“You’re kidding,” Tsukiko said.

“I’m not, he really believes the lie,” James said.

“Teenagers,” Tsukiko groaned. “We weren’t like that, were we?”

James was back in Tsukiko’s room at the Archimedes building, regaling her with his tale. The simple room had changed since James’s last visit. The place felt more like home.

It was small things, like discarded clothes and stray cups that showed the place was lived in. There were also more

“Obviously not,” James said. “We knew exactly when adults were lying to us.”

She looked at him. “It sounds like you’re insinuating something.”

“I mean… remember that time when you were going to get a promotion?” James asked.

Tsukiko crossed her arms. “Oh its like that, is it? What about the time where you took a job without payment first?”

“I got paid in the end,” James argued.

“I distinctly remember the payment was rusted scrap so old that it cost more to melt it by the end.”

“Still got paid,” James shrugged.

Tsukiko threw a pillow at him. James caught it with one hand.

“Sloppy,” he joked.

He caught the second pillow. “Mediocre.”

The third hit him right in the face. “Oh no! I have been slain!”

“Guess that means I’m a stronger cultivator,” Tsukiko joked.

“Guess you’re right,” James said. “I’ll let Nadia know she should start training you.”

James pulled out his handheld and starting crafting a message.

“Master, I hereby cede my training to Tsukiko, she has bested me in battle and I have forever been shamed.”

Tsukiko shoved him. “You idiot.”

James caught her shove and wrapped her in a hug. “So in all seriousness, how in the world am I going to deal with this whole teenager thing?”

“You talk to Nadia about it?” Tsukiko asked.

“Not yet,” James said. “She’s been out and about the last few days.”

“So send her a message on the handheld,” Tsukiko replied.

“Oh, right I can do that.”

She shook her head. “You’re lucky you’re handsome.”

“I am, aren’t I?” James opened the messenger on his handheld and sent what had transpired to his master. She replied only minutes later.

“We’re going to meet on her floor,” James said.

“Better get going then,” Tsukiko said.

James released he girlfriend and said goodbye. He arrived in Blue Mountain sect a short while later, the building’s taxi service ferrying him as Nadia was using her vehicle. The pristine lakes greeted him as he walked inside, along with Nadia and one other.

They were old, older than anyone James had seen in his lifetime. They stood hunched, thick robes masking their body while their white hair was bunched in a tight bun. Their eyes pierced through James, and it felt like they saw everything James was, is, and would ever be.

They looked to Nadia. “He doesn’t seem like much.”

“You say that about everyone, great grandmother,” Nadia said. “If I recall you said that about the patriarch as well.”

“And I meant every word,” the old woman said. Her voice was a bass as deep as the ocean, and nearly as cold. She looked back at James. “Tell me, boy, if you had power what would you do with it?”

James shrugged. “I’ve never had it so I can’t say.”

She wrapped him on the knuckles. James fell to the ground in surprise. She had been next to Nadia not even a second ago!

“Dodging the question is not an answer,” she chided. “Now, think about it and answer.”

James looked at his master, who urged him to respond with a handwave. He looked back to the old woman. She stared at him, her eyes judging.

What would James do with power? He’d never thought about the question. His whole life had been working to live and living to work.

“I never had to think about it before, so give me a bit,” James said to the woman.

She nodded.

James moved into a sitting position, crossing his legs as Nadia had taught him. He tried to think about the question, his thoughts gravitating to the examples in his life.

“I’d use power to help others,” James said. “Like how my master helped me.”

“And how would you know what helps and what hurts?” the old woman asked.

“I’d talk to them, ask them,” James said.

“What if they don’t know?”

James frowned. “Look, I gave you my answer.”

“Disciple,” Nadia said reproachfully. “Be respectful.”

“I’m trying, master,” James said. “But—“

Pain flared from his knuckles once more. “Answer the question, brat.”

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“Would you stop that?” James asked. “I don’t even know why I’m supposed to answer these questions.”

“Your master wants you to, that should be enough,” the old woman said.

“Why?” James asked. There was another rap against his knuckles.

The old woman loomed over James. “Answer the question. How would you help someone who doesn’t know what would help them?”

“Whatever I’d do I wouldn’t hit them for not understanding something,” James said as he nursed his knuckles. He knew it was a bad response but his emotions got the best of him.

There was another rap against his knuckles. “Insolent brat. Your master brings me to help and all you show is disrespect.”

“Pretty sure that street goes both ways,” James shot back. He was getting tired of all the people attacking him for no reason. “Gotta give what you want to receive.”

“James,” Nadia said almost pleadingly. “Please answer the question.”

James sighed. “Only because you’re the one asking.”

He looked at the woman. “If they don’t know what would help or hurt them, I’d make a suggestion. I’d explain what I would do and the consequences. I wouldn’t tell them to do something like a certain old—Ow!”

James wondered how this old woman kept striking his knuckles without him noticing.

“Acceptable,” the woman answered. She looked at Nadia. “I retract my earlier statement. It seems your disciple is more than he appears.”

“Thank you, great grandmother, for the praise,” Nadia said.

“You need to teach him respect,” she said. “Or at least the image of it. His current disposition will not make friends.”

James opened his mouth to argue but Nadia’s disposition stopped him. She was looking at her apparent great grandmother with high esteem. It took some of the hot anger out of James’s sails.

“Master, what is all this about?” James asked.

The old woman pierced James with a look sharper than anything Tsukiko had ever given. “You should speak only when spoken to in the presence of others, brat.”

Nadia stepped around to partially shield her disciple. “James, this is great grandmother, one of the elders in the Archimedes sect. She is here to see if you are an acceptable choice for a sponsorship.”

“In what?” James asked.

“In the games, brat,” the old woman said. “You’re lucky I find stubbornness a good quality. Others would have broken you for the insolence you show.”

Nadia started to explain. “Great grandmother, James in not your typical—“

“Yes, yes,” the old woman said. “You have explained more than once about his unusual circumstance. I’m old, not deaf.”

“Then please forgive his lack of etiquette,” Nadia said.

“You see that, brat?” the old woman said. “You’ve made your master look weak. She should never have to apologize for something you did.”

James stayed silent.

“At least you know when to stop,” the old woman said. She blinked next to James, grabbing his arm and inspecting it. He wanted to ask how she kept moving so quickly.

“Flexible,” Nadia’s great grandmother said. “Wiry strength as well. Learning an old art, however. One used back when we scouted more of the forests.”

James tried to pull his arm away only to find it locked in the old woman’s grip. He looked at his master pleadingly. She gave him a look that said, ‘bear with it.’

“You are right that he would be a top candidate in any other circumstance,” the woman said.

“Thank you for the praise, great grandmother,” Nadia answered.

“Then, brat,” the woman said. “What are you most skilled in?”

“Running,” James answered. “I spent my whole life running up and down the floors of the tower.”

“Useless in the games,” she answered. “No helping it, then you’ll have to be a fighter.”

“Wha—?” James stopped as the woman pierced him with a look.

“Good, you learn fast,” she said. “You may speak.”

“What are the games?” James asked, slightly frustrated.

“The games, disciple, are tests of skill between cultivators. Sects, families, and individuals sign up to partake in a variety of challenges. Those that perform can gain favor, a useful tool for someone such as yourself.”

“Because I’m an outsider,” James answered. He hissed as pain crossed his knuckles.

“Perhaps you don’t learn as quickly as I thought,” the woman said.

“Great grandmother, that is my fault. I have not seen fit to train James in the etiquette between master and disciple. There were more pressing matters.”

Nadia’s great grandmother narrowed her eyes. “Hmm. You will remedy this.”

“Of course,” Nadia answered.

“You’re lucky I’m a forgiving grandmother,” the woman said. “Others would have struck this man down for his insolence.”

“Which is why I went to the most generous of the elders,” Nadia answered.

“Flattery will get you everywhere, granddaughter,” the old woman said. “I agree to sponsor him in the games. Make sure he does not disappoint.”

“I will see to it that James brings honor to the family,” Nadia answered.

“See that you do.” With those words the woman released James and stepped away. He turned to see her leave, but only found an empty elevator. He felt something brush the back of his head. James turned but only saw his master. The elevator dinged.

James whirled to see the edge of the elevator leave his sight.

“How in the world did she do that?” James asked.

“Great grandmother has trained extensively in anatomy and perception,” Nadia answered. “She is able to move when you lose focus or turn your head. I think she likes you.”

James rubbed his knuckles. “If that’s her like I’d hate to see her love.”

“Great grandmother is abrasive, but she is by far the most understanding of the family,” Nadia said.

“And she’s sponsoring me in these games that I’ve only just learned about,” James said.

Nadia nodded tightly. “I had not thought great grandmother would so readily agree, which is why I hadn’t said anything. Surprisingly, she agreed to the request on my second visit, but forbade me from telling you about the games until she tested you herself.”

“And here I thought you had just gone ahead with a decision,” James joked.

“I did try to reason with great grandmother,” Nadia said, “but I believe she acted the way she did for a reason.”

“Yeah, okay,” James snorted.

“Disciple, why would she act the way she did if she agreed with your answer to her question?” Nadia asked. “Did you not find it strange?”

“It did seem hypocritical,” James admitted.

“I believe she was attempting to see how you would react to the arrogance of stronger cultivators,” Nadia said. “And she was right in that I must teach you etiquette if you are to enter the games.”

“Why would I want to?” James asked. “We have more important matters, right? Like those teenagers being lied to?”

“Distressing, yes,” Nadia said. “But your success in the games would in fact help you on that front.”

James gave his master a questioning look. “What do you mean?”

Nadia motioned for him to sit beside her. “Success in the games brings honor, which would raise your standing in the megacity. Your success would in turn bring me success, and show others that I am not training you as a disruptor. It would be difficult for them to argue that I am attempting to undermine the sect if I bring honor to it through the games.”

“But I’m sponsored by your family,” James said.

“But you are still a member of Blue Mountain Sect,” Nadia explained. “The sponsor is a way for those with talent but no means to advertise their skills, nothing more. They are not announced in the games and remain anonymous throughout.”

“And you think I should do these games?” James asked.

Nadia sighed. “At this point, there is little choice. Great grandmother has already made the decision and she is more stubborn than three of you combined.”

“Master, are you saying I’m stubborn?” James asked.

“Not at all disciple,” Nadia answered dryly. “Now, come. I have a lesson in dynamics to teach you. You are still having trouble with the third law.”

“It makes no sense in my head,” James said.

“Perhaps it would be better if I explained it physically.” Nadia led James out into a training room.

“I would like you to watch me, disciple,” she said.

Nadia performed a vertical jump, landing gracefully. “Now, you do the same.”

“Okay…” James jumped in the air.

“When you jumped, your body pushed against the ground, did it not?” she asked.

“Yeah,” James answered.

“Where did that push, go, disciple?” Nadia asked.

“It’s what let me jump,” James said.

“And yet, disciple, you pushed down. How did you jump into the air if the force you exerted was against the ground?” Nadia asked.

“No, my muscles pushed my body up,” James said. He made the jump again. “No, wait.”

“You pushed up and down at once, did you not?” Nadia asked.

“Wait that’s all it is?” James asked.

“That is all it is, disciple,” Nadia answered. “Since it seems you understand, let us move on to the next lesson.”

They continued to study until James felt himself growing impatient.

“Perhaps we should take a break, disciple?” Nadia asked. “I have not seen how far you progressed in your martial art. Shall we have a quick spar?”

“Of course, master,” James said eagerly. Anything to let him move around a bit before they went back to studying. He knew the work was important, and he’d already learned from it, but there was only so much time a person could spend studying before they lost their mind.