Elder Cultivator

The window of time anticipated by Catarina narrowed down from a year of time to a month to a specific day. That day came all too quickly, and though Catarina herself- and Timothy alongside her- did not appear nervous, Anton couldn’t help but feel some trepidation. There had been more failures in ascension now- keeping track of everything was impossible because both might be kept secret for various reasons. However, knowing about the potential risks was different from simply having records of them.

Not that it seemed to make any difference to the two involved. They carried themselves with great confidence. People hadn’t exactly been invited to witness the ascension, though it wasn’t secret either. Some of those present were certainly interested in the results, but others were simply there to say goodbye- once more.

Anton knew he might go on forever if he let himself get started. There were so many things he had to say, though in truth he’d probably told them already. So he kept things simple. “Farewell. We’ll miss you.”

“You don’t have to say that like we’re dying,” Catarina retorted. “We’ll still be alive… and there should be some way to come back. Besides, I left behind a dozen ways to communicate. One of them has to work.”

“I’m glad there are other people taking care of that,” Anton said. “I barely understand how the regular communication plates work. Those are far too complicated.” He looked to Timothy, standing along with her. “Take care of my granddaughter.”

“Always,” Timothy said proudly.

“We need to get moving,” Catarina said. “The optimal time is rapidly approaching.”

Anton watched as they walked towards a large sphere Catarina had constructed. The outside was covered in formation markings, even the curved door built into it. Inside the shell were further formation markings, along with supporting beams from all directions similarly carved. The two of them would climb up some sort of platform in the center, where they would wait.

All of the observers stood far back, behind some markings that indicated a safe distance. Specifically, one where their energy shouldn’t interfere with the process and that allowed enough for the sphere to gather what it needed.

Uninformed viewers might think they were witnessing the first ascension via formation. They wouldn’t be fully wrong, but they also wouldn’t be right. Along with the fact that nobody could know for certain what had happened in the past with certain genius formation masters, the formations here weren’t actually meant for that purpose.

When Anton heard about it, he had smiled. The entire setup was not to allow the two to ascend- they were quite confident that they could do it without. Instead, it was to let them do it simultaneously- and to remain together. That was all, but it meant quite a bit.

From Timothy following Catarina on her journey of cultivation as a lovestruck childhood companion, mutual feelings had been acknowledged. Timothy had some ambition to grow in cultivation as well, but he would also have been content to just continue to live. Catarina’s ambitions remained high… but they came with the additional factor of being unwilling to separate from her husband.

There was nothing visually impressive that happened. Natural energy was drawn into the sphere, and Anton felt the two inside using their own energy, though it was muted. Then… everything was gone.

Anton, along with several of the others present, reacted quickly to the sudden rush of air to where the sphere had once been. As the air itself collapsed and released a shockwave, they encircled the area with their energy to prevent it from causing harm to the weaker cultivators nearby or any structures. Perhaps their cautious was unnecessary, but at the very least they saved the ears of many of those standing nearby.

That was it. The sphere and the two inside it were gone… but it had to be that they succeeded. There wasn’t even a trace of ascension energy leaking back from the other side, but such a smooth transition had to have been a success.

Anton looked over at the others from their core group. Alva was patting Fuzz on the head, comforting him. Hoyt was biting his lip, while Velvet looked thoughtful.

“I’m not surprised they were the first,” Hoyt said. “It could have been any of us. I guess I just… didn’t expect this day to ever actually come.”

Anton nodded, “I remember meeting you when we were both just in Body Tempering, working out in the fields. Who thought… we would reach the peak of cultivation in this world.”

“Well, I did,” Hoyt said. “At least for myself. Though maybe that was comparing myself to my grandfather, and being too stubborn not to.”

“I almost ruined everything,” Velvet mused. “For myself, and for others. I was fortunate things turned out as they did. With any other group, perhaps I might have faded into obscurity… though perhaps that might not have been too bad.”

Anton looked over them again, “So, who’s next?” It was a casual question, almost a joke… but also quite serious in its own way.

“I…” Alva looked over at Fuzz, “I’m not sure I’m going to ascend.”

“Why not?” Anton asked. He could read into the situation, but hearing it from her would be more clear.

“I… am just unsure if that’s what I want to do.”

“Okay,” Anton said. “That’s fine. I wouldn’t mind the company, and the Order will be pleased at the stability.” Anton looked to Hoyt and Velvet.

Hoyt spoke first. “I’ll definitely ascend. If the Order needed me…” he shook his head, “But our numbers continue to swell. Even if people continue to ascend regularly, we’ll have many Life Transformation experts at any time. Plus, there are conflicts up there that affect us here.”

“I don’t know if I should,” Velvet admitted. “I fear being unable to find everyone, in some unknown place. I would be giving up a family I found to attempt to reunite with a small part of it.”

The three- and Fuzz, but he had no meaning behind his look- turned to Anton.

“You already know I can’t. If I ascend I’ll be torn apart by an angry universe.” He smiled wistfully up at the sky, “But I have some ideas of what I might do instead. Maybe I’ll retire.” The looks on their faces said a lot. “What? I could.”

“I really don’t think so,” Hoyt said. “What would you do if you retired?”

“Oh you know, go here and there. Meet with people and enjoy life.”

“You just do that now,” Hoyt pointed out. “And I find it hard to believe you’d actually wander around without purpose.”

“Fine, fine. It’s nicer than saying I’d wait around to die. Which is perfectly acceptable,” Anton said. “I’ve gotten to live two full lives. Maybe it’s time to let someone else take over.” He looked at their faces, “What? I’m serious. I don’t want to struggle to survive.”

“What about the other thing?” Alva said, gripping Fuzz’ fur tightly. “Can’t you do that?”

“Maybe! I might just die trying it though. That other plan is for if I fail but don’t get killed.”

“Have some confidence,” Hoyt said. “I know you have the ability.”

“If we were talking a standard ascension, completing the hundred stars? I fully agree. But I’m not so confident in forging a new path. It doesn’t matter how good I am if what I attempt is impossible to begin with.”

“Alright, fine,” Hoyt shrugged. “Just don’t… give up.”

“I gave up once a century ago,” Anton said, “And I don’t plan to do it again. But I’m also quite satisfied with my life as a whole.”

-----

That night, Alva woke up from a wolf howling at the moon. No, it wasn’t just any wolf. It was Fuzz. How could there be any other heard from where she was? And she’d recognize it anywhere.

That was something Fuzz did occasionally, but usually it wasn’t so loud. Was there some sort of attack going on somehow? Alva found herself outside in an instant, bow in hand. But there was nothing but Fuzz- and a few neighbors looking over curiously. They were safely within the Order’s controlled territory, after all.

“What’s going on, Fuzz?” Alva asked. “Do you miss Catarina and Timothy?”

Fuzz stopped for a moment, turning toward her. His eyes had great intelligence behind them, not quite on the level of void ants or humans, but enough to understand. Instead of a proper response, though, he snorted through his nose and returned to howling. He began to glow as he raised his face up to the sky, the formation markings etched into him so many years before glowing with power as his natural energy flowed into them.

Alva knew there was more going on than just a fit of restlessness or a sudden loneliness. Fuzz had been saved by Catarina, but had happily kept Alva safe for long periods of time without seeming to miss her. It could be the thought of never seeing her again that was different but… Alva felt that wasn’t it. And whatever Fuzz was up to, she didn’t think she could stop it without hurting him.

“Fuzz, wait. Please. You don’t need to-”

A louder howl pierced through the night, echoing off of everything and nothing. One final tilt of his head to look directly down at her, and his energy flared. His jaws opened wide as he tore into the air in front of him, leaping forward into nothing. Then he was gone, with only a faint trace of him lingering behind, as well as some ascension energy.

Well. It seemed he understood more than she had tried to let on. She hadn’t known if he could really do it, nor had she wanted to push him to try. That was why she had chosen to remain. Now… she had no excuse. Or rather, she absolutely had to go. She kind of wished Fuzz would have waited, though, since she wasn’t exactly ready. She wasn’t that far behind Catarina in terms of cultivation, but she needed a couple years at least. Now she had to hurry without rushing, somehow.

-----

In the morning, Anton couldn’t help but chuckle. “Seems Fuzz really didn’t want to hold you back.”

Alva sighed as she stood next to her grandfather, firing arrows that from certain perspectives seemed perfect but lacked the power and precision they should have had. “I wish he’d given me some warning,” she sighed.

“Wouldn’t you have tried to stop him?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.”

Consecutive arrows struck their targets, but there was no serious training going on. Just something to help calm the mind. The repetitive sounds of arrows impacting targets at different distances provided a nice background noise to break up some of the lack of conversation. Others were up early for the archery range, but gave them their space for a private conversation.

“It’s not so bad, is it?” Anton asked. “Think of it like when you went to Aicenith and had to leave him behind for a bit. Except this time he simply went on ahead. And there happen to be some others waiting for you as well. I believe in your ability.”

“It’s just… I’m worried, you know? Someone might want to hurt him for… stuff. And I don’t know if I’ll be able to find him before he gets hurt.”

“Well, Fuzz may be cute and cuddly, but he’s also neither small nor weak,” Anton rested a hand on her shoulder. “You just have to believe in him, like he believed in you.”

-----

Two months passed without any further surprises. However, Anton found himself brought to where the formation specialists of the Order worked. Elder Rana was there waiting for him.

“There you are! I thought you should be one of the first to know. We received a message from Catarina.”

“Is it gibberish?” Anton asked.

“Well, most of them were,” she waved her hand, “Two didn’t work at all, a couple were gibberish, and one gave a half message. There are a few more that need solid infrastructure to set up but,” Elder Rana held up her hand, “This one had a message come through clear.”

“What is it?”

“The message reads… ‘One of these stupid methods had better work!’” Elder Rana coughed, “Not exactly profound, but we got the whole message. We’ve sent a reply, but haven’t heard back yet. It might, um… take an entire two months for the transmission to arrive.”

“Is that different than expected?”

“Well we were obviously hoping it would be instantaneous. Two months isn’t that bad though. Especially if we can receive clear communication like this.”

“Thank you for bringing me,” Anton said. “I don’t doubt that it’s her, so at least we know she arrived safely… somewhere.” Alva would need to know as well. And anyone else going. If they could learn more information about where they were going or how any of it worked, it would be far safer for everyone. Anton wasn’t helpful for this particular situation, but at least he could keep people positive. And he was quite glad for the news himself.