Within a dank, dark alley sat a figure cloaked in dark rags. Surrounded by the refuse and the filth of the city the being seemed unbothered by it all. A broad sword sat in a large black sheathe cradled by this unmoving figure. The hilt of the large blade was that of a wolf with promiscuous eyes while the handle was filled with jewels.

“I told you it was here!” one man exclaimed. Jumping up and down as he spoke to the group behind him.

“Shut up you fool, or you’ll wake him.” One of the seven other men hissed as they approached the figure in rags gripping the sword.

“He’s been like that for an entire day. The man is dead, and that beautiful sword is free for the taking.” The first man spoke again in an attempt to spur them on. “Will this be enough to clear my debt with One-Eared Irvin?”

“Yeah this should do.” A large man in the middle of the group attempted to pull the sword out of the still figure’s grip. His hand wrapped around the blade's hilt, but it wouldn’t budge. Even the lifeless figure seemed to be an unmovable object.

“What a pity,” A voice echoed from all around them. Dark and husky as a moonlit night. “You have the physique, but not the hatred or malice of this one.”

The large man tried releasing the sword's handle, but his grip wouldn’t let go.

“I guess you’ll just have to make do as FOOD!” the voice was eerie, and with each word it echoed the filth and grime in the alley was whipped around in the alley way.

“What is happening!” one of the thugs cried out.

“I want my mommy!” screamed another.

In the end it was all for not, as the bodies of the men began to shrivel and shrink until they were nothing but clothes discarded on the already cluttered alley way. The still figure rose. The rags now formed around a body of muscle. With one hand the figure in rags placed the broad sword on its shoulder. Where his left hand should be, the dark rags it wore was just flapping in the breeze.

“Was that enough?” a meek voice asked. It was the scrawny man that led the group there. He was crouched behind a trash can in fear.

“Almost,” the cloaked figure answered with that voice that seemed to echo from everywhere. “Lead me to this One-Eared person they mentioned.” The voice spoke from within the alley, and with a multitude of nods, the scrawny man obeyed, as the figure wrapped in black rags missing an arm followed.

Even though the figure beneath the rags didn’t speak, one thought permeated its mind. ‘Sha’Carri, I will make you pay!’

/////

Maddox found himself in a forest he was all too familiar with. Six months had passed since the incident that brought him and his Chidi beasts, Buffy and Sweetpea together and now he was in a large clearing in the forest with about twenty other students, all from his homeroom class.

“All right pupils gather around,” Instructor Von’Pebble spoke with a boisterous tone so that everyone could hear him.

“You heard the man you little bed wetters!” Sha’Carri had used some of her immortal Chidi to enhance her voice. Making her even louder than Von’Pebble. Every student had to cover their ears and when she released her intent it wasn’t on a level that only the instructors could feel. It wasn’t malicious or violent. It was simply overbearing. The pressure it placed on all the students was enough to cause them to stand at attention in front of both instructors. To all the students it appeared as though Sha’Carri had used her intent to reign in the rowdy students, but her intent also caused the lurking predators of the forest to think twice before coming any further. Drawn by the loud noises and the thought of plump prey.

Intent was something any cultivator would eventually create as they ascended realms, and one's intent was unique to them. Like a fingerprint. Learning how to control it was a necessity as the force of a cultivator's intent could affect those on a lower realm than them. Chidi Intent was what trainers referred to it as, since Chidi was the source of everything that a Chidi trainer did. But at the Supreme realm, the Chidi trainer's equivalent to the Immortal realm, one's intent became something else entirely. It could impact the world around them, taking a physical form of the Immortal wanted. While the other students felt stifled by her intent Maddox was able to bare through it. Over the many months of her personally training him she had exposed him to it countless times.

"Thank you Senior Instructor," Von'Pebble attempted to show Sha'Carri proper respect but she waved it off.

"We've known each other for too long for that."

With a smile he relented and returned to addressing the students. "Congratulations to everyone strengthening their bodies and now being in the Forged Breath realm." The first year students all smiled as both instructors and the group of Senior Pupils accompanied by them all clapped. "Now who can tell me about the Forged Breath realm?"

Emma's hand shot up; her hand was the only one that shot up. The other students didn't seem to care, but in their classroom she had become well known as a know it all. Maddox, who stood next to her could only sigh at his friend, and he used that word with a heavy dose of reluctance. Emma's status as a know-it-all though tolerated also made her very unpopular, and all those months ago when she hounded Maddox about his breakneck advancement to the Ignition realm had led to their current friendship. Annoyances of a feather really do flock together.

"No one else wants to answer?" Von'Pebble had also grown accustomed to this class's antics. "Go ahead."

"Forged Breath realm means we all can use our senses to sense the Spirit energy around us. We now need to gather that spiritual energy so we can proceed to the Ignition realm." Emma said it in one breath, and the relief on her face was as if a load was lifted off her shoulders.

“It's like it causes you physical pain not answering a question you know the answer too,” Maddox said to her. This compulsion to always be right seemed so weird to him.

“Correct as always pupil Von’Kiernan,” instructor Von’Pebble acknowledged. “But humans can’t just gather spirit energy into themselves. And that is why we have three forms of cultivation in this world.”

“But Instructor Von’Pebble I thought we had like a million different cultivation methods to choose from?” a chubbier student asked after raising his hand.

“Methods and Scriptures are what we call the specific way you choose to embark on your journey as a trainer. I follow the ‘Iron Fist’ Method while Instructor Sha’Carri uses the teachings of the ‘Pouncing Tiger Scripture'. These determine what Chidi Arts you learn and develop as you ascend the realms, but there are only three ways for a mortal to begin gathering spirit energy.”

Von’Pebble waited a moment before continuing. “Chidi means ‘God Exists’ and it's the cultivator working as one with a spirit beast, to refine the spirit energy around them into Chidi.” None of the kids interrupted him, but they all knew what Chidi was.

“Now the two other ways,” he raised two fingers up in the air. “The first is the second most common way to cultivate. It is referred to as Chimmadu, which means ‘Man-made God’ The cultivator incorporates the spirit cores of spirit beasts into their own body to allow them to gather spirit energy into themselves, but the energy gathered in this way is called Qi.” Von’Pebble had all the junior student’s attention at this point. “The last is the Chianya which roughly translates to ‘Away from God’s Sight.’ These cultivators use artifacts, weapons created with spirit cores. The spirit beast’s essence still lingers in those weapons and the cultivator’s life is bound to that of the weapon.”

“What's the difference between these artifacts and Chidi Apparatus?” the chubby kid interrupted once more, but with so many of the other students nodding at his question Von’Pebble couldn’t scold him.

“The cultivator doesn’t gather spirit energy themselves and it is all done through these items. When you all finally start using a Chidi Apparatus you’ll see that it’s just a tool to make releasing the Chidi inside your Spiritual Way easier.” The young pupils nodded with his answer.

“Can we get on with it please, Von’Pebble,” Sha’Carri tried not to seem annoyed, but wasn’t doing a good job of it.

Von’Pebble coughed in his closed fist. “That brings us to what we’re doing out in the forest today. You will break up in groups accompanied by a Senior pupil and will each capture a Spirit beast today.”

Given the students excitement he allowed them to be a little boisterous.

When it came time to split into groups, of course Maddox was with Emma. The rest of their homeroom avoided them as if they were diseased. He honestly didn't expect anything different. Part of him had started to wonder how much of their isolation was more Emma's doing though.

"What, just the two of you, really?" Senior pupil Von'Hare snuck up behind them. They both jumped up in fright.

"You can't just sneak up on people like that!" Emma chided her, but Von'Hare just laughed even harder.

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

"Senior Pupils were asked to accompany some first years. Seeing as how I'm trying to save up for some alchemy ingredients I figured why not. Seeing you here is just a nice surprise." She winked at him playfully . Even though he knew she was messing with him he couldn't help but blush.

'Stupid hormones. Wait I'm ten!' he remembered. 'Yeah let's just blame it on hormones.'

Emma stood in between Maddox and Von'Hare. "Aren't you too old to be flirting with a ten year old? You're like twenty years old"

Her usual carefree attitude went out the window when Emma mentioned her age. "Well of course I'm 20, I'm in my 6th year after all." Von'Hare flicked Emma on the nose. "Besides, Maddy doesn't mind, do you." Von'Hare smiled at him again and Maddox could only nod his head rigorously.

"God, boys are so stupid, and what's with that nickname?" Emma criticized.

"I've always called him that." She answered in such a matter of fact manner that Maddox had to think for a moment if she had ever called him that before.

'We've only met the one time like six months ago right,' he thought but before he could dwell on it further Von'Hare was already tugging on him and Emma's arms.

"Daylight is burning. Let's get you two capturing spirit beasts."

"Hey, I don't know your name?" Von'Hare asked. They had been walking for some time now looking for any spirit beasts that lived in the forest.

"I'm Emma Von'Kiernan."

"I'm Rebecca Von'Hare. Any friend of Maddy's is a friend of mine. Nice to meet you."

Emma was a little taken aback by her sudden change, but shook her hand anyway. Even Maddox gave an approving smile.

"I know Maddy has his own Chidi beads," Von'Hare petted Buffy before continuing. "Do you have any Emma?"

Emma shook her head, with a tinge of disappointment. Then to her surprise Rebecca pulled out a bracelet of Chidi beads and handed them to Emma. "Can I really have this?"Emma

"Yep. The instructors have them to hand out to every first year that needs one." The elation on Emma's face made the mood even brighter.

"But how am I supposed to capture a spirit beast when I don't even have one of my own?"

"Simple. I'll battle it and you capture it." Rebecca answered . "As long as it's a weaker spirit beast there won't be any problems with you commanding it."

"Rebecca, can I battle the Spirit beast so Emma can capture it?" Maddox had a bashful look on his face as he scratched his cheek. The innocent sight of this almost broke Rebecca as she fainted seconds after having a nose bleed.

"Yep, I knew you were a pervert." Emma said.

"I'm okay, I'm okay," Rebecca shooed them away from her. "Yes Maddy you can battle the Spirit beast so Emma can capture it."

"Thanks, Re-Rebecca." He felt odd saying her first name, but it was nice to finally know what it was.

'How can I say no to you when you look at me with those puppy eyes of yours.'

Emma just shook her head in disappointment. "Rebecca, you are ridiculous!"

"Youth is Justice!" Was Rebecca's retort, leaving both Maddox and Emma to stare at her with concern.

Suddenly there was a noise coming from the bushes near them. Out came a tiny turtle with bubbles coming out the shell on its back.

"Oh shit, is this a wild poke--I mean spirit beast encounter?" The excitement in his voice added to the situation the trio found themselves in.

Rebecca pulled out a '4 by 8' framed piece of rectangular glass, from her spatial pouch at the side of her waist. She pointed the glass towards the little turtle as if it was framed in the center of the piece of glass. "Got it!" She exclaimed, as words begin to fill the frame. "Its a Bubble Turtle and is uncommon for the forest. We must be near a river for it to have appeared like this."

"If that was a Chidi-dex I'm gonna lose my shit!" Maddox shouted while bouncing with excitement.

"Maddy language, language!" Rebecca wagged her finger at him. "And, how did you know it was a Chidi-dex, did Instructor Sha'Carri already show you one?"

Then with a wiry smile Maddox answered. "Just a lucky guess I suppose."

"Stop chatting and get me that spirit beast! " Emma shouted to get them back on track.

"Right. Buffy let's go." Maddox patted his free squirrel on the head. She scampered down his chest to confront the turtle with bubbles coming out of its back.

When Buffy got in front of the turtle it's docile demeanor changed. The bubbles on its back came out quicker than before, and without a notice a large bubble shot out and floated towards Buffy.

“Buffy do not let that touch you!” Maddox exclaimed. With some quick footwork Buffy was out of the way of the bubble that approached her.

‘Since it's obviously a water type, any grass type should hold an advantage over it.’ Maddox thought while stroking his chin. “Buffy, hit it with one of your acorns.” He instructed.

Out of nowhere an apple size acorn appeared in the palm of her hand. Buffy tossed it at the turtle, and it bounced off its head, dazing it. ‘What, but that was just one attack!’ Maddox was shocked at the thought.

“Now Emma,” Rebecca broke him out of his thought. “Use the Tornado Cage incantation!” With Rebecca’s urgency Emma held the beads in her palm as she quickly made a series of hand signs.

“Tornado Cage!” With that shout a gust of wind blew past her and soon a tornado surrounded the dazed turtle. The Tornado began to shrink as the turtle was pulled closer towards them.

“Focus Emma.” Rebecca whispered with her hands on Emma’s shoulders. “Are you telling me your willpower is weaker than that of a tiny turtle?”

With those words egging her on Emma gave a shout as the now small tornado was sucked into the Chidi bead resting against her palm. “That was a lot harder than the scrolls and jade slips make them out to be.”

“”You Did It!”” her companions yelled in unison.