“It’s not working,” James groaned. He leaned back and stretched, a few joints popping as he did. He still sat against the jungle tree in the simulation, the sounds of animals and life around him. “I’m halfway through the month and I’m no closer to this metastate than when I started.”

“You have made progress, disciple,” Nadia said.

“But not enough to succeed in a month,” James said sullenly.

Nadia didn’t answer. James’s assessment of himself was correct.

Through the past couple of weeks James had dutifully followed the teachings of both his master and the techniques inside the Stochastic Simian Arts. He still wasn’t any closer to the metastate, that elusive connection of mind and body. While he had grown in flexibility and awareness from his training, neither had granted him insight into what he needed.

Nadia’s teachings were fine as far as James understood it. After every training session the two had sat down and discussed what James felt.

“It’s like trying to use a limb after an accident,” James said. “Like in the shows, you know. Where someone loses an arm and it takes them a bit to move the replacement.”

“An apt description,” Nadia said. “Have you felt anything similar during your meditations?”

“Nothing,” James sighed. “I think that maybe I feel something but it turns out to be a twitch or an involuntary shiver. I try to focus on it but nothing happens.”

“The goal should not be to focus on it,” Nadia said. “The metastate is a strange mix of conscious and unconscious. A merging of thoughts from all parts of your brain. Focus will place you solely in consciousness.”

“I don’t know any other way,” James grumbled.

“Hence the training techniques,” Nadia said. “Take pride in that at least, disciple, for you have progressed quickly.”

James looked over at the virtual monkey, who was idly swaying back and forth like a tree in the breeze. He had progressed quickly in the movements, James’s natural athleticism helping him learn the gymnastic twists and flips that predominated the technique. The twists and flips flowed into a series of punches and kicks meant to throw an opponent off balance. From there the art would start grappling, using leverage and other principles to cause immobilizing damage.

“No amount of training is going to help if I can’t succeed in unlocking a node,” James said sullenly.

“Perhaps, then, it is time for a break,” Nadia said.

James shook his head. “No, I don’t have time for that.”

“Disciple,” Nadia said sternly. “You must know when to take a step back from things. It is obvious to me that if you continue to practice, you will be no closer than before. You need to reset. Perhaps it is my fault. I allowed you to push through these past two weeks without rest.”

James scoffed. “You can’t blame yourself for something I chose.”

“Can I not?” Nadia asked. “I had all the power in the world to stop you. In fact, a week ago I had noticed your stagnation and yet allowed you to continue training. Perhaps you would already be advancing if I was stricter with you.”

James made an irritated face. “Master, I understand what you’re saying, but we both know I don’t have the time for breaks. What if one day of difference is all it takes?”

“James,” Nadia said lightly. “I have seen you perform the same actions for the past three days. In fact, almost the exact same actions. Your diligence is meritorious but proverbially banging your head against a brick wall will only leave you with a bloody scalp. It is obvious to me that the current path is reaching an end. We must find a new one for you.”

“What new path is there?” James asked, throwing his hands up in exasperation. “I thought the one you were teaching me was the best one?”

“I am teaching you the best one according to popular belief,” Nadia said. “That is my hubris. I had assumed that because it was one of the most common that it would be the most effective for you. I should have studied more. I realize now that what is most commonly considered the best might not be the best for the individual.”

“Are you telling me we’re back at the starting line?” James asked incredulously. “I spent two weeks practicing breathings and meditations that won’t work for me?”

“Not at all,” Nadia said sternly. “In fact, given ten years I have no doubt you would unlock the state to your first node. You would reach the understanding needed after building up foundations that were never there for you.”

“Great…” James said.

“Do not fret,” Nadia said. “All we must do is build on the foundations you already have. That is why I suggest an outing.”

“Fine,” James said after a moment. “If only so you’ll stop nagging me about it.”

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“Nag, disciple?” Nadia asked. “Cultivators are above such things. We make conjecture and argument. We do not nag.”

James caught the small smile on his master’s face and laughed. “Then forgive me oh great cultivator. Your argument was so long winded that I had taken it for admonishment.”

Nadia laughed. “Be lucky your master is long-suffering and understanding. Though, in all truth be aware that many cultivators hold their status in high regard. Once you unlock your first node I shall teach you in the ways of etiquette. Mostly so you do not put your foot in your mouth, my snarky disciple.”

James chuckled. He was glad Nadia had never once said he would fail once they began training. It helped quell all the doubts in his mind. It was surprising to him that the encouragement actually helped. He was doubly surprised to find himself thinking that he would succeed before the month finished.

It was partly thanks to Nadia’s encouragement, and partly Tsukiko’s letters. She and James hadn’t stopped conversing since he sent the first letter to her. The bullet trains made it so the two could receive a letter within the day.

Tsukiko hadn’t taken James’s whole situation well—the contents of her first letters were filled with worries and admonishments—but she wasn’t about to let something as insignificant as cultivation stop her. James admired her for that. She always was so sure of everything. The two of them were still going to end up together, and damn the fates if they tried to stop her.

“Master?” James asked as his thoughts stayed on Tsukiko. “Where in the city can I buy something like a necklace. Nothing expensive, just something meager that someone could wear everyday.”

“I would not be the best person to ask, disciple,” Nadia said. “Though I expect you could find something on floors eight to eleven. That is where most of the mortal craftsman reside.”

“Then let’s go there,” James said. “I’m going to get Tsukiko a present. Something nice for putting up with me all this time.”

“Disciple, I might not be skilled in the ways of love but buying someone a gift for ‘putting up with you’ as you say is unlikely to be the nice gesture you think it is.”

James waved a hand. “I know, I know. I’ll make sure to say its because I missed her or something. I plan to make it all sappy. She hates that.”

James smirked as the image of Tsukiko’s embarrassed face appeared in front of him. On the one hand, she absolutely loved the compliments. He knew because he’d caught her beaming once after he’d given her a card with some scrap flowers. On the other hand, Tsukiko always scolded James for getting her ‘silly trinkets’ when he should have been saving it for his apprenticeship.

“I hope you don’t mind me using you as an excuse master,” James said as the two left their floor. “Tsukiko is going to get onto me for getting her a gift instead of training. I’ll have to say you insisted on me taking a break.”

“It is the duty of a master to protect their disciple,” Nadia answered. “Whether that be from physical or emotional threats.”

The elevators took them down, past the various floors and factories that made up the interior of the sect. This time James could see one of the floors filled with young children. The lot of them stood in rows, practicing punches and kicks as an older group of men and women watched them.

The elevators stopped a few times to let others on and off, but none acknowledged James despite quite a few acknowledging Nadia. James rolled his eyes at the obvious disregard. No one wanted to give him the time of day, probably because they wanted him to fail so they could get his oh so precious body.

James wondered not for the first time how someone like Nadia, with her kindness, came to be in a place with such obvious jerks. He had asked her once, but his master did not want to speak about it.

“Perhaps in the future, disciple,” she said. “Once all of the turmoil around you dies down.”

They left the elevator and entered Nadia’s vehicle, the sleek flying machine quickly taking them to the grand elevator.

“Is the elevator the only entrance to each floor?” James asked.

“There are others,” Nadia said. “Each floor of Cyber Crane is not so much a floor as numerous lines of connected material. Denizens in the past had built walkways between buildings. Others would add to the connections, building more and more until eventually the entire area was sectioned off. Because of the disorganized construction, there are multiple areas one could slip through to reach different floors. However, the others known to us are all guarded by the various sects.”

“Can’t have the competition getting a leg up on you through secret dealings,” James said.

“As you say, disciple,” Nadia answered.

“That the same for those bottom floors?” James asked. “The ones overrun by beasts?”

“It is similar,” Nadia said. “However, to preserve the higher floors, the major sects patrol the entrance to the grand elevator and do their best to cover or collapse any other entrances.”

“Right, to preserve the higher floors,” James answered sarcastically. “Not to hold a monopoly on who can go in.”

“Oligopoly would be the correct term, but your insight is sound,” Nadia answered.

“Why hasn’t anyone changed it?” James asked.

“People have tried,” Nadia said sadly. “What tends to happen is the sects deflect, make promises, and offer shallow shows of support that do not change the status quo. They create the appearance of action but do not in fact, change anything.”

“Doesn’t exactly sound righteous,” James scoffed.

“I have tried to make changes,” Nadia said softly. She looked out the vehicles window as they left the grand elevator. “It is slow change, but I have slowly planted seeds. Young cultivators under my tutelage are taught to think critically about our place in the world. I have taught them to think past the maximization of the greatest good that so many sects teach. In time, I believe it will be possible to fix the issues that are so prevalent in our sects and megacities.”

“I’m sure it will work out,” James said. “After all, you cared about me when you didn’t have to. People notice stuff like that, you know?”

“Thank you, disciple,” Nadia said. “Now, let us pick out a trinket for Tsukiko.”

The vehicle landed on a raised platform above rows of uniform buildings. Another elevator brought them to the streets below. Electric lights dotted the streets, lighting the shady areas nestled underneath the lines of buildings.

“Wow, this is fancier than the market back home,” James said as he looked at the signs.

Unlike Tower Ten, where signs were painted, the market street of Cyber Crane Megacity shone with scrolling electronic signs. The stores, instead of using every bit of available space both outside and in, only held their goods inside behind glass windows. The citizens darted to and fro from store to store, walking in and out with a purpose James only saw in the couriers back home.

“Where should we head first?” Nadia asked James.

The young man looked around until he spotted a sign advertising limited edition necklaces made of various gemstone. “There.”

The two made their way over, weaving through the crowds. Along the way, James marked the locations of a few more stores in his head. If this one didn’t have something for Tsukiko, the others might.