As morning comes, I open my eyes.

My eyes glow with a light I've never known.

It lasts for only a moment before the world takes on its normal contrast.

"What was that?" I ask the sword.

"Hmm? Oh, the light," the sword seems uninterested. "Your soul world is feeding you with excess chi.

"It's harmless. But, you really ought to put that energy to use. The demons would be a great conduit to..."

I ignore the sword and ready myself for the day.

When I open the door, I find Max resting against the wall.

I feel an eyebrow raise as he looks down.

"Ready?" I ask.

He nods his head.

"Good. Then you can take this."

I pass him most of my traveling gear.

He dutifully takes the luggage.

Before we depart, we sit down in the kitchen for breakfast. It's an unremarkable meal of beans with light seasoning.

But, considering my counterpart's state, it might as well be a feast.

The road meets our feet while the sword grumbles about going the wrong way.

Enthusiastic as Max is, he's unused to long marches.

I take my time as he lags.

We come to a rest early in the morning.

Before us lies a great lake.

Its surface is like glass. And, we cool our feet in the water.

It takes a while for Max to stop sweating.

"We're gonna be doing this all day?" he groans.

I chuckle, "It'll take a few days. But, you'll get used to it."

There is silence between us for a moment.

"Why," he begins, "do you live like this?"

"As opposed to living on the city streets?"

"No. What I mean is, that you seem like you could make a living in a town. Own a house."

"Ah. I've thought about it. But," I say, "it's not in my nature.

"Come on.."

I stand and walk over to a nearby tree. Two sword-length branches come off of it.

I toss one to Max.

He fumbles with it before holding it between his hands.

I take up a fighting stance.

"Attack," I command.

At first confused, he hardens his resolve.

His attack is clumsy and soon he is disarmed.

I do not criticize as he once more takes the weapon in his hands.

Over and over, we repeat the process.

Much as I'd like to say he's better at the end of our sparring, he's not.

"Patience, young grasshopper," the sword says from my hip.

"Skill takes practice."

I cast the stick away and smiled at my companion.

"We'll do this again."

He smiles an exhausted smile.

"Pack up. We're moving."

His shoulders sag as he collects most of the gear.

Our march doesn't last long. But, I have nowhere that I have to be.

Night comes quickly and I build a campfire.

All the while, I teach Max the fundamentals of fire making.

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As we stare into the fire, I meditate.

A spark ignites in my soul world.

The peaceful meadows and forests ignite with a new chi. One of destruction.

I marvel at how the beauty of life is replaced with another form of beauty.

Smoke billows up from a world on fire.

"Careful, bearer," the sword startles me out of my meditation.

I look at the sword.

"It is easy to believe that destruction is an end. But, truly, it is a means.

"Relent on the doom you have ignited.

"Fire cleanses. But, it also brings new life."

I focus my energy on suppressing the flames.

What remains is a charred landscape.

I breathe in life and heal my soul world.

"What happens when I refine my soul world?" I ask.

I look at Max to see that he sleeps.

"The illusion will disappear and you will establish yourself as a chi-forming cultivator.

"You will dip a toe into the world of immortals."

I absorb the words and think about what it means to be an immortal.

"Who knows," the sword says. "Maybe we'll meet a few of the old gang."

The notion of meeting other immortals is daunting after living with myths of such creatures.

The night passes peacefully and the next day's journey comes.

We make even less progress as Max limps along.

Days and nights pass.

I hunt the wild game to feed us.

Max is studious in his observation.

I teach him the art of trap making and we prepare them before the sun goes down.

It's a productive time as I spend my nights in meditation.

"Do you ever sleep?" Max asks.

I look at him from my cross-legged position, "It has been a while."

"Are- Are you a spiritualist?"

I look at the sword.

"You're more like a cousin to spiritualism. Different practice."

"Not exactly," I tell my companion.

"Can you teach me?"

I smile, "Sure."

I guide him through the concept of nothingness.

He meditates for a while. But, the draw of sleep is too powerful.

The night passes into day and we come upon a village.

The eyes are hostile as we make our way along the road.

One old man with a cane comes up to us.

"Get ye away, demon."

The old man curses Max and I see the drooping of his ears.

"We're going," I try to placate the racist man.

"You shouldn't have brought your slave to our village. Begone."

I restrain my impulse to draw my blade and cut the man down.

"He has a cane," the sword says. "It could be considered self-defense."

I sigh, "Come on, Max."

We hurry on our way and once more we wander in silence.

Max stops as I walk on for a step or two.

"Askilar," he says, "I'm sorry. But, I should leave."

I measure his words.

"Some random bigot brings our friendship to an end. Just like that?"

Max's eyes well up.

"I-" he chokes up.

"It's fine, Max. This happens from time to time. Besides, without you, I'd have to carry all my stuff."

Despite himself, my companion lets out a chuckle.

I turn around and continue our journey.

The days that follow see a strengthening of Max's legs.

We need fewer rests and he can go for longer.

At night, we cultivate.

Sleep takes him while I continue.

Our journey takes us to a small town.

I detect some mild enmity towards Max. But, it is subdued.

The guild opens up to us.

My coin has dwindled to a paltry sum. And, I seek out the bounty wall.

Patrons sit with ale and smoke as they observe us.

There is only curiosity in their examination.

The wall is layered with job listings.

Anything from janitorial jobs to kill quests.

By now, I've come to terms with killing for money.

Max watches curiously as I scan the wall.

Several bounties show mugshots of bandits.

I think about it for a moment. But, I decided that I'd rather not hunt my fellow humans.

One bounty shows a hunt for water striders.

These can be dangerous foes. Giant insects that walk across the surface of lakes.

It'll be easy to draw the carnivorous creatures to shore. But, the problem presents itself when too many of them attack.

Still, it's the bounty I choose to take up.

"You're going off to squash bugs?" the sword asks after I make my intentions known.

"Hardly seems a challenge."

I ignore the blade and turn to leave the guild.

Max follows dutifully as I pass through the city streets.

"Why'd you choose this quest?" my companion asks.

I shrug, "Need to make money somehow."

We set up camp near the lake.

Max follows at a distance while I approach the muddy shore.

They're out in force today as I survey them.

One has already noticed my encroachment.

Water splashes as the bug runs full tilt to me.

I wait patiently, sword in hand.

It's all legs and teeth when we meet.

My sword meets its mandibles.

Chi flows from me into the blade and I cut off a segment of the monster's mandible.

A clicking shriek lets loose from the insect.

It tries stomping me with a leg. But, just ends up losing the member.

I cut into it as it tries to flee to the water.

"It's getting away," the sword tells me as if I don't know that.

As it puts distance between us, I raise the sword over my head.

Electricity courses through me as I use the qillian's gift to breach the gap between us.

The sword comes down with the force of my charge.

The water strider doesn't have time to cry out as it is bisected.

I set down to harvest the token of my hunt before looking out on the other striders that take notice of me.

The sword, despite its earlier reservations, revels in the combat.

Hours pass as I reap my harvest.

Finally, as the sun dips down on the horizon, I collect the bounty and find Max.

He looks at me enthusiastically as I give him a tired smile.

I had used more chi today than at any other time since I became a practitioner.

Wordlessly, I pass my companion and find my way to our camp.

We sit, watching the campfire in silence.

Max looks like he wants to say something.

"What?" I ask.

His eyes find my sword.

"Why does your sword glow?"

I chuckle.

"It's not a common weapon."

"Not common, bearer? That's the best description you have for me.

"I'm a legendary sword, dammit."

I'm amused by the sword's tirade.

Max looks with awe at my treasure.

"May- May I hold it?"

The sword is still on a tear while I take it from the scabbard and hand it, handle first, to my companion.

His eyes grow wide as he holds it in his hands.

But, as soon as my fingers leave the weapon, the sword falls through Max's fingers.

We're both alarmed as the sword hits the ground.

"What gives, bearer? Trying to get rid of me?

"I won't accept just anyone as my partner."

Max doesn't hear its words. But, he knows himself to be unable to hold the weapon.

"Where did you get this?" he asks with reverence.

I stoop down and pick up the sword.

"A ruin," I say simply.

I leave him wondering as I turn my focus inward.

My soul world grows with every passing day.

In the forest of my heart, I see the world alight with life.

A buck chews on a mouthful of grass as it looks curiously at me.

Our soul is one.

I am not merely watching another creature. I'm looking at myself and the deer is looking at itself.

"You're close to the chi formation stage," the sword says.

"Soon, you will refine your soul world. And, you will extend your lifespan."

I'm not old. But, the promise of a longer life holds an appeal to me.

The night passes peacefully.