Chapter 14 - Arguments

  Their journey led them high above most of the sect buildings that glimmered, invisible inside barriers below. The floating boulders slowly rotated between the stairs and around them, floating off a fair distance before returning, all seemingly at random, giving the impression that the entire sect was permanently in a slow cycle of shifting and transforming.

  Then the core disciple finally approached and guided them into a building. It was entirely invisible from the outside until the gate opened, making the wooden frame visible and allowing the young recruits of the Verdant Reflection Sect to enter an idyllic garden. "Garden" was the most apt descriptor, but such an enormously large area could house the entire Reflection Lake Town multiple times over.

  There were multiple houses, tents, and even dirt holes that looked lived-in. Some of the houses were luxurious mansions in their own right, while others were either large, expensive-looking houses or more simple ones, ranging from solid stone to various types of wood.

  In the distance, far beyond the housing area, there were training facilities, various buildings, and training obstacle courses that spanned a larger body of water. Sol was already curious to see them and try them out. How did the sect approach teaching Skin Tempering advancement?

  His train of thought was interrupted by the core disciple, who sharply ordered them to silence with an audible sound that pierced them to their bones—not quite a peaceful, sharp whistle.

  “It behooves you all to pay attention. This is the area where all those who seek to enter the sect but have not yet taken a solid step into the realm of body cultivation find themselves. There are many accommodations here. Each home can be claimed by a single person.”

  He gestured behind himself toward the housing area.

  “If you claim one home, it is designated ‘safe’ for six hours at night, as well as two single hours during the day, which you may choose at your own leisure. That time period has to be chosen before sunrise and may not be changed.”

  The core disciple raised his voice a little, smiling at the roughly forty cultivators in training.

  “As you can see, there are not enough homes for everybody, and older generations still remain. New arrivals like yourself will have to ‘argue’ for housing in order to have a safe space to sleep or to be provided food beyond what the dirt holes provide. You may ‘argue’ for any home once per day. If you harm anyone outside of arguments… Well.”

  He stepped aside as the rock the group was standing on slowly descended downwards into the ground, forming a staircase in the process. Half the group was lowered alongside the stone. It was a long staircase, but one could easily spot the first cells that lined its descent into darker depths.

  Sol wondered how deep or far this environment could stretch. From the outside, it had given the impression of a small estate. Now it seemed like a whole world of its own. He eyed the temporary storage ring on his right finger. If a tiny ring such as this could hold easily a thousand times its size, the same would likely apply to domains such as this. Fascinating.

  “These cells are energy absorbent,” the core disciple voiced with audible boredom. “You may stay here two weeks without food if you dare fight among one another. Enforcement is strict and quick. Do. Not. Test it.”

  The stairs retracted upwards, forming a solid surface once again, lifting the group members standing on it upwards with it.

  “There is also a temple shrine at the center of the housing complex. If you wish to pray or are foolish enough to attempt a summoning, touching it will teleport you there. Mind you, if you have not reached Skin Tempering, you will not be able to control otherworldly forms of power, such as mana, runes, or totems. The success rate for summonings attempted before reaching the first step is lower than one out of ten.”

  Sol frowned. He would really have to be careful not to lose to Rax’Rathos. He could easily see that creepy elder forcing him into a summoning.

  The core disciple made an inviting gesture toward the garden before eyeing Sol. “Don’t break anything I have to fix.” Then he disappeared with a movement technique, leaving the new group behind. The gate closed behind them, seamlessly blending into the imitation of a natural horizon line.

  As the group either slowly dispersed into smaller groups or as singular individuals, some made a dash to claim housing for themselves. Even Rax’Rathos abandoned his fellow clan members as he ran toward the largest mansion with confidence.

  A familiar female voice next to Nyx’Sol finally broke the silence that had now taken hold in the entrance area. “He really does not like you very much,” the masked girl said with a gentle voice.

  Sol shrugged as he eyed the much shorter girl. The mask, paired with her black hair and wide cultivator robes, hid her skin color entirely. He would have liked to address her by a name, but if she did not introduce herself, he would not ask. “He does not, my masked friend. He really does not.”

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  She tilted her head and turned to walk away. “We are friends now, so at least escort me home, friend,” she said teasingly.

  Sol tagged along, almost towering over the smaller girl. He was at least a head and a half taller. “I assume you, the most talented of us all, will go for the best mansion?”

  “It would be nice to see what they look like at least,” she opined, “since I do not fancy sleeping out in the dirt. Do you?”

  Sol nodded. “I do not mind sleeping outside. It would not be the first time.” His journey through the woods still made for a vivid memory. “But I want to argue with Rathos. We were interrupted, after all.”

  His companion sighed. “Why pour oil into the fire? Do you enjoy feuding with other families that much?” The mask turned toward Sol. “What family are you from, anyway?” She eyed him from top to bottom.

  “I was born in the woods. Made a lot of great friends there,” Sol said with a shrug. “And—”

  “Clearly,” she interrupted with sarcasm.

  “And I—” Sol frowned as they passed the first smaller houses, where some fighting sounds could be heard from the inside. The cracking of wood and audible grunts did little to distract him from the conversation. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “You are not honest with your words. You clearly enjoy confrontation. Why hide what family you hail from?” She tapped his right armguard with her gloved finger. “Pakira wood is not the cheapest material. You are from a wealthy family. Not to mention your storage ring.”

  Sol readjusted his arm guards and thought about how to respond. “You are quite observant. I hid it on a whim. I want to see how things go without help first. It feels more fun that way. But I do not seek to feud with Rax’Rathos. However, he is clearly the strongest here, so—”

  “He is not,” she refuted.

  “The strongest here that I have seen so far,” Sol refuted in turn. “So I will fight him and learn from that. It is—”

  “More fun that way,” she said in a gentle tone that implied a smile before tilting her mask again. “The cut on your armguard. What happened? Pakira wood is not easily scratched.”

  “Oh, this?” Sol said casually. “Someone taught me a valuable lesson. He was quite insightful.”

  She continued to walk next to him as they passed the last houses before a small hill raised the largest of mansions above the competition. A throne for whoever was strongest.

  They walked in silence until they had almost reached the front door of the estate.

  “What lesson did he teach you?” she finally inquired. “Was it a harsh one?”

  Sol nodded. “Yes, but he was very gentle in the end. And he taught me the value of a strong foundation.”

  They arrived at the door, which was shut and refused to open. Someone was ‘arguing’ inside.

  “What advice did he give you?”

  Sol remembered the words vividly. “Be more of who you are before cultivation makes you more of who you are right now,” he said wisely.

  She chuckled. “You are also from the east? Is that not the old saying, ‘Know yourself before growth defines you’? My father used to say that all the time.” She pulled a heavy silver coin from her robes, the front carrying the words ‘Know yourself,’ revealing ‘before growth’ after she flipped it around. “See? The saying you used is much older but well-known. But how does that teach you the importance of a strong foundation?”

  Sol was unshaken in his belief. Out of everything he had read about cultivation, this saying made the most sense to him. If he mastered the concept of each step fully and built them up as much as he could while refusing to advance, he would be forced to advance by his own growth regardless. And when it did, he would be more than anyone else, the nature of breakthroughs amplifying his earlier progress.

  He could also be proven wrong upon advancing, but why worry about that now? Wiser men than himself had thought up that saying and found the meaning worthy of passing on to their students. And such a student became the legendary Sword God. How wrong could it be?

  Before he could elaborate on his thought process, the door slid open, and Rax’Rathos appeared, his lower lip bruised and split. His clothing showed quite a bit of blood, though it was not his own, as he dragged an unconscious demon with bright red skin out of the mansion and threw him at their feet. The demon looked unfamiliar.

  “Previous generation?” Sol mused aloud, the nod of Rax’Rathos confirming his suspicion. “Nice home?”

  “Yes. I did not expect you to come, Nyx’Sol,” Rathos said with a deep breath, quenching his thirst with a water bottle from his robes.

  “Call me Sol. I merely accompanied a friend of mine to her future home.” He gestured at the smaller demon girl and then broke out into a deep smile, activating his focus skill. He had no deep emotions at the moment, but it still felt trivial to use. “But first, let us have an argument.”

  Rax’Rathos stepped back into the house with a shrug. “Come on in then, Nyx’Sol.”

  “Call me Sol. May I call you Rathos?” Sol said with a sly smile. The younger demon did not seem to like it when he attempted to stand in the same hierarchy as him.

  “You may not, and I disapprove of your overfamiliarity.” Rax’Rathos pulled out the familiar quarterstaff and strode confidently into what seemed to be a living area. Comfortable furniture, sitting pillows, a fireplace, and an indoor pool carved skillfully into the stone set the scene.

  Sol reapplied his focus, withdrew his claws over his hands, and readied himself mentally for the inevitable attack. It did not come immediately.

  Instead, Rax’Rathos paced around uncomfortably in the room. “I dislike this place anyway. It reminds me too much of home. It is too comfortable. Are you not going to draw a weapon, Nyx’Sol?” he emphasized the name.

  Sol thought of the sword sheath in his storage ring. That would come across as mocking his opponent. The younger demon would not appreciate it. “I have had an idea that I wanted to try. I respect your strength; nothing better than to test a theory on a strong opponent.”

  The young demon scoffed. “Your funeral. I will not hold back.”