Dunce listened to Lee One and Una recount the events, piecing together what happened. Cultur rapped his mischievous granddaughter lightly on the head. "This isn't Dunce's fault. It's entirely yours, Una! Kicking a Master? Unacceptable!" He turned to Lee One. "Lee One, go fetch your master. Tell him to take Una back and discipline her properly." Lee One's master was Cultur's own son.
Lee One scrambled off. Una shot Dunce a venomous glare, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Cultur carefully examined Una's leg. While thankfully not permanently damaged, it would require serious healing time – a consequence, Cultur mused grimly, of her rebellious spirit. He turned to Dunce. "Dunce, don't dwell on it. The fault lies with her. Speaking of…" His expression shifted. "I've been meaning to seek the Grandmaster's counsel, but his orders against disturbance are strict. Why have you come? A summons?"
"Yes, Elder Leaf Lu," Dunce replied. "Master bid me fetch you and the other Masters. He said he has matters to discuss."
Cultur's heart clenched. A summons from the Grandmaster? Immediate action was required. "Dunce, watch Una until her father arrives. Once he takes her away for recovery, I'll gather the Masters." He hurried towards the central buildings of the Divine Light Order.
The gathered disciples exchanged awed looks. This boy, younger than them all, was a Master? One bold trainee stepped forward. "Honored Master, that technique you used! Creating those perfectly matching planks? How?" Splitting wood with Radiant Energy was one thing; instantly fabricating perfectly smooth, identical planks was something else entirely.
"I simply channeled my energy to divide the branch and remove the unwanted parts," Dunce explained simply.
The youth's eyes widened with envy. "Master, your energy projection… have you reached the Fifth Stage? But your Radiance is *yellow*… ours isn't."
Una's pain had subsided thanks to the healing energies. Hearing the question, she scoffed. "Who knows *where* this so-called Master crawled from? Stop talking to him!" Her sharp command startled the youth, who awkwardly retreated.
Xiwen arrived swiftly. The disciples bowed deeply. "Grandmaster!"
Xiwen acknowledged them with a nod, his focus on Dunce. "Dunce, the Grandmaster summons us?"
"Yes, Xiwen. He wishes to speak with you all."
Xiwen, alerted first by Cultur, glanced at Una. "Una, causing trouble again, I see?"
Una pouted dramatically. "Grand Uncle! I *didn't*! Look! He broke my leg! You *have* to punish him!"
Xiwen examined the injury. "Your grandfather healed it well. Rest and you'll recover." He smiled faintly. "Knowing you, trouble usually finds others first, not Dunce. Speaking of, Dunce, the Grandmaster Dunce your study of Radiance Shaping? How far have you progressed?" Xiwen, as the heir of the Saint of Celial Radiance, was the only other within the Order initiated into the Shaping secrets – a recent gift alongside the Serpent Armor Scales.
Dunce nodded. "I can manage it, barely."
Xiwen patted Una's head. "While *she* started it, a broken leg deserves compensation. How about Dunce makes you something?"
Una's eyes lit up. "Yes! Thank you, Grand Uncle! You're the *best*!"
Xiwen chuckled. "Careful, your grandfather might hear that." Una stuck out her tongue. "He won't, not if you don't tell! What are you making him give me?"
Xiwen looked at Dunce. "We've been struggling with the Divinus Serpent Armor Scales the Grandmaster provided. No conventional tools work. Only Radiance Shaping can manipulate them, apparently. Since you're here..." He gestured to Una. "...and the Scales technically come from the beast *you* helped defeat… could you process them? Work with Yuan to tailor a suit of lightweight Scale Armor for Una as restitution?" Cultur's earlier intent to seek the Grandmaster was precisely for this reason – the scales were unbreakable.
"Of course, Grandmaster," Dunce agreed readily. "Master said I should stay until you return from seeing him. I can work on the scales then. Though... I'm unsure my current energy is sufficient."
"Una! My girl! What happened?" A booming voice preceded a large man striding into view. Peace Road, Una's father, radiated intensity, his aura sharp like his Celial Blade. His weathered face, etched with concern and simmering fury, scanned the scene.
Xiwen raised an eyebrow. "Peace Road, your temper mirrors old Iron-Fang these days." Peace Road, seeing the Grandmaster, instantly reined himself in.
"Xiwen! Apologies! Heard my daughter's leg was broken... lost my composure." His eyes flickered dangerously despite his respectful posture.
Xiwen gestured toward Una. "Hold your judgment. This is her own doing." Peace Road, seeing his daughter's state, moved to her side.
"Oh, sweetheart, how did this happen?"
Una shot another glare at Dunce. "Ask *him*!"
Peace Road's hidden fury surged towards Dunce. "Even if my daughter was unruly, how could you be so brutal? Who are you? Whose disciple?" He kept his voice low, but the threat was palpable.
Xiwen intervened. "This is Dunce. Youngest Master of our Order. Sole disciple of the late Master Owen." He indicated Peace Road. "Dunce, meet your martial brother, Peace Road. Fiery temper, but a solid man."
Dunce bowed hastily. "Honored Brother Lu."
Peace Road sniffed. "Ah. The junior Master. Explain yourself. Why break my daughter's leg?"
Dunce, already uncomfortable, stammered under Peace Road's fierce gaze.
"It *was* my fault, Dad!" Una's unexpected defense cut the tension. She detailed the chase and kick on the plank. "...So anyways, Grand Watanapromised Dunce would make me Scale Armor. Dad, you *have* to make sure!" Her quick defense wasn't altruism; whispers of the Grandmaster's incredible scales meant a custom suit was a prize worth her pride.
Peace Road, hearing the truth, could only sigh in exasperation at his daughter's audacity. "Right..."
Rock and Rock Rockforce burst onto the scene. "Dunce! Dunce!" The brothers looked more formidable than ever, their muscles hardened by relentless training under Xiwen. The half-year wait while Dunce studied had yielded visible results.
"Big Brother Rock! Big Brother Rockforce!" Dunce's face lit up, his grip tight on Rock's shoulders.
"Ha! Little brother!" Rock boomed. "Studying under the Saint himself? Lucky dog! Learned much?"
Rock Rockforce gripped Dunce's arm. "Gotta spar! Xiwen taught us plenty! See who's stronger now!"
Peace Road nodded curtly. "Brothers. Why the rush?"
Rock grinned. "Brother Peace Road! Heard Dunce was back! Couldn't stay away!" The three shared a bond forged in training grounds; Peace Road's intensity meshed strangely well with the Northern Brothers' strength.
Rock Rockforce saw Una. "Una! Getting carried still? Bit old for that, aren't ya?" he teased.
Una huffed. "Shorty Rockforce! Stop teasing! My leg's broken! *He* did it!" She jabbed a finger at Dunce.
Rock Rockforce started. Una, the Order's unofficial princess, rarely received even a harsh word. Rock looked questioningly at Dunce. Peace Road explained, and the brothers relaxed, sharing a look.
"Dunce, since you're cutting scales, we want a look! That Serpent Armor was *our* kill too!" Rock Rockforce's eyes gleamed with acquisitive desire. "Lightweight Scale Armor? We definitely rate a piece!"
Peace Road grunted. "Fine. Let's go. Yuan's been wrestling the scales." He turned to take charge. Una protested weakly, holding tighter.
"Dad, my leg..."
"Hold on, pup." Peace Road adjusted his grip easily, carrying her like she weighed nothing, striding towards the Armory Wing. Rock and Rock Rockforce fell in beside Dunce.
---
They arrived at a well-equipped workshop humming with focused energy. "Yuan! Got a solution for your scale problem!" Peace Road announced loudly.
The door opened, revealing Yuan. Her eyes, sharp with concentration behind practical lenses, scanned the group, settling on Dunce. "Dead Peace Road, keep it down! Tandor't disturb the harmonics." She dismissed Peace Road's claim. "Even the Grandmaster struggled. Unless..." Her brow furrowed, spotting the unfamiliar young man. "Who?"
Dunce stepped forward. "I am Dunce. Well met, Elder Leaf Sister Yuan."
Yuan's eyes widened slightly. *The prodigy Dunce?* She masked her surprise. "Brother Lu? Solution?"
Peace Road gestured to Dunce. "Xiwen sent him. Says *he* can cut the Divinus Scales. Even promised Una here a full suit of armor as... compensation." He jerked his thumb at his daughter's leg.
Yuan's surprise was genuine. "He can?" She looked Dunce up and down. "The scales are virtually indestructible. What method...?"
"Brother Peace Road!" Una protested, drawing attention. Yuan spotted the makeshift splint.
"Una! What madness now?"
Peace Road explained the plank-kicking incident. Yuan sighed, pulling Una into a quick, scolding embrace. "Kicking a Master? Even *you* went too far this time." Yuan held a unique place in Una's life, a blend of surrogate mother and stern mentor.
Una mumbled, staring at her boots. "Didn't know he was a Master..."
Rock interjected smoothly. "Ease up, Sister Ping. She paid the price. Let Dunce make her armor. Fair trade."
Yuan nodded thoughtfully. "Master's decision was clear: the primary scales will be used for breastplates for the junior disciples – their energy defense is weakest. Any surplus *might* go to weaker seniors." She gestured to the sizable pile of deep blue, scale-covered hides stacked like precious metal ingots. "I calculated: enough for maybe a hundred pieces at most."
Una bristled. "*What*? No! Grand Watana*promised*! The leg-breaker tax! If everyone gets one, what's the point of my leg?"
Yuan's expression was measured. "Hmm, true. Promised compensation *is* special... Ultimately, it rests with Master Dunce." Her glance at Una conveyed a subtle strategy. "The Scales are his legacy. His decision carries weight."
Una instantly switched tactics. "Then I want a *full suit_! Leg armor too! Then he's paid!" she declared triumphantly.
Dunce blinked, processing slowly. "I... guess that's fine?"
Yuan hid a smile. "Very well, Master Dunce. Now, enlighten me: what technique can rend the Divinus Scales? I'm eager to learn." She led them inside. The workshop was orderly chaos – advanced cutting tools, micro-suture rigs, piles of exotic alloy thread, and racks holding other materials occupied the space. In the center lay Yuan's current challenge: the near-impervious Divinus Scales radiating a faint, cool power. She pointed to one section she'd already marked for Una using a luminous tracer gel.
Yuan laid out a thick section of scale hide. "First, observe. I've projected the cutting pattern for Una." Her fingers flew over a holopad linked to the tracer, projecting intricate lines mapping out sections for articulated chest piece, shoulder guards, armored leggings, and reinforcement points. "Simply cut along these marks. The highlighted points require bonding apertures; I'll handle the weaving with Monomolecular Wire later."
Dunce knelt. Rock picked up a discarded scale scrap, testing its strength – absurdly tough yet flexible.
Yuan, Peace Road, Una, Rock, and Rock Rockforce watched intently. What would this prodigy do? Channel plasma? Unfold a hidden artifact blade?
Dunce focused. His internal power core flared, radiating a distinct yellow-gold luminescence. Energy gathered in his palm, condensing, twisting, *shaping* itself. An audible hum filled the room as the raw power coalesced into a perfectly formed, shimmering, translucent gold energy *shear*.
Gasps rippled through the watchers. This wasn't projection; it was *reality manipulation*! Yuan's eyes were saucers. Una momentarily forgot her pain and pride, whispering, "Woah..."
Yuan managed, "That's... not any Radiant Technique I know..."
Dunce murmured, voice taut with concentration, "Radiance Shaping."
Una instantly begged. "Teach me! Teach me *that*!"
Dunce focused on the first cut, the energy shear meeting the scales with surprising resistance but holding. "You can learn... once your Radiant Core hits Stage Six."
Una deflated instantly. "Six? *Six*? That's like forever! Forget it!"
Yuan and Peace Road exchanged a long, silent, humbled look. They were stuck at Stage Five and Four. This *boy* was *beyond Six*? Yuan composed herself. "Master Dunce... if you can cut... please, process the remaining scales. I have precise templates loaded for all junior disciples." Her eyes held the gleam of an engineer offered limitless power tools. Free labor? Never refuse.
Rock tested a scale scrap. "Incredible stuff. Tough, light, flexible. Sister Ping, our kill too? Breastplates for us?"
Yuan smiled. Dunce could always overrule her later. "Consider it done. You brought the cutter, after all." The diplomatic route was best.
Rock and Rock Rockforce pumped their fists. "Yes! Thanks!"
Thus, Dunce began his new vocation: Divinus Scale Engineer. His energy shears hummed and flashed as he meticulously followed Yuan's digital projections, transforming the legendary serpent hides into protective gear for the Divine Light Order. The workshop filled with the fascinating hum of impossible energy tools and the quiet wonder of the watchers.