A plan. Yes that’s what she needed, a plan, Elise thought desperately as she flung herself to the left avoiding the incoming blow. She rolled roughly on the ground barely evading a follow up kick that left a small crater on impact. She snarled as her opponent moved again not giving her any time at all. She was faster than Elise, but what else was new. As her opponent closed in Elise raised her guard hoping for a chance to retaliate. A rapid fury of blows pelted her raised arms as she weathered the attacks. Each blow had the speed of a crossbow bolt and the power of a warhammer. With her vision obscured from protecting her face from the relentless onslaught Elise completely missed the round house kick that slammed into her side. Her breath exploded out of her as she was flung off the ground. The world spun around multiple times before she landed in a tumble. This time her roll was not under her own control. A moment later she came to a rest looking up into a clear blue sky. Elise thought about getting back up, but between her battered arms and now extremely bruised ribs she decided against it. The ground was simply too inviting. A moment later a white tiger-kin with red stripes was looking down at her.

“You okay?” Asami asked looking concerned.

“I think you broke my, everything…” Elise said not moving.

“Sorry. I got carried away.” Asami extended her hand. With a sigh Elise took it as she was helped out of the sparring circle. No sooner had the pair left two more kin eagerly took their spot. Instantly they struck like a pair of rabid hyenas. Their blows sent shockwaves that whipped Elise’s long blue hair around like it was caught in a strong wind. A plume of expelled dust lightly coated her pale skin as she limped away. Elise shook her head at the pair. How was she to keep up? She was only human. Heh, only human… Just a year ago she would have laughed at anyone who said that. She was Elise Coldwell, daughter of Loric Coldwell, and granddaughter of Lord Tarwin himself. She could have been a magical prodigy. But she’d given that up. Her sister Azura had showed her there was something more to be had. Something greater than mana. Ki. Oh, how she wanted it. If only she could…

Elise groaned both at the distant dream of ki and at her pain as Asami helped her to a nearby seat. Gingerly she sat down trying not to wince.

“You sure you’re okay?” Asami asked.

“I never said I was. But seriously, I’m fine.” Elise said tiredly as she sent some of her mana to her bruised body parts. The mana worked on restoring her before becoming exhausted and returning to her mana pool. When she had first started controlling mana directly without spells it had been exceptionally difficult. It had taken a steady month of practice with Azura’s help to get decent control over it. She couldn’t understand how the kin seemed to naturally do it. After lengthy discussions with the elf Trenton, the only other non-kin here, she believed she understood. Kin had naturally great control of their bodies. This control extended to their mana, if they had an awakened mana pool.

“Asami!” A voiced called out. Elise looked over to see Trenton himself trotting over with a familiar looking bear-kin next to him. Elise heart did a little flutter. The elf was cute with his white hair and nearly feminine features, but he was already taken. That was evident when Asami flung herself into his arms. His single hand squeezing her waist. Elise however was looking at the brown fur bear-kin.

“Hey,” Gerald said resting his bulk next to Elise.

“Hi…” Elise said blushing slightly. Gerald. He’d been so kind to her when Azura had taken her in. At first she had been slightly afraid of him. Okay, more than slightly. He was huge! With muscles so hard that they could double as the anvil he often worked on. Yet, he was the gentlest person she knew. Many of the kin had tolerated her presence since she was the half-sister of the first cultivator, the Azure Magebane. Coralline had instantly adopted her into the family treating her like a second daughter. It made her miss her own mother at times. Gerald was different. He got to know her before deciding to accept her or not. He didn’t do it based on her blood relations but by how she treated others. It was humbling. He was more solid than the weapons he forged.

“How’d it go?” Gerald asked.

“Lost again,” Elise sighed. He scooped her into a literal bear hug. It greatly reduce the sting of her defeat.

“You’ll get there. It just takes time.”

“Time,” Elise said bitterly. “It’s taking a lot of that. I never thought having a large mana pool would have such a draw back. At my current rate it will take five more years to reach the ki stage. I just have too much mana to fold.”

“At least you have a lot more mana that anyone else, beside maybe Trenton.” The pair looked at the elf then quickly away blushing. Asami seemed determined to stick her tongue down his throat.

“Err,” Gerald coughed. “I mean when a kin would’ve run out of mana you’ll still have plenty left unexhausted.”

“That’s true. But everyone else have such dense pools that the power they have is so much greater. I can never get to the point where such endurance matters.”

The pair were quite for a moment. “Azura thinks there might be benefits when I reach the ki stage, but she’s only guessing.” Elise added.

“That makes sense,” Gerald said as he rested his large hands on hers. She gently wove her fingers through his brown fur.

“How about you? Any luck yet?” Elise asked.

“No…” Gerald grumbled. “Azura said she wanted us to try for a bit longer before she shows us the secret to making ki. She said now that we have achieved maximum mana density it’s a good idea to hone our control and will by attempting to fold it more.”

Elise trailed a single finger in the fur of his hand as she pondered how to ask this next question.

“How many are there?”

Gerald gave her a confused look.

“I mean how many are ready to advance to the ki stage. I know Hamal’s there. Who else?”

“Tabatha,” Gerald said.

“I see,” Elise said trying to not feel jealous. The little rabbit-kin was adorable, but the fact she was leaving her so far behind was grating.

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“And Gwen,” Gerald added after a moment.

Of course it would be her, Elise thought darkly. The half badger-kin had been nothing but rude to her. At first Elise thought she hated mages, but now after joining the cultivators she knew it was more than that. She hates all non-kin. It didn’t matter if they were mages or not.

A loud cheer erupted and Elise glanced up.

Well, speak of the bitch…

Gwen was getting on to the largest training ring where three kin were waiting for her. Gwen, Elise had to admit, was beautiful. She had white hair on her head with small rounded black ears on top that were a little bit bigger than Gerald’s. The fur on her legs and paws was a deep obsidian that matched her short tail except for its snowy tip. Her human skin was light tan with spotted freckles that were now faded from long sun exposure. Unlike most half kin she had claws on her fingers with black fur that reach her elbows.

“That one is as dangerous as she is attractive,” Trenton said coming up to them.

“What about me?!” Asami pouted.

“Your radiance outshines all. I truly think that that the sun sets just so it can get a break from your overwhelming beauty.”

“Ahhh!” Asami said leaping into his arms. Elise was sparred another blushing moment when the ground shook. She looked at the ring just in time to see all three kin hurled out of bounds. Elise assumed it was from some round house kick although Gwen’s smug expression was equally as powerful.

“No surprise there,” Elise muttered and as Gwen notice her. The sneer that appeared on her face wasn’t a surprise either.

“Well if it isn’t the mages,” Gwen said as she stalked toward them.

“What do you want Gwen?” Elise asked. Trenton didn’t reply as he put Asami down.

“Me? I don’t want anything. I thought I’d be kind and give the Magebane’s human pet a chance to spar.” Gwen tapped her check as if in thought. “I promise I won’t break too many of your bones.”

“Enough Gwen,” Gerald said getting up. “If you want to spar I’ll do it.”

“Why are you bothering with her?” Gwen asked irritated. “You’re on the verge of gaining ki. You shouldn’t waste your time with the likes of her.”

“It’s none your business who I spend my time with.”

Gwen looked like she wanted to respond. Instead she gave a dismissive huff before stalking off, her hips swaying.

“Thanks…” Elise said.

“No problem,” Gerald said. “Umm… would you like to have dinner tonight? I mean if you aren’t busy cultivating that is.”

Elise suddenly felt very warm. “Uh, sure. Azura won’t be back till late tonight so I have free time. Actually I already spent all morning cultivating so I could do something now…”

“Awww,” Asumi said. “They’re so shy!”

“I don’t think you pointing that out helped them.” Trenton chuckled as the proclaimed shy pair each blushed even harder in their own way.

Elise was saved from having to reply when Tabatha appeared in a sudden gust of dust. She must have had her mana pool inverted. Elise didn’t even see her move. Just how large was the gap between them now?

The rabbit-kin had grown a lot over the past year. She was sixteen now and nearly as tall as Elise. Taller if you counted her ears, which Elise refused to do. Her fur was brown and white that somehow accented her female curves. She wore a form fitting tunic that had a small spot for her puffy tail that Elise desperately wanted to touch. Perhaps she could touch Gerald’s tail later.

Gods above, she was more like her father than she realized. Elise was saved from any more horrific revelations as Tabatha shouted out in a booming voice.

“The Magebane has engaged the mists! Cultivators in groups 1, 5, and 13 are to report to Mother Fatania for instructions! I repeat the mists are active. Cultivators in groups 1, 5, and 13 are…” Tabatha calling became indistinct as she moved farther away.

“I’ve got to go,” Gerald said holding her hand again.

“I know. Be careful.” Reluctantly she release his hand as she looked into his dark eyes.

“Gerald let’s go,” Asumi said coming up to them. Trenton looked conflicted as he watched them.

“Stay safe. Both of you,” Elise said. The pair of kin nodded at them before rushing off. Soon they were out of sight.

“I never thought I would be the one left behind because I wasn’t powerful enough,” Trenton said bitterly.

“It’s hard,” Elise agreed. They were both in group 18. The one of the lowest groups for cultivators. Neither of them had mana dense enough to rank higher. They weren’t given time to remorse their situation as the ground began trembling. The mist surge had begun.

“Azura…” Elise said instinctively she turned west. The mists… She couldn’t see it from here, the thick foliage blocking her view, but not far beyond the boundaries of the mana forest was a wall of mist that dominated the horizon. There wasn’t much time left for any of them. Hopefully Azura could buy them some more.

Fatania stood before the gathered cultivators with the other Mothers. She suppressed a snort every time she thought about it. What had started as a joke had become a title of the leaders of the cultivators. To her left was her oldest friend Coralline, a white cat-kin, mother to the Magebane herself. She was in charge of healers and crafters. Alenina, a tall rabbit-kin, was to her right. She handled all the logistics and supplies. As for herself she handled the military along with the spies, her family, the rat-kin. It was their specialty along before they became cultivators. The final ‘Mother’ was the mother of all cultivators. The first cultivator, the Azure Magebane, Azura. She was in charge of… well nothing. The young woman was hopelessly inept in such matters. She was however a great teacher and she was the most powerful cultivator in existence.

Fatania waited for the last cultivators to arrive as she looked over the crowd. Some were older, most were younger. She and the other Mothers were in the middle, beside Azura. Fatania’s fur was a light gray like a gentle overcast sky. Her eyes were electric blue that could instantly demand attention. Coralline’s fur was pure white and reminded her of fresh snow. Her eyes were the same as her daughters, a vivid green with a slit pupils. Alenina was rather shapely with white fur similar to Coralline’s. She was powerfully built and had a keen mind. Her daughter Tabatha was especially noteworthy as she was one of the few ready to progress to the next stage. She stood in the first rank of cultivators who were missing one member. Then he was there in a flurry of dust. Her great pride, Hamal.

Hamal wasn’t the oldest nor youngest of her children. Nor was he the largest or smallest of her brood. Even his coloring was fairly typical, a dark shade of gray. Darker than hers but not the glossy black of Tallous. By all accounts he would’ve been completely unremarkable. That itself was ideal for their profession. Yet it was his mastery of cultivation that made him stand out among all the cultivators. He was only one of four ready to progress to the next stage of advancement. Fatania suppressed a shudder of excitement. She couldn’t wait to see what he could do.

Fatania looked over the gathered cultivators. Group one consisted of only four members. Gerald, Hamal, Tabatha, and Gwen. Those ready to advance to the next stage. Group five had nearly fifty members consisting of a few of her own rat-kin. They had good power and would be able to engage most enemies on the battlefield. The final group thirteen, would be support. They would evacuate those who were injured or any various other duties assigned to them by the squad leader, Asumi. She had advance quickly despite only having started cultivating last year. Her dedication and effort had earn her the position.

“The Magebane has engaged the mists,” Fatania said just to make sure everyone knew the stakes. “Her goal will be to destroy the mist seed if possible. If not she’ll be targeting an Eldritch Lord. Your orders are the following. Group one will engage in high level threats composing of large abominations or any elite mages that attack us. Group five will handle smaller threats and regular mage forces of Deepmere. Group thirteen will engage in low level threats and act as support. Under no circumstances should anyone engage in combat with an Eldritch Lord or enter the mists. Keep your mana pools inverted at all times to avoid absorbing any corruption. Do not engage in combat with the Deepmere mages unless they attack first. The last thing we need is a three way battle. Cultivators in group 3 and 4 will be on standby for emergency support. You have your orders. CULTIVATORS! MOVE OUT!”

“YES MOTHER FATANIA!” The group shouted in unison. The cultivators inverted their mana pools and sped off toward the mists. She hoped that most of them would come back alive.