The inside of the temple is just as dingy as the outside of the temple. The floor is still hard packed earth, but with a layer of straw over the top and a small rug to sit upon. In the middle of the room is a square table made simply with no ornamentation. After an inspection it’s clear that this is a newly made piece of furniture and the only piece of furniture in the room. Against one wall is a sleeping mat that only has one pillow and one ratty blanket atop it. The only other objects in the room are candles and a vase of flowers, both of these things are placed on the middle of the table to help brighten up the room.

With four people inside space quickly becomes cramped, but no one complains. Sae goes about lighting extra candles while he rambles in his usual way. “I still can’t believe I forgot to put in windows. I got the whole place up off the ground, walked inside and it was completely dark. Oh well, it’s temporary anyway. As soon as I get enough money saved I’ll hire some carpenters to build a bigger temple for me. I still need a shrine as well.” As he lights the last candle he sits down properly and looks Coda on directly, “Are we fighting for the mountain or are you going to be sensible and give it to me?”

Coda is shocked by the bluntness of these words and also rather confused. Truthfully, he doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do in this situation. He sits there and ponders on it. If it had been anyone else besides Sae he would quickly agree to a fight, but it is Sae and fighting him feels amoral. He looks to Trae for guidance, but Trae is still in shock and sits there numbly watching his little brother.

Seeing his two friends at an impasse Hona speaks up. “I like the lanterns you hung up around the temple.” He makes quiet conversation to give the other two time with their thoughts.

Sae’s grin broadens, “Oh, those. Aye, all the moms and their children brought them up.”

“And the flowers outside are very pretty.”

“Aye, those are from the aunties and sisters.”

“And what earned you such affectionate gifts?”

The smile on Sae’s face never wavers, but his eyes shifts to Coda and in a sterner voice answers. “I believe it was in thanks for clearing out the dozens of monsters and evil spirits that have been haunting this mountain for years.”

Coda winces and tries to explain, “Aye, my family left this mountain to become wild, but that’s because it’s so far from the main temple and anyway the Aira clan are so close that if any big monsters showed up they’d handle it.”

Sae snorts at these excuses, “Well, if it’s such an inconvenience to maintain than my taking it should be considered a favor. You’ll owe me in the future now.”

Hona ducks his head to hide the smirk. If there had been any doubts before there surely aren’t any now. Only Sae could steal a mountain and also exhort a favor from the person he stole it from at the same time.

Coda sits there in shock. “That’s…” Words completely fail him and still he is unsure whether to fight Sae or to leave him be.

After a short silence Trae finally speaks up. “Why are you wearing a glamor?” The glamor does not detract from the truth that this is Sae, and Trae is aware of this, but upon inspecting his brother he can’t help but be made aware of it. Any normal person would miss it completely, but as these three are cultivators it is easy for them to see it.

Sae lightly touches the half of his face that he keeps covered up with a spell. “So as to not frighten the villagers.” He explains. “Humans are so fussy about appearances you know. No one back home ever cared that I was half human, but here in the Lightlands my appearance would probably cause quite the scare.” He laughs, but no one laughs with him.

“The fuck you mean by ‘back home?’” Trae scowls. “Where the fuck have you been for the past fifteen years?”

Sae is unbothered by his older brother’s hostility, he simply rolls his eyes and answers, “Obviously I’ve been in the Shadowlands. There isn’t really anywhere else to be besides here or there. If there was a third option I would gladly have chosen it over here.”

Now here the three cultivators are struck dumb, but only because the terms he uses—shadowland and lightland—are only vaguely understood by them. These words are ones that are still well known to the gods, but have been forgotten by the humans. Any doubts they have though are quickly swept away as Sae’s two shadow servants slink into the room.

One carries a tray with a tea pot and cups and the other a small tin of sweets. These things momentarily seem to be floating in midair as the shadows are hard to see in the dim candlelight, but as they come closer it becomes apparent what is holding them. Trae surges to his feet at the sight, his hand is quick to reach for his sword, but the other two sit frozen at the sight offered before them.

The cups are set out in front of each person, the pot left in the middle of the table, and then the tin of sweets is placed next to it. The smaller of the shadows, though not by much, pauses from her task for a moment and quietly paws at the hair pin that Hona is wearing.

Hona’s muscles are frozen stiff at the proximity of the shadow, he dares not move even an inch, but then the shadow lets out a quiet purr that just barely soothes his nerves. It’s clear that these shadows have no aggression towards them, but the prejudice within the cultivators still runs deep.

Trae let’s out an aggravated sound and makes a motion to cut the beast down with his sword, but his arm barely moves a fraction before his whole body becomes frozen. All congeniality leaves Sae’s face as he stares his brother down. Without looking away he addresses his servants, “Scripp, Strigg, I shouldn’t need you for the rest of the day. Feel free to go out and play.” This seems to make the two creatures happy and they bound away without another sound. With them gone Sae’s expression turns even more icy, “Brother of mine, a threat against my servants is a threat against me and I’ve killed for far less. Don’t think because we are blood that I’d show you any mercy.” He makes a motion with his hand and whatever spell he’d place on Trae is suddenly lifted allowing him to move again. “Now eat some of those sweets, they’ll become bird food otherwise.” Sae then goes about pouring the tea and prepares to get on with their discussion. “Coda, are we fighting or not?”

“Err… not?” Coda hesitantly answers with what he thinks is the right answer.

Sae blows out an exasperated breath, “Pity, I was looking forward to a good fight. Whatever, I don’t have my sword anyway.” He proclaims breezily. “Then our business is concluded.”

“The fuck it is!” Trae explodes out. He’d been shaking in quiet rage since Sae had frozen him and then released him as if these two things were hardly an occurrence. “Why the fuck do you have demons running around? Why do you insist on staying on this stupid mountain instead of returning to the Crest clan?”

Sae shakes his head, “I do not have demons running around.” His voice is dripping with contempt. “Scripp and Strigg are shadowkin and my most loyal servants. They’re the only two who were willing to come with me to this place.”

Hona tugs on Trae's sleeve and urges him to sit back down. As a silent peace offering Hona carefully takes a sip of tea and takes a small cookie from the tin. Following his example Coda does the same. Neither of them have any desire to leave as they are burning with curiosity inside. Trae can’t be bothered with the tea or snacks, but he does settle himself back down.

Trae, stubborn and unwilling to ask about the Shadowlands, asks instead, “What happened to your sword? I assume you mean the spiritual weapon you were given by father.”

“Aye, my sword Melody.” Sae’s shoulders relax a bit as he taps his chin thoughtfully, “I suppose I must have left it at the blacksmith’s. It needed repaired after a battle with that idiot Rulan and his forces. Since I had to leave with barely any notice I forgot it there.”

Trae makes a disgusted sound. He’s positive there isn’t a single question he can ask that won’t tie back to the shadows and so now he angrily stays silent.

Hona gives a thoughtful expression, “Pity, it was a beautiful sword.”

Sae nods his head, “Aye. I’ll have to retrieve it eventually. Hopefully in a few years things will calm down enough for me to return with ease.” He sighs and shakes his head.

Coda’s face is incredulous, “Would you? Return to that place? How can you prefer a place overrun with… er shadowkin to here?”

“Why wouldn’t I? I have more memories there than I do here. And not to mention I am half shadowkin now, living there is much easier for me than living here in the Lightlands.”

“Then why’d you leave?” Trae grumbles out in annoyance.

Sae turns his head away and looks momentarily embarrassed about something, “Eh, things just became… complicated there.” He forces out a laugh. “It's nothing to worry about. I’m sure things will cool down in a few years. Until then you lot are stuck with me.” He laughs again, but more genuine this time.

Hona glances at Trae as he suddenly remembers something, “You owe me five silver.”

Trae stares at him blankly and then his expression shifts to surprise, “You're still holding me to that bet?”

“Aye.”

Trae angrily scowls at everybody in the room as he pulls out his money pouch and hands Hona five silver coins. “I can’t believe you remembered that stupid bet from fifteen years ago.” He grouses.

Sae, watching all of this with curiosity, is sure that the interaction has something to do with him. “What bet?”

Hona gives a small smile, “I bet that you were still alive.”