Like all other sleep breaks, I lie awake. Sleep skirts around me as I try to put my mind at ease. I don't know why I struggle to sleep. My spider netting bed, suspended in trees and supported by my mind, is luxurious. A princess, wolf, and teen have all fallen asleep under its spell. I feel safe. Bones is on watch, we are in Gene's shadow, and Mithland appears to sleep the entire night cycle. My thoughts aren't heavy, either. I'm tired. My eyes are heavy and long for rest.

I've almost convinced myself to sleep. My thoughts are drifting. My eyes close. I can feel rest's embrace hold me for a second and then shove me away. I jolt back awake further from sleep than when I started. I sigh and reposition.

Meditation supplements the sleep I can't get. I review and evaluate the day, analyzing conversations, actions, problems, accomplishments, and any details I can think of and searching for ways to improve. After reviewing the day, I examine my soul and focus on each mana type and my abilities. In my meditative state, information becomes easily accessible and trackable. My soul looks less like cores and more like a report:

Essences:

Reforged Body:

Agility: Rank 3

Strength: Rank 3

Endurance: Rank 3

Reforged Mind:

Survival: Rank 3

Wisdom: Rank 3

Intelligence: Rank 3

Reforged Spirit:

Talent: Rank 3

Perception: Rank 3

Refinement: Rank 3

Class: Drifter

Soul: Rank 9 (Fractured)

First Layer: —

Second Layer: Death Mana

Rank: Gold

Abilities:

1. Summon Material

1. Magic Chord

2. Bone

3. Hide

4. Leather

5. Black Dragon Scale Steel

2. Summon Minion

1. Summon Companion

* Bones (Soul Bound)

2. Reanimate

3. Absorb and Dissolve

1. Howl

2. Heal

3. Water

4. Fire

4. Infuse

5. Warlock Bond

1. Shade - Genevieve

Third Layer: Shadow

Rank: Silver

Abilities:

1. Minor Shadow Summons

2. Shadow Realm

1. Banish

2. Phase

3. Cloak

3. Night Vision

4. Greater Shadow Realm

5. Shaman Bond

1. Shade - Genevieve

Fourth Layer: Mind

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Rank: Gold

Abilities:

1. Mind Link

2. Lift

3. Empower

1. Equipment

2. Body

4. Barrier

Fifth Layer: Life

Rank: —

Abilities:

1. Heal

2. Barrier

3. Bond

4. Drain

Sixth Layer: Empty

Seventh Layer: Empty

Eighth Layer: Empty

Ninth Layer: Empty

No matter how much I meditate on my soul, I can't help feeling I'm a ripe mess. The thought doesn't bother me anymore. Sure, I will never have god-level powers like mages… or even templars, for that matter. Really, that kind of power only benefits me in a fight. Gene warned me this would be the case. I'm not convinced that is true anymore. The more I train with our sages and mages, the more familiar I become with their power.

Because of my spirit talent, an essence I cultivated to rank three, I can use my mana and spirit to resist domains. Templars no longer have an advantage; it takes a powerful sage to lock me down. Even then, I'm learning how to resist mana domination. Gene and Roxi have been extra helpful in this regard. With more practice, my skills will bridge the gap between mana power.

All things considered, I'm happy with how I'm turning out. Really, when it comes to the day-to-day, all I'm missing is a convenient form of travel. Sure, I can run fast or bind a mount. That takes effort, though. My goal is an effortless life.

The two areas I'm weakest in are my two newer mana types. Mind mana is developing quickly, but it is an ocean to navigate. There are an unlimited number of use cases with the mind. I just need to figure out what they are and how to use them. Life, on the other hand, I just need repetition. As tedious as the forest walk has been, it's been perfect for me. Now, I need to lean into making the mana my own.

I adjust my position in my sleep sack once more and check my mental holds on the rest of the beds. Two of the hammocks are noticeably lighter, or rather, there is less strain on my mana specters supporting the bamboo shoots. I try to listen in on the hushed whispers. The voices of Lana and Gene are just loud enough that I can tell it's them. Lighthearted laughter fills the silence between words. Now I'm curious what they are talking about. I shrug off the curiosity and let the two have their bonding moment. Our rest stop is almost over, so I might as well get some more cultivation done.

My schemes for travel are cut short by loud explosions sounding in the distance. It's impossible to see the location through the dense bamboo forest. Judging primarily by sound and flashes in the sky, Mithland is under attack. Quickly, I check on our party. Remny is still safe in bed, slowly waking from the distant noises. Bones is running through the forest towards us. I rise out of bed and prepare for an attack. My swords are drawn, life and mind mana cycle.

We aren't in shadow anymore. I check Genes's sleep pod; it's empty. Lana's is, too. When did they leave? How long was I cultivating? I look to Bones, who no longer looks like he's running to a fight.

"The girls said that's our cue to get ready." Bones says as he begins assisting Remny out of bed. The lycan teen is struggling to open her eyes, and it doesn't look like blood is pumping through her body quite yet. She half-heartedly stretches and forces a yawn.

"Ready for what?" I ask.

"The climb up the Sawtooth Mountains. The diversion just started. We are to get through the grass, then I'm to start the second diversion. You and Lana will climb together while Gene and Remny will fly."

"When did this plan come together?"

"At night while you were sleeping."

"I wasn't sleeping."

"Why did you skip the planning session then?"

"I wasn't invited."

"Neither was I."

"Gene agreed to the plan?"

"She was torn. In the end, she was outvoted."

"You and Lana… I don't know if this is healthy."

"Healthy? What does that have anything to do with this? Besides, my vote didn't count. OG Gene voted with Lana." Another explosion sounds in the distance. Bones smiles like he planned it that way. Smoke rises several miles south of us from the bamboo forest. "We best get going," says Bones after admiring his work.

We arrive at the edge of the forest an hour later. We are miles away from the mountain cities, and still, we can see the fire and lights exploding. A wyvern-sized fiery bird owns the sky. No matter the power thrown at the large bird, it can't be brought down. It seems like an illusion, but the destruction it causes leads me to question that. Why are we kicking hornets' nests?

Gene and Lana find us shortly after. The lycans fly off over the mountains, Bones heads to the mountain cities, pulling in as much death as possible, and Lana leads me across the plains. Light bolsters our steps, quickening our pace. With the help of shadow and mind, we race across the gap of cover. Still, in the sky, the bird of fire terrorizes the people of Mithland.