Book 4. Chapter 19: Jake's Path

Book 4. Chapter 19: Jake's Path

Jake put down the fourth book on paths or Daos with a sigh. The choices were limitless, and he had a hard time understanding how anyone could pick something that could embody themselves so well.

He remembered how Fhesiah had explained that her Daos followed the essence of things, rather than the properties of them. Jakes definition of fire through scientific means werent the same as how flames could bring life by keeping a family warm in the winter, or cauterize a wound allowing it to heal. With so many choices for his path, he had a hard time deciding what his Path would be, what the essence of Jake would be?

Fhesiah was in the room with him, quietly reading and re-transcribing the [Yin-Yang Body Tempering] technique. With cultivation techniques or manuals, there is often a spiritual aspect. They were not merely just words written on a page.

She was wanting to make sure she grasped enough of the knowledge contained within to move on and use the array on it, by transcribing it a second time and comparing the results.

While Jake wasnt a cultivator yet, he could see the power of demonic runes even when used within his own technique, and saw how coming up with a cohesive whole was much better than what he had cobbled together. Transitioning into the Wrath state was possible by finding some kind of synchronicity or resonance with it. If he could take advantage of that, it would be much easier for him to switch between states.

On top of that, Wrath, Juggernaut, Aegis, listing these was like making a list of tools, they were so disparate. But tools were effective, they got the job done for the least amount of effort. They were efficient and effective.

But with magic and covenants, a lot could be gained by tieing them all together. If he did become a Cultivator later, combining the technique with his Path, his Dao, would do him a lot of good, he was sure of it. Just how could he do that?

Jake had some examples of how the Gods and their people drew power, which were similar to a path. The Nords did it with rules, strength, and wisdom. The Celts appeared to use the cycle of life and death, aspects of nature, and the seasons themselves. Hestia appeared to gain power through sanctification and sacrifice.

Fhesiah smiled at Jake. Its good for you to spend some time thinking about your Path. Among cultivators, there are many ways to think about this. There are those that incorporate their Path into their being merely for utility. They would focus on how they fight, and because they do it so often, their Path would be reinforced by their struggle.

You mean by using it often, it would eventually become a part of them?

Thats right. For example, you could choose to incorporate the essence of the spear into your Path. But I dont think this in general resonates well with you. You are not much like a spear, even if you and Ophelia like them so much. Still, you could incorporate how a spear is sharp, and can pierce enemies, and how it moves swiftly. You could pierce so many enemies, that eventually, you would be like the spear that is a part of your Path. Your thoughts and actions would become swift and sharp. This would make cultivator Jake more powerful in battle, even if it is not who you are.

Whats the other method?

Instead, you could incorporate the spear into your path in how it resonates with you. How you picked up the spear to protect me and Ophelia. That you picked up the shield to protect yourself, and through using these two in tandem, you would protect others. These things are much closer to who you are, and they could still result in a powerful spear thrust as they align with your conviction in both yourself and your Path.

She continued, Of course, you can also combine the two approaches. Often, nobody takes a completely pure approach, taking the pieces of the Heavens that fit them at that time, like when I experienced Hestias flame. Her Heavenly flames were definitely agreeable and resonated with me. Flames meant to protect, create, and live. It was like her flames contained everything, an endless number of possibilities.

Jake was far from collecting truths for his Path and deciding which ones in particular he would allow becoming a part of him, as he didnt have a Dantian. Still, he certainly thought the second approach fit him much better, although the utilitarian aspect of the first did on some levels as well.

He thought about how he fought, and how he was at his strongest. The fight against the enemy Champion showed his versatility was strong, him able to best the enemy summoner in nearly every aspect.

But Jake wasnt just fighting one champion that day, his family fought four. If he was just focused on a powerful spear thrust or shield, his girls would not have received the buffs that allowed them to edge out their opponents.

If he was focused on a powerful flame or magic spell, maybe they could have won, but there was no question it would have been with significant injury. They were victorious because of their bond and his focus on support, and they were triumphant because they had made each other better.

Jakes Path had always been to support, and what always resonated with him was family. His hearth core pulsed and burned brighter in his chest, as he felt the bonds to his girls. Three hearth bonds to four girls, with a fourth bond to a fifth to come soon.

Fhesiah chuckled from where she floated. I guess I should have expected that. Cultivation is usually a personal journey. While one might walk it with others, your Path is your own. That you would tie it with ours is so like you.

He looked over his hearth in detail, along with his Runebound Technique. Jake wasnt ready to enchant his hearth yet, but he thought he could form a cohesive whole with his Technique for now, and later, he would be able to link it into his Hearth enchantment.

Jake tried to think of each of his girls paths instead, to tie them into his Technique. In an area within his mind, resided a space or aperture for his Runebound technique. Dozens of runes floated within the space, a list of restrictions and enhancements to establish a balance, creating his different covenants. With a thought, he scrubbed it all away.

This time, he imagined a set of hexagonal tiles, laid out in the flower shape of seven hexagons: six on the outside, one on the inside. On the outside of that, a circle, or ring. This was [Unbound]. It connected all the outside hexagons, and it had no restrictions.

Taking the first hexagon aside, he imagined tiling the hexagon in the same way as the original hexagons, smaller and mostly contained within the larger oneonce again, seven hexagons with six in the outside and one on the inside.

Jake then thought of Fhesiah, who smiled at him fondly. His lover was full of passion, in equal parts her desires for him and his family, as she was in her pursuit of the truth. Her wisdom came both from her age, but also her lifelong pursuit of knowledge, her drive to understand everything about her flames, her Path.

While she loved to play hard, she worked hard too. She worked tirelessly to use her alchemy to create something new, using the power of creation, the power of dragons to find a solution for the beastkin. Her desires for the truth and for pleasure and enjoyment were nearly equal. To Jake, Fhesiah embodied that of a [Sage]. She might be an eccentric or horny one, but she was one nonetheless.

He inscribed the demonic rune for Sage in the center of that first hexagon, and it lit up, and his powerful Hearth Bond connected. Next to the demonic rune for sage, Fhesiahs own name was written in the same, making the state represent Fhesiah the Sage.

He placed the demonic runes for the Saint within the next hexagon, adding on Berris name. He wasnt sure how this would be implemented in combat, but he knew when he found resonance with her, she would be his light, and he would be able to perform a miracle.

Jake found himself engulfed in a lovely hug, Berri with a tearful smile on her. Fhesiah is right, it feels really good, your love for us! Thank you so much, for being so patient with me. Were going to go on lots of adventures, beat lots of bad guys, and make lots of babies! I know it!

Jake chuckled as he kissed his beautiful snake girl, and pushed all the feelings he had for her over their bond, receiving her love for him in kind. They enjoyed being close for a time, until Jake looked in Bloods eyes.

Power was always something that Blood sought. It was a means to an end, something Blood would have done anything for in order to protect herself and her sister. She revered it and desired it in equal measure, and joining Jakes family had only changed it slightly.

She now understood that true strength was tempered with duty and responsibility. Protecting and leading others, she could find fulfillment, and she had taken to this heavily on Highlands. Her drive to become stronger and serve Jake, aiding him with leading the beastkin and Hearthtribe exemplified that of a queen.

He filled in his technique with the demonic rune for [Monarch]. Jake added the runes to spell out Blood, their bond blazing as it established their connection. He had planned on making this particular states covenant for debuffs and crowd control allowing Blood to be Jakes darkness, though he wasnt sure exactly how he would accomplish this at the moment.

The beastkin were all thankful for Bloods efforts, and so was Jake. She might have written it off that Berri was busy driving their body anyway, but he valued her efforts just the same. She did an excellent job, holding down the fort until Valtor and his people could take over, and up to now she did well in aiding them.

Jake was overwhelmed at how far shed come, her feelings of devotion, and her service to her lord were already filled with affection besides.

Thanks for everything you do, Blood. We all appreciate you. I am glad to have you as my queen.

Blood was moved, feeling Jakes appreciation and value he had for her. She felt the love and affection Jake had for her, which was blurred with the love he had for Berri as well.

Youre welcome, Milord. I feel so fulfilled, serving you and our people. Seeing the beastkin working hard and talking, even singing of you and what weve all accomplished is a gift of its own.

They once again enjoyed each other for a time, their hearths flickering together to the same beat of their hearts as their bond increased to the third level, their hearts more in sync than ever.

The snake girls hugged and kissed Jake with giggles and gasps of happiness, but eventually, he sent Bloodberri back to her training.

He called for Ophelia, who arrived with a proud smile on her face. Of course, she knew exactly how Jake felt about her. Jakes connection to her was already great, her death by sacrificing herself drawing her even closer to him. She wrapped her body around him, meeting him in a kiss.

Thanks for always looking out for me, Ophelia. Feeling that attack coming for me, it felt like certain death, that there would be no coming back from it even with the Frameworks help. I dont know if I could have done the same for you

She gave Jake a confident smile. I know you could have, but youd better not! Its my job to protect you. I didnt really think, I just moved.

Ophelia was his shield, his protector. She trained, she fought, she bled with courage and bravery to protect Jake and others. She loved heroes, fighting, and love stories, and Jake was her Chosen. Ophelia was always his Guardian.

In Jakes mind, this was Ophelia. He imagined the virtues of a Guardian: vigilance, courage, loyalty, selflessness, compassion, responsibility, and determination, and they all matched this woman perfectly.

Ophelia embodied all of these things, and on a level greater than his other wives and himself. When Jake would take on the covenant of Guardian, he would embody her Path, and so would she. He wrote out the restrictions and enhancements for the both of them, taking on the what would make him a buffing, healing, and protecting caster as he added the demonic rune for Guardian and Ophelia to his aperture in his mind.

She would be restricted to only using her Valkyrie spells, and her offense with her spear would be somewhat weakened. Instead, she would become a bulwark, the vanguard that stood in between their allies and the enemy. She would protect her allies with both her body and the divine flames of Hestia, becoming an opponent that couldnt be ignored.

Ophelia would protect Jake and their allies, becoming the guardian they needed. Jake sent his love he had for her over their bond as they kissed, and once again their hearths flickered and beat together, finding synchronicity.

Their hearth bond increased to level 4, the two being the most in syncthe twos Path the most focused on one another. Jake took their feelings of togetherness, and tried pushing it into his Fusion spell. He felt the spell start taking form, but then it sputtered, and Jake was once again disappointed that he couldnt achieve it. Just what level of synchronicity did they require?

He thought it plausible that they might achieve higher when he took her state in combat, or that he finished their hearth enchantments. There was a lot to gain from their potential body tempering technique as well. While Jake and Ophelia had hit level 4, he knew it would be a very long time before their bond could hit 5, unless the hearth enchantment increased it further.

Jake noticed that his Runebound Technique had finally reached 4 as a result of all his changes. The experience during the final battle and reordering it, had caused his skill to jump up. He still had two slots for him to finish his technique, but he wasnt entirely sure what hed fill them with.

But all thoughts about his new techniques were washed away, as Ophelias lips met his in a scorching kiss. He could feel all the love she had for him, and he returned it in kind as he wrapped his arms around her, and she brought herself more tightly against him.

She gave Jake a warm smile. As always, our bond feels truly special. Why dont we celebrate you becoming stronger once more? I got you all to myself tonight, after all.

Jake was more than ready for that. They would soon assault Natures Crossroads, so it was good to spend some time with his amorous valkyrie.