Chapter 60 - My Own Path (longer chapter)

Nerun was ecstatic. Truly ecstatic, he was not imagining it earlier. Then it hit him. The First Law of EON. If your Will imposes itself as Qi, how will you yield to the Will of Mana? If you conform to the Will of Mana, how can you impose your Will with Qi?"

There were several points to take notice of, according to what Nerun understood right now. First of all, there has to be a balance between the flow of both Qi and Mana in your body when performing the moves. Therefore, it was easier to start when both your Qi and Mana levels were both low, so they can be increased at the same time, while maintaining the equilibrium.

Both Martial Models and Meditation Techniques allowed people to use the Natural Energy of Heaven and Earth to transform them into both Qi and Mana. Once you had developed a huge imbalance in both, say achieving level 10 either in the Way of the Warrior or the Adept, you would then be practically set for life. It is said that some experts tried to train in both ways at the same time, only to get utterly frustrated when they noticed the difficulty of keeping both energies in balance, and the geniuses among them could barely rise up to level 15 in both ways. This actually allowed them to be quite powerful, especially in the lower rank of experts, but it was apparently impossible to continue increasing their rank.

It was actually not impossible, only incredibly difficult. They tended to use a Meditation Technique to increase Mana and a Martial Model to increase Qi. Nerun was using something else. Something developed for him. Something that allowed him to feel the flow of the Natural Energy of Heaven and Earth, and mobilize the dual energies in his body in a perfect and synchronic balance. Nerun felt it. Both energies formed a circuit inside of him, forming a perfect image of Yin and Yang, both rotating slowly.

What the Genesis Stone was doing was perfecting Nerun's martial art for him, so it would actually be compatible with the natural world. As the world felt Nerun's movements were part of itself, the will of the world stopped rejecting his path. A Warrior Martial Art and Model that was made as if to use Mana. And since Nerun was in an empty state of mind, being entranced by the greatness of creation, his mind allowed the movement of Qi as well.

Nerun couldn't help but wonder if only the Free Flowing Fist could be like this, or if the Genesis Stone could transform every martial art. Nerun guessed that it would be the latter, but it would need a lot of experiments and time. Besides, Nerun really liked the feeling of the Free Flowing Fist, because it allowed a person to better attune himself to the world. The combination of both, the Free Flowing Fist and the correction from the Genesis Stone, were making Nerun obtain maximum benefits with half the efforts.

But the moves were not the be-all end-all, Nerun quickly realized that. There was something missing, since even if Mana and Qi were flowing together, they didn't seem to join, they kept apart from each other, as if there was an unsurpassable barrier between them. Nerun couldn't tell right now what was exactly missing. But that was enough for now. He had given the first and most important step to greatness.

So Nerun, wasting no more time and trying to increase the feeling, started practicing the complete First Form of the Free Flowing Fist, with the modified first and seventh move. When both moves were performed, the warmth of the Genesis Stone increased, and the movement of Qi and Mana did as well. It was a magical feeling that seemed to embrace Nerun's soul and inner being, and he fell in love with the sensation of practicing and increasing his strength at the same time. He couldn't wait to modify the complete first form and increase his strength.

He also started tweaking the second form bit by bit, which was also a small movement from the Form. Even with Nerun's amazing memory and body control, he couldn't help making some mistakes when doing the full Form. However Nerun wasn't sure if modifying one move at a time would work. The first movement was different since it was the very beginning of the form, but the rest were part of a whole and without the precedent and posterior move would just feel incomplete.

Also, Nerun wanted to use the feedback from the stone and his Qi circulation when performing the first and seventh move to try and modify the adjacent moves. He wanted to give it a try like this, since it would at least not be like trying to find something blindfolded, but he would have a little guide. After all, the spirit of a Martial Art Form was that it was a continuum. So they had to make sense together.

If Nerun could transform each of the 24 moves of the First Form of the Free Flowing Fist to be done according to the Genesis Stone feedback, he would have created a form of his own, where every single move would utilize both energies in a natural way.

As Nerun kept practicing, he lost track of time. It was harder than Nerun imagined to modify the second movement, and he didn't get the response he wanted, and the bigger and more complex movements would probably be even harder to change. But what Nerun wasn't lacking now was either time, nor patience, nor perseverance. Perseverance to improve himself and become a man able to make his parents and brothers proud. Little by Little, his depleted Qi and Mana were increasing together. Even when the other moves were a bit discordant and sometimes even were contrary to the flow of the energies, the push from the correct first and seventh move made a positive balance.

Whitey stayed next to Nerun watching him dance over and over, mesmerized by the flow of the Natural Energy around Nerun. Nerun's first and seventh move didn't just use Qi or Mana, but both energies at the same time, so instead of Nerun being like a level 4 Qi or Mana user, he was effectively using the power of a level 8 expert.

Sometimes violent, sometimes soft, like a mighty river, Nerun's movements were filled with a natural beauty. Nerun seemed like he knew no fatigue. Finally, at the darkest hour, right before dawn, success came once more. As Nerun went from the first to the second move, the warmth of the stone kept from one to the next. The Energies Flow in the Yin Yang diagram inside his body, completed a small revolution inside Nerun's Body.

As Dawn was breaking on the horizon, Qi and Mana increased from level 4 to 5 at the same time. Qi level 5. Mana level 5. Both in perfect balance. Both energies then flowed violently towards two points in Nerun's body, the outlined gate in his head that had appeared when Nerun opened his First Ocular meridian, and an unknown point in his core, where a Tunnel was being opened fiercely. Both energies were behaving like drills destroying every and any obstacle in its way until… BOOOOM.

Nerun felt like an explosion had happened inside of him. The First Core Meridian in Nerun's body had opened widely, allowing Qi to circulate freely and powerfully. No… Mana was also trying to flow inside the Meridian but there was a certain difficulty, so Mana was surrounding the Meridian. The first Heavenly Gate also opened widely. Nerun's Mind Palace which normally stored Mana started communicating with it and mana started strumming around, though Qi also wanted to be part of it, but faced some major obstruction.

With both the First Heavenly Gate and First Core Meridian open, Nerun had officially become a Qi Master and a Mana Adept at the same time. Well it was strange to call it like that. After all Nerun's Qi and Mana were both only level 5 and the feeling of a Master and Adept coming from Nerun were quite weak. It was as if Nerun was one of the fancy boys, who had used some secret technique or material to quickly ascend in rank and had a weak, unstable and no prospect foundation for his future.

And indeed, were he to use them by themselves, he would officially be the weakest Qi Master and Mana Adept of all times. Nerun quickly understood that he could open the Meridian and Gate when both energies were combined, and so, he needed to use both energies at the same time, but this is something he would have to figure out on his own in the future.

When Nerun overcame this first obstacle, the fatigue that had eluded him for the night came over him. He was about to pass out, when Whitey arrived next to him and hold him up. Nerun had a happy smile on his hace. He had started building his own path. Neither Qi or Mana user, but a combination of both. A Magick Warrior.

Nerun slept in the Woods till noon. After he awoke he felt refreshed and filled with power, as he giggled happily. Nerun wanted to better understand the changes in his body and learn how to use his newly earnt strength, but the rumbling in his stomach made him remember he had not eaten for a while now, and his brothers, sisters and Father Maikal would probably be concerned, so he quickly rode Whitey to the entrance of the Forest and went running towards the Orphanage filled with joy and hope for his future. He wanted to share his experiences with Father Maikal as quickly as possible, but when Nerun arrived at the Orphanage he stopped abruptly.

All the children were in the backyard crying loudly. Silvester was on one of the corners hitting and breaking some trees. Maya was trying to comfort them, but the sadness in her eyes was also quite evident.

Nerun started having a bad feeling and ran towards them. Some of the children, when they saw Nerun, approached him and started attacking him with questions: "Brother Nerun, were you with Father Maikal? Where is he, why does sister Maya tell us that he won't be coming back?"

They were asking all at the same time, and hurriedly, and Nerun was also left in shock. 'Father had left?' asked Nerun to himself, and started thinking back of Maikal's behaviour in the last few days. Then he quickly looked for the eyes of sister Maya, and when he saw her saddened, yet steadfast eyes, he immediately understood that it was true.

Maikal had left the Orphanage the day before, and had not come back for the night. He had not stayed outside ever, except when going to the Frontier, but he always told the children in advance. But this time, even the smaller children could tell that this one was different. Maikal, maybe, would never return.

For them, who were already orphaned, either having lost their parents, being abandoned, being sold as slaves, or other things worse, they were rescued and brought back to the Orphanage by Maikal. Maikal gave them a home, food, and even though he demanded a lot from them, and made them do a lot of chores and exercises, he never mistreated them, nor abused them. They knew he deeply cared for them. He was the one true father figure they had gotten to know and love, and now, it was gone. Gone once again. Why?

They felt abandoned. They started to feel despair. All the children were like that. Even Silvester.

Nerun also felt like something was stuck in his throat. He wanted to speak but just couldn't. He touched his face which showed He didn't know when, but tears started flowing uncontrollably from his eyes.

Why? Why now of all times? I finally found my path. I finally made it and managed to cultivate Mana and Qi at the same time. I opened my First Core Meridian and Heavenly Gate, I can start helping Father like Brother Elijah used to do. Why? Did you not want us anymore? Were we a burden for you?

As Nerun and the rest of the children were asking themselves these and other despair-inducing questions, Nerun thought back to what had happened recently and he understood. Father had fought with an enemy that recognized his identity. Maybe, Father Maikal's identity was too sensitive and perhaps enemies would come looking for him in the near future. So Maikal decided to leave first, and not tell anyone, so the kids would stay out of harm's way. Nerun clenched his fists tightly, 'till blood started pouring from his hands.

Nerun knew he was just speculating, but he shouldn't be too far from the truth. He couldn't help feeling sad and weak and useless. But he knew he would gain nothing from these feelings. This was not the Orphanage way of doing things. No. Not like this. He had to take the bull by the horns. Even when facing death, they would die laughing and spitting at their enemies, they would not bend their backs, they would not let themselves be trampled. They were the ones called to change their own fate. These were Father Maikal's teachings. So a setback such as this would not be the end of them.

So he started calling: "guys…". No one seemed to listen. "Guys" said Nerun again louder, but everyone was brooding.

"GUYS" finally cried Nerun using his Qi/Mana under the stress. The cry sounded like a thunderclap in the minds of all the children and they all turned their heads towards Nerun. The field was silent.

As nerun was seeing the faces of his loved ones, he cleaned the tears on his face and smiled. He smiled like a sunshine and the children were surprised before Nerun's smile.

"I'm quite sad guys, you know. I know you all feel the same, and maybe, this pain will not go away anytime soon. But we have to move forward. Father has left. Father had to leave. For our sake. Don't ask me why, but please trust me. He has not stopped caring for us even for a second."

The eyes of the children were lowered. Even though they wanted to believe Nerun, they just couldn't overcome their sorrow. Nerun then shouted again.

"WAKE UP. Father would hate seeing you like this. And even if had truly left us, so what? Weren't we taught to overcome everything? To overcome fate. To live, above all else. If Father left, was because we were weak. Because we couldn't help him, he had to leave. Because we were burdens, he had to leave, otherwise people could have used us against him."

All the children were surprised by Nerun's holler and stared back at him. Maya and Silvester wanted to retort, but Nerun didn't let them.

"So, what are you all gonna do? I, for sure, do not want to be a burden anymore. I know he cares about me. About all of you. All his exercises, teaching, all of that was because he wanted us to become stronger. He cares so much, that had he not left, all of our lives could have been put in danger. So he left alone. Alone you hear me. He did not tell me anything. And left alone. Who will take care of him? Who will help him when he needs it? He is an old man, and still behaves like a little child. Doesn't he realize we can help him? No, he doesn't. So we have to prove him wrong. I'll prove him wrong. I'll become stronger and stronger. And eventually I'll tear apart with my own little hands the obstacles that have separated us. In the future, we may grow in different places. Elijah has already left. Maybe I will also have to leave at some point in the future. That is fate. Are we still not family just 'cause we are apart from each other?

Will he stop being our Father? Will you let his teachings go to waste? I won't. So I'll train even harder. I'll become unequalled, unrivaled, unmatched under heaven. This is my oath. This is my path. This is my fate. And all those who have taken from me, and you all, and Father will face my judgement. And all those who want to take from me, and you all, and Father will face my retribution.

So what are you gonna do? Will you stay crying like little babies or will you chase me and see if you can catch me and prove me wrong as well?"

As Nerun was yelling, his voice was turning hoarse and hoarser. He sometimes complained about Maikal, sometimes cursed him as well, but the tears in Nerun's face expressed both his dejection as well as his anger towards his fate, and his reluctance to still be its toy. Sometimes the things he said made no sense at all. He was, after all, only a little child.

But his ravings let all of the other children vent their own frustrations. Even Silvester wanted to laugh at Nerun's incoherent speech, but then all the children turned solemn when they heard Nerun's oath. He might just be a small kid, but they could feel the passion and conviction of his speech. That and his determination.

Maybe some would call his dreams foolish. A poor kid from a lost corner in the Kingdom of Ansem with delusions of greatness. But they knew better. They were the children of Maikal's Orphanage. They were the ones being taught to transform themselves for the better. They had been over much much worse, and they would go on living. For themselves. For the Father that had to leave, out of helplessness. So that nothing more would be taken away from them. Perhaps in the future, they would face even bigger and more dangerous problems. So they had to train and become stronger even faster. So they could be prepared for anything.

So they all started sobbing and looking at Nerun fiercelessly, they started chasing him inside the backyard. Even Maya started chasing Nerun around. Soon enough they were laughing aloud with tears in their eyes. Tears of happiness, tears of sadness, tears of powerlessness. They would cry aloud, and then, cry no more.

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END OF PART 1: The Orphanage