Chapter 251

  Darkness (II)

  "The way I understand it," I said slowly, choosing my words with care. "Light isn't something we see--it's something that moves. It travels, strikes things, bounces off them, and bends as it passes through them. That's why we can see shape and distance at all.

  "Think about water in a stream. If the surface is calm, you can see straight through it. But if you toss in a rock--even a small one--the image beneath starts to warp. The stones haven't moved at all, but what reaches your eyes has." I gestured somewhat faintly, as if tracing a line through the air.

  "Light works much the same way. When it passes through glass, it slows and bends. When it reflects off uneven surfaces, it scatters, softening edges or breaking shapes apart. Even air itself can bend light--think about how the horizon looks on very hot days." I looked back at him. "Illusions change how the mind interprets what it receives. Distorting light changes what's being received in the first place. You're not lying to the eyes--you're simply rearranging the path the truth takes to reach them."

  I paused for a moment before adding the last bit, a little more uncertain.

  "At least... that's how I think of it. You're not painting false images. You're nudging the world's reflection of itself off-balance."

  Honestly, that's probably as good as it was gonna get. I already have a rather simplistic and quite vague idea of what light is and how it behaves, and it all stems from those physics classes I had back in high school over twenty years ago.

  Rayce's brows continued to furrow throughout my speech, and now they've practically melded together as he stood up and walked away as I shifted my focus to the side, where I saw Lao Shun staring at me. Shit, I forgot this guy was here.

  "... what?" I asked.

  "I'm beginning to get the sense of why you're qualified to be their Master." I really doubt that, but go off.

  "If you ask me," I said. "There are probably like six people truly qualified to be their Masters."

  "No doubt," he nodded as both our attentions shifted over to the spat between Dai Xiu and Wan Lan.

  Their relationship, at least from what I could glean, developed in a manner that was both predictable and slightly unorthodox. There's a lot of competitive sibling energy between them, though most of it comes from Dai Xiu, while Wan Lan seems to mostly indulge her.

  At the same time, though, after each of their spars, they'd both sit down and actually talk about it, with Wan Lan offering advice and Dai Xiu pretending to ignore it.

  "What are your plans now?" Lao Shun asked, and... I didn't really have a straight answer for him.

  The broad plan, as I understand it, is to eventually go after the Sages. But I'm not really sure where on the timeline that fits; there's still that ordeal with the Eternal Edge Mountain and the token they gave me. I kind of lost count, but it's just over two years away, I feel, so the question is... do we go after the Sages before or after?

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  And I just don't know. Mostly because I'm not sure just how strong the Sages are.

  I will say, though, that the voice that boomed throughout the city gave off a feeling that was stronger than Hua's. There was a good chance that at least one of the Sages was in the realm above the Demigod, a realm whose name I didn't even know yet.

  And for all their talents, the kids were still in just the Foundation Establishment, and I was merely in the Revolving Core.

  "I don't know," I replied honestly. "We are headed north. That's about as good as it gets."

  "North? To the Sunless Forest?"

  "Hm."

  "Oh. Don't tell me you're one of those hoping to find the Garden?"

  "... and if I am?" I prodded for information.

  "I suggest giving up," he sighed. "Alchemy Tower has tried finding it for literal centuries, but to no avail. If there is a garden somewhere therein, it is hidden behind arrays that cannot be seen through. Most people believe that the darkness is the greatest hurdle to overcome, but, from what I've heard from some of the Seniors that went there, it's rather the easiest.

  "There are demonic beasts that prowl the leafed paths, entirely unseen and adapted to the lack of light. Virtually every expedition had to be cut short as either too many would die, or they'd run out of healing pills and powders."

  "You never went yourself?"

  "Hah. As if," he scoffed, though it wasn't really targeted at me or even the question, but more so at himself, it felt. "I was considered once, a long time ago, when I was still an Apprentice. But that's as far as it got."

  He fell silent, and so did I.

  My only knowledge of this area came from a very vague map I once saw in the Spirit Sword Sect. I was going to look for one in the city, but, well, one thing happened and then another, and I just... never did.

  But the little spat I had with Long Tao weighed on me.

  The kids survived and even thrived in the chaos of the city being invaded.

  Maybe it really is that they'd do much better with constantly pushing themselves?

  "We'll check it out," I said. "Maybe we get lucky."

  "Hm. Maybe."

  As the kids finished the morning sparring session by being brutally beaten by Long Tao (who was yet to use a sword at all, even when all the kids attacked together) and took half an hour to heal the bruised skin (and egos), we packed up and started trekking northward through the forest.

  The trees looked to be mostly birch, tall and thin with somewhat naked branches. It made sense, I suppose, as it really did seem like the autumn was fast approaching. The days were growing shorter and much colder, and though it didn't really rain all that frequently, most of them were quite overcast.

  We passed by a rather lovely creek where I saw a rainbow-colored frog the size of a housecat yank a fly-like thing the size of a hummingbird from the air and swallow it in one big gulp. By the edges, there was a stag with interwoven, marble-white antlers bending forward and drinking, its beady eyes darting around cautiously.

  Further up a nearby tree was a strange-looking owl, four-winged and red-feathered.

  It honestly felt like walking through a strange, alien zoo of sorts with how many animals were just... there. Though they appeared alert and on guard against us, since we kept our distance and didn't bother them, none of them ran away or looked like they'd attack.

  At some point, a tiny multi-colored sparrow abruptly landed on Dai Xiu's shoulder and 'sang' a few notes as the girl laughed gingerly, reaching over and gently patting the bird's head with her finger. Following the brief grooming session, the sparrow spread its wings and flew away, joining a tall nest well above us.

  Quaint.

  It's a feeling I've been missing for a long time.

  Also a reminder that, as with all things, this world was built on nuance. Not everything and everyone was struggling for dominion of things; if anything, the vast majority of living things were simply, well, living.

  And nothing quite captures the ethereal beauty like the fleeting moments of life in all its ever-shifting forms.

  There was still that little paranoid voice in me reminding me that the greatest storms come after the greatest calm. But, for once in my life... I chose to ignore it.

  Come what may, I'll struggle and survive, helping these kids unfurl their own wings one day. And watch them fly, wherever they may go.