Current limit of objects I can track

3 - after which I start to drop connections. Perhaps more practice will make maintaining them easier. As it stands, I can only maintain three for up to a day before it hurts too much. Two connections are sustainable for longer periods. Best result so far is five days. Assuming one is able to be held for upwards of a month if not indefinitely.

The current range of connection is around 250m to 1km, depending on number of connections active. With Clover’s assistance, the general limitations of what I can connect to were knocked out in the last week. With her having just left yesterday, I am assembling the notes. A blank copper plate at the ready to store my more detailed observations so future users can more easily grasp the contents of this jade coin.

A copper sheet is a thin and short piece of copper dipped in protective wax except for a portion at the end which was given a cap, usually cork or something else to protect it from aging when not in use. Holding onto the exposed portion is all one needs to touch to use the sheet.

Copper sheets are far easier to use and store than jade items, especially because of the inconsistent ways people craft jade. There are jade coins, jade slips, jade sheets, jade seals, not too uncommon to just get a raw piece of stone. It wasn’t until a couple decades ago that I saw my first piece of jade that wasn’t a rock or inconvenient shaped carving. It was a simple piece of jade carved into a simple stick shape with some engravings on the side. It was the best manual I had read to date and I am still just a bit bitter about how the contents were useless to my cultivation. It was also made of a jade I had never seen before. I only ever had seen green jade before this but that one was white. Quite surprising at the time since-

I stop what I was doing. Wait a minute- they weren’t describing themselves with green jade. They meant white jade. White jade beauty. It's because it happens to be rarer or higher quality jade, isn’t it? I have to grasp my skull and try to calm myself down. I’m so upset that I didn't make the connection sooner, I think I actually am too stupid to be a cultivator where is my bolt of tribulation to fucking kill me it has been a century since I started learning about this stuff how have I only now-

A knock on the door pulls me away from my spiral. A pink haired girl with blue eyes. One of the twins. Since Celeste left with Clover this must be -

“Haley” I greet the girl and invite her in.

“Celeste, actually, last minute decided to switch places, so I’m staying behind.”

“You’re not trying to trick me again are you?”

“When have we ever done that?” she asks, far too innocently.

I give her a glare until she sighs “You’re no fun”

“Are you Celeste?”

“Yeah”

“Hmm, alright. So was there something you needed?”

“I was hoping for your opinions on my cultivation progress.”

“But of course, you and Haley are, what, second breakthrough?”

She nods in confirmation.

“Very well then, please present your kata to me”

A short walk to the training grounds later and she is flowing her way through the forms. After twenty years of practice, her understanding of the forms shows. She has worked diligently and her progress is steady. Both her and her sister. Our sect is one of finesse and adaptability. The kata follow this with the majority focused on balance, deflection, and movement. She shows solid proficiency with the movements. As she passes through each step, my body, having practiced these steps for over a century, now whisper sympathetic movements along with her, seeing her minor mistakes. They will clean up with time though, especially with Haley hable to help her.

* A little too heavy on the left foot

* Slightly hesitant with her parries

I jot down a couple notes and watch her finish the kata after which she moves on to the Steps she knows.

Our second step: Focus, or as the master tries to call it “The Hundred Li Lunge” I don’t think I have ever gotten a good explanation of how long a Li is but I don’t think she knows what it is either as the step is essentially a movement skill. Akin to quick step though quick step has the added benefit of being able to be elementally aligned if one desired. Specifically though, the skill stores Qi within the back leg of the stance and then releases it for a blindingly quick burst of speed.

* A little too much weight on her front knee.

She then starts her third step. Collecting Qi into her hand then following through an attack with an arcing motion. Her action being followed by two clones of her arm and blade. The first and third copy having physicality to them. The second being a simple conjuration.

The technique has offered some insight for me with the illusion spell clover gave. Though they differ enough in execution that I have yet to make a proper illusion that is not my own body.

-strengthen consistency of illusions

I consider Celete’s progress. A healthy pace from the last time I talked to either her or her sister on the matter. I have guides from Master, as well as the progress of Clover, Tenny, and myself, I feel my mind brush against the memory of Ten and and my pen histates for a brief moment before returning to work.

“What minor techniques have you been working on? You have quick step of course, and I know you are adept enough at it, so no need to bother showing me.”

“A good portion of my time on that area has been on spell cards.”

I look up from my notes to give her my attention.

“And how has that been going? I am more versed in talismans than spell cards. I have yet to look into getting myself any.”

She gives a wavy hand gesture. “Spell cards are a bit more involved than talismans since they’re reusable.” she pulls out a stiff rectangular card and hands it over.

“How familiar are you with Ludi?” she asks

“I know the general rule set most use, though I wouldn’t consider myself a player. I do study it some, as an aside to one of my other interests.”

“Really? A bit of a surprise truthfully, I took you as a player. You should understand the analogy well enough.” She then takes another two cards out and put them together. “A talisman is a single spell loaded and ready to use at a moment’s notice. A spell card though, is useless on its own. No matter what I do, these cards won’t do anything until they are sufficiently focused.” She pulls out a third card and puts it on top. The cards glow and a ball of fire arises above her hands. She aims at one of the target dummies and lands.

She shows me the cards she just used and names them.

“Fire.”

“Orb.”

“Burn."

“Like with Ludi we take ideas and transform or add upon them. I can take this card and replace it with my dart card” she switches them out.

“Then this one with Pierce.”

The cards alight again, and a long, thin bolt of flames appears above the cards. She tosses it at the dummy, piercing it through the head.

“Do they all fall into this element, form, and effect dynamic?”

“For the most part. Some card combinations dont exactly follow that pattern, though you need the cards for them, which is where the big problem with these decks arises. They take a lot of gold, time, or both to maintain and make.”

“I remember seeing the occasional deck as a mortal but it never occured to me to get any. I assumed they were basically the same as talismans so I put my time into those.”

“They’re cheaper to make. Just need some Qi, some knowledge of formations, spend a week powering the spell, and there you go. Spell cards need sturdier materials, Closer to a couple months to charge initially, as well as more complex formations, and some odd reagents.”

“Going the long way, how much time would a good deck take to make?”

“Mmm- about fifteen cards is about when a deck becomes broadly useful. About five of each card type allows for a good number of useful combinations if you pick carefully. A good aspect of spell decks is that since they aren’t used up each casting, the maintenance is much less. Just need to make sure they’re full on Qi and you’re set.”

* Long term plan

* “Generally” three types, maybe look into.

* Need money or materials

- ask later about where to buy materials or premade cards

With that I allow myself to dismiss my train of thought on that. How many cards do you have right now?”

“Fifteen between the both of us.”

When together they have a full deck, but separate they are limited. Not to mention this will lack as immediate of usefulness in combat, especially with how fast duels are…

“How are you with enchanting?”

“Only what I’ve learned as a result of my spell cards.”

“Same for Haley?”

She nods.

“Alright, I have a few manuals you might find useful. I highly recommend it. Your alignment is… magnetism yes? And as identical twins you share. Have you found any good techniques in that avenue?”

“Not really, magnetism is a bit niche to just find out this far from a major city.”

- keep an eye out for magnetism manuals

I make the note then ask, “Any metal or lightning manuals catch your eye?”

“We found a metal ability that is sort of a weak magnetism ability. Though it was written for a dagger cultivation base. We have been trying to parse a way to use it with rapiers.”

“Whats the ability?”

“It deflects steel and other metals like a shield.”

I whistle. “I can see that being useful. Any luck so far?”

“We can only generate a small aura around our blades, not as useful as what would practically be a wall.”

“Also not a key technique to cultivate with an additional weapon, I take? Two blade dueling styles aren’t uncommon though.”

“It’s not off the table, but it is a big commitment to make. A second weapon to cultivate would presumably stunt our progress.”

“And just one if you doing it would harm the way you two cooperate.”

“As such as I am chagrined to say so. Having the same alignments as my dear sister is a boon when it comes to training and looking for the best path to take. Our dantians are identical as well, allowing us to see problems better. One of us progressing faster than the other would ruin that balance.”

I run my tongue along the inside of my lips in thought for a second before addressing her.

“Alright, keep me informed of what comes of that. I will keep an eye out for other manuals to compliment your studies. As for your techniques, you are making good progress, keep an eye on where you are concentrating power within your body while moving it. I noticed you slowing down in some places, also, same notes as Clover gave you the other day, in addition to a note for your third step to practice that one more. Aside from that, you should be ready for a new step in the next decade. Anything else?”

Celeste seems to think, looking uncomfortable.

“I suppose- I should tell you that we are at a bottleneck with our first step.” she admitted quietly.

My grip on my pen tightens and my eyes dart around for anyone near.

“I understand our sect is small and close, but this isn’t a topic to bring up in the open.”

“I don’t- know if I want to elaborate on it”

I bite on my cheek and nod. “Okay”

The conversation died. Not a pleasant note to end on but necessary. I dont write it down but I do make a mental note

-stunted growth

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

—

Clover

I sit and watch Annabelle with her arms elbow deep into the dirt. Her outfit is most certainly enchanted. No way it isn’t. It still is as blindingly pink as it was when we left three days ago.

“This is a *grunt* great find. I cannot believe these can be found so close to the sect.”

Pulling up roots and putting them into a piece of cloth she has open, Annabelle seems ignorant of the spectacle she is making.

“Annabelle, while you are busy with whatever that is you are pulling up, your lunch is ready.”

Celeste and I smile at each other about the usually reclusive girl so eager to get dirty. I hand her a plate of fried rabbit and mushroom. Mushrooms courtesy of Annabelle, and rabbit courtesy of me. I then pull the map from my bag and check our progress. Celeste sits next to me on a fallen log that we decided to use as a stopping point.

“For taking our time we sure are making good progress” I take a bite of the food. Yummy for being so simple.

“Is the Nilwood forest the one are in now, or the ones across the mountains closer to the capitol?” Celeste asks.

“No, Nilwood is south of the sect. We followed the mountains up north of the sect to the Halfwoods.” I pull out a pocket watch. Nearly noon. At this time we should still have another… ten hours of sunlight left… “at the rate we are traveling, we should be at the Halfwoods before sun down. Should be enough time to visit one of Jessica’s business partners.”

“What is the name of woods on the other side of the mountain?”

“Also the Halfwoods. I think you can figure out why, the naming conventions here aren’t advanced alchemy or anything. Anyway, what do you two think of staying at an inn tonight?”

“Inn please!” Celeste immediately chirps. “Three days without a proper bed is killing my back.”

“Annabelle, you packed half of your bedding and bought a “tent” that is basically a pavilion. I would hardly say your back is hurting because of the bed situation.”

“Its a self storing tent!” she protests

“That doesn’t have a weight enchantment. Face it, you overpaid. Just because it fits nicely into your pack doesn’t change that you’re lugging around a heavy box.”

“I am not so weak that a tent can tire me out. Besides I’m still sleeping without a proper bed and unlike you oh senior sister who can sleep just about anywhere without a care, I’ve gotten used to the comforts of civilized living.”

“You’re no Jessica, that’s for sure” I joke.

The three of us have a snicker at that.

“It’s difficult to be as picky a sleeper as a former princess.”

“She’s never confirmed that.” I defend my friend.

Annabelle gives me a look as she stands up from her hole and removes her gloves, skin perfectly unsullied.

“You can’t bullshit me senior sister, I have eyes. If she is not a princess I will clean all of your undergarments for a year,” she says imperiously.

“That feels like a fetish to me, don’t you think? Are you into embarrassment, or is it an underwear fixation?”

“This isn’t about an underwear fixation, nor do I want to be humiliated!” Annabelle protests loudly. “Losing a bet is supposed to have something you don’t want to do.” She adds with a huff.

“Well, all the same, don’t touch my underwear without begging first,” I shake my fork at her.

“I’ll bet she was a viscountess or something, but not a princess,” Celeste adds her thoughts on the matter.

“Fine, I’ll put my money where my maw is: pay for setting up a greenhouse for you so you can grow those leaves. I win either way”

“Come on, add something humiliating. That’s how bets are supposed works.” Annabelle tries to insist wrongly.

“Betting gold is traditional too, now I know this is for some sort of a fetish thing.”

“Its not a fet-!” Annabelle takes a moment to settle herself then starts again “I’ve heard the things you do with Kasey, that mortal you mess around with. You have no room to lecture me about fetishes”

“Ah, but I am your senior and my experience gives me authority to say you’re doing something for your own perverse reasons, I can see it by the blush in your face, the look in your eyes. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

“This is blatant hypocrisy, how can you be all up in that mom and yet I’m the pervert here!”

“I don’t go around asking to touch other people’s underwear unprompted.”

I go for another bite of my food to find that it is gone and sigh in sadness. I try not to pout. Still hungry. I poke at the strips of meat I had cooking as well. They would make for a decent snack for a few hours on the road. Though not enough to be filling, especially with two other s to share with.

“Whats with you and that mortal anyway?” Celeste is the one to ask this.

“She’s my mortal sweetheart?”

“But what is that? You already have your dao partner in Jessica, even if you don’t want to admit it.”

“FIrst of all, I have been dating Kasey for longer than I’ve been doing anything with Jessica. Secondly, she is a mortal who I am, well, sweet on. Someone I give affection to and shower with gifts.”

“What, so you just, flirt with her until she dies? You’ll outlive her, and probably her kids besides.” Annabelle asks this time.

I shrug. “Yeah, we’re immortals. I’ll outlive her whether or not I love her, her entire lifetime will be just a happy moment to me eventually but it's not worth any less that. It’s not uncommon for immortals to have both their mortal lovers and their dao companion. Haven’t you read any literature?”

“Clover, I’ve seen your bookshelf. If that’s the sort of “literature” then it is by far from the norm” Celeste snarks.

“It still happens” I say defensively, now looking to change the topic. “Who's to say I can’t have both a dao partner and my mortal trysts?”

“Oh, does this mean you do see Jessica as a dao partner?” Celeste pokes again.

“Okay! Okay. We’re heading out! Time for my juniors to pack up the cooking supplies!” I force the subject change and stand up. I grab the cooked meat, my plate and cup and skip ahead of the others to get a temporary reprieve. Unfortunately the reprieve is only for a few minutes before they catch up and pester me more on Jessica.

I know what I’m doing to her isn’t entirely fair. Though at the same time she isn’t losing anything by my flirtations. She is my closest confidant now. I didn’t expect to get so close to her, yet here I am. I have not felt able to trust someone this much since…ever, really. A close companion, does it even need to advance? I see her and desire to be by her side but I could do that as a friend. I feel a rock to her, yet to be her dao companion would change an aspect of said relationship, I know. The way she is glad for my presence, without it needing to be for carnal reciprocation. I want her in a way that makes me kinda go stupid.

I could try to explain all this to these two juniors but I’d probably just be told I’m wrong. In fact, I probably AM wrong but not in a way I care to share with the lower disciples if I can help it. Ever since Ten left and I had to become the sole second disciple I at least try if only for Jessica’s sake, even if I try not to show it.

… thats probably not a good excuse, is it…

“Oh hey, I see the town”

Thank fuck. I almost had to seriously consider the consequence of my actions.

At some point the real world conversation moved away from the teasing, but some thoughts refuse to go away, circling in the back of my mind.

“Sun is still gonna be up for a couple more hours. We have time to find that witch.”

“Oh, that alchemist is a witch too?”

“Yeah, part of a uh, wrath hoard I think.”

“Oh, a wrath hoard? This place must be bigger than I thought”

I smile, happy to be able to explain something to my lower disciples. “Being around pleasant plains for too long might skew your perspective on the sizes of cities, but remember it's basically a village. No, there is no hoard here. Just a fragment.”

“I don’t think either of us were saying Pleasant Plains should be used as a definer for any sort of normal. All of us have been to a grand city yeah? I spent a few years in Titania. It was good aside from the Rat King, but once you learn how to get along with them it’s acceptable, and even nice in some ways. Moved away when the business dealings my family had came to a conclusion.” Annabelle mused.

“The Rose Palace, for Haley and myself. That was actually the city that got us to decide we needed to get away from our caravan. Grand cities are too much as a mortal. What about you, Clover?”

I wave down a pedestrian instead of answering. “Excuse me, do you know where we can find Foxtail Alchemy?”

The man I waved down pointed up the street “Just up this way then right at the fountain. Big sign near a restaurant. Boar's Tusk, I think it's called, never been there myself but the beaverkin who runs it is a nice enough fellow, he-” the man goes off on the pleasant conversation you get in any town about the good and the bad of the folks living there. I have the man walk with us for a while until he finishes. It's a conversation about nothing of consequence but pleasant. Also, it kept the other two off me for a few minutes. I gave the man a couple silver for his time then wave him off.

“So about that question, Clover?”

“Jessica told me we could get a discount at Foxtail. I’ve sampled a few goods Jess has ordered from them, and this lady makes some quality stuff.”

“Clover, just answer the question.”

“Lets see so he said to take a right at the fountain. Busier than I expected.”

“Nothing like a grand city’s crowds though, right Clover?”

Can she stop bringing that up, I don’t want to be teased further about how I was trying to lecture them when I didn’t actually know what I was talking about.

“The fountain looks lovely. I wonder how much the upkeep on it is though. I hope they pay the folk enough for that. Anyway, they mentioned a boar's tusk or something down this street. It's probably that one with the boar carving on its signboard.”

Celeste sighs and does a quick step over to the restaurant then back, “The Boar's Tusk, yes. Might be a good place for dinner,” she notes, but still looks as though she wants to say something.

“I take it Foxtail is the one with the foxtail and potion carved into the sign.”

The foxtail was the foxtail plant. Neatly carved next to a stylized potion bottle on a piece of wood with black and white paint for contrast. Approaching the door painted in neat letters but clearly done by hand.

FOXTAIL ALCHEMY & SUNDRIES

“Yup, this is the place.”

I knock on the door before entering. A bell then rings making my knocking unnecessary. A few other customers are browsing the odds and ends selections of goods looks my way making me happy I have fur to hide my blush.

“Alina?” I call out.

An orange furred foxkin perks up at the counter. A *very* well endowed woman with a large floppy hat and a tail any furred kin would be jealous of. The floppy hat was, unfortunately, not on her head though, I love the way those big hats look on women. Maybe I should buy one for Jessica. Not having the hat on had the foxkins ears clearly visible as she smiled greeting us. “Welcome to Foxtail Alchemy and Sundries, how can I help you fine young ladies today?”

“Young might still apply to Celeste here, though clover here is old enough that she could probably be your grandmother” Annabelle jokes.

I roll my eyes and extend my paw. “Hi, yes, the name is clover. I come from the same sect as your financial backer as do these two wilting flowers, celeste and Annabelle. We were passing through the area and Jessica requested that I stop by.”

She takes my paw in her own and gives it a few light sniffs before shaking it. I give her paw a few sniffs in return and let go.

“A pleasure to meet y’all, why it’s been a few years since I last heard from dear Jessica so this comes as quite the pleasant surprise Of course that isn’t to say. I am displeased to see new faces! come and sit, please, I have tea ready if guests want to rest a while and talk.”

She then corrales us to a stall in the back of her store.

“Nice shop you have here, how has business been?”

“Most of my income comes from potion making. . The odds and ends up front here on the shelves are to get folk to come in more often and think of me when they need a potion.”

“She sells her potions for cheap too, got one for stomach ulcers last month at a discount.” one of the patrons nearby said.

“Huh, I might be interested in a few concoctions, you have any at the ready for purchase?”

“I do happen to have a selection available that might suit the immortal. Healing, strength enhancement, -poison-, antidotes, -explosive tinctures-, energy drinks.”

“What about fake flesh” I ask innocently.

She brings her paw to her mouth in shock. “Why clover, you should know I am nowhere near important enough to have the permits for a potion like that.”

“Right, right, one of those things you couldn't even make as a business favor?”

“Exactly, not to mention I would need the client to bring all of those specialty ingredients to me as some are just not available in your typical marketplace. Not that the potion is one that I know by heart.”

“Yeah, weird and hard to get ingredients like gnatsbane yeah?”

“So I believe, though don’t quote me on that.”

“Right, sorry, my curiosity gets the better of me sometimes.”

“It’s quite alright, always happy to clear the waters with clients.”

…

“Clover what was that?” Celeste asks once we left the shop. All of us a few potions and random items heavier.

“What was what?”

“Clover we aren't blind. That conversation was shady as can be."

“I think dinner at the boar tusk would be nice, should we go there before or after we find an inn?”

“Clover can you drop that? We know youre trying to be mysterious and all but its getting annoying.”

This time I decide to keep my mouth shut and just keep walking.

“Senior sister I challenge you”

I stop and turn back.

“Really?”

“Really, I don't care what I bet as a losing condition, it can be anything, I just want you to stop being so dismissive all the time and be straight with us when we ask you something”

“It would be an unfair fight, denied”

Celeste huffs and looks to Annabelle. “Will you be my second to even the odds?”

The blonde looks between celeste and I then nods. “I would like a favor for my bet.”

I feel my nose twitch in irritation. I take a calming breath. “No, I have the right to deny a challenge as your senior”

“We claim a grievance, Clover. Being excessively dismissive of your lessers, even if we have been a little mean about it, is not acceptable. If not as a fight then we ask for this to be resolved some other way.”

I close my eyes for a moment. The sound of the city slightly quiet as those nearest stop to watch. Waiting to see what the cultivators will do. I have been just a little too dismissive haven’t I…

“Very well, I request two amendments to the conditions. First- Instead of forcing me to be straight with you two, make it a blank favor for each of you. You can use it to ask me to be direct with you on any one question or even just to make me your slave for a single task. Use it for whatever. It cannot be a blanket question or request that would go on for an indeterminate period of time.”

“And you had an issue with my fetishes?”

“Its only for a fetish if you want it to be pervert.” I stick my tongue out at her.

The two consult each other for a moment then shrug. “Sure”

“Yeah, I’m okay with it”

“Very well, and secondly, can we wait until after we leave town? Maybe a day or so out? So that we don’t bother any nearby cities. Also so that we can enjoy the inn and dinner without having exerted ourselves anymore?”

The two hardly needed to be convinced. They dropped their tension realizing that it wasnt immediately important and nodded

“Yeah actually, tonight would be a dumb time to have a fight. I’m hungry.”

“I want a proper bath”

“Very well then, to the inn first to relax a little and bathe then food?”

The two agree in unison at that