The next morning I once again woke up to a young 8 year old snuggling into my bed. She must have come in at some point but I was too overwhelmed to remember it.
Seeing her small frame gently move up and down with her breathing made me realize just how precious she was.
I closed my eyes and reviewed the method I received from the mysterious stranger.
‘Hmm, it was called the Yin-Yang Universal Equilibrium…seems quite complicated…By Borins Ballsack! This method is ridiculous!!’
I was so surprised as I skimmed through the teaching. This method was beyond my expectations. It was transcendental. It allowed a person to gain maximal mana absorption regardless of their talent or the surrounding ambient mana concentration. In fact, the lower your talent or potential, the stronger the technique will be! What kind of reasoning is this?!
I felt like punching the air in exultation but remembered that a small person was resting by my side. So instead I tried to quietly get out of bed but I failed.
“Morning daddy!” came her bright jubilant voice
“Morning Lia!” I replied whilst giving her a big hug. “Did you have any nice dreams?”
“Yes! I dream that we were on an adventure to find Mommy.”
“Did we manage to find her?”
“No, there was a big monster in the way, it told us that we won't get through unless we give the monster the most delicious cake in the world”
I laughed at that point and ruffled her hair. “So what happened then? Did you bake a cake?”
“No silly, I can't bake yet. If I tried, I would have made a black cake just like you.” she giggled.
I smiled sheepishly. I tried baking a cake for her once and burnt it. Since it was the first cake she had ever tried, her impression of cakes took a bad turn. It was only after the bakery started selling cakes did she take a liking to it. I don't think she ever really forgave me.
“How about you Daddy? Did you dream of anything?”
“Yes, I dreamt of a man dressed in black and white. This magical man taught me something special and powerful.”
“Wow, will you teach it to me too?”
“Of course…”
I gave her a kiss on her forehead, “come on Lia, let's get ready for the day, Teacher Rhian doesn't like tardiness.”
After escorting my daughter to the local school, I went back to the shop and opened for business. While managing the shop, I kept studying the technique. I was itching to practice so just after midday, I closed the shop early and went upstairs.
In the middle of my room, I sat down and took nice steady breaths. I slowly moved the little amount of mana in my body in the way the method taught. Out from the golden core and around my body via mystical bloodmana channels. At first, it was difficult. Moving such small amounts of mana delicately required immense concentration.
It was only when I heard the village bell ring that I stopped to go get Lia. After a full day, I had yet to even complete one circuit. It didn't matter. My determination was at an all time peak and I would keep trying.
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It was only one week later that I managed to complete the circuit for the first time.
The second I did so, a notification sprung up:
[Attained basic understanding of: Yin-Yang Universal Equilibrium - 1% to Level 1]
I brought up my status page:
—-------------
Name: Thorwin Delcia
Mana core: Destiny (0.01%)
Level: 0
Exp: -/-
Stats:
Strength: 3
Dexterity: 3
Vitality: 3
Perception: 4
Cognition: 5
Inflection: 5
Innate Ability: Enhance (Level 1)
Abilities: Iron Will (Level 1)
Misc Abilities: Mercantilism (Level 1)
Spells: None
Techniques: Nobel Essence Capture (Level max)
Yin-Yang Universal Equilibrium (1% to Level 1)
—-----------
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
There was an increase in my inner strength. This good gains after working hard.
After [Enhancing] my Nobel Essence Capture, it disappeared from the status screen. I tried to remember it but it felt like it had completely disappeared from my memory.
I curiously selected the Yin-Yang technique and a page appeared. The image of a circle divided in two by an S-shaped line of black and white with two opposite dots showed up. I assumed this is the symbol of Yin-Yang.
Instead of a lengthy treatise like with the ]Nobel Essence Capture], the [YYUE] only
had a few lines:
“A technique that allows the least amongst us to the greatest. When you have nothing you have everything” Rank - Divine
A divine technique no doubt.
I closed my eyes and let the mana run its course a few more times. Beads of sweat flowed out of me but I could feel the ambient mana being pulled in. It was like I was generating a little whirlpool inside of me, one that sucked the mana in.
I stopped when I heard footsteps approaching.
“Come on son, let's go hunting.” yelled my father. “Little Lydia needs the exercise and so do you,”
The door to my room opened and my father stood in the opening. He was tall, standing at over 6 feet high. Coarse black hair cut short framed his head. His sun-kissed skin had a rough dry texture - the mark of one that works the fields. His brown eyes looked at me in surprise and he made an ‘O’ with his mouth before asking, “Why are you sweating so much? Weather’s not that hot.”
I waved the question off and got up onto my feet. “You know I dont like hunting buttt…I’ll make an exception this time.”
“Really? Haha that my boy, I knew you would come around sooner or later,” he spoke with joy. His enthusiasm was evident. “Come on out back when you’re ready, Lydia is waiting,”
“Its Lylia Father, LY-LIA”
“Ah its all the same, hahaha” he said whilst walking away
“Hey, you got a spare bow?” I yelled after him.
He stopped then and turned and looked at me incredulously. “Why do you need a bow? Do you even know how to use it?”
I gave him a small smile, “Of course, I’ve had a go with Brother Jackin’s bow a few times back in the village.”
“That old thing? I'm surprised you’ve not shot yourself in the face with that crooked bow.”
I shrugged and got ready. It would be nice to have a bow in my hands again.
When I got to the back the first thing that I saw was Lylia fooling around. She was clearly excited at the prospect of going hunting. Her grandfather was telling her stories of his previous hunts and of course he was exaggerating the size of his kills. “...it was the size of a small house!”
Giggles, “no it wasn't!”
I casually walked up to the bow and hefted it. It was a shortbow made from Yew and twined with goat sinew. It was recently oiled, no doubt last night before my father went to bed. I gave the string a few tugs and adjusted myself to the pressure.
I picked up the arrow and inspected it. The arrowhead was sharp, the shaft was straight and balanced but the feathers in the rear showed some wear. I used my hands to straighten it as much as I could.
The target was about 30 yards away. I held the bow, knocked the air and settled in. I remembered the years I spent shooting at monsters and demons. I was not as accomplished as Misha, whom the people called Daughter of Xernos, but I was good enough that I could almost beat her on her worst day. I felt the tension of the bow, opened my eyes and let the arrow fly.
It landed in the center of the target with a thud.
[You have gained Archery, Level 1]
I knocked another arrow and let it fly. The arrow flew straight and split the stationary arrow right down the center.
[You have gained Marksmanship, Level 1]
By my third shot, the backyard was deadly silent. My dad’s eyes were bulging out so much that it could have popped out his eye sockets. My mother was staring at me like she was looking at a stranger.
It was my daughter that broke the silence, “Yay my daddy IS THE BEST!”
My father came up to me and asked, “Where did you learn that?”
“Like I said Dad, I’ve practiced a few times with Brother Jackin’s bow,”
“Hmph if that was the case then Brother Jackin might as well be Xernos in the flesh. Bah hold onto the bow, you be the archer then,”
“Sure, just keep an eye on Lylia for me please.”
“Of course, you just make sure we get our dinner. I'm getting tired of your mothers fish stew but don't tell her that.”
We waved goodbye to my mother and into the forest we went.
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As the sun was on its way down, the hunters came back with smiles on their faces and meat on their backs.
My parents got the evening meal ready while I freshened up with Lylia.
Our dinner was a gorgeous trio of roasted venison, boiled vegetables and bread. Lylia ate like a champ and fast fast asleep before she could even taste her favourite dessert - honey biscuits.
Once I settled Lylia for the night I came out and asked my parents for a chat.
It was late summer so the weather was still nice and warm through the evening. I could hear the crickets start to sing, accented by the occasional hoot of an owl.
“Mom, Dad, I'm selling the store and coming back here.”
There was a brief silence as my statement registered in their minds.
“Whhhaatt? Son, you must be joking!” said my mother. She came around and sat by me. “Are you in debt? Do you need us to lend you money?”
There was concern in her eyes.
My father however kept on puffing on his pipe. He didnt seem too bothered by the revelation.
My mother noticed this and tried to get him on her side, “Dear, please talk some sense into your son. He is making a mistake coming back here. Being in the village allows him to rub shoulders with key people and gives him a better chance of meeting someone nice.” She wrung her hands as she said the last sentence. It was no secret my mother wanted me to settle down with someone.
“Look, you dont need to worry about making space for me in this house. With the funds from the shop, I'll build a little cabin next door for Lylia and myself.”
“But son…”
My mother kept on pestering me about the move. She clearly felt that I was taking a step back in my life. But I knew that I needed the space and time to get stronger. I also wanted to improve the martial prowess my father had. The apocalypse was coming and I needed to prepare.
After a while, my mother gave up and retired to bed. I was so mentally drained as it felt like I had gone through a battle.
My father finished his pipe, cleaned it and got up. As he was leaving he turned to look at me, “Is this what you want?”
I nodded
“Ok…have you told your daughter the truth about her heritage yet?”
I paused for a brief moment before shaking my head.
“Hmmph” my Dad grunted before coughing for a bit. It seemed like he wasn't pleased about this.
Shrugging, I said, “I'll tell her when it is right.”
My dad looked at me a little longer before turning to his bedroom.
I guess that was that.
I waited till the house was quiet before I turned inward and started meditating. The ambient mana here was just slightly better than the village. I felt the pressure of the coming apocalypse.