Once again we were in bad shape, the realization that it was a common occurrence in this world left a stale aftertaste in my maw. While their own battles had been short until the stranger had intervened, gashes and cuts adorned the equipment Father and Mother wore.
Gale however had taken the most damage, even burning all our reserves had barely sufficed to save her life. I had watched as the long rows of wounds slowly mended themselves; fueling Mother's healing work had proved the best choice, while I had huge reserves of Mana, Mother easily trumped me in efficiency.
We worked through the night taking turns to regenerate energy and once again infuse it in Mother's work. Our tireless work was rewarded as the first rays of the sun fell onto Gale as her eyes slowly opened. “You are safe.....thank....” were the only words she said before she once again closed her eyes, the faint smile on her face as her body returned to rest bombarded me with shame. Scream at me, hate me, loathe me! How can you smile? I have nearly murdered you, how can you be happy for me?
Unable to even look at my family I rammed my triangular head into the loose pavement of the courtyard we had taken temporary residence in. I must have startled those around me but I simply could not endure their gaze.
The cool earth managed to slowly calm me down, with my thoughts finally capable of order again it was time to analyze our situation. We were sitting in the middle of nowhere, holed up in an ancient ruin that may have been a temple eons ago. An old stranger had saved us from our imminent death and transported us here.
Why here? Was anything special in this place or was the location just at random? It did not take long to find the anomaly. Stones sprayed upwards as I ripped my head from the earth, “DO NOT CULTIVATE!” I was met with questioning gazes but to my great relief only surprise met me in the clear eyes of my family.
“The Qi in this place is so concentrated you would explode if you try to cultivate. It is only a guess right now but we might be in an
“What I call
A separate dimension like an
POV Ignalis
Kai had really taken badly to what had happened, the normally so brilliant eyes were clouded over by guilt and shame. She had spent a few hours with her head in the floor, without the need to supply energy to my mates spells I am sure she would have run as fast and far away as her legs could carry her.
It pained me greatly to see my daughter so lost, so alone, every time something good had happened she would look at it longingly; But she would keep a certain distance as if getting too close would make it vanish like a mirage. Ever since Gale had invited us to her mind-space I could only see the tiny shadow that buckled under the weight of too much knowledge and memories. I fear that she may descend into pure insanity if she kept bottling everything up.
“DO NOT CULTIVATE!”, a shower of small rocks and pebbles had landed in the bag I was sorting as Kai ripped her head from the floor. Panic was in her eyes as she did not lose a second to tell us that the QI in this area was far too potent for our technique of absorption. Imagining the mess and mourning a simple daily routine would have caused made me shiver. As if a simple sneeze could suddenly turn fatal, the entire scenery suddenly felt less colorful and more dangerous.
The next few minutes were filled with Kai going full
Ere was the first to drop the bomb, why if there were advanced methods of cultivation, she had never told us anything about it. That however turned into a long explanation which suddenly stopped as she grabbed her head as if she were in Pain. A faint blue glow radiated from the remnants of that accursed seal. I was not sure if what I had heard that moment was correct, but a faint murmur crossed the entire area.
Found you!
I was not sure what it meant or where it came from but Kai lost it completely, her heart rate went through the roof and she collapsed. Like doll with broken strings her entire body lost tension, she did not injure herself but her head left a neat indention in the floor.
Seconds later the head raised again, a single glace into her eyes made me grab my spear. “Who are you and what have you done to my daughter?!”
Whatever was in control took its time to stretch and inspect its body, what astonished me, that I could not feel the faintest trace of hostility in it. After settling into a more comfortable position it finally bothered to respond to my threat.”Why? I am Kai of course.”
It gave me a toothy smile as if that single sentence was enough to explain every question in the world. “You are in the body of my daughter but you are not the true Kai! Identify yourself!”
Lazily it used the tip of its tail to scratch behind her long horns.”Interesting philosophical question, is the entire soul true or just a part? I think it may be a matter of perspective, to you the daughter you raised and protected is true, but to another being I may be the true Kai.”
Now it had lost me completely, seeing my obvious inability to comprehend it looked tired for but a moment. “Do you know the concept on erasing your presence in the hunt? To reduce your pulse and breathing to hide in the mass of natural noise in a forest?”
It did not wait for me to reply, the simple act of understanding must have shown on my face signaling it to go on. “The Kai you know is the very core of the being you see before you, every non-vital emotion and memory sealed to reduce the trail IT could follow. Since you prefer to call your daughter by the abbreviation Kai, you may address me as Kaileron.”
“So Kaileron why are you here? What has happened to MY Kai?” For the first time real emotion could be seen running through its face as if in pain.
“While contradicting to call the core by the incomplete name and the construct in full, I am a safeguard placed by... me...in case IT would once again locate us.” Kaileron seemed to struggle shortly as if coming to term with something.
“My singular purpose is to compile and prepare all the knowledge the being Kai has accumulated across its existence. The safeguard is only to be activated if the soul itself is in danger. Under normal circumstances my task would have been to immediately take my...our life and escape into the cycle of reincarnation but this time it is impossible.” The deep resignation on its face was mixed with a great deal of irritation.
“What is different this time? Not that I would support the suicide of my own blood but there must be a reason for you to hesitate.”
“Because I already tried! That blissfully ignorant Kai has dammed us into this confrontation! Our soul is fused into this body, which by the way is currently failing due to unstable fusion with a less than compatible being. To make matters worse she has added a reagent to her very core which will trigger events even I cannot even begin to calculate.” Kaileron snapped at me.
“Her body is failing, Kai will die?”
Pure annoyance radiated from Kaileron,”I am talking about the eradication of the very soul, complete dispersal of energy and he only thinks of this insignificant body's death.”
Anger flooded me as I gave the being called Kaileron a thundering backhand. It looked so confused as if I had just defied all reason. “If the prey cannot run anymore it must become the hunter!”
Moments passed until its pupils contracted again, it was nearly possible to see the gears turn behind her thick skull. “Your words hold truth Ignalis bearer and father of Kai but know this, those that hunt us are gods! To hunt such beings, this family must become more than it is. Bring the others, if we are to survive strength is mandatory!”
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
I hesitated for a moment, “Go! Every second is precious the opportunity this space offers us CANNOT be wasted!”
Its words propelled me forward, not even a minute later the four of us returned to the courtyard, Selanis and Ere were supporting Gale who was still weak and unstable on her legs. Instead of a greeting, Kaileron awaited us with orders, while it began to encase itself with a white marble like material it began to teach us meditation. As the last bit of Kaileron had disappeared into the perfectly spherical thing, I may call it cocoon for a lack of better ways to describe it, a small child appeared next to it.
Like a phantom it took shape, then it struck me: It was Kai before the incident with the snake! Selanis tried to hug it but her arms went straight through. The phantom however did not react to the gesture.
Unfitting for a child of that size a cold voice emanated from it.”Do not waste time! This family is in danger and if you love it even half as much as the recent memories of Kai make me believe- you will LISTEN and you will LEARN!
You will address me as MASTER do you understand?!”
I was the first to answer the unrelenting shout. “Yes master.”
A smile could be seen on the face of the phantom. “I cannot HEAR you!”
This time we shouted in unison “YES MASTER!”
That only made Kaileron nod as if he had seen this scene countless of times. “The first step to get you powerful is to work on your mind. This ruin holds a series of ponds in different places, your task is to find the pond which is calling you softly. Go find your calling, notify me once you have accomplished that task!”
We had seen two of the small ponds in the outer areas of the ruins but for there to be multiple more some had to be hidden in underground areas. Gale was the first to awaken from her trance as her head snapped into a specific direction. She did not wait for any of us as she hobbled towards a target only she could see.
My wife was the next to respond to the call, without any notice she disappeared, only Ere and me were left and I could not hear any call whatsoever. Shortly after Ere seemed to have heard the call as she too left. Now I was alone meditating under Kaileron's eyes. Minutes stretched into hours until Kaileron stepped behind me and the ethereal hand slapped me on the back of my head.
“You are overthinking, I taught you how to meditate properly. Release your core as I taught you, shut out the worry for immediate survival find the very thing that defines you!”
What was my very core? No it could not be, I tried years to get it under control! Fire! My entire center was that of raging flames, the second I realized it I felt a soft pull from somewhere. I do not know how I ended up in the small chamber but I was sitting cross-legged on a small pond that radiated an aura of fire.
“I see everyone has found their calling, this is your affinity, the element closest to resonating with your core. Bath in the energy of those ponds and try to grasp the meaning of what your element symbolizes. I will call you in the evening for you to report your understanding.”
Sitting in the pond felt like sitting in a campfire but the flames that licked over my fur did not burn me, they seemed to embrace my form as if greeting a lost brother. There I learned the first truth of fire,
Fire is neither good nor bad, nor is it hot or cold, Fire just is as it gives birth to everything.
When I stood up I could see the element of fire radiating all over the surfaces, hidden in the heat or its absence, the element was everywhere!
Still pondering my finding I arrived back in the central area. Kaileron had prepared some meat that we had unmistakably stored in Kai's hoard stomach, while he himself hovered over the cocoon waiting for all of us to arrive.
Gale was the last to arrive still a bit slow her step had regained much of her old grace and strength. “I see in your eyes, everyone has found a small part of the very core of his element.” His arm pointed towards Gale, seemingly out of nowhere wind danced around her. “Interesting element, while not wind itself, you carry its variant
Rocks rose around Ere, provoking a satisfied smile on Kaileron's ghostly face.”Earth, while many shun it for being one of the slowest elements it holds one of the most relentless power there is. You have grasped your elements truth of unyielding power, not bad we will discuss this in detail.”
Water was the next to form around my wife, “Ah the element of water, flexible and gentle at times, raging and unstoppable the next moment. You have found the aspect of caring, it will greatly aid you and your own.”
Sparks flickered around me as Kaileron pointed at me.” As expected, the element of Fire while destructive it also gives birth anew. You have found the aspect of renewal, Interestering”
He shortly clapped his hands breaking the trance we must have been in. “I presume you are hungry, I took the liberty of preparing a small meal. Eat and think about your element, once you have eaten stand up and place your hand on the stone I am sitting on, take the order I addressed your elements and come one at a time.”
Then the ghostly child just closed its eyes, obviously waiting for us to finish the assigned task. I could not help but remember an old wolf-man that had trained me in combat, the same distant yet caring aura surrounded Kaileron.
POV Selanis
It felt nostalgic to once again be student instead of teacher, while the construct calling itself Kaileron was strict it never loaded more onto our shoulders than we could accomplish. The experience in the pond was so unique, Kaileron made us sleep in those ponds that seemed to contain the entire wisdom of their element.
On the first day Kaileron gave us a gift, we were to place our hands on the stone my daughters body resided in. In my case he dragged me into his mind-space. Unlike Gale's palace his palace took form as a giant library that stretched as far as the eye could see. He led me deep within, rows upon rows of books passed until we reached our destination. Nothing indicated how he had chosen the book but he pulled a thick leather-bound brick of knowledge from one of the endless boards. His small paws offered me the book, I only hesitated shortly before my claws tenderly gripped the delicate leather.
The second the book touched my paw Kaileron buckled and blood seeped out if his eyes. Cramps riddled the small body, unable to help in his mind I could only watch and support the shaking figure. “This thing had a price you were not able to pay, still your possession of this is imperative for our survival taking it upon myself is but a small price for a chance in the future.” He answered my silent question.
Ignalis and Gale told me of similar occurrences as they were dragged into Kaileron's mind. That evening his ghostly form looked so thin as if a single gust of air could disperse him. Only after I had time to investigate the contents of that book in my own mind did I understand just why he had taken such measures to give them to us.
Cultivation, a technique so profound and mysterious my entire soul vibrated as my mind struggled to read the first letters. Entire kingdoms would have dispatched their armies to get a hold of such a wealth of knowledge. A technique dedicated for female cultivators with strong water element it produced immediate results.
That evening I would have my first real breakthrough. Barely one hour practicing the dance described in the book I felt my entire being suddenly expand. The energy of the pond instantly filled the now open space as my entire being brimmed with power. The book spoke in detail about the power of cultivation and how their ranks could be measured.
Spoiler :
Cultivation is set in stages, each stage is vastly stronger than the one before it, each stage is filled with ten steps. Each step is twenty percent stronger than the total power of the previous step. While each step is stronger than the one before, crossing a stage roughly doubles your total power, the last three described stages even triple your power.
Foundation-
Novice-
Wanderer-
Explorer-
Hermit-
Challenger-
Dao Seeker-
Dao Lord-
Now a Novice of the first step I finally understood just why the opportunity in this land was so precious, clouds and streams of energy ran bountiful across the majestic landscape. Even to my inexperienced eyes these scenes were simply breathtaking. Only now did I finally understand just how insignificant the power of us islands dwellers must look to people from the continents.
Our elders had tirelessly warned just how much more danger the central landmasses of our world contained. “Even the smallest beasts there are far more dangerous than on the islands, the thicker energy gives birth to true horrors and heroes.” That sentence seemed to cross time and space as even the raspy voice of the old wolf-man clung to the memory.
The time when we would be forced to enter those lands was still in the future but I could not refrain to worry if we would gain enough power to survive there.
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Finally free of that darn family event! How can anyone enjoy being stuck with half dead people you only see every five years or so.
21 is up enjoy
MfG : Dr_Dac