The medical hall was quiet, save for the soft rustling of curtains and the occasional murmur of healers attending to the injured fighters. Sariella and Torosolla lay on separate beds, their bodies still recovering from the brutal tournament. The scent of medicinal herbs filled the air, a sharp contrast to the blood and sweat they had both endured in the arena. The walls were lined with shelves of elixirs and ointments, and healers moved swiftly between patients, their hands glowing with the soft light of healing Qi.
Sariella's pale skin had regained some of its color, but her body was still weak. She sat upright, her eyes fixed on the ceiling, lost in thought. Torosolla, lying in the next bed, could see the tension in her expression. He had known her for years, and this was not the first time he had seen her pushed to her limits.
"You did well," Torosolla said quietly, breaking the silence. His voice was rough from the pain, but there was no mistaking the warmth in his words.
Sariella turned her head slightly, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. "Well? I lost. Father will never let me forget it."
Before Torosolla could respond, the door to the hall slammed open. Lord Arenar, Sariella's father, stormed in, his eyes blazing with anger. His heavy boots echoed across the room as he approached his daughter's bedside. Sariella lowered her gaze, bracing herself for the inevitable.
"You embarrassed me," Arenar growled, his voice low and dangerous. "In front of everyone."
Sariella opened her mouth to apologize, but before she could utter a word, a sharp slap echoed through the hall as Arenar's hand connected with her cheek. The force of the blow sent her head snapping to the side.
"SIR, SHE'S NOT YET RECOVERED!" Torosolla's voice rang out, full of fury. He struggled to rise from his bed, pain shooting through his body, but he was too weak to stand. His heart pounded as he glared at Arenar, anger burning in his chest.
Arenar turned, his eyes narrowing at Torosolla. "Says the one who humiliated her," he sneered. "It's none of your concern. Perhaps I'll notify your father, Lord Tanor, of your misconduct these past three days. He should be the one to discipline you."
Torosolla's resolve faltered at the mention of his father. He clenched his fists, biting back the retort on his tongue. "I apologize," he muttered, his voice heavy with shame.
With a disdainful huff, Arenar turned and strode out of the room, leaving a tense silence in his wake.
Torosolla turned to Sariella, guilt weighing heavily on his shoulders. "I'm sorry. I should have protected you better."
Later that day, Stoinis sat alone in his room at the corner of his bed, deep in thought. The matches, the tension, and the relentless fighting had worn him down, but something else occupied his mind—his growth. Despite his strength, he felt there was more he could tap into.
Qi cultivation had been something he'd overheard from older warriors, though it was never practiced in his village. It was a way to channel energy, a method of growing stronger beyond just physical training. As he mulled over this, he closed his eyes and tried to focus, attempting to draw the Qi from around him into his body, to accumulate it as he had seen others do.
Just as he began to feel a faint flow of energy within, he felt a sudden, sharp interference. It was as if something had blocked his connection to the Qi, and in the dark recesses of his mind, he heard a familiar voice—Shadow.
"Dumb human," Shadow hissed, his voice laced with disdain. "Why do you insist on accumulating such a toxin inside your body?"
Stoinis's eyes flew open, startled. "A toxin? Isn't Qi meant to strengthen me?"
Shadow's tone softened, but only slightly. "It does strengthen you, but at the cost of your true potential. The Qi you humans cultivate — Yuan Qi, is nothing but a deviated form of pure energy. A forgotten technique once mastered by the ancients of the first generation, now warped and tainted."
Stoinis frowned, trying to make sense of it. "Deviated? How do you know all of this, Shadow? You were created by us—how could you know of things so ancient?"
"None of your concern," Shadow replied curtly. "What you should focus on is cultivating pure Qi, not this diluted trash you're gathering. One drop of pure Qi is worth ten years of your foolish Yuan Qi."
Stoinis didn't fully understand what Shadow was explaining, but he trusted him, strangely enough. Despite the arrogance and the mystery surrounding him, Shadow had never led him astray. And so, he listened.
"How do I cultivate this pure Qi?" Stoinis asked cautiously.
"You must rise before dawn, no it's better when the moon's still up" Shadow instructed. "Pure Yin Qi, the energy of the cold and dark, gathers in the early morning. Absorb that, and you'll find your path. But be warned, once the sun rises, the energy shifts. It becomes Yang Qi, incompatible with your martial arts."
Stoinis nodded, committing the instructions to memory. He didn't fully grasp the concept of Yin and Yang Qi, but he knew enough to follow what Shadow had said.
The next morning, before the sun had risen, Stoinis stood outside, in a secluded grove on the outskirts of the city. The air was crisp, and the sky was still cloaked in darkness. Stoinis closed his eyes and tried to focus, to feel the world around him as Shadow had instructed.
Slowly, the sounds of the world became sharper. He could hear the leaves rustling softly in the breeze, the gentle drip of dew falling from the branches onto the cold earth below. He could feel the birds stirring in their nests, the soft flutter of wings breaking the silence. And there, amidst the trees, he could sense two squirrels, young and lively, chasing each other through the branches in a playful dance of new love.
The world felt more alive than ever before, every tiny detail clear in his mind. As he stood there, absorbing the tranquility of the pre-dawn hours, he began to feel the energy around him. The Yin Qi, cold and still, began to flow into him, filling his body with a strange, icy sensation. His breath slowed, and he felt a deep connection to the world around him.
But then, he felt the chill become too much. His body shivered, and frost seemed to form on the grass beneath his feet.
"You overdid it, brat," Shadow's voice cut through the peaceful moment.
Stoinis opened his eyes and exhaled slowly, stopping the flow of energy. His muscles ached slightly, but he felt more alive than he had in years. He had absorbed too much Yin Qi, and now his body felt heavy, as if weighed down by the cold. His skin prickled, and he could feel impurities being forced out of his system, a strange sensation that left him feeling both exhausted and rejuvenated at once.
He looked up to the sky. The sun was starting to rise. He knew he needed to return, but part of him wanted to stay, to remain in the serenity of this moment. But he had pushed himself enough for one day.
Stoinis began walking back toward the medical hall. He spotted Raylor, deep in his morning training. Raylor glanced up, noticing his approach.
"Any insights?" Raylor asked, his voice calm, though there was a hint of curiosity.
Stoinis wiped the sweat from his brow. "I reaped a lot, thanks to Shadow."
"Shadow?" Raylor asked, raising an eyebrow.
"The snake I mentioned. The manifestation of martial arts or whatever he called himself," Stoinis replied casually, moving toward the showers.
"I guess I shouldn't be astonished by anything anymore," Raylor muttered under his breath.
Stoinis chuckled. "It's naturally the case."
As he stepped under the cold water of the bath, Stoinis could feel the remnants of the Yin Qi still swirling within him. He could absorb more from the water if he wanted, but his body had already reached its limit for today. For now, it was time to rest. He knew that the journey of cultivating pure Qi would be long, but he was ready to follow this new path, guided by Shadow.
Stoinis rested under the tree he had been cultivating, reluctant to leave the serene atmosphere that enveloped him. The morning air was crisp, and the world felt alive in a way he had never experienced before. He breathed deeply, soaking in the tranquility, but alas! The sun began to rise, its light piercing through the branches, reminding him he had to go.
Rising reluctantly, Stoinis made his way back, recalling his earlier discussions with Raylor. As he approached the training ground, he spotted Raylor, immersed in his morning practice, his movements fluid and powerful. When he noticed Stoinis returning, he paused, a hint of curiosity lighting his eyes. "Any insights?" he asked.
"I reaped a lot, thanks to Shadow," Stoinis replied, a smile creeping onto his face.
"Shadow?" Raylor raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Oh, the snake I mentioned, the manifestation of martial arts or whatever he called himself," Stoinis explained casually.
"I guess I shouldn't be astonished?" Raylor mused, shaking his head slightly.
"It is naturally the case," Stoinis chuckled as he moved toward the showers. His body was laden with impurities that had been purged out by the chilling Yin Qi. If he wanted, he could absorb more Yin Qi from the cold water in his bath, but he didn't want to—it was already too much for one day. He considered burning some Qi off, but the thought of wasting it felt wrong.
Qi was indeed a powerful tool for fighting, but he couldn't quite grasp how to harness it yet. He knew he needed to practice more with Raylor, who had already begun his training high up on the peak.
With determination in his heart, Stoinis headed to the mountain, eager to train alongside his mentor. But as he climbed, a sense of unease crept over him, growing stronger with each step. He sensed something was off in the atmosphere.
When he finally reached the summit, the sight that greeted him was not what he had expected. The air was heavy, and a foreboding silence enveloped the area. Stoinis squinted, straining his senses, and felt it—a faint pulse, weak and flickering. Panic surged through him as he rushed toward the source.
"Raylor!" he called out, dread tightening around his chest. He found Raylor lying on the ground, his body battered and covered in blood, cuts crisscrossing his skin like a macabre tapestry.
"Stoinis..." Raylor's voice was barely a whisper, filled with pain and regret. He attempted to lift his head, but a grimace of agony crossed his face. "You shouldn't be here..."
"What happened?" Stoinis knelt beside him, his heart pounding as he assessed the damage. "Who did this?"
"There were... others... they challenged me. I thought I could protect..." Raylor's breath came in shallow gasps, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
"Protect me?" Stoinis's voice was a mix of anger and fear. "You shouldn't have faced them alone! You're hurt. We can find help!"
Raylor's eyes shimmered with a mixture of sorrow and pride. "You've grown strong, Stoinis... but sometimes, strength isn't enough. I'm sorry... I won't be there to guide you anymore."
"Don't say that!" Stoinis shouted, desperation clawing at his throat. "You'll be okay! We'll get you back to the medical hall. You can heal; we can fight together. You've always been there for me, Raylor!"
With every word, Stoinis felt the cold grip of fear wrap tighter around his heart. Raylor smiled weakly, but it was a smile filled with regret. "Promise me you'll continue to grow. Cultivate that Pure Qi... but don't let it consume you. Always remember the bond we shared." Raylor coughed a lot a blood.
"No don't speak! You are already hurt! I can't do this without you!" Tears streamed down Stoinis's face as he gripped Raylor's hand, feeling the warmth slowly fading from it.
With a final, shuddering breath, Raylor's eyes fluttered shut, and his body grew still. Stoinis's wretched cry echoed across the mountains, a heart-wrenching sound of loss and despair. He cradled Raylor's lifeless form, feeling the last remnants of life leaving him, and let out a howl that reverberated through the stillness, the sorrow threatening to tear him apart.
In the midst of his anguish, a figure emerged from the shadows, cloaked in a long black robe. The man approached slowly, a sinister smile playing on his lips, sending chills racing down Stoinis's spine. The air around them grew colder, shadows deepening, as if the darkness itself responded to the man's presence.
"Do you seek revenge?" the figure asked, his voice smooth yet dripping with malice.
The words hung in the air, heavy with dark promise. Stoinis's heart pounded in his chest, fury igniting within him as he glared at the man, the world around him fading into oblivion.
"A newfound happiness, and yet again theived,
Like whispers in the night, a triumph short lived."