After along stroll to the library they finally arrived. Not like it was a bad thing, as the stroll had helped them to digest their meal, which was very filling. The library was built in to a cave, as no amount of wood would ever suffice to support a building a large as it. The two headed in, and were met with a fox by the counter, who had blonde hair and strawberry coloured eyes.
"Hello, welcome to the library. How can I help you? If you would like to borrow books, they are free but would cost a fifth grade stone to replace if lost or mishandled. Cultivation and pill refining rooms are provided, but cost a seventh grade stone to rent for an hour." The fox smiled.
Ryo tossed her a sixth and first grade stone to her, totalling to seventh grade. He glanced at her and replied, "One cultivation room. Thanks." They were quickly directed to the left, where the cultivation and pill refining rooms were. They found their designated slot and headed in. Although groups could enter, many prefered privacy and hence bought them for only a single individual. Inside the room was just bare floor surround by four walls of rocks. A small lantern fruit hung by the top to provide lighting. Ryo immediately sat down, and gestured to Miko to find the books she needed first. Miko understood the message and headed out.
Miko wandered through the maze of shelves. She walked over to the cultivation section, and specifically the ice affinity section. She prefered using this affinity over fire, but it was too late to change her cultivation path. Besides, it has saved her countless time before rather than fire. Fire and ice were particularly useful, such as being able to easily control the intensity of the cauldron in pill refining, and it was extremely easy to cool down a drink in the hot, warm summer. She felt the books on the shelf, reading their tittle to see which caught her fancy, before she eventually found one: High ice affinity: Skill perfection: Frozen breeze. Sadly, she didn't have the affinity to the wind element needed to perform this skill, and skimped by it. Some elements can be combined to boost an attack, such as this one, as long as they are not opposites, like fire and ice. However, such affinities have their own advantages and draw backs. If an opponent were immune to ice for example, they would likely not be affected by colder temperatures and more affected by the heat. However, an affinity to opposite elements meant that you could have higher resistance to both elements, making it an advantage.
Miko spotted another book this time that read: Icy ventures: Volume 2: How to manipulate ice magic better. She carefully picked it out from its spot, and went back to her allocated spot. Ryo was busy cultivating. Suddenly, a burst of light eminated from ryo, bright orange in colour. It condesed into thick, dense mist, which slowly swirled around his body, enveloping him. It then condesed into a shell, covering his body before breaking open in the shape of the crimson flame lily, a flower that produces high grade fire magic. Ryo opened his eyes, looking down onto the cold, stoney ground. He could see the traces of the lily before it completly disappeared. He looked up to see Miko, arms crossed, staring at him expectantly.
"Hmm?" Ryo asked.
"Nothing... You were in the middle of a break through so I didn't want to disturb you. How are you now?"
"I'm good. My fire affinity has ascended to nacent or sixth stage. Once I acend my ice affininity too, I can take on the heavenly tribulation." Ryo replied. Miko bit her lip, while nodding. She needed to get stronger again, for his sake to be on par with him. Actually, no, for Takei's sake. She needed to be able to protect him in this life, because she was still too weak in the past. She arrived a second too late, and saw him stabbed to death, blood flowing out of his stomach violently.
I must grow stronger to protect you...
Miko allowed Ryo to step aside, sitting cross-legged in the center in a meditative pose. She circulated her ice affinity magic throughout her meraidians, before widdening her eyes in horror. Not good!
"Whats wrong?" Ryo asked, an expression of worry appearing on his face.
"My affinity to ice... ITS GONE!" Miko panicked. This has never happened to anyone before!
"What?" Ryo replied in disbelief. Well, nobody sane would believe it anyway.
"Its gone... Its fricking gone!!" Miko mumbled, her voice sounding panicked. Her eyes were glistening, as tears threatened to fall out any second. She grabbed her hair, attempting to solve this stressful situation which obvioulsy didn't help. Sensing her mood, Ryo knelt on one foot before her.
"H-hey... Don't cry... Its fine..." He attempted to comfort her, but to no avail.
"How is this fine?! I just lost an affinity! A FRICKING AFFINITY!" I'm weak now!" Miko screamed. Thankfully, the stone walls were fortified with runes and hence soundproofed so that no one would be disturbed in the event something went wrong.
"Well, surely you at least have your fire affinity right?!" Ryo comforted. Hearing this, Miko calmed back down. She circulated her fire magic in her meridians this time. However, the only magic there was her innate magic, no element whatsoever! It was as if she did not choose a cultivation path at all, allowing her to be unable to use the elements.
"It dosen't exist in me either!" Miko wailed. This time, her eyes welled up and tears spilled out, gushing out like a strong, surging river. There seemed to be no stopping to them. She had lost all ability to use any element at all! Ryo knelt by her side unsure of what to do. The only line that seemed to give her some comfort had now backfired, making the situation worse. Like any good friend would do, he hugged her tight.
"Its okay... Cry as much as you want. This is something worth it to cry over." Ryo said, his words soothing her, as her wails turned into soft snifflings. He gently patted her back, continuing to calm her. At least this time she wasn't crying over some random man...