System Break

The battlefield stank to high heavens and I breathed through my mouth while the five picked through the feral corpses fetching qi cores. Although they were small every bit helped. The city folk insisted we take all the cores and I didn't hesitate.

"How goes their training?" I asked.

Ailen frowned. "Better than mine. How can I be a teacher when the students are more talented."

I put a hand on his shoulder. "You're more experienced. You're a good teacher if they're surpassing you, I'm sure that's a saying."

"We need you to watch us and give tips. When will you be back?"

I sighed. "I don't know. I didn't think I'd be in the mountains for so long or here for four days. Let's do a session now, before you head back."

"Here?"

"No, it stinks here. Let's go lakeside."

Ailen nodded. Once the collecting was finished we piled the corpses into a ditch and lit them on fire with a barrel full of coal. Some of the city folk lent a hand and we were done in half a day.

There was a hill with a clump of trees overlooking the lake and we collected there for training.

"Qi speed first," I said. It's the one they'd been practising. "Run to the fort and back, five reps and I'll watch." I walked to the halfway point while they ran from the trees to the fort and back five times.

Meili and Daiyu had different styles, but they were both effective. Meili was a dancer and knew her muscles well, while Daiyu was into origami and her patterns were intricate. I commented as they ran past, giving feedback and pointing out areas they neglected. 

It occurred to me that when you couldn't see qi it must be confusing. They had little concept of what they were doing only if it felt good. The unique ability in being able to see the qi and its patterns made the learning process very different for me. It was the first time it really hit home at how powerful an affinity it was. 

While the lightning wolf was super cool, there was no comparison. After an hour of running we moved to strength and qi strike before the sun began to set. 

"We can do more," Barde said. He was the musician.

"No, your core is low. Trust me if you run it out bad things happen. Since we're so far from the land core suck down on a feral core each."

"What was that new qi strike you did?" Meili asked. "During the battle. I saw the palm of your finger enter an orks throat, but its neck was cut all the way through."

I nodded. "The qi left my fingers and cut like a laser. But its not something you're ready for. You'll know when the qi leaves your fist when you strike. Even if it's a bee's dick it still makes a difference. And there's something else. Mother put living wood into each joint and my arms. My qi travels down the living wood like a slide in a water park."

They peppered me with questions as we walked back to the manor.

"Enough already," Ailen said finally. "Washup, eat and get some rest. Take duty turns on the roof like last night."

They left us and I nodded towards their departing figure. "Did you bang any of them yet?"

Ailen looked at me aghast. "They're basically employees!"

I pushed him playfully. "You idiot."

He looked at me and frowned.

"If I've learned anything its that you have to make the most of it while you can. One day I was a perfectly healthy spec ops solider and then next I was a paraplegic. How much ass do you think I got in a wheelchair?"

He shrugged. "I can't. If my father found out I'd be toast."

"Fine. I won't mention it again."

Kysandre entered the room. "I've been looking for you."

Ailen smiled and winked at me.

I pushed him. "Get out." I turned to Kysandre, "I wasn't hard to find."

She took my hand and pulled me towards the chairs. She sat and waited for me. I pulled my mask off, sat opposite and leaned back. 

"Are you heading south tomorrow?" she asked.

"Yeah, Gisael and I will go alone. Ailen and the recruits will head back to the forest." The bears ran back to the forest in the morning after they slept for almost a day.

She shifted nervously in her seat. "Can I ask you a favour?"

I put my hands behind my head and stretched out. Her eyes were drawn to my stomach muscles and I flexed then laughed when her face flushed.

"You're incorrigible," she said.

"No idea what that means, but you're probably right."

She sighed. "I wanted to ask you to get a message to my family."

"Write something tonight and I'll take it. If your father is up to it I'll get him to sail here."

"You're not worried about going back to Dawnharbour?"

I shrugged. "Not really."

"Be wary of Sigwurd and his knives," she said.

"I saw them. He stabbed you in our guild hall remember."

She shook her head. "He was hiding his ability. He can command seven knives, maybe more."

"At once?"

She nodded and I whistled. "Impressive." It was not something I thought of doing, but it made sense. If I could control one, it would only take practise and a qi reserve to control more. It was probably difficult, but I could at least try.

"Are the knives made of anything special?"

"They're throwing knives. Slender and metal, they can easily puncture a vital organ if you don't block them."

She was looking at the floor and shifted in her seat again. She cast a sidelong glance at me.

"Take some qi cores for currency," I said. "Build out the docks."

Her eyes were downcast, and she frowned. "I feel bad that Inchel is building a cabin for me and now I will stay here."

I waved my hand in dismissal. "Don't worry about that. I'll use the cabin and so will your folk on occasion."

She moved off her chair and sat beside me. She wouldn't meet my gaze, but her hand fell onto mine. "Thank you."

I put my arm around her, and she leaned into me. 

"You should take over here," she said. "The duke cannot protect them like you can. And he probably couldn't care less except for his taxes."

"You're staying here. You are their protection now."

"But for how long?"

"As long as you like."

"I'll be alone," she said softly.

"I'll visit if you want. And we'll get you some adventurers. What about the white cloaks? They seemed alright."

"I think if my folk want to make a settlement here it will be good." She snuggled into my chest and her hand slid around my side.

"I'll see if I can get this place away from the Duke of Salastria."

"Why did Reyas stay in the mountains," she asked.

I told her the story of the beastmen. "The shaman wanted Reyas to take over and she wanted it to. They will stop consuming all the qi cores they find and start investing it into the land core. Oh and she's pregnant."

Kysandre's hands whipped back to her side and she sat up straight. She stared into my eyes. "Yours?"

I laughed. "Who else."

She frowned. "I cannot do this."

"What?"

"I cannot have a man with many wives. It's not proper."

I laughed. "Who says?"

"You don't understand. I'm still a fisherfolk girl at heart. Their ways are my ways."

I leaned close and our lips almost touched. She placed a hand on my chest, but she did not push. She was beautiful. Her fine brown hair and silky skin was soft to the touch. Her body was firm from all the combat training she did, and her nature was soft like the water she commanded.

In my heart I felt she was young; she would grow and change. I would give her time rather than press myself upon her. I know I could, she was fighting her attraction for me. And it's not like I wanted for sex there was plenty available.

Her mouth opened slightly as she waited for me to kiss her.

I gently took her hand from my chest and put it back by her side while I stood. "I need to speak to Carney," I said.

Her eyes looked away and down. I put my hand on her cheek. "Don't," I said. "I'll wait for you."

She sighed sadly and watched me go. When I was out of earshot she slapped her own cheeks and said. "Dummy, dummy why did you say that."

I found Carney in the kitchen of all places. I study her in secret for a moment. Her core was a healthy size and I wondered what she could do with some training.

"I'm going tomorrow," I said.

I startled her and she turned. She was covered in flour and I laughed. She blushed.

I waved my hand. "Don't worry. Why are you cooking can't we pay someone to do that?"

"There's not many people left, and I know how to bake. It's stupid to let this kitchen go to waste."

I nodded. "Ask Kysandre to train you in the qi arts. It's stupid to let your talent got to waste."

She smiled at me. "I'm talented?"

I nodded.

"How to you know?" she asked.

"It's one of my abilities, I can tell these things."

She turned and continued to knead the dough. "I'll finish these loaves do you need anything?"

I looked at her fine body. "I'm going tomorrow."

"Oh," she said and stopped kneading. "I'll miss you. We will all miss you. It won't feel safe here without you."

"Kysandre is here. Do what she says, and everything will be fine."

She began to knead the dough again. "Is she your woman?"

I titled my head to the side. "I take any woman I fancy."

"Do you fancy me?" she asked.

I laughed. "I did until I saw you covered in flour." I was too quick for the rolling pin which hurtled across the room at me.