Chapter 153 - 153. Blackbellied couple, or not?

From cloud looking the long path towards their home could be seen filled with all kinds of carriages. Some were entering and some could just turn around and leave.

Kendra was stunned by the sight. Isaa and Cian looked at each other as they realized the biggest peculiarity. There were a bunch of villages on this side of the mountain and they seemed to be busy. 

Kendra waved her hand and stopped the cloud. She looked at everyone withs serious expression.

''We haven't been home for so long. Many things changed as it seems. I will bring you to the city and there will be people that will care about your future. I am sorry, but it seems I won't have much time for you all after insect extraction. I will ask my parents to send you back to the Serenity town. Please spread as I will change this cloud into small clouds. Parents can be together with their children. Please just sit down. Isaa and  Cian will help you while I prepare everything. After the shield is gone you will be able to enjoy fully the temperature. Please don't move casually from now on. ''

Everyone nodded, even children calmed down. Everyone sat down and Kendra looked at the young man holding the woman and saw him nodding at her. She smiled and with a wave of hand the restrictions that protected them were gone.

Cloud started turning into small clouds as everyone grasped. Luckily everyone was sitting down. 

The sea air filled their lungs as they slowly floated above the mountains. On the Island, you could see a big mountain that you could just lightly perceive on the back of the island. The Island seemed to be humongous. 

Kendra looked at the people on the clouds and smiled. ''At the moment, they can't see us. So I hope you will be silent when we pass the settlements. Only after we get close to teh border I will show ourselves. Cian, Isaa the two of you have task to fly around them and care that no one falls off. I will go in front. The flying guards seemed to have perceived our energy, but still, don't know who we are. I need to calm them down. Let's go.''

Isaa and Cian nodded in their agreement and started circularly flying around the group of clouds and protecting them from all kinds of things. If not from sudden wind, then from sudden birds. Isaa even chuckled when one small bird came to teh little girl and comfortably sat on top of her head. 

As the child was given order to not move randomly she endured stoically. Even Kendra actually smiled and winked at the child while whispering. ''It seems that this bird will be later your companion. Accept it.''

The girl looked at Kendra confused and then smiled. If Kendra said so she will take the sentence as given. She rose her hands with open fingers and teh little bird jumped into her hands and snuggled as a cat. 

Isaa looked at Kendra with confusion. 

''It seems that some animals on our island turned to be more intelligent. It seems that in future our power children will have animal companions with them.'' She smiled lightly as she sped up in front of group of clouds.

She chooses to fly slowly and see the situation under her feet. She sighed in relief as she saw Cauldron City soldiers patrolling the premises. It seems her father has his own ideas about things related to this place. She fastened the pace they flew and soon they were close to the borderline. 

She slowed down her cloud and Isaa and Cian joined her in the front line. They took off their disguise and everyone could see them. Bunch of people grasped as they saw people standing on the clouds and soon big chatter with loud calls could be heard as people started pointing their fingers at them.

That would be no big matter, but so far people saw only Caledon Valley soldiers flying on the clouds. Now suddenly a group of normal people did, does that mean now everyone could.

The eyes filled with greed and jealous followed their path to the borderline as something even stranger happened in front of their eyes.

The top of borderline opened and suddenly multiple clouds started flying towards the group of people that just arrived. On one of the clouds, even Lord and Lady stood majestically and floated down with a big smile. 

Everyone gasped as they heard their words. ''My children, you are finally back home. We missed you.''

Kendra saw the big stomach and stopped Isaa with her hand as she was about to jump into their hands. ''Slowly. Mother has to wear lots of weight. Hug her but don't be too hasty. Ok?''

The crowd under them grasped as the clouds descended down. Lord Cassian looked at everyone staring at them and smiled. ''From today on we will accept only students in our valley. Peopel that are related to students can stay outside or go back home. Your choice. You can be given the amount for your care monthly or only once. But this or that way, teh students that enter our school are free from worldly matters, so if you try to make trouble better hit that idea out your head. The student's job is to improve as much as possible. Everything else is a matter of hard work.''

Suddenly a man who seemed to have had better days before grabbed two children out the carriage and pulled them out. ''These two are orphans that we can't take care anymore. They both have powers said one man to us. We heard that we can get revered. Is it still valid?''

Lord Cassian saw two children shriveling and nodded while looking calmly at the man. ''Of course. Bring me the silver!''

One servant brought a small chest and opened it up. Lord Cassian nodded. The servant quickly rushed to teh man and gave him teh silver. Then he gently picked up the children, jumped don cloud and flew away.

Lord Cassian looked at Kendra and smiled. She had to sigh, this kind of thing has to be cut in bud so she flew close to him and whispered in his ear. He smiled and nodded.

''You took care of children and are greatly renumerated. In the future, you can't come back and ask for their guidance. After all, they are not your children.'' He looked at the rest of the crowd and smiled gently.

The man looked at the child standing next to the Lord Cassian and annoyance flitted across his face. ''You can't say that your Lordship. These children owe me a lot.''

Lay Xara rose her eyebrow. Some peopel just don't know what is good for them. She patted her husband's hand that started shaking, a good sign that he will lose composture.

She turned her head towards teh man and spoke with the strength that made him feel helpless. ''The children are delivered like two bags of wheat. You sold gave them now to us and we will keep them. If they were your real children we wouldn't say one thing, but this... Please leave, you got what you came for.''

Most people in caravan sighed in relief. But were still worried about the future. One simple man came on foot with a boy that looked quite thin but not unhealthy. He looked at Lord Cassian and bowed respectfully. 

''I have only this child left after the great plague hit our village. Just two of us survived. I have no one else and I want him to be in a safe place from now on. I don't know does he has any powers, but I still hope he can learn something for the future.''

Kendra winked ta her father and then at Cian. Cian got one of the Eyes from Kendra and he elegantly descended in front of the father and son. He rose his hand as the Eye floated slowly around the two of them and then shining on both under the stunned eye of the crowd.

Cian smiled at the two people as the Eye showed bright blue color over man's head and purple color over the boy's head. But Cian quickly summoned it back as the real test will come later.

''Both of you are ability users. Both can cultivate. You and your father can choose to go both on the road of cultivation.''

They looked at each other with open mouths. Soon the man snapped back to his senses and tears of happiness started falling down his wrinkled cheeks. ''Son, this is unimaginable.''

He turned his head to Lord Cassian and bowed deeply. ''I am just an old man. To cultivate needs a certain amount of sincerity. If you can teach me a few things that could help me get a job in the city, to me that is good enough.''

Cian looked at him deeply. ''There is a chance that you are quite powerful. Are you still not willing?''

The man shook his head and smiled at Cian. ''If I were younger, with the vigor I had before,  I might have done that. But now I just want to survive a couple more years and then join my wife in our family grave. Please, don't ask anymore.''

Cian looked at Kendra with worry but saw her shaking her head. He turned and grumbled. ''You could live a long time if you become a cultivator. If nothing else join the Lord's guards. Lord pay's quite well. But you still need to learn more about your powers to be able to deal with your duty.''

The old man looked at the boy and nodded. ''I won't change my mind, but as I can see that you are giving me chance I will do as you said. Thank you.''

Kendra watched teh happenings but from the corner of her eyes, she saw interesting stirring in mid of crowd. She saw a group of children leaving with a young woman in mid of it. She flew closer to her motehr and whispered to her.

Lady Xara saw the group leaving and smiled at Kendra. ''Do as you wish. We won't starve if we let them in. ''

Kendra smiled happily and was about to fly to the leaving crowd when Isaa appeared next to her. She took Isaa's hand and they flew towards the departing group. Suddenly she stopped as she remembered something and looked at Lord Cassian.

''Father I will be right back. Could you please help me send these people inside. They are the ones we waite for. By the way, the rest of the crowd has no powers, send them back and let's have today big celebration. I am happy we are back home, no... we are happy, right Isaa?''

Isaa winked at Lord Cassian and smiled brightly. ''Mother, Father we are back. I am happy to see you well. We will be right back.''

Lord Cassian shook his head in and grumbled. ''I didn't even properly greet them and tehy are already running off. These kids. Sigh...''

Lady Xara laughe slightly as she patted his arm .''Yes, yes. You couldn't stop worrying about them all this time. Now they are here, please stop worrying. Please.''

She saw him pouting like a little child as he looked after two children that flew quickly in chase of those children. It seems he will never change. Under all those layers of icy demeanor, vicious attitude and noble bearing he was still that boy she met on the battlefield a long time ago. 

At that time she found him so cute and only she knew how much love for all beings her husband had. But, when someone crosses him once he is stubborn as a mule and not forgiving. He changed... 

Since he met Kendra and Isaa he changed so much that he started to be friendly, trusted people and have friends. These children saved their lives so many times and they can't ever repay them in this lifetime. She promised herself to love them as if they were part of her own body. 

Her eyes looked affectionately at the two children while her husband looked at her. ''Thank you for existing, my love.''

Her eyes changed direction and met his eyes. She hit his head as she saw certain expressions fitting through his eyes. ''You dare... '' But then she stopped herself as she remembered that they still stood in front of hundreds of people.

Lord Cassian coughed to cover laugh and scratched his head where she hit him. He could feel her eyes shooting arrows at him but he just chooses to ignore it.

He took her hand and looked at the people that had practically their mouth wide agape. 'Çhough... Ladies and gentlemen, the testing will start in the nearby village in 3 days' time. Those that don't pass the test can't stay and have to go back. Those who pass will enter the school and will cultivate for a long time. See you in three days.''

One man came from the carriage and walked slowly towards the couple on the cloud. ''This can't be. I am noble. Do you mean I have to live in the same place for the next 3 days as these people?''

Lord Cassian smiled at him. ''We indeed have sleeping accommodations inside the city walls for those that have enough money. But can you afford it? It's quite pricey.''

The man looked up proudly and laughed. ''Don't make me laugh. Of course, I have money. My father is the current prime minister of state and my family from both sides are quite wealthy. It's not like its paid in gold.''

Lady Xara chuckled. ''But it is paid in gold...''

The man looked at her incredulously at the two scheming people and got red in his face. ''Are you here to steal or what?''

Lord Cassian chuckled and looked at him as he was stupid to the bone. ''My city, my rules. Just stay here and sleep in a nearby hotel. It's clean, actually, and you can just pay some silver and have one or two stores for yourself and your people. No need to spend the gold for first-class treatment in the city.''

The man shook his fingers and almost chocked on his own saliva. ''Are you looking down on me. So what. I will pay. I pay. No matter how much gold I pay.''

Lord Cassian winked at his helper and waited the show. 

The helper is no other than his uncle and current head of teh palace affairs. He winked at Lord Cassian casually and slowly walked in front of crows. Few soldiers came forth and put something like a big table where he climbed up and spoke loudly.

''Those that have no gold, please go to the village, we have accommodations over there. Please proceed now. Those that have gold please come here and we will tell you remuneration for each accommodation.''

Suddenly big amount of people started turning their carriages away feeling cold sweat going down their back. The accommodations in the city are now ridiculously expensive. Only about dozen carriages were left standing.

The peopel descended the carriages and waited to hear the prices. But when he started counting, they almost fainted. Are they crazy or what?

''I can see that all of you have your own carriages. So the costs for carriages, horses and servants accommodations nearby will be included in price. If you think it is too expensive then just leave them here and pay room only for yourself. '' He calmly spoke looking at perplexed faces.

They started murmuring, but before any fight could erupt he rose his hand and spoke calmly. ''You can always deny our prices and just go to the village accommodation. No one is forcing you. But there is one more thing you have to know.''

He made a small break to make it more impactful and continued. ''The city belongs to Lord Cassian. He ha very strict rules. If you break rules you will be or kicked out or killed. There will be no exceptions, for anyone.''

People again started talking.  One woman that was adorned in riches rose her voice over the whole crowd. ''Lord Cassian is famous about his strict rules. Does that mean we can't even walk around the city?''

The Stewart looked at her and shook her head. ''You can walk a much you want as long you don't enter anyone's private household or try to take anything by force. Lord's palace can't be entered by wil everything else you can just look. The current houses can't be sold as well without our Lord's permission, so give up that idea.''

She sighed. ''Indeed I had the idea. My daughter will be here in a few days. She stopped to visit the last time her father's grave and I came in advance just to buy a house so I can be near her while she studies. Now, what should I do?''

Steward smiled at her and nodded. ''We do have accommodations to rent. Like that You don't have to live outside the town. We can talk about that after the test. Now you can only rent accommodation for the next three days.''

The woman nodded and stopped talking. 

Stewart continued about prices. '' Small accommodation for 10 people 100 gold pieces. Middle accommodation for 20-30 people 300 pieces. Large accommodation for 50 people will be 1000 gold pieces.''

The people felt their legs feel weak as they heard the prices. They looked at the thick faced couple on cloud and the stewart with mouth agape as he continued to stab their hearts. 

''Please, these prices are for a day. That means for three days, three times bigger price. That's it.'' 

He stopped talking as he went down. Servants brought one table and chair in front of him where the stack of papers stood. He rose his head and smiled calmly. ''Who's first?''