Chpt. 47) Favor

The following day, Haze gave Shiro an earful for barging into Scarlet’s room while they were talking and congratulations for getting together. I couldn’t help but laugh at the entire exchange. On the one hand, I wasn’t the one getting in trouble. On the other hand, I was happy for Shrio and Scarlet. It felt nice to see Shiro begrudgingly happy whenever Scarlet came beside him and took his hand in hers. Cami told me what happened on their mission and filled me in on Scarlet’s confession. I also couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sadness at the story, but all in all, I enjoyed it immensely.

We had two days until the fights started once again, but I had six days since my team was done with the team tournaments, and I lost my doubles battles. So, that just left single tournaments for me, and I fought on the second day of that. I need to remember to place a couple of bets next time I go there. I also have to remember to get more magic lessons. I’ve been slacking on my rune combinations and need to learn more spells past level three. I’m not counting single runes in the circles cause those are too easy. Speaking of which, where is Olli? I haven’t seen him since arriving at Nexus, I don’t think.

Haze and the rest of us, excluding Scarlet, were walking to the training building for more practice and to keep our muscles warmed up for the tournaments and learn more techniques. “Hey, where’s Olli? I haven’t seen him in forever,” I asked off-handedly as we walked.

Cocking her head to one side, Haze considered the question, “You know, I don’t know. He must be doing something important if he hasn’t been here.”

“ ‘e’s at our school,” the twins answered from behind us.

I turned slightly, raising an eyebrow, “Why is he there? Do they have a particularly good library or something?”

“ ‘e’s wan av our teachers,” Shersha answered.

“ ‘e’s teachin’ runes an’ grammar,” Leila continued.

“Oh, so just not teaching me anymore. Got it,” I said, a little disappointed.

“Don’t be so disappointed about Olli,” Guru Shi’en said, appearing out of nowhere, yet again scaring me as I tripped over my feet and fell on my tail while Yuki jumped off my shoulder and onto the ground without getting crushed by me.

I glared up at Guru Shi’en’s amused face and said, “Will you stop doing that!”

“Hahaha! And miss out on seeing your reactions? I don’t think I will.”

“Hello, Master Shi’en, what brings you here?” Haze asked with a short, respectful bow, cutting me off from starting an argument.

Guru Shi’en turned to her and said, “I am here for a few reasons,” he began, then reached behind his back and pulled out a black gi with a flaming orange tiger on its chest and a black belt.

Haze gaped at the gi and tentatively reached for it before stopping and asking, “You don’t mean—”

“I do mean,” Guru Shi’en interrupted, “Congratulations, Grandmaster Hazaizil, for unlocking your sixth core and entering your next stage of training.”

“But—but I haven’t trained enough students. Has the council agreed to this?”

Guru Shi’en waved a hand, “Pfft, I decide who is worthy of the Grandmaster title and who gets it. If the council has a problem, they can deal with me. Now take it.”

Haze slowly took the new clothes and bowed deeply, “Thank you, Master Shi’en.”

“Don’t mention it, my student. Now, Zeana,” Guru Shi’en said, turning to me as I finally stood, “With how the tournament works and the number of cores you currently possess, the emperors and I have decided to restrict your powers.”

“What?!” I exclaimed, beginning to protest, but was quickly silenced by a raised hand.

“It is because you’ve only unlocked four cores that you are being allowed to stay. But because you split them in half, you have twice the limit for your rank. So, we have decided that you will only be allowed to use four cores for your final fight and in the free-for-all fights. Once we reach the tournament’s second stage, you will be allowed to use your full power again. And you are not to unlock any more of your cores until the tournament is finished. Is that understood?”

“Yes, Master Shi’en,” I glumly agreed, “Can I at least pick which ones I’m allowed to use?”

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“Before the fight begins, yes,” Guru Shi’en confirmed before continuing, “Now, Haze, Zeana, you two will be training with me today. The rest of you will have to train by yourselves.”

I picked up Yuki as everyone grumbled their agreement, and Haze asked, “What will you be training us on?”

A sparkle seemed to gleam in Guru Shi’en’s eyes as he said, “That’s a discussion to be had in private.” Then he chuckled and began walking the last dozen meters to the training building, leaning heavily on his walking stick as it clacked against the concrete walkway.

***

Guru Shi’en brought Haze and I up to the top floor of the training building, leaving the rest of the team and Yuki to train in whichever training room they could get near the bottom. The training room was the entire top floor of the building, and there was a whole lot of nothing in it. Guru Shi’en walked into the middle of the two-hundred-meter by seventy-meter by twenty-meter room. Haze and I followed him and waited for his instructions.

He turned and said, “Now, sit with me in the lotus position.”

“The what position?” I asked, confused.

“Crisscross applesauce,” Guru Shi’en said as he sat down with the souls of his feet over his thighs. Haze already sat in the position as I quickly did the same.

Guru Shi’en sighed contentedly as he collected his thoughts, “Now, as a newly initiated Grandmaster and a student with a power surpassing that of us gods, you two need to learn a few things for the future.”

“Like what, Master?” I asked.

“If you can refrain from asking, I will tell you,” Guru Shi’en answered.

“Why? OWW!” just as I finished asking the question, Guru Shi’en hit me over the head with his staff.

“Anyway,” he continued, laying his staff down next to him, “With your power level comes a presence that follows you around. Nobody notices this presence as it is something that needs to be activated at will. It can be a powerful weapon to incapacitate your enemies or a valuable tool to avoid conflicts. Everyone’s presence is unique, as everyone is unique in their own way. By cycling all your cores at once and casting the energy over a room, your presence can be felt by everyone around you. The more powerful your cores, the stronger your presence.

“But this ability takes practice as, if used without concentration, you could simply throw massive bolts of chakra everywhere and destroy everything by accident. So, we are going to practice just that. Haze, would you mind trying first?”

Haze nodded, “Yes, Master.” She closed her eyes, and I could feel her chakras cycling simultaneously.

Guru Shi’en nodded approvingly as he said, “Good, now let a little bit of your power leak out of your body.”

For a moment, nothing happened, and as I was about to ask a question, I felt it. Haze’s presence. It felt as though a wave of fire and death flowed over me. My skin felt like I was burning alive, and I had to fight for each breath as I gasped sharply, feeling my vision grow blurry and my blood felt as though it was boiling.

Then it stopped. The feeling of burning alive, being unable to breathe, and my boiling blood all vanished instantly. I wiped my eyes as I cleared my vision and caught my breath, as I asked, “What was that?”

“That was Haze’s presence,” Guru Shi’en said with a sad smile, “A person’s presence is a physical manifestation of their soul. And it brings everything about a person out all at once.”

I blinked and turned to see Haze’s fists clenched as she fought back tears. Her expression was full of pain, loss, regret, and … horror. I placed a comforting hand on Haze’s shoulder as she tried to get her emotions under control. “So, a person’s presence is the physical manifestation of a person’s soul,” I began, trying to form my question, “What is the soul in that case? And why does it have this effect on someone?”

“That is a good question, Zeana,” Guru Shi’en commended, “Your soul is and always will be a mystery to everyone. But we know that the soul is made of all your experiences in life. The more pain and suffering you are around, the more your soul will take on those aspects. Many other things also play into it, like core compositions and chosen chakras, but that is the main part. Now, how about you try, Zeana?”

I nod and close my eyes as I feel Fangbao, Apollo, and Crucible begin cycling their cores. I begin cycling my other five cores through my body. I slowly let my chakra fill every part of my body before letting it permeate the air. As my presence began to permeate my body, my mind filled unbidden with memories.

The starry sky over my home. The smell of old oaks and aspens surrounded me. The soft trickling of a small waterfall. The cool air gliding over my skin. The taste of hot chocolate on my tongue. The feeling of being at peace. And a tinge of sadness began to tighten my chest as I knew I could never have this ever again.

Shaking my head, I stopped cycling and opened my eyes, wiping them once again to clear the tears from my vision as I stammered, “H-how did I do?”

“You did good, Zeana,” Haze said in a whistful tone. I turned to her and saw a small smile on her lips as she looked up to the ceiling of the training room.

“You did very well, Zeana,” Guru Shi’en confirmed, “I urge you both to practice this in private. The more control you gain over your presence, the more valuable it becomes. Like when I used my soul sight on you, Zeana, when we first met. That is an extension of your presence. And there is one other benefit to your presence as well.”

I took a deep breath and asked, “What would that be?”

“It allows you to unlock an archon,” He said, as though it explained everything.

After a moment, I asked, “And that is?”

“An archon is a concept that you must impress and connect with to become a god,” Haze answered, her voice returning to normal as she got complete control of herself.

“Exactly,” Guru Shi’en confirmed, “For example, there’s the Sword archon. To connect with that one, not only will you have to master the blade, but you must also achieve incredible feats with the blade and many other things besides. Once your presence connects with an archon, it will manifest, and you will become a god.”

“How many archons are there?” I asked.

“Twenty-five,” Guru Shi’en said, “And you can even make your own, although nobody knows how. Not even I know. But it is possible.”

I nodded in understanding, “All right, I understand a little.”

“Good. Now, let’s keep practicing,” Guru Shi’en commanded. Haze and I nodded as we began cycling our chakras again.

***