The four of them exited that class pretty sure they had their first go at professions figured out. For Gui Ai it was calligraphy, which surprised no one. There were no specific cultivation requirements for it in either Qi type or affinity, although being a Spiritualist was the only guaranteed way to be able to make talismans. It turned out Qi calligraphy was a subset of enchanting. For those without access to Ether, the calligraphers would often do the writing and then partner with enchanters for the actual Qi activation part of the work.

Jao Lu, also unsurprisingly, chose beast care. Once again, being a Spiritualist helped but neither Mana nor Aura was a particular help or hindrance. Having Wood Affinity was a huge boost but not required either. It was always good to match affinities with the beasts one was taming according to the elder who spoke to the group, although the connection Wood Affinity had with nature could sometimes offset some of that lack.

Jao Li found some surprising interest in cartography, an area Yu was especially weak at. Air and Darkness cultivators were often used as scouts or explorers and thus cartography was an important profession for humanity’s understanding of the wilderness, but also battlefield awareness.

And Yu was absolutely hooked on enchanting. The single most important requirement was to be a Spiritualist. Yu caused something of a stir when the visiting elder, Elder Pei, asked the class who could wield Ether and Yu held up her hand along with only two others. She had rolled her eyes at the commotion. Yes, Yu could use all three types of Qi. Get over it. Hopefully she would be old news soon.

Elder Pei asked each of them if they were interested, the others said no but Yu nodded vigorously and said she was very interested. All the other Elders on the stage either slumped, shifted, scowled, or otherwise expressed their displeasure. As excited as she was, Yu would learn in that introduction class like the other disciples until she was approved as an enchanter apprentice.

Not five minutes after leaving the class, Yu’s badge flashed red, alerting her to a message from an instructor or staff. She learned that it flashed blue for a fellow disciple and green for someone outside the sect. The only people Yu added as notifications were the girls, her brother, Prince Zihao and Neng Po. All her other messages would have to wait. Jao Li said she’d help filter them, but Yu wasn’t sure that was such a good idea. They’d have to see.

Yu tapped her badge and saw the message was from Elder Pei. Yu blinked. That was awfully fast. Yu tapped again saying it was ok for her to send a disciple to act as a messenger and deliver it directly for her. That was one way to earn points too. Acting as a messenger within the sect was a risk-free method of earning just a few points. If a disciple needed only a few points, it was often used as something that just barely put someone over the edge of whatever they needed it for.

Yu and the girls headed to the dining area and Yu told the girls she would treat them to a meal of Qi-infused meat. They flatly declined reminding her she had worked and fought hard for those points and they were hers. Yu mumbled, “Only one fight was actually hard.”

They laughed at her and told her to buy herself good food because she would need it. Yu sighed and while they went into the free food line, she joined the much shorter line for specialized food. A list of foods was there and she found one that seemed appealing. When it was her turn, she asked the young lady behind the counter, “Could I please have the moderate infusion mixed fish and vegetable meal?” Fish was a rare delicacy at home so she figured it was worth a try to see if she liked the local fare. It was an expensive 15 points but Yu felt it might be worth it. It was nowhere near the most expensive which was 50 points, but it would still provide her with a decent amount of Qi. And if that was too much, she’d bring the leftovers for Bai, who was probably bored out of his mind in her room. Yu was told to tap her badge to a jade plate the girl held out and to find a seat for the food to be delivered when it was ready.

She had nearly two hours before her first Fire Affinity lesson but missed Bai. Once he got big enough he could go into the beast area for care and training, but he needed to be at a certain age and independence level which was weeks away. Yu was told by Grandma Huan that he’d grow quickly to catch up to her, thankfully. Once he reaching grade 2, Bai could start using some of the resources she gave him.

The girls arrived just moments before Yu’s food was brought by another disciple in brown robes and she thanked him. As soon as she picked up her chopsticks to eat, the messenger arrived with a folded piece of parchment. She put it in her ring and decided to eat first.

The girls were beside themselves with curiosity and demanded she open it right that very second. She sighed dramatically and took it out and opened it. It flashed without burning up, showing the right person had opened it.

Disciple Fenghuang Yu,

Congratulations, you have been accepted into the enchanting profession classes. Your schedule has been updated and you will no longer attend the prior profession class but the new ones, both located in the Enchanter’s Hall in the central city. You do not need to bring anything but please read the first chapter of the books listed at the end of this note before your next class on Day 1. The hands-on Day 5 class will not start until a future week so you are to consider that study time which I hope you spend on the materials listed below. The more research you do in advance, the better prepared you will be.

We are all very excited to have you join the Enchanter’s Hall and look forward to your many contributions to the hall and sect.

Elder Pei

Yu held the paper out which Jao Li grabbed so quickly Yu almost didn’t see her move. Yu ate while the girls read it over, thinking of when she could make the trip to the Enchanter’s Hall for her books. Li said, “That was fast.” Yu nodded with a mouth full of fish. The food was not only delicious, but it left that same pleasant burn she remembered from the special soup and tea at home, but to a greater degree. They returned the note and she stored it, happily returning to eating and luxuriating in the feeling of the strengthening meat. Yu had to make sure she ate like that as often as possible, despite the cost.

Yu’s badge flashed again, but blue and she tapped it. It was her brother and the message was waiting at the message center. She said lightly while specifically not looking at Jao Li, “That was from my brother. His response is waiting.” Then like she said nothing, Yu asked Jao Lu between bites, “What did you think of classes today?”

Li was practically vibrating with indignation but Lu spoke as if she wasn’t aware of it at all. “Oh, I enjoyed them. I especially thought the discussion on beast care was interesting. What did you think, Ai?”

The girl was blushing and looking down as usual but Yu saw a smile on her face. “I liked the calligraphy introduction.” That is the only topic that can get the poor shy thing to speak more than two words at a time. Yu nodded sagely and said, “Yes. That calligraphy stuff sounds quite fascinating. Of course, I happened to find the enchanting interesting. I’m looking forward to learning what all the different types of enchanting are.” Then she took another slow bite and made a show of enjoying it. After swallowing and taking a laborious drink, she looked at the bright red girl across from her and asked, “Li, what did you think of classes?”

The poor thing finally exhaled a huge breath and glared at Yu. “I liked classes fine. Now when are you going to get the message?”

Yu looked pensive and said, “I don’t know. I’m very busy after all. I have to go back to the suite to feed and spend some time with Bai. Then I have to head to classes. After all those Fire classes I’ll probably be starving again and need to eat. Then spend some more time with Bai.” Li was turning redder and redder with each word. Lu was just about to burst with laughter and Ai was grinning hugely under her hair and down-turned head.

Finally Li couldn’t keep it in anymore and words exploded out from her. “You can’t do this to me, Yu! You have to introduce me to him. Do you know how hard it is to find a nice boy in a sect like this? You had better not say anyth. . .”