him of themselves, and he picked them up in his hands and handed them to the young man.

— And this is completely incomprehensible and inconvenient. Maybe I should cut them off?

Shoe Sheng Lang (Bai Hu)

Having decided to himself that later he would need to restore the rules of decency in the flute's memory - that he had previously known them, the spellcaster did not doubt - he still could not help but smile.

— You will get used to it, you once wore such clothes. It is not about the cold. Even mortals try to dress decently, to the best of their understanding and capabilities. And sleeves are not only beautiful, but also functional. Look, — tearing himself away from his work, he took a small jug of wine from his own sleeve and handed it to Kofi, — I think a couple of sips will not do any harm.

Kofi

He was about to object to the fact that, in the master's opinion, he had already worn something like this, but the latter made an even stranger statement about beauty. But as soon as he opened his mouth, he saw the jug. After standing for a while, he grabbed the young man's sleeve and, opening it, began to look out where he had taken this treasure from, confident that it was simply impossible not to notice it. Turning the fabric over in his hand, he decided to ask anyway:

— Where did you get it from? I didn't see it in your hand.

Shoe Sheng Lang (Bai Hu)

— From the sleeve. You saw, — he took the hairpin out of his hair, put it in his sleeve and looked at Kofi, returning to the activity interrupted by the dialogue, — you probably forgot what we can use them for.

Having tied the belt, he began to straighten the folds on the clothes - the outfit had to fit perfectly.

Kofi

His eyes widened, looking at the master's hands in an attempt to find the hairpin, he grabbed it and, turning it over, returned to studying the sleeve.

— What do you mean, forgot? I never knew, — he grinned, continuing his work without caring whether he was interfering or not, — what kind of miracles? Where did the hairpin go?

Shoe Sheng Lang (Bai Hu)

Shen frowned. It seems that a strange disease has affected not only the outside, but also the inside. He couldn't forget about something like that. All the inhabitants of the Shanlu have known about this secret pocket since early childhood.

— Kofi, the hairpin hasn't gone anywhere. It's quietly lying in the sizeless sleeve, — confirming his words, he took out the decoration and returned it to its place, — you can put anything you want there, and at the right moment it will always be at your fingertips. It's like a personal pantry that is always with you. Do you understand?

Kofi

Listening, he nodded his head in agreement, but then came the realization that, in fact, he had not understood anything. Opening the pocket in his sleeve, he took the knife from the table and put it there, then stuck his hand in and, feeling it there, took it out. He checked the sleeve again, but there was an empty pocket. Surprised at how it all happened, he appreciated the convenience. It felt small to the touch, the bottom could be felt, in theory a knife wouldn’t fit in there entirely, but the fact remains. Having played with it several times, he turned to the master:

— Can I put anything I want?

Shoe Sheng Lang (Bai Hu)

— Anything you want. I don't understand how you could forget about it? It's an essential attribute of every sorcerer's clothing, — he looked closely into the still bright eyes again. It was encouraging, but not very much. Sighing, he asked, — Do you remember anything about yourself

Kofi

Busy with his sleeve, he completely forgot about the game he had planned and, shoving the jug that the master had offered him earlier into his pocket, he answered without thinking:

— Master, I remember everything perfectly well. But where I come from, no one wears anything like this, and there are no sleeves like this. Both mortals and spellcasters wear comfortable clothes, — he put the wine away and, looking at the young man with admiration, continued, spreading out his seemingly empty pocket, — really, this is incredibly comfortable.

Shoe Sheng Lang (Bai Hu)

Having suppressed the first desire to be indignant, he decided to ask anyway. Of course, he knew that other lands existed, but he had never come across any records about it. And none of the spellcasters he knew ever told him about having visited any other places.

— Tell me about the place you are from.

Kofi

Kofi smiled, hearing the words. The planned game failed. Busy with his sleeve, he was distracted and answered the question:

— It's very hot there. But don't think, like the sword, that I'm charred, I was born like this and my parents are like this. I saw a white man for the first time, already being in Xiao. Our lands were attacked, and my master died, and a white man picked me up. I was surprised, but I understood his speech and we agreed on service. I was with him for a long time, but at death he gave me to you, and you never called me. Otherwise, you would know my appearance and would not be surprised now, — he spread his hands with a smile, — I would have told you right away, but you had such a reaction that I decided to play. You are so funny with Shin Su.

Shoe Sheng Lang (Bai Hu)

He looked at the young man doubtfully, of course, in different parts of the world anything could happen, but... the palms were still white. Although, perhaps, with time they would also change color, like everything else.

— Let's assume that everything is as you say. And now, let's go. Or does food no longer bother you? — smiling faintly, he repeated the question, — tell me about that song you sang.

Kofi

Following the master, he thought. It was surprising, did he really doubt that his artifact was foreign? Well, okay, now it’s true that eating is more important.

— Master, this is a regular lullaby, everyone is just sleeping like babies. But they will wake up soon. The time of effect depends on personal strength, however, only after I stop singing, — rubbing his hands, he sat down by the pot, — it smells delicious.

Shoe Sheng Lang (Bai Hu)

He looked at the food and looked around.

— So that's how it is. Start eating, — having found what he wanted, he picked up one of the empty bowls and banged on it with the ladle.

— Get up, you slackers!

Holding back a smile, he assumed a menacing look and, with pleasure watching the adepts jump up with a confused look, he looked for the sword with his eyes.

— Quickly, everyone, have breakfast and hit the road!

Shin Su

Waking up to a loud noise was not a pleasant experience, and it felt like not only he, but everyone else was sleeping too. Shin Su quickly got himself together, and like a guilty dog, sat down next to the master, trying to figure out at what point he fell asleep. He was distracted from his thoughts by a bowl with a terrible smell, but the taste was even worse. Spitting out and drinking a jug of water, in an attempt to wash it down, he saw that the adepts, like children, rushed to try what disgusting thing they had prepared today.

Nobody ever got to eat. And everyone came to the conclusion that the strange drowsiness and long cooking turned the food into liquid fire. It seemed that only xiao did not pay attention to the disgusting taste. But, apparently, his internal fire is so great that he does not even notice such things.

Looking sadly at Kofi, Shin Su helped the adepts collect provisions and began to equip the horse.

Shoe Sheng Lang (Bai Hu)

Having spat out the disgusting brew, he went to the horse, washing down the nasty taste with a good sip of wine on the way. When everyone was almost ready, his gaze caught on an unusual picture. Kofi was shoving his stallion's head into his sleeve for some reason. That would have been nothing, but then he came up behind him. Having already taken the first step towards the couple, Sheng stopped and watched for a while as xiao tried to shove the horse's butt into the sleeve.

— What are you doing? — approaching, he put his hand on his shoulder, attracting attention.

Kofi

The master distracted him at the most inopportune moment, it seemed that with a little more effort the job would be done. He exhaled heavily, lowered his hand and looked at the young man.

— What do you mean? I want to hide the horse in my sleeve. I'm not tired. While I'm walking, she'll be able to rest a bit more, — he looked around and asked, — am I doing something wrong? She doesn't want to enter with her head.

Shoe Sheng Lang (Bai Hu)

He sighed heavily and shook his head, foreseeing the upcoming difficulties.

— You can't put a horse in a sleeve. And anyway, how did such an idea come to you? Especially since we are not going to go at a walking pace. So stop torturing the animal and get ready for the road, — he looked at the sky with displeasure, — we have already been here too long.

Kofi

It seemed that the master was not going to clarify why it was impossible to put a horse in a sleeve. Oh well. Putting the question aside for later, the young man continued packing. For some reason, no one liked the porridge, which was surprising. At one time, everyone who managed to try Kofi's food ate it with pleasure. Shrugging his shoulders at this thought, he decided that this riddle could also wait. There was too much to learn and get to know right now. He cursed three times in his mind until he was able to climb onto the horse in these uncomfortable clothes. Having gotten tangled in the hem several times, he finally overcame the heavy fabric. Soon the entire detachment set off and hesitantly stretched out along the road.