When Jared introduced the place and gestured around them only then did Azaire realize above the circle in the middle of the place there was a giant castle floating on a rainbow colored cloud. It was medieval looking and the stones and paint were in different shades of blue and black with touches of various color hear and there all around it in different places.
"Well shall we go into the palace gentleman?"
Master Talya's voice suddenly appeared behind them making Azaire jump and Jared gave a frustrated sigh.
"Hold on a moment I've yet to step in here since before I started my condensation trials. Currently the castle size is not proportionate to non-giant entities."
Jared gave a bitter sigh at having to allow the amazonian woman in as well instead of enjoying the comfort of his realm alone with the little beast, but cultivation was important or else the little beast would not live long enough for Jared to pluck his fruit once it ripened.
"Condensation trials? What is that?"
Azaire couldn't help but inquire in confusion as he watched Jared pull an electric blue energy full of profoundness from seemingly nowhere. As Jared started fiddling with the energy the humongous castle in the sky started to change before their eyes while Jared began to explain himself.
"Cultivation can be strange but there is a saying that cultivation favors mankind. This saying is based on the fact that the closer a body is to human the more efficient it is for cultivation, some even say that this is the reason why humans or the only race that can freely use almost any life energy so long as there is at least a bit of compatibility without using special means. "
As he spoke the castle had already started shrinking and was now a little over half it's previous size smaller. It now resembled a very tall mountain as it continued to shrink and Jared continued manipulating the huge castle as he explained at the same time.
"When it comes to giants this is the case for us as well but not only to cultivate more efficiently but also since our larger bodies require larger amounts of energy to cultivate and manipulate not only is this wasteful it is dangerous as trying to convert and regulate too much life energy at low cultivation is difficult.
After becoming a king at the most it becomes impossible to do so without our power going wild and suffering various deviations; mental, physical, or spiritual demons; reverse consumption, etc. Especially since this land and the majority of it's dimensions cannot support such powerful life manipulation or cultivation, but going against nature is not simple just like cultivating is going against the heavens and filled with hardships this is another example.
To overcome this giants who have stepped into the realm of the king or peak nobility condense what is known as a tiny core. It allows us to freely shift between our normal size and the smallest size we can obtain after completing our condensation trials. It also allows us to do several other things and is necessary for multiple parts of a giant's cultivation. It's also the requirement to become a true king and to even think of stepping into the emperor realm for giants."
As Jared finally finished his explanation the floating castle in the sky seemed to have been shrunk sufficiently enough for him. It was now only a little bigger then half the size of a normal mountain and about half as wide.
"Well come on then Azzy."
Jared reached out his hand to the curious little beast that seemed to soak up his words with an excited expression.
'It seems like he's is the bookish type who enjoys new knowledge. I'll be sure to remember!'
Jared happily planned out some good gifts and conversations in his mind as the little beast jumped eagerly into his arms after seeing the sky blue cloud that descended from the castle in the sky until it was floating in front of them. The young man looked intensely at the cloud as if dying to tear it apart and put it back together.
Meanwhile Talya who had been very quickly forgotten by the two could only smile wryly. She had already known her apprentices curious nature and his longing to cultivate.
How could he possibly feel bored actually getting the chance to see a giant's Domain. It had to be known only Giant's and Humans called Domain's by this name because the Domains of the other races were different and operated differently not to mention they're formation was different.
As the two were being carried up toward the floating castle only then did Jared remember the third wheel he'd left on the ground but he could not see anyone there when he looked down to prepare a cloud for Master Talya.
Just then a falcon landed on his shoulder seemingly from nowhere digging it's talons into his sturdy shoulders as the lightning around his body seemed to shy away from it. As a sturdy giant he didn't feel any pain as the sharp talons clung to him but he could not help but feel annoyed. Did she think he was some type of perch? This woman!
Despite his grief Jared did not say anything as he knew Azaire's love for both animals and his master.
Meanwhile Azaire who had only recently noticed his master's absence himself seemed to have finally figure out she was in fact the pretty bird that had just flown onto the Giant Prince's shoulder, mostly since such a normal looking bird would normally be fried by now sitting on a storm giant's shoulder, but this little falcon was fine.
"Wow Master! When will I learn such a skill? Hurry and teach me as soon as possible okay!"
Talya could not help but feel exasperated at her pupils demands.
'You've yet to even reach enlightenment yet you want to learn transfiguration? You're simply dreaming.'
Yet she did not say anything as she watched her apprentices twinkling and hopeful eyes, after all she could just distract him like always know need to kick a puppy. As she consoled herself to mislead him they finally reached the cloudy grounds of the castle. It was like a medieval paradise meet resort in the sky.
The castle was definitely medieval inspired with the proper towers, spires, very big double doors and even a crest above the top of the front entrance that seemed like a multicolored fan made of lightning in all the colors of the rainbow.
There was also a grove of dark blue trees surrounding the castle with a blood red lake to the right and a garden filled with green, yellow, and orange plants, herbs, and sapling. Behind the garden there seemed to be a bunch of violet cottages and cabins with different signs and Azaire thought he might have even heard the moo of the Spirit lightning Cattle. A Champion ranked magical beast at the lowest that had powerful spiritual and lightning affinities. The cattle was generally indigo with azure blue splotches and they would only eat high grade clouds made of powerful life energies. It normally cost a fortune just to raise one.
Seeing her apprentices eager to explore expression and the dopey I'll do whatever you want expression Jared secretly held toward him, Talya immediately transformed again. becoming a human again in the blink of an eye and grabbing Azaire by the ear. "Come on here mister it's cultivation time unless you don't want me to teach you anymore...."
Azaire who originally wanted to protest closed his mouth immediately as he let himself be dragged inside the doors of the luxurious castle that opened hastily for them at Jared's quick command. The inside was clearly as colorful and luxurious but Azaire was given no time to admire it and become distracted again as Jared led them immediately to a cultivation room at Master Talya's "insistence" no matter what this was so his little beast could become stringer and live longer.....