The cut through the ground did stop eventually, several kilometers from where it was first discovered. Chidi couldn’t help but stop and inspect it more closely. It became shallower at the end, the very edge coming out the surface. That meant it did not align with his fanciful imagining where a flying individual cut the world below them, unless they happened to dip downward in a smooth curve.

There was only so far that Chidi could sense underground, and since the cut was so thin it didn’t leave the earth open. However, judging from what he could feel of the curve, he supposed the cut should extend at least as far in the other direction, past the furthest point they’d gone. Chidi almost wanted to stay and look at it forever, but even if this wasn’t a sign of immediate danger, it should be reported to the others.

So he took the burgeoning scouts back to camp, where he explained the situation to Captain Tiras. Basics answers were easy, but Tiras had some more complicated questions. “What do you think it was for?”

Chidi shook his head. “I don’t know. Testing a blade, perhaps, or a new form?”

“Do you think it was Rakiya?”

Chidi folded his arms, concentrating on recalling the feel of Rakiya and her blade. “The cut didn’t leave behind any traces of energy, but it just doesn’t feel like her.”

“No traces of energy?” Tiras frowned, “Could it have been from a long time ago?”

Chidi shook his head. “I think it was last night.” He couldn’t forget that dream. But while in the dream the whole world had been bisected, here that was clearly not the case. He had the feeling that the intent was there, but perhaps the goal was impossible. “The plants hadn’t recovered from the damage, even the ones that only needed to fix a thin cut still held together.”

“Not Rakiya. Perhaps… the sword saint?”

“I wouldn’t go so far as to say it would be anyone like that,” Chidi frowned. “Or rather, the sword saint was here, would we not have seen evidence of such a thing in the cities?” There had been damage to Sieburn’s walls from a cut, but in Chidi’s estimation- that of a cultivator more than two whole phases of cultivation lower- those cuts were far too inelegant to be from the same person. And they properly matched what should have been Rakiya’s level of ability.

“Who else could it be?” Tiras wondered. “One of the other elite Harmonious Citadel sword disciples?”

Chidi shrugged. “I don’t know. But… perhaps I can return to inspect the rest of it. To see if there are any signs.” Yes, that was a good enough excuse. And he would be inspecting the area. He would also just be taking in the feeling of it. It was like the danger of dangling over a cliff. Enticing, in a certain strange fashion.

-----

A woman was shackled, wrists and ankles bound behind her and a metal collar wrapped around her neck to another chain pulling her head forward. It didn’t look comfortable at all, and of course it was not supposed to be. It was meant to maximally restrict movement, though the enchantments in the manacles and the formations around the area were likely sufficient on their own. Still, it was clear the threat was taken very seriously.

Aoibhin took it all in, frowning. “Are you certain she is part of the Twin Soul Sect?”

The man who answered was one of the so-called Assimilation cultivators local to Facraona. Myles of the Pink Pollen Sect, if she recalled correctly. “Yes, we are quite certain.”

“How? They do not easily reveal themselves.”

“A method was developed here, based on previous infiltrations. It is very reliable.” Aoibhin felt something as Myles looked at her. Was it a test? Well, if he was truthful then nothing would be found. She was clean of the Twin Soul Sect’s filth. “Normally, we would dispose of any such individuals, but since she is a cultivator from Ekict…”

“Just because she was there doesn’t mean he’s part of us,” Aoibhin frowned. “I thought we got them all…” It was an actual serious concern that perhaps they hadn’t. “Can we learn how to detect them?”

“Of course,” Myles nodded. Aoibhin felt a bit uncomfortable around him, as she felt shifting something under his robes. Whether it was the titular pollen or some other poison, she knew that an Assimilation cultivator could make great use of anything. Potentially even more than an Integration cultivator that was fully adapted to natural energy, which was a bit of a concern. “We will gladly share it with you, though I must caution you to keep it out of the hands of the Twin Soul Sect. It might be possible for them to find a counter.”

“A fair point,” Aoibhin nodded.

“Would you like to speak to the prisoner? You may be able to get more information than us. She’s… strangely resistant to our techniques. Almost as if she was an Integration cultivator, but there should be no way they would stay around after an invasion… and she seems too young.”

“I can’t say I’m much of an interrogator, but I’ll try,” Aoibhin said.

“Great. It should be safe, but be cautious.”

The cell opened, and Aoibhin stepped beyond the concealing formations. Immediately, the other woman called out to her. “Aoibhin! Please, get me out of here. They think I’m part of the Twin Soul Sect, but we both know I’m not really-”

Aoibhin’s spear was through the woman’s throat and out the back of her neck a moment later. “I don’t like being lied to.” She stepped outside, looking over at Myles. “Oh, my apologies. I let my feelings get the best of me.”

“It would have been better to be able to interrogate her further,” Myles said, “But ultimately, the matter was also something Ekict should be able to handle as they see fit. As for the technique, we’ll distribute it to you and some of the others of sufficient status who have been properly inspected. If you cannot solve the problem internally… you know we’ll happily kill invaders from the upper realms.”

“I think we can handle it,” Aoibhin said. “But I suppose I should quickly learn that technique.” What a pain. This made things more complicated. If the technique worked properly and they really did find members of the Twin Soul Sect hiding among them it would set them back quite a bit. But they couldn’t risk keeping a single cultivator from the upper realms.

-----

Even knowing what he did, Chidi was reluctant to step across the dividing line of the slash. Obviously the attack had come and gone, but he still got the feeling of being chopped apart every time. It didn’t seem to happen to anyone else, though, so he put up with it. And though terrifying, it was quite useful. Chidi liked to imagine his sword skills improved with every moment. Not that such a thing could actually be possible, because he had not the slightest idea how to replicate such a feat.

It wouldn’t be enough to have a powerful cultivation. There had to be more to it. Some sort of stance, a special motion, and greater understanding. He couldn’t pick that up just from the lingering effects of something, could he?

He collapsed to his knees as they approached a particular point. It was just the same as everywhere else, just more of the same slash. But here, the feeling was stronger. For a moment Chidi felt a powerful presence looking down, a sword moving yet never changing its position. Then it was over.

“Sir, are you alright?” Ida asked.

“Sorry,” Chidi climbed to his feet. “I’m fine. I think this is the central point, where the grandmaster stood. Also, you really don’t have to call me sir. Your cultivation is higher…”

“It is for now,” Ida agreed. “But I’m never going to have any real position besides being a footsoldier.”

“That’s not true,” Chidi countered. “You can definitely become a proper scout with enough training.”

“Even if that is true, since I am being taught by you it would be quite appropriate to use honorifics.”

Chidi couldn’t argue with that. Usually, people were polite because he was blind or because of his parents- those who were not polite and formal with everyone, of course. This time, he’d actually done something… even if it was only clumsily replicating the training of the spymaster.

They followed the slash to its other end, totalling tens of kilometers. It was much more concerning that the attack reached everything along that range, though the maximum distance was also more than Chidi could reasonably think about. If he stretched himself, he could perhaps reach a dozen meters beyond the tip of his blade, but his power would significantly wane. He would grow many times stronger throughout Essence Collection and then Life Transformation of course, but it was still hard to comprehend.

-----

Rather than sneaking into occupied cities, the best way to get some information was catching messengers. Why would the Harmonious Citadel use messengers? Partly because they did not know how to produce communication devices that worked to the same standards. Maybe a sense of traditionalism, or because they were concerned to allow the messages to be intercepted. That was apparently something that could happen, though Chidi knew that like anything countermeasures could be taken. And perhaps counter-countermeasures, in an endless cycle where nobody could be quite sure what was secret.

The easy answer at the moment, of course, was that the formations that prevented Chidi’s messages from leaving the planet also restricted the Harmonious Citadel. Thus, they could send runners, riders, or fliers. The latter was usually messenger birds- cultivators who could fly were usually too important to use as messengers. They would more likely have a message delivered to them.

The fliers Chidi had no hope of dealing with, though they did have some archers among their group. Unless one flew just over the treeline, it would be too far for Chidi to feel except perhaps through the disturbance of the air propagating downward. He didn’t have the range either way, and it would be difficult for him to determine if it was carrying anything of note. Those on the ground, however, had to follow roads. And if they were riding a swift mount, Aconite would be perfect for chasing them down. It was difficult to get mounts that could outpace an Essence Collection equivalent- though they likely had some. The plan for those was to catch them in a trap, anything from a pitfall to a bear trap to simply blocking off their retreat with more people.

So far, they had caught two messengers along this same road. The contents of their satchels hadn’t been terribly important, but eventually… they could get something of value. And though Chidi had been quite satisfied with his infiltration of Sieburn, he wasn’t looking forward to repeating the process. Especially since they’d be watching for tunnels.

Chidi ducked, but he was too slow. His arm was cut off at the shoulder, then his head came off his shoulders. Except… there was no pain? And no damage around him. His neck was exactly where it should be, and Chidi didn’t have even an impossibly thin cut. That was good, because he honestly wasn’t certain what that would do to a living person. But he’d certainly gotten the feeling.

Aconite prompted him. “What is it?” her head darted in all directions.

“Just my imagination, maybe. I’m getting jumpy because of that sword slash.” He heard a sound down the road. “Someone’s coming.”

Good. The waiting had been getting to him. From the rhythm of the movement, it should be a rider. He stood shoulder to shoulder with Aconite while the others spread out on their side of the road, keeping far enough back to stay properly hidden. They were still learning the finer details, after all.

Then it didn’t matter, as Chidi and Aconite pounced. Covering the intervening dozens of meters in an instant, Aconite took down the steed- a large bull of some sort. Chidi cut the messenger’s satchel off, his blade stopping before it cut deep into the woman herself. Perhaps if she survived they could interrogate her.

Something was approaching. Something recognized, if not strictly familiar. A dangerous sharpness at a concerning speed. So that was it. A trap. Three times was too many, it seemed.

Aconite was cut in half. No, she was going to be. Chidi shoved her away with his right arm, for a moment feeling his arm separating at the shoulder. But he managed to pull back just in time for both of them to be safe, the flying slash cutting a wide gouge in the ground. The width of a fist at the top narrowing down to a point below, at least a dozen meters long and launched from hundreds of meters away.

The blade was Rakiya’s… and Chidi knew he was dead. Avoiding one casual attack wouldn’t change that.