Young closed his eyes and assumed his meditation stance. This was something he'd done hundreds of times before but somehow, in the darkness of the ravine it was easy to fall into a trance. Soon he was deep in the sea of his own consciousness in a spirit body, the sight before him was familiar and somewhat alarming.
He gazed up at a large mass of energy, white lightning more precisely and next to that a flickering blue flame.
"That took you long enough." The voice said. Young couldn't be sure but it seemed to come from the flame.
"What?" He said as he glanced around.
"I'm here. Right in front of you." The blue flame moved towards him, stopping just a meter or so in front of him.
"Huh?" Young said in disbelief as he gazed into the flickering fire.
"What are you?"
"A Soul. I think." The flame replied.
"Okay. What are you doing in my body?" Young next asked.
"I don't know. I have no memory prior to waking up and being assaulted with overwhelming energy."
"Okay. How long ago was that?" Young asked.
"By my count, roughly… four days ago."
"Four days? What was I doing four days ago?" Young said as he put his hand on his chin.
"Four days ago you were dying on the jungle floor."
"No, that was yesterday." Young replied.
"No, that was four days ago." The flame corrected.
"Wait, what?" Young said incredulously.
"What do you mean four days? I passed out that long?" Young asked.
"..You were injured. It's easier to mend a body when the body is unconscious, so I used my power to heal your injuries." The flame replied before adding," but that's not what's really important."
"What do you mean that's not important? Four days? People have probably come to look for me by now! If I don't get back up the mountain they will think I'm dead!" Young shouted.
"You have a much bigger problem than that, child."
"I'm not a child, my name is Young Jade. I'm the master of the Jade Family so don't forget it!" Young retorted as he pointed his finger towards the flame. The flame flickered as if giving him a dismissive attitude. Young clicked his tongue and folded his arms before continuing.
"So, what's this problem--err, what shall I call you?"
"I… I don't know. I can't remember."
"What do you remember then?" Young next asked.
"Many things, but very little about who I am. Which is why I sought to explain the situation to you. Now listen, and stop asking so many questions. This is a matter of life or death, particularly yours AND mine." The flame half expected some sort of response from Young Jade, but it seemed as if his experiences afforded him a measure of trust so the flame continued.
"This mass of energy you see right now. You attempted to assimilate it into your body-yes? It was a wise call. Had you not done that you would have probably died from the intensity. This is pure energy, pure elemental lightning, hence the white color. Some call it Holy Lightning.
When I awoke, in order to keep us both from perishing I placed a seal on the energy. As it is now, it's contained but it is slowly leaking out. It is all I could manage in my current state. Slowly, surely this power will begin to invade your body once more and if you aren't ready to receive it when that time comes -- you will die."
"Wait, what?" Young asked in disbelief.
"You have some knowledge of cultivation, so you must know how this works. As a cultivator you work to draw ambient energy into your body. The act of using cultivation techniques speeds this up. Luckily your affinity is for lightning element, were it not you'd have died the second you tried to assimilate this power."
"My affinity is for lightning? I didn't know that…" Young remarked.
"What? You mean you tried to absorb this power without even knowing if it would be safe? What kind of reckless idiot are you?" The flame retorted. It's tone was decidedly agitated. It sighed deeply before continuing.
"Anyway, long story short, you both succeeded and failed. It seems that parts of my consciousness are trapped within this mass of energy. In order for me to access them, you'll have to absorb the rest of it. I assumed that since you were a compatible cultivator you would be able to accept the energy, I'd be able to regain my memories and you would gain great strength, after all this is pure energy of the highest sort. It would undoubtedly fuel a great deal of strength for you but…."
"But?" Young asked curiously.
"After examining your vessel, I've realized you're simply too weak."
"What?!"
"Weak. Unskilled. The only thing you are matchless in is being incapable." The flame continued deriding Young.
"But, it seems we are stuck together. With that in mind I have decided to help you." The flame stated.
"I'm not sure if I even want your help. Who are you to lecture me, invader of my soul sea!" Young felt offended at the flame's words, though he realized they were all true to an extent. This is perhaps what annoyed him the most.
"I .. I don't know. But I do know that I possess a great deal of knowledge about cultivating strength that would be of great use to you. You grow stronger, finish assimilating this energy and in return I will gain my memories. The situation is ideal, is it not?" The flame responded.
When Young refused to answer it then added. "I'm sorry. I did not mean to offend you, Young Jade."
"Hmmph." Young Jade grunted as he mulled over the situation. It was true that he could use some help. And truth be told this was the first "person" that ever offered.
"Okay. I'll go along with it for now." Young responded.
"Excellent. However there's just one problem." The flame said.
"My power has its limits. Since I spent a great deal of it healing your wounds these past days I have very little left. It is all I can do to maintain this seal and once the seal dissipates both you and I will be consumed by the energy within. I estimate that you have only seventy days at most before the seal fades away and that's if I limit my powers."
"Seventy days? Are you serious? Less than three months?" Young was truly shocked by this news considering that he'd spent almost as much time training, only to gain minimal.
"Yes. This means that I won't be able to speak to you directly like before. Instead I will use the bare minimum of my powers, this should be enough to help guide your cultivation and allow me to conserve my own strength."
"So in other words, the words I saw, you'll use something like that to help me?"
"Yes. Correct." The flame felt somewhat conflicted, for this was the first time the two agreed on anything. It felt…..weird.
"Great. Well once we get out of here--"
"I'm afraid that will be easier said than done Young Jade."
"What do you mean?" Young asked.
"That creature, there are dozens more like it in this area along with many other creatures that would easily squash you like a bug. I fended many of them off as you slept, but I can no longer do so. If you want to survive you will need to cultivate your own strength to at least the second rank if you wish to stand a chance…"