They traveled for days, and it was both more and less eventful than Vath had expected. They ran into Beasts far more often than he would have guessed, and yet they were in no danger. Wald dealt with them all so easily that they were often dead before Vath had even seen them. Vath had to admit, his thought that the disciple could kill them both had been woefully underselling the man’s power. He moved so quickly it was hard to even see him, and the first time he had fought a Beast, he had struggled to understand what had even happened. A great bear had wandered into their path and roared. It was the largest bear he’d ever seen, and it was coated in what looked like hardened rock. Clearly an earth essence Beast, perhaps less immediately lethal than the lightning deer they’d fought, but with much higher defense. He didn’t think he and Kaser could take it on their best day, although they’d have more luck running from this one. Wald had appeared next to it in a blink, struck it once with a barely noticeable purple flash, and the Beast’s roar had turned to a strangled whine as it collapsed. It hadn’t risen again.

When they had managed to close their jaws again, Kaser asked what he had done to it. “I stopped its heart.” had been his only reply. Vath had been certain then that Wald meant them no harm. If the man wanted them dead, they would be dead. There was no way they could’ve stood against him even for a moment, if he’d wanted anything of theirs.

As many Beasts as they encountered, dealing with them was still a small part of their days. Early on the first day, Wald had stopped them and asked them why they weren’t cultivating. Apparently he should’ve been able to sense something from them, and hadn’t. When they’d responded, confused, that they were walking and couldn’t do both, he’d seemed almost aghast. He’d sat them down and worked on it with them. He’d explained that a proper cultivator should be cultivating at all times unless physically unable to or unless advised not to by a healer. One should always be working towards the next stage of advancement or refilling their reserve once they had one, he said. So he showed them a new circulation technique, still a generalized one - he explained that many specialized techniques were available at the sect that would be better, but until they learned their talents and decided on a direction for cultivation, this would be enough, and much more useful than what they had. Then, once they had a grasp of using the new one, he had them get up and slowly move around the area. Every time their circulation faltered, he had them stop and start it again before continuing to walk. Once they had a solid enough grasp of that, they started their journey again. He said they had only one task during the days, to circulate their technique as fast as they could manage without losing hold of it as they traveled; he would take care of everything else, including dangerous Beasts, it turned out.

At night, within the circle of shielding, and with the light of a fire, he taught them the basics of unarmed martial combat that Vath never had more than a few lessons of years ago. Vath had confessed upon being asked that neither had any special connection to spear or bow, it was just all they could make, and you couldn’t hunt with your bare fists. Well, at least they couldn’t. He was sure Wald would manage to just fine. So they stuck to unarmed. How to stand, what kinds of things to watch out for in your footing and your opponent’s, how to take advantage of missteps, how to throw a proper punch or elbow strike, and much more. As usual, Vath struck with power and stayed up longer than his brother through sheer grit, and Kaser’s blows and dodges were quick and graceful, at least in comparison to Vath. Wald made them both look like children, which, Vath supposed, they were to him. The disciple complimented them both on their quick learning, but it still felt glacial. There was so much to learn, and they were so behind. So many years spent just surviving instead of learning and growing. But all they could do was keep going, and work hard.

As the days passed, Kaser seemed to blossom, like a flower, starved of water for so long, finally receiving a bit of the life sustaining liquid. He talked more. Laughed and joked more easily. His smile seemed almost ever present. As if socializing was a nutrient his mind had craved and been denied. Even Vath, while letting very little change outwardly, felt the knot in his chest begin to loosen. Felt his load lighten, just a little at a time. He felt… safer than he had in, well, ever. For the first time in his life, there was someone to protect him. Oh, Kaser did everything he could. He’d saved Vath’s life on more than one occasion, but it had taken him a long time to get to that point, and Vath had still always felt responsible for his younger brother. And they’d usually been equally impotent against something that could threaten one of them. He knew his brother would always be there to help, but his brother wasn’t strong enough to make him feel safe all on his own. Wald was. He could protect them both, and he already had several times. Vath swore he would get strong enough to do it himself eventually, and to help the disciple in any way he could in the meantime; he wouldn’t be a leech, but, for the moment, he let himself bask in the new feeling. They learned, they grew, and they walked; and that was all Vath had to focus on. It was freeing in a way he hadn’t known was possible.

It ended far too soon. Wald indicated they were almost to the sect, and Vath’s worries crept back in. Not nearly as strong as before, but the carefree attitude slipped from him like an ill-fitting cloak. He tried not to tense up, but his focus on the world around him sharpened. Wald had told them what to expect, at least at the beginning. Now, they just had to hope he was right. Vath had heard stories growing up of sects built up the sides of a mountain or other impressive feats. Maybe those did exist, somewhere, but when they finally could see it through the trees, it was just… a city. A large city, with tall black walls, and a large line of people at the gate, but a city, nonetheless. The closer they got, the more impressed Vath was. The walls were smooth, as if made out of one large stone, and they seemed to have a slight purple sheen, the same color as the singular thread on Wald’s robes. For that matter, it was the same color that the disciple’s attacks flashed. Vath wondered what it meant. Was it a technique the sect taught all their disciples? Did they like color coordinating that much, or was it perhaps related to the “Void” in the sect’s name? Wald had been somewhat tight lipped about what void was.

Vath had been prepared for a long wait in the giant line, but Wald just kept walking past it, and the brothers followed. When Kaser asked, Wald answered that sect members had an entrance to the side of the gate just for them to skip the line. Sure enough, more than a few people started to complain that people were passing them, especially those who saw the boys in their badly made furs first; every one of them shut up as soon as they saw inner sect robes. There indeed was a small side gate, barely big enough for two to pass abreast. The guard watching it was dressed in layered black metal plates on top of some kind of heavy cloth or leather, with a helmet of the same metal. He straightened when they approached and seemed to be smiling within his helmet. “Inner disciple Wald, welcome back. And I see you’ve found some strays. Welcome to Shining Void, boys!” he said after a small bow.

Wald smiled and replied, “Guardsman Dorlan, just how is it that you are always on duty at this gate when I pass through, no matter the time of day?” Dorlan just smiled wider without response, and opened the gate for them to pass. Wald led the way inside, and set off down the street further into the city. Kaser ran to catch up, pointing at one thing after another, asking what they were, causing Wald to laugh before replying each and every time. Vath trailed a few feet behind the two, content to stay silent, but listening to every answer, and staring every bit as much as his brother was. There was so much to look at. Buildings bigger than their old house were everywhere, stalls on the sides of the road, colors on so many items and building features he’d never seen before, and so, so many people. All of them dressed more extravagantly than anyone from their village, let alone what they were wearing now. All of them just going about their day in a chaotic cacophony that nearly overwhelmed Vath. Kaser was more energized than Vath had ever seen him, but he wanted nothing more than to return to somewhere quiet. He hoped it wasn’t this loud in his room; he’d never be able to sleep. And yet, it was still somewhat exciting. There was so much here to learn and experience. He vowed he’d try a little bit of everything. Eventually. Maybe. He realized he’d fallen a bit behind and hurried to catch up. The last thing he wanted was to be separated in this mess. He’d be lost instantly.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Wald led them towards a second set of walls deep in the city. They were slightly shorter, but no less impressive, and, if anything, they had an even stronger purple sheen, along with more guards patrolling the top. “This area is for people simply living in the sect, shops, and those who do small jobs for the sect like cleaning and such without being disciples. The walls up ahead separate it from the living and training area for outer sect disciples. Another set is around the area for inner sect disciples, where I live, and a final wall is around the area for Elders and the Sect Master. Anyone can enter the sect for a small fee, which is waived if you have a writ of citizenship in the city, but the inner walls all require you to be of that tier, to be invited by someone who is, or to have something that shows you have a job to do there; usually that would be a token or a writ.” Wald explained.

They were led to a building to the side of the gate that seemed attached to the wall. Apparently they would have to be accepted and go through a simple test in the building before receiving sect robes and other basics, and only then would they be let through a door in the back that led through the wall. When Vath asked about the apparent security risk - the building didn’t even seem to have a door, let alone the sturdiness of the gate - Wald just told him that anyone who could get through the senior inner sect disciples or occasional Elder on duty in the building would go through the guards atop the wall like they weren’t there anyway. Vath supposed that added up. He was sure the guards were far from weak, but promising disciples probably didn’t end up on guard duty unless it was a punishment.

Wald told them to wait outside, they weren’t allowed in until they were at least preliminarily accepted. He entered the building alone, and Vath and Kaser stood near the door, still staring around the city. Vath wasn’t sure how long they waited. It felt like hours, but from the position of the sun, he knew it couldn’t have been nearly that long. He was just anxious about the answer they were waiting for. What if they didn’t get in? Would Wald just leave them out here in the city? What would they do for food? For a place to live?

The sun beat down on them in a way it never had in the forest, and Vath began to regret wearing all this heavy fur; as if the universe itself had a sense of humor, at that exact moment, a group of boys and their own age wandered into view, heading in the direction of the gate. The four of them wore black robes with bronze edges, which signified they were all outer sect disciples. The one in front glanced at them, snickered, and then whispered to his friends, "They think they're gonna get in."

The rest quietly laughed at the comment, and Vath was planning to ignore them, but Kaser snorted and said, just loudly enough to be heard, "Of course we will. Won't even be difficult."

The boys wheeled around to stare at them, seeming surprised they'd even been talked back to. The leader oozed derision as he said, "Not difficult? What ignorant backwater do you come from, to think joining a sect is easy? I suppose I shouldn't be surprised with those clothes. What self respecting cultivator dresses like that? Ancestors, have you been living in the wilds?"

Before Kaser could open his mouth to retort, there was somebody in front of the group of four, close enough to make the one in front take an instinctive step back. Wald looked down at him, with the sternest face Vath had ever seen him wear, and answered, "Yes. They have. And when you have done the same for several years, alone, with little training or cultivation, nothing to your name but what you can gather and fashion yourself, and survive, then you can make comments on their clothing. Am I clear?"

The boy shot a very surprised glance at the brothers, and then quickly bowed, letting out a fast, "Yes, inner disciple." The other three bowed with him, but wisely stayed silent.

"You may go." Wald said, and the boys scattered, hurrying quickly towards the gate. He watched them go, and the sternness slipped from his face. "Children," he sighed, and then turned to Vath and Kaser, "Come. The test is still to go, but the sect has agreed you are worth checking."

Vath's eyebrows raised, and he asked, "Wald, just how important are you in the sect? I know being an inner disciple means something, but that boy seemed to recognize you as well."

Wald looked almost sheepish for some reason, but he said, "I am… young, for an inner sect disciple, and have a few strong talents. Some respect me for that, others are jealous, but most in the sect would at least know some of my reputation, even if they'd never met me. Now, come. We need to get you tested.", and with that, he hurried to the building. Kaser grinned wildly at his brother before following, and Vath was internally impressed. He'd known Wald was strong from how he handled Beasts, but he'd assumed that was just the strength of an inner sect disciple. Or maybe it was, and Wald just stood out for reaching that power faster than most. He'd have to find out. Either way, there were potential pitfalls to having a sponsor who might have jealous enemies, but the fact that he was strong for his age even in a place like this was probably a good sign for their future. He followed the others into the building.

They walked through an empty room with chairs in it, some kind of waiting area Vath assumed, and soon entered a room on one side of the hall. The only things in the room were a table, three chairs with one opposite the other two, a sphere made out of some kind of crystal on a stand in the middle of the table, and a woman standing across the table from them. She was startlingly beautiful, and looked to be older than Wald, though not yet middle aged. Though with cultivators, you never could quite be sure. She was stronger than Wald too, if her robes were to be believed - bronze with black on the edges. A reversal of outer sect disciple robes, which indicated a senior inner disciple. Vath and Kaser bowed and greeted her with an, "Inner disciple." as Wald had instructed them.

She smiled kindly and replied, "Welcome. Please have a seat, boys." They sat, and she followed suit on her side; Wald stayed standing behind and to the side. "Has Disciple Wald explained this to you?"

"He explained the basics, yes, inner disciple." Vath answered her.

Kaser immediately cut in, "He said that if we touch it, it will tell us how powerful we are, and in what ways. He even said there were smaller ones you would put in our bodies so we could always know that. It sounds amazing!"

The woman grinned at him, "Yes, it is rather amazing, isn't it?" After Kaser's vigorous nod, she continued, "Now, let's begin. Who'd like to go first?"

Kaser looked like he wanted to lunge for the thing in excitement, but he looked at Vath and inclined his head. They both knew it was likely to be perfectly safe, but Kaser also knew that Vath would want to go first, just in case. He always had been willing to let little things like this go without complaint, just to make Vath feel a little better about a situation. He really was very considerate.

Vath reached out his hand, and as soon as he touched the orb, out sprang a bright red light, and he could've sworn he heard a howl as if from a distance. Every eye was staring at the orb and its light, but it was the woman who spoke, her focus intent, and her smile even wider, "Well. Isn't that interesting?"