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● WHO: Xiao Xingchen, Song Lan, and Adora
● WHAT: Exploring Zone 2
● WHEN: When everyone is out exploring
● WHERE: Zone 2
● WARNINGS: None atm, will add as needed

Xiao Xingchen looks out from the edge of the city, standing by a meetup spot near the most distinguishing mark he could find (a sign with a faint red hue). He looks down to check their resources stored under his sleeves - bandages, rations - only hoping that the situation won't actually come to needing them.

Regardless. Keeping preoccupied will help, rather than staying stagnant and being left to his own thoughts. A change of scenery would also be more than welcome right now.

At the sound of other footsteps approaching, he turns around with a warm smile on his face.

"All right. Are we all ready to set out? Everything prepared?"

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They'd arrived together, so the sound of footsteps had him turning as well, taking in the arrival of the third in their group silently as he tilted his head up to look at her. Admittedly, he couldn't remember seeing anyone that tall in his previous explorations, but it likely just meant they'd never been in the same space.

Still his attention returns to Xingchen, Song Lan giving a brief nod before he turns back to the woman, offering a proper bow, his expression neutral.

Adora, knowing that there was potential danger, hadn't beat around the bush. She'd just come transformed, the Sword of Protection shifted into it's bracelet form on her waist. Maybe it was a little extreme, but if there were more of those berserk bots out there, she'd rather be She-Ra and not Adora.

Boots crunching as she approaches, She-Ra dips her head in a quick and respectful greeting.

"Hey there. I'm ready when you guys are."

Xiao Xingchen can't help but look slightly flustered. He'd been so distracted that he'd forgotten to greet their companion first. After all, it's been years since he's actually introduced himself to others, only passing through place to place. Perhaps he looks terribly rude, especially in front of Song Lan.

If he was the sort to search for an excuse, he would also blame his momentary distraction on who is definitely the tallest person he's ever seen!

Regardless, he offers a belated salute before he continues on.

"The area we've been assigned to investigate isn't too far from the city. We should arrive there shortly. I, ah... assume you'll walk much faster than the both of us. So rather than trying to keep up that way, Zichen and I can travel there by the air."

Unsheathing his sword Shuanghua, it moves to float horizontally before him, and he hops onto the flat of the blade. A look of uncertainly flashes on his face as he balances himself; he hasn't done this for some time, either.

He's quiet as he studies the stranger for a moment before also unsheathing his sword, copying Xingchen and stepping onto his sword.

"We're ready to go and if get ahead, we can just catch up with you there, like Xingchen said." Not that there should be much of a speed difference with the two of them using their swords.

"That's fine. Only...what should I call you guys?"

She-Ra's large shoulders rise and fall in a quick shrug.

"I'm She-Ra. And I at least want to know who I'm working with."

"Miss She-Ra."

Xiao Xingchen supposes he can respect those who wish to know names, despite how he used to slip by anonymously.

"I am... Xiao Xingchen."

It feels strange to say even that much after so long, but hopefully the hesitation doesn't make it sound as though he somehow forgot his own name or anything.

"Song Lan." His response follows Xingchen's, gaze settling on She-Ra for a moment before shifting back to Xingchen.

She-Ra nods, level and calm, right back at the two men.

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Xingchen and Mr. Lan."

It's kind of her first encounter with names like that, so she's hoping she pronounces them even remotely right. It's...about a 50/50 shot.

That address almost has Xiao Xingchen falling off his sword, nearly losing him his balance.

He rights himself again quickly with a faint, nervous laugh, smiling broadly at She-Ra (trying to not look awkward).

"Ah, please! Just call me Xiao-daozhang."

He'd forgotten for a moment that names were a bit different here. And he glances at Song Lan, in case they might have to explain what a daozhang is...

The form of address has his lips twitching the slightest bit, although given the girl's odd dress, it should be expected she may not know the proper forms.

"Song-daozhang is preferable for me as well."

"oh...kay."

A little perplexed, She-Ra eyes the two flying men, just hovering there on swords...

"What does Daozhang mean?"

Because no, she does not know proper forms. Or proper anything really.

Quickly, Xiao Xingchen gathers his calm again, as if the title reminds him to better carry the refinement that comes with it. He isn't usually like this, but recent events have set him off-balance.

"It is a title, signifying our qualification to perform rituals pertaining to the Dao."

Right... he realizes after saying it that anyone who doesn't know what a daozhang is might not know what else he's talking about. Describing this to anyone feels as bizarre as teaching someone how to eat or drink, but he's already gathered how very different the worlds are.

He's talking to a giant, after all!

"Um... perhaps we can explain more of that along the way. But in short, cultivating the Dao is the source of our power."

"It will take time to explain the specifics, as Xingchen said. You can ask more questions along the way." Song Lan offers after Xingchen finishes before glancing in the direction they're meant to go.

"Shall we go?"

"Okay. Yeah."

She-Ra starts moving again, loping along at an easy pace with her long legs.

"...So what's the Dao and why do you need a special title to perform rituals for it? While we go, I guess that's a good place to start.

The wind whips through Xiao Xingchen's hair and robes as he looks ahead in the direction of their destination.

"The Dao is... the way of all things, of the universe. In finding our way of harmonizing with it, we cultivate our qi. That is, our life energy. There are different ways to channel it, just as like this."

What do you mean, people are unfamiliar with the idea of flying around by balancing on the flat side of their swords?

"Is there anything like that where you're from?"

"Magic."

That's She-Ra's immediate answer. There's no concept like that, nor even any religion that she's aware of, on Etheria. What is there is a solid sense of belief in...weirdly...her. Which isn't something that she's going to broadcast.

"Sounds like magic."

"I suppose that's what it's commonly known as, in all these different worlds. However, I must ask..."

Now, how does he ask this? As someone who once lived in learning about magic and other techniques through cultivation, he can't help but be curious, now that it's more of a part of his life again.

"Is everyone as tall as you are in your world, or is that magic?"

There are so many people here, but they're all of a similar height. This lady here is a definitely outlier!

"That's magic."

She-Ra shrugs her large shoulders.

"So...I'm She-Ra, and I'm sort of meant to be the defender of the universe, and an arbiter. Normally, I'm only about as tall as you and my name is Adora, but I can transform into this body when I need to become stronger."

It's a whole long story about why they have different names.

"And since we don't know what's up ahead, I thought I'd just come prepared."

"...Defender of the universe?" That has him glancing over from his sword, his expression slightly curious. The information about her ability to change size he does file away.

"What else can your magic do?"

"All sorts of things. I can fly, I'm strong, I can heal people, and a few other things."

A few years ago she'd probably have sounded like she was bragging. Now it's like she's reciting a grocery list.

"What does yours let you do?"

"Ours is not entirely different from yours, though different paths mean different strengths and powers. Senses like sight and hearing-- those are stronger than the average person, so we can help with missions like these very well."

The cultivators might be at a loss with the technology at first, but once they're more adjusted...

"My sword also reacts to the presence of the undead in the area. But I don't believe that'll matter much here. The closest thing to that are those metal puppets."

"Robots. Or Bots, for short. I...fought those a lot at home."

She-Ra is happy to fill in that little bit of information after filing away what they're saying.

"They're not puppets. They run on gears and wires, not strings. If you cut the limbs, or damage the optical sensors...the eyes...or hit them with an electrical discharge you'll disable them."

The thought of going for the eyes sends a shiver down Xiao Xingchen's spine. Right, he will stick to going for the limbs.

"Are they a difficult problem for many where you're from? I've seen some go about without posing a threat, but they apparently can be rather dangerous..."

"That depends on the bot. Most aren't harmful, but sometimes there are bad people that use them for nefarious ends. They're a tool, just like anything else."

"I see... well, I do hope there aren't many bad people about."

Xiao Xingchen's gaze goes out into the horizon, sadness in his eyes.

"Whatever brought us here wasn't discerning about any of the deeds of its victims. So do take care here."

He can only hope that the warning doesn't come too late for her.

"Is that a fact?"

She-Ra frowns a bit.

"Bad guys you know from home?"

Xiao Xingchen looks out of the corner of his eyes at Song Lan as quickly and discreetly as he can, before his gaze darts back in front of them.

"Yes. One in particular. Though he is less practiced and possesses less raw power than other cultivators here, he's dangerous with his short temper and underhanded attacks."

As much as he doesn't want to recall all of their experience with this man in front of Song Lan, it would be better to warn anyone. He's sure that he would try to suss out the weakness of this giant warrior as a bit of fun.

"I feel I have been too fair with him in the past, even though he would extend that same courtesy to no one," he says with a sigh. Perhaps he should have taken the execution into his own hands.

"What does he look like? So I can keep an eye out?"

She doesn't know what the man would be like, or why he's like this, but if he has a short temper and is dangerous then it's a good plan to keep an eye out for him. There are, after all, people who can't defend themselves.

He knows exactly who Xingchen's referring to and his expression closes off even before he moves, gets ahead of them while Xingchen continues the conversation. Because the last thing he wants to think about is Xue Yang.

But by the time they catch up, he's a little less tense, even if it's more for their sake than his own.

Xiao Xingchen is quiet for a moment as Song Lan pulls ahead.

"...Most notably, he wears a false finger to cover the one he's missing. He is smaller than either of us, and has a more thin frame, but he's not to be underestimated. He's invented all sorts of cruel devices to fight dishonorably."

He sighs. Perhaps it is because he's been raised in a place free of any evil - as far as he can tell - that it makes evil hard to understand.

"If he had not taken such a twisted path, his inventiveness could have helped so many."

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