Chapter 54: Wondering in the Wilderness

Chapter 54: Wondering in the Wilderness

Sakura

The next two days largely involved me working with the healers, them testing my various abilities to ensure nothing had been damaged too severely, and working with my spirit companions as they finished healing.

Youre healthier than an ox, save your ankle, the senior physician said as he examined my ankle through a type of glass he held to his eye. The glass was inscribed with different formations, most of which I hadnt yet learned how to read. What I could make out, seemed to be inscriptions and formations surrounding revealing, increased sight, and truth telling.

It already feels much better than it did yesterday, I explained as I rotated the joint slowly. There wasnt any sharp pain, but a dull ache still ran through it.

Yes, the joint itself is almost fully healed. But I'm more concerned about the meridian here. You havent yet mapped something to it, is that correct? I nodded. Ah, well, it appears the large amount of fire mana that your opponent used in her strike has overwhelmed the meridian directly at the joint. Youre going to need to focus on cleansing it of the fire mana. Conversely you could put that mana to other uses. Such as mapping a fire based spell to the meridian. If you were so inclined.

Thank you for your wisdom. I will take it into consideration.

The old man stood to his full height, brushed his fingers through his long gray beard, nodded once to indicate everything else was fine, and then left with a curt but not unfriendly goodbye.

I understood of course. The man had other patients to tend to after all, there was no way he could spend time on me when it wasnt warranted. No matter whose daughter I was.

It wasnt long after that I was approached by two young healers. A young man and woman duo who I was pretty sure were the ones who had captured Sky God, and rescued King from my soul vault.

Youre Sky Snake is a remarkable specimen, The woman said. She was short, petite, with black hair as dark as a moonless and starless sky. Her eyes were piercingly critical as she spoke. However, your Gamera is sorely lacking.

Uh, well hello to both of you. The woman looked chagrined for a moment then bowed respectfully. I was clearly higher station then either of them. To approach anyone with such briskness was rude. To approach someone of a higher social rank like that was considered as near a crime as one could make on the social level. That is, if the person supposedly offended did not have the good graces to accept an apology when it was offered.

I apologize Lady Sakura. The woman said, her face burned slightly red as she tried to stare at the ceiling or floor, anything but meeting my eyes.

Forgive my companion, Lady Sakura. The young man said as he stepped in with a clipboard. She is still cultivating her bedside manor as a healer.

I see, I had to fight a smirk. Who am I to begrudge someone who is still new to an aspect of their path of the Dao. I waved it away. Now what was this about King? Is he alright? I met the woman's eyes, and the steel and fire that I had seen there a moment before returned.N0v3lRealm was the platform where this chapter was initially revealed on N0v3l.B1n.

Yes young mis. He is healthy, as far as things go. He has healed almost all of the damage from the fight, thanks to regular mana and chie infusions and pills. However, are you aware he has not yet learned even a single bound spell? For a creature his age, his size, and with his clear control over two aspects of mana, that is highly unusual.

Really? I . . . didnt know that.

It is true, the man said, his voice was a bit less critical however. It is unusual. However, not unheard of. Let me ask you young mis, have you yet bound a spell to a meridian? Or perhaps learned a technique? I know some warriors skip spells all together, and learn more advanced forms directly from their bloodlines or family training manuals.

I shook my head slowly as I considered his words. No, not yet. My meridians have been stubborn. Something to do with my age, or so I have been told.

The steel in the woman's eyes melted a bit, the tension in her expression eased. I see. And in that case, you have raised him from the egg? I nodded. That . . . that would make this much more understandable.

How so?

King Gamera, like your companion, are protective. It's a natural instinct they have in the wild, to guard and protect their large families from magically nullifying predators. They are typically the most physically imposing of their kind, though they also typically lack some of the magical versatility or uniqueness that others in their families tend to have. King might be an anomaly in that area, having two aspects that he has been drawn to, Wood and Fire, destruction and regrowth in the traditional forms. However, his instincts are still going to be the same as they would be in the wild.

They stared at me expecting me to understand what they were trying to say. I just blinked in confusion. I dont understand. How would that affect him knowing how to map a spell?

I think, the man picked up the explanation. That protective instinct has expressed itself in a kind of, self imposed limitation. He wants to protect your feelings on the matter. So, he wont, cant really, learn to map a spell to his own meridians until you learn to do it first. Its clearly something important to you.

But . . . I felt a pit in my stomach open up. And annoyed anger filled it. Youre telling me that dumb turtle refused to learn to map a spell, because it was important for me to learn how, when him learning to do so, would have allowed me to learn?!

The two healers looked towards each other and gave helpless shrugs. Were not sure, young mis. The woman said. But it is likely he himself doesnt even know hes doing it. Such mental blocks are not uncommon. King Gamera are prideful creatures. If he cares for you, then he also cares for your pride. You can not fault a spirit beast for their instincts.

That . . . that does sound like something he would do. I sighed and leaned back into my bed. What about Sky God?

The two looked even more confused and gave each other concerned looks. Who?

The Sky Snake. Thats his name. Sky God. They both raised their eyebrows at that explanation. Dont blame me. I didnt name this one.

Alright well, hes doing just fine. In fact, hes eager to get out and, as my Parrot translated, 'Bite everyone who trapped him in there, bite them good and dead. I think he might have an anger problem.

Bite, bite good and dead . . . Sky God's voice filled my mind in a kind of sleepy dreamy cadence.

But hes alright elsewise?

Never kill something you do not need to eat. A rabbit might be annoying, but to kill it without eating it is a waste. And waste is the worst crime.

While he was giving me a lecture on animalistic ethics, I learned three different potencies of toxins I could use. One for melting my prey from the inside out that Sky said was only for fighting other predators, or Sky Gods if they grew too bold. The second would quickly put a prey animal into its final sleep where its breathing would slow until it finally stopped, along with the beating of the creature's heart. This would preserve the meat for eating, he said.

And the last was the stunning venum. For putting weak Sky Gods in their place, and geting rid of annoying prey animals that were too dumb to be scared of you.

After I manifested all three onto the ground successfully, where the greedy stone and soil ate them, Sky pronounced me ready for my first hunt.

Perhaps we can find good hunting lower on this walking peak. Lower means weaker, weaker means good for first hunts, he dutifully explained as I picked him up and he wrapped himself around my arm and shoulders. His tongue flickered happily out towards whatever I was looking at. Then again, it could be different here. And we are far, and growing farther from my hunting grounds.

He sounded sullen for a moment, and then it clicked.

What are you talking about? You make it sound like were walking away from the sect . . . wait.

I ran to the edge of the courtyard and looked over the wall. I was in the sect hall alright. The building was filled to the brim with people, spirit beasts, and spirits that clung to it like drowning men to a piece of driftwood.

And far to the north of us, was the peak. I guess I'll never get to test myself against a Silver Lord, I thought bitterly.

Silver lords came with us. Many are here. They are Greatest of the Star Gods there, and are only second greatest here on this walking peak.

How long have I been in recovery? I asked the snake.

Long time. Many sleeping hours. I . . . can not tell time like you walking humans do. Maybe ask the other humans.

I did just that. I went back into the healing hall. How long have I been in recovery?

Youve been awake for two days now. The male answered.

Okay but how long was I out before that?

Has . . . has no one told you? Youve been out nearly a week. The girl gave me a sympathetic look. It is not so uncommon for someone with as much damage as you had. Four silvers, taking on a single Peak Steel? You are lucky to be alive.

A chill ran down my spine.

Damn it.

What's the problem? The senior surgeon rounded a corner, pulling back a curtain to reveal his head and a concerned expression on it. Is everything alright, Septa, Steven?

Just some temporal shock doctor. The young man, who apparently was named Steven, explained. She just realized she was unconscious for a week.

Ah, do not be alarmed young woman. You should be right as . . . what? Do I have blood on my face again? Oh bother. The elderly man began wiping away at a clean face.

My mind was reeling. I wasnt a Silver. Yet. We were already heading south to the rendevu with my family, and the rest of the Duchy who had agreed to go with us on our journey, wandering in the wilderness of the western lands, looking for a new home.

How long would it take me to get back to the peak?

Why ever would you do that child?

I . . . I wanted to test myself against a Silver Star Lord. My shoulders sagged. After I reached Silver.

His expression brightened. Ah, well youre in luck then my dear. Youre nearly fully healed, so I can allow you to leave if you desire it. Just watch that ankle, and be sure to cleanse it of foreign mana before pushing too much energy through its meridian. Youve already taken a pill that has sapped most of its resistance, but there is still some remaining there. I am sure that Sect Leader Wu Zin would allow you to test yourself, once you have finished ascending.

Wait, really?

Yes. Most of this last week he and the other tutors and sect leaders have worked diligently to ensure the sect school continues to run despite the . . . um. Well, the political reality we now see ourselves in. That happens to include several silver lords who agreed to come with us on the journey to new lands, and at least two Gold . . . Oh, hello there snake friend.

Sky flicked his tongue out and tasted the old man's beard.

He will not be good hunting. Too old.

Age implies strength among cultivators, but I think youre right. Still not a good sparring partner. Thank you Master Healer. Please, excuse me. I have an ascension to undergo.

Of course, child! I started running out of the healing hall and out towards where I knew the closest cultivation chambers were. May the Gods grant you success!