Talents, Whispers, Echoes

Although one cannot choose their innate dust, it is possible to influence the one which may appears.

For example, if a painter spent all his life painting, then he were to become a dustborn. All of his talents and whispers will be related to 'painting'. As for echoes, one can't accurately measure their echoes from their profession or talents.

Echoes are whisper of fate. Such fate transcend the human intrinsic system of values.

It is difficult for anyone to discern one's echo before they are awakened, and this echo, is a constant which cannot be casually influenced. Thus, the sign of an echo can be a hallmark for one's potential.

Due to these reasons, you could imagined what a warrior, or assassin would obtain if they were to become a dustborn.

Hence why the various organization operate the way they do.

His clan followed a tradition of upholding martial arts as well as strength above weakness. This was followed by many clans and families in the Crimson Shore.

Unknowingly, this affect the young dustborn who awaken within their respect clans or family. Thus allowing them to receive talents and whisper related to combat.

Merchants, craftsman, and others who didn't delve into martial art would receive their corresponding talents and whisper upon awakening as a dustborn. Most probably won't see an echo their entire life.

Yin San was different. He didn't pursue martial art as fervently and instead, choose painting.

Upon remembering the series of event in his past life, he let out a hollow chuckled. This was actually an accident in his first life.

Painting was his hobby on earth. He carried that hobby into this world, not expecting it to affect him when he awakened.

Unknowingly, when he obtain his opportunity, he obtained another kind of talent and whispers relating to not just painting, but dreams as well.

"I thought those talents were useless decks of cards in my first life, but I need those painting talents, especially the ones combined with dreams…" The series of talents he obtained was a mixed of painting and dreams related. The first was influence by his hobby, and the latter influence by the mysterious white castle.

He didn't figure out its true power until his second cycle.

The rain continue to poured.

After Ma'am Arianna departure, Yin San concentrated on the task at hand. It was as if he never met the mysterious figure in the first place, nor entered that grand castle.

A small rodent scurried across the floor. Yin San glanced at it briefly, his attention focused back onto the task at hand.

Over the next few days, Mo Wei peeked through the window to observe this young master of the clan.

"Has he finally given up?" He muttered under his breath.

This 'young master', other than sleep, and eat, he would paint. Not a single moment was spent on martial art, it was as though he was changed overnight.

"It's better this way… Perhaps he saw through Yin Bei's scheme and decided to give up…", He thought, shaking his head.

This sort of schemes and play were not uncommon within the clan. Those capable would pull it off without being punished, and those incapable would be better off doing otherwise.

For this, Yin San did not blamed Mo Wei. He simply attributed his misfortune as bad luck.

Likewise, if the day came when he killed Mo Wei, it would be just another cold stroke on the canvas of necessity.

At the same time, Mo Wei wasn't wrong about Yin San giving up the coming of age rites.

But his reason for giving up the coming of ages rites were much different from the truth.

It's not like I need the leyline spring to become dustborn, Yin San thought, wiping a bead of ink from his face.

In his previous life, he bath in the Leyline spring in order to awakened, but this made his life as a dustborn difficult later on. He guessed that it was due to the secrets relating to the leyline spring which caused this.

The canvas before him shimmered under the lamplight: a dark grayish spring, bleeding a subtle golden glow. His strokes grew colder, more deliberate.

He planned on using the three-body-ritual in order to awaken his spiritual, ether, and astral body. This was the method used by the various churches in the outside world where Ms. September reside.

Before that, he needed to engrossed himself in 'painting'. This was to help him increase his chance of obtaining the corresponding talents relating to that subject. This would greatly aid him in his future plan.

At this moment.

Although he couldn't examined his three metaphysical body, he could feel a resonance.

His soul was like a string, and it was plucked by an invisible force, as though someone was playing a chord.

This feeling was very faint and seemingly illusionary, almost like an hallucination. But with his experience, he could discern it with more clarity. Perhaps for an ordinary person, a dose of psychedelic drugs could produce a similar feeling.

"I'm edging toward completion!"

After three days of relentless work, Yin San stepped out of his courtyard, ink-soaked, but the smile on his face were brighter.

His white robes, as well as pale skin were draped in black ink. Without even looking closely, you could see scattered stains everywhere, as though he was bathed in ink.

"Now, I just need to gather the corresponding ingredients for the rituals…" He muttered, already thinking of the next step. The ingredients for the three body ritual is simple, but its execution contain a great degree of danger.

The act of 'opening' those three body in this shore would instantly cause your metaphysical body to corrupt at the source. This is due to the inherent nature of this shore.

Not to mentions, all sorts of entity exist within this land.

In the land beyond, it was much safer. Although he himself never managed to escape to the land beyond from the past cycle. He knew this information because of other's experience in the Roundtable Hold.

The Crimson Shore was like a wasteland, and the opening of the three body here is no different from taking a radiation bath naked.

If that is not seeking death, then what is?

Fortunately, I have another form of protection against this corruption… He murmured.

The three body ritual uses everyday items in the Land Beyond. The problem was, this was the Crimson Shore, so even 'everyday' items were difficult to obtain. Not only because it is rare here, but the name and effects are different, as they are derived of different origin.

For example, Jasmine Leaf, which is a common plant in the Land Beyond does not exist in this Crimson Shore. It uses involve calming the mind through its scent, albeit very slight.

With his vast knowledge, he could replace it with the Red Locus Leaf, which agitates the mind.

If this Red Locus Leaf is then mixed with some Moondust, the agitation effects would disappeared, and instead, produce a calming effect similar to that of Jasmine Leaf.

At the same time.

In order to obtain the required ingredients, he needed to visit the night market at the base of the mountain.

Yin San hid his intention well. Even after achieving his goal, he didn't change his habit. Under Mo Wei's watchful gaze, he appeared the same, resigned.

This attitude and lack of care for the upcoming coming of age rites continues to attract more and more ridicules as the day passes.

His eyes flashes with coldness as their ridicule passed from one ear to the other.

That night, Yin San pulled animal hides to the desk and began writing in a careful manner.

"For more assurance…" he whispered to himself, "I should perform a divination."

After finishing the letter, he read it carefully, making sure it was correct without a single mistake. When he was done, he wrap the hide and wedged it deep in the bedframe's gap.

He went to bed and sleep. After repeating a chant in his head, he felt his body being pulled toward a higher place.

This higher place was vast and endless, existing beyond space and time. In here, the eight cardinal direction is useless. Past, present, and future are distorted with no set rules and regulation.

Fortunately, he appeared in the castle as he always did.

Yin San sat on the honored seat of the roundtable, then conjured a gold coin as well as a piece of animal hide

This animal hide was an exact replica of the one that is hidden in the gap of his bed.

As for the gold coin, it's not special in anyway. Its appearance resemble an antique coin that a collector would be interested in. He held it in his hand, and played around with it for a short moment.

He didn't want to waste too much time and quickly closed his eyes, entering a meditated state.

Slowly, his voice came through in the form of a whisper. It repeatedly chanted.

"The content of this animal hide is accurate…"

"The content of this animal hide is accurate…"

"The content of this animal hide is accurate…"

Then, eyes open, he flicked the coin high.

Clang.

The sound echoed across the endless hall before the coin landed neatly in his palm.