Chapter Seven: Enoch's Challenge

Mark finished his breakfast, the rich taste of boar still lingering, and moved to grab his tools. He needed to check the perimeter wall and tend to the Qirin. Just as he pushed open the cabin door, intending to head for Gaia, a striking sight caught his eye.

Riding up from the tree line, moving with an effortless grace despite its massive size, was Enoch. He wasn't on Gaia or Moon, but atop a Qirin Mark had never seen within their immediate herd. This beast was a deep, earthy tan, the color of ancient desert stone, and it seemed older, more weathered than the others. Yet, it possessed a refined quality, a quiet dignity that set it apart. Its antlers, unlike the more slender ones of their familiar Qirin, were exceptionally thick and gnarled, spreading wide like the branches of an old tree. The Qirin stepped, silent and powerful, to a halt, its intelligent eyes meeting Mark's.

"Good morning, Mark," Enoch said, dismounting with a surprising fluidity for a man of his apparent age. A gentle, knowing smile touched his lips as he gestured to the majestic creature beside him. "Ready for that ride?"

Mark moved with practiced ease, retrieving Gaia's saddle and blanket from the lean-to. The Qirin whickered softly, nudging his hand with her mossy like nose. As he tightened the cinch, his gaze drifted towards the cabin. Lily was already out, a small, focused figure, "playing" with the new arrangement of stones and metals Ethan had meticulously laid out for her beside the anvil before heading out with Inrit to hunt small game. The faint, almost musical hum of the Bronze Aether already emanated from her, a familiar sign of her quiet engagement.

He thought of Sarah, who hadn't slept well, her eyes still shadowed despite the morning light. She'd been up early, though, the rich scent of breakfast – smoked boar from one of the Qirin's earlier kills – testament to her tireless efforts. Mark's mind briefly replayed the sight of Sarah and Lily working together, even with Lily's young age, building the smoker. It was a remarkable contraption, ingenious in its simplicity, born from Sarah's resourcefulness and Lily's burgeoning ability to understand and subtly manipulate the Bronze Aether, coaxing the raw materials. Such practical magic, woven into the mundane, was a constant source of wonder. He knew Sarah would be fine, always finding her footing, but the memory of her strained voice, her "sleep will not come easily" echoed in his mind.

He mounted Gaia, the Qirin's strong back, a comforting new presence beneath him, and nodded to Enoch, who was already on the tan Qirin, awaiting him. A silent agreement passed between them, a shared understanding that this ride would be more than just a journey through the woods

As they rode into the dappled sunlight of the forest, the rhythmic thud of Qirin hooves on soft earth filling the quiet, Mark broke the silence. He glanced at the powerful, tan Qirin Enoch rode, admiring its thick, ancient-looking antlers and the calm, intelligent look in its eye. "That's an incredible beast you've got there, Enoch," Mark observed, feeling the gentle strength of his own Gaia beneath him. "Looks older, more... refined than the others. A truly remarkable creature."

Enoch stroked the Qirin's neck, a soft smile on his face. "Indeed, Mark. Remarkable is an understatement. Being among the Qirin here on your land, feeling their connection to the Aether, it stirred something within me. I went and sought out an old friend, from another life entirely, and asked him to join me on another adventure." He looked at Mark, his eyes twinkling. "His name is Zun Zhe – the Venerable One. But Zun for short, as 'Zun zhe' isn't quite an English word and constantly referring to him as Venerable could cause confusion at times.

"Mark, out of your entire family," Enoch continued, his voice taking on a grave, certain tone, "you hold the most profound potential, a destiny that truly sets you apart. The way the Aether flows through you, the way you instinctively connect with the world around you, even the Qirin... it points to you becoming a truly powerful entity in your own right." He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.

"For too long, I have simply watched. But now, seeing the challenges your family faces, seeing the return of the Aether and the transformations it brings, I realize my role must shift. My promise to Creation as a Watcher compels me to do more. I will step down from that distant observation. I intend to become a teacher for you and your family, and for any others I deem worthy of understanding these profound truths. Your journey, Mark, is just beginning, and I believe I can help you navigate its incredible potential."

"How can you step away from something like that?" Mark asked, the question a quiet rumble as he considered the unimaginable scope of Enoch's former role.

Enoch chuckled, a dry, warm sound. "I was asked to do it, not forced, Mark. And this, this is the way I choose to help now." He looked out at the ancient forest, a profound serenity in his gaze. "My life has been... fulfilled long ago. And it lasted even longer being a Watcher, you see." A mischievous glint entered his eye. "The only thing I'm truly stepping away from is the official 'position' and the full immortality that came with it." He winked. "Though, with the Aether flowing back into the world as it is, we'll all be going back to having much longer lifespans anyway. So, I expect to be around for a while still, thankfully for you." His smile softened. "And you and your family, especially, might live even longer than most, on top of that, because of your profound encounter with Umbra, the Cadence herself. I think you and your family may be what I call Weavers given that you can see the Aethers Strands and interact with them."

Mark rode on, the rhythmic sway of Gaia beneath him a familiar comfort, yet his mind churned with the enormity of Enoch's revelations. A Watcher. A Cadence. Immortality given up. Longer lifespans, possibly even longer for him and his family. Weavers? It was a torrent of information, each piece heavier than the last, settling within him like strange, new stones. Enoch, sensing the turbulent currents in Mark's thoughts, maintained a comfortable silence beside him. He understood the need for absorption, the quiet processing of such profound truths. He wouldn't push, wouldn't prod. He simply rode, a patient, ancient presence, allowing Mark the space to grapple with his new reality on his own terms. The forest hummed around them, a subtle symphony of the Aether that, for the first time, Mark was truly beginning to hear. It was only when Enoch eventually reined Zun to a slow halt and dismounted that Enoch finally broke the silence.

Enoch's quiet contemplation, finally done. He turned to Mark, a challenge gleaming in his ancient eyes. "Now, I'm going to see if you can handle the training I've devised for you, Mark." A subtle hum emanated from his gnarled staff, and with a soft shink, it split down its length, transforming into two gleaming short swords. He deftly caught one, its polished blade reflecting the forest light, and tossed the other to Mark.

Mark fumbled the catch, the sword feeling alien and heavy in his hand. "I don't know how to use this," he stated, a note of bewilderment in his voice. "Besides, it'd be useless against people with guns, or those with ranged Aether abilities, wouldn't it?"

Enoch merely smiled. With a fluid motion, he shrugged off his worn jacket, revealing a surprisingly muscular build beneath the simple fabric. He pulled a piece of cloth from a pouch at his waist and quickly tied back his long, white hair, his movements precise. "If you can adapt to this training fast enough," Enoch said, his voice low and confident, "you'll see."

The words resonated with a quiet certainty, stripping away any lingering doubt in Mark's mind. He truly understood then that Enoch, the ancient Watcher who had given up immortality to teach, possessed a wealth of knowledge and abilities far beyond his comprehension. This was just the beginning