Chapter 98: Bore fruit

[Galadriel]

[Earlier]

Sunlight dappled through the dense forest, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow on the damp earth beneath. The air hummed with the chirping of insects and the rhythmic trill of a bird. In a clearing bathed in a shaft of golden light stood three figures: Mai, William, and Ruby.

Dressed in baggy black pants and a grey tunic, sweat beaded on William's brow, glistening due to the harsh sunlight. He gripped his fists tightly, knuckles white, focusing all his energy on channeling the foreign power he was taught by Mai - Qi, the vital energy that flowed through every living being. Despite weeks of training, the feeling remained elusive, like trying to grasp smoke. Ruby, on the other hand, seemed to revel in the feeling.

Her lithe form, clad in loose brown trousers and a simple green tunic, moved with practiced grace. Her eyes were closed in concentration, a faint smile on her lips. Her breathing was slow and measured, each inhale and exhale drawing her closer to the essence of Qi. Mai, dressed in her usual half ao dai that seemed to fit starkly with the vibrant greens and browns of the forest, stood poised and centered. Her posture was perfect, radiating an aura of power.

Her gaze moved from student to student, missing nothing. "Feel the earth beneath your feet, William," she said, her voice low. "Feel its solidity, its connection to the living world. That is where your foundation lies." William grunted in frustration, his grip tightening on his fists. The feeling remained intangible, a concept he couldn't quite grasp. "Control, not compulsion," Mai continued, her gaze steely. "Your Qi is an extension of yourself, not a separate entity to be wrestled into submission."

Mai gestured towards Ruby, who stood perfectly still, a faint glow emanating from her body.

"Look at Ruby. She allows the Qi to flow through her, becoming one with her own energy." William squinted at Ruby, trying to discern the source of the faint glow. Frustration gnawed at him. Why did it seem to come so easily to her? Sensing his frustration, Mai moved towards him. Her steps were silent, like a predator stalking its prey. She placed a hand on his shoulder, grounding him. "Patience, young William," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice. "The flow of Qi is like learning a new language. It takes time and practice to understand the rhythm and nuance." She extended her other hand, palm open, towards a nearby tree.

A gentle breeze stirred the leaves, rustling with a soft whisper. Mai closed her eyes, focusing her attention. Suddenly, a single acorn detached itself from a branch, tumbling through the air in a slow arc. William narrowed his eyes as the acorn defied gravity, hovering inches from Mai's outstretched hand. With a flick of her wrist, Mai sent the acorn sailing back towards the tree. It nestled perfectly back into its place amongst the leaves, as if it had never left. Mai opened her eyes, a satisfied smile gracing her lips. "This is the power of Qi, William. It is not about brute force, but about understanding the flow of energy around you and learning to influence it subtly."

William watched the leaves gently sway in the breeze, his frustration dissipating as a newfound understanding dawned. It wasn't about forcing his will, but about aligning himself with the natural flow of energy. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and focused on the sensation of his feet planted on the forest floor. Slowly, a faint tingling sensation began to spread through his body, like a breeze. A triumphant 'hmph' erupted from Ruby. Her eyes snapped open, shining with newfound clarity. The faint glow surrounding her body pulsed with renewed intensity. She lifted a hand, and a small wildflower growing nearby sprouted an extra bud, vibrant and full of life.

A wide smile spread across Mai's face. Today, their training had borne fruit. She clapped her hands together. "Alright! That's enough training for now." Mai announced with a smile, it was steady but there was progress on both of their ends, however. "You two have a solid grasp on Qi as a whole. But not much can be said for your absent friend."

William could not help but give a sheepish chuckle. "Well, Adrian is a bit... well..."

"Lazy," Ruby finished for him in a dry tone.

"Such a shame too!" Mai breathed out. "He's the one person who would benefit most from Qi training."

"True, strengthening one's body and becoming in tune with what's around you would be most useful," William murmured thoughtfully. "Especially for someone who would rely on demons for battle."

"Well, he did seem semi-competent in close quarters when first I met you lot," Mai recalled, a sheepish expression growing on William's face.

"The time when you kicked me so hard blood gushed out of my head?" Mai just scratched the back of her head nervously.

"Come now, it was a test? And such a while ago," she argued.

"It was only a few weeks ago though," Ruby mumbled. "For a general, you are quite the bully, hm?"

"Gah!" An invisible arrow shot through the General's soul at being accused of being a bully. "I-it was a test though...." She whined.

"She's just teasing, Miss Mai," William stated with a sheepish chuckle at the grown woman's reaction.

"No teasing, just stating the facts," Ruby stated, proudly for whatever reason.

"You're so mean, Ruby," Mai whined with crocodile tears. "I think I'm gonna go home and cry." The general wiped away the non-existent tears as she turned away, giving a pout at receiving no comforting words being directed her way. Her body all but blurred and disappeared in a burst of speed. William could not help but scratch the back of his head with a chuckle.

"I did not think a general of an army would be this..." He trailed off, looking for the most appropriate word, but Ruby beat him to it.

"Childish?" she surmised.

"Uhm, maybe we should not chastise someone who is teaching us such a useful ability," William spoke with an ever-sheepish expression. His friend pouted.

"But with Mikoto gone, there is no one else to tease," she mumbled, and he could not help but chuckle.

"You miss him, huh?" William surmised with an amusing glint in his eyes. In response to his words, the girl merely huffed.

"I do not," she denied.

"Sure, sure," he spoke with a knowing smirk. "But I'm sure Mikoto will be quite surprised to see our progress." William lifted and stared at his right arm, it lit up in a familial translucent energy. "Qi, the basic first principles are pretty simple. A power that originates further down east, if Miss Mai's words are to be believed, then it can be found in any sentient being. It can reinforce the body as well as heal it to some minor extent," he murmured in thought as the energy died down.

"Makes you wonder what else it can do," Ruby spoke with a hum. "Mai merely instructed us on the first stage; she has yet to properly disclose this foreign power. Hmm, compared to hexes, it is simplistic in nature."

"Simplistic for you, maybe," William chuckled. "I'm still having trouble mastering it," he admitted.

"Worry not, William, I can be of help because I am so great," Ruby stated rather pridefully. "Mai is a rather poor teacher, but under my tutelage, you'll have it down in no time. You'd have to call me master though." She got a wry smile in return.

"I'll think about it for sure, but maybe we should go and find Adrian," he said, trying to divert the conversation. "He rarely ever shows up for this training."

"Because he's a bum."

"Ruby, don't be so rude."

"Is it being rude if I speak the truth?"

"Yes, very much so."

"Okay, I'll still be honest though."

"Of course you will."

William could but shake his head at his small friend's antics, though he had long since come to realize that this was simply how Ruby was. And so the two walked off and back to the academy, not taking note of the ominous presence high in the sky.

It was as if she stood on air, her gaze overlooked all. Flowing minty-green hair adorned her head, falling in waves and framing a beautiful face that would leave most swooning over this perfection. Her eyes were a duller green and seemed to hold a depth of knowledge to them, and they further complemented her extravagant dark dress adorned with gold. One would mistake this girl as human were it not for her pointed ears where two gold earpieces hung and the jagged red horns protruding out of her head.

She smiled as she overlooked the vast forest and the large structure of Luminare Academy in the distance. Her nose twitched as she took in some scent in seeming delight.

"Children, mortals. All crawling like maggots, so, so many." A blush crept onto her face along with a nasty smile. "Oh, what a delight!" The smile split further as if it was carved into her face. "How many can I kill, I wonder! But oh! I've a mission." She sighed in disappointment. "What a shame, what a shame." She chanted. "Arne will have the pleasure of the slaughter." She pouted to herself. "And I will have to retrieve that damnable artifact."

"Oh well, all those who would think this stars there's will be naught but lambs to the slaughter either way."