Chapter 30

Impending

My arms spread free, the refreshing wind blowing in my face as my hair flows freely behind me. Never before have I felt so liberated.

Like a fairy tiptoeing on water, I hopped my way through the seemingly floating rocks. Douzhen knew I’m afraid of heights, otherwise he wouldn’t have made me do this. What he doesn’t know is that teacher has been taking me up here from time to time in order to train my vimic capabilities. Because of her, I’ve become agile and focused enough to not falter at the height.

Hmm? What is this blasphemy I call “vimic”, you ask?

Let’s say that magic is the art of using mana to manipulate nature. That’s completely wrong, by the way, but for the sake of simplicity, let’s just say that magic is done by using mana to fiddle with the elements.

Vimic is similar in that it also uses mana, but instead of using it to affect the things around us, vimic alters our own bodies.

In orthodox science, mana is known to be a preeminent element with the property to affect and be affected by all other elements. It is believed that part of the brain can reach out to the mana, allowing us to control them at an extent. This is what we call “magic.” Meanwhile, “vimic” touches a different aspect of mana.

In nature, mana exists as part of our life cycle. In places with high mana concentrations, for example, you’d find plants and even critters that take in mana as part of their breathing and energy cycle. The monastery teaches that homids too, to some extent, are capable of assimilating mana into their systems, making it part of our “inner energy”, or vi, as the monks called it.

Through strict discipline and training, we can then use this vi to enhance ourselves in various way, such us making our skins like iron as well as making our punches have the force of bullets. (Teacher theorized it as the optimization and displacement of metabolism energy, which is made surplus by actively assimilating mana.)

Yep, that’s right. My punches make holes in brick walls now.

...No? Fair enough. I can’t see myself doing that kind of stuff either. I mean, look at me. Do I look like someone who has an abundance of this “inner energy”?

During the one month I’m inscribed, the best I could do with my vi is to jump maybe a little higher than normal, and that I could only achieve after weeks full of blood, sweat and tears. And yet, teacher put me in Jade class, which is where they put the best students in Acquisition to receive the harshest, most hardcore training under the guidance of Douzhen, or better known as Mentor Heartbreak.

It’s said that he likes to break your heart— your literal heart, by working you past your heart’s capacity... and I should know. –cries-

Well, teacher said my Perception is good, at least. Not like it’s gonna help with my daily heartbreak.

Anyway, being the responsible teacher she is, Inzhi taught me a little trick she used to do back in her acquisition days. Instead of using my “inner energy” whatsoever, I use what she liked to call “dissimilated mana”, which is basically the mana we’ve absorbed but isn’t fully assimilated into vi yet. This dissimilated mana have already become part of our systems, but retains its amorphous property and thus can be controlled with magic. I can then pull it out from deep inside, and it would drag along a tiny bit of vi as well. Nifty, eh? Basically, what I’m doing is half magic and half vimic.

Thanks to that, I’ve somehow managed to pull through the last month, albeit at the bottom of the class.

Anyhow, back to what I was doing...

I can see the Tenrin peak now. My classmates are there, but it seems that the trial hasn’t started yet.

As I approach it fast, I see one of the students noticing me coming. I wave my hand at him and expect him to wave back.

...Wait a minute. That's not just any student. That's Zethran. Uh-oh...

As soon as he sees me, he rushes in towards the formation that connects the peak with the string of rocks that I’m hopping on.

Don’t do it, Zeth!

They’re all too faraway to hear me. I can only watch in horror as I see his fist fly into the rocks. There’s a thundering sound that echoes as the rocks are blasted into pieces. With one of its support gone, the stone-web starts crumbling.

Have you ever had a dream, where you’re on a really tall building and then the building starts swaying? If so, then you’d have a vague grasp of what I’m feeling right now. And if you have a fear of heights like I do, you’d probably understand why I outright jumped in panic, off the only footing I had while using all I have to aim for the peak.

Along with the initial jump force, the funnel carries me with a strong air current. As I approach the peak fast, I close my eyes, cross my arms in front of me, and brace for impact.

--- --- ---

-crack-

An unpleasant sound came out when I tried to move my leg.

-crack crack-

Augh... is something broken? I think something’s broken. Maybe somethings.

As I lay sprawled in misery, a shadow looms over me.

“...It’s you, huh.”

I feel a familiar tug on the back of my neck, and then I’m in the air again.

-cough- Can’t... breathe...

He only holds me up for a second before dropping me back to ground, the impact of which made more unpleasant sounds.

“Did you do this?” Douzhen’s figure towers over me.

I strain my neck to look behind at where I just came from. The ancient pillars of stone where I was just on top of a second ago started collapsing. The rumbling noise, like a great earthquake, echoes through the vale as the boulders crumbled their way down into the forests below.

...Wait, it’s not what it looks like‒

“Did. You. Do. This?”

I point an accusing finger at Zethran. It wasn’t me, it was him.

He sneers at the accusation. “Me? Why are you blaming me for your stupid mistake? You know you’re not supposed to use magic atop the Heavenly Steps, don’t you?”

He punched a rock on purpose to make me fall.

“What? Are you, the bottom student, accusing me, the top student, for something that you clearly did?”

Disregarding my claims, Douzhen keeps his glare of terror on me. It's very effective.

“Magic is banned on the Heavenly Steps, and you irrefutably used it, did you not?”

Uh...

“Your disobedience caused this, and disobedience comes from lack of discipline. You know what I think? I think that’s exactly what you need right now.”

Oh, I see...

So this is what Zethran is after. He doesn’t even need to defend his case, because as he said, who’d believe the bottom-sitter over the one at the top? Not to mention that I did use magic, and everyone saw that.

“I saw it, mentor!” Ranlan raises her arm up. “Zethran punched at the connections between Tenrin peak and the Heavenly Steps. I saw it all.”

“She’s lying, mentor!” Zethran shouted, dropping out of his calm facade. “She’s just making it up to defend her friend!”

“Oh? Are you, the second, accusing me, the first, of lying?”

Whooo, go get him, girl!

Before Zethran could reply, he’s already lifted by the scruff of his neck, which is quite a sight considering how big he is.

“Did you do this, Zethran?”

“No, mentor, I swear‒”

“You swear?”

That mere two-word question is somehow enough to make Zethran swallow whatever claptrap he was about to spout.

“Those stones you destroyed are millennia older than you. They stood fast against wind, weather, and time in order to serve their purpose as part of the vast stone forest, and you destroyed them. You desecrated the Heavenly Steps, in addition of hurting a fellow inscribed. Do you know how heavy a crime that is?”

“M‒Mentor, mercy for your student...!”

Douzhen looks briefly at Ranlan. “Treat her.”

I watch their backs as Douzhen drags Zethran to a corner of the peak, away from the class.

“Are you okay?” Ranlan runs up to me, who is still sprawled miserably on the ground.

I’m fine. Thanks for helping me back there.

“He really crossed the line this time. I’m going to report this to the elders, say that he tried to kill you.”

I don’t think that’s necessary.

“Are you serious? You could’ve died, you know?”

Zethran knew I wouldn’t die from that. He was also in position to save me just in case I couldn’t make it. He only wants to kick me off Jade class, you know that.

“ -sigh- Yeah, you’re right... The mentor will report it, anyway. Still...” she looks over at where Douzhen and Zethran is, “the view up here may be nice, but that is a lot more entertaining, don’t you think?”

...You scare me sometimes, Ran.

I stood up with Ranlan’s help. I try to take a step, and then—

-crack-

Whop, something broke, and I’m falling down again. Thankfully, someone catches me before I hit the ground.

T‒Thanks, Ran‒ huh?

Instead of Ranlan, what I see in front of me is Anlong’s manly face.

“Are you okay?” he asked with such a gentlemanly voice.

Err... thanks, I said, fully aware that he can’t hear me.

He draws his face closer to my own, his eyes scanning around my facial features as if to see something in my face that says ‘I’m in pain’.

You’re too close. I can almost see your nose hair.

“She said ‘thank you’,” Ranlan said to him while patting his shoulder to say it’s enough.

He easily lifts me up and hands me over to Ranlan with a composed smile, then he walks away without another word.

Ranlan stares at me accusingly.

“Did you see that? I was right next to you, but he got to you first. You know what that means, right?”

Uh... he’s faster than you?

“No, dully. It means he was watching you. You’ve got him in your twirls, you little harlot.”

Err... Have I?

I look at Anlong again. Ranlan keeps saying he’s interested in me, but is he, really?

“Tread carefully, Fay. You know that the girls from the other classes are gunning at him, right?”

Eh? Him? Not the top ranks?

“Well, to be blunt, the second-rank is a brute gibface, and the third-rank is an antisocial mute with a hood glued on. Oh, I don’t mean you.”

I know, I know. It's Douqi, right?

“With that said, Anlong is good-looking, mature‒”

And pretty ripped, too.

“‒and will probably become an augur in the future.”

Wait, what?

From what I know, which isn’t much, becoming an augur requires mastery in Perception. Let alone │Master│, his perception isn’t even good enough to hear my voice.

Ranlan seems to know what I’m thinking, because she elaborates after.

“Don’t you know? Anlong is quite talented in air magic as well.”

So?

“So... being able to use both magic and vimic means you’ve got a talent on auguring, or so the elders say. Which reminds me, his father is an augur and an elder. You can bet that he’s being taught some heavy augur stuff at home.”

Hold on, roll back a bit. So being able to use both magic and vimic means‒

“Err, no offense, but I don’t think your vimic is, uh... “real” vimic. Sorry.”

...That’s harsh, Ran.

Thinking about what she said, I let out a sigh.

Teacher assured me that I’ll be able to pull out my vi as long as I keep training, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon.

As Ranlan treats my leg, I look around the peak and, with no intent to, meet eyes with Zethran while he’s being “disciplined” by the mentor. He scowls at me, even going as far as to show me his uneven teeth.

-sigh-

“What’s wrong? You’re sighing a lot.”

I wonder why Zethran hates me so much?

“Oh, uh... you’re asking me?”

I boorishly look at her in response. Who else is there?

“Well, frankly speaking, you have no skill, Fay.”

Ouch.

“You being in Jade class just doesn’t sit well with him and, uh... I confess, it didn’t sit well for me at first too.”

You? Really?

She scratches her head. “Yeah, I mean... how to explain this? The rest of us worked really hard to get into Jade, but then this mute poplolly just waltzed in with a recommendation. From miss Inzhi, no less.”

Ah... I get it, I think. But what do you mean by that last thing?

“You mean miss Inzhi? Your teacher is kind of a big deal, you know.”

How so?

“She is an augur, to start with. But what earned her the honor is her becoming a member of the Arcanum. Just from having an arcanist amongst our family, the monastery’s voice holds much more weight now, whereas before we were secluded and almost entirely disconnected from the outside world. Well, we’re still secluded, but at least people stopped calling us ‘crazy mountain monks’. ”

Right...

Augurs, huh...

Oh, right, you must be confused by now, so let me explain.

In general, the society within Drachwyr Monestary is divided into four social levels.

The common court makes up for the bulk of the valley’s five-thousand-ish population. Their job is, uh... everything, I guess. From farming, hunting, cloth-making... everything that makes up the fundamentals of society.

After that is the court of arms, which is comprised mostly of graduates from the Hall of Acquisition. Their job is to guard the safety of the vale from any kind of dangers, from outlawry to beasts and incursive outsiders.

The third court is the drachtals. If you want to put it in a nutshell, you could say that drachtals are the elites that manage the community. As a member of the court of arms, you can become a drachtal by having the elders announce you through a strict trial. Even before then, the ones who can take the trial are only people who’ve accomplished something great enough to earn the attention of the elders. Another popular way to become a drachtal is to graduate from acquisition as a Jade, which is why everyone is trying so hard to remain in the class. It’s also why Zethran hates me, I suppose.

Last but not least, there’s the augurs.

Seers and soothsayers, predicting what may to come from the movements of nature itself. If the drachtals keep the community running, then augurs would be the ones to define the purpose of the monastery. Within the monastic society, augurs are the only ones that actually come into contact with the dragons, and perhaps because of that, they’re generally considered to have the highest authority within the vale.

Out of all those, teacher belongs to the court of augurs. That on top of being an arcanist, she’s actually a great person, isn’t she?

“All done,” Ranlan noted as she tied the last of the bandages. “It’s just a sprain, but it’ll definitely affect your performance on the trial.”

Oh, good.

-Bonk!- She slaps my in the head.

“Good, my rump! You have no chance to beat the trial to begin with, and now this?”

Aw, you hurt me with your words, Ran.

It’s true, though. It all depends on the circumstances of the trial. Maybe I can pull it off if magic is allowed, but if it’s not, then...

“So? What are you going to do?”

I’ll figure something out. Also, can I ask you something?

She shrugs. “Go ahead.”

You mentioned how you didn’t like me when I first got in. What changed that?

She blinks in surprise at the unexpected question.

“You... turned out to be an interesting person when I talked to you.”

Is that it?

“Uh-huh. That’s it.”

That’s a lie, isn’t it? Perhaps I did something that made her fond of me, but I don’t remember anything like that.

Maybe because she noticed my suspicion, she elaborates. “Err... let’s just say that there’s something about you that attracts certain kinds of people.”

What do you mean by that?

“Alright, gather around, Jade!” Douzhen’s loud voice rang throughout the peak.

Ranlan smiles at me, patting my shoulder as she lends me a hand to stand. “Next time,” she said.

With everyone gathered around him, Douzhen starts his briefing.

“The rules are simple; start from the Tenrin peak and use your skills to traverse the Heavenly Steps all the way there,” he points at the shadow towering behind the mist. “Dragon peak, the highest pillar in the Hidden Vale. You can use any route you want as long as you start from Tenrin. Note that your performance in this trial will factor with your overall results. At the end of the trial, only the top twenty will remain in Jade class.”

The students start whispering to each other, but is immediately hushed by the mentor’s next words.

“Regarding the use of magic...” As I hold my breath, I notice Douzhen glancing at me, if just for a split-second, before continuing, “...magic is allowed.”

Ranlan pats my back, a bit too strongly, and looks at me with a face like she’s even happier than me.

“I advise you all to take caution in the highest regard,” Douzhen continued. “Some of your predecessors have lost their lives in this trial. Do not take this lightly. My advice; don’t get ahead of yourself and keep sight of the larger picture. A living arm is better than a dead drachtal. I’ll give you ten minutes to prepare.”

--- --- ---

“Wow, you dodged an arrow, Fay.”

Haha, yeah... more like, I got hit with one instead of two. I gesture at my leg.

Anyway, you should start making allies soon.

“Allies? What do you mean?

The stone-web‒ I mean, the Heavenly Steps won’t be our only enemy. Douzhen didn’t mention anything about attacking other students, did he?

“...Which means, once the test starts, people will start attacking each other.”

I believe so. I’m guessing that he gave us this ten minutes to start making alliances.

She promptly grabs my hand. “Got one.”

Ranlan, my leg... You know I’ll slow you down.

“Slow me down? Your magic will get me first place,” she titters.

I smile at her. Just don’t blame me if you end up switching ranks with Zethran.

"Not in a millenia."

We both look around to see prospective allies. It seems the others have started to figure out the same thing and are doing just that. It won’t be long before they crowd around Ranlan, seeing as she’s the number one in class.

“I think Anlong will want to be in the same team as you,” she whispered. “You go find him while I try to speak to that antisocial Douqi.”

Wait, how will I be able speak to him?

Ah, there she goes... oh well. I’ll find a way to communicate with Anlong. I suppose I can just use earth magic to write on the ground...

“Oy.”

Mm?

I look up at the voice to see Zethran’s face, all scrunched up as if he's bent breaking his personal record of malicious faces.

Oh, uhm... what’s up? I simper at him.

“You little bitch. He did that for you, didn’t he?”

Who did what?

He grabs me by the collar and makes me stand on my tiptoes.

“Don’t act dull. You’re the one who benefits the most from magic being allowed. You sucked his prick, that’s what you did.”

...Who is that?

“Don’t ignore me, slag!”

No, really, who is that?

“Hey, is that a person?” (some guy)

“Who is that, a mentor?” (some other guy)

“Huh?” (Zethran)

There’s someone on the stone-web, in the direction I came from.

Thanks to Zethran, many of the footings near the peak is gone and a large empty space was created between Tenrin peak and the nearest pillar in that direction. Even so, the figure navigated without pausing as if it’s no problem, jumping with such power and agility beyond anyone in Jade class.

As the person lands on Tenrin peak, everyone takes a wary stance against him.

“...What the hell happened here?” the man said, looking back at the destruction that Zethran caused.

“Is there something you need, Brother Karyat?” Douzhen approached him, and seeing their mentor recognize him, the students relax.

“Brother Douzhen, you are called to the Hall of Elders,” the man replied.

Judging by how Douzhen acknowledged him, this man called Karyat might be someone of similar rank— a drachtal? His movements earlier does seem to support that.

“I’m sorry, but as you can see, Jade class are about to do the Thousand-Hop Trial. I simply can’t leave them without supervision‒”

“The trial can wait. It’s urgent.”

After cutting off our mentor, Karyat walks up to him and whispers something that makes his eyes go wide.

“...I understand, I’ll be there shortly,” Douzhen answered before turning to his students. “The trial is cancelled. I want everyone here to report back to the Hall of Acquisition to receive further instructions. Immediately.”

There’s gasps of disbelief when Douzhen said that. The students quietly murmur to each other, but no one questioned further. They all know better than to meddle in drachtal business. Meanwhile, I see Ranlan waving at me with Douqi and Anlong at her side. Just as I’m about to walk over to her, a hand on my shoulder stops me. I look towards the owner of that hand and see Douzhen’s face, all the more menacing when I see it from below.

Umm... mentor?

“Not you. You’re coming with me.”

Eh? I’m not going with the others?

“Do I need to repeat myself?”

N‒No, mentor. But why? I asked, despite his eyes clearly giving me a don’t-ask-any-questions glare.

With one swift move, he wraps one arm around me and hoists me up on his shoulder.

...This again, huh. Demerits of having a small stature; get used to being treated like baggage. I give one last look to my friends’ confused faces as Douzhen jumps off the peak, hopping around the stone-web in superhuman speed.

I wrap my arms awkwardly around him. Because of the way he's carrying me, all I can see is the view beneath his feet, which is a splendid view of mountains, greenery, and a one-thousand strides drop. So I close my eyes, thinking that it would be better.

It’s not.

--- --- ---

It took mere minutes for Douzhen to reach the ground, and then another few for him to get to the Hall of Elders. It took me all I had to not get overwhelmed by how fast he moved. After putting me down, he glares at me with a terrifying glare, but I know he’s just scanning me to see if I’m alright. I look up at him, and his eyebrows knit together as if something just ran across his mind. Then he walks past me, and I can only stare mesmerized at his broad back.

...Huh. Gotta say.

Being carried by him, feeling that strong, powerful force behind every step he took... made me tingle below the stomach. He’s a bit on the old side, old enough to sit in the Hall of Elders, but at the same time, he’s powerful enough to sit in the Hall of Elders. I mean, just look at him. I’ve never noticed because I’ve never seen him this way, but, whoa... even through his robe, I can tell that every microence of his body is brimmed with tight muscles. Tight, raw, bulging muscles.

Imagine being in bed with him. With that kind of body, his prized tool must be‒

“Fay!”

Oh, teacher!

She runs down the steps to meet me. She looks a bit worried for some reason.

“What happened? You seem out of breath.”

Am I?

“And your face is... flushed. Are you sick?”

Ah, no... the blood got to my head is all. I was carried all the way here by Mr. Heartbreak over there.

“Mr. Hear‒ ...Pfft. Is that what you kids call him over at Acquisition?”

He’s really mean.

“Hah. If only you knew him,” she shakes her head knowingly.

She seems to know him well, doesn’t she? Knowing that, there’s a pricking sensation in my chest. I know this feeling well, it plagued me in Level Eight. The question is, who am I jealous at?

“Oh, sorry. You must be confused from all this.”

Mm? Ah, right... what’s going on?

Realizing that I’m dragging my leg, she puts her arm around me and helps me up the steps.

“You have a habit of breaking yourself, don’t you.”

Maybe...? Tee-hee.

“ -sigh- Anyway, what’s going on is that‒”

Hold on. If you’re here, does that mean you’re an “elder”?

She shoots me a blank look. “We’re calling in every augur and drachtal for this, but yes, I do have a seat in the Hall of Elders.”

...Hall of “Elders”.

“I‒It’s complimentary, okay. It’s got nothing to do with my age!”

I smirk at her reaction. I know that being an “elder” has little to do with age. Those chosen to sit in the Hall of Elders are the wisest augurs and the strongest drachtals. I for one know that teacher had very well earned her place there.

Anyways, you were saying...

“Oh, right. There’s a demon here.”

I freeze.

Because I suddenly stopped, both of us nearly fell over the steps. Then she realized what she just said to my face.

“I meant, there might be a demon here. Some of the augurs caught on some signs this morning.”

...Why was I brought here?

“Umm, that’s...”

Did you tell them?

“Of course not!” she cried. “I promised you, didn’t I? I only asked Douzhen to bring you in, because...”

You want me to tell them myself.

“...Yes.”

I breath in, deep. This might be it. I knew she was coming for me, but I never thought it would be this fast.

We continue up the steps as more and more people arrive. I look up at the big building, smaller than the colossal Hall of Acquisition, but grander in its design. I suppose that’s a given, since the people here are pretty much the one pulling the big strings.

Do we have anything that says it’s Lyrfanas?

“No. At this point, we can’t even confirm the demon’s existence yet.”

So you’re just grasping at wafts, here?

“There’s no such thing as too cautious when it comes to demons, Fay.”

Yes, I know that.

I know that better than anyone.

It’s just that, doing this now might be jumping the gun a bit, don’t you think?

She stops and stands in front of me. Placing her hands on my shoulders, she lowers her face to my level. Just from her eyes, I can tell that she wants me‒ she needs me to do this. She leans in, touching my foreheads together as she continues in a trembling voice, if so slightly.

“I know this must be hard for you, but have faith. Have faith in me.”

..........

I... That's not fair. What can I say to that?

She looks at me again, and I can only nod at her request. I’m not one to trust people, but her...

...Her, I trust my life with.

We continue on with teacher leading me by hand to the top of the stairs. We enter the gate and into the front hall, where some people are just standing around discussing something serious. Teacher nods at Douzhen who’s just standing quietly in a corner, then we head toward another set of doors. Even through the thick wood, I can hear the clamor from inside the other room— most likely the chamber where they do all the magic.

Teacher gives me one last look. “Are you ready?”

As ever.

I release my hand from hers and braced myself as she pushes the door open.