There is a sound, and I jump from my trance. Back in the real world.

A shadow looms over me, a mass of angry gorilla. I am picked up off the ground and a deep voice rumbles, “Found you, you bastard!”

Kamar grips my cloak and shirt with his large, muscled arms. He lifts me efforestly off the ground and slams me into the brick wall I was resting against.

I cough, pain shooting through my nerves. Gasping for air, I wrap my arms around the aspers forearms. I stare into his eyes, which are a deep black smouldering with anger.

He roars into my face, “Do you think I care about you?! I don't! I would much rather let you die than follow you, but I have to find them!”

I struggle in his grasp, trying to come up with a response.

The asper breathes heavily looking at me, but after a few breaths he sets me down on my feet. Letting go of me, he takes a few steps back. “I care little about you, and you aren't getting rid of me till I find Cereus! Is that clear?”

I nod, knowing that there was not going to be any way to convince him otherwise. It has become clear that I am stuck it with him. I bow my head, saying, “This one is sorry, but I thought it best we go our separate ways. But it has become clear that I may have been… hasty.”

I inject as much conjured regret into my words as possible, knowing that it won't fool the ape.

He glares down at me, a scowl on his face. He bends down and picks up the two books I dropped in his second set of arms. Kamar speaks in a deep rumble while looking at the books, “I am assuming you know of where you want to go?”

I shake my head and grab the books from his hands. I'm going to have to find a better way to lose him next time.

“I never got around to reading them, so maybe we should find someplace to rest for the night.” I say while thinking of finding an inn.

Kamar nods, and I can see he has calmed down. He’s not going to fall for that a second time, is he?

Looking at him, I ask, “Do you know of any cheap inns?”

I could go to the one… Vicar and I stayed at, but I’m pretty sure it would be too expensive. The thought of Vicar gives me pause, but I push down the emotions that try to bubble up.

Kamar thinks for a second, then nods, “You walk in front.” He motions to outside the alley, and for me to go first.

It’s definitely going to be harder.

I walk out of the alley, Kamar behind me.

The flickering light of the fireplace makes it a bit hard to read, but I don’t mind. Flipping a page of Lands & Cultures of Auren, I inspect the map. It is of a small country that shares a border with The Traezar Empire, and the Desert of Rua.

From the information I have read about it, the country is famous for its powerful Sacred Artists. They might be small, but they have lasted through half a century of conflict, having splintered off Traezar in a civil war.

What it was most famous for was its sacred artists. Various schools had formed, all catering to certain katra aspects. Now they might not have as much variety in the arts as Traezar, but they are able to study the katra they do have, and figure out ways to boost the artists’ power.

What interested me most was that there were certain school that would train you if you were able to pass a trial, and had a unique or rare katra aspect. It seemed like a good opportunity, even though I am hesitant to reveal my Gray katra.

I need to understand my katra more, and all its strange intricacies. I have still been mulling over the small plant living on my core. I need to know how it got there.

Did it just spontaneously form from my reaching Truebronze?

Did I somehow make it subconsciously, not even knowing I had done it?

Or was my Gray katra really alive, and the plant is a manifestation of this?

The questions were numerous, and I could only guess as to their answers.

I hadn’t the time to go back and check on the strange plant, Kamar having kept a close eye on me, and my own reading.

Blinking, I realize that I have been reading, but not actually remembering anything due to my thinking. Flipping the page back, I start again from the top of the book. It’s been so long since I have read a book.

A wry grin forces its way onto my lips. How many days has it been since Amai was destroyed? It been, what? 8? 9 months? I know it’s nearly been a whole year, with spring on its way in.

I close the book. My best option is the small country Osmun, with their schools I could gain even more strength. I know how to decently fight, and I know that my katra is something completely unknown.

I look at Kamar, who has put on a pair of round spectacles with a metal frame. It is rather comical to see a gorilla wearing glasses.

He is studying the other book I got, mostly out of boredom while I try and decide where I want to go. He is holding the Fiend Folio with his smaller, more dextrous pair of arms, his larger first set propped up on the table.

“I think I know where we should go,” I show him the page with the map of Osmun, the sound of we tasting funny on my tongue.

Kamar nods, his eyes scanning the page. “Why do you want to go there?”

I look him in the eyes, “I need to get stronger. I’m weak.”

The asper scratches his head, “Aren’t you an Diamond?”

That makes me pause for a second. I could see how he would mistake me for one, with my strange eyes and my close ot Steel strength. With some careful thinking, I shake my head.

“I’m nowhere close to being in the Diamond realm.” I say, making it clear that I won’t answer anything more. I would rather keep knowledge about myself close at hand, and I frankly don’t trust Kamar yet.

I tell him that I am going to go to sleep.He nods and starts reading the Fiend Folio again.

Getting up from the table, I bring the map book with me. The inn we found isn’t all that nice, but it is cheap. We are sharing a room, and I don’t have any idea how he is going to fit himself on the second bed.

Opening our room, I step inside and close the door behind me. Walking my way over to my bed, I take off my boots and leave them next to the foot of the bed.

Laying down on the hay stuffed mattress, I pull the thin blanket over me.

Closing my eyes, I focus my mind’s eye inwards.

Moving to my core, I stare at it from above. It slowly turns, sucking in a meager amount of Vital Arua. The bodies of water dot its surface and the giant crags glow dimly.

I didn’t see it before, but could this be… a world?

Philosophers had theorized that our world was round, or something at least close to that shape. From looking at the stars, and travelling. It was of course, a theory.

Though this might prove that our world is a sphere, or it might just be my core. I suppose there is no way to know.

I project myself down on the surface, where I knew the plant was. My phantom form materializes in front of the plant, and I crouch down to get a better look at it.

Did… it get bigger?

I can’t exactly remember how big the plant was, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t the size of my hand.

Touching one of the leaves with my finger, I gently brush it. I can definitely feel it.

The plant shifts, moving it’s leaves a little.

I command a fist full of water and sprinkle it on the plant, soaking it. The small thing seems to perk up more, and the water is quickly absorbed.

Using my sense of katra, I can tell that it’s roots have started to spread out even more, most reaching towards the water.

I don’t think it’s harmful. It’s made of my katra. It might be something like the power crystals covering my body.

I look up at the dark sky. Plants need light, right?

Shifting my gaze to the giant crag that light streams from. It must be where the plant is getting it’s light.

As I think about the plant, I start having doubts about how it could survive here, and even grow. I have no sun to provide light, and I made the water basins far apart.

Well, for now, it’ll stay here. I need to study it and make sure it’s not harmful.

Looking back at the plant, I am surprised. It seems to have grown again, and as I watch, I can see a bud forming on it’s stem.

The bud grows dark and a second branch extends out of it, a new leaf quickly forming on the end.

It’s growing fast. How?

I look around and it suddenly hits me. Everything is enriched with my Gray katra, which is probably boosting it’s growth.

I decide to leave the plant for now and study it. This was all too strange and new for me, and I didn’t want to make any hasty decisions.

Sitting there, I watch the plant till I drift off to sleep.

***

Cereus twists his bracelet, letting the silver band, and the black gemstone in it, catch the light. He mumbles a word, and the air hums.

The stone flashes rainbow, and then a tear in reality rips itself open in front of him.

He walks through, the tear closing itself.

Cereus looks at the black landscape, the mist on the ground being kicked up by his feet as he walks.

Stopping, he stand before six pods made of black tendrils coming out of the floor, amber light steadily glows from between the cracks.

“Looks like they are fully baked now, good.” He says, waving his hand. The cocoons split open, the tendrils uncoiling with a hiss and falling limp to the ground.

Cereus inspect the people who lay in a fetal position at the bottom of the pods.

He loudly claps his hands once. The 6 people startle awake, looking around confused.

“Hello! I hope you are feeling good.” Cereus reaches with his left hand, and reality seems to fold in on itself, then with a pop, he is holding a basket. Moving from person to person, he leaves them a pair of clothes. “Put these on.”

Once everyone has put their clothes on, Cereus looks at them standing in a line. There is the boy, Venel and his parents standing next to him. Then the woman and finally the two men. They all wear clothes in various shades of black and gray.

A smile coils itself onto Cereus’s lips. “How are you feeling?”

Venel is looking at his body, which is now covered in lean muscle. “I feel amazing! Ma, look!” He flexs, showing off to his mother.

She puts on a strained smile and pats the body on the head. The woman looks at Cereus, “What did you do to us?”

Cereus smiles wider, “I improved you.”

The 6 people look different from when they first were encased in the black tendrils. Now they all had athletic builds, with lean muscle. All of their hair was a dark black, and there eyes are now colored a deep amber.

The swordsman points at them, “You have chosen to accept my power, and so I have changed you. Try to find your core.”

They hesitate, and the man and Venel are the first to close their eyes. A few seconds later, the man’s eyes snaps open. “Where’s my core?!”

Cereus holds out his hands in a calming manner, “Don’t worry, you’re fine. I merely removed the limitations that your world placed on your body in regards to Astral energy.”

“What?” The man looks confused.

Cereus holds up his hand, looking everyone in the eyes. “I have boosted your power, and evenly spread your power. You are no longer under the bonds and limitations of your method of Astral energy control. Close your eyes again and think about it for a second, I have implanted memories that should help you understand.”

They don’t hesitate this time, all closing their eyes. Cereus waits patiently for them to all open their eyes.

The father looks Cereus in the eyes, “Astral energy. It’s like a universal katra? It doesn’t have limitations? That doesn’t make sense!”

The swordsman shakes his head, “Not exactly, in order to use Astral, you have to have a certain, I suppose, “brand” of it. I have merely evenly spread your katra, which is a diluted version of Astral energy, and purified it. Then I imprinted on you my brand of Astral.”

The mother blinks, her eyes are unfocused and Cereus can guess that she is sifting through the knowledge. A look of disgust and horror dawns on her face. “These are… spells? The Clutch of Orcus? Bloodstar? Consumptive Field? These are horrible!”

Cereus nods, looking at the woman. “Yes. I know, they aren’t exactly nice. But you accepted my gift of power, and I have given you it. Now, it is time for you to serve me.”

He holds out his right hand, the bracelet ripping another tear in reality. “If you’ll step through the portal, I will assign you to your tasks.”

Cereus smiles again, and it twists with glee.

The woman looks at him and the portal, she hold her son close to her, rubbing his hair. “You’ll… You will let me stay…?” She seems to be having a hard time talking, probably still trying to comprehend what is going on.

Venel holds his mother’s arm, “It’s okay, ma.”

Cereus nods to the woman, “You can stay with your son and husband. Now, please, step through.”

The man in his 40s is the first to step through.

Cereus funnels them through the rip and shortly follow after them. He mutters, “No time to waste, I’ve got to get everything ready.”

The tear in reality closes itself as he steps through.