Alex soon found himself before several dozen hopeful-looking youths, all sitting in various positions ideal for meditation upon the surprisingly lush grass of the courtyard, most of them focusing on breathing exercises of one sort or another. Yet Alex’s Qi Perception made it clear that only about half were actually embracing any sort of basic meridian cleansing or purification technique at all, and only two embraced any sort of Bronze cycling technique. Most of them visibly flinched with tension whenever the gently smiling elder cultivator inspecting them would gently touch someone’s forehead, close his eyes, and either smile and nod, or sigh and shake his head.
“I’m sorry, my dear, but I fear cultivation is not your destiny, at least for this incarnation,” the elder gently declared to a girl who couldn’t have been more than sixteen.
Alex winced in sympathy, noting how carefully she was embracing deep breathing exercises that perfectly mimicked Steel Bear technique. Yet not an iota of spiritual plaque was cleared from her meridians. Because she had no meridians to clean. Only heartfelt tears as she broke down and sobbed.
“But my instructor, he assured me...”
“He was a fool who took advantage of your family’s desperation,” the elder snapped, causing the girl to flinch, though it was clear that his anger wasn’t directed at her. The elderly cultivator collected himself, fixing her with a sympathetic smile. “If you choose to put in a formal complaint, our academy will happily have a word with this individual, to see if malice or simple foolishness guides his path.”
The girl paled and quickly shook her head. “That won’t be necessary, honored one. I… Um… I guess I should be going.”
Her face marred by fear and disappointment, she lowered her head and left the courtyard, yet Alex would be lying if he said his heart didn’t break a little bit at seeing her hopes crashing to despair. Mirroring perfectly the next five hopeful youths that Alex knew were destined for bitter tears that day, the lack of spiritual energy flowing through them making their mortal status perfectly clear, at least to him.
“It is a shame, is it not?”
Alex blinked in surprise, seeing the elder cultivator now gazing up at him. “Forgive me elder...”
“Elder Win. It’s probably the hardest part of my duties, having to disappoint so many hopeful mortals.” He then smiled fondly at a half-dozen youth’s countenances bright with excitement, a world of possibilities suddenly open before them. “Just as it delights me to see inspiration strike those who were ignorant of their path, living the dream of life until truly awakening at last.”
Alex smiled, dipping his head. “I think you’re right, honored one. As bitter as the disappointment will be for some, there is nothing we can do to change the fate of those lacking a cultivator’s gifts. Yet we can make a difference, at least, in the lives of those who do have that potential, and that’s what makes teaching such a sacred duty. We need to let go of the fates we cannot change, and focus instead on the lives of those that we can.”
Alex winced when Elder Win’s features crinkled in bemusement, realizing he was forgetting his place. He was no instructor here or student who had proven himself the equal of his master, but rather the basest of supplicants, a heartbeat from being thrown out of the school entirely, if he didn’t make a good impression on someone soon. He quickly flowed into a 45 degree bow.
“Please forgive this lowly supplicant his loose tongue. It has been several days since I slept, and I find myself arriving at this prestigious academy with no sense of my place in it, or how to apply.”
Elder Win gave him a curious look. “Two days without sleep? Impressive. My understanding was that your kind needed more sleep than most, especially with blood as pure as yours obviously is.” His gaze turned unexpectedly sympathetic. “This is the testing area for the new recruits, held quarterly. I fear you’ve come to offer your services at just the wrong week. Of course, we are happy to work with skilled Ruidians at any time, as your tribal customs allow. If you wish to see the concierge and sign up for the rifts, we would of course be honored to have you, and offer more than fair rates for the beast cores you find and the kills you claim. In fact, I can have an assistant show you the way to some of the best accommodations you’ll find in the city, catering to your kind. You will find our food to be top notch, and our quarters are some of the quietest and coolest you could hope for.”
Ales swallowed, feeling genuinely touched. “I believe any good relationship is based on trust,” he solemnly said, lifting his head from his bow, unashamedly revealing his naked brow. “And though I am no jewel-master, I would be more than happy to take on these delves.”
He flashed a bemused smile at the elder’s nonplussed look, feeling a rush of insight as so many things suddenly clicked into place. “That’s why you’re all so warm and welcoming to Ruidians in this city! By your own admission, you have access to a rift. But rifts are full of Dark Qi. Cultivators tend to get sick without a great deal of open air meridian cleansing with minimal exposure. But Ruidians, working on a completely different paradigm, can handle a hell of a lot more Dark Qi before they have any sort of problem.”
Elder Win gazed at Alex for several long seconds, allowing Alex to realize just how out of turn his words had been... before chuckling softly. “Aptly said. Though your words do nothing to explain the enigma before me. A Ruidian with the body of a Bronze Ogre, free of any jewel, yet with the stance and balance of someone who’s mastered at least one killing art, playing the fool as he manages to offend multiple wujen, yet wise enough to understand just what makes his kind so valuable to us, and to the city as a whole.”
The man tilted his head thoughtfully. “Which all begs the question… why are you here?”
Alex grinned, eyes alighting with his own inner fire. “To learn a wujen’s arts, and I don’t mind doing whatever it takes to earn the credits to do just that.”
Elder Win peered at him thoughtfully for long moments, before his gaze hardened.
“Let us be perfectly clear, then. Are you declaring yourself a cultivating Ruidian with experience channeling spiritual energy?”
“Correct,” Alex concurred, dipping his head. “But only within melee range. I’d like to see if I can get past that limitation. That, more than anything else, is why I’m here.”
Elder Win nodded his approval. “And are you also saying that you have a jewel masters’ tolerance for Dark Qi?”
Alex gazed at the man for several long moments before shrugging. “Let’s say for the sake of argument that such was, in fact, the case.”
Elder Win’s eyes twinkled with delight. “Then I would say that a certain wujen’s hesitation to make an exception on your behalf was regrettable. Nonetheless if I may...” He raised his hand towards Alex’s temple before stopping abruptly, thinking better of it, though Alex’s smile was inviting enough.
“On second thought, how about you demonstrate for me the skills you already posses. That will tell me all I need to know to determine whether or not…
His words broke off when Alex summoned forth his strongest Water Shield, stepping back and slowly drawing his dao, now vibrating as a low keening hum vibrated through the air.
The elder gazed curiously at Alex’s sword.
Alex smiled, deciding at that moment that holding all his cards close would be just as detrimental as revealing too much of himself. One path might draw too much attention even if it wouldn’t connect at all to his previous life, and the other path would lead to utter obscurity and a denial of all resources if he couldn’t entice at least a few people to give him a chance.
Because he was no longer the hero of any story, and just as destiny wouldn’t go out of it’s way to turn his triumphs into bitter ashes, it wouldn’t necessarily throw any fortuitous encounters his way either, save for gifts of pure chance, and those opportunities that he made for himself.
Or at least that was his thought, and hope. Because he had been forced to savor the bittersweet for far too long, not to want a peaceful life free of any doom at all.
So one unique talent alone he would show off, enough to entice, but hopefully not enough to doom.
Yet when he casually invited the elder to throw a stick through the air, the enigmatic elder decided to throw a fine steel implement of war instead. The man’s eyes widened with more than bemused interest when Alex didn’t hesitate, but instead cleaved the air with his blade, not touching the steel sword breaker at all.
Yet his Wind Blade, extending three feet beyond his sword, had struck true. And the look in Elder Win’s eyes when the ringing bar of steel was split in twain, Alex then revealing a bit more of himself than he had intended when fast reflexes alone allowed him to catch the top half spinning violently through the air before it could brain a sobbing young teen who was too distraught to look up and move out the way.
The elder flashed Alex an approving smile.
“An impressive technique.”
Alex smirked. “There was a reason why I wanted you to use a stick.”
The man raised a bemused eyebrow. “To hide the fact that your technique is capable of slicing through a half-knuckle of high-quality steel?” The man said, words carrying to Alex’s ears alone as he tossed Alex the second half of the sword breaker.
Alex had the cheek to grin. “Exactly.”
Elder Win’s gaze hardened, mask of a gentle old adviser hardening to reveal the pristine aura of someone who had broke through to Silver, even if it had been after many years of bitter struggle. An accomplishment Alex already knew was beyond noteworthy in these desert lands.
“And just how often can you make use of this killing art?”
Alex’s smile hardened. “How many bandits… or beasts, are we talking about?”
The man snorted, gaze now that of a professional warrior. “You have the look of a man who knows what it means too use his talents in earnest.”
Alex shrugged. “I was a caravan guard on my way here. It was not an easy trip.”
The man nodded, features lightening. “Your people do make excellent caravan guards, so long as you have access to protective clothing and skin balms.”
“Or we travel at night,” Alex noted, more things clicking into place. “Why else do we have night caravans, after all?”
“Exactly. Only a fool complains about traveling by starlight when the road is straight, the breeze cool, and you have multiple jewel masters protecting your precious goods.”
Alex grinned. “I certainly don’t.”
“Your use of two separate elements. That isn’t a jewel manifestation?”
Alex gave the man a curious look. “You can’t sense the spiritual energy flowing through me?”
The man gave a laugh. “Very few can, save for the most skilled of Silvers and wujen. And perhaps I can sense a bit more than most,” he conceded with a nod. “But when forming rift parties, the stakes are too high for pride or assumptions.”
Alex grinned, more excited than he wanted to admit. “I take it daring whatever rift you all have access to is a great way to earn school credits and access to Silver Tier tomes?”
The elder said nothing, just staring at an increasingly uncomfortable Alex for long moments.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Alex winced, fearing that he had once more played the fool, pushing too hard for too much, ignoring too many unspoken rules regarding propriety and how things were properly done here, totally not expecting the soft, dry chuckle.
“You do like to cut to the heart of things, don’t you?”
Alex hid his relief, sensing that Win could have easily fallen on the side of anger or offense, having chosen instead dry humor and a surprising degree of tolerance for the awkward bumbling Ruidian who wasn’t nearly as foolish as he seemed.
Alex let loose an apologetic chuckle. “I suppose I do at that. Please forgive me.”
The elder tilted his head curiously. “If this one may ask, why are you so set on access to Silver tier tomes?”
Alex swallowed, not hiding the longing in his gaze when he looked in the direction that the departing had taken. “Because for so long I thought I would forever be denied a Wujen’s talents. So I pushed myself in ways that make me think… make me hope, that maybe it’s not beyond my grasp, after all, if my Wind Blade means anything. But I also know that cultivation manuals often make breakthroughs far easier than learning one-on-one with a teacher where no spiritual energy transference occurs at all. Not unless master and student truly share strong bonds of philosophy or loyalty.”
Elder Win frowned, before dipping his head. “learning to master Fire, Ice, and Wind are the dreams of most cultivators, yet very few truly have a wujen’s potential. Normally, students who are interested are given basic classes for several seasons, to establish whether they have any talent at all, before we dare add a cultivation manual to their training program. Because without a strong foundation...”
Alex winced, and nodded. “I understand. You want to be careful, lest the manual overwhelm you, or just not be a good fit.”
“Precisely,” Elder Win concurred. “If your affinity for a certain path is low, you risk more harm than benefit.”
Alex could only agree, and he couldn’t help but be struck by the contrast between Rising Phoenix Academy and here, where the former had made stopping by the cultivation library one of the first things they had done, and who knew how many would-be cultivators with no affinity for channeling any elements at all might have been ruined by that forged-in-fire philosophy? Because clearly when you had a city of over 15 million you might take for granted the lives and wellbeings of cultivators far more readily than you do in a far smaller city where achieving Silver was a monstrous feat that only a handful could hope to match and none would expect to surpass.
Of course he and his closest friends had profited mightily from access to even the most basic elemental tomes, but he was forced to acknowledge once more that, for better or worse, he had forged connections of both friend and foe with the true elites of that school, so his view was probably somewhat skewed. He and his friends had reveled in their shared triumphs, never seeing the handful of broken young men and women whose foundation had been cracked, perhaps irreparably, their hope for advancement and glory shattered to dust as a servants doom suddenly became their own. And with so many elites like Alex and his closest friends growing at phenomenal rates, who had thought to shed any tears on behalf of those children whose dim flames had been overtaken by so many young prodigies blazing like the sun?
Alex sighed in fresh sympathy, having come far closer to peril himself at that school than he wanted to admit, recalling how it had felt when he had dared a Metal Tome that had been anathema to Hao Chan’s arts and nearly tore apart his Dantian. And how fortunate he was that he was so very compatible with the other basic arts he was familiar with, despite his own deviation requiring Metal to behave like a liquid… or at least, it had once been his deviation.
This time around, he wasn’t certain if orthodox Metal techniques would strain his Dantian or not. But considering that, if he couldn’t learn to see Ice as it’s own element, if it instead could only be viewed as frozen water by his system interface… it would potentially be devastating. Or at least it would have been to the Alex who had come before.
Alex bowed his head. “Understood, honored elder. Best basic classes and learning the rudiments of how elemental attacks and defenses are performed, before daring further independent mastery.”
The elder cultivator beamed, displaying shiny white teeth against his chestnut-hued skin. “Excellent.” He turned to look behind Alex, his gentle instuctor’s smile falling back into place as he spoke to the pair of panting, wide-eyed youths behind him.
“Welcome, aspirants. Have you come to test your fate?”
The nearest youth, who couldn’t have been a day over 16, fell to his knees. “We’ve come to be judged, master.”
“To see if we are worthy of defying the heavens!” His curly-haired friend declared with an excited gasp, earning a bemused snort from both Win and Alex.
Yet the elder didn’t hesitate to put his hand on both children’s brows. “Come then, let us see if your soul has awakened sufficient to glimpse the way.”
Both youths gazed at the elder with excitement, one even glancing Alex’s way with something close to awe.
“Look at the Ruidian, Ahn. He’s a cultivator too!”
The other boy’s eyes widened, not catching the older cultivator’s sigh. “He’s so big. Do you think he can teach us the secrets of strength… or the power of the earth?”
Alex chuckled politely. “I can certainly teach you the way of the spear, or perhaps, how to find a choice herb or compound a tincture, but I fear I can teach you very little about the Dao.”
Ahn furrowed his brow. “But you’re so big! Aren’t you a cultivator?”
“He is,” Elder Win replied gently. “But that’s not the problem.”
The older boy gazed curiously at the elder. “But honored one, we’re willing to…” he then blinked, going still under the weight of the elder cultivator’s gaze, before kowtowing before the man. “This foolish one apologizes for speaking out of turn.”
“It’s quite alright,” said the elder with a tired sigh. “Now why don’t both you lads go home and tend to your parents’ stalls like the good boys you are? Before the afternoon rush swamps their businesses. And by all means, take some flatbread with you and drink your fill from our well, as thanks for doing your duty to our school, and our city.”
Ahn shivered, eyes widening, as if only in that moment understanding the significance of the elder’s words. “You mean, we aren’t… not even a little bit?”
Win gave the boy’s thin shoulder a sympathetic pat. “I fear such is not your destiny, this time along karma’s wheel. So put to rest the yearning ache you no doubt feel from a previous life, and focus on embracing this one to the fullest. Who knows? Should you live your life upstanding and well, you might find yourself born to enlightenment unlike anything you can imagine today.”
The youth’s crestfallen expressions hit Alex surprisingly hard as they lowered their heads and strode back to the school entrance with final bows their way, the former excited spring to their step now burdened with the weight of their own mortality, forced to accept that no matter how far they strove or hard they tried, they’d never be able to walk the path favored by heroes of myth, legend, and no doubt their own imaginations.
Alex expression was one of sympathy and profound gratitude. For all that he had suffered unimaginably, for all the trials and tribulations he had been put through, he still savored waking up each day with the sun caressing a body brimming with energy, vitality, and the promise of eternal youth, where every day was an opportunity to learn, to test himself, and to grow stronger in a thousand different ways.
As long as he remained focused and determined to excel, there was absolutely no limit to how far he could go. No limit to the adventures he could savor. So long as the spite of vindictive gods and the malice of twisted fate didn’t turn his triumphs into tragedy, as it had so many times before.
This time, things would be different, he promised himself. This time, he would remember to savor every day he could breathe the fresh crisp air of desert sands and the aromatic floral scents from the valley floor perfuming the breeze, just a short distance away.
Elder Win gave him a surprised glance. “Are you actually having a moment of enlightenment?”
Alex chuckled softly. “More like, a moment of gratitude.” He then gave the elder a knowing look. “I can see why the school has you interviewing new would-be hopefuls. Certainly your bedside manner is a heck of a lot better than some people I could name, though I’m not sure if implying that they might be cultivators in their next life if they were good boys in this one is a choice I would have made.”
The elder’s gaze stiffened for a too-long moment, before his features lightened into a chuckle. “Really? Humor me, aspirant, why wouldn’t you have said the same?”
Alex’s grin froze, realizing by the hard twinkle in the man’s eye that a lot rode on said answer, and he didn’t think bullshitting or prevaricating would make him look anything other than weak and unworthy, the opposite of the fierce resolve he was so determined to embrace and project. To be worthy of the gifts he had been blessed with, no matter how bitter his past lives had been.
So he told the truth.
“Because with each incarnation, our potential is the same. And although through perseverance and life experiences the seed of our potential can grow, over time, blossoming into something truly profound… that’s a journey of a thousand lifetimes. No merchant boy daydreaming of a storybook cultivator’s life will magically blossom into a prince destined for Gold in his next life, no matter how hard he tries.” Alex forced a laugh, despite how intently Elder Win was gazing at him. “Though I’ll grant it’s possible that he might develop the glimmerings of a Soul Stone. Maybe he’ll have a single meridian to cleanse in his next life. Maybe.” Alex shrugged. “But I wouldn’t count on it. Not with less than 10% of the population having any cultivation talent at all, no matter how fervently the other 90% wishes for such an opportunity in their next life.”
Elder Win gazed at Alex for long moments. “Fascinating,” he said at last, after Alex had plenty of time to regret his lack of sleep and his too big mouth, no matter how energized he felt. “Is that a Ruidian belief?”
Alex flashed a relieved smile at the out that the elder had provided him. “It’s certainly my own… and I apologize for speaking out of turn yet again,” he said with a low bow.
But Elder Win was already walking away, heading towards the other hopeful-looking students who he had clearly accepted, beaming at them all. “Congratulations and welcome to all of you who are destined to walk the way by our side, for this incarnation at least. Come, it is time for a tour of our academy, so that you may gain an understanding of what expectations and duties we have for you, as well as make note of the opportunities we will provide the worthy among you that will allow you to grow into your full potential.”
Alex noted no less than thirty hopeful students wearing a varied assortment of robes, tunics, and various types of head-ware. Unlike what he recalled of Baidushi and Yidushi, no one was showing off exorbitant wealth in their attire, or perhaps that was simply because Alex was effectively joining the introductory curriculum once more, and the elites had other avenues of study available to them. Which was fine, Alex thought with a smile. The less short-tempered arrogant popinjays he met during his time here, the happier he would be.
He shook his head, clearing it of distraction, focusing on Elder Win’s words once more.
“...Unlike lesser schools, you will find our curriculum to be highly individualized, catering to emphasizing your strengths and shoring up your weaknesses.”
One young woman dressed in fine silk robes radiating a merchant’s air raised her arm.
“Yes, initiate?”
“Thank you, Master Win. How long should we expect to be under your care before graduating to more advanced classes?”
This query earned a soft chuckle. “Not long all, dear child. My job is to assist in examining both your martial and cultivation capacities extensively over the next few days. Your future instructors will be the ones to hone you all into fine steel blades. Mine is to find the whetstone best suited to your temperament and grain.”
The girl quickly bowed her head. “Understood. Then we are in your care, Master Win. Please treat us kindly.”
This earned a chuckle, and in short order Elder Win had them walking past the magnificent palanquin that seemed to be the showpiece of the school, Alex dutifully listening to a lecture that made it clear that this academy was organized a lot more like a college campus from his first life than the cultivation academies he had been to before. For all that the would-be students and a handful of instructors had gathered before the massive central pagoda that served as a key school landmark, the academy grounds themselves stretched around a good portion of the inner lip of the massive caldera they all finally got a good look at, the occasional whistle or gasp of awe making it clear that he wasn’t the only first-timer captivated by the view.
Alex felt an ache in his chest and a sudden sense of yearning as he beheld the sight of distant waterfalls spraying down from the rocky far side of the clearly long dormant volcano, pouring down in a majestic glittering spray that flashed in the afternoon light to form a glorious constant rain saturating the lush, verdant fields and carefully tended fruit tree groves far, far below, the entirety of it shrouded in that mist from multiple waterfalls spraying down from all sides of the massive caldera, forming a true desert oasis in what was at least 25 square miles of lush thickly growing vegetation in the form of carefully cultivated crops of oats, wheat, barley and many other grains in addition to countless smaller plots of vegetables Alex could barely make out at such a distance, all of it given sustenance and life from the waterfall-fed rivers snaking throughout, blessed with a tiny lake in the center.
It was a glorious oases of lush verdant life, more than enough to sustain a city of hundreds of thousands that sprawled on the outer lip like a defensive barrier against all that would claim their glorious bounty.
Qi Perception check made!
Artificer skill check: critical success!
Only one thing marred the pristine beauty, and that was the realization that one of the major waterfalls was no more real than the glittering lights of spiritual energy that the illusion emanated from. As to why they even bothered, Alex had no idea. But if the very real source of intense arboreal potency that he sensed from below was any indication, there was certainly sufficient water to nurture the incredible variety of crops and succulents below.
Still, he couldn’t help but peer at the other waterfalls with a certain degree of intensity, pleased to see that at least the others were entirely real.
Here, Elder Win paused. Alex could sense him carefully looking over all of them, even more intently than he had when testing them for cultivation potential, before his face broke out in a glorious smile, clearly pleased by the looks of awe and reverence he sensed from all of them.
“And this here is our most sacred duty, disciples of the way. The ache you feel in your chest is the love you have for your city. Your people. Like a father would have for his child, to protect and nurture one’s treasure against all who would claim it, whether raiders, bandit kings, other city states, or simply the fierce desert itself.”
Win paused, his gaze turning solemn. “Our sacred duty, above all others, is to nurture and protect the sanctuary that you see before you. That which our city’s fortunes, indeed, it’s very survival, rests upon.”