36 argued that it was for the best since Allan's circumstances were rather complicated regarding many things. That, or he also included his own problems since it was his priority. There were still times, which never ceased to not happen. So far in, he never admitted to the surprises that happened a few times, when he had noticed Allan's unnatural progression.
Those feats of strength weren't that crazy, but considering the condition and most importantly, the time, they were crazy. This progression was unfit for a mortal boy who he didn't even know much about. Especially the past which was still very unknown to him, even though 36 thought little of it. He, himself wasn't someone who would have to care about such unnecessary things, but time was shifting - so was his opinion about Allan as a mortal boy.
He went with what he researched and anything that went beyond was a small little surprise on the way. Anything could go at the moment, be it the future or the problems that will go along with it.
Sarey crossed her arms, took a seat on a boulder, and proceeded with their long upcoming discussion. During this time, she would quench her little curiosity regarding many things. Since she always had an interest in 36's knowledge, she found a way of getting it from him in a relatively easy form. That was the discussion at the time when she would be alone with him.
“What will it be this time?” 36 asked with quite an attitude. “I did plenty for Allan today, so I don't want to hear any kind of argument about it. Although the way of climbing is far from here, this will suffice.
“I am not here for Allan's things.”
“I know. Do you plan to tell him about the purpose of the climb or not? Last time, you were adamant about it, so I suppose nothing changed?” He asked, firing this discussion right from the start. This was for her, and not for Allan, who wasn't always the core of their conversation.
“I don't care either way. Since it is your idea from the start, I am going without telling him about it. I already pulled the weight to the maximum number you told me, so he is struggling quite hard right now. I suppose he would be long done with it since he is an utter demon when it comes to any kind of training.”
“Already that much? I guess I forgot to ask about it in the past summoning. It seems he will finish this training sooner rather than later.”
“I think so too.“ Sarey says, nodding before thinking of other things. “Anyway, about today's topics I wanted to discuss. I would like to discuss the language you gave me a long while back.” she the last sentence in a rather strange-sounding speech. It was harder in the pitch of sound from the language she had known all her life. Her time learning was enough for her to practice it at the night or in the mornings.
“Oh? Do you already know so much? That was a smooth speech with a mortal accent as well. Not too bad, but I suppose you can't understand spoken language that well. The written form is more than enough for the time being.” 36 said back to her, speaking the language she talked to him before.
“Did you say bad or good? It sounded weirdly similar.” She went back to her comfortable language.
“Doesn't matter. What did you want to ask about that language?”
“Actually, nothing about language. I was only curious if you would understand me. You already told me enough about it already, so I want to know about the processing stuff of non-combatants, or it is called auxiliary methods. Paths? I am unsure.”
“Noncombatant stuff? Where did you learn that term?”
“Teacher.” She answered instantly, anticipating a detailed answer from this madman, who should know much more about it.
“Huh. Alright then. I have no issue with telling it to both of you, but since you insist on doing it this way, that won't bother me.” 36 said with acceptance regarding his information. “There are not that many of them, but they are a very special pathway in the world of Immortals. Those are the pathways that include the path of the auxiliary methods of energy. They are stranger than the direct way of forming energy into one's wishes or acting around it within the Body Forging. You can even call it influencing it within yourself or outside. Taking it and acting around, within, and inside of the energy influence to change many kinds of things. It's like magic, what some mortals describe as this sort of thing. It's not as crazy as the Energy core, or things that can happen in the Body forging. It's a more subtle path, but harder to learn, and continue towards the later stages regarding the progression.”
“Can't you explain it more simply? I can't understand your terms.” Sarey complained, showing it with glaring and unhappy eyes.
“It doesn't get any better than that. I am already simplifying it enough for you.”
“Fine. Go on.”
“I swear... this girl...” 36 wanted to curse inside but refrained from doing so to continue his explanation. “These methods that you are so curious about are hard and profound as they can get. Just so you know, even the makers of this diary below me have very few such individuals who managed to reach high stages within some of the Auxiliary pathways. But those who they have are the most valuable assets and figures one could know in the universe.”
“What makes them so special?”
“Support, influence, and ways of forming their powers, which are not something that regular energy user can.”
“Examples?”
“Pill makers, Extractors, and Blacksmiths are about the easiest examples. Crafting will get quite important with some of them, with talismans and other kinds of external items.”
“So, external techniques. Like... crafting in general? Healing, crafting, making something out of the energy of heaven and earth?” Sarey asked, thinking that the forging part would definitely be something that would Allan love to hear about.
“You answered it yourself, but this is a small version of knowing about it. Getting to know more requires a pretty darn variety of knowledge. It's not something that you can even think about, curious girl.” 36 intentionally comments, to force Sarey to face the reality.
Gruning in displeasure, Sarey was feeling barely satisfied with his details. Still, it was at least something new that she was curious about, so it entered her mind, not leaving her memory. A small sense of expectation entered her mind along with it. This topic was very important to her since becoming an Energy user was a tough topic for her.
Pausing for some time, she resolved her decision to another question that was moving forwards, after amassing her courage.
“Would it be possible for me to become someone from these pathways?” Sarey asked with a frown and determination unbeknownst to such a girl.
36 saw her fine, and this sort of expression wasn't the first time she showed to him. “I see more clearly than anyone how determined and eager you are about it. Since your master made sense out of you that energy is hardly something you can manage, I don't believe you have many other choices. It is the truth that becoming a proper energy user isn't the easiest, but the auxiliary systems are anything but easier than that. Forget it, and make use of your life in different ways. That's how it was done since the becoming of the universe.”
“There must be some possibility!? There is no way the heavens won't forsake anyone for no reason!” Sarey protested, willing her determination forwards as it wasn't that weak. Even the words of some that could stop her hope... These weren't the words of someone who had already given up.
“Again. I don't know how to help you. There are so many mortals who will never awaken their sparks. Hell! Even some Immortal families will have occasional cripples without potential in anything. That's how it goes sometimes. Another life passes by, with talent and life passing too. It's normal.” 36 said in unbothered seriousness that could only appeal to this girl from time to time. He knew she will listen to his words unconditionally, but as for the bad stuff? She will straight up ignore them because she didn't want to hear them.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
If there was something that she hoped for which was true or wrong, nothing could move her mind from the things she didn't hope for. Calling it a nativity of a young girl would be an understatement of the century.
The testing of her was done by her teacher who was an energy user who knew about the ways one could test someone, so 36 assumed he knew what he was talking about when he assumed her to be unfit for the energy.
“How about this... When the time comes, I will have to test Allan, regardless of the circumstances. I may include you at that time, so you would have your second chance. Until then, you can wait and continue helping him.“ 36 said, not talking about one truth he knew about. After all, the talent that one had can't be changed that easily.
“Yeah, I will do so, but how long it will take? A year? Two?”
“No idea. Until he awakens his Spark, but nothing finite is about it. I have a certain belief that he will awaken it nonetheless of his progress, so it's all a matter of time. That, or I could test you in the future since The Wisher's involvement in what I told you previously could have drastic differences.”
Frown not decreasing on her face, Sarey got to her feet. Stomping with both feet, she walked right about the distance to the face of 36's figurine.
Pointing her finger to his face, she told in an unyielding tone. “I will take your word for it! If the energy isn't compatible with me, there must be something different around the many pathways you talked about. I wish for you to at least look for any details or information about it. How about it? There must be some auxiliary pathway that can be useful even for someone like me.” Sarey tried to order 36.
“Fine. I promise.” 36 nonchalantly said, figuring that saying yes was the best way to go around this girl. As for these promises, he was never keen on going through with them, but if the opportunity will arise, he would have no trouble figuring it out.
He knew that what she wanted from him was hardly something that he knew about from his living life, so what could change now? He doubt some mortals would have a way to cultivate without the Spark. That would be crazy if they did, so he doubts there was even something about it. Since he wasn't even a Lord and a major influence of the high league of immortal lands, he was sure about her question. At least from what she understood as a being of the higher state of the universe.
Still, there could be much more information that was hidden from the eyes of weaklings who weren't worth to even knowing about them. It could be the case of the highest stage of the universe. The kind that 36 knew about, but never experienced.
It was a simple, yet completely understandable problem that 36 more than understood, but tell it to a young girl. She wouldn't get it.
With this being half done, Sarey backed away to sit on her boulder, glaring at 36 with a similar passion. She was considering other topics.
“Anything else? What about other Allan's problems this time?” 36 asked, hoping to get her mind off of her own situation.
“Him? I doubt you would find something interesting. Though, if I would tell you something, he is a maniac of forging more than the training one. I already told you the majority of things that he has done, so nothing much changed. He is already spending the majority of the day limited to himself and his training, so what can happen next? Nothing much.”
“That's good. I don't want much. Just a small thing that wouldn't trouble no one.“ 36 tried to underplay his request.
“What it is?” Sarey asked.
“I want him to take the glaive you mentioned a couple of summonings back. That is the first time, while that spear or ax you told me about in the past summon is fine to take too.”
“What for?”
“Unimportant. A small thing that should happen sooner rather than later.” 36 replied with words, leaving some doubt on Sarey's face. “Also, it is for the next summoning, so make sure to remind him of that.”
“Sure, I will think about it,” Sarey said. ”As for the acupoints, you told me to cease the extended use of the 4th page. What was that about?”
“Nothing much but to ease more strain away. Acupoint therapy is good for him as long as it's done in strides. Too much of it could have bad things. Formations from the earlier pages are more than enough before reaching the initial stage of The Unmoving technique. After being done with this technique...”
“... move on within the pages. I get it. You told me that many times already.” Sarey told, upset by the repeated words. “Oh wait! Since we are at it, how about the acupoints of immortals? They should be the different and exciting prospects of the Cultivating technique. Is it included in the ways of the Auxiliary pathways? It must be, am I right?”
“Oh, that? Hmmm. I never met or heard about a master when it comes to it, but there sure are techniques that revolve around acupoints. I heard about them, though. Few would bother to learn some washed-down techniques since the Immortal's bodies are taken care of by them alone. As for the... possibilities, I guess some forms of them talked about some forms of combat and healing. Their usage of the other person's body is a primary attribute since it is no different from what you are doing to Allan. I am unsure about the methodical formations of immortal acupoints since the topic is even more complex. I am not willing to talk to you about it for now and I don't even know much about it.”
“Why not?”
“You are such a piece of work....” 36 mumbled, cursing for Allan's sake.
“Fine. Fine.” Sarey shook her head, scratching her face in understanding that she was a bit annoying. “You don't have to tell me about it. Is there anything else that you have in mind for me to know? If it involves anything for Allan or something that we are supposed to know, but aren't aware of it.”
“Not now. Although there was some opportunity for the pill maker. That was out of the question from our previous discussion, so I have no real way to further increase the pace of progression. It is all up to Allan.”
“Your fate is up to Allan's performance. You should accept it and do much more than try.” Sarey said with a mocking tone, becoming more aware of the 360s' different moods in their discussion throughout these times.
The lazy complexity of his personality was even more apparent now. This left her imagining what sort of person he was back in the immortal world, where he was alive and doing... Immortal things? She wasn't even daring to imagine that. Perhaps asking about it in a later discussion would be a kind of a good idea. It seemed she had another topic on her shortlist.
“Hmph! You better shoo me away before I will tell you anything more...”
“Go on then,” Sarey said calmly, becoming to walk to Allan in the distance.
A gust of light enveloped the figurine before 36 had a chance to finish his sentence.
Allan, in the back with great complexity, smashed the boulders into many parts. This one was smaller and less thick than the one he couldn't crack yet. However, he was using his legs in strange ways, unlike ever before.
It resembled a whip in a sense of movement, but it was nowhere near the moments where the whip had the acceleration of the speed of sound.
“Perhaps it had different variations where the speeds could be increased beyond the speed limits of human bodies? How to go along with that?” Allan assumed, letting the legs down from the rock, to think of his progress.
He now had an absolutely terrific sense of balance where he could make a pole from his legs. One faced straight to the ground while the other would face the sky. It was a quite beautiful sense of stability, strength, and flexibility.
Stretching his joints and muscles in this way was in no way efficient, but it had its uses for flexibility.
Shwooosh! Beng!
Allan somersaulted and struck the other boulder with his palm blades.
He called it that since the fist had less friction in the air. Making it a palm, was more up to his task, since the slicing motion of the Body whip technique was more toward the speeds. It made sense to him to use it as he discovered it from the words of 36. Right now, he was trying to come up with many methods for him to work around it. It was a new thing to learn about, but he figured calling it a Martial Art was a kind of abysmal.
Suddenly, he heard the familiar steps of someone coming over.
“Finished?” Sarey walked to him, asking him about the current state of affairs.
“I am not doing anything in particular. This is some training with the new thing you heard 36 say. Progress seems good and you can continue with 36 the same way as before.”
“Good. I already shooed him away, so the next summoning can wait for the next day or the day after that. Though, he told me some requests. There was something about taking your glaive, spear, and ax here next time.”
“Weapons? I wonder what that is about.” Allan said, falling into a state of wonder. They could only mean a single thing and a thing that he looked forward to. Maybe some sense of weapon training? Martial Art revolving around some weapons would be something up for his task since his spars against Zigmund could be barely called that. He wasn't the most technically advanced person, so making use of techniques would work wonders for him.
“No idea. 36 didn't specify it enough. I guess he had some method to implement the weapon training to your current one or something different altogether. You know him by now. You never know what to expect from him, you know...” Sarey replied.
“That is true. Anyway, what do you think about this Body whip technique? It is quite interesting than hitting the stone willy-nilly.”
“Hehe...You make it sound waaaay too easy than you understand.” Sarey chucked.
“What makes you say that?”
“Your prior training. I doubt you would make it on the first attempt without all that climbing and hours upon hours in the river. It looks impossible to do unless you have a very flexible, and advanced body about a lot of things. I can't even imagine doing that, and you did it on the first try. ”
“Oh?” Allan scratched his head in confusion. “I guess that is also true. Since you sliced this subject, how about moving towards the climbing wall and then the river.” Allan suggested that he wanted to continue with this quick training day. He still has that promise for Sarey to move to Griontesse city for the first time.
It would be his first major visit to the town since he became blind.