The Human Path

Enri's Family made Koren feel at home. He had lost his loved ones, but he now had more people he cared about. Koren swore that he would get stronger, and this time he would protect the village. After dinner, Lady Zena arranged for Koren to sleep in the same tent as her twin sons. Needless to say, they were quite accommodating, Torp kept bragging about how he would find a wife and go off on his own soon. While Kaph snubbed him off, telling him that he was a eternal loner like Haruki, no woman would touch him with his gross arms. Of course Torp simply started kissing his muscles calling them his babies.

Enri visited the room thrice to see if her brothers lacked anything, however her gaze was always on Koren. He was starting to wonder if she was suspicious of him.

Koren was still awake when the boys finally fell asleep.

However, Koren could not sleep, he was waiting for Hope to pop out and tell him what she found out. However, no matter how much he called for her, she would not answer.

Eventually, Koren fell asleep as well.

Koren woke up fairly early, he was a little apprehensive when going to sleep because he was sure he would have nightmares. He got up to find the two brothers gone, they were already 14 years old, and had their own work places to go to. Koren decided to go and freshen up, in the desert, you only get one bucket of water to handle all your daily needs, but Lady Zena made sure to have a drum of hot water ready for him to take a bath.

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"Koren come and eat with us" said Lady Zena as she saw Koren walk in the common area. Enri who was next to her mother, was all smiles. She seemed to be in an excellent mood, after all she had been waiting for her training for some time now.

After the meal, Lady Zena kissed Koren and Enri on the forehead for luck, and asked Enri to take him to the training field. "Yes Amma." Said Enri as she grabbed Koren's hand and led him forward. She seemed to be in a hurry, as she didn't even get nervous when holding hands with Koren.

By the time Enri realized she was holding Koren's hand, they had been walking for a whole 6 minutes, her face turned into a red turnip as she let go of his hand. "I..I…Its just up ahead, not too long now" whimpered Enri as she scurried forward.

************

Koren and Enri had just arrived at the training field, and met Chief Ipnak. Apparently they had to wait a while for another student of the chief to show up. Koren wasn't bothered, Enri on the other hand was restless.

As Enri was trying to convince the Chief of the merits of teaching her immediately, Koren was trying to call Hope, who was still a no show.

Just as he was about to give up he heard a familiar voice.

"Missed me?" Said Hope as she appeared in front of Koren. Koren jumped, and said lightly "Big Sis!!".

His jump did not alarm the chief, who just thought he was excited like Enri.

"Easy there kid, just talk in your head, I can hear you loud and clear" Said Hope as she gave Koren's forehead a nudge.

"Big sis, I tried to call you all night, but you didn't answer" said Koren in a gloomy manner.

"I know Koren, I know. I'm so sorry. After hearing about the path walkers, I had some ideas, so I had to go deep and run the simulations on my own." Said Hope in a clear remorseful tone.

"What did you discover big sis?" asked Koren.

"I found out how I can go back to the Terran Universe, with you in tow of course, since we are bound together." Answered Hope with a ravenous stare.

Koren was taken aback, he didn't want to leave. This world was his home, he had a responsibility to the humans here, his entire village was destroyed, while trying to secure humanities future.

"Oh Koren, we aren't going any time soon, at least not until you become a path master." Said Hope with a chuckle as she sensed Koren's apprehension.

"Me!" said Koren with shock. "Yes. This universe is treating me and the other 4 Dimensional Cores like thief's, trapping us here. If we want to leave, then we must make it accept us. Only a path master has that power, if you can create a cultivation technique surrounding the Core, and edge it into the universe's consciousness, then we can come and go as we like." Said Hope with excitement.

"Big sis, firstly I don't know anything about the Cores you keep talking about, and secondly I don't even know how to cultivate the Spiritual path properly, and lastly how can I edge something into the universe's consciousness, Chief Ipnak said World, not Universe, they are two completely different concepts." Said Koren in protest.

"I know, I know, its all very confusing right now, but this may be the only way. I'm not sure how we are going to do it, but I trust you Koren, and I believe in your power. One day you will succeed." Said Hope reassuringly.

Just as Koren was about to rebuke Hope again, he heard the chiefs voice, he looked over to see an individual standing in front. Well he wasn't standing as much as stuck, his feet were completely underground. The chief introduced him as Haruki, his pupil, and Koren's sparring partner.

Koren was stunned, he had only ever fought with his grandfather. The sand beast was mostly defeated with the help of the Armor, and he had no idea how to activate said armor. Koren also never really learned to use the earth element, he often saw his grandfather use it, but he himself never even felt earth spiritual energy.

Before he could say no to the Chief, Haruki was already standing in front of him sprouting 'no take backs'.

"Big sis, what do I do" asked Koren as he saw Hope floating over Haruki, who was cracking his knuckles.

"Don't worry Koren, just leave it to me." Said Hope as she made a gesture of confidence.

Koren suddenly felt the same creeping feeling he had felt before when the Armor appeared. However this time, it didn't, instead he found himself getting feeling of exhilaration, he felt strong and robust.

"The Armor has attached itself to your endo-skeleton, the visor should be active now, it will appear directly in your pupils." Said Hope with a large grin.

Koren looked over at Haruki, his stats appeared directly over his head.

Haruki: Level 6, Harmonization: 3, Elemental Power: [Earth], Essence: 0

Koren looked at the Essence column in shock, and looked toward Hope for answers.

Hope had a smile on her face when she looked at Haruki. "It seems there is more to this fellow than meets the eye. But that is not your concern right now, check your own stats." Said Hope.

Koren: Level 3, Harmonization: None, Elemental Power: [Wind(11), Earth(7), Water(3), Fire(3)]

"I'm ready to fight kid, are you?" asked Haruki as he made a fist towards Koren.

"Um, I'm ready" replied Koren immediately.

"Koren, transfer all your points to earth. Even though this is your first time using earth, with such high stats, you will feel the earth around you. Just do your best to counter, and look for an opportunity." Said Hope as she appeared over Koren.

Haruki grinned. He had every intention of winning as quickly as possible, there was no way this shorty was gonna beat him.

Haruki made his move, he raised his arms and the earth around him heeded his will. It turned into an arm, 10 meters high, and lunged at Koren.

Koren was ready, as soon as he felt movement in the earth, he punched towards the ground and the earth erected itself like a pillar, defending him from the attack. Haruki, was surprised by Koren's quick response, but he was ready for it.

He had already started sprinting towards Koren, who was only 12 meters ahead, this distance was nothing to Haruki. He reached the pillar and punched, shattering it instantaneously. Koren was hit with one of the rocks, and fell backward. He felt his hand sink and knew he was immobilized.

"I win, haha haha" Said Haruki as he stood directly above Koren.

"True, but this is only your first spar" Said the chief Ipnak with a smile.

"Old man you better not go back on your word, you said I get the whole day off, if I win" rebuked Haruki, he was flustered, as if someone was trying to steal his food.

"Don't worry, you can take the day off if you want, or you can spar him again, and the whole week off if you win. Of course, if you lose, then you get to work extra hard" Said the chief.

Haruki had already started to day dream, of how he was going to spend the whole week at Sumi's inn, he obviously didn't hear the latter sentence.

Koren got up and dusted himself, he looked over at the day dreaming Haruki.

"Even though his stats are lower than mine, he's strong, a lot stronger than that sand beast" said Koren grudgingly.

"Don't worry Koren, all you need to do, is out think your opponent and you will win. Considering this guy's IQ, that shouldn't be too hard" said Hope reassuringly.

Enri, who was watching the whole exchange with wide open eyes was flabbergasted. She never knew that Koren was so strong. She looked over at Koren who was dusting his clothes, getting ready for round 2 and screamed at the top of her lungs. "Koren!!, you can win this. Beat brother fatty up."