Jemman's tirade died on her lips. The enormous wolof looked frail, much worse than the day before.
He beckoned her in tiredly with a curl of his massive paw.
"I guess you have a lot of questions" he stated.
She nodded, her red dreads bobbing heavily.
"I enjoyed beating up Kraem yesterday but it seems like you've forgotten to really teach me how to cultivate. I have the ideas but need some guidance, and materials."
Jardin nodded wearily.
"I always strive to keep my word but somehow giving you my essence took more from me than I'd expected. Even just watching you beat up the pup" at this he grinned impishly, "and get beaten up by him, took all my strength. Today I will answer two questions for you and then I must give you a chore."
Jemman racked her brain before asking, "Question one, please explain the steps and reasons for being a Kenstar."
He barked, "That's not a question, or it's two. But here we go."
For about ten minutes he explained what a Kenstar was. Jemman automatically realised why it was a worthy goal for her.
"So, basically Kenstars use their magic and martial arts to protect the world from qarms . The ability to fight qarms is very rare but it is richly rewarded by monarchies and honoured by all."
"Honoured and feared." he corrected.
"And a qarm is?"
Once again Jardin looked at her like he had on the first day he'd met her. As though she was from another planet.
"Only Eight, did you hit your head again?"
"No, just that once but I'm still relearning everything and no one has mentioned anything about qarms."
"No one knows what a qarm is. Sometimes they look like a normal animal, plant or sentient. They are sometimes undead or a spectre. Qarm seem to have one goal, to destroy Strolm. Not only physically but at every level. They overtake a sentient's soul and everything's life force. Only Kenstar have the ability to recognise qarms. Every sect wants to be the one that brings a new Kenstar to the world. The downside is that the qarm are attracted to those with the abilities you exhibit. That is why you have never left this compound. It is warded. Not to keep qarm out but your presence hidden. In less than two months those wards will fizzle out and you will be able to be found by them."
It was the longest and most serious speech Jemman had heard from Jardin. So for once she chose to forbear being cheeky and asked, well demanded, "Please explain what I need to do to become a Kenstar. Give. Me. Details."
"You need to reach at least stage two of at least one cultivation method. Then find a sect that will both teach you more and hopefully earn their bloodline. I suggest beginning with the Topstar Phoenixes. It will give you a great opportunity to both learn how to use fire and how to heal."
At the sect's name Jemman started to giggle.
"Yep, Topstar Phoenixes. Life lesson: the better someone cultivates the worse they name things."
" Once you receive their bloodline you will need to ditch that sect and move on."
Jemman choked at the mercenary nature of his plan.
"Then do it again, three more times. By the time you are ten you should be ready to join Kenstar Acaemy."
Jemman now choked at the timeframe.
"Finally, you need to prepare for life as the Amair of the Wolof. Now, please, go. Go and let an old wolof get back some life force."
"What?! Amair of the Wolof? What is that even?" Jemman let it out as a splutter.
"Go and ask Kraem. He has a lot of energy. I'm sure he'll explain it." Jardin added under his breath, "In detail."
Moments later Kraem had a tiny, human corner him. Spitting words through her teeth the girl demanded, "Explain to me what an Amair is and why I am, or will be, one?"
Somehow, this made him bark with humour rather than with the sullen rage he expected such a question would elicit.
His humour infuriated Jemman.
"An amair, is the leader of the Wolof. In every sense. They are not the king or queen but the pack leader. It is not a hereditary position but bestowed by the previous amair. After being nominated the amair-elect has two years to show her, or his, worthiness. After that, any Wolof who feels the previous pack leader has made a mistake has a two month period to show her, or his, unworthiness. This usually occurs in a duel, though there are other ways one's leadership has been rescinded.
"Jardin is, or was, the amair. When he gave his essence to you he declared you were his successor. Lucky you! The first non-Wolof pack leader.
"Actually, theoretically you are Wolof now since you have his bloodline. I'm looking forward to seeing you with a tail and puppy ears actually."
Then, just to spite her, he turned around and walked away.