Storm and my relationship were in flux. As she grew her intelligence would increase until we could hold a real conversation. At the moment, our link was more empathic. We knew what each other felt, and it took real effort to transmit more than simple concepts.

Yes. No. Stop. Fly. Create a storm.

She understood these concepts, but even with this limited understanding, she was an individual, understanding didn't necessarily mean agreement. I had asked her to stay at range. To concentrate on ranged attacks with lightning. But when Daniel released his stable of snakes, her fury and fear as the winged serpent darted toward me, spitting venom attempting to blind me.

I tried to assure her I was fine. My Tessen and the billowing material that still answered to my Qi was an effective shield, the venom never getting close. But she had already spiraled, executing her own diving attack.

Since I couldn't stop her, the only thing I could do was support her. I had landed, a series of flips needed once my earlier attack had missed Daniel. I wasn't far from where Daniel and the other surviving serpent waited. One coiled ready to attack, the other lost in grief.

I don't think he realized how damaging it would be, sacrificing two of his companions, but he seemed to have become almost catatonic. He did not attempt to follow up his attack or support the flying serpent, and as I continued to dodge and weave making sure that I maintained enough threat to keep the snake's attention, I realized that he wasn't reacting to anything.

Storm was a physically impressive Roc, even as young as she was. The four wings she sported allowed her to maneuver and attack with a deftness that the eagle she vaguely resembled could never equal.

I came to a stop, satisfied that my position would give Storm the perfect approach to vent her fury and fear. I needn't have worried. Rocs were pound-for-pound the most powerful avian species that existed. The flying snake had no chance, only realizing it was in danger once it was too late to evade the sharp beak that Storm used to sever the head from the body.

The snake's body had barely landed in a spray of blood before Storm turned, determined to kill the final snake that had slithered into position to guard Daniel, not caring that the snake was coiled and ready to meet her beak with its fangs.

"Hold!" A voice thundered, Qi flowing to quash my attack. Whoever had intervened had included Daniel in the field of suppression, freezing both of us in place. For the audience, we must have looked like a bug frozen in amber. Unable to even blink as we waited for the power that had intervened to retract and restore our freedom.

For Storm, her ability to fly was also suppressed. It might have been dangerous, except that our companion bond was not affected by the aura suppressing us, and she was able to return to my spirit ocean. If not for that she would have perhaps died, smashed as she plummeted to the ground.

"The winner of this round…

"Jai Myche of Flowing Water Sect," The announcer finally declared.

The man used the unfolding events to feed the crowd's frenzy. His words drawing out the announcement meant to get a response from the audience. I thought it was over the top. He was all showman, but his antics were effective as the audience responded with an overwhelming sea of sound as they cheered the end of the fight. Or jeered the cultivator that had interrupted the bout.

I still wasn't happy that my skills and abilities were being shared with so many, my privacy ignored to satisfy the scheme of whoever had orchestrated this event. There was nothing to be done about it. This world was predicated on martial arts and strength as benchmarks of success. We may be Elves, but that did not make us tree-hugging nature fanatics.

There was nothing I could do about a culture that enjoyed these types of competition. But as I waited to be released, my determination to gain the strength so that this could not happen again solidified.

I did not like this feeling of helplessness.

The aura that had blanketed the arena and was suppressing Daniel and I was so much more advanced than the two of us had employed during our battle. I couldn't even hope to guess the Realm the cultivator trapping us had reached.

His intervention had been perfectly timed, which spoke to how impressive his perception was. It was only when it became obvious that Daniel might never recover if his final companion was killed, and that there was no escaping Storm's attack, that he acted to stop the bout.

They should have informed us that life and death attacks would not be allowed. I wouldn't have responded so harshly to Daniel's provocation if I had known. But that may have been the point for those running this event. They wanted us to react and respond within the confines of the pressure that these duels engendered.

If we did not face the specter of death, would we adjust how we fought? Whoever had organized this wanted to test more than where we stood on the Cultivator's path. The isolation and limited information we were given were designed to create emotional challenges as well as physical.

They were testing our ability to adapt and persevere. It made a kind of sick sense. The challenges of building a new Sect, in an untamed land would be formidable. Those that would be journeying to Mount Seia would have a higher chance of success if they were forged into something more during these contests.

I doubted there was much chance for tempering. There wasn't enough time or opportunity to make a real difference. At best, this tournament was weeding out the chafe, and allowing those with potential to be identified. It made me think that even someone who was eliminated through competition would find themselves invited to join the new Sect.

Most of my anger vanished when the illusion that had been used to create the arena was dismissed. The crowd, the announcer, all of it was gone. I could only posit that forcing us to fight in front of a large crowd was another test. A way to increase the pressure we were under and allow whoever was gathering data on our performance to assess our psychological profile. Our ability to ignore the screaming crowd just one more test, another milestone on our path forward.

Yvonne was waiting to escort me from the arena this time. I wasn't sure if Tibes was busy with other Flowing Water Sect members, or if my win had increased my gravitas. If we had been told the truth, I had earned a position in the new Sect equivalent to an Inner Sect Member.

Perhaps my win had automatically vested the new position, and it demanded Dragon Spire treat me differently than an Outer Sect member. Flowing Water Sect treated Outer, Inner, and Core Disciple with different levels of respect, it only made sense that Dragon Spire followed that same logic.

"Are we not returning to the chamber that had been set aside for me to meditate?" I asked Yvonne when I noticed that she took a different turn than she should have. The passages, buildings, and space we were walking through was different from what I remembered.

It was all part of the vast illusion array that had been crafted to contain the tournament. It was impressive, but it made trusting your sense of direction or looking for familiar landmarks to navigate impossible. It was all illusion and could be changed and reformed at the whim of those in control.

"You and Elder Shadow have been invited for tea," Yvonne answered.

"I thought we were being isolated?" I protested. "Why have the rules changed?"

"You will have to discuss that with your Elder," she suggested.

"Strange," I mused. "And what is just as strange is why you would be assigned a guide. You are a talented, Inner Sect member. Your abilities to craft armor speak of long hours of training. What has changed?"

"Again," she informed me, "that is something you will have to discuss with your Elder."

She had no problem navigating, and we had arrived at a quaint tea shop within five or ten minutes. The tea shop's architecture tried to adhere to the Zenshuyo style found in ancient Japan. The style was most often adopted by Buddhist temples.

The building replicated the decorative pent roofs, drawing attention to the pronounced curve of the main roof that gave the building its distinctive look and feel. The windows were arched, adhering to the Katomado design style. The doors were paneled, and although I hadn't entered the building, I was certain the floors would be bare earth.

The aroma of tea containing hints of orchid and vanilla wafted near the entrance. I didn't have time to collect myself or get my bearings before Yvonne opened the door motioning for me to enter. She waited patiently as I paused; her hand extended holding the door.

My perception still extended, was blocked unable to determine who might be inside waiting. There was something about this building's design that prevented me from testing for danger or filtering for information. Yvonne waited patiently for me to make up my mind. I was being careful, perhaps needlessly so.

I doubted Dragon Spire would spend even a second of time plotting against me. There was no point, I was simply not powerful enough for those in charge to even notice. That was the main reason Yvonne's involvement had set off alarm bells. I didn't warrant this type of personalized attention.

Nothing for it, I decided, sweeping into the building, shoulders back, head up, certain that whatever was going on here, it was nothing dangerous.