System Break

We crossed a ridge and saw Talila waiting for us. She stared at his with the corners of her mouth turned down. "You can be heard across the forest."

I looked at Ailen who shrugged. "Sorry, we were bonding. But if we're this deep in the forest is it a problem?"

"There is no problem." She smiled and began to run with us. "You can be quiet when it is needed?"

I laughed and accused her, "You came back to run with us because you wanted to chat too!"

"I did not," she said and Ailen laughed as well. Her tone gave away the obvious lie.

We ran for a period before Ailen mentioned, "I think Sakaala is falling behind."

"She is. She can find her way back to the glade," Talila said.

"Is she your apprentice?"

"She was given in to my care for this new domain. We are new to each other."

"You're not an apprentice?" I asked Ailen.

"I am," he said. "I wanted to wait before choosing a teacher. I wanted to see who was here first."

"Will you be Gisael's apprentice?" Talila asked me.

"Hell no," I replied. "Mother made me a Guardian, I guess I skipped that step," I recalled the event. "That's probably the reason Gisael was shocked at the time."

Talila's melodic laughter was a welcome surprise. "I wish I could have seen that," she said wistfully.

"Who will you choose now?" Talila asked Ailen.

"I'm still undecided. I'd like to choose Benzhi but he … he uses a spear. I suppose it will be easier If I choose you Talila. That way my sister and I can receive the same instruction."

"This is good. Benzhi is new as well and would not be able to teach ways that he is learning himself." She grinned. "But, he's very masterful in other areas."

I jumped from the ridge top onto a tree rather than navigate the small ravine. I then jumped from tree to tree before back to the ground on the opposite peak. "Hang around," I called back to Talila, "I'm sure I'll do something that will entertain you."

She answered with a puzzled tone, "I had no plans to leave this place."

I laughed at her reply when I realised that my words were just as strange to them as their words were to me.

"But can you keep up?" I challenged her and activated qi body. I paid attention to the qi streams running through my body as I pushed more into them.

During combat I was too focused on surviving to glean anything. Similar to qi strike - one of the solutions was to pump more power into it. However, there was a downside. I didn't have large reserves of qi. I would quickly run out when I recklessly drained it on an ability.

I wondered if my reserves were connected to my stats somehow, so I pulled them up.

.

-Body-

Strength, 17

Speed, 16

Agility, 16

Stamina, 19

Toughness, 19

.

-Qi-

Qi Core, 13

Qi Manipulation, 2

.

It wasn't surprising that my body skills continued to improve, although at a slower rate the higher I got. What was interesting is that my qi stats began to improve. I was hoping to see something in Affinity, but it still remained blank.

My attention was split between the forest and my investigation, but this was a known part of the forest to me. We were closing in on the glade as I pushed myself harder, faster, and higher. Ailen was left far behind and Talila was struggling to meet my challenge.

Qi body had followed the natural paths of my body. They met at my centre, my core and I noticed the egg-shaped pool of qi depleting as I pushed more out into the streams.

"Ahh," I said when I realised this was my actual core. The one Mother referred to and most likely the one that the game measured as thirteen. The egg-shaped orb was small now and I had not noticed it before when it was miniscule.

I began to experiment with the amount of qi I was using and could feel the difference in my ability to jump and run as I tweaked the streams.

I stopped when I reached the glade and allowed the streams to dwindle to almost nothing. I tried to create to try creating new streams, but my qi was stubborn, it would only flow up the natural paths.

"What are you…," Ailen began to ask, and I noticed Mother hold up a hand for him to be quiet. I ignored them as I experimented and after a few unsuccessful attempts I was about to give up.

Until I suddenly heard her speak, she was now standing much closer, "Do not bash it, entice it gently. Remember your forms."

Mother's words encouraged me try a different approach. I closed my eyes and began the form she had shown me. I moved through the glade and imagined my qi flowing rather than pushing it.

I felt a tiny twinge. My eyes were closed but I could still see the qi streams like I was using a scanner. Where it met the ends of my hands, feet, stomach, and shoulders it broke through the skin and began to flow outside of me.

My core was depleting, and I felt physically and mentally tired. But I was more than satisfied. I halted before I fainted from exhaustion. I was learning.

When I opened my eyes, I noticed they were all gawking at me. It was their way to stand with a straight back and unflinching gaze which was a little disconcerting.

"Progress," I announced. And Mother tilted her head to the side as she always did when she was contemplating something.

"Good," she said finally and then looked towards Gisael. "I sense you have retrieved cores?"

Gisael's focus on me was broken, and she turned to Mother. "We have," she said before her and Talila handed over small pouches filled with spider cores.

When Mother saw the number and size she asked, "You took risks?"

Gisael turned to look at me and Mother's attention followed. While observing me she nodded.

"Hey," I protested and then remembered the battle. "Fun fact," I said, "Spiders can climb."

Mother took the cores from the pouches reverently, one at a time, and pushed them into the willow where the land core resided. I imagined the domain getting stronger as she worked her way through the pouch. I could see the land core pulsate slowly. It was like it had a very slow heartbeat.

"We will scout south tomorrow and look for more," Gisael said.

"Rest now," Mother said to the group.

And we left for the trees, except Gisael who stayed behind to talk with Mother.

I reached our usual spot, Gisael's spot, and took a sip of water. I was spent after depleting my qi and I just wanted to sleep. I lay down.

"Eat," Talila said and she pushed a nut into my mouth.

"Fine." I sat up and ate with the trio who came through the portal two days ago.

"You were very fast when you used your qi," Talila said.

"I know. Sorry for cheating."

She smiled kindly and said, "It is not cheating to use your abilities."

Ailen looked at me and then at Sakaala who shrugged.

"You must get faster Sakaala." Talila said and the girl looked down and away. Talila brightened her tone. "You will with practise."

I grinned at her. "Keep pushing yourself like you did today, and you'll be a pro in no time."

She beamed a smile at me.

"I'm not as fit as Ailen, I think it matters in this new place what you did in the old."

Ailen shot her a warning look.

After a few mouthfuls I lay down again, "Okay, I'm done. Good night." I was so tired I barely noticed them snuggle in beside me. As I drifted off and someone's butt pushed into my groin, I pondered how indecent they were with mild amusement.