“So, what hit me?” James asked.

“A gun,” Nadia answered. “Banned inside the city and strictly regulated.”

“Oh,” James answered.

He’d heard of guns, but they were always shown as these L-shaped, blocky things.

“They are not something a disciple such as yourself should deal with,” Nadia continued. “I had abstained from teaching you in lieu of more pressing matters.”

“Is that not the case anymore?” Tsukiko asked. “Is he going to deal with this often?”

“No,” Nadia answered calmly. “Not for long, at least. No assassin would dare try something during the games. I suspect this one tried so hard because of it.”

She looked at James. “Better to spend your time learning more of your staff.”

“I need a way to get rid of them when I’m done using them,” James said, remembering the scattered jungle of rods below. “So no one uses them against me.”

“Something to plan for in the future,” Nadia said. “For now, focus on melding your staff with your movements.”

“Right,” James answered. “Actually, how much time do I have?”

“Two weeks, by my estimate,” Nadia answered. “The games are announced as a surprise, officially to prevent scouting and planning by opponents, but in truth I believe it a ploy to prevent sects with lower resources scouting those with more.”

“I think that’s the most cynical answer I’ve heard from you master,” James said.

“What can I say, disciple, you’re rubbing off on me,” Nadia said.

Tsukiko leaned in. “I should probably leave, then.” She kissed James on the cheek. “You need rest, and then focus. And we both know you can’t do that with me around.”

James looked at his girlfriend. Did she just tease him?

He asked as much.

“What? Like you’re the only one who can make a joke,” Tsukiko said with a smile. She gave him another kiss. “Think of it as me being nice since you went through so much.”

“I’ll make sure you get front row seats,” James said.

“You bet your ass you will,” Tsukiko said with a smirk.

Nadia escorted her out of the room, leaving James alone to think. Two weeks, that’s all the time he had to learn new staff techniques and arrange the betting with Paulie. At least it was only two things. James wasn’t sure what he’d do if there were more.

Wait, he also had to prepare for that whole experiment, didn’t he?

He sighed, sinking back into the bed. One thing at a time. Which meant first off was more rest.

__

James woke the next morning slightly stiff and with a dry mouth. A quick morning stretch solved that problem, while a glass of water from Nadia’s kitchen solved the latter. His master was in the kitchen as well, swirling a glass of water in contemplation.

“Morning,” James said.

“I believe your best course of action is to spar,” Nadia said.

“Morning yourself, disciple,” James said with sarcasm. “Did you sleep well? Are you healed enough to train? Why, yes master. I think I’m ready.”

“Lesser masters would have disciplined you for that,” Nadia said.

“Which is why I’m grateful you are the most long-suffering, gracious master,” James answered. “So, spars? Just with you?”

“Yes,” Nadia said. “I will do my best to use various techniques, but with the animosity still against you I have no other recourse.”

“You’d think they’d get tired of this,” James said.

“Long lives keep long grudges,” Nadia answered. “Something you should remember, disciple. Or else that tongue of yours will break the world asunder.”

“Divine Tongue Arts sound right up my alley,” James answerd. “Maybe I should have learned that.”

Nadia snorted. “Come, disciple. Let us begin your training.”

James followed out into the training yard, stopping in the center as Nadia recreated the official tournament grounds.

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

“Why are we focusing so much on the fighting?” James asked.

“The tournament comes first,” Nadia answered. “It is the most prestigious event, and therefore the one everyone wishes to watch.”

“Makes sense,” James said. He settled into a stance.

“Remove a staff first,” Nadia implored. “That is what we should focus on.”

“Speaking of,” James said as he removed the weapon. “Is there a way I can have the pouch move across my body? Reaching for the same area each time gives away what I’m doing.”

“Another issue we’ll solve later,” Nadia replied. “Right now, we must work on merging your art with your weapon.”

James shrugged. The sparring began. Hours passed, turning to days as James went through spar after spar with his master, slowly learning to mesh his staff into his art. He learned to use the staff like an extension of himself, crafting new ways to grapple and hold an opponent in place.

A week passed this way, James only pausing his training to message Tsukiko, Garret, or Paulie. The latter had quickly built a network of bookies that were already taking bets on known players. Rumors were quickly spreading of the tower born cultivator. Spreading faster than even Paulie expected.

James expected as much. Probably someone in Blue Mountain Sect spreading the rumor. It seemed like something cultivators would do.

During the week, James also heard from Aliah. The woman had finished some talismans and was waiting for him to come by.

“Then, let us take a short break,” Nadia said.

They traveled to the market floor and into Aliah’s repair corner. The woman was again knee deep in repairs. Though, this time she looked much less stressed.

“Haha! Yes!” James heard her mumble.

Nadia knocked. Gently at first, then with increasing force until Aliah took notice.

“Oh, sorry,” she said. “Didn’t realize you came in.”

“We’re used to it,” James said.

“You said you had talismans for James,” Nadia said.

Aliah nodded. She moved over to a pile of materials. “Where did I put it? Oh! Here we are.”

She came back with three talismans. “I made sure each one does something different, but they all use your bioelectric field. So do your best not to use two at once.”

James took them, admiring their sheen. These were nothing like the slightly battered talismans from before.

“What do they do?” James asked.

“This one,” Aliah pointed to the one on the left, “overcharges—well not actually but for description that’s what it does—your innate electric field to enhance your perception. Gives you something of a sixth sense. A right beast when you use it in the Metastate.”

She pointed to the second. “This one uses your biolelectrics to craft a shield. Nothing fancy, but it can stop most energy attacks.”

Her hand hovered over the last. “Now, this one is a beaut, if I say so myself. Was able to pull some of the Electrum Oxen’s natural electric generation. You only get one shot, but scrapped beasts is it powerful.”

“And it does what again?” James asked.

“Shoots a ball of plasma at your foe,” Aliah said. “This one is the most draining though. I wouldn’t use it unless you really have to.”

“Thank you, Aliah,” Nadia said. “He shall use them wisely, I’m sure. Do you have some of the more traditional talismans as well?”

“I’m sure I’ve got a few sitting around back here,” Aliah answered with a shrug. “He use them all already?”

“Yep,” James answered.

Aliah’s face asked for more story, but James didn’t feel like giving it right now. Eventually, she took the hint and trundled off toward her piles of electronics, coming back with another smokescreen and something new.

“This rewires your eyeballs for a short time,” she said. “Makes your vision blurry afterward but for about a minute you see in infrared. Perfect for anything emitting heat.”

“Thank you, Aliah,” Nadia said. She transferred payment.

“Always a pleasure,” Aliah said.

They left the shop, walking out into the busy market floor. As they moved, James spied Peregrine in the distance. The teenager had a harried look to him as he weaved through cultivators and servitors.

James caught his eye and saw the teen motion for him.

“Master, don’t look over, but Peregrine is here and wants to see me for something,” James said.

“I see myself, disciple,” Nadia said.

James made a show of turning to Nadia. “Master, can I be excused to go shopping for something?”

“Very well, disciple,” Nadia answered with a strong nod. “I will be in the store ahead if you need me.”

James jogged away, pretending to walk to a nearby store before veering off to meet Peregrine.

“Don’t worry, she bought my act,” James lied. “I don’t think she suspects you and I are working together.”

Peregrine nodded, then clasped a hand on James’s arm. “Are you safe?”

“I mean I feel fine,” James answered.

“I heard you were attacked,” Peregrine said. “I heard it was a gun.”

James nodded.

The teen hung his head, then bowed low to James. “I am ashamed.”

“Woah, hold on there,” James said. “You were the one who warned me. It was my fault for not taking it more seriously.”

Peregrine shook his head. “I should have—no, could have—done more. My brother caused this. I,” he took a breath, “I thought he would not resort to such things despite his words. I assumed the assassins would be common, meant to harm and not kill.”

The teenagers face grew sullen. “This is not what we are. Better means truly standing above, proving that your actions are truth by succeeding under your own power. My brother has forsaken this.”

He looked up at James. “If you require, I would be willing to speak against him.”

James was stunned. He never expected Peregrine to come to him with this. The man held too much pride.

James couldn’t help but ask. “Why?”

“I could not live with myself otherwise,” Peregrine answered. “While I agree that you are an outsider, and that you are still unfit for cultivation, we prove that through our own merits. My brother seems to have forgotten this. Instead of seeking you out and showing you your place as I have tried, he has resorted to the tactics of demonic cultivators and the unrighteous.”

“Well, thank you for wanting to help,” James said. “I would normally say yes, but the games are coming up soon and I’ve been sponsored. I can’t have something like trials interrupting that.”

Peregrine nodded. “Then I shall wait. I owe you a favor. Call it atonement for my dismissal earlier.”

James could tell Peregrine wouldn’t take no for an answer. “Alright. After the tournament I’ll get in touch.”

Peregrine nodded. “Then, good luck to you.”

James watched Peregrine leave. Conflicting emotions roiled underneath the man’s exterior. For one, he was glad that Peregrine apologized and offered to help. On the other, he hated that the only reason seemed to be for the teenager’s pride as a cultivator. It made him feel like a charity case, which stung when coming from someone so young.

The man sighed. At least he would get to solve his assassin problem after the tournament. In fact, he thought as he walked back to Nadia. There would be a lot of things solved after the tournament.