6 Fresh Air
Caelum experienced little change during the few months leading up to his 1 year orphanversery...
He just made that up. An orphanversery is not a thing.
It has been one year since he has been an orphan that is why he had called it as such - that Caelum remembers, a few months unrecoverable memories is not anything to lose sleep over. He took over their body, expecting to know what they knew which was little to no actual memories would do nothing for him.
Today was also the day that Vaile would accompany him outside. For the past few months, he learned a relatively decent amount of practical information. Information about currency exchange rates, the name of our town and the towns nearest to them. What kind of exports our town has, what our town focuses on and the factions that occupy this town.
He with rehearsed confidence uttered a few words standing firmly on the ground. He had years of experience, he practiced enough even if it was just a brief period a time to get used to walking again. He had a decent sense of balance. One that was abnormal for a kid his age.
The same day he found Vaile and decided to do as he planned and ask for more books.
"Would I be able to get more books...?" He asked Vaile with a calm smile.
Vaile raised her eyebrows in surprise. Caelum had never said anything so when he finally spoke it came as a surprise.
"Are you a year old yet little one?"
"Uh... No... I mean yes... I am not sure. " Caelum told her the truth. He could only shake his head as he did.
"Huh. I... Er... I think you are. Pretty sure anyway." Vaile questioned.
"Why did you ask?" Was the reply that Caelum came up with.
"Making small talk. I will be right back and check with the head matron. " Her aloofness returning.
"Get dressed before we leave, okay?"
She quickly left, closing the door behind her leaving him standing there, patiently and I got on a simple tunic and pants that was quite a nice fit.
She returned nearly as fast as she left, and told me that we could head out whenever he wanted.
"Now's good." He replied. He was feeling extremely eager to go outside.
"Okay, follow along." Vaile's voice while aloof her eyes were carefully keeping watch as to always know his location.
He was going outside for the first time in his memory. In the nursery, he could see out the window. Who would be content with just looking out the window? Not this transmigrator. The sight was simply trees. Bah!
Infants that housed the mind of teenagers needed a breather from the actual infants. This increased the urgency that he got fresh air as soon as humanly possible.
It was a breath of fresh air (literally) when he went outside. There was one peculiar thing that happened. His eyes were covered with a blindfold before he went out. That was suspicious.
She kept saying that it was a condition that needed to be taken into account when going outside. Once they were in town would she then take the blindfold off of his face?
It did not make him angry, it only made him further look forward to seeing the town that they lived in and question why the fuck they had to put a blindfold on his face.
Fine, it made him angry, just a smidge!
No doubt, his face would need to be covered on the way back. Right now Caelum would take in all the sights, he never got a chance like this before so it would be best if he took advantage of the situation while he could.
When he heard a set of what should be doors swing open Caelum felt the fresh oxygen enter his lungs, with no sight it was a weird experience alright.
Walking with a blindfold on was an experience that was out of the ordinary. Sensory deprivation was something he saw in a few anime he had seen.
He was not getting trained using blindfolds but it was something that he would remember in the future. Vaile held his hand until the blindfold was taken off.
When he did he felt free.
The moment that he could see was the moment that he could see every so often was a stall. They were selling food, herbs and other necessities. They looked less well-funded, that was likely the reason they did not have a store.
The stores were obviously of a much higher standard and quality when they were compared to the stalls. He noticed one store, in particular, it was a bookstore called Old Man's Qi Technique Shop in big letters.
He entered the store and saw techniques in different pockets that lined the walls. There title out in the open.
The store owner stood behind the front desk. He was an older gentleman in a blue and cyan robe with flowing sleeves that went further than his hands.
"Hello... Mrs..." The store owner said as if seeing if she would finish by saying her name.
"Oh, it's Vaile. Ms. Vaile." She said, bowing slightly Caelum did the same.
"Hello than Ms. Vaile, do you want to buy cultivation techniques today?" He asked, his voice quite charming.
"No, this little one wants to check them out," Vaile said gesturing to Caelum.
"Isn't that so."
Caelum nodded his head in his agreement, he knew better than to dilly dally.
"Hi, I'm Caelum as she says I am looking for some cultivation techniques."
"Do you have any Energy Circuits?" The old man's voice was steady, only a slight hint of curiosity could be detected by his voice alone.
His eyes carried the same tint of curiosity that his eyes did.
"I am not sure... Mr." Caelum was sure to give respect to him, he knew that the man was stronger, not sure by how much but held greater power than Vaile did.
He did not want to antagonize that man.
"Young fellow, follow me to the back. Ms. Vaile was it, you have to stay here in the front room. Do not worry he won't be back there long we will just be checking his talent." The old man motioned and he knew better than to waste the time of an old man. In the novels, they were usually elders, and they had serious power and backing behind him.
Caelum's eyes bugged out a bit at his words as he processed them.
This was a cultivation store, would it not be a similar case for an old man. He carries himself with such longevity and regal bearing despite his old age.
Were there sects too!?
"It'll be fine Ms. Vaile, I will be right back and with acceptable results," Caelum said his footing ever steady as he disappeared thinking on it further.
"Talent while is important, hard work is the discerning factor on whether you will succeed or not."
Despite that, he did hear the words that she spoke and yelled back to her.
"Understood. I will be right back then!"
He followed behind the Old Mister, the back room door closing. Caelum gave an apprehensive smile as he saw the set up in the back room.
There were four orbs making a square shape each orb was light blue in color and stuck on a pole.
There was a complex formation drawn out.
"Sit in the middle and close your eyes kid, focus." The old man instructed and Caelum did as he instructed taking a breath and sat with his legs crisscrossed.
This would decide if he would sink or swim if he fought or ran from his fate.
He closed his eyes tight. His hands balled into fists.
Here his destiny would be decided!
