“Phew.”
Raja Kint leaned back, using his arms to hold himself up. He closed his eyes as he immersed himself in… sadness. This is only one of many battles on my journey.
He opened his eyes to see Kyoot Kint and the woman elder next to him. He noticed Kyoot Kint shiver and the woman elder narrowed her eyes. He quickly closed his eyes to set his mind straight. These feelings can’t be controlled so easily.
His eyes opened to his usual look as he now got weird looks from his senior sister. The elder handed him a pill, telling him it was a pill to replenish his ki. He downed the pill and a warmth spread. Starting from his mouth and spreading across his body. He could feel his strength coming back to him and he focused on making sure his ki flowed smoothly.
After a few minutes, he stood up and thanked the elder before heading off to his cave. Later that night, a knock sounded out. Raja Kint walked to the entrance and noticed the woman.
“May I come in?”
“Of course.” Raja Kint said as he stepped aside.
She walked in and sat down, settling her eyes on Raja Kint. Out of fear of his cheeks being pinched, Raja Kint sat a bit farther away.
“Don’t worry I won’t pinch your cheeks. Unless you secretly enjoy it. Although, I can't promise I’ll keep that a secret,” she said with a sly grin.
Raja Kint couldn’t find the words to retort and simply sat closer. The woman began speaking.
“First, nobody will do anything to you. What you showed earlier coupled with what I said about the higher powers will keep anyone from messing with you. Secondly, the main reason I’m here is to help you learn your first limbo-stage array.”
Raja Kint’s eyes widened a bit. He knew how difficult it had been for him to learn this array. Regardless, he quickly got to placing his array. Before he could start the woman said.
“Show me what the array is supposed to be like.”
Raja Kint pulled the array booklet out of his ring and handed it to her. She took about twenty minutes before nodding her head. Raja Kint began placing his array. As he was placing it the woman began correcting him on many things.
“How can you be so horrible at arrays? Were you taught nothing?” said the woman exasperatedly.
Raja Kint didn’t open his mouth as he knew. He only learned a few things by looking at the turtle array so many times that he memorized it. But, for the finer details concerning arrays, he was lost.
The woman hummed to herself for a bit. Then she looked at Raja Kint. “I guess we can start with the basics. What does one need to create a limbo-stage array?”
“Usually, you’d be in the limbo realm.”
“Why?”
“You need a lot of ki and ki control.”
The woman’s brows furrowed, “Are you gonna talk? Or is this how you usually are?”
Raja Kint looked at her confusedly. She waved her hands for him to continue.
“You need enough ki control to where you can inject your ki and the surrounding ki into your array simultaneously. Which is difficult for anyone below the limbo realm. Because we don’t have much internal ki to begin with. So we become tired faster with ki usage. Plus, this realm is usually meant for gaining better control over the surrounding ki as well. Meaning most outer ki realms don’t have the necessary control.
“But, it’s not impossible to learn a novice array incompletely as you’re still improving your skills even just doing that. Not only is ki usage an issue in terms of becoming tired. It’s an issue where not every line of the array may be filled with our ki., causing a deficiency.”
The woman began speaking, “Not bad. You don’t have the issue of ki control. You have the strongest ki control of any outer ki realm I’ve ever seen. Meaning you can be far more efficient in ki usage compared to others. Even though your ki reserves may not be all that high. Your control makes up for it. I actually think you should be capable of creating a limbo stage array. Cementing yourself as an outer ki realm array novice. The issue is how you draw your array lines. Luckily for you, this is a problem that can be easily solved.”
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She pressed her finger against the ground. She created a circle, a curved line, a straight line and a triangle. Raja Kint was surprised at how evenly the shapes were created and how perfect they looked.
“You need to recreate these four on your own. All shapes looking exactly the same. With uniform ki across these shapes. Once you’ve done this, then you’ll be a novice arrayist. Otherwise, even though the technique seems close. Every technique has a point where even moving one percent is more daunting than the previous 99% combined. Luckily, you have me here to help.”
“Thank you so much! I’ll be sure to show you a new array novice before we leave.” said Raja Kint with gratitude. He didn’t know how long the technique would have taken on his own. And, even though he studied some array knowledge in the Kint Academy. His focus was split between many things and he felt he was hardly there until he was forced into seclusion.
The woman lightly smiled, “You don’t need to force anything. Just take your time, you’ll naturally become an outer ki realm novice arrayist.” She stood up and left Raja Kint’s cave.
Raja Kint turned his head and began focusing on recreating the line. With a new task Raja Kint didn’t bother leaving his cave. Like this the days quietly passed by.
Kyoot Kint would find the woman for pointers in her arrays. A desire burning to experience the greater world.
18 days passed since the competition and Raja Kint opened his cave abode. Sun shines down and white puffs of air appear from his nose. With bright eyes he heads toward the woman’s home. He quickly makes his way over to find her absent. He looks around and walks to her backyard. Deciding to lay back on the grass and close his eyes.
“You’re really tired, huh.” Kyoot Kint’s voice rang out.
Raja Kint opened his eyes to also see the woman. Raja Kint says, “I’ve recreated the shapes just as you’ve said.”
“Show me.” said the woman.
Raja Kint recreated the shapes in no time. Kyoot Kint observed the shapes along with the woman. On the side Raja Kint was sitting, recovering his used ki.
“Wow, you really were able to do this.” said Kyoot Kint.
“He did do quite good. Have you attempted the limbo stage array yet?” ssked the woman.
“No.”
“Attempt it here.”
After a short time, Raja Kint exhaled as he stood up. The two females looked over at him.
Raja Kint bent down and began laying the array. The woman was watching his every move and internally nodded. He truly is a quick learner. Usually, that’s an exercise for those new to the limbo realm to practice. Yet he accomplished it in under 20 days. While being a mid-stage outer ki realm. She continued to watch and noticed the many mistakes from before were now fixed.
Once he reached 60% completion he began feeling tiredness creeping in. At 80% completion he felt like he could fall asleep standing. He suddenly stopped and slapped himself. Kyoot Kint raised an eyebrow at his action. Whereas the woman felt inner turmoil.
She was thinking. How did he just shake that off? He should be getting tired from ki expenditure. In truth, no matter how talented he is. He shouldn’t be able to craft the array this well as a mid-stage. Where is all this inner ki coming from?
Raja Kint wanted to create this array more than anything right now. Hence, he slapped himself to stay focused. A strategy he used many times over the 18 days. Even though his willpower was rated at the limbo realm in the academy entrance exam. His will, despite being restricted by his mother. Was far stronger than what could be measured.
It wasn’t much longer before he finally laid the array down. This was the hardest laying of an array he had ever done. After all, he was using his ki in new ways and using his willpower. He sat inside the array and took a moment to gather ki. Just to construct this array he had used a majority of his ki. And just using the earth law would expend him in both ki and will.
After some time, he exhaled white clouds of air from his mouth. He pressed his hands down and the dirt under him rose to form the hand. As the hand formed Raja Kint could feel his heart pounding against his chest. The palm formed, one finger, two fingers all the way to the fourth finger formed as expected. The fifth finger began forming and without stopping the finger was complete.
Raja Kint felt relief, this meant he had truly stepped on the path his mother traveled. The world of arrays had truly opened up for him.
“Congrats, you’re the youngest array novice in terms of cultivation stage I’ve ever heard of,” she pondered for a moment, “how old are you?”
Kyoot Kint said to Raja Kint, “It’s awesome that you're an array novice. Once you take the test to prove it. People will be willing to pay for your services anywhere in the world.”
Raja Kint responded to the woman first, “I’m ten.”
Shock appeared on her face along with slight dread. She couldn’t believe a ten-year-old array novice could exist. Wasn’t this something that should be impossible?
“What are you talking about a test?” ssked Raja Kint.
Kyoot Kint replied, “Some cultivators want to be in the world of mortals sometimes. So they take these tests showing their prowess as a cultivator. Whether it’s fighting, pill-making, weaponsmithing, arrays or anything cultivators do. You’ll be given a badge dependent on your level.
“Otherwise, who would believe that a novice arrayist could be so young,” Kyoot Kint chuckled.
“As if I would delve into the world of mortals. I’m a cultivator,” Raja Kint said resolutely, “anyways, I’ll be off to my cave again.”
“Let me know when you’re ready to leave. I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do here,” said Kyoot Kint.
Raja Kint responded, “Ok,” as he walked off.