Schemes

Elder Shadow must have eyes and ears everywhere within the Sect because he was already waiting with Elder Tye when I reached Alchemist Hall. His presence might have been coincident except it became clear that he already had a bare-bones report of what I had shared with Nero's father.

"So, they ambushed you?" Elder Shadow said cutting to the chase.

"They tried," I agreed.

"I had discovered a pond teaming with spirit lotus, the plants at least a century old. I was amazed that something so useful could have been left undiscovered for all this time, especially considering how close it was in relation to the Sect," I explained.

"I was distracted, considering why the spiritual energy in that pond was so dense. Because of my distraction, It was my fault that I happened upon Braun. I walked right into them."

"Even distracted you should have been able to detect them. Were they able to cloak their presence?" Elder Shadow asked.

"Something like that is possible?" I asked. I knew I would he would not be diverted from his questioning, at least not for long. So my awkward attempt at changing the conversation had no chance of success.

"Yes," he said surprising me. I hadn't expected to be diverted even long enough to give that much of an answer.

"Something you might want to discuss with Elder Cix."

"You really haven't asked Elder Cix about a stealth technique? There are means to hide you Qi signature," Elder Tye said, his look a mixture of pity and disbelief.

"Of course, she didn't," Elder Shadow scoffed, "I believe recent events prove that she is too focused on immediate events to look ahead. She has been harassed for almost a year and makes as little effort as possible to mitigate that harassment."

He wasn't wrong. Whenever Braun and his friends would act, I would respond by making it harder for them the next time. When they exchanged salt for sugar in the cafeteria, I responded by changing the table where I would eat each day. I never considered taking a long view, and I had to wonder why.

Was it because I assumed, I would be forced to leave the Sect at some point? Was I responding to abuse by ignoring it, believing there was no reason to invest time and energy into formulating plans or learning techniques that would allow me to not only stay, but flourish? Had I already decided it wasn't worth the effort?

"Answer the question," Elder Shadow demanded interrupting my moment of self-reflection and drawing the conversation back on task.

" I wasn't scanning my surroundings," I admitted, ignoring, for now, the questions that were bouncing around in my head. I would discuss the topic with Elder Cix, but for now, I needed to focus on Elder Shadow. I had learned long ago the pain that resulted if I failed to maintain focus when training with him. "I had narrowed my focus to examine the spirit lotus and forgot to re-extend my perception once I left the pond."

"Let me see one of these spirit lotuses," Elder Tye demanded holding out his hand.

I knew Elder Tye hadn't meant to save me from Elder Shadows scolding, and I knew even with this interruption it was only delaying the inevitable.

Elder Tye was simply more obsessed with Alchemy and herbs, placing more importance in those subjects than social obligations. He really was like an absent-minded professor, so entrenched in his own world that he was incapable or unwilling to respond to discourse or Elder Shadow's reaction to my words.

I had anticipated his interest in the spirit lotus and had separated a few of the strongest cuttings for his examination and use. Withdrawing them from my spatial ring, I was surprised that the spirit density in the room began increasing. Alchemical Hall had spirit stones and formations in place so that the density in the building was already very high. That the plants could increase the already elevated density spoke to how useful and unique they were.

Both Elder Tye and Shadow reacted to the changes in spirit density, but in different ways.

"You say you found this not far from the Sect?" Elder Tye asked.

" I would suggest you not report this find to the Sect until you have an agreement in place, and in writing, to allocate a certain amount of the resources harvested by Sect members for personal use.

"If used in pill creation, by the right alchemist, this spirit lotus could raise the level of pills produced by an entire tier," Elder Tye said excitedly, already considering what to do with something so potent.

Elder Shadow was more thoughtful, like Elder Tye he was considering how I could leverage this find to my advantage. But he chose to keep his own council, for now, perhaps he would share his thoughts when we were alone, and once he wasn't so angry at me for ignoring a year of teaching.

That was the crux of his anger, of his questions. He had invested time and energy into my training. He had drilled into me the importance of using my Qi perception to the fullest, and I had allowed myself to become so distracted that I had ignored those teachings.

I did wonder why he remained silent. I knew he trusted Elder Tye, so it had to be something else.

Perhaps our location.

We were speaking, privately, but no sound barrier array had been activated and it was possible for anyone outside the door to eavesdrop on our conversation.

"I also found a spirit stone mine," I reported deciding to make a clean breast of information now that Elder Tye had managed to derail Elder Shadow's inquiry.

There was really no point in worry about anyone knowing about the mine discovery, I had already reported it to the Sect, as well as filing the forms, reporting my claim with the Governor for this principality. It would be common news soon, so I saw no need to worry about those that might be eavesdropping.

"There were no tool markings, and the passage to get to the stones is very narrow, but from my initial observation, the effort to open the tunnels and begin mining will be worth the investment.

"There was one other person how knew of its location, someone who liberated a stone or two, but he failed to report it. And other than a few stones that we extracted, it is a new seam," I explained.

I removed one of the more powerful stones I had collected from my spatial ring to show them what I had found.

Spirit Stones only came in three grades, low, middle, and high. There were rumors that a few perfect stones existed and had been found, but if they had they were claimed by only the most powerful cultivators. People that would risk scouting areas of the planet that were still untamed. Areas where no Elf had ever traveled, areas that civilization hadn't reached.

"Interesting," Elder Shadow finally responded, "that stone is probably worth 500 contribution points. It appears you are able to use your intellect." As insults went, it wasn't the most subtle, but it was effective. The sting especially sharp because I was already feeling guilty.

"I didn't want to take the chance that someone else might beat me to it, especially since the only other person that knew of the location of the mine, was involved in the scheme that drew me to the area in the first place," I said my voice wavering as I forced myself to hold back the tears that Elder Shadow's words had managed to evoke.

It was moments like this, moments that evoked a response that would be expected of a young Elf that had barely reached her majority that I realized that the experience and maturity I had gained from my past life were becoming more distant.

I was becoming less Jayden Mitchell and more Jay Myche every day.

"A virgin discovery?" Elder Tye asked hoping me to verify my discovery.

"If that means never having been mined, then yes. The only stones missing are those that could be removed easily."

"You know what that means?" Elder Tye asked Elder Shadow.

"We have to make certain she does well at the upcoming tournament before we worry about anything else," Elder Shadow replied. "Jay, how is your cultivation coming? Have you had any problems cultivating [Transcend the Heavenly Footpath]?"

"I think I will break through to the middle realm of Body Refinement when I get a chance to consolidate the gains and enlightenment I chanced upon. I will definitely be able to upgrade my Dao," I assured him.

"You have a Dao?" He asked in disbelief.

"I managed to gain some enlightenment concerning movement. Training in [Lightning's Rush], I had only been using it as a movement skill. Once I noticed I was able to use it for more than just movement, I experienced an epiphany.

"That epiphany allowed me to embrace the [Dao of Movement], at least it allowed me to take the first steps along the path of Dao. I haven't had much time to consolidate the gains and insights I've made, but I have firmly established the Dao Pillar in my spirit realm."

"She just might qualify," Elder Tye hinted towards Elder Shadow.

I wasn't certain what they were talking about, but I'd long ago figured out that there must be something going on with this tournament, something the Elders were keeping me from knowing. There was no way two Sect Elders would invest so much time and energy on a new member if there wasn't something they were aiming for.

Something about me, probably the combination of my Spirit Root and elemental affinities, drew them to me. I'd even considered Elder Shadow manipulated the events in that shop when Braun had been caught stealing. I had wondered at times if he hadn't wanted me firmly entrenched as an enemy for Elder An and his faction.

"Sect member Nero has had his leg dismembered," I reminded them, "there is no way he can regrow it in time for the tournament. Even if he was able, there would be no time for him to adapt and strengthen the re-grown leg. He mentioned that he thought it would be a year before he was fully functional again.

"Will that make a difference in whatever the two of you are scheming?"