TIDES IN A TEACUP

Marshall's eyes fluttered open to Chara town infirmary's basement. The crystal had triggered the memory, and remained sitting warmly in his palms.

The steady buzz was grounding, but he allowed the connection to fade before looking at Wyn and Mei Lihua.

"It all makes sense now," he declared, beginning to pace around. "The cavern, the energy, the message about a dozen years."

Marshall paused in his steps to point at Wyn, "You know how demons keep targeting me for some weird reason?"

The snow deity gave him a perplexed nod. "I do."

The disciple set the crystal back on the table, chuckling. "Well, I just figured out what's that reason!"

Mei Lihua looked between him and Wyn with raised eyebrows, but Wyn looked just as puzzled as she felt.

"Marsh, we can't read minds," she remarked.

"Right, right, so..."

Marshall explained the memory of falling down the cavern and seeing the redwood shrine, including as much detail as he could remember.

Once he was done, Mei Lihua smirked knowingly. "You left out the part about how you lied to me and my mom, saying that you fell down the stairs."

The disciple waved his hand flippantly. "I blabbed the truth to you a few months later anyway. That lie had short legs."

"Has Master Gi Shan found out the truth as well?" Wyn inquired.

"I never told him," Marshall mused, rubbing his chin. "I don't think he found out on his own."

He clapped, returning to the main topic, "...anyway! The apparition mentioned dozen years. Back then, I was seven, and it was middle of the summer. Exactly twelve years have passed since then."

Wyn suggested, "Perhaps the seal has weakened over time, and that is why demonic creatures are attracted to you."

The disciple paused, chewing on his cheek as he tried to piece together the puzzle. "It's not just about the seal weakening. It's about the timing and the energy involved."

Mei Lihua tilted her head, curious. "What do you mean?"

"When I fell into that cavern and encountered the demonic energy, it left a mark on me. But it didn't just possess me, it also formed a connection that helped the smoky apparition find me later," Marshall explained.

Wyn's eyes widened slightly. "A connection to the redwood shrine?"

Marshall nodded. "A connection to demonic energy in general. Especially now, twelve years later. It seems to have reached a point where it's actively seeking me out."

Mei Lihua's brow furrowed in concern. "But why? What does the demonic energy want with you?"

"That..." Marshall mumbled, scratching his head contemplatively, "I don't know..."

Wyn's eyes narrowed. "No matter what is the reason, we must find a way to sever that connection. If we leave it be, the demonic energy could eventually overpower you."

The disciple half-nodded, half-shook his head in denial. He needed more time to think about the possibilities of the situation. Perhaps there was a way to wield the demonic energy in a way that would repel demons from him. Then it would have been a strong advantage. 

All energies were merely tools. Marshall didn't want to get rid of it until he could figure out if there was a way to use demonic energy for good.

"Well, first, we need to understand more about the shrine," Marshall noted. "Have you ever heard of demonic shrines? It's a mystery of its own."

"Are you sure the shrine itself was demonic?" Wyn questioned skeptically.

"I'm pretty sure. Otherwise, why would the smoky apparition sit on it? A spiritual shrine would have harmed it."

Mei Lihua interjected, "How about you consult with Master Gi Shan? It's too dangerous to mess around with it. What if you run into complications you can't deal with?"

Marshall huffed a "pfft" with a smug look on his face. "There's nothing Master Gi Shan knows that I wouldn't be able to figure out on my own."

Wyn sighed at the overconfident behavior, then gestured him back to the small table. "For now, move on to the next exercise..."

"...The importance of recovering your spiritual flow has increased significantly. You must not allow the demonic energy to overpower it."

The disciple nodded, reaching to pick up the porcelain teacup. But he paused, sending the snow deity a suspicious look.

Last time, it was empty, but this time there was water in it. Had Wyn expected him to fail the first exercise last time, so he hadn't even bothered to fill the cup? So much for having faith...

"What's the teacup exercise?" Mei Lihua joined in, curiously eyeing them for an explanation.

Marshall twirled the cup, tracing the subtle lines of the cobalt blue glaze. "I have to channel my spiritual energy into the water, making it ripple without spilling a drop."

Wyn added, "The teacup exercise is all about precision, control, and the ability to sustain it for a longer period of time."

Mei Lihua snorted. " Control? Is this really a test for kids?"

Wyn gave a nod, "As long as the teacup remains half-filled, the child passes this test. However, someone of Marshall's cultivation level should not spill a single drop."

"No pressure, eh?" the disciple quipped, fixing his gaze on the water inside the cup.

He swallowed hard. It would have been no big deal if he spilled a bit while practicing alone, but Wyn was watching. Marshall wanted to keep his pride. 

After forcing the tension to turn into excitement, he took slow, steady breaths again. The energy flowed through him, tickling his veins.

The water began to ripple gently, creating tiny waves that covered the surface like scattering cherry blossoms.

Wyn observed with a keen eye, noting the subtle shifts in Marshall's energy. "Keep your focus. Let your energy move freely but remain contained."

"I know," Marshall murmured, keeping his eyes on the teacup.

Mei Lihua watched with bated breath, her heart pounding with anticipation. The determination etched on Marshall's face made her feel giddy, almost as if she were gambling. There was something inspiring about it.

The ripples in the water grew stronger, but not a single drop spilled over the rim of the cup. A satisfied grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. It was a success. 

"Good job. You passed," Wyn announced after a few minutes. "Move on to the final exercise."