Boundaries

Chapter 25: 'Home'

    "Heads?" Leorio echoed.

    "I've heard of this. The formation of the peak on the left appears to be a tiger, and the right a dragon. Thus the name of this entrance is the Longhu Gorge, or in our language, Lavine Gorge." Kurapika replied. Will nodded. "They are divine guardians of our clan and people. It is said that from these guardians, who battled one another for sixteen days and sixteen nights, our ancestors drank their blood and continued their legacy for victory and power."

    "Some divine guardians they are. They're symbols of strife and conflict. They're literally ripping each other's throats out and we've decided to glorify it. If that's not what you call revolting, I don't what else is." Valeria rolled her eyes.

    "...Bloody battles aside, the scenery here is incredible. These pillars of rock formation are fascinating." Leorio tried to change the topic, he could feel the piercing glares of the Lavines around them as she said that.

    "Yes. Each rock or boulder represents the carcasses of those we've defeated."Will nodded.

    "Uh, I uh...they're man made?" Leorio was so in shock that he chose to ask that question out of all. Valeria and Kurapika tried to hide their snicker before regaining their composure. Will, however, took his question seriously.

    "Some of them are, yes. A third of these have existed naturally and during the battle of the guardians, but we have sent architects to add a rock everytime we defeat our enemies."

    Leorio swallowed nervously. "It seems like a 'keep out' sign to me. Do you guys, I don't know, have assassins parked on top of them and snipe people?"

    Valeria snorted. "Luigi, you're normally a little bit crazy but that's just a wild imagination. What do you think we are, flamingos? Of course not."

    "We just tear them apart with our bare hands if we catch unwelcome guests." Will made a twisting gesture with his hands. As Leorio began to quiver and rock the boat, leading to the displeased look of their ferryman, Kurapika asked: "Are we unwelcome guests?"

    Sudden realization hit Valeria and she looked at her younger brother with worry. She didn't mean to drag her friends into this mess but was relieved they would be there as positive figures. She did not realize that dragging them into this mess would also be at the cost of their lives. Will rolled his eyes, knowing fully well what Valeria was thinking. But even he, from the bottom of his heart, cannot offer consolation. "That, I don't know. Even I cannot protect Brother Shion's whims."

    As if on cue, they lined up with the two peaks and surprisingly, the dreary atmosphere did not match the glowing scenery before them. Traditional Che'ang buildings lined the mountains and caved around the visitors to the center of the crescent shaped shoreline, where the obvious "city life" of the land was. There were looming towers that welcomed boats into the dock. Regardless of how grand the architecture and how lifelike the city was, upon closer look, there was uneasiness that swelled up again. The buildings have been, evidently, patched over and over again with metal plates, contrary to the traditional wooden infrastructures located back in Tianmen. There were signs of destruction and wreckage, which was fitting to the cultural background of the clan. As they landed, immediately, the port guards allowed the bloodthirst to ooze out as they glowered at Kurapika and Leorio. Valeria immediately stepped in front of them, pulling out her metal staff. The guards recognized her while ignoring Will, despite that he technically held more authority than Valeria, and backed off.

    "Welcome back, Lady Lifeng. Lord Donghu will be pleased to see you. I see you brought...outsiders."

    "For the billionth time, I prefer you to call me Valeria than Lifeng. Also, don't you see that my brother is here too? And they are not outsiders, they are my esteemed guests. Be consistent in your attitudes and pay your respects otherwise I will send in a proposal."