Chapter 22: Boundaries of Power

By now the mist had grown heavy over the trees, but Kai and Lia stood at the edge of the village clearing. In the air, crisp scents danced in the most minute golden rays that fought to pierce through leafy branches above them, lighting up their expectant countenance. Both were awake early enough; eyes shone bright with eagerness to see Aurelia and Garrick.

"You're early," Aurelia noted, stepping out of the shadows as if she had been there all along. Her presence was gentle but commanding, her eyes gleaming with quiet approval.

"We didn't want to waste any time," Kai said, looking at Lia, who nodded in agreement.

Aurelia gave a very slight smile. "Good. Your dedication will serve you well, especially with what we have planned today." She gestured to Garrick, who appeared behind them, carrying a bag. He dropped it heavily on the ground, the stones inside clinking as they settled.

"These", Garrick said, fishing in his pocket and pulling out a clump of smooth, spherical pebbles, "might appear to be perfectly plain pebbles, but today they're going to teach you to sharpen up your senses. At the level of Willforce where you currently are, reactions and awareness are heightened-but that's not all just about acting faster. Fine-tune that raw instinctive ability into something sharp and more focused."

Lia leaned forward, lighting up her eyes with interest. "So… what do we do?"

Garrick smirked. "Dodge." And with that, he flung one stone high into the air, its arc straight for Kai. Kai sidestepped reflexively as the stone whizzed past his head.

Good, but too slow, Garrick said, tossing another stone toward Lia without warning. She barely had time to react, stumbling backward, eyes wide. "When you're out there-truly out in the wilds-hesitation can be deadly. You need to trust your senses, especially the ones you're just beginning to develop.".

Aurelia stepped forward, hands wrapping a strip of cloth around each of their heads, covering their eyes. "Blindfolded training," she said coolly but firmly. This will force you to depend on more than just seeing. Listen to the noises around you, feel for the air shifts, rely on the Willforce Seed inside you.

Kai breathed in slowly. The world was dark, but he could start hearing the tiny noises he frequently missed—the rustling of leaves, the crunch of boots against the grass, and the soft whistle of every stone cutting through the air.

Before he could think much of it, the first stone came whizzing toward him. Instinctively, he dodged to the left just in time, feeling the stone pass close enough to stir the air beside his face.

"Good, but I expect you to be faster," Garrick barked, throwing another. Kai focused, sensing the faint sound and subtle change in the air, dodging just in time.

Beside him, Lia had begun to adjust already. She stoops and sways now in a flowing manner that speaks of growing confidence each time Garrick throws the stone at her.

Aurelia's voice pierced the darkness. "Don't forget, it's not just a question of dodging stones but about merging with the space and the instincts in one's own body. This Willforce Seed not only enhances speed but amplifies one's awareness of being one with everything surrounding the self."

It was not until minutes into the run that Aurelia called a halt. Both of them, panting hard but exhilarated, stared at each other, sweat-drenched and with a few injuries from being hit from stones. They pulled off their blindfolds, blinking in the sudden brightness of the forest clearing.

"Not bad," Garrick said, but a small smile tickled at the corner of his mouth. "But this is just the starting point. With time, you'll have to respond without thinking, not even dreaming, with an instinct like a reflex.

Later, Aurelia took them deeper into the Ashgrove, where the trees crowded closer and the air was heavy with mystery. She spoke in a low voice, telling them stories of a world greater than their village could even imagine: kingdoms, races, and lands that lay beyond anything they knew existed.

"To the east lies the Beastkin Realm," she said, pointing toward the thick trees.

"The Ashgrove serves as a natural barrier, keeping the Vallaris Kingdom separate from the Beastkin lands. The chasm beyond the forest is the only thing that keeps peace between us. But the Beastkin don't look kindly upon humans. To them, strength is everything, and they see us as weak."

Kai's brow furrowed. "Why would they see us that way?"

Aurelia sighed, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Strength isn't just about power, Kai. It's about perception, reputation. Beastkin value physical prowess above all else, and for centuries, humans have relied on strategy over raw strength. They don't see our value the same way we do.".

Aurelia's eye veered, jerking to something in the distance. Her serenity turned fluid, became a subtle tension as she straightened in her seat. "Stay close," she whispered.

From the trees, three men emerged, wearing heavy, mismatched armor. They stood with lax stances, but Kai could feel danger lying beneath them. He squinted and sensed a faint glow surrounding each of the men, meaning that they were all cultivators at the Initial Connection stage and one at an extremely late stage.

Their eyes moved back and forth between Kai and Lia and then to Aurelia. A smirk danced onto the tallest man's lips as he looked her over. His gaze lingered a beat too long, the expression in his eyes darkening.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" he sneered at Aurelia. " Didn't expect to see such a pretty sight so deep in the woods. And two kids too? This must be our lucky day."

Another of the mercenaries chuckled, his eyes flashing with a mix of malice and greed. "A woman and two little brats all alone…. makes you wonder what's in it for us doesn't it?"

Kai's heart was pumping in his chest, and his fist tightened instinctively, while next to him, the unyielding mask in Aurelia's face shifted into a distant gaze in her eyes.

She's turned to them, looked at him, then at Lia, cold and translucent as ice.

"These three are yours," she muttered, her voice steady enough, but somehow laced with a harsh edge as it reassured and called them out in equal turns. "Now show me what you have learned".

Kai's throat closed up with doubt, but Lia's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Finally!" she breathed, smiling. She didn't wait; she took a step forward, her stance already loosening into a loose fighting position.

The leader of the mercenaries looked at her and sneered. "This little girl thinks she's a fighter, huh?" He glanced back at his comrades, raising an eyebrow. "Looks like we'll have some fun first.".

Kai gulped to swallow, his pulse beating faster. He could sense the surge of his Willforce Seed and the subtle buzz of heightened senses; however, a growing feeling of unease came up. They may be superior in technical skills, but these men actually had an actual cultivation in Essence.

Before he could think too much, the mercenaries lunged forward. Lia moved first, swift and agile as she weaved through the men with a grace which caught them off guard. The first man swung heavy at her, but sidestepped effortlessly, moving in to retaliate in a sharp jab to the side. He stumbled; eyes wide, clearly expecting not such precision from that child.

Kai sprang into battle, alertness sharp beyond anything he ever remembered. A second mercenary attacked him, brandishing a rusty sword. Kai dodged instinctively and fluidly, and as the man swung again, Kai ducked low, countering with a swift strike to the knee. The mercenary cursed, crumpling slightly under the impact.

He felt a flicker of surprise in how easy it was. These men might have some cultivation, but their technique seemed clumsy, as if depending on brute force rather than skill. A small seed of confidence took root in him, pushing away the lingering doubt.

The leader of the mercenaries, at a late stage of Initial Connection, frowned as he watched his men struggle. "Good for nothing," he muttered to himself before looking at Kai. "I'll take care of this one myself."

He charged at Kai, and his fist was dimly lit as he channeled his Essence. Kai's mind became sharper and focused on the man's movement as he read the telegraphed strike. Just before the blow landed, Kai stepped aside, twisting to avoid the hit while sweeping his leg behind the man's knee. The mercenary stumbled, momentarily disoriented, and Kai took advantage of the opening by landing a precise punch to the man's midsection.

The mercenary took a step back, staring at him. "How. How's a kid like you moving so fast?"

Kai didn't say a word, but the lesson was stark enough: there were the other men around, men who had Essence that he knew his own person and Lia trained so fervently to possess. Such people could reach power because of the fact that power did not have to work its way around finesse. As much as that was now learned, how much stronger a true cultivator's art had to be that wasn't based on, nor achieved in, their ability for strength.

Meanwhile, Lia was fighting her own battle, with grit and glee mixed into it. She dodged the clumsy punches of the second mercenary with quick swiftness and flawlessness in stance. She toyed with him, trying to make him think she was giving him an opening so she could pivot just in time and smile victoriously at the frustration welling up within him.

At last, she managed to execute a sweeping kick that sends him down. He sprawled in the dirt and breathed heavily.

The three men struggled to rise again, battered and shame-stricken. "Have pity....please, we didn't mean any harm" said one of them, the look of dust on his matted face. "Never will we trouble you anymore

Lia's poise had not been rocked once, and she and Kai shared a look of compact agreement. With another barely perceptible nod they also took a step backward which signified the termination of the fight.

But Kai stopped short, and it was Lia who finally opened her mouth. "Just continue, but please do not get caught by us, doing this again," her voice was stern yet so tender that for an instance, Kai felt himself boastfully proud of having beaten someone.

The mercenaries didn't waste any time; they retreated back into the forest, casting wary glances over their shoulders as they went. As soon as they disappeared from sight, Kai turned to Aurelia, who had been watching silently from a short distance.

Aurelia studied them, her expression unreadable. "Why did you let them go?" she asked, her voice soft but probing.

Lia tilted her head, looking thoughtful. "They apologized. It felt… right."

Aurelia sighed, laying a soft hand across Lia's head. "It is good to be merciful, but know that not everyone will return the favor. You will come to learn that mercy, although valuable, is not always paid back." She looked towards where the mercenaries had left, her eyes growing sharp. "Some people don't learn quick."

She walked in silence, pointing for them to follow her.