Silak remained still on the massive rock, unaware that his rhythmic breathing and focused meditation had pulled him into a trance-like state. Only a few hours had passed since he began his practice, and dusk is still a good while away.
After some time, his eyelids fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes. The familiar scenery greeted him, yet something felt subtly different. The sun still hung high in the sky, far from its descent towards the horizon.
"What happened?" he mused, a frown creasing his brow. "Was it all just a dream?" He looked around, pinching his cheek. "Ouch! Definitely not dreaming this time," he grumbled, rubbing the reddened spot.
The faint glow emanating from his back subsided, the ethereal marks of stars and moons fading as his senses returned fully. He recalled the last moments he had with the mysterious woman: her cool touch on his forehead. Tentatively, Silak reached up and touched the spot. It felt strangely cold, like touching ice.
Then, he noticed an unfamiliar mark, a fleeting impression that vanished as quickly as it appeared. 'The mysterious woman said I need to quickly strengthen and improve my soul to learn more about the ring,' Silak remembered, the echo of her words clears in his mind.
"I better call it a day and head home," he mumbled, gathering his things. "Maybe Mother can tell me something about soul cultivation." He decided to leave earlier than planned, his mind already racing with questions.
Meanwhile, in the study of Rajah Bayani, a soft knock echoed through the room.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"I'm back home, Mother and Father!" Silak's voice, a little higher pitched than usual, bounced off the walls as he hurried towards the study, eager to share the results of his week-long training.
He briskly walked towards his parents' seats, holding out the parchment detailing his efforts to push his limits. "Hi Son!" His father chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "You're home early today. Are you excited to have completed your seven days of demanding training?"
Iskra bit back a smile, though a few giggles escaped her lips. "Alright now, no need to tease him anymore, Bayani."
"Here are my results for the entire seven-day period, covering all the training routines you requested," Silak said, handing the parchment to his father, watching for his reaction.
Rajah Bayani took the paper and carefully reviewed the numbers. "Well," he said, looking up with a proud smile, "you did exceptionally well in all of them. I must say, I'm quite impressed!"
"So, what's next, Father?" Silak asked, his eyes wide with anticipation. 'Maybe this is it. Advanced techniques, fancy moves, finally!'
"No need to rush, son. I've already planned out the best training scrolls and materials for you." Rajah Bayani gestured towards a stack of scrolls on his desk. "Let me show you the breakdown of your training so we can ensure this is the right path for you."
He pointed to a list:
1. Mortal Realm - Physical Body Training
2. Weapon Control Training
3. Essence Cultivation
"Physical Body Training," Rajah Bayani elaborated, "is further divided into minor realms like Skin, Muscle, and Bones." He continued, "Weapon control, on the other hand, will involve both cold weapon training and hand-to-hand combat."
"Essence Cultivation will only begin once your Physical Body training is complete," he explained to Silak. "Otherwise, your body won't be strong enough to gather and store the vital qi."
Iskra added, "Alright, you have the rest of the day to yourself. We'll continue with lessons and training tomorrow. Your father and I need some time to review these results thoroughly and decide on the most appropriate techniques for your next phase."
"Awesome! I can't wait to start first thing tomorrow!" Silak grinned, accepting his parents' decision before wishing them goodnight.
'This gives me a chance to think about that mysterious woman again,' he thought as he walked towards his room. 'Maybe I can find some clues about the ring through meditation?' He hoped to unravel at least some of the mysteries that now occupied his mind.
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Xianzhou Continent - Year 2989 of Cycle of Qi (CQ)
Booomm!
Cough... Cough... "Well," Silak's voice rasped through the dusty air, "that didn't go quite as planned." The remnants of his singed shirt lay scattered around him.