- Sam -

The rest of the week in the forest had been uneventful. They hunted tree bunnies until it became hard to find them. By the end of the last day, it was difficult to even find one or two, but it did not matter. They had each collected dozens of tree bunnies.

Sam and Kyle had realized that they each fell asleep, and woke up at the same time as the other every day. They had also been falling asleep either holding hands, or with their backs together every night, and found that they always cultivated together in their sleep. Any time they touched, even if by accident, their chi seemed to react. They still struggled to merge their spirits without the Intense Focus technique, but they could tell how it would be possible if they kept practicing.

When they returned to the sect, Senior Hall took them to the mission hall, where they exchanged their sacks of tree bunny parts for contribution points. The sacks were so overfilled, that many of the children could barely drag them through the street, even while circulating chi. Since it was their first earning contribution points, they were each given a jade ring, like the ones the Seniors all wore. It had letters inscribed on it, and Sam realized that thanks to Kyle's memories he could read the words, "Jade Peak." The ring was too big for him, so he wondered how he was supposed to wear it.

The children were told that the rings were artifacts, and in order to bind one to their spirit, they would need to feed it a drop of their own blood, imbued with their chi. They were given needles to poke their fingers, but were told to make sure the ring was on a finger first, even if it didn't fit. Sam put the ring on then dripped his chi-infused blood onto it. He watched his blood disappear into the ring, and immediately felt the connection form. As it did, the ring changed size to fit his finger.

Focusing on the connection, he could see a number in his mind's eye. It read "0." Behind the number was a vague ghostly image of himself, and next to his image was a slightly taller ghost with messy hair. The details of the second ghostly image were difficult to make out, but it was obvious that it was Kyle. He thought this must have been because of Kyle's chi mixing with his own. He wondered how that would affect the artifact.

Next they were instructed to go up one at a time to touch their rings to a jade plate, so that they could receive their contribution points. After Sam's turn, he heard Kyle say, "huh?" He wondered about it, but wanted to check his artifact. Sure enough the number changed to match his contribution points. Kyle was right behind him, and Sam was still looking at his number when the other boy received his points. The number went up! Had he received Kyle's contribution points?

"Did your number go up, Sam?"

"Yeah, it went up after you got your points. Did they give me your points by mistake?"

"No, I got points when you went to. I think we're gonna share points. I wonder if that's gonna be okay. It would have to be right?"

"I guess so." Sam wasn't really sure, but it wasn't like they could do anything about it now. It seemed like their connection would be more than just sharing chi.

Once everyone was finished getting their points, Senior Hall told them that the rest of the day would be a free day, but they would start a new training regime in the morning. The Senior disappeared, probably using chi to move quicker than Sam could see, now that he didn't have to let the children keep up with him.

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Many of the children set off right away to explore the city, or spend their contribution points. Sam and Kyle decided they would just go back to the dorm and cultivate. They needed to practice this technique if it was going to do them any good. They both wanted to get stronger so they could earn a lot of money for their families. Plus the weird focus they felt for cultivation hadn't gotten any weaker, even though Senior Andrew had said it would over time. He noticed Emily was returning with them, but Ava was heading off somewhere else. Katrina and Amanda had taken off as well.

Back at the dorm, Andrew greeted them. "You didn't want to check out the city? You know there's a place nearby that sells really good dumplings."

"No, Senior Andrew, we would prefer to practice cultivation, sir," Kyle told him, and Sam nodded in agreement.

"Alright," Senior Andrew replied, "well you'll probably get to Foundation Establishment faster than the others if you keep it up. Then again, you probably will anyway. Antony told me about your new technique. It so happens I know a bit about it. I was friends with a pair who did twin cultivation. They weren't twins though. I think they might've been cousins? I don't remember exactly. They looked like twins though. Side effect of using the technique in foundation establishment apparently. Anyway, the point is, I might be able to answer your questions if you have any. You can also go to the library, now that you have contribution points, if you know how to read. You can spend contribution points on a tutor, if you don't. Or you can wait until Antony gets around to teaching you, but I don't know when that'll be."

"Yes, Senior Andrew, thank you for your guidance," they said in unison, and bowed.

"Great, so you'll need a new room. I assume you're okay sharing a room? It's kinda necessary now that you're twin cultivating."

"Yes, Senior Andrew, we're fine with it, sir," Sam said, and Kyle nodded.

"Good. My friends told me what it was like when they first started using the technique. Apparently it was a bit of a mind fu- er, um, it was quite trippy." He looked at them to see if they would ignore his slip up. They hadn't noticed.

"Um, Senior Andrew, you said we could ask questions, sir?" Sam asked.

"Yes, Junior Sam, go ahead."

"You said your friends, they started to look like twins. Does that mean I'm gonna look like Kyle, sir?"

"Well, it would be better to say that you will both look like each other. Your looks change as you age anyway, and your body changes even more during foundation establishment. Since you've begun merging your spirits, your bodies will naturally start to look alike."

"So.. um.. will my hair always be messy like Kyle's, sir?" Sam asked, and Andrew laughed, "Ahahahahaha, oh heavens! Well, it's hard to say for sure, but probably not. I think that's just because Junior Kyle doesn't like to use a comb, you silly child. Alright, let me show you your new room. It's actually the one right next to mine, since the larger ones are on this end of the hall. The young master who used to stay in here was apparently eaten by the Grand Ancestor. His parents must have been quite wealthy for mortals. They gave a decent offering to the sect for him to have this room. Oh well. He won't need it anymore."

"Woooow!" Sam and Kyle both said as they walked in. The room was bigger than Kyle's old house! Their was a bed on one wall that was bigger than the one Kyle had shared with his brothers. In the middle of the room was a large cushion that was more than big enough for them to sit on together while they cultivated during the day. There was a big wide window with curtains tied off to the side, and a little planter box on the sill. A watering pail sat on the floor, and when Sam looked at it, he noticed a small blue crystal on the handle. When he touched it, the pail filled with water. There was a bookshelf on the wall opposite from the bed, that had a few books in it already. There was a trunk under the bed, and a small cabinet next to the bookshelf, with a few drawers in it.

"You can keep anything you find in here. He won't miss any of it," Senior Andrew said, before mumbling, "nobody'll miss him either, the arrogant little brat. Still can't believe he called me a..." Sam didn't hear the rest of what the Senior said, as the man walked away.