"I want to be the very best, like no one ever was, bum,bum,ba-bum."

Maddox had been singing this silly song every time his training got too tough for him. To the annoyance of Instructor Sha'Carri who tried her best not to let it get under her skin as he ran laps once more around the field. It had been a few days since he almost killed himself on accident but since then he had learned the basics of the basics, and needless to say his inner child was pretty excited.

"To train them is my cause!" He belted out the lyrics as he dug deep, to finish another lap around the field. 'Man Red and Blue were the best. Nothing beats the classics,' he mused.

"Must you sing that awful song every time?" Sha'Carri bellowed.

"But it gets the people going." He said through heavy breaths.

"Who's going where?!" Her frustration was palpable, but Maddox couldn’t help but chuckle.

Buffy the Tree squirrel was perched on his shoulders as he ran. The sun, setting at his back. When Maddox thought about it there were worse places to be than here. It's so funny because when this all started he hated everything about this place, but as his comprehension of the school and the world he was now stuck in grew the less anxious he became.

“Okay boy, laps are over.” Even though Maddox was the one running Instructor Sha’Carri was the one left exhausted. Ever since she was forced to cripple her own son’s cultivation she’s had a bitter sweet interaction with him. Yes he now paid attention to the information she gave him more, and endured his training without fuss, but every time she saw him she couldn't help but use her immortal awareness to feel inside of his body, and it broke her heart to sense the weakness in his ‘Spiritual Way. The cracks and broken pieces in what should be a sturdy foundation of his cultivating. Though he would never reach lofty heights, she resolved herself to helping him become as strong as he could be.

“So can we finally go today, please.” Maddox gave a pleading look. He had started working out topless and was now putting back on his robes.

“I don’t understand why you’re so adamant about going to the Chidi Battling Tower.” She tried once more to dissuade him once more, “ Learning to cultivate with your beasts, building up your physical body, these are way more important than battles.”

Each time she said this to him Maddox felt as if it was a personal attack on his childhood. “I think some combat training will do me some good.” Instead of arguing he tried to be as diplomatic as possible. Remembering something his sister used to tell him frequently; “You catch more flies with honey, than you do with vinegar.” In his past life it had served him well in his life and he was always of the mindset; ‘that if it wasn’t broke, why fix it.’

“Fine, you’ve been diligent so far so why not.” Sha’Carri finally relented. Maddox picked up the random tree branch from the ancient oak tree he had gotten a few days ago. One of the exercises Instructor Sha’Carri was making him do, required him to infuse his Chidi into an item that could properly store it, and to his surprise the makeshift bat-slash-walking stick had no problem being such an object. Sha’Carri was under the impression that the broken branch only worked so well for two reasons. First off, it was a branch from an ancient oak tree. A tree that had grown in the forest surrounding the academy for well over a hundred years. The second reason was that Maddox’s ‘Spiritual Way wasn't very large to begin with. With him skipping both the Initiate realm and the Forged Breath Realm and going straight into the Ignition Realm there was only so much Chidi that his meager form could refine.

Next he placed a bracelet of what looked like wooden buddhist prayer beads on his right wrist. The same hand where his Command crest was. Sha’Carri had given these to him and he was surprised that each bead on the bracelet would actually hold a Chidi beast inside. Even now his Rock turkey was in one of these beads. The one it was in was white while all the unoccupied ones were dull wood brown.

Their walk from the training field to the Chidi Battling Tower was anything but silent, as No time with Instructor Sha’Carri was ever wasted. “What is Chidi?” She asked him.

“Chidi means “God Exists”, It is the Qi or energy created when a Spirit beast and a trainer cultivates. It is as essential to a Chidi trainer and beast as air is to a mortal. That's why the name makes so much sense. It's vital to everything we do '' Maddox was surprised when SHa’Carri stopped walking and he absent mindedly walked into her. “Everything okay mo…Instructor” He was cautious of his wording as they walked the academy grounds with other students.

“You’ve truly taken the lessons to heart I see. Even remembering it in a way that makes sense to you. Good job” The smile on her face said it all. She was proud of him.

“Thank you instructor.” If Maddox was a puppy his tail would be wagging.

“To think you could comprehend the theories and principles of Chidi Cultivation at your age. It makes me sad that I hadn’t known sooner.” Sha’Carri held a sadness in the whisper of her words. Most first and second years had difficulty truly understanding why they cultivated the way they did and for a ten year old boy to grasp it so easily spoke volumes about his comprehension and intelligence, but this was a simple thing for someone like Maddox. He wasn’t a child, at least not in mind and soul. He was in his mid twenties with a college degree. Of course he would eventually be able to understand a concept shown to him with time and some effort, but he would be lying if having his parental figure being proud of him didn’t feel good.

They stood at the front door of one of the many towers that littered the academy. This one had a sign that read “Battling Tower” over it. Maddox anxiously watched as the glass like door slid open and closed as students walked in and out of it. Maddox was bouncing with excitement while humming the theme song to a show about a yellow electric rodent.

“Boy, did you hear anything I just said?” Sha’Carri asked. Maddox knew he was in trouble whenever she started tapping her foot with her arms crossed.

“Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention,” he answered timidly. He flinched a little when she reached out with her hand. He expected her to smack him for not paying attention, but after a pause she just placed her hand atop his head. If she was honest with herself she was about to strike him, but after seeing him flinch she didn’t have the heart to hurt him now. ‘He’s just excited.’ she explained it away.

“We’ll do the trial of combat, that way you can get a feel for combat and not get hurt. After you’re defeated we’ll see how you did and go from there” She repeated. Maddox nodded in agreement and they both walked through the sliding glass door.

“How do these doors work?” The question had been on his mind for sometime, but with all he’s had to deal with in the last few days it wasn’t something he had time to think about.

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“Rune Formations,” A voice spoke almost out of thin air. Maddox jumped out of his skin from the shock, and for some reason he seeked shelter behind instructor Sha’Carri. Of Course the fellow instructor in front of them with beady little eyes behind dark rimmed glasses took notice.

With a cough Sha’Carri got the man’s attention off of Maddox as she moved the boy from behind her. “Instructor Von’Leafe, I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t sneak up on the pupils like that.” Even this instructor had to take a few steps back at the violent intent that she let out for a brief moment. It was on the level that none of the students could feel, but to Instructor Von’Leafe it was as if a ferocious tiger had set its sights on him and decided that he would be prey.

“I apologize towards the Senior Instructor for startling the young pupil. I was just surprised when I felt the Senior Instructor’s presence and wanted to know what I owe the pleasure to.?” WIth a deep bow and a fist against his open palm in a salute Instructor Von’Leafe attempted to placate her. Maddox, hearing what the other instructor said, looked at the robes they wore. Sha’Carri’s Orange and green robes had just as many frills as Von’Leafe’s, but her’s were adorned with a multitude of pins and ribbons.

“Apology accepted, “ She reigned in her vicious intent as quickly as it was released and just waved the other instructor away. Von’Leafe seemed like he couldn’t leave well enough alone and insisted on knowing the reason for her being here. “This pupil wishes to attempt the trial of combat.”

“Oh pupil Von’Ashe, I’ve heard plenty about you,” Maddox didn’t understand the underlying message beneath the instructor's words, nor did he realize that Sha’Carri had tensed up.

“This pupil greets Instructor Von’Leafe and hopes he is doing well.” Both instructors took a moment to pause and stare at the child who had greeted and bowed with such respect.

“Such a polite boy,” VonLeafe acknowledged, and with the wind taken out of his sails by a boy, he relented, which in turn caused Sha’Carri’s body to relax. “Let me show you to the floor where the trial of combat is.”

They walked towards an elevator in the back of the room. Maddox couldn’t help but feel like the inside of the tower was a lot larger than it appeared. Like the Tardis from Dr.Who. THe entered the elevator and after a push of a button and a short elevator ride later they exited into another lobby.

“Normally only Pupils who’ve reached the Ignition Ream can come up here, but since you’re being escorted by Senior Instructor I'll allow it.”

“So I can come here alone if I wanted to then,” Maddox whispered to himself, not truly understanding how great the instructors’ senses were.

“Yes, due to certain circumstances this pupil has risen to the Ignition Realm.” Sha’Carri said with apprehension. The little others knew about their circumstances the better. Other than the desk where a Senior Pupil sat. Maddox knew it was a Senior pupil because their orange and green robes were the exact same except for the bronze border along their robe. The room was an empty space with a large ring on the floor. Inside the large ring were smaller circles that went all around the inside of the larger outer ring. There were already several students sitting in the lotus position inside of one of the smaller circles. A halo of light above their heads.

“Okay pupil, sit in a circle, and when you’re ready feed your Chidi to the ring and the Rune Formation of the ring will do the rest. Good luck.” Instructor Von’Leafe said. WIth a nod from Sha’Carri he walked towards one of the empty circles.

‘Well let's see what freaky Cultivator magical bs happens.’ He assumed the lotus position with Buffy the Squirel still perched on his head. It was as if Maddox had a mental checklist that he was ticking off as he remembered everything Sha’Carri had taught him about accessing the Chidi in his ‘Spiritual Way. Soon the crest on his right hand glowed with it’s dull green light, and the circle he sat in started to light up as each rune made up of multiple characters that made up the circle glowed, feeding off of his Chidi. A tranquil look came over his face and even Buffy had her eyes closed as a green halo appeared over his head.

“Okay he’s in. Would you like to watch?" Von'Leafe asked while Sha'Carri rolled her eyes.

"Of course I want to see you fool."

He could sense her frustration, and not wanting to annoy her anymore than he already had, placed some of his Chidi into the simple looking ring on his finger. Then a rectangular clear piece of glass in a brass frame etched in runes appeared in his hands. He held the framed glass upto Maddox, and after putting more of his Chidi into the frame, watching as the Rune Formation around it glowed the clear glass changed, like a tv being turned on. And next was the image of an open field where the young Maddox stood with Buffy perched on his head.

Maddox slowly paced around the green grass. His hand on his chin as if deep in thought. “Ahh yes, as I suspected. Some Cultivator magic bullshit.” The field he and Buffy stood in felt as real as he could imagine. Even the smell of the fresh air made him feel like he had just been teleported to an open field.

A howl brought him out of his daydreaming. His eyes now leering at a large wolf that took no time in charging towards him. “Alright Buffy, you’re up,” Maddox said with excitement in his voice. His tree squirrel leapt from his shoulder and onto the open field. Immediately the wolf locked on to the smaller creature. Its charge moved steadily towards it.

“A tree squirrel, well that's an unorthodox Chidi beast,” Instructor Von’Leafe commented. Him and Sha’Carri watched as the scene played out on the glass as if it was some sort of tablet. “Does the squirrel play into his Chidi Arts?”

“The boy doesn’t know any Chidi Arts at the moment.” She answered with a frown. “The squirrel is just a low level rodent he fancies.”

At her words Von’Leafe also had a frown on hi face. “Does he have a stable defense?” Sha’Carri just shook her head. “He at least has a weapon?”

“You see that stick he’s using as a walking stick.” Sha’Carri drew his attention to the large branch that Maddox was leaning on. “That's it. The boy won’t put the stupid thing down.” At that point Von’Leafe had to pick his jaw up off the floor.

“Then why is he here?!” He was irritated and shocked. Sha’Carri could understand, so decided to be gracious and let it slide. Just this once.

“He was adamant about experiencing a battle, so why not.” She shrugged. “What's the worst that can happen? This lowly wolf defeats him and he goes back to training. Everyone wins”

Instructor Von’Leafe only shook his head in disbelief. “To have a pupil in the Ignition realm so unprepared, this is just unacceptable.”

Sha’Carri simply glared at the thin bespeckled man. Her violent intent rose to the surface once more. “I had no idea I asked you for your opinion Instructor…what's your name again?”

Von’Leafe knew better than to say anything else. His blood was starting to boil, but he knew better than to insight her wrath. “Well I hope he learns something from this.”

“Hey Buffy, you’re pretty nimble, see if you can leap onto that wolf’s back as it charges.” Maddox instructed, and Buffy nodded with a chirp. Her large eyes never left the wolf, ready to barrel into her. The wolf lowered its head on its approach, but when the moment of impact should’ve happened the large beast felt nothing. Its pace not slowing down it looked around for the small creature that dodged its attack. The wolf’s pace slowed down but it was still going at a running pace, completely unaware of the squirrel riding piggyback.

‘Man I wasn’t expecting Buffy to land on it the first try.’ He thought while stroking his nonexistent beard. “Good job Buffy, now pelt that big bad wolf in the back of the head with one of those random ass acorns you love so much.”

The twinkle in the medium house cat sized squirrel was mischievous as anything Maddox could’ve seen on a person. The tennis ball sized acorn that appeared in her raised paw seemed a little comical, but the heavy thud that followed after Buffy relentlessly pelted the wolf in the back of the head with two of them rang through the open space and the wolf crashed unconsciously into the ground.

“Yeah! Let’s Go!” Maddox pumped his fist in the air. The wolf started to dissolve into particles of what he assumed was spirit energy.

Both instructors were speechless at what they saw. “Well that was unorthodox.” Von’Leafe commented.

“Was not expecting that.” Sha’Carri agreed.