Micro spent much of the night after his eventful encounter with the young boy named Kolt dwelling on the matter of his core. Despite an unmistakable amber hue, he didn't seem physically capable of carrying the weight of an Amber Core Card, despite his soul's apparent increase in structural integrity. But he eventually slept into a deep sleep while staring up at the few stars he could see through a gap in the trees.

It occurred to him as he fell asleep just how tired he had become, and he soon found himself in an odd yet comfortable dream. He and his driver were travelling safely down the road from town in the direction of his home, but in the passenger seat there sat a dog that the old man had never owned. The sudden inclusion of the passenger on their journey startled him at first, but he enjoyed the dream anyway.

The next day began for Micro as the sound of the non-cultivators packing up their supplies stirred him from his pleasant dreams. He met Lena near a small stream where several people were drinking the cold water and she nodded to greet him.

“Do you think Feng is doing alright?” Micro asked.

“It will take him a little time to recover his strength.” Lena replied.

“Old age is still no worthy enemy to such a prodigy.”

“That's a relief- Micro sighed, but he was unable to continue his thought.

“Why do you have an Amber Core?!” Lena gasped the moment her eyes began to glow.

“The ring of energy around your core, the ring made of the water element, it's reacting strongly...!”

“Oh, I had a close call yesterday, but it worked out in the end.” Micro explained with a thumbs up.

“You're right about the ring though. Now that my core is amber, it almost feels like Ray is standing behind me, reminding me to go find Lo.”

“A core afflicted by the oath of a dragon regarding a legendary basilisk...” Lena shook her head.

“I hope your quest is successful.”

“Is Lo really a legend?” Micro asked.

“Ray mentioned that Lo was responsible for the two of them being kicked out of a dungeon.”

“In all the many thousands of years since dungeons were created, it has not been uncommon for the monsters of obscure dungeons to grow bored and wander into our realm in search of meaning. Their presence in history as myth and legend is widely accepted...” Lena said quietly.

“I know relatively little of the world beyond this kingdom, where many stronger cultivators than us are abundant, but it is not a usual thing to come across such monsters around here. Your story would be improbable if it weren't for its truth.”

“So monsters like Ray and Lo are usually hard to find?” Micro said.

“I wonder where their dungeon was.”

“You may find an answer to that question at the Water Serpent Moon Sect.” Lena replied.

“Then let's go!” Micro shouted excitedly.

Lena rolled her eyes, but many of the crowd around them responded quickly to Micro's announcement and hurried their preparations. In just a few moments, the group was moving quickly through the woods, the rising sun poking through the trees at their backs.

Lea continued to concentrate silently as she walked, surprising Micro with her ability to continue cultivating in a meditative state while walking. Blue continued to sleep in his pocket, and Micro focused on scanning the area for any more monsters which may be dangerous to his many passengers.

The group behind him was much more energetic after a long rest, and Micro grew curious about many of the conversations arising behind him. Many people shared concerns about whether their homes or families would still be there when they returned to the places from which they had been abducted, with many of the older men lamenting the villages which had been completely burned by the bandits. Some were optimistic that they might reestablish their lives further West, but most feared that they would either starve or be enslaved by the next group of outlaws to pass through.

“Does everybody who can't cultivate have such a hard life?” Micro asked one of the men walking nearest to him.

“Excuse me?” The man replied with a startled expression. Though he looked like he should be warm, with animal skin garments wrapped around him and a full beard hiding his face, his skin was pale and he sounded short of breath.

“People where I'm from couldn't cultivate, but farmers could at least afford a house and a truck...” Micro continued.

“Was there a bad harvest recently? I heard taxes were high, but this is...”

“I wouldn't dare lecture the young master on trivial mundane matters...” The man replied with his head bowed.

“I'm asking because I want to know though...” Micro said with an eyebrow raised.

“I'm not a young master either. I'm a Micro. You can just call me Micro though.”

“As you wish, young-” The man stuttered.

“Micro...”

“So how did things get to this point?” Micro continued his questioning.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“You don't look lazy enough to be as poor as you are.”

“Hard work only keeps you safe from boredom...” The man replied with a bitter smile, still gauging Micro's reaction to his words. Content that Micro didn't appear offended, he went on.

“No village outside the capital city is safer from bandits than they are from taxes, drought, snow, or goblins.”

“But cultivators like Lena seem willing to help.” Micro replied, pointing to the elder cultivator walking stoically ahead of them, deep in a meditative trance.

“I am truly grateful for the assistance your comrades provided!” The man suddenly shouted, bowing once again.

“We could never repay your kindness...”

“But...?” Micro asked as the man's voice trailed off nervously.

“But, respectfully, such a miracle isn't common.” The man said.

“Cultivators are a rare sight on the Western plains of the kingdom. I don't know much of life beyond the great forest that divides the kingdom, but the world we know is not so full of warriors capable of miraculous feats.”

“There's less energy in the lands to the West.” Blue added, returning to Micro's shoulder.

“Cultivators like the mountains out East. Lots of energy there.”

“Why doesn't everybody else move there then?” Micro asked.

“Cultivators aren't the only bunch drawn to energy.” Blue laughed.

“You think these folks could handle the sorts of monsters wandering around out there?”

“So the plains where we're heading are safer?” Micro asked.

“If you don't count other humans, sure.” Blue replied.

“What do you do for a living, by the way?” Micro addressed the man once again.

“My family works- Excuse me. My family worked in the fields of Paryle.”

“Paryle? I know that place.” Blue said.

“I can't think of a worse place to try and grow something... what did you say your name was?”

“I'm called Sean, honoured creature of fate.”

“I'm a pixie, not a fairy.” Blue snapped.

“And I’ll forget your name anyways, but wow… You are really wasting your time for a living, eh?”

“It's as you say, but the pay was enough to live until the raids began.” Sean replied humbly.

“I thought there were knights who dealt with bandits and the like.” Blue thought aloud.

“Weird that so many bandits are just wandering around without a care.”

“The knights no longer see to the needs of the people.” Sean explained.

“They are rarely seen outside the capital, or so I'm told.”

Micro nodded slowly as he pieced Sean's story together in his mind, painting a grim picture of the lands to which they were currently walking. However, as he dwelled on the strange circumstances of the kingdom, he noticed that his vision was obscured.

“Fog?” Micro mumbled, intending to use his energy to perceive the world around him as his good eye failed him. However, he was surprised to find himself just as blind while looking for signs of energy.

“Micro!” Lena suddenly shouted as she ran over to where he now stood anxiously. The nervous voices of the crowd behind them grew at first, but they sounded muffled by the ever thickening fog.

“What's going on?” Micro asked, barely able to make Lena out through the fog, though she was close enough to reach out and touch.

“It seems we've stumbled across a well of energy. I imagine a vein runs beneath us, and has broken through the surface...” Lena spoke loudly through the fog.

“This happens sometimes.” Blue added.

“I usually just find somewhere to rest and soak up the energy before it dissipates, but it may not be comfortable for our little friends back there.”

Micro became aware of the sound of coughing behind him as many of the people following him were overwhelmed by the energy-rich fog.

“It would have been nice to avoid this...” Micro mumbled, anxiously searching for signs of the others to no avail.

“These things pop up out of nowhere.” Blue shrugged.

“It's lucky we didn't wander into any before now.”

“I see...” Micro frowned.

“If we had some wind, perhaps we could...”

“No use trying anything.” Blue explained.

“you won't be able to do anything with your energy with this much interference. Just stay where you are and wait for it to pass. We'll deal with the little ones after.”

Micro's frown deepened as he confirmed that he was unable to freely control his energy while the energy of the fog disrupted his own. Even his thoughts were beginning to wander as the fog made him dizzy. He gritted his teeth and spent the next few moments struggling to stay standing where he was, though he nearly lost his balance with each moment that passed.

Eventually, Micro sank down to his knees, trying to clear his mind and wait patiently for the fog to lift. The constant barrage of chaotic energies carried in the misty air made the familiar act of waiting silently for time to pass nearly impossible, but he felt the benefit of the Turtle Art's teachings as he gradually calmed down.

Blue seemed unaffected by the extreme fluctuations in energy that washed over them, and Lena seemed to have much less trouble remaining steadfast in the fog. Micro tried to emulate the stoic air around Lena, understanding that moving carelessly could result in an injury to himself or others.

“No headlights, no fog lights...” Micro reminded himself quietly.

“Safety first... safety-”

“Help!” A young girls' voice suddenly cut through the fog for a moment, apparently unheard by Lena, and Blue sighed loudly as Micro jumped to his feet.

Blue held on tight as Micro stumbled in the direction of the scream, catching his clothes on trees and bushes, tripping over rocks, and bumping into other people on the way. Through small gaps in the fog he saw several people struggling, but the scream continued to echo in his ears.

“There.” Blue stated, pulling on Micro's ear to direct him to the right.

Micro turned his head, and finally found the source of the call for help. A girl not much older than Kolt was running in his direction, a large cut on her face. Micro reached out to meet her, but then noticed what she was running from.

GRAWR

Shortly behind the girl was a creature that resembled a small human, but its face was green and its features grotesque. It wore jagged, rusty armour that made a horrible sound as the monster ran, and in one hand it held a wooden club with small scraps of metal bound to its end.

“Goblin.” Blue reported.

“You'll get sick for sure if it cuts you. Nasty things...”

The girl ran past Micro without a word, and Micro stepped between her and the goblin, drawing the small green monster's attention immediately.

KRAWK

The goblin shouted with a voice that sounded like grinding gears, filling Micro with a strong urge to quiet the beast. It raised its club to attack as it approached Micro, but he was still able to catch it in his hands without relying on a skill.

“It's weak.” Micro said with a frown as the creature struggled to free its club from his grasp.

“Most people wouldn't think so.” Blue replied, pointing over her shoulder at the people behind them.

“Good thing you're not as big a wimp as they are.”

“Umm...” Micro mumbled as the goblin continued to struggle. It made several attempts to scratch and kick him, but Micro found it easy to avoid its slow and crude attacks.

“Let's just put this thing somewhere else for now...”