Pick stared at his hand where the staff had been. He looks to Tea.

"Not gonna lie, I have no idea what just happened." Said Pick.

He looks to Tea, "And water" he said as he took of his soaked leather boots. "I don't drink milk."

While he waited on Tea's return he did his best to get comfortable. He doffed his armor and began removing twigs from his crossbow.

"Strange place" he said to himself, "though, I'm sure there's stranger"

Tea return with a plate of cooked meat, bread, and a clay cup of water. "Hear you go." Tea handed the plate to Pick and set the cup on top of a table at the bed end.

"If you were wondering, Master Jiemu read your chi, he could feel your emotions and intentions through touch, he didn't tell you to leave, so you're good." After a few moments Tea still sat on a chair waiting for Pick to finish his meal. Tea grew board and asked, "So what were you doing out there like that?"

RPick had hardly realized Tea had spoken, but was able to stop eating long enough to respond.

"I'm headed to the city of Adeluna. I'm from Sarchu Valley."

He begins eating messily again. Already feeling rejuvenated.

"I was raised by nomads." He said with a full mouth, "they taught me to steal."

Pick burped.

"I'm going to be the world's best thief."

He wiped his mouth on his sleeve.

Tea was taken back how honest he was about being a thief, and being the best at that. "Well I guess going to the city would be a good place to start." Tea said slowly, uneasy by Pick's feasting. Tea saw his mostly leather gear set aside, "I'll wash and dry those, leather can gain bad odor if not clean regularly." Tea stood up and took the armor. Tea trusted Jiemu's judgement, even if he didn't trust Pick.

Shortly after he return, "I see your done eating, I have brought a set of robes for you after you bathe, just leave your dirty clothes aside, I'll take them later to clean." Tea was glad Pick didn't run off anywhere.

While Tea guided Pick to the bathing area, Tea ask, "I am heading that direction tomorrow, if you want I could assist you through the mountains, staying in the plains at night could be dangerous, taking those mountains the fastest route."

Pick thanked Tea for his assistance, and let him know that he would gladly travel with him through the mountains. Once Tea was gone Pick disrobed and entered the tub. The warm water was a nice change of pace. He let his messy hair down and began washing it. 

He hoped he could make it to the city without anymore bumps in the road. He's had quite enough. Pick felt sleep tugging at his eyelids as he cleaned himself. He fought it as best as he could, but eventually succumbed to the call of the sandman. His eyes shut and he fell into a trance like state.

He awoke the next morning soggy and covered in wrinkles. It was unlike elves to rest this long. He must have been more tired than he had originally thought. His armor and a new set of clothes were folded up neatly and placed in the corner by the door. Pick hoisted his dripping body out of the tub and shook a bit, sending water everywhere. The aspiring thief eventually found a towel and began drying off. Once dry, Pick donned his clean clothes and armor. 

He met Tea again and ate his breakfast quickly because he was ready for the next leg of his adventure to the City of Adeluna. The two then left towards the mountains. Pick walked with a new spring in his step. 

Just before Jiemu could give his signal Pick stood up indignantly.

"I don't understand. He's done nothing wrong. Is it because he came back to help me? That hardly seems fair."

Jiemu looked to Pick, "This does not concern you young elf. Please respect our traditions."

Pick crossed to be beside Tea, "You know I don't quite understand traditions. You do a thing only because other people also did the thing? For years?" He looked to Quantou, "what do you think thick jaw?"

Quantou, shocked, looked at the master.

Jiemu stood with impossible speed; a visible rage building in his eyes. Calmly he said, "We have welcomed you into our monastery. One would think you would show respect, and-"

"Whose we?" Interrupted Pick, "Tea helped me. You just gave him the okay to do what he was going to do anyway." He put his arm around Tea, "you don't need this. Let's go." 

Tea was shocked by the turn of events, but brought himself when Pick grabbed his arm, Tea began to speak, "Pick, this is my home, these people are my family."  "Not me." Quan said casually, Tea responded, "Your input isn't need, Quan."

Tea continued, "I must do this, this isn't your fault it's mine, I already had my warning yesterday. And beside…" Tea lowered his voice, "I have a feeling I can beat this dirt for brains." Tea said this, but didn't really believe this, he only hopes Pick will understand.

"Family huh?" He said thoughtfully. He looked around at the crowd, at Jiemu, and at Quan.

"Well if he isn't family" he said pointing to Quan, "why bother? You don't owe him a fight."

He looked again to Jiemu "give him someone else to fight." Pick scans the monks on the wall and points to one that he feels looks like they are weaker than Tea, "Why not that guy?" He says pointing. Jiemu, still standing, motioned to the many angry monks in the room. They stood and began moving towards Pick.

Noticing this, Pick made eye contact with Jiemu. "Alright, this is your party."

He then leaned over to Tea, "you sure you've got this?"

Tea looked at Quan, then at Pick, "I know so." He said with a smile, hoping the facade still works.

Everyone return to their place, Quan and Tea return to their position and the same stance. They glared at the each other waiting for Jiemu to make the call. 

"Begin!" Jiemu shouted, and Tea made the first move by shooting a fireball out of his right arm. Quan saw this coming and raised one his arms to make tile to block it, this breifly block his vision from Tea, but long enough for Tea to close some distance. Not enough distance though, Quan rose another by stomping to trip Tea, it was successful. Tea almost hit the ground, but quickly recovered by placing his palm on the tiled floor and using a fireball to shot him into the air about ten feet. He soon realize this was a mistake, three tiles flew toward him different directions. One hit his arm, another his stomach, the last almost hit his face, but was able to dodge it in time. The tiles were made for this kind of combat, brittle enough to shatter without cause permanent damage to the body.

Tea did his best to ignore the pain, as he was falling Tea summoned another fireball toward Quan. Quan decided to roll out of the way, giving himself so distance from Tea landing spot. As soon as Tea landed Quan finished his dodge, they stood staring at each other waiting for the next move.

Yet again Tea started, this time making a sweeping kick to create a small wave of fire. Quan made a wall of tiles by putting his Firearms together to stop this, falling for the same mistake, but this time Tea created fire from his feet to give a boost for a jump. This time it work, as soon as the wall fell, Tea was to close for Quan to make another move. Tea wanted to save another fireball after tiring Quan out from close combat.

The two locked in combat, Quan took a defensive approach, while used quick blows, some came though, but most didn't. This time though Quan was focused, he knew he was out classes in closed quarters, as much as he doesn't want to admit it. Tea finally got a punch in Quan's face, Quan flinched, so Tea took the opportunity to make a sweep for his leg, knocking him off balance. But before Tea could make a final blow, Quan used a tile to place his hand on, and used the swept leg to hit Tea in the face. 

Lucky for Tea it grazed him, Quan was still sloppy. But took a step back, trying to recover some stamina, but Quan had different plans, "Bye." Quan said with a smile. He stomped the ground fiercely, making a pillar below Tea, this pushed him into the air. Tea thought fast and jumped off, but he knew what was next. Tiles were flying towards him.

Tea decide to extend his foot toward Quan, the raise his arms above him and shot a stream of fire above him. The boost in speed helped him dodge all the tiles, Quan made a final effort by holding his ground and swing his arm, causing a tile from a distance to fly at Tea. The tile hit him in the face, dust covered his, but the fire kept going. This shocked Quan and didn't moved because of it, the kick connected to Quan's face, knocking him unconscious. As Tea landed he stumbled and was rolling, he stopped on his hands and knees in front of Jiemu.

"The world has tuaght yoy well so far, young half-elf." Tea kept looking to the ground. Jiemu looked up, the crowd is quiet waiting for Jiemu to speak, "The winner is Tea!" The crowd celebrated with shouting in response, Tea though, was shocked, he couldn't believe it, "I did it." he said.