The weather of this year's Summer was exceptionally bad.
It rained for weeks which was unusual. The winds came from the south carrying the moisture of the ocean and when they got blocked by the White fangs mountain chain it fell on us in a downpour.
Our unpaved streets turned to muddy quicksands bogging down carriage and merchandises, there was a rise in dysentery cases as the drainage system overflowed and the fluvial trade was disrupted. The town was drowning, the rivers were at their highest and there was a moist fog floating above us making the temperature unbearable. With the diseases, overflowing water and puddles of stagnant water there was a sickening stench permeating the east district and the constant buzzing of insects were driving me mad. The only good thing was that there were no mosquitos in this world, so at least I wasn't dealing with bites and itches.
The excess rains made it harder to sail upstream against the flow plus there were rumours of monster activity in the southern province. The shieldlord sent a task force to secure the river and roads to the south but it was too late: rumours can do more harm than the alleged threat itself and few traders were bold enough to make the travel to Nakunaui.
This cut the city from the commerce with the southern republics and the southern continent. Only the ships coming from the under-path and the Beastkins Empire were still making it to us along with the lan trade route with the Empire in the west.
Both Gel and Melodi were complaining that the river got more dangerous and that fish got scarcer. The tridents were doing their best but there wasn't much they could do against nature itself. This year there were more predators teeming in the waters and even a few monsters that were spotted right outside the walls. I was secretly glad that Peterell was stranding ashore, the idea of a flock of Chogsu waiting to grab one of the girls was a tentacle nightmare.
Despite all these gloomy news my life at the temple was quite comfortable. Sure the air was heavy with hot damp winds but the temple had many well ventilated rooms and a large underground where we could find some coolness.
Sansho was brimming with energy the heat was making her go almost maniac. Her green scales had a healthy lustre and she was buzzing everywhere, humming and fast talking to anyone she met on her stormy path. Once she woul get a hold of a patient listener she would have her scales turn to happy yellow shine while she was recounting whatever passed her disordered mind, mixing old memories with her recent doings or tales and real events.
Usually when it gets so hot one tends to eat less and more fruits and veggies. We didn't get that choice. She was frantically cooking all day long, force feeding us with stews and fried foods heavily spiced.
The disruption in the southern trade route came at our rescue when she ran out of spices. Starting then she had to spend more time skimming through the city in search of supplies, saving us from her cooking frenzy.
Since the courtyard was turned into a muddy arena by the rain, the martial training was done in one of the underground rooms.
Orzhov was a diligent teacher and made sure to keep me on a tight schedule. I was still unable to simply graze him but at least now he was also less often punching me in the nose.
Seeing me train with dagger in hand the other acolytes put a stop to the hazing. You never know when a young kid with a blade can loose it and stab you, so they chose not to push me in a corner. I also suspect Sansho had a word with them too. She was just everywhere nowadays.
More than often the veteran officer: Gupta, came to impart some of his experience on us, correcting our stance or commenting on Orzhov's use of Chi.
On one of our breaks I took the opportunity to learn more about Chi. “What is Chi exactly? Am I also able to use it?” I asked while catching my breath after sparring with the blonde Orzhov.
The young acolyte of Husnd laughed at me, knowing full well that I intended to gain some means to beat him.
Gupta answered me seriously though: “Chi is the essence of life. It imbues all of us and the world around us, everywhere. So of course you have it too and can to some extent use it.” he paused to think of a pertinent analogy, “It's a bit like water for fish. They all swim in it but some can make a better use of it than others. Yet even the smallest shrimp can also use it a bit too.” He stroked his moustache, satisfied with his metaphor.
“So how do I learn to use it?” I eagerly inquired. I couldn't wait to be able to become as strong as my grandfather or Peterell, if I was to face monsters again I wanted to be ready. And I knew it would happen now that I had a blessing it was like wearing a target inciting monsters to go against me.
Orzhov was the one to enlighten me. “ For now, you wait. Only when you will be able to sense the surrounding Chi and distinguish it from your own will you be able to train in directing its flow.” He was reciting a lesson here. It wasn't clear what I was to do? When would I know I was feeling Chi?
The veteran of Dard followed up: “Most of the time it happens at the start of puberty, around cul springs old (12). A bit earlier for girls, a bit later for some boys. But it can largely vary depending on your sensibility. Some can feel it starting 8 springs old and blades even use some external tools to help induce it earlier in their children.” his gaze got blurry as he lost himself in his memories, “In the beginning it will barely be a tingle. But it will grow as you work your concentration and focus. Once you learned to feel the Chi you can start absorbing some. We all naturally have Chi flowing through us but the key is to learn how to keep it inside and store it.” He patted me heavily on the shoulder, “It is easier if you are the kid of someone with large Chi, there is some heredity for talent. My father was a great warrior and because he taught me Chi early on I was able to become an officer in the army. What does your father do?”
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This was a tricky question. My father has some Chi but not much. The real conundrum here is that if I reveal his job they might ask some questions as to how I entered the temple.
I could feel their curious gaze hanging upon me, “He is more a scholar than a martial user,” I lied. Maybe Shinpilo's blessing is helping me to lie better because none of them seemed to doubt me, “But my grand pa had more Chi. So maybe I'll take more after him?” I said with a hint of hope.
They both smiled at my candid hope, they knew I was destined to be more a scholar than a fighter like them.
“May Dard give you patience and focus then.” Gupta blessed me. This was a common prayer coming from a priest of Dard.
“What's it like to use Chi?” I questioned to put them back on track.
This time it was Orzhov that shed some light for me “To me it feels like I'm a big sponge absorbing water, feeling full and heavy after replenishing. When I exert myself it's like I'm drying up, so when I squeeze the sponge I can rehydrate and keep going for a longer time at full force.”
Gupta nodded in approval. “You already are quite good for your age.” he complimented Orzhov, “Later on, when your mastery of Chi gets better, you will not only learn to store more but also to use it in subtler ways. I'm in the second quarter of Chi mastery.” he stated proudly, “At this level you can use Chi to form a thin shell around your body. By moving this coating you can move the rest of your limb too. That's how I can keep fighting with my leg.” He lifted his martial robe to reveal the wooden foot. “It means I can't use much Chi for other means like I used to but it's enough for me to keep kicking Orz's ass.” He jokingly taunted the teenager.
It's the first time someone spoke of Chi levels in front of me so I grabbed the occasion to learn more: “How does one know his level in Chi?”
Gupta took a rare scholarly look, happy to talk about a theoretical subject he had mastery of: “There are two schools for that. The Empire tends to rank Chi users on the maximum amount of Chi they can store at once. You can measure it by having them pour Chi in crystals and measure how many they can fill in a set time.” He fished a stone out of his sleeve, “This is a spent light crystal but I can refill it with Chi,” He squinted his eyes for a brief moment and the stone held between his fingers turned into a common light crystal.
So that's why we don't use them at home we would need someone with enough Chi to refill them.
“But I believe this is a crude way to measure ones mastery of Chi.” He went on after hiding the crystal back to whence it came from, “With enough time and training, one can end up soaking a lot of Chi up but it doesn't mean anything if you can't put it to good use in a fight.” This time it was Orzhov shoulder that got smashed, “Like Orz said, when you store Chi you'll feel like a sponge full of water. It's not a pleasant sensation and it enhances your senses, making you irritable but also a bit dizzy. Most of the time warriors avoid storing too much Chi at once, except when training in a secure area just like here.” Orzhov approved the affirmation with a knowing look.
Gupta kept up with his lesson: “That's why I think the Beastkin Empire way of grading Chi users is better. They focus more on what you can do with it: how well you can use it. They have many scales, ranging from the weight you can lift to the max speed at which you can run, for how long you can hold your breath or how far away you can push your Chi.”
I could feel the man wanted to brag about something here, he was easy to read and I was happy to oblige: “What's your rank in both scales?”
He had a satisfied smile at the corner of his lips, this was his time to show off some more: “In the Empire's ranking ladder I'm just a class five, barely making it to second quarter. It's even a bit low for an officer,” He confessed with a crafty look, “But in the Empire of Mist's ladder I am a rank seven user, so in the upper half of second quarter. I'm quite good at using chi to move my body.” His eyes lost their focus again as he reminisced his military days, “Before the damned monster mangled my foot.” he spat on the flooring, I'll be the one cleaning the room... “Before that, I was famous in my regiment for my speed and unexpected moves in battles. With my Chi I could change position to dodge anything or bend my weapon's trajectory at the last moment to catch the unaware enemy, this made the difference in fights more than once.”
“You'll have to teach me that.” blurted an excited Orzhov.
Gupta smiled in satisfaction, proud of his martial achievements and happy to pass them on. “Yes, that and many more. Chi can be quite malleable when one understands it. I've seen warrior growing phantasmal blades out of their skin, some even solidifying the chi to expel it like an arrow out of their hands or just to become strong enough to tear an armour with their bare hands.” He was enjoying the stunned look on our faces, happy with his effect.
When I got over the myriad of possibilities he just listed, I managed to ask “So what's the difference with magic then? How is a Chi fighter different from a magician or a priest?”
His face got sullen and serious. “Be respectful of the gods, kid. Priests can have their own power, like I do, but when they perform prayers it is not our power that is at play. We are merely a channel through which the gods perform their own miracles, far stronger than anything I could do by myself.” He made a small gesture with his left fingers, a prayer to Dard I suppose. “Magic is another way of using Chi but only a magician could explain it to you, they all have their own way to manipulate it. All I know is that they are able to change the nature of Chi and enhance its powers. They can do much more with it than us fighters and are considered a bit stronger.” he had to reluctantly admit. “Plus it's not unusual for magician to also use Chi like us warriors do. Making them even more harder to fight against. If you are not aware of who is a magician, you might get lured into thinking that it's just another warrior until a ball of fire engulfs you.” He warned us.
Orzhov looked worried at the prospect. Gupta sunk the teenager's shoulder even deeper as he drummed on it, “Ha! Don't fuss too much over it. Magicians are quite rare and often blades, so you'll know who you are dealing with most of the time. But caution brings durability and resilience.” His last sentence is a common Dardish aphorism.
After that I had to resume my chores today I was helping Mekas with some public writting. There weren't many customers, the disruption of the trade routes also meant that the postal service was disrupted too.
Back home as I was listening to the rain falling on the roof of my attic I was daydreaming about what powers I could one day have. Right now things were dire, the rain was leaking through the roof and my futon was damp but it would be worth the wait one day. The temple life was already making it easier to bear with this world and it would only get better.
My night was filled with dreams of the powers I could yield later on. When my Chi will awake not only will I become one of those superhuman warriors but I will have access to magic too.
This was the best part of this world. It would make up for the loss of modern amenities. Maybe with Chi I would be able to ward the cold away during the winter? And then I'll carve my way up.