Entering the Elemental Pagoda.

As Blaize leads you and Maxius through the city, your presence alerts to everyone in the vicinity. It still confounds you how so many of these elemental creatures were sentient enough. When you felt the energy of an elemental, it remains consistent, as if programmed, yet you can clearly feel the energy of these beings vary just like with any other sentient being with emotions.

There are all sorts of elemental beings: fire, water, earth, and interestingly enough, darkness. Some of these beings looked to be non-human shaped like the typical elementals you face, but you could still see their emotion, surprise in this case, as you pass by them.

As for any of the human-shaped elementals like Blaize, you notice an odd particularity. They all have well-defined female forms. The most interesting one being darkness.

When facing when an elemental of darkness, it usually is mistaken for a ghost as it hardly has a defining form, yet somehow, you see a literal female formed of black mist walking past, leaving some shadowy trail behind

Despite how amazing all of this is to you, there's one obvious fact. If there are human-shaped elementals, they were all female, so far. You can't help but glance at Maxius who starts to sweat, knowing that this would make a bad impression. Of course, his only defense is that he has little memories of his past life aside from his biggest works.

Sighing, you can only look away as you climb some steps. "Well, I suppose your effeminate features are karma, alright."

"D-don't say that!"

Eventually, Blaize comes to a stop, standing in front of a particular building you have only seen in your monastery.

A pagoda.

You raise an eyebrow, wondering how and why this particular building was created.

Just before you could question, Blaize sighs in deep admiration.

"I just love this building. Its the main headquarters for our city. When we began to develop our own city, we used a picture book that belonged to master. We're not sure what this building is called but our leaders decided to build it so that it would stand out amongst our people."

You aren't sure whether to cry or feel happy that these elementals built and admired a rather beautiful pagoda but doesn't know what it's called.

"Indeed, this is quite a beautiful building. It seems you decided to use a different building material for this type of tower instead of the clay and stone building around."

Based on the dhampir's tone, you are shocked to hear that even Maxius doesn't know what this building is called. He had a freaking picture book, right? He can't say he couldn't remember something like this either?!

"Of course! Master will be certainly proud of us to hear that we took time to refine our stone and various ores to build this tower. Like in the picture book, we wanted our building to shine even in the darkness of this mountain. This building was our hope that one day you would return!"

Maxius widens his eyes which annoyingly has become a little tearful.

"Oh my...never have I imagined my own creation would do something so beautiful in my name. This is truly...I've done you all so much wrong by not being here for so long!"

As Maxius sniffles, you are feeling so embarrassed for the dhampir. Already, he's become so laughably emotional even though he's only starting to remember and understand the past events of his life.

Prohibiting yourself from groaning, you cross your arms and sigh instead.

"It's a pagoda..."

"Huh?"

Both Maxius and Blaize turn their attention to you as you state simply what the building is called.

Clearing your throat as you feel their stares become more expectant, you clarify further.

"This building you created are a common piece of architecture in monasteries and remote mountains where monks live to meditate and store precious treasure."

"A...pagoda. Yes...yes! Forever, this building will be called Maxius' pagoda! Once we meet the leaders who have helped protect this city, they will surely agree as well!"

You internally groan, almost wanting to palm your forehead.

Maxius laughs heartily. "While I am grateful, I believe the honor should go towards my lovely Araatris. After all, she is a beautiful monk!"

Maxius' words do not slip by you. Sharpening your gaze to the unseemly man, you growl in a low voice.

"Who says I'm yours?"

Maxius freezes and then quickly raises his hands in defense, stepping back a little. "Uh...I mean, that was a slip of my tongue. Of course, your lovely life is your own. Ha...ha..."

Taking a deep breath, you roll your eyes. Honestly, why are you even responding to his silly claims anyways? You try to temper your emotions but somehow, Maxius has consistently been breaking through your emotional defenses. Has your training been for nothing?

You shook your head and forbade yourself from questioning your own strength, mental or otherwise. Staring at the fire woman who seemed intrigued by the reactions between you and her master, you snap her to the current present.

"So, are you going to lead us to the people in charge?"

Blaize flinches and then nods respectfully. "O-of course, sorry about that. I became too lost in thought. Follow me, please."

Without delay, your movements started again as you followed the fire elemental girl into the pagoda. Of course, they even got the interior correct with the polished wooden floor, some stone columns supporting the multiple layers of the pagoda, and even created some Buddhist copper statues.

You are quite impressed, to say the least. Despite being within a dangerous mountain, you would never have believed you could feel such a sense of...home.

You stop suddenly. Past a group of female elementals that were chatting in the corner of the first level of the pagoda, you could have sworn you saw an image of your master, Jemkas, passing by like the wind; the long white beard, bald head, and image of a scar underneath his eyes are unmistakable. Yet, his image quickly disappears into the unknown.

"Araatris, are you okay?"

You hear Maxius concern snap you to the present. Biting your lips, you quickly shrug and urge to move ahead.

"It's nothing. I'm just impressed by how well you built this place, including the interior. Just because it's a pagoda, I didn't expect you to even match the sense of feeling that you'd expect of typical monasteries," you compliment, easily switching to a new topic.

Blaize claps her hands together, bowing humbly to your praise. "I'm sure everyone will be pleased to hear that. I too feel comforted whenever I'm in here. I feel like I can easily control my own flames and calm myself whenever I feel down. It's for that reason that a lot of elementals come here for various reasons. At least for the first and second floor, they are open to all!"

You put a hand to your chin, unable to help smile. While certainly the usage of such a Pagoda shouldn't be used for leisure, you figure it's fine if it helps such people.

Thinking back to what Blaize just mentioned, you remove your hand from your chin and raise an eyebrow. "So...you mean we're heading to the restricted floors?"

Blaize nods. "Yes, I have access, but of course, sometimes the leaders are relaxing and talking to people in the first and second floor too, so it may be that we don't need to go up that far. For the most part, I only need to let some of the older elementals who know of your existence."

Maxius hums as he looks around, curiously. "That reminds me. You say that everyone here is my creation but...now you're saying there are only a few people who know of my existence. How can that be?"

You realize as well that there wasn't a big ruckus when you and Maxius entered the city. Sure, there were strange looks, but all the elementals minded their own business. Only Blaize seem to really understand how important Maxius is.

"Well, they are your creations...or better to say, descendants of your creation. While we can live for a long time, there were too little of us to help support each other. Not everyone gained sentience at the same time, after all. In fact, I'm one of the later elementals who knew of your exploits that began to gain self-awareness a few hundred years ago."

"...A...few hundred years ago?"

Blaize hums at Maxius' astonishment. "Of course! That said, as for everyone else that lives here. They were created by us through methods that you provided which we guard secretly. Creating elementals is easy, but giving birth to self-awareness is much more difficult. It takes at least twenty years after teaching and guidance before elementals begin to think for themselves. Of course, they know in their hearts who made it possible for them to live, it's just that they can't seem to place a face to who they should be grateful for. Please don't take it personally master."

"Hoho, no worries! With my own memory loss, I should hardly be one to complain!"

"Oh, master..." Blaize sighs in respect.

"Oh? Blaize, these are unusual travelers you've brought here? You understand it's forbidden to bring outsiders to this city?"

A calm and rather emotional female voice sounds through the first floor of the Pagoda just before you are about to step on the stairway leading to the second floor. Seeing that it was from someone behind, you slowly turn, wondering who could be questioning.