Kai spent the rest of the day getting to know the residents of Skyhearth a little better. Everyone seemed nice enough, and after overcoming their fear of him peppered him with questions, especially a young man who had previously been a carpenter; Rowan. He now sculpted trees into living cabins with his aura; Kai could tell by the man’s excited demeanour that he loved every minute of it and took pride in his craft.

Milah and Rowan had offered him his own lodging, a beautiful wood-grown cabin sprouted from the earth. A Japanese lantern hung outside with a copper butterfly glowing softly. He’d thanked them, and explained his underground ordeals, and that he did not much like being indoors anymore.

He had decided to grab a tent roll and sleep outside; he gazed into the crackling campfire he’d made, as he sat under evening stars.

Kura, there’s no honey left!

Still no response, if that did not wake her up, nothing would. That or she knew he was lying. He sighed and glanced at the empty spots around the warm campfire, then poked the burnt embers with a stick. Tomorrow he’d make some final preparations. I need to be ready to leave the moment the second trial starts.

He’d been pondering what he could do about his ruptured meridians; he could no longer heal with crystals nor could he upgrade his body again.

Kai rested his hand on his chest, feeling his heart thump, Bloodfury and Vortex Heart are amazing… would I be able to heal my meridians if I fused one of them with Limb Regrowth? They both scale with body, so they should be compatible.

The problem was the difference in quality, Limb Regrowth was Flawed and Vortex Heart was Fine, so he was worried the fusion would not work at all, or would work better if they were both the same quality. And only one had an apex bonus, what would happen to that after a fusion?

Kai groaned and flopped back first into the grass, gazing sleepily up at the night sky. That means I need to hunt down a vital evolution fruit for Limb Regrowth first, then acquire a fusion fruit or something.

The next morning, the sun shined brightly on Kai’s face; he tried to cover his eyes but resistance was futile under its assault, he was awake. Falling asleep under the stars is great, waking up not so much. He rallied himself and joined Milah, Hawkin, and Rowan for a hearty breakfast of honeyed oats and mushroom pie before he left Milah with some instructions and ideas, then said his farewells and strolled through the woodlands towards his next stop, the Rakin village. The walk would probably take about an hour.

He bounced up and down on the balls of his feet, twigs and dry leaves crunching, when an irresistible idea bloomed. He reduced his weight and leaped as high as he could, and soared through the air like a flea on a dog’s back. His arms flailed and his pants billowed in the wind as he leaped and bounded through the woodland skies, a child-like grin on his face as he laughed.

The ground shook when he landed on the outskirts of the burnt Rakin wheat fields; he panted for breath as he grasped his knees, still smiling. However he turned beet-red when he noticed a motherly Rakin collecting dried wheat shake her head at him, one arm at her side, but he glimpsed a playful sparkle in her eye.

Kai made his way through the village and approached the Rakin Elder, then kneeled, not in a prostrated sort of way, but rather just a seated position so that he was eye level with her.

“Greetings, Elder,” Kai said. “I have a favour to ask, do you have—”

She patted him on the cheek in a motherly fashion, then smacked her dry lips together. “We have not grown more Giant Tremella Mesenterica mushrooms yet, but when we do, of course.”

How did she know that’s what I wanted to ask? Kai put his hands together in a slight bow. “Thank you.”

The Elder wiggled her bushy eyebrows mischievously. “It won’t be free though.”

Kai’s eye twitched; he could not help but feel a bit miffed, he’d restored those underground coral reefs to safety, but that did not mean he could mooch off them. Especially when the Rakin village had been ravaged in an attempt to capture him.

Kai raised his hands in defeat. “Alright, fair enough, what’s the price?” he said, eyebrow raised.

The Elder shook her head like she had sucked on a sour lemon. “I said it’s not free, not that it would cost you. I’d like for the Rakin to become your first Vassal.” She peered at him expectantly.

Kai blinked back. “Uh, sounds good, speak with Milah?” Kai said.

The Elder rolled her eyes, “You have a lot to learn about negotiations and being a Lord.”

She was right of course, in his first negotiation his mind had been addled and if it wasn’t for Kura he would have been ripped off by Hafez. His second negotiation ended in Matt dying.

“Your wisdom in this matter would be appreciated, I believe I can be an immovable mountain that protects, but leadership…” Perhaps Kura can help with negotiations, especially money matters… I hope she’s okay.

“Leadership comes with time, I wasn’t always this wise or good-looking.” She chuckled while looking wistfully at her faded fur, then gazed at him with a serious expression.

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“Leaders aren’t born, they are made.” The Elder spat on the ground. “That Saurkar was a propped-up fool. The challenges you will face as you descend below the clouds will make the first trial look like a playground.”

Kai nodded his head in thought. “So what would the Rakin becoming a vassal entail?”

“The obligations of a vassal usually include military support in exchange for certain privileges, like land and protection. In our case we will offer various economic benefits such as our mushrooms, wheat and tax. And we will enjoy your protection as you grow and the right govern the Hearthshroom independently. Plus make proposals if you reach the next noble title rank.”

Kai groaned internally. That sounded like a lot of admin he did not want to deal with. The deal seemed slightly in his favour, which made him skeptical. There were probably great long term benefits for the Rakin if he grew stronger–which he planned too–and if she did not offer to become his vassal he could return in future and force it, with more unfair conditions. She was taking a calculated bet. Either way, he’d be dead without their aid, same as they may have been without his. He would not enforce anything unfairly. If leaders are made and not born, then I will try to learn.

“You have yourself a deal, but I do want you to still discuss it further with Milah.” Kai said, extending his hand, they shook.

The Rakin are now your vassals.

Your borders have expanded.

Kai and the Elder turned their eyes skyward as the Arclight dome grew to encompass the Hearthshroom in a dome of crackling golden light. I really need to figure out what this thing does.

“Well someone has money to spend.” The Elder whistled.

She then opened and closed her mouth a few times as if hesitating, something Kai had not seen her do. “Be wary of Algrom.”

“…Why?” Kai asked, his eyes wide in surprise.

She shook her head. “I should not have even said that much, his intentions are hard to discern, you must judge for yourself.”

Kai nodded slowly.

He had something else pressing to ask about, “What exactly are meridians and do you know how to heal ruptured ones?”

She stroked the grey fur on her chin. “Think of your body’s circulatory system as your vital pathway, along this flows your blood, vital aura and numerous small nodes, these nodes are your meridians. There is also another, separate pathway, along which your soul’s aura flows.”

The Elder shook her head, sadness in her eyes. “I have never heard of someone surviving that ordeal, let alone healing the meridians.” She tilted her head while looking at him and offered a warm smile. “But you have already done the impossible and survived the first part. Now, off you go before the next trial starts, you don’t want to be late.”

“Go where?” Kai asked.

“To the edge of the island, any direction will do.”

Kai looked at her sceptically, but her wisdom had not let him down, so he made his way towards the edge closest to the waterfall.

His stomach was a knotted mix of emotions, hope for the survivors of Skyhearth, fear of being unable to protect them. Part of him wanted to distance himself and not be responsible anymore. He’d failed his parents, failed his monastery, and failed Matt. Perhaps I’m better off alone.

Kura snarled and bit his ankle. Hard.

“Ouch!”

Sorry, Kura!

Kai shook his head free of the intrusive thoughts.

I will stand up every time I fall, I will become strong enough to claim dominion and protect… my people, and Earth and what remains of humanity.

Kai peered over the edge of the island. Strong winds ruffled his pants; there was no land below, just endless clouds. Am I just supposed to jump off? His stomach fluttered.

Yup yup, find wind currents.

“Wait, what! Kura! You’re awake!” And slightly more wordy than before, how you feeling?

Happy happy.

“Do you remember our conversation?”

She paused, what conversation?

“It’s alright, I’m just glad you’re okay.”

Me too, she curled a tail the size of him, around him.

It did not feel like the right time to jump yet. He sat down and crossed his legs at the edge of the world and waited, and waited.

Kai wondered if he should have made more of an effort to get to know “his people”, but he was content that they should be safe for now. It would be hard to build bonds with people if he had to leave them every time he descended to a lower layer for a new trial. If that’s how it would work. He’d figure it out when he could travel back to Skyhearth.

Eventually it happened.

Sovereign’s Odyssey

Trial 2: Someone Worth Following

Objectives: Perform 3 feats of strength, reputation, or subjugation beneath the clouds.

Bonus objectives: Hidden.

Time left: Trial 2 ends when 1500 individuals complete this task.

Reward: Variable, Title upgrade, Trial 3.

Well that’s vague and unhelpful, basically… do something epic three times before everyone else? It does specify the location as beneath the clouds at least.

He kept waiting while thinking about the trials and almost two hours later, his feet tingled; if he was not paying keen attention to his explorer trait, he would never have noticed it.

He did not have a fear of heights, but jumping off a floating island without a parachute was insane. If he looked first he might hesitate—any sane person would.

Kai dived off.

His heart pounded in his ears as he sliced through the air, his pants flapping around his ankles. He scanned the horizon with rapidly drying eyes.

After a minute he saw the threads of wind aura interwoven throughout the sky that Kura had mentioned. Yes, finally!

It was not long before he managed to snag one, and found himself nestled in a warm pocket of air, gliding down like he was inside a water slide. Headed straight for a mountain peak in the middle of a long ridge of titanic mountains that erupted from fluffy clouds.

I’m just glad it’s not underground.

Yup yup.

Wait, why are the mountains moving?

At least he thought it was a mountain range. Then his primal eyes flashed gold.

“Oh s-sod it all!”

Shit shit.