Master Kale led Lassim to his office, a spacious room with shelves filled with ancient tomes and scrolls, and a large desk at the center. The room was dimly lit, with the only source of light coming from a single candle on the desk.
Master Kale's office was a reflection of his personality so far - stern, disciplined, and yet to Lassim's surprise he noticed the room had a touch of warmth and character. The room was spacious, with high ceilings and large windows that let in plenty of natural light. The walls were lined with shelves filled with ancient tomes and scrolls, each one meticulously organized and labeled. The room was moderately lit, with the only source of light coming from the opened windows behind the desk that overlooked the training grounds.
The desk itself was a sturdy oak, with a few papers scattered across its surface. There was a quill and inkwell, as well as a few small trinkets - a small jade figurine, a square black crystal of some sort, and a crystal balance. The desk was tidy and cared for, with no sign of clutter or disarray.
In one corner of the room, there was a small training area, with a wooden dummy and a few practice weapons. There was also a small rack of weights and a few other pieces of interesting looking equipment. The room was personalized, with a few martial trophies of war displayed proudly on the walls - a shattered chest plate, a giant hide of some creature that radiated a slight bloody scent that gave the room an odd musk, and a few other pieces of hide and scales strong along a necklace of some sort.
"Please, have a seat," Master Kale said, gesturing towards a chair opposite his desk.
Lassim took a seat, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. He had been summoned to his father's office before, but usually only when he was in trouble. He couldn't help but relate that situation to the one he was in now. Master Kale's discussion was not to be taken lightly.
Master Kale sat down behind his desk, his expression serious as he regarded Lassim.
"Lassim, your progress...," Master Kale began, his voice calm but firm. "Your rapid growth in cultivation is... unusual, to say the least. You're at SI3, correct?"
Lassim nodded, feeling a sense of relief that Master Kale was addressing the issue head-on.
"Yes, Master Kale. I've advanced quickly and it's nothing like what I was told by my tutor back home. If I am to advance to Spirit Growth stage before I learn everything I'm supposed to, won't that leave my foundation weak? I will need the knowledge and training to become strong. How will I do that if I'm forced to graduate early?"
"I understand your concerns," Master Kale continued. "But I want you to know that I believe you have the potential to become a superior warrior, even if your path is different from everyone that has come before you. The academy will surely let you continue your education, but we may need to make adjustments. I will speak with the Headmaster and Vice-Headmaster about this and we will most likely create a plan that allows you to cultivate as hard and fast as you can to the upper levels while staying enrolled. For now, push your limits as much as you can. I want to see how quickly you truly can grow." A gleam, containing a slight hint of savage ferocity, like challenging the heaven's natural order, shown in Master Kale's eyes.
"Here, take these, and don't worry. I'll make the Headmaster repay me once I've talked to him." Master Kale waved his hand and transferred 200 mid level elemental source stones into Lassim's magic pouch.
His eyes widened in surprise. He had not expected Master Kale to be so supportive of his accelerated growth.
"However," Master Kale said, his tone becoming more serious. "I also believe that there is something more to your situation than meets the eye."
Lassim frowned, unsure of what Master Kale was getting at.
"As a guardian of the Myriad Spirit Academy, it is part of my duty to keep a close eye on the war against the Dragal for our region," Master Kale explained. "And I, like the many other guardians across the Veridian Continent, have noticed a disturbing trend. For the past year, there has been an unnatural peace. No portals from which the abyssal legion emerge have opened, and there have been no other reports of Dragal activity."
Lassim's frown deepened. He had heard of the Dragal's plans to invade the realm at his awakening ceremony from Famthar, but he had never expected the situation to be beyond the status quo so soon.
"I suspect that the omen that your dual spirits represent is one of great misfortune for all of us on Nexaria," Master Kale said, his voice grave. "And I believe that your unrestricted growth so early on is also a sign. A sign that we will need a...."
'A bastion.' Lassim's heart raced at the thought, remembering what Famthar had called him on that day, struggling to digest the enormity of Master Kale's words. These felt much more real as they came from a man and not a fantastical being. This was the meager thoughts of a mortal that recognized the situation and the soon to be horrors that would drive the gods to choose a mere child to become a weapon
"... A warrior, someone of untold power, to say the least." Master Kale sighed as he looked at the tiny stature of the 8 year old Lassim.
"Your dual spirits, they are a rare gift. You must learn to harness this power, to control it, and to use it for the good of all. I've faced their abyssal legion and it is a terror beyond which you can fathom child. This will be your greatest challenge, and your greatest opportunity. Seize it with both hands and swing your halberd with all you can give."
Lassim nodded, a newfound resolve kindling within him. The path ahead was fraught with danger and uncertainty, but he understood what was at stake. The guardian's guidance had illuminated the first steps, cultivate. Cultivate to the higher stages as fast as possible. If he was to save anyone or protect his life, he needed power. The restriction that applied to everyone else but him was a curse of what was to come, and also a blessing to be used. He'd use every elemental source stone he could get his hands on and reach for the heavens.
"Master Kale, I will do whatever it takes," Lassim said, his voice steady and strong. "I will train harder, learn everything I can, and face whatever comes with courage. For the realm, for my family, and for myself."
Master Kale placed a hand on Lassim's shoulder, a gesture of support and affirmation. "I have no doubt, Lassim. Remember, you are not alone in this. You have the support of your instructors, and the knowledge of those who have fought before you. Together, we will face the coming legions."
Thanking Master Kale and leaving his office, the afternoon sun hung high in the sky. With thoughts swirling in his mind from the meeting, he approached Lustria and Sirium near the training grounds. Only a few moments had passed since the abrupt meeting and most of the students were still on the field discussing what they should do for the remainder of the afternoon.
Lustria and Sirium's presence offered a semblance of normalcy despite the turmoil and responsibilities that weighed on him.
Lustria's eyes sparkled with curiosity, a mirror to Sirium's more reserved but equally inquisitive gaze.
"What did Master Kale want?" Lustria asked, her voice a mix of concern and excitement.
Sirium nodded in agreement, his interest palpable, yet he remained silent, allowing Lustria to take the lead in questioning.
Lassim hesitated, the weight of Master Kale's words and the enormity of his path forward pressing upon him. He managed a small smile, a facade to mask the inner conflict. "I'll share it with you later," he deflected, his voice carrying an unspoken plea for understanding. There was a delicate balance he sought to maintain, between the transparency that friendship demanded and the caution his newfound destiny necessitated.
Changing the subject, he steered the conversation toward their immediate future. "I think I'd like to rest and cultivate tonight, digest today's duel and everything that's been discussed. But tomorrow, we should head out to complete that snake grass herb collection mission we accepted. Are we still on for that?"
Lustria and Sirium exchanged a glance, sensing the undercurrents of Lassim's mood but respecting his wish for privacy. "Of course," Lustria replied with a nod, her tone supportive. "We'll meet up after tomorrow's Cultivation lesson with Elder Linara."
Sirium simply offered a smile and a nod, his agreement unspoken yet unequivocal. If he spoke, he might be too eager to pry further so he chose silence for his new friend instead.
Concerning their academic schedule, with two days completed, they had gained a better understanding of what was to come in the future. A well-structured blend of cultivation and theory lessons with Elder Linara, interspersed on opposite days with battle mastery and tactics under Master Kale, provided a rigorous but enlightening first-year curriculum. This routine would quickly become the cornerstone of their daily lives, offering a framework within which they could explore their growing powers and understanding of the world.
With plans for the next day set, they parted ways, each heading back to their respective caves. Lassim's steps were heavy with contemplation as he made his way back to his cave, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts about the future, his destiny, and the role he was to play in the looming conflict.
Once inside the solitude of his cave, he turned and entered the meditation chamber, Lassim took a deep breath, centering himself regardless of the storm of emotions and responsibilities that surrounded him. He carefully retrieved the 200 mid-level elemental source stones Master Kale had given him, their energy pulsating softly in his hand, a tangible symbol of the path he was now on.
Determined to make the most of this gift and to be thankful for the opportunity, he began the meticulous process of absorbing the elemental source stones, each one a step towards the untold power he would need to confront the challenges ahead. With his halberd across his lap and the [Storm Bringer] technique rotating at full velocity, the energy from the stones flowed into him through the tendrils of lightning and water that dissolved the stones. A torrent of energy that was both exhilarating and overwhelming, as he sought to harness and control it.
As the night deepened, Lassim remained focused, each absorbed stone strengthening him, preparing him for the journey ahead. From SI3 to SI4 to SI5, his growth was unrelenting. Only when he reached the halfway mark between SI5 and SI6 did the last mid grade elemental source stone disperse into dust. Yet, he continued to absorb the elements from the air as his perception of them grew with each level he surpassed.
Tomorrow would bring its own challenges, but for now, he was singularly focused on the task at hand, aware that each moment of preparation was a step towards becoming the warrior the Gods and even Master Kale believed he would need to become.