Elem perked up as he listened to Zorya. It was one thing for the Unagi School’s master to accept his challenge but hearing that she was actually excited to face him, made him feel so passionate he could faint.
“Th…thank you,” he said, a little overwhelmed. He had expected her to need some convincing before agreeing to the match, especially after seeing her give the previous challenger such a hard time.
“That was an intense battle you just had,” he continued. “Would you like to take a break for a day or two before dueling me?”
Zorya raised her eyebrows. She seemed almost offended by Elem’s suggestion, even though he hadn’t meant it in a demeaning way at all.
“Oh I am ready,” she replied with a playful smile. “I could face you right now but I think there’s something that you have to do before we have our duel.”
Elem turned his head in confusion. What could there possibly be for him to do? By beating Dante, he had already proven himself before her.
“Let me ask you something, Elem. Is that Kappa your only Summon?” she asked him.
“It is,” Elem admitted.
“You have what it takes to become a truly powerful Summoner. That match against Dante was impressive. You were outsized, outclassed and faced an opponent with more experience, but you still beat him anyways. That shows potential,” Zorya stood up and took a few steps towards the lighthouse, stretching her back as she regarded the structure. “I’d say that you’re ready to open up another Essence node.”
Another Essence node? That meant Elem could connect to a new Summon. He briefly considered the suggestion. Maybe he was ready- but even if he was- he’d need to find a Sacred Fountain first and those were not easy to get by.
“We have a temple hidden here,” Master Zorya said calmly as she tapped her toes on the ground. “Right below these very cliffs.”
“A temple?” Elem, still seated on the cliffs, carefully looked over the edge. That didn't even seem possible. “What do you mean?”
“Unagi’s Water Temple is one of our best kept secrets,” Zorya explained, laughing at his confusion. “The peninsula’s tip contains a grotto deep below the water and inside you will find a Sacred Fountain that’s been there for millennia. It isn’t easy to reach and our rules forbid using any kind of diving equipment but you and your Kappa are of course welcome to try and reach it.”
Elem took a deep breath. There had been a Sacred Fountain right below his feet all this time? This changed everything.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
He peered over the edge one more time. The ocean’s dark water pooled below him like a liquid abyss. Diving down there would be a challenge, he realized, even if he could rely on his Kappa. He had practiced swimming while cultivating before but he had never submerged below the water while Summoning, that seemed like a whole different skill on its own.
“Alright,” Elem said resolutely. “I am ready. Do you have any specific directions?”
Master Zorya bursted out laughing before punching him on the shoulder.
“You're too funny,” she teased. “You’re not doing this now. It's far too risky at night. Get some sleep and we’ll meet here in the morning.”
----------------------------------------
That night Elem was far too excited to sleep and since he didn’t want to wake his snoring friend by endlessly pacing through their hotel room, he decided to head to the cliffs before sunrise.
He was certain that Master Zorya likely wouldn’t wake up for a few hours, so Elem chose to prime himself for his dive by grinding cultivation forms all by himself.
Listening to the quiet waves and the freshly awakened seagulls, Elem focused- as he always did- on controlling his breath. He then shifted his weight from one leg to the other, staying in the position until he could feel his Essence freely flow through his veins. When he started to feel loose and free, he waved his arms around in one continuously fluent movement, spiraling the life energy around like an invisible whirlwind he felt sparkling through his muscles.
Elem smiled as the sun emerged from the ocean moments later. No matter how difficult the challenge ahead of him would be, gaining a new summon would forever change his life. He and his Kappa had both grown tremendously throughout their journey but opening a new elemental Essence Node would bring Elem closer to realizing himself to the fullest. Not only would he become a stronger Summoner, he would also gain access to a more diverse skill set.
“Good form,” Zorya noted when she finally arrived at the cliffs. The master looked well rested, wearing flip flops and a wide armless shirt; a far cry from her tense demeanor from the day before. “Do you feel like you're ready?”
“I think I am ready,” Elem answered a tad robotically, fixated on finishing his cultivation form before turning to her.
“So where exactly can I find this Water Temple?” he asked while kicking high into the air, pumping Essence through his entire limb.
“Well, it’s honestly been a while since I've been there,” Zorya replied with a laugh. “But I am afraid I couldn’t tell you much anyways, the temple dictates that summoners find their own path. Just watch out so you won’t get tangled. That’s all I can really say.”
“Tangled? What do you mean?” Elem abruptly stopped in his tracks, nearly losing his balance and almost tumbling down the cliffs. A terrifying vision of a giant tentacle pulling him into the abyss flashed through his mind.
Coming from a landlocked city, the whole concept of deep waters had always terrified him. The world’s oceans were so deep, who really knew what could be lurking below the waves?
“I am just talking about seaweed,” Zorya answered with a smirk that almost seemed like she was able to read his mind.“It's a real pest, the visibility is just terrible down there.”
“I suppose seaweed’s better than giant squid,” Elem mumbled to himself. He closed his eyes and reached out to his summon. Immediately, a fierce energy came roaring from within him; the Kappa was ready.