A/N: Please read the post-chapter author's note for an important announcement. If you're from far in the future you can safely ignore this.

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  Willow’s mind spun at the implication of her mentor knowing the origins of the spirit twins.

  Harmony and Change didn’t really like to talk about their parent too much, mostly due to not knowing all that much about them. They just knew that they were old, powerful, and increasingly curious about themself. Breaking off facets to seek understanding on what they truly meant.

  Scholar Mu knowing about them could give her more information on where her friends came from and what their parent was like.

  As a result she decided to be as honest as she could be in answering her mentor’s questions.

  “I found them one day when I got lost in the woods.”

  Her teacher gave her a look. “That’s all?”

  Willow nodded. “Pretty much? They were on the run from some bad people, and wanted my help to hide from them. They saw how I bound Eos and thought it’d be a good way to hide themselves.”

  The girl avoided mentioning the involvement of the Li and Hao clans, not knowing how her mentor would react to their interest in her friends.

  Mu continued to puff on her pipe, clearly deep in thought.

  Since she didn’t say anything else yet, Willow decided to ask her own questions.

  “Why do you care so much about who their parent is?”

  That at least seemed to snap the wanderer out of her train of thought.

  “The Wanderers have standing orders from the bossman to keep an eye out for the children of Balance.”

  Willow tilted her head, and a small amount of fear entered her heart. “Why?”

  Mu’s face was shrouded in sweet smelling smoke. “It’s not public knowledge, but not exactly a secret either. The head of our group was practically raised by two of ‘em, though they were quite older than your tiny brats goin’ off of his stories.”

  Oh! He had met the twins' older siblings, at least that meant he likely held no ill will towards them.

  So why did the wanderer feel so conflicted?

  Then she continued to speak. “Part of our orders are to ensure that the children remain unbound so they can focus on their mission in peace.”

  That’s… not great. She didn’t want to lose her friends.

  Her aunt interjected. “Isn’t that hypocritical? Your head benefitted from their power, so why prevent others from doing the same so long as they aren’t being harmed?”

  Mu held up a hand to forestall any further argument.

  “The head didn’t bind them, they merely guided him along his path, and they already left him long ago.”

  That’s sad, Willow guessed they hadn’t promised to stay with him like her friends did with her.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “I had my suspicions when I learned your spirits were somehow linked and heard their names.” Scholar Mu continued. “But after their little performance and your confirmation I’m now forced to actually act.”

  That didn’t sound good, and judging by the way her aunt was now holding her close she agreed.

  “But they’re my friends!” The girl cried out.

  “That’s part of why I’m in a pickle here.” The wanderer puffed more on her pipe. “I’ve seen your binding technique, and your spirits could leave you any time they wanted. So am I actually required to do anything? Plus you’ve already become my apprentice, which means you’re ostensibly part of our organisation. It’s quite the conundrum and I don’ rightly know the correct answer.”

  Willow was at least relieved that Mu wasn’t eager to separate her from her friends. “Couldn’t you ask your boss?”

  Her teacher blew out a cloud of smoke.

  “He’s a difficult man to get in contact with. Wanders more than the rest of us, making sure to solve problems in the smaller communities that lie on the fringes.”

  She snorted. “Or at least that’s what he likes to tell us. Personally think he just pretends to be busy so he doesn’t have to deal with actually running his sect. Only consistently shows his mug when we gather all the Wanderers together every decade to touch base.”

  Scholar Mu grinned, having made a decision. “Which means I’ll be kickin’ this problem down the road until that time comes.”

  Jieun raised a brow. “Is that wise? Wouldn’t you get in trouble if this gets out?”

  She shrugged. “Probably. At least if the bossman doesn’t see things the same way as me. He’s pretty lax when it comes to most things, but he gets intense when talking about the children of Balance, so I honestly have little idea on how he’d take it.”

  “And what will happen to Willow if he doesn’t respond favourably?” Her aunt continued, clearly unhappy with the vagaries of the wanderer woman.

  Mu rubbed her face with a gloved hand. “I honestly have no clue. I’d like to believe she’d be in no real danger, but I’ve heard stories of what happens when the head loses his temper.”

  “As have I, though I’d hope he wouldn’t raise his hand against a child in such a manner.” Jieun deadpanned.

  “And I hope the same, which is why I’m not just turnin’ a blind eye and leavin’ her to the proverbial wolves. If she's with me, then I can vouch for her situation and the other wanderers will leave her alone until the bossman gives his verdict.”

  Willow watched the interplay of the two adults with growing confusion and concern. So some random old man was potentially going to be upset with her for making friends? That seemed silly.

  She decided to focus on something more concrete instead of pointlessly worrying about a stranger she hadn’t met.

  “When’s the gathering?”

  “A bit less than seven years from now.” Mu recalled effortlessly.

  “Would it help if I’m strong?”

  She puffed away on her pipe. “It very well might. The only thing I feel the head’ll take umbrage with about your binding is that you’d be an anchor dragging your friends down. If you’re strong enough to protect them then he’s less likely to take issue with the current arrangement.”

  Willow nodded to herself. She could do that.

  “So I just have to become as strong as I can in seven years? Sounds simple enough.”

  Both adults stared at the girl.

  Mu barked out a laugh.

  “‘Sounds simple’ she says! Like it’s the easiest thing in the world! I knew I liked you, girlie.”

  Isn’t it simple though? She just had to learn how to fight and how to use all of the elements she had access to. Shouldn’t be that hard.

  Meanwhile her friends would get stronger with time.

  Mu grinned. “Well if you’re so confident in getting it done, what kinda teacher would I be if I tried to dissuade you? Rest up for now, when you’re better I’ll be trying to cram as much knowledge as I can in that little head of yours. You’re gonna need it.”

  That didn’t sound particularly fun, but she supposed that’s what she signed up for.

  The wanderer woman hopped off the cart, leaving Willow alone with her aunt once more.

  “There are other paths you can take, you know?” Jieun all but whispered, and the girl felt her aunt’s qi move in the telltale patterns of sadness.

  “You don’t have to put yourself in so much danger.”

  “But this is the best way for me to be a hero.”

  For reasons Willow didn’t understand, this only strengthened her aunt’s negative emotions.