A Return to the Village

The sun dipped low on the horizon as we approached the village, its gates silhouetted against the golden light. Eren walked beside me, steadying his sister, Anna, who leaned heavily on his arm. Though still pale, she carried herself with quiet strength, her recovery a testament to Eren’s determination. The villagers gathered near the gates, their anxious murmurs growing louder as we came into view. Relief washed over them when they saw Anna alive and walking, and gasps followed when they noticed the scratches on my chest and the bloodstains on my tunic.

“Anna!” cried an older woman, rushing forward to embrace her. Tears streamed down her face as she held the girl tightly. “You’re alive! We feared the worst.”

Eren gently pulled his sister away, his gaze scanning the crowd until it landed on an elderly man with a carved staff, standing at the forefront of the group. The man’s weathered face was etched with both relief and authority.

“Elder Thalric,” Eren began, his voice firm despite the exhaustion in his tone. “We have much to discuss.”

The elder stepped forward, his sharp eyes taking in the state of the siblings and my battered appearance. “It seems there’s a story here, one I’d like to hear in full. Come, all of you. Let us talk inside.”

*****

The Village Square

The villagers ushered us to the square, where a fire was already crackling. Food and water were passed around, and Anna was seated beside the flames, wrapped in a blanket. I sat nearby, gratefully accepting a bowl of warm broth.

Once everyone had settled, Elder Thalric turned to Eren. “Now, tell me what happened.”

Eren stood, his voice clear and steady as he recounted everything. He spoke of Anna’s poisoning and their desperate need for Spiritmend Leaves and Crimson Ivy. He told them about his encounter with the merchant in the market.

“When I asked for the ingredients to make the antidote, he refused to sell them to me,” Eren said, his voice tinged with anger. “I didn’t have enough Spirit Shards to meet his price, and when I begged him to let me pay the difference later, he turned me away.” A murmur of outrage rippled through the gathered villagers. The merchant, standing at the edge of the crowd, visibly stiffened. He opened his mouth to protest, but Eren continued.

“If it weren’t for Jayson, my sister wouldn’t be here right now. He followed me  to the hut where my sister laid, on the verge of death, helped me fight spirit beasts to gather the ingredients, and protected me.”

All eyes turned to me. I shifted uncomfortably under their gazes, but Eren pressed on.

“This could’ve been avoided if he had just helped us,” Eren said, pointing at the merchant. “Instead, he let greed take precedence over my sister’s life.”

*****

The Elder’s Judgment

Elder Thalric’s expression darkened as he looked at the merchant. “Is this true, Hadric?” he asked, his voice cold and measured.

The merchant fidgeted, his face pale. “I… I’m a businessman! I can’t give away my goods for free. How am I supposed to feed my own family if I don’t get paid?”

The elder’s staff struck the ground with a sharp thud, silencing the crowd. “Enough. This village is a community, Hadric. We survive by helping each other, not by turning away those in need. Your actions could have cost Anna her life.”

Hadric’s mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. The villagers’ glares were heavy with disapproval.

“As punishment,” Elder Thalric continued, “you will forfeit a portion of your earnings to the village fund for the next three months. Furthermore, any requests for lifesaving resources will be fulfilled without charge in the future. Do I make myself clear?”

Hadric’s face twisted in indignation, but he bowed his head. “Yes, Elder.”

The crowd murmured their approval, and I felt a flicker of satisfaction. Justice had been served, and Eren’s bravery hadn’t gone unnoticed.

*****

After the Judgment

As the villagers began to disperse, Elder Thalric approached me. “You’ve done this village a great service, Jayson,” he said, his tone sincere. “Without your intervention, we might have lost Anna—and Eren as well.”

I nodded, my exhaustion weighing heavily on me. “They deserved a chance. I just did what I could.”

The elder smiled faintly. “Even so, you have my gratitude. If you ever need anything, this village will stand by you.”

I glanced at Eren and Anna, who were speaking quietly by the fire. Despite everything, they had each other.

*****

Reflections and Conversations

After awhile, Eren came over and sat down beside me, his gaze fixed on the flickering flames.

“You were incredible out there,” he said. “The way you fought those beasts… I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Trust me,” I said, leaning back against the wall, “I’m still figuring it out.”

Anna glanced at my torn shirt and the hastily bandaged wounds beneath.

“You need proper treatment,” she said. “Those cuts could get infected.”

Before I could protest, she disappeared into one of the huts, returning with a bundle of herbs and a mortar. She worked quickly, grinding the herbs into a paste and applying it to my wounds. The cooling sensation was immediate, the sharp sting of pain fading into a dull ache. As she worked, Mira’s voice echoed in my mind.

[Mira]: "These villagers may lack cultivation, but their knowledge of natural remedies is valuable. Observe and learn."

I watched Anna’s hands move with practiced precision, her focus unwavering. “You’re good at this,” I said.

She smiled faintly. “It’s what I can do to help. Not all of us are fighters.”

Eren shifted uncomfortably. “I want to help more,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “But I don’t have the strength.”

“You can gain it,” I said, meeting his gaze. “If you’re willing to put in the work.”

*****

Mira’s Guidance

Later that evening, after the village had settled into an uneasy calm, I sat outside, staring up at the unfamiliar constellations in the sky. Mira’s voice broke the silence.

[Mira]: "You are progressing, but this world demands more than survival. To truly thrive, you must embrace cultivation and the power it offers."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “And how do I do that? Fighting spirit beasts is one thing, but this whole cultivation process still feels… foreign.”

[Mira]: "Cultivation is a journey of refinement and growth. You must expand your spirit well and strengthen your connection to Chi. The resources you’ve gathered will aid you, but you must also seek guidance from those more experienced."

“Like the villagers?”

[Mira]: "Partially. But this realm is vast, and its secrets are guarded by those who have already walked the path. To progress, you will need allies, mentors, and the courage to face challenges beyond what you have encountered."

The weight of her words settled on me. This wasn’t just about surviving another day—it was about carving a path forward, one step at a time.

*****

A Sudden Disturbance

My thoughts were interrupted by a commotion near the edge of the village. Voices rose in alarm, and the sharp clang of a bell echoed through the air. I was on my feet in an instant, my hand instinctively reaching for the dagger at my belt.

“What’s going on?” I demanded as Eren ran up to me, his face pale.

“Something’s out there,” he said, pointing toward the forest. “The sentries saw movement.”

Anna appeared beside him, clutching a staff that looked more ceremonial than functional. “It could be another spirit beast,” she said, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes.

[Mira]: "The Chi signatures are faint but erratic. This is no ordinary beast."

I nodded, my grip tightening on the dagger. “Stay here. I’ll check it out.”

Eren hesitated, then grabbed my arm. “You don’t have to do this alone.”

I shook my head. “I need you to protect your sister and the others. If something happens to me, you’re their last line of defense.”

He swallowed hard but nodded, stepping back as I moved toward the forest.

*****

The Encounter

The forest was alive with shadows, every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs setting my nerves on edge. Mira’s voice was calm, but her words carried an edge of urgency.

[Mira]: "To your left."

I turned just in time to see a figure dart between the trees—a humanoid shape cloaked in tattered robes. My heart sank as realization dawned. This wasn’t a spirit beast.

“Who’s there?” I called out, my voice firm despite the knot of fear in my stomach.

The figure stepped into the moonlight, revealing a gaunt man with sunken eyes and wild, unkempt hair. His Chi pulsed erratically around him, like a flame about to gutter out.

“You…” he rasped, his voice guttural and broken. “You’re new here. Fresh prey.”

[Mira]: "A rogue cultivator. His instability makes him unpredictable—and deadly."

Before I could respond, he lunged.

*****

The Fight

The man moved with terrifying speed, faster than any spirit beast I’d encountered. His clawed hands slashed through the air, and I barely dodged the first strike. His second came too quickly, grazing my shoulder and leaving a trail of searing pain. I stumbled back, raising my dagger defensively.

“What do you want?”

“Your Chi!” he snarled, his movements erratic but horrifyingly precise. “I’ll take it and make it mine!”

His next attack came in a flurry of strikes, forcing me to retreat step by step. Each blow felt like it carried the weight of his desperation, and my arms ached from deflecting his claws.

[Mira]: "He is stronger and more skilled. You must exploit his instability. Look for the gaps in his movements."

I focused on his wild attacks, searching for an opening. When his arm overextended on a swipe, I lunged forward, slashing at his exposed side. The blade bit into flesh, but the man barely flinched. Instead, he laughed, a hollow sound that sent chills down my spine. “You’re weak!” he roared, his Chi flaring as he slammed a palm into my chest. The force sent me flying backward, crashing into a tree. Pain erupted across my back, and I gasped for air.

[Mira]: "You must not falter. Use his overconfidence against him."

I staggered to my feet, gripping the dagger tightly. The man’s next attack was reckless, a wild charge that left his chest exposed. Summoning all my strength, I sidestepped and drove the blade into his ribs, twisting it hard.

He screamed, a guttural, inhuman sound, but instead of falling, he grabbed my arm and wrenched me close. His sunken eyes bored into mine, filled with rage and madness. “I’ll drag you down with me!”

With a surge of adrenaline, I slammed my forehead into his, stunning him just long enough to rip the dagger free and plunge it into his heart. His body convulsed, and for a moment, I thought he might fight through even that. But then he collapsed, his Chi flickering and fading into nothingness.

*****

A Sobering Realization

I stood over the rogue cultivator’s lifeless body, my chest heaving. My hands trembled, the dagger slick with his blood. This wasn’t like fighting a spirit beast. This was something darker—something human.

[Mira]: "This is the reality of cultivation. Power breeds conflict, and the strong prey on the weak. You have survived, but this will not be the last time your life is threatened."

I wiped the blade clean on the man’s tattered robes, my mind racing. “If this is what it takes to grow stronger, how far will I have to go?” The forest offered no answers, only the silence of the dead.

*****