Finally, John had returned to the Tenebach clan. Despite the route that John took around the continent, Melanthina had only arrived back slightly before him. There was much business to manage with the Gloom Desolation, and it was better to resolve as much as possible in a single trip rather than journeying back and forth or trying to communicate long distance.
There was a certain amount of formality that had to be observed even if John was Melanthina’s father, but once they got past that stage they were able to talk normally in private. “How did things go?” John asked.
“We made some progress analyzing the state of spiritual energy in the region,” Melanthina explained. “Furthermore, we came to some agreements about how ports might best be protected. A contingent of allied forces at each port was deemed to be a sufficient deterrent. The show of force would be greater at first, and diminish to a more reasonable number over time- depending on whether there is any indication of trouble. They would be responsible for the pay of the cultivators, but they would be considered inactive most of the time. That should be offset by any gains with increased trade, as we worked out what unique resources they had available.”
“Sounds like a complete success to me,” John said.
Nik nodded to her side even as Melanthina replied. “There were a few difficulties, or it would not have taken so long. However, that is usually the case with less familiar groups. They wanted a guarantee of sustained cooperation. Now I must return the question, father. How did you fare on your journey?”
John explained how the journey had gone, focusing first on the disciples. They were the ones to make the greatest strides in their techniques, and a number of them had increased in rank. Of course, the cultivation advancements weren’t the only things that were of note.
“That couple seems like trouble,” Melanthina chuckled when John talked about Fedel and Chi. “Couldn’t they even keep themselves in check for a few days?”
“They are young still,” Nik commented. “Immature.”
John grinned, “I’m not certain that age always makes a difference. From what I have seen, the frequency of intimacy doesn’t decrease with age for most cultivators. At least, not if the relationship is going well. Wouldn’t the two of you agree?”
Neither of them would commit to an answer, but they also weren’t able to deny John’s words. John didn’t think it particularly odd that things would end up that way, since cultivators retained their youth for far longer. While cultivators could excel at controlling their own feelings, they could also indulge in their experiences to a greater degree.
John was certain that he had only a single granddaughter from the pair because cultivators were better able to control their conception.
“What about your own cultivation?” Nik eventually asked.
“There are limitless depths I could explore for any single element, let alone a mix of every element,” John said. “I have no lack of avenues for potential improvement. All I really have to do is choose which things I will practice. Of course, there is still the matter of picking out a light element totem that would fit me.”
“I don’t relish your struggle,” Nik said. “Choosing something compatible with darkness was struggle enough. Also including compatibility with the four core elements seems… difficult.”
“In some ways,” John agreed. “Though my biggest issue is simply spending time contemplating totems. I think a balanced totem shouldn’t be too difficult to secure compared to others.”
He just needed to know the right concepts he was searching for, and of course get comfortable enough with the combination of the sixth layer and light element. Even if he picked out a proper totem if he couldn’t comfortably create a connection upon breaking through, it could lead to disastrous results. John needed to be prepared for how his own energy would respond to the new inclusion. If all went well, it would balance on its own- but he might have to bring it into balance properly and let the mix of totems sustain things.
Otherwise, he could be pulled off kilter and he wouldn’t bet on surviving again. His past experiences were about fifty-fifty in that regard, but he expected the chances of survival were actually much lower and he’d been lucky. Certainly, John didn’t hear of many people who failed a breakthrough and survived- except when they backed down early and didn’t actually push forward. Sometimes such caution was warranted, but it could lead to future timidity. That was why it was best to be certain before making any actual attempts.
-----
John found Ereli in a place she often frequented- the belowground where Ciaritzal now made his lair. Though Ciaritzal was a dangerous spirit beast and the clan in general were restricted in their ability to enter and remain, Ereli was one who had never been in danger. She had a great compatibility with Ciaritzal despite the light element within her, and she was the young mistress of the clan so even if they hadn’t been personally compatible Ciaritzal would have restrained himself.
She turned towards him as he approached. “Greetings, grandfather.” She was sitting on the ground with her back to a lounging Ciaritzal, scratching him behind his shadowy ears. “I had heard of your arrival.”
“And yet you didn’t come see me,” John said. “Nitza always comes running to me, you know.”
“I know,” Ereli nodded. “But I doubt you would wish the same of me.”
“Why not? I love you just as much as her. I like to know you care in return.”
“Yes. But you would know it was false. The enthusiasm. Not my fondness,” Ereli corrected herself. “I just don’t display it the same way.”
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“Hmm. Are you still… concerned about losing balance?”
Ereli shook her head. “A second totem was sufficient to secure my balance. My third totem would make it difficult to unbalance myself, even intentionally.”
“I am glad to hear it,” John said. “May I observe your totems?”
“I don’t mind.”
The first was the same as before, obviously. Totems couldn’t be changed… circumstances like John’s arrival in the world being an exception. A complete cultivation reset, and not an intentional one. Ereli’s first totem was the moon shining in the night sky. A source of light that outshone the stars, even if its light wasn’t its own. The totem had grown showing proper care in Ereli’s efforts, though it was still behind her later ones. Someone like John who improved all his totems to match the next layer was quite rare, and that had required an intentional choice. They had been slightly weaker at first, and it took dedication.
Her second totem John had observed only from afar. It was less profound in some ways. It was a simple scene, bringing to John’s mind resting in the shade of a tree during the middle of the day. With the first two, it was light in darkness then darkness in light.
The third totem was a divergence from the others. Rather than a scene from nature, the third totem was simply a pair of eyes- one open, and one closed. Light and darkness, of course. But there was more to be seen. John looked closer, and subtly felt a glow behind the closed eyelid. In that way, light went into the open eye and came out of the closed one? Except it didn’t, exactly.
That totem certainly wasn’t one that others had formed. Ereli must have come up with the idea on her own. An idea unique to her. John imagined it was more difficult to solidify into a proper totem, but clearly she’d been successful. Her spiritual energy was quite stable.
“Grandfather. Honored Aunt is preparing to ambush you.”
John refocused his senses in time to pick out Crystin’s approach. If he didn’t know who he was looking for, he might not have been so easily successful. He smiled, sensing how she had grown. “I was going to come find you, soon enough.”
“There aren’t so many nosy people here,” Crystin said.
“Is that a problem?”
“I’m not fond of being a public figure.”
John shrugged. “Then you shouldn’t have advanced to the Ascending Soul Phase.”
Crystin sighed. “Even so, I’ve fallen behind.”
“It’s that sort of talk that will get you in trouble with everyone who hasn’t reached the Ascending Soul Phase. Which is everyone we are aware of save a couple dozen individuals.”
“I don’t care about that,” Crystin said. “I just need to be strong enough to protect the clan.”
“You are,” John said.
For the first time since John’s arrival, Ciaritzal spoke. “And you are not alone. Even if we would not find it pleasant to combine our energies directly… I would still fight by your side.” He had removed himself from underneath Ereli’s hand, his indistinct form walking around the two standing cultivators.
“You sure enjoy your mysterious pacing, don’t you?” John teased. “Hello to you as well. You seemed to be in quite a meditative state, so I left you to your thoughts.”
“Ereli is excellent at smoothing out unstable energy flows.”
“Is that a serious problem for you?” John asked. It would be a problem if the Tenebach Clan’s guardian beast were in poor health. More than his martial prowess, the clan relied on his ability to empower their younger cultivators to provide them a smooth start to their cultivation. After he had recovered his full power the older generation had no longer needed to give up some of their own cultivation, but if something was wrong with Ciaritzal…
“Worry not,” Ciaritzal said. “It is merely a small thing. A hindrance to growth. I have never been stronger, nor in better health, at least since old conflicts.”
“Do you ever have opportunities to spar with Cuah’arn?” John asked. For all that the two were ancient enemies of opposite elements, they hadn’t really wanted to be. At least, not at the behest of humans. Maybe they would have enjoyed it for their own sakes.
“I am sure you know Cuah’arn likes to fly all over the place,” Ciaritzal commented. “Every time she lands near the sect, she disrupts the whole balance of the clan.”
It sounded like a complaint to John, but he also felt like it was the sort of complaining people did about their friends. “I wouldn’t have expected much different. Thank you for taking care of the sect.”
“Of course. It is to my benefit as well,” Ciaritzal said. John believed that was true, to some extent, though currently he might be able to grow more quickly on his own. Growth wasn’t the only thing valuable to a cultivator- and that included spirit beasts. Stability and safety to ensure the long term were also important.
Ereli had picked herself up off the floor. “Grandfather. I have heard you were on a training journey. Could you demonstrate what you have learned?”
“Certainly,” John said. “But not here. Especially if you want to see my efforts with light and darkness. Though… perhaps you won’t be impressed by my capabilities in that field.”
“Everyone is different,” Ereli said. “And you are the strongest person I know. You are always unique.”
John noticed she didn’t say the best, though. “And what about you, Crystin? Anything you’d like to see? We could also spar.”
“There is too much of a gap between us.”
“I’ll suppress my rank, of course,” John said.
“It would likely still be too much.”
John thought she could still learn something. But he supposed she already knew that. “Perhaps you should visit the Silver Haze Sect. Arkaitz has quite some talent… but I still believe you could outmatch him.”
“Is he in the Ascending Soul Phase?”
“Not yet,” John admitted. “But he will be soon, I think. Perhaps you could be helpful, there, as a pure element cultivator. And a difference of a couple years is so minimal that he would be a fair match for you to test yourself.”
Crystin nodded. “Thank you. I will look into this opportunity.”
“If you’re worried about causing harm to the sect grounds,” John returned to another topic for a moment. “You’re always welcome at the Six Elements Crossroads. Our arena is becoming ever more suited for Ascending Soul Phase combatants.”
“Impressive,” Crystin said. “Maybe I will take you up on that… eventually.”
