And newly risen to immortality, the Archon did gaze across the endless stream of worlds and` see a thousand horrors. Terrible was the suffering of man, so he stretched out his hand to shield them. Wretched was their ignorance, so he sent his shepherds to teach them. This done, the holy light of the Heavenly Empire spread across all existence, and the false gods and demons could but scream as they were driven into shadow. – The Path of Illumination 2:4

“The cultivation of Ki is the path towards enlightenment. Only through ki can you transcend your flawed mortality and reach for the divine as the Archon did,” the robed elder told his students as he stood in front of them. “Focus on your breathing. Draw the Ki into yourself. You must let go of yourself and become one with the spiritual flow that surrounds you. Ki is everywhere under the endless heavens. Let your soul bask in that power and gather it to itself, then cycle that energy throughout your body. That’s how a cultivator opens their meridians and forms their spiritual core.”

Eyes closed, Verus sat cross-legged on the floor and did as he was told, like all the other students. It wasn’t difficult, even though the afternoon air was brisk. This was an old exercise, one that he’d done countless times. Years of practice made ignoring the cold and the hard stone beneath him easy, and he’d long ago learned how to gather ki using this method.

After a brief pause, the elder resumed his speech. “Every cultivator gathers ki to themselves in order to transform their body and spirit. Only upon acquiring certain levels of ki, will you gain the opportunity to ascend to a higher Realm of cultivation. You must never grow lax or proud. As cultivators of the Heavenly Empire, it is your duty to meditate and train whenever you have an opportunity.”

If he hadn’t been holding perfectly still, Verus would have nodded in agreement. Reaching a new Realm greatly increased a cultivator’s spiritual strength and came with other benefits as well. He knew this from experience since he’d already created his ki core and reached the Foundation Realm. The elder’s words were mostly for the younger students who were still in the Origin Realm.

Every person that began cultivating started in the Origin Realm. Through meditation and intensive exercise, they used ki to open their meridians and build themselves a proper ki core at the center of their being. It had taken Verus years to do that and reach the Foundation Realm, but he’d done it, and it had been worth all the effort. Reaching a higher Realm made a cultivator stronger and live longer, and having a ki core allowed them to use proper ki techniques.

After a few more minutes of silence, the elder spoke up again. “That’s enough for today. Today’s lessons are over, and you are dismissed. However, as I doubt any of you have forgotten, I’ll be seeing all of you who have reached the Foundation Realm later in the main hall. It would be unwise to be tardy.”

Immediately, Verus opened his eyes, climbed to his feet, and gave the elder a quick bow of respect. He wasn’t alone. Over a hundred other young students around him were doing the same. All of them were male and wearing the same style of loose initiate robes, but their ages ranged from twelve to sixteen years old. Each and every one of them also had shaved heads. This made them all look somewhat similar, but they were all used to it, so they had no problem telling each other apart. They’d grown up together after all.

Elder Balint nodded in approval, so the initiates ended their bows and started walking across the training ground and toward the main temple. None of them spoke. Elder Balint was a strict teacher who didn’t tolerate unnecessary chatter. Like all the other elders at the temple, he was wearing a green robe with sliver trim. Seemingly middle-aged with a neatly trimmed black beard that had more than a little grey in it, Elder Balint had an outer appearance that matched his stern personality. His shadowy eyes seemed to hold no warmth as he watched his charges leave.

Verus had no problem with walking quietly. He grinned as he moved and studied his surroundings excitedly. They were familiar, but this was going to be one of the last times he ever saw them, so he wanted to remember them. The courtyard he was leaving was covered by square paving stones, which made it a perfect place for training. Behind it and to the right stood tall stone walls that ran around the exterior of the temple complex. Beyond those walls, lay a tall mountain range with snow-capped peaks. The temple was built right into the side of one of those mountains, which explained the invigorating chill of the air.

Over to Verus’s left was a large ornamental garden that contained several koi ponds. It was usually forbidden to the initiates, although they were the ones that maintained the gardens and fed the large golden fish. Ahead of Verus, stood the main temple building. It stood out from the blue sky thanks to its bright white walls and red ornamental pillars. Every floor of the buildings was capped by a roof made of green tiles, from which hung white banners with a green swirl symbolizing the wind on them. It was all very ornate, but it still managed to give off a restive and contemplative aura that befitted a temple ran by the Great Wind Sect.

This was one of the many temples that the sect ran in this province. Although it was the only one Verus had ever seen with his own eyes, he imagined most of them looked much the same.

Still smiling, Verus was the first of the initiates to enter the building and began heading over to his room. Training might be over for the day, but there was still much to do. Every initiate was given afternoon chores they had to do before supper. Life at the temple was strict and regimented, but it was the only home Verus could really remember. He’d lived here for over six years, ever since his mother had died. He barely remembered her, and he had no recollection of his father at all.

After his mother’s death, Verus had been tested by an imperial official and found to possess a talent for cultivation, so he’d been sent to the Great Wind Sect to be trained as a cultivator. That was common story among the initiates. The imperial sects routinely took in orphans or bought children with talent from their parents. Few parents resisted. By imperial law, every cultivator had to be registered and trained, and that required resources no commoners possessed.

As Verus headed to the kitchen to help get supper, he encountered several more elders and servants, and he made sure to give each of the elders a formal bow before passing them. Some gave him a nod back, but most simply ignored him. Verus didn’t know most of the elders. They came and went from the temple, and the majority didn’t bother to talk to the initiates. They were busy on missions for the sect or doing their own mysterious training. The elders had an entire wing of the temple to themselves that the initiates were never allowed to enter. It was rumored that the elders’ wing contained incredible chambers that allowed them to draw in immense amounts of ki to speed their cultivation. It was also whispered that a massive cave system full of monsters lay underneath it, but none of the initiates had ever seen such things. Personally, Verus doubted the rumors were true.

Even many of the servants were strangers. They took care of the younger children but were frequently rotated out of the complex so that the initiates didn’t grow too close to them. None of the many woman who’d looked after Verus when he was young were still around. Despite himself, Verus felt a tinge of loss that made him feel hollow, but before it could spread, he quickly suppressed the feeling.

“Pain is an illusion. The unbound soul seeks balance,” he chanted under his breath as he walked on as if nothing had happened. He was an initiate of the Great Wind sect and an ascetic. He’d been trained until his self-discipline was as iron. He was strong. He controlled his emotions; they didn’t control him.

Once at the kitchen, Verus reported to the head chef and helped some of the assistants chop vegetables. It was one of the easier chores and didn’t take too long. When he was done, the head chef let him join the other initiates who’d finished their tasks in the dining hall.

Taking a seat on a chair at one of the wooden tables that filled the plain hall, Verus sat silently and waited for the other initiates to arrive. It was several minutes before most of the chairs were filled by initiates and the food was served. However, even with the food in front of him, Verus ignored his hunger and continued to wait. The initiates had not yet been given permission to eat.

Thankfully, there was an immediate flash of gold as Minister Levi strode into the room and took up position at the end of the tables where everyone could see him. He was plain-looking man with a long grey beard and bald head that that been shaved like those of the initiates. Skinny of build, he looked middle-aged, with only the smallest hint of wrinkles. His white and gold trimmed Lightbearer robes were so clean they gleamed. That, combined with his ever-present dutiful expression, gave him a dignified air.

Shaved heads were common among Lightbringers and mandatory for initiates because they were considered a sign of humility and respect. Despite this, most the elders preferred having much longer hair, even though it was considered vain for both male and female cultivators.

As usual, when the minister appeared, Verus found himself growing attentive and eager to hear him speak. This wasn’t because his speeches were interesting or because Verus particularly liked the man. Rather, it was an effect of the minister’s powers. Lightbearers were not only the priests of the official imperial church, but they were also all cultivators. Most of them weren’t very powerful or warriors. They were trained to soothe people and help them develop spiritually.

Minister Levi coughed to clear his throat and then began orating. At the same time, there was a rustling noise as all the initiates in the huge hall bowed their heads in prayer. “Let us give thanks to Archon, for his might shelters us. It is by the grace of his empire that we enjoy this bounty. His wisdom guides us toward enlightenment. Let us be thankful and always vigilant against temptation.”

“Always vigilant against temptation,” all the initiates repeated. Their combined voices echoed through the room before dying down.

There was a moment of silence as Minister Levi looked around. “Some of you will be leaving this place soon, called to greater service to your sect and the empire it serves. I pray for your success and hope that the Archon is with you as you strive to serve his will. The duty of all cultivators is a heavy one, but we have his light to guide us. Always remember your responsibilities and do not stray from the way.”

Head bowed as he sat at the table, Verus felt a determination to do his best fill him. If he questioned the feeling and steadied his ki core, he could tell it was a foreign influence, but he didn’t bother. The Lightbearer was simply helping them feel more confident and assured. Verus enjoyed the feeling and let it soothe his worries about tomorrow. He knew he tended to get worked up about nothing.

“Now, you may eat,” Minister Levi announced before turning to leave, presumably to get his own food.

As soon as he was gone, the initiates all began digging into their food. It was a simple meal of rice and vegetables, but it filled Verus’s stomach. He was finished soon, so he sat back in his chair and took some time to relax. None of the initiates were allowed to leave until supper was officially over, which wouldn’t be for several more minutes.

Two young students were talking over at a table to Verus’s left, and they weren’t being quiet enough. This drew the attention of the elder supervising the room. “You two, you are here at this temple to learn and cultivate, not to spend your days in idle gossip. Report to the kitchen after you’re done eating to help with the clean-up. If you value the knowledge of the Great Wind Sect so little then you can be sent away.”

The two students hastily apologized, but the elder just sniffed disdainfully and ended dinner a few minutes later. Like most of the elders, he was impatient with the initiates and thought that looking over them was a waste of his valuable time.