By the time dusk had settled in, Silas had made it around the base of the mountain and into the woods. There was nothing left in his core, yet he was determined to continue. Silas looked to the sky and narrowed his eyes, deciding it would be best to make camp for the night. There were dangerous spirit beasts in these woods, and he would need some rest to refill his madra before setting back out in the morning.

He sighed as he came upon a small clearing in the woods where he could settle. Silas realized he would have to pull a few items from his storage ring if he wanted to survive the night. The war hammer appeared, and he squeezed his hand around the leather-wrapped steel, which had always brought him comfort. Eventually, he set it down in the dirt and relaxed. Silas kept his hammer close by in case an animal got too curious in the middle of the night.

Once that was done, he lowered himself to the ground and leaned against a fallen tree. He tilted his head back and gazed up into the stars while sorrow stained his face. "I don't know what I can do to fix this, or even if I can, but I have to try." Silas set the hammer across his lap, and he reached into his sack for the salted meat. As he ate, he thought about the events of the day. The vision that he saw it didn't seem right. That frightening monster should not be roaming the earth. Something seemed incredibly off about the entire situation.

Silas furrowed his brow, going over each small action that played out during his delusion. It seemed to be some kind of demon, and he had never heard of such stories that spoke of a creature this size roaming freely on the earth. His fingers slid across his chest where the beast had dug into him. The wounds were still there. Silas frowned. That shouldn't be possible because of his cultivation and elemental body. They should have cleaned up by now. The weirder thing was that they had never bled. Only black oozed from the puncture wounds.

He closed his eyes to sense his spirit, only to confirm that something still clogged his channels. It seemed to be worse now than when he first noticed it. The plan was to get up to the school in the mountain and see the Master of Healing. It was possible that man could fix anything physical or spiritual. The Master of Healing should have insight into what would cause Silas's current state, not to mention Kio should be there.

As he thought of his old friend, a soft smile came to his lips. She hadn't been in the village during the attack, and Kio mentioned having to leave for business at the school. It turned out to be better that way. Otherwise, she might have disappeared as well. As his pondering mind settled, Silas attempted to drift to sleep. There was nothing to be done until daybreak. Darkness had overtaken the sky, with shades of navy and gray covering the fields, which meant it was not safe to roam. Although the beasts were not strong, the limited visibility between the trees hid the hunter's traps throughout the day.

A few hours had crept by, and the morning light peaked above the trees opposite his camp that he had set in the small clearing. Silas scrunched his face to block the sun from sliding between his eyelids. He heaved a sigh and wondered why hadn't he thought to point himself west. Raising from the broken tree, he stretched and cringed in pain. With the fighting, yesterday, sleeping on trees had not been helpful for his backache.

Silas let his eyes fall and breathed in deeply, sensing the vital aura around him. He cultivated, just as he'd done every morning. However, he was missing Himari next to him.

No.

He pushed the thought of his wife missing from his mind. He returned his focus as he continued to bring the aura inside his body. The sludge in his system had remained overnight, and a searing pain traveled through his body. Silas frantically attempted to search his channels, but it felt like his body would burst open if he continued to cultivate. Still, they didn't seem to be any worse than last night. His core was far from full, but he had enough to continue his quest. Brushing the dirt from his robes, he climbed to his feet. He looked around to get a sense of direction from last night and pointed to the east with an assured nod.

Suddenly, darkness erupted on the tree branch in front of him. He activated the script on his ring, drew out his hammer, and prepared to meet whatever lurked in the small shadow. A small squawk came from the tree branch, and Silas lowered his weapon. He stared incredulously, "Shu?" He slung the hammer over his shoulder and advanced on the phoenix, inspecting it. It still looked like a phoenix. However, the feathers that were almost fiery red were now singed black. Silas reached out his hand to pet the bird's head softly.

"How are you doing, my old friend? You seem to have changed." He reached out physically and spiritually as he spoke to the bird. He wasn't able to sense the same aura that Shu had before. There was a unique feeling to the bird. There was a darkness about it, something he could not understand. The phoenix seemed to nod its head in mutual understanding.

"Come on, squawker, let's go up the mountain," Silas held out his arm for the phoenix to climb on and perch on his shoulder. It was a sort of comfort having Shu around, a little reminder of before the attack. The bird, however, had other plans and shook its head a little, eyeing Silas. With another minor explosion of darkness, it disappeared again.

Silas stood there with a blank expression on his face. Of course, the phoenix had left. Why would it stay? It had brand new abilities and a means for unlimited freedom, and the bird could go anywhere. Meanwhile, Silas remained a broken-down cultivator who could barely lift his hammer. He hoisted his hammer onto his shoulder with a grunt and started up the mountain towards the School of the Jade Mountains. Outside of his father's hired help, the school was where he had properly learned all the techniques that he attempted to pass down to Reiko.

The hike was uneventful, having only to stop to rest and consume some nuts and cheese for a snack. Silas pulled out a small piece of cured beef to keep the hunger at bay until he could reach the school. Dusk had just blanketed the earth, which made the school seem less magnificent than it was expected to be. However, the mystery behind the tales was the paths and caves throughout the upper section of the mountains that belonged to the school.

At the front of the school stood the main gate, with small decorative carvings in the wood. The large doors split in the middle, giving the entering people a feeling of walking into open arms. They made the wall that accompanied the gate from a stone that radiated a powerful aura. It stood much taller than Silas, more than doubling the master's height. On either side of the gate guard towers, each manned by a trusted protector for the school. A voice from the right tower spoke, making Silas snap out of his reminiscent gaze.

"Well, well… look what the cat dragged in, Ren." The playfulness in the voice made Silas crack a grin and look up. The female voice looked over to the left tower, where a defensive man stood with an arrow already knocked in his bow. She continued. "I don't think shooting him is necessary. The master comes in peace, I'm sure. Don't you, Silas?" Silas smirked and nodded before lifting his hands in mock surrender. "Yes, Master Gatekeeper. Of course, I do," Silas could tell who it was from her voice. She leaped down from the tower and landed gracefully in front of him. He lowered his arms and looked over her shoulder to watch the man drop his bow.

"Master Silas was once a teacher here at our school. Before that, a student. He left, however, and stole another teacher. They ran away to have a family," she explained to the apprentice above her. "It must be a solemn day for Silas to return and darken this gate." The playfulness left her eyes when she looked at Silas. The woman studied his face and sensed the sadness coursing through him.

The woman, like most cultivators, did not appear to be her rightful age. Her delicate features made her look to be in her mid-twenties, but Silas knew for a fact that she was much older. She had been the guardian of this gate when he was a student here, which seemed like a lifetime ago. Dark chestnut eyes looked him over, and her long, straight black hair was in a tight bun on the top of her head. She wore the dark jade outer robes of the school, but her inner robes were a lighter color that paid homage to her sect.

Silas recalled where she had originated from, the Mount Hua Sect, which was a sect that operated a small range of mountains between two regions. They were friendly with all major and minor sects. They held a respectable reputation for their skills with various types of swords. Many referred to them as the best swordsmen in the world.

While primarily controlled and operated by the Divine Body Sect, the school allowed students and teachers to come from the other sects. They would accept only the extraordinary applicants into the school and never willingly welcomed anyone from the minor sects.

Silas looked at her, giving a weak smile. "Yes, Master Kora, there's been trouble. Something has happened in Kyoto. I…. I'm…," Silas was lost for words. He seized up in a fit and dropped his hammer from his shoulder. He had been so used to subconsciously cultivating while standing around that he didn't think to stop himself. The pressure in his core had built up so much and caused him to stumble forward.

Master Kora embraced him and led him to the gate while she barked at the orders to open the gates for him immediately. "Find Eichi!" The men who had just kept a nervous watch on Silas rebounded immediately and took action. One of them ran inside to find the Master healer of the school. "Come, Silas, and we will get you patched up. You know how good Master Eichi is. He will have you fixed up in no time. You might just need some cotton for your ears while he works," Kora chuckled as she helped him through the gate.

Silas couldn't help but crack a smile at her. He glanced back at his weapon. It was like Kora had read his mind. She shook her head and encouraged him not to worry. An apprentice stepped to the hammer and attempted to lift it with both hands. She chuckled again. "Okay, maybe I will handle that myself." Less than a second had passed before an older short man came running to where Kora was holding a slumped-over, Silas. Two younger apprentices lugged a stretcher behind them. Their robes were pure white, both inner and outer, which was unlike anyone else in the school. Besides the fact that they wore the school's broach, there was no sign that something even affiliated them with this place.

Master Eichi and his students were the only exceptions to the rule of green robes. They represented the Tong Xu Guild, which was solely for the healers of the world. The realm would have imploded on itself years and years ago without the work of these masters. There were representatives in every school since their calling held respect and honor with everyone as they maintained a neutral and pacifist lifestyle. They only used their cultivation to heal the earth and the people and creatures of it. They made pills and elixirs, similar to what Himari had going on in what used to be their home.

"Master Eichi," Silas pushed off the guard master's shoulder to straighten himself as a sign of respect. Silas could feel the energy exuding from him, his face soft with wrinkles that hinted at his complete life. Still, Eichi simply lifted a hand, motioning for him to settle.

"No, no. None of that now," the man looked up at Silas with a smile. Master Eichi presented himself as a true elder. His age showed through, unlike most other cultivators in the world. Silas remembered the short older man, but now his skin had a rough texture with a brownish stain. Whatever little white hair was on his head was replaced by a tuft of green resembling tree moss.

"Master Eichi, you…" Silas started before Eichi raised his right hand to Silas' lips and pinched them shut with his thumb and forefinger. The healer had used just enough pressure, so Silas could not finish his thought.

"Get on the stretcher, please, Silas. We'll bring you to the lab and assist you in any way we can. Once I have fixed you up, we may then discuss what is on your mind. We have much to catch up on with your moving away. I hear you have a wonderfully promising student down in the village. That's amazing!" Eichi rambled without a breath. Silas slumped onto the stretcher as he spoke, and the blank-faced apprentices took him away.

Their expression showed that they were pretty used to their master's ramblings. They proceeded further onto the property, slightly down the side of the Jade mountain. Silas rubbed at his lips softly as he glided along the path. His eyes shifted to his ring, and he imagined his hammer still lying in the dirt outside the school. Master Kora had promised she would look after it for him, and Silas felt a tiny wave of shame wash over him for doubting her word. Deep down, he knew she would guard it and treat it like her own jian.

It had been too long since Silas had been on the school grounds. He ogled as they went down the mountainside. They carved stairs from the very stone of the mountain, and that was used to build other structures. None of the local materials went to waste once they were harvested for construction.

They carved most of the large indoor areas right out of the mountain itself, in manufactured caves that the first Elders had built. The school had seen many people since the original Elders passed ages ago. Silas had noticed a few students walking about the grounds, but the ones he saw were cleaning moss and brushing the stairs. Teaching the young disciples to respect their surroundings was one of the first steps in shaping a cultivator.

The school was large enough to cater to all five elements, with a small following on each mountain. In every elemental faction, a small group of students of varying ages and skill levels was learning from their prospective masters. The healer's Guild also had a small area. Still, Master Eichi only allowed a select couple of students to work underneath him. The room was just enough for things they grew that could not be found in the wilds of the mountainside. Then the apprentices that carried Silas turned into the healer's quarters. They motioned for him to slide onto the table along the wall.

Master Eichi stood beside the table at a workbench and three small drawers. His splintered brown hand reached into the open drawer and retrieved one small gem. He turned to Silas. "We know something is going on with your spirit channels." Eichi did not give any time to respond. Instead, he began sending his power into the gem. The gem gained a white glow in his palm. Silas noticed and his mouth had hung open in awe. The radiance was too much to look at now. "But what could have done this to one as advanced as you, hm?"

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Eichi brought the gem over Silas' naval area, directly above his core. "With this gem, we should be able to tell exactly where the trouble is. Maybe even find the cause." Before the old master could finish speaking, the color changed from blinding white to deep violet. The darkness it seeped was nearly black. Silas would not have noticed this intense change without the healer's sharp inhale. The old man muttered to himself, "I've never seen this reaction before. Tell me! Tell me what happened, Silas," Eichi's voice finally silenced as he searched Silas' eyes. His pause was abnormal, which made the hair stand up on the cultivator's arm.

He told the elderly master everything he could remember, starting with waking up in the water with no recollection of what had happened. Silas spoke of the little monsters he had fought in his basement and what happened to Shu, his phoenix. He left nothing out, as no detail was too small. Finally, Silas recalled the vision of the demon attacking, and villagers, his friends, were fighting back. Describing the pain, he felt when trying to cultivate made Silas' body ache with memories of the blockage.

"I see… A demon? Hm, but how?" Master Eichi was speaking to himself now. His palm rested on his chin and with thumb and forefinger holding his chin in thought. There was no longer a deep violet gem in his hand. Instead, it had turned back to its original dull pale color without Master Silas noticing. The man's wooden hand hovered over Silas's body once more.

They watched in shock as the gem turned dark again. "Well, there's obviously trouble in your core. Your channels are full of something dark. It can't be madra unless there's some unknown element no one has ever seen or heard of that presents dark purple. "Master Eichi laughed and shook his head as if he had made a joke. It had to be a joke. There were only five elements, and that's what made the madra cultivators used to practice their arts. The gem continued to shift colors as it was waved over Silas's body, turning dark or gray like his own aura.

"What it's full of, I could not tell you. I don't think anyone here could. The Guild head of my order is a possibility, but he doesn't see anyone. In fact, he's probably sitting on top of a mountain somewhere chanting or something…" he stopped himself. Still, Silas could tell Master Eichi was about to go on a rant that did not even concern him.

"I do think I can make you something to help, though. At least maybe help your madra flow through the problem areas," Eichi sounded hopeful. He then turned away from Silas, returning the stone to its drawer. His body shifted slightly as he hobbled over to his little garden. He grabbed some plants and used small shears to take some clippings off an herb.

"If you go anywhere else on your journey and find someone from my Guild, see if they can make you a Three Treasure Restoration Pill. I will make a couple now, but I'm afraid that is all I can make. The pills will not be cheap, and the ingredients can be quite expensive and hard to get. The pill should at least ease your ailment. I am truly sorry that I can not give you a more permanent solution, but since I don't know exactly what's going on with you…" Master Eichi trailed off and sighed. He bowed his head to the cauldron and made the pills.

"You rest. Tomorrow morning, you can take the first pill with breakfast. This will need to brew overnight. Besides, it's almost nightfall. There is no point in traveling back out in the wilderness so close to dark, especially with the state you're in." With a nod, Master Eichi studied Silas's face for understanding.

The two apprentices had left and returned with a basin of water, a towel, and some bedclothes for him to change. "Good, see? My students should have brought everything you need to stay. An attendant will be by shortly with some dinner for you. Just give your dirty robes to them. The attendant will return them with your breakfast," Eichi explained to Silas.

He lifted the small cauldron and set it over a fire by the workbench. "I will leave you alone and close the door. This will make sure no one disturbs you besides the attendant I spoke of. Get some rest. You will need as much as you can get."

The students stood in the doorway, waiting for their master. He sighed and followed suit. The door shut behind them, leaving Silas to his thoughts. He sat up in the makeshift bed and breathed in deeply. He huffed and intently watched the cauldron bubble away. It was not a pleasant smell that came from it, and Silas shuddered when he thought about how they might taste. Sulfur and a hint of something morbid filled the room, and he could only describe it as something close to the stench of death. Although he found comfort here, he needed a plan for when he was to take his leave in the morning.

He left the bed and moved his water bowl and towel so they wouldn't fall. He began undressing and wiping himself up as much as possible with the towel. The cool water felt good on his dirty skin. He ran his hand over the gooey wounds and carefully dressed, hoping not to hurt himself anymore.

Silas was nearly asleep before the attendant knocked on the door and entered with a bowl of noodles. The young girl put the bowl on the table next to him and bowed her way out, never saying a word. She reached for his soiled clothing before closing the door behind her. She seemed surprised he was sitting up, but it was only a moment before she went about doing her job. Silas didn't stop or speak to her besides saying a simple thank you before she left.

It had been two whole days since Silas had eaten a proper meal. The food was delicious in a rich broth and some vegetables, along with a bit of pork along with, a cup of water, and a bit of rice wine. He ate with such enthusiasm that the broth on the noodles splashed about. The smoked pork was next, although Silas only tasted the food a little. He had been so starved at this point that it did not matter whether the meal was even appropriately cooked. Silas hesitated to drink the wine because of his current state.

Once finished, he took his tray and set it on the floor outside the door before returning to lie down. It would only take about another day to reach Queping. Silas would finally get answers about Kyoto, considering that there were many influential and knowledgeable people in the capital city. Their awareness of the entire world's events expanded much further than the Elders of his village. He decided he would start with the office that worked directly with his sect, and Silas could drift to sleep with some semblance of a plan in place.

__________________

A vast open garden, containing every type of flower, plant, and herb, covered the ground. In the middle of the garden sat a grand multi-tiered fountain with small birds and butterflies visiting. Stoned walkways made it possible to tread lightly through the plants. Near the fountain stood a tall man in old brown robes. The deep cowl of the robes covered his head, shadowing his face from view. There was only a soft glow of white coming from the eyes underneath the cowl.

The man was looking down at a hefty tome that he held in front of him. The book was in the same sad state as his robes. It had been around since the beginning of the world. Dust covered the faded colors on the outside of the book. If there was any writing on it, it had been worn away from years of use. The man closed the book as he heard footsteps entering his garden. This man was the embodiment of fate and destiny, and it was his job to watch the mortals and make sure they followed their fates.

"Misumi, welcome to the Gardens of Fate," the man, called Daichi, spoke with his eyes set on the tattered tome. He raised his head and saw the figure coming towards him.

"Brother Daichi, how are you on this fine day?" Misumi spoke. They wore bright teal robes with vibrant pink lotus flowers and a few darker green designs. Their hair matched their robes, with soft waves topped with pink flowers. Misumi was the flashiest, most flamboyant of the family and was the embodiment of nature, life, and desire, so Daichi thought it only made sense.

"Annoyed. Something has happened between our siblings," Daichi answered dryly, coming dangerously close to showing any emotion.

"And what does the rivalry between our humorless brother, Kenji, and bratty Genki have to do with the rest of us?" A solid female voice floated towards the pair, the soft trotting of a horse's hooves mixed in the words.

The black stallion was not as big as others, even though the rider donned dark, heavy armor as the Western knights wore. She wore no helmet, and her skin was white as milk, contrasting with the metal that protected her. Her long, black hair flowed behind her as the wind passed through it. Peeking from behind her shoulder was a gigantic sword that looked too big for the petite woman that wielded it. Their father created Lilith, the embodiment of death, to look like the Westerners. She had the same pale skin and features as those found in the Western Islands and beyond.

Daichi frowned beneath his cowl. She knew he hated it when she rode her horse through the garden. He met his sister on her horse. "Fate has been altered, Lilith, as a direct result of one of us doing something we should not have," Daichi scolded.

"Do not worry, brother, for I have a plan in place that I think shall correct things in the mortal realm. Or come as close to your book as they can," the fresh voice came a few moments behind Lilith.

"I'm going to set the plan in place once we're done with this little meeting," he glanced between his siblings. It was Kenji, dressed in his threadbare black pants and plain black outer robe. The shadowy ink on his body shifted around like waves in the ocean. Kenji adjusted his head wrap that was trapping his long, black hair.

"Good, then I don't need to be here anymore," Kentaro strolled up to the fountain. To say he was a giant was a grave understatement. He dwarfed Daichi, who was the tallest of the others. He was built like a bear, with hulking arms and a gut and chest to match. His legs were as wide as tree trunks. Kentaro was bald, except for a topknot at the center and a large black beard to match.

He was the embodiment of war and destruction, and he looked every bit the warlord. Black and red war paint inked his exposed chest, and his glowing red eyes seemed forever angry. The nearly naked man only donned a black soldier's belt with a cloth that hung covered the lower half of his body. He kept to himself, waging his wars wherever they were needed in the mortal realm. It surprised Daichi to see him here at all.

"It is something we must all be here for, Kentaro. We must decide what to do with Genki for invading Kenji's lands and letting a nightmare roam free in the mortal realm. This sort of thing cannot be allowed," Daichi explained, trying to stand as tall and firm as he could.

"Who cares? It's their problem now, and the nightmare will purge those that aren't worth staying. You act like its something we must all solve, and it's not like Rei will get involved. If it were serious enough, he would have already dealt with the brat," Kentaro growled at his oldest brother.

The attending siblings winced at hearing the name Rei. Rei was their father, and he was the vengeful sort. He was responsible for creating the mortal realm and the Kami to look after certain things for him. Typically, the siblings called him Father, as they were too scared Rei would unmake them if they called him anything else. He must not have cared or wasn't paying attention to Kentaro, who stood there brazenly looking between his siblings.

A small snow fox with white fur was next to come. It came from behind Kentaro and spoke to them, "exactly, Father doesn't care about the disputes of his children. Kenji had already visited and given me a thorough scolding. I have learned my lesson." By the time she was directly behind the huge brother, a shifting of rainbow power had surrounded the animal, and she had transformed into a young girl.

She looked like a teenager in mortal years, with big curious rainbow-colored eyes and purple and teal robes. Black hair that matched the rest of the family, but she had dyed the ends purple, which hung in a ponytail behind her. She almost hid behind Kentaro for protection, looking at the other siblings with that playful smirk she always had.

Daichi frowned and looked at Genki, the embodiment of tricks and the paranormal. He had to get the meeting back under control. "Kenji, you have the nightmare back in your lands, yes? What about the village Genki let it out near?"

Kenji looked at Daichi and nodded his head. "Yes, yes, everything is back in its proper place now. The village was destroyed, and the villagers were dead or have become part of my realm. The only one who lived was a man named Silas Zhao. His father is Elias Zhao, the one who helps organize the tournament from the Shaolin Temple. He's also one of the ones who has come closest to becoming what the mortal calls a celestial."

Daichi opened his book and turned some pages before sighing softly. "It is a shame. Silas had considerable power, which might be how he survived. He had a bright future." Daichi then closed his book.

"Very well then. Kenji has brought the nightmare back into his realm, and Genki at least says she has learned her lesson." Daichi looked at the girl behind Kentaro, hiding from his gaze.

"I suppose we are done here," Daichi said, after looking at all the siblings.

Before he was even done speaking, he saw the swirl of rainbow light and the little kitsune running away down the path she had entered from. Kentaro grumbled and rolled his eyes before turning and following. Daichi scanned and saw Misumi leave, her arms wrapped around a smaller figure in black robes, Minako.

Daichi smiled to himself. Minako was Misumi's twin, and they were the complete opposites of each other. Minako was the embodiment of desperation and sadness and usually kept to herself or with Misumi. She was the last of the siblings, and Daichi, truth be told, was surprised she showed up at all.

Finally, Lilith climbed off her horse and held it by its reins, walking alongside Kenji. The two were speaking low and heading off in the direction they came from. He shook his head. At least she wasn't riding it. The old women who tended his gardens would have to go through and clean up after that damn beast.