Cyntilla walked through the Inner District streets until she left behind the rough crowds of the market and entered the much more refined Golden Ward. It was one of several high end areas that the rich and powerful could choose to visit and find the services they were used to at home.
Her virulent green eyes were filled with a mix of rage and worry. Shortly after the stunning attack on Lind, she had been pulled away by her guards without a chance to reassure him she would see him again.
She had not revealed her status out of habit. During such a competition, only a fool would reveal their titles unless certain of their use. Cyntilla was only a clan princess of the Fang Clan. The Darkmoor Kingdom encouraged the subordinate clans to actively develop through combat and conquering their rivals. Thus, while there was only 1 demonic kingdom, there were many clans that were equivalent to the human kingdoms or empires that served Darkmoor.
Cyntilla did not care at this moment as she had been stuck with her entourage awaiting the final verdict from her father. The man had sent an envoy with her and while he was pleased with her gaining entry to the Academy, he had been enraged to learn she had been with a human. Her father was a massive bigot to humans.
This was not a unique perspective among the clans. Many demons felt humans were only useful as chattel or beasts of burden. Humans were also good for 'entertainment.' Darkmoor did not allow impulsive slaughters, but many clans found a way to seem honorable as they slaughtered villages that impinged on clan borders.
She was disgusted by the hypocrisy of those 'noble' demons. The royal family allowed it and thus was just as culpable in her mind. The fallout of Jia Teng's death truly shook Cyntilla. The royal edict shocked her but it was too late. Lind had her mark. They could not stop her from seeing him per their own code.
Her father had nearly lost his mind when he learned of this and forbade her from seeing Lind unless she wanted to watch him die. It was not an idle threat. Trynith was many things, but he was not a man who did not follow through on his words regarding killing humans. The man had no respect from her. Cyntilla knew his plans had been ruined if it got out and currently the eye of the Empire and the Kingdom were on Lind so no one could act against him for now.
Cyntilla finally reached the 4 storey inn with a golden key on its sign. Latchkey was a decent inn but not the best of the Golden Ward. It was all Cyntilla could afford without her father finding out that she brought an additional person to the Academy entrance test. The guards would normally stop her from indulging such things but there was a single exception.
Cyntilla waved at the youth sitting behind the desk near the entrance and moved through the dining room to the stairwell. With nerves on edge, she skipped steps as she nearly ran to the VIP top floor. The suites on this floor were at least 2 rooms together with a master suite that took up half the floor.
The gilded door stood secure as Cyntilla approached it and saw the single guard she had left there. She nodded at the silent sentinel and infused her Qi into the formation at the door. It had been imprinted by her and her alone. Only the innkeeper could open this door otherwise.
A dim light flowed through the drawn curtains as a person was laying on the bed visible from the doorway. The massive suite was still pristine from over a month ago when Cyntilla left the most important person in her life here. The raspy breath pained her as she approached the frail looking demoness laying on the bed.
If anyone was in the room, the instant they saw the 2 together, they would see a clear resemblance. Cyntilla was the bloom of youth while the woman in the bed had clearly been ravaged by something. While the frail older woman seemed wilted, it was clear she was once very beautiful. The raven black hair was mixed with streaks of white while the lavender skin was a sickly color.
Cyntilla had downplayed the severity of her mother's condition to Lind. She knew nothing of his expertise but their adventures together and his actions made her trust him. He was the first human that did not react with disgust to see her nor did he try to grow close to her for the sake of obvious intentions.
The 2 vials in her hand trembled as she carefully remembered Lind's instructions. The paste was applied to her mother's chest carefully and she waited. It took some time but the raspiness of the breath lessened and color seemed to increase to her mother's cheeks. This did not inspire much as other alchemists had been able to get this result with a pill.
The elixir was the only change. Cyntilla prayed as her own appraisal confirmed the potency of the material as close to World Realm. The fluid gently flowed into her mother's mouth and then Qi was used to move it into her body. A cultivator, even when injured or sick, instinctively regulated Qi and materials into their body.
Cyntilla stopped after half the vial was empty as Lind instructed and then waited. There was a bit more paste and half a vial left. The day passed before coughing began. Her mother looked pained but Cyntilla moved quickly and titled her mother on her side until a massive back flow came up her throat.
A vile smell quickly filled the room as an impurity was expelled with some kind of green substance. Cyntilla acted quickly and applied more paste. Water was now carefully guided down her mother's throat until the coughing finally stopped after each drink. Cyntilla then waited to be sure and used the rest of the elixir.
The results were immediate. Sweat seemed to flow like a river from her body and the room was full of the stench of even more impurities and softer but persistent coughing expelled massive amounts of bright green material. Cyntilla would normally be disgusted by such things but the transformation of her mother made tears fall of happiness.
"Bring me a tub of water, now!" She bellowed and the stomp of feet faded as the guard rushed off. In short order, a tub was brought in and formations were used to bring the water to a pleasant temperature as the guard and inn employee gently lifted and immersed her mother after her clothes were removed.
Cyntilla was not worried about impropriety as the black crud on the body obscured everything worrisome. Both men stepped back and Cyntilla took over.
"Charge my reservation and summon cleaners immediately. Also, Gar, go to my room and bring me the pouch on my table." Both men jumped to her stern instructions. The pouch held more travel items than anything precious but for the purpose of bathing, it had all the essentials.
In the time it took to clean all the black impurities, the maids had swiftly cleaned. Cyntilla authorized a large tip that made the staff smile. The only thing in Cyntilla's virulent green eyes was the now pristine visage of her mother. Where once her body labored to circulate Qi, it now flowed smoothly and her body was quickly recovering and suddenly broke through to Stone Tier without a problem!
Finally, prismatine eyes were revealed and a smile graced her mother's full beauty once more. Cyntilla did not even allow words as she hugged her mother close and in her heart swore over and over that Lind Frey was forever her companion. She would find a way, no matter what, to honor the mark she put on him.
"I see you found the miracle you were looking for my little poison. I feel amazing. Tell me all that has happened while you were gone." The steady voice without any rasping breath or breaks to suffer coughs was the most excellent music to Cyntilla's ears. She was about to answer when a firm grip held her by the chin as her mother looked suddenly very serious.
"Who did you give your mark to, young lady?" Strangely, Cyntilla felt only joy at the admonishment. Even so, it was a serious conversation and it was where she had to start her story.
"His name is Lind Frey, mother, and…" Cyntilla began to recount the wonderful encounter that had changed both their fates. The only thing Cyntilla left off was the order from Darkmoor. There was so much to do first before dealing with that headache.
****
The dormitories of the Lotus Academy were far more luxurious the farther up the hierarchy a student progressed. Outer students had to share rooms with 3 other students that likely shared complementary elements. The goal was to teach cultivators to work together and see how all 6 elements can come together outside of personal techniques.
The inner dorms had at least 1 roommate but usually it was more advanced techniques complimented at that point to encourage pushing the path forward where techniques could go. Elemental control was also heavily encouraged but personal progress is more dominant in those dorms compared to the Outer Dorms.
Finally, the Core Dorms were essentially noble level quality for a single student. Room for followers or companions was accommodated in each suite but could also hold alchemical, formation, or refining work space for a cultivator pursuing those fields. Core Students were entrusted with duties of rule enforcement under an Elder or administering the lower dorms mission and treasure halls under the respective Elders.
The point was as a student advanced, if they could, they would be expected to put forth far more effort at each level. Seeing a Core Student also acted as motivation for cultivators to progress by inspiration as much as the drive to improve.
The limit of the students, however, was peak Soul Realm with a limited time at low Sand Tier for the Core Students. Once a student reached the World Realm, they can then choose how to move forward as an Elder of the Academy at the Outer Dorm or join a guild/power that had scouted them over the course of their time at the Academy.
The final deadline is time. If a Soul Realm reaches 25 years of age, the likelihood of breaking through to the World Realm begins to drop dramatically. It was not impossible at all with pills or treasures, but the potential begins to be much lower without external help.
A Core Student was not necessarily 9th Tier. Exams were offered as one way to advance to demonstrate control, quality of techniques, or comprehension of cultivation could advance to higher classes. Contribution was another but riskier method via the mission halls or assignments from an Elder directly. The contributions can be slow and steady over time but take years to advance even from the Outer Dorm to the Inner Dorm, but a single high risk mission could directly advance a student to Core Dorm if they survive.
Such missions were understandably rare.
The final method to advance from Outer to Inner, or to Core, was to donate a discovery from the Ruins that make a massive change to the cultivation archive of the Academy.
This last path was how Lind found himself a Core Student as soon as he entered the Lotus Academy. He had reported to the Administration Hall as new students had been instructed after the month-long trial of the Ruins. He, at first, had been assigned to the Outer Dorm but Lind had not even accepted his token when an Inner Student had sprinted into the hall and whispered something to the Core Student running the desk.
The young man looked stunned and envious at Lind before swapping the Academy token for a black and violet one. His robes had become black with violet lining as well to show he was a Core Student. The plain white of the Outer Dorm had been in front of him only a moment before while the violet of an Inner Dorm had passed by on his way in.
Lind was satisfied as what he had turned was precious to the Lotus Empire, even if they did not have the staff artifact to go with it.
Lind felt hollow despite putting up a normal face for the students he met. It was only a matter of time before his pariah status spread but until then, he politely greeted those he passed. The suite he entered was massive and had a small area for an herb garden that brought a true smile to his face.
He was 16 years old and would be moving forward alone. Some chose such a path, but Lind had hoped to make friends and kind of treat the Academy like college on Earth. Now, he felt like the euphoria of all that happened after the Tri-Clan Tournament was washed away as the dream it was.
He was weak. He was powerless to choose how to live. He was done letting the whims of others force him down a path he did not want to walk. He had chosen to face far more powerful cultivators to save his big sister Teyla and won. All the odds were against him and massive cheating as well, but he still won.
His fierce face was a far cry from the gentle and kind Lind most knew. A wonderful woman had protected him and he was infuriated it was treated as a punishment she deserved it. The flow of Qi in the world was more complicated than he thought too. He had delved deep into that pattern he had watched for 5 years and held in his hands. The Ruins had changed his perspective.
The techniques were wrong. The theory of elements was wrong. Cultivators were getting lucky and pushing themselves forward with flawed understanding that Lind could not use. He would have to start over and he only had himself to rely on.
A knock startled him. It was curt but not overly loud. It was as if the person only wanted him to hear it. Lind used his Eyes but was stunned to realize that with his doors closed, he could not see outside the walls of his suite. It meant no one could see inside either so it made sense.
Lind went to the door and slowly opened it. There was no one there at all. He tried to see the elements but the Core Dorms had formations to keep the halls clear of elements. The high class feel was even making sure no one could follow elements to a door, but then who knocked?
Lind was about to close the door when he saw the wooden box. It was simple and nothing of Qi flowed into it or out of it, but it sat there. He picked it up but it would not open. It only took a moment before Lind realized what he had in his hands as he noticed grooves finely fitted together.
"A puzzle box." Tears welled in Lind's eyes as he looked up and down the hall one more time before he turned to close his door. "Thank you." His words floated out into the hall to whoever might be listening as he focused on the puzzle he had been given.