"What did the healer say?" Master Wu asked Master Chiro as he entered the room.

"Let the man sit first." Master Lee admonished. They sat around a long table inside the Sect's council building. Half of the dozen seats were filled by other masters as Chiro sat, and a servant moved forward to pour him a cup of tea. High windows lined the room, letting sunlight and fresh air into where the masters met to discuss Sect business.

Chiro looked out of place in his rough leathers from the forge among the finery of the table and elegant outfits the other masters wore.

"They should both make a full recovery. The potion they drank saved both their lives and their future cultivation. Without it, Master Wren doubts they would have made it back alive. At best, they would have been crippled from their injuries," Chiro announced. "However, it appears the potion was meant for those with a much stronger base and the strain it put on their system has left them drained. He woke them briefly while tending to them, but they will likely sleep for days and then need weeks of rest before resuming normal activities."

"Did you ask where this miracle potion came from while they were awake?" Master Lee asked.

"There was no need. Asha had made a find a few weeks ago," Master Wung, the sect's main potion maker, spoke up. "She had given me one bottle to analyze and determine its full use and value. Between the healers and I, there is a great chance for improving Sect potions and knowledge."

"I'm more interested in the orb young Tram used. That had some serious power by all accounts." Master Wu said.

"He says it is a design of his own devising. I could not question him further on it before the healers pushed me out." Master Fung said. His gray hair hung long down his back as he rested in finery at the table. "I suspect he will have a few offers of direct discipleship from some masters or even an elder when he has recovered. Such talent will need to be nurtured."

"Very well," Master Wu said. "Thoughts on the incident itself?" He asked the room.

"We only have the partial information from those members that rushed the injured boys back. The others stayed to examine the area and collect the remains of the two bears," Master Lee started. "However, it appears they had a solid plan for a strong target. The decision to kill the first bear was probably sound based on what they knew."

"So you feel the scouts are to blame?" Master Wu asked.

"Perhaps, I will wait for the full report," Lee concluded.

"I'm not sure I agree with the decision to fight the juvenile," Chiro interjected. "The group was untested and had two members that weren't dedicated fighters, and that's only if you count the scouts as fighters. It could be said Qin was the only fighter."

"Yet, by all accounts, the two non-fighters were the most effective. Quan actually managed to hold the beast's attention for some time. Only that allowed the others to get any real damage in, and without Tram's device, they would have all died." Master Fung countered.

"Praising their actions during a situation they should never have been in misses the point," Chiro said unhappily.

"Perhaps, but standing before a full-grown spirit bear at his stage is brave and impressive," Wu added.

"Foolish is more accurate," Chiro said.

"Perhaps," Master Wu said, "luckily, they have all survived and will grow from this. We will talk again when we have the full report."

~

"For a god-given cultivation, I am not impressed," Asha said when Quan opened his eyes.

They had been sitting together in silent meditation for several hours as servants burnt incense around them. They were in the center of a small meditation garden she had added beside the sparring ring.

"Do I need to leap more tall buildings in a single bound?" Quan asked as he stood up and stretched. It had been two weeks since the adventure with the bears, and he felt restored at last. "I have recovered quite a bit faster than Tram and from more serious injuries."

"But I get what you mean. I've actually thought about this a few times," Quan said. "I've meditated on that first night trying to recall the exact words Manu said and how he said them. I wasn't in the best state, and I can't recall that as well as most things. But I think I misjudged what he did and said."

"Oh? And what do you think now?" Asha asked.

"He said that as I grew, it would become something amazing. I think these early levels are beneath his notice as a god, he gave me something to survive with, but I have to grow to discover the hidden gem he gave me. The earlier stages just don't matter to him. You saw how effective one pill was from the remnant. Imagine a God pill designed to help their children."

"I'd like to think the basics always matter as a foundation. But, there might be some truth to your reasoning," Asha mused. "What you've told me so far is better than Sect methods but not by leaps and bounds," Asha said.

"Exactly, my guess is that I have simple but effective methods until I've earned whatever gift he's leading me to. That or he's just a crappy God," Quan joked.

"Mistress, Master Chiro has arrived with some equipment he would like you both to see." A middle-aged servant informed them. "And Disciple Qin would like to speak with your student."

"Bring them both here," Asha ordered. "Qin has been seeking you out since he returned, but we turned him away while you healed."

A minute later, they both entered the inner yard. Chiro moved to the sparring area, where he began setting up the equipment he'd brought while Qin approached them.

"Master Asha," Qin bowed formally, "Thank you for allowing me to visit your student. I have been anxious to hear he has recovered."

Asha offered a much shorter bow, nearly a nod. "He grows stronger daily. I have deemed him fit to receive you today."

Quan looked back and forth at them at the overt formality. "It is good to see you're healthy as well."

Qin winced as if he'd been poked and, turning to Quan, said, "I also came to beg your forgiveness. My error in judgment put you in mortal peril. Your injuries shame me with your bravery, while I took the easier role as a senior and was unharmed. You missed our scheduled duel due to your injury, but I will no longer be reissuing my challenge."

Quan decided formality wasn't going to go where he wanted. "Thanks for that, but in regards to the fight, that's crazy. We all agreed to the risk beforehand. And then it was chaos. Everyone did their best during the fight, as I recall. Maybe you should have taken my role as you say, or more likely. I would never have done enough damage to wound its hind legs. Then we'd have all been dead."

Qin nodded. "Perhaps, I have replayed that day many times. I still offer my apology."

With a sigh, Quan said, "I accept your apology, not cause I think you did wrong but because I know you'll never let it go if I don't. You had no way of knowing a mother bear was following a cub that old. It was a bizarre chance."

"Thank you. Zao and Junjie have gotten a fair amount of blame for missing the other bear while scouting." Qin added. "I'm not sure how fair that is, but their great grandfather came out of seclusion and announced he was taking them both on an extended training exercise until they wouldn't shame the family name."

"Oh, that doesn't sound fun at all!" Quan said. "I'm honestly not sure whose side I land on in that debate."'

"I had another reason for seeing you. I would like you to join my team for the Founders Training. I was impressed with how you handled yourself. I don't think many other students would have stood before a spirit bear like that."

"What is the Founder's Training?" Quan asked.

Qin looked at Asha in surprise, who indicated he should continue. "Our founder left a mystical realm to train each generation. It opens every five years and will admit those between the ages of 16 and 20."

"There are many challenges and chances for advancement. Items, pills, even arts or dao insights. It's different every time it appears, so some claim the founder still watches us. But it always has the same themes. A group of four or five is almost always best to begin, but we will be split into individual tests and chances later."

"Every five years? When is the next one?" Quan asked.

"Just over four months."

"You're using the missions to field test allies," Quan said in realization.

"I would not,"

"Oh, don't bother. I love it. Great idea!" Quan said. "I will have to discuss with my masters when we are alone. I am very interested. We will have to discuss teammates."

"Well, then I shall leave you to your discussions." With another bow, he left them.