Aurel awoke from his deep slumber. Blinking his eyes awake, he felt bandages tightening against his chest and legs as he rose. It was the familiar room within Shen Jilan's shop that Aurel had gotten used to in the weeks past.
Slowly, he slipped off the bed onto cold stone. His muscles ached and tensed as he began to walk, as though he had exhausted all of their strength.
The memories were murky, distant, and as Aurel attempted to remember the days past, only flashes of the battle appeared in his mind.
Opening the door, drifting light from the open window told him it was morning. Before him stood an unrecognizable woman. As Aurel's gaze lifted to her, she ran toward him, releasing the laundry she held.
"Sir Aurel!" she said. "You have awoken!" She began to support him by his arm.
The familiar position awakened memories in Aurel's hazy mind. He studied her face: she had clear skin, straight black hair, a high nose, and a great smile that radiated joy.
"A-Are you the woman from the night before, from—" Aurel searched his mind. "Li Fan?"
"Yes, yes," she said. "Are you alright? How are you standing?"
Aurel focused on the natural energy within him, nourishing the broken wounds. It explained the exhausted but working muscles that felt as if vitality had been forcibly flushed through his system.
In the commotion, the door to Shen Jilan's room opened.
"Sir Aurel," Shen Jilan said, his weary face slightly rising with a smile.
The three entered the small gathering space. There, the woman explained that her name was Mary, from a neighbouring town far from Luoyang City. She had been captured by Li Fan and a group of Pure Blossom disciples, taken into the city. Li Fan had taken an interest in her.
"Thank you, Sir Aurel, with all my heart," she finished.
Aurel slightly nodded, inspecting the woman.
She was pretty enough. Perhaps it had been truly a coincidence that she had been at Li Fan's home during Aurel's attack. But she was a native—a fellow kin.
Will of the World, Aurel asked. Are you there?
After a moment, the deep voice echoed.
Yes.
Can natives cultivate?
The question seemed to stump the Will, for it remained in silence for a few seconds. Before him, Yue Yue had awoken. Seemingly taken an interest in Mary, she had clambered onto her lap.
Yes, The Will responded. But only few. Talent.
Aurel stared at Mary and Yue Yue playing together.
"Is she allowed to stay here?" Aurel asked Shen Jilan.
"Of course," he replied. He wore a smile, watching the two play. "I think—Yue Yue has taken a liking to her."
Aurel nodded.
"Are you willing to stay?" Aurel asked Mary.
She looked up, her hands still playfully tickling Yue Yue. Her smile faded as she remained in thought before she looked up, her mouth set in a hard line.
"Yes—if you are willing," she said.
"Alright," Aurel said.
"I must go recuperate still," he said to them. "Thank you for carrying me then," he said to Mary. Finally, after waving to Yue Yue, he returned to his room.
Although playing with Yue Yue, Mary's eyes remained still, her thoughts swirling. She didn't know who Aurel was, but it was clear he was powerful. He had broken into the home of a Pure Blossom Sect disciple and killed him.
Underneath her clothes, she felt the bruises, the hidden mark upon her neck from the night. Her fist tightened as she shook the deadly thoughts from her mind.
"Sister Mary!" Yue Yue cried, "Stop tickling!"
Mary smiled, glancing once more where Aurel had left. It was clear this man had many secrets. If she could get revenge on the Pure Blossom Sect from him, then she needed to stay close. She would kill all of them.
But with a smile masking her face, she returned to playing with Yue Yue. She didn't want to frighten this sweet child after all.
For the next few days, Mary adjusted to her new life within the home of Shen Jilan. She helped with chores and ran the store, all while taking care of Yue Yue. Overall, there was little friction with her staying, though she rarely went outside for fear of being recognized.
On the third day, Aurel took her into the mountains outside of the city.
"So—what is your background, Sir Aurel?" Mary said.
Aurel glanced behind him. Mary was following, eyes sparkling with curiosity across the wilderness.
"What happened to your family?" he asked.
He saw Mary's step grow heavy, and her gaze fell to the ground.
"They—were taken as well," she said softly.
"But what of you, Sir Aurel? I still don't know anything about you."
"Just ordinary," Aurel responded. "Follow me."
He motioned through the large boulders and the small space between them.
As he squeezed himself through, Mary followed after a small pause.
On the other hand, the familiar valley revealed itself. Mary let out a small gasp. Craters lined the ground, chaotic lines marked throughout the rock from the lightning.
Aurel turned around, inspecting her worried gaze, the falter within her step.
He had decided, sometime ago, that he would attempt to get her to cultivate, or draw mana, or whatever process these otherworlders used. He didn't plan on starting an organization—however, he knew that for his plan to free the natives, he would need to establish a new order to the world. He couldn't do that alone. And most of all—he knew that Mary shared some of his ideals for the world.
"Do you hate the cultivators?"
"W-What?" she said. She took a step back. "No, I don't. Just Li Fan and his men."
"Do you think I have not seen your gaze? Your looks at Shen Jilan, Yue Yue, the cultivators that come through the store?" Aurel stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Do you, a native, dare harbor feelings of malice against us?"
"I, I, no." Aurel saw her hands drift toward her robes. "I don't dare."
Aurel swung his spear toward her throat. Too fast for her to react. But still, within her robes, she took out two thin daggers, still rising above her chest. Her eyes were closed, resigned, as the spear came close to her skin.
But he stopped.
"Do you hate the cultivators?" he asked once more.
"What?" Mary said. Lowering her hands, her confused eyes drew on Aurel's. "Sir Aurel—are, are you not a cultivator?"
With his spear down, Aurel mounted toward a nearby stone.
"Sit," he said. "I will explain."
Mary stumbled over, her muscles shaking. But it had been necessary for Aurel. Small whispers at night, the glances at himself and Otherworlders—they told him most, but not all. He needed to confirm it.
Sitting down before Mary, who sat meekly with hands upon her lap and head down, Aurel spoke.
"I am a native. I—"
"What!" Mary sprang up, her hand rising. "You are a native?"
Aurel motioned for her to sit, and Mary only lowered herself after a few more seconds of inspecting Aurel before her.
"I am a native," Aurel repeated. "Just as you." He raised a finger at her questions. "Let me explain. I gained an opportunity to gain power, just like these Otherworlders. I plan to rid this world of them, for they have made us suffer. I—"
Mary threw herself at Aurel, landing into his arms. Aurel stopped in his tracks, as he felt warm tears press down on his collar.
"Thank-Thank you so much," she said as tears choked her words. "Thank you."
It took a few minutes for Mary to calm down. Her eyes red, hands still drying her tears, Aurel hesitantly attempted to console her.
"But I am here to ask," Aurel said, "would you join me in this mission?"
"Yes," she replied. "Yes, yes. But how?" she looked up from her hands. "Your opportunity- can I get it as well?"
"No—but do you know of cultivation?"
"The cultivators?"
"Yes, the way they receive strength."
Mary looked horrified.
"I do not want their strength." She shook her head. "I-I don't want their taint on me."
"It will give you strength," Aurel said. "You are using their powers against them. It is noble, a sacrifice you must make. Are you willing to do that?"
"Will I even be able to do it?"
"I don't know," Aurel said. "But it is a chance. It may be your only one to attempt to fight against them."
Silence returned, as Mary remained in deep thought.
"Can I think about it?" she finally asked.
"You must not speak a word of this to anyone, Shen Jilan or anyone."
"Is he not a native?"
"Shen Jilan? No. But Yue Yue—she is."
Mary stopped, her hands covering her delicate face.
"Give me time," she said. "Give me time."
Aurel nodded and stood up.
"Can you go back on your own?" he asked.
She dutifully nodded, beginning to walk across the valley. She glanced back once, but soon she was gone through the hole in the boulders.
Aurel sat on the same boulder, looking up into the sky.
His body underneath the bandages still ached, sore from the injuries that he had received. He gingerly began stretching and moving each muscle, feeling the natural energy of the world repairing his body by breaking and reforming. It was a dull, aching pain that stretched over his body.
He needed to be more careful. He had been mistaken, facing those in the street: Zhang Wei, the first cultivator he had met, and Feng Donglai of the Wild Dog Sect. These Otherworlders were not any more powerful nor wise than any other he had met.
But that had been a mistake. He had been complacent, he realized. As he had learned, some of those, like Zhang Wei, were angry at their situation but unable to realize their potential. Others, like Li Fan, most likely had served their second lives for much longer before being transported into this world.
He had made a mistake. He wouldn't make it again.
Aurel spoke to the Will within his mind.
Will?
Yes? The Will immediately responded, as though awaiting.
Was it enough? Was that death enough for you?
Yes. But your injuries. I waited. Do you want now?
Will it be dangerous?
Dangerous? No. Painful. But fast. Healing.
Aurel motioned toward his body.
I want it now.
He sensed the Will hesitate, before nodding vaguely within the depths of his mind.
Here.
A singular word echoed, drifting through Aurel's mind, and then the energy of the world slammed as a whirlpool into his body.
If before the natural energy had gently rebuilt the body respectfully, now the energy slammed through, nourshinga nd rebuliding every injured cell. But he could feel the strength. As though breaking through to another barrier, like a step taken on stairs, he felt a fundamental change within the energy.
It was purer, more nourishing, coursing through his body. He could faintly feel the trickling Law of Storms, crackling underneath, as it too grew in intensity.
When the process was done, Aurel was left in a more modest state than his first: his clothes remained, only torn at their edges, and he still sat on the boulder. Marks had been etched into the stone, as though a storm of swords had clashed.
Standing, Aurel knew his injuries had gone.
He grabbed the spear and began to practice thrusts and sweeps. The lightning came naturally, sparking out of his spear. He used thunder step in quick succession. Once, he lept forward, thunder breaking his step, into the air. He pressed down on the air itself, lightning coursing through his feet, and he thunder stepped midair, before falling to the ground.
Aurel took a deep breath, staring at the fading lightning. He had grown more powerful, and he needed to practice this new technique.
But he also felt his weakness acutely. He only knew simple thrusts and cuts, ones he had learned from his old days at Whiteriver. One of Li Fan's strengths had been his orthodox style. There had been techniques that Aurel did not know, sword styles that seemed to be illusions and used the wind to speed past his defense.
Aurel stared off into the distance, toward Luoyang city, the Heavenly Blossom Sect. The entrance exam would be there soon.
He would take the strength of these Otherworlders. Use their own arts to take their lives. And bring peace to those like Mary, his kin, who suffered under their rule.