Tempkeit Tenebach was not one of the most talented cultivators in the clan. If he was in a normal family, perhaps he might have been seen differently… but as it was, he did not have a high ranking totem nor did he progress through cultivation especially quickly. John knew he didn’t have as many advantages as himself, and was disappointed to find he was only at the seventh level of the Spiritual Collection Phase. Not disappointed in Tempkeit, necessarily, but more in the world. It made sense to give those who would be more effective more resources, but that merely widened the gap between them. That was sort of the point, though it was intended more to make a particular clan better than others. There could be internal discord, but the Tenebach clan was quite stable.

Even though John restrained himself to use only energy equivalent to the same level, it would never be quite the same. For one thing, he had two totems… and that greatly affected the quality of his spiritual energy. Still, it was as fair as things could get.

It had been some time since John sparred with Tempkeit. He felt bad about that, because the other had worked with him when he was one of the only viable candidates. He had somewhat left him behind. However, while John could see his cultivation progress wasn’t as quick, he’d clearly gained experience.

Tempkeit’s totem was called Shadowed Palms. It lead to an interesting style of fighting unarmed, and he was quite able to block John’s attacks barehanded. But beyond his increase in experience, John sensed something more. He wasn’t able to tell what it was until Tempkeit parried his sword with one palm and struck the other directly into his chest. John staggered back… not particularly injured, but also sensing something. There was a bit of fire in there. Was it the influence of Alina? No, that wasn’t it. He’d felt her energy, and this was quite different. He wasn’t sure it was new, either. He had just grown more sensitive to small amounts of elements. He only paused for a moment before returning to the spar, thinking about it.

“What do you think about fire?” John asked.

“Fire? Well, she’s uh… it’s a fine element,” Tempkeit floundered at the sudden question.

“Is that so?” John smiled. “Were you aware your totem is displaying signs of the fire element now?” It was mere traces, really, but the amount didn’t matter.

“No… how could…” Tempkeit frowned slightly.

“Sometimes environment and people can have that effect. Has anything changed?” John knew some of the answer, but even if things didn’t go the direction he wanted he had a plan.

“Not… really…” Tempkeit was obviously unsure what to say. “I danced with Alina Milanovic at the ball, as you know. Her spiritual energy is much stronger than mine. Perhaps some traces…?”

“I don’t know if just once would make a difference. Have you seen her often?”

“Well I…” Tempkeit blushed slightly, “I sort of wish that were the case. I go to social events with the hope she will be there, but we don’t interact all that much. It’s not like I have a chance to get closer to her.”

That seemed to be all the information he would get. With that, John decided to be helpful as much as he could. “Perhaps it is an innate quality of your totem. Just a small amount. I might suggest looking into the fire element to see if you can take advantage of it. And let me know if anything happens with Alina,” John grinned slyly, “I think she might like you.” He wasn’t sure if encouraging the situation was a good idea. If she really did just like him, it wasn’t a problem… but hopefully if there was some sort of plot happening, he might overhear something. The idea of someone plotting through members of the Tenebach clan made his head hurt, but he understood the chance was very real.

-----

As John cultivated more, his thoughts returned to Earth less frequently. It wasn’t as if he forgot his former life, but he was many months detached from the situation now. He couldn’t change anything in his former life, even if he wanted to. Even so, sometimes the calming nature of cultivation could bring him back. The first time he hired someone all on his own for Brad’s Burgers, the first time he had to fire a worker- which fortunately hadn’t been Kyle- managing inventory and shipments for the location where he had been made manager.

Though cultivation was certainly hard work sometimes, John was able to compare something important. Working hard when you had very little was much harder than when your needs were taken care of. Those who didn’t need to work might choose not to, but having put in an equal amount of effort in both situations he found that his new life was basically easy. Except perhaps that time he almost died, but he wasn’t sure if that was really different from Earth. The only difference is he wasn’t worried about someone dying because they couldn’t afford a medical bill.

He worried about his family. Things had been better, but without him- he really hoped they were without him instead of having him replaced with Fortkran things might be more shaky. However, the one shining light was Kyle. John wondered if he ever got that promotion he was gunning for. He needed it. It was too bad that just having the talent and doing the work wasn’t necessarily enough.

John’s thoughts bounced all over the place as his energy swirled around inside him, flowing through his meridians and being refined by the developing sapling that was the Seed of Darkness. He wanted it to grow up to be a great tree. His cultivation was the thing that gave him value, at least to the world around him. He might earn some value in other ways to those who knew him, but to the world as a whole that was it. While he might not care about the world as a whole, he did care about himself… and doing his best to make something of himself while he had the chance was what he wanted to do for himself.

-----

“In short,” John finished his explanation, “I believe there might be some genuine feelings on Alina’s part. I will keep monitoring the situation, though.”

Both of his parents, Gerben and Caelia, as well as his grandfather Luctus were meeting with him. It wasn’t exactly a formal meeting, but it wasn’t relaxed either. Luctus nodded. “How is your cultivation going?”

“It will be difficult to say if the path I have chosen was correct before I reach Soul Expansion Phase… but my totems are supporting each other and growing in strength. I don’t believe I could nurture the Seed of Darkness beyond the second level without the support of my other totem. It will still likely be a slow process.”

“Very well,” Luctus nodded. “Our initial expectations were to just have you return to a modest standing. You are still not at the top of the youngest generation in the clan, but your progress is commendable. How confident are you in reaching the Soul Expansion Phase? You spoke about it quite confidently.”

He looked over at his parents, who were close to the edge of the Soul Expansion Phase themselves. “I have found confidence to be important. As for actually reaching it, I have no… previous experience at the Foundation Phase. But my cultivation continues to progress smoothly. I have no doubt I will need to go out seeking more treasures and resources, especially as I near advancement, but for the moment staying in the Stone Conglomerate seems to be the most prudent. On that topic… I would like your permission for something I plan to attempt. You see…”

-----

The chances of running into someone particular in a large place like Marble City were low. The likelihood of reaching for the same exact technique scroll in a shop at the same time and grasping it, only to look over at someone who had tried to kill you was nearly nonexistent. But as John looked over at Kasimir Roldan, he reacted calmly, just as any young master of a clan should. “Kasimir Roldan. Who would have thought I’d see your cowardly face again? I can’t believe you’d go outside after violating the terms the Order of the Amber Heart set forward.” John didn’t plan to give Kasimir a moment to respond, “I challenge you to a duel for your attempt on my life!”

Calm, rational young masters didn’t yell at people in the middle of a shop and demand a duel. Unless, of course, they were pretending to be something else. “I have no idea what you mean,” Kasimir turned up his nose as much as he could.

“So you won’t admit to trying to kill me. And of course, you will refuse a duel because you can’t surround me with lackeys.” John brushed past Kasimir as he moved towards the entrance of the shop. “My grandfather once said the Roldan clan had at least some honor, but clearly that’s changed over the generations.”

“Stop right there!” Kasimir called out behind John. They had gathered quite an interested crowd around them. “Of course I shall accept a duel! We can go over to the arena this very moment!”

John hid a smile, hopefully as well as he’d concealed his cultivation. Kasimir had advanced to the Foundation Stage after the Crystal Caverns, which wasn’t surprising at all. However, he’d merely picked up another third tier totem. Theoretically that should have meant that John was further behind, but things weren’t quite like that. For one, Kasimir probably hadn’t been studying a technique specifically to counter him.

“Very well. Let us fight!”