Felix’s brow twitched at Edward’s retreating back. His face paused mid scowl, as he looked down to see his sword barely drawn. The hilt held in a white knuckled grip.

Whoa! Take it down a notch muddle headed idiot. Control your god damn emotions.

Taking a deep breath, Felix let go and brought his hands together.

“Give me one second of your time Edward,” Said Felix. “Please.”

Already a few feet away, the boy hesitated.

What can I say that will get his attention? Lying now will betray him later. Yet I just promised not to-

Edward started walking forward again and Felix felt his conflicting emotions unite in panic.

“Do you have a system?” Said Felix.

Edward’s head snapped around. Then he exploded into motion.

Felix found his collar seized by small hands as near manic eyes met his own. Glowing script appearing on bracelets around Edward’s wrists lit up the boy’s expression.

“Did you get trapped in the game too? What do you know?” Said Edward.

Felix’s response was cut off as Edward shook him.

“This is all fake, right? Some malfunction right, man? Come on, you’ve got to level with me. None of this roleplaying bullshit!”

Head spinning, Felix tried to back up. His attempts were all cut short by Edward’s iron like grip. Then the bracelets’ glowing script brightened and Edward’s grip weakened. A second later, Felix found himself easily brushing off the child’s almost limp hands. Felix took a step back, fixing his robes as he stared at the now exhausted Edward.

Those damn elders better not be sitting and watching. Even if they want to watch and find out more, how the hell can they leave me with this kid. I mean, he is clearly mental!

Absently removing a wrinkle on his robe that is no longer there, Felix opened his mouth.

“I feel we may be in similar situations.” Said Felix. “How about we start from the beginning then? What game?”

Edward took a seat, clearly spent. Only now did the two bracelets begin to dim.

“What do you mean ‘what game’, man,” Said Edward. “The game of the century, League of Cultivators. Come on, this system thing is just a hack that messed up the user interface. There are flying people for god sakes.”

Edward stared at Felix, looking for confirmation. Then his gaze turned down to his hands.

“That old fucker was lying, right? This isn’t real, right? Those people weren’t real, right?”

Tears appeared near the end of Edward’s words. Felix felt a spur of paternalistic feelings, only for them to be crushed as he remembered Edward’s recent display of strength.

What cultivation level is this brat and what is League of Cultivators? I don’t remember hearing about such a game though my memories are patchy at best. Did this guy think he was playing the game when he got here? Wait… How old is this kid? Gross.

Felix took a knee, bringing himself to eye level. Considering his last thought, he modulated his voice to that of a concerned listener.

“Edward, I think I understand some of your situation, but I need to know more before I can help you. Can you do that?”

“Okay, chap. I’ll tell you,” Said Edward. His eyes suddenly darted around. “Do we need to worry about the old man decked out in swag? Not that this is real of course. Haha. It’s just unnerving.”

Felix nodded, his smile turning a little sad.

“Probably but we should be okay to discuss a little. So, you said you were playing League of Cultivators?”

“Well, I just got early access you see. I don’t really have much time to play now with, well… I mean, I figured I deserved a little free time, you know?” Said Edward, nervously rubbing his left arm.

“So I got the VR pod all set up but that’s when things got weird. There was no character selection or intro, but I had heard strange things about the game. You never know with these eccentric game designer types. Then the experience was so real I, well I thought it was just the game of the century.”

Look at him fidget. Even he doesn’t believe his own words. Crap, I am not sure if I need to force him to face it or go slow.

“Okay, that sounds tough.” Said Felix. “So, what happened then?”

“Well, I'll keep exploring until I reach a small town,” Said Edward, no longer meeting Felix’s eye. “There was an NPC that, uh… Then an old man appears in front of me. I was kil- I mean my character was killed.”

Edward’s words had turned incoherent, but Felix wasn’t even bothered now.

What the fuck do you mean you died! Is that a perk some systems have? Give it. No, wait Felix. focus, you need to keep him talking.

“Okay.” Said Felix “And?”

“The old man appeared before me and the next thing I know,” said Edward, “I woke up in a cell. The old man appears before me and questions me. I find myself telling him so many things. Then he tells me…”

“What did he tell you Edward?” Said Felix.

“That this is a new world,” said Edward, still staring at his hands.

The two fell into silence. Felix notices Xue walking into the clearing and he waved at her to remain where she is. She returned a confused look but stayed still.

She probably heard some of this anyway. Thought Felix. He could practically feel an icy gaze drilling into him. Is that like her how her cultivation affects her appearance or is this just in my head?

“Edward.” Said Felix, choosing his words with care. “I know it is tough, but is it really so bad that this is real?”

“So bad?” Said Edward, finally looking up to glare at him. “This being real implies that I am dead. This being real implies I am separated from everything I know and love.”

“Well, at least you are alive right?” Said Felix. “New opportunities and hey, you can cultivate here. That’s not too bad, is it?”

“I left my sister man!” said Edward, tears returning to accent his glare. “I’m all she had left and I had to go play that stupid game. I just wanted to have a break. Bro, I’m all she has left and I-I- god dammit it’s so hard to control my emotions. It’s like I am a little kid again.”

Felix watched as Edward tried and failed

Okay, so he is definitely older than he looks. Well, either way, he needs some help.

Felix sighed and wrapped Edward in a hug. He made eye contact with Xue as the small frame was racked with sobs.

Alright, he left a dependent behind. Fuck. That can either be a motivator for him to do very good or bad things. Though I am still having a hard time believing he thought this was all a virtual reality. I played video games but maybe I was just interested in indie games.

Felix finally released Edward, who had gone from sobs to hiccups.

Man, this guy completely lost it. I hope this isn’t going to be the new normal. I wish I could scan him, but I can’t risk his system detecting it. What would he think of me in this vulnerable moment? No, what he needs is hope.

“Hey Edward, we can acknowledge that this is real right?” Said Felix.

Edward nodded slowly.

“Well then, I need you to think about what you can do for your sister.”

His only response was confusion and a hiccup

“Well, you’ve noticed how we can cultivate, right? I don’t want to give you false hope but high level cultivator’s can do amazing things. It is possible that you can go to where your sister is.”

“So, you are saying I just need to become strong enough?” Said Edward, eyes growing wide.

“…Edward, how does your system work?” Said Felix

The chime of a gong sounded from the mountain top, echoing across all corners of the sect. Their heads looked up the mountain, to the apparent sources of the sound. Then Felix flinched as Elder Shen appeared behind Edward.

“Well, that was interesting,” said Elder Shen and Edward spun to stare at the monk. “However, the sect is about to be hosting many distinguished and powerful guests. It would not be wise to discuss such things in the open anymore. In fact, we should try to keep you out of their sight all together young Edward.”

Felix saw fear in Edward’s eye as he looked at Elder Shen. He studied their expression as he got to his feet.

There is something here that I am not seeing… several things.

“Edward,” Said Felix. “We can make this better. I just need you to not do anything rash, okay?”

Edward nodded and then was hoisted up by plump hands. Elder Shen then blurred, Felix only spotting one after image before he was gone.

Well, I am not sure how much if any was solved there. At least I pretty much confirmed he has a system. Though now I really want to know how it works.

Xue sighed as she watched Elder Shen’s figure carry the small disciple away from the pavilion to a path on the left. She held back a small laugh as Felix blinked in surprise.

Oh right, he can’t follow the Elders movement. Thought Xue. Ah, it is so good to be in the core realm and not be so blind to everything around you.

With a few steps that each left frost on the ground, Xue glided across the ground to Felix’s left. She raised her eyebrows at his vacate expression, still staring where Elder Shen formerly stood.

He loves to get lost in his own thoughts, doesn’t he? Well, at least it is preferable to all the idiots that spar a single thought to how cultivation works and are only interested in results.

“Felix?” Said Xue. She waited a moment as he got his bearings. “Are you ready to go study?”

I really do just want to go and cultivate. Ever since I broke into the core realm, I’ve barely been able to cultivate. Oh well, learning has its own rewards.”

“Did you hear our conversation?” Said Felix.

“…I did.” Said Xue. “And I honestly am not sure what to make of it. It all seems crazy but if the elders heard his story and believed it… Well, I am not really sure what to make of it yet.”

“Wait, have they told you about his gift or how it works?”

“Not a word.” Said Xue.

Ugh, all these children suddenly getting these cheat-like gifts. It is enough to even make me feel upset.

“Well, we can do that.” Said Felix. “But could we go see these guests first? I am interested in who made the elders be careful. Do you know what it's all about? As long as you don’t think it’s a security issue, considering my similar circumstances.”

That curiosity is both endearing and annoying. Thought Xue, rubbing her forehead. Let’s just do this quickly.

Xue reached out with one hand and grabbed Felix by the collar. With a deft motion, he was deposited in a princess carry. Before he could even struggle, she moved, sending them gliding down a pathway toward the Sect’s main entrance. After struggling in vain for a few seconds, Felix gave up and watched the scenery go by.

It is really easier just to carry a lower level cultivator instead of waiting for them. Otherwise, it is like watching glaciers move. I can’t even imagine how annoying it must be for nascent souls like the elders.

Xue took a short cut by jumping down a short cliff.

Thank goodness it is easy for me to keep a straight face. Now that I look at it, it is kind of funny that I carry him like this. Not really socially acceptable but I never even thought of that. Well, that’s just one of the perks of having a high cultivation. I make the rules. Better not do this in front of the foreign sects though.

The two finally made it to a cliff almost all the way down the mountain. From their vantage point, they stared down at the autumn colors of the fall phase of the Sect formation. Xue plopped Felix down on his feet and pointed out the Sect’s main entrance. Covered in bricks, the pathway cut all the way through the formation to the outside of the Sect.

Xue’s eyes scanned the procession of people even now streaming down the road while absently reaching out a hand to stabilize the unsteady Felix.

It really seems representatives from even the more insignificant powers are coming. Though it is weird how they all arrived at once though.

Over a hundred people walked down the newly revealed entrance.

This war must be more serious than I thought. There have to be representatives from every local sect with even one core cultivator. How they all got here together though…

Xue watched a nascent soul land at the rim of the formation only to let off a number of weaker cultivators off. A smile crept on her cold face as she picked out the colors of different sects amongst those dropped off.

So, it looks like representatives from the stronger sects picked up those from weaker. I wouldn’t be surprised if they all coordinated to all arrive here at the same time as well. Strength in numbers.

“Uhh, Xue…”

Xue glanced over to see Felix shakily standing on his feet. Blushing and with a silent curse, Xue released her own aura. Felix recovered a little and nodded in thanks to Xue, going right back to watching the parade of guests.

Stupid, stupid. I bet all the disciples watching down there are being protected by the elders. I would have thought they would extend it to Felix, but this is probably meant to be a lesson. One I failed. Some protector I am.

She watched Felix for a moment longer, biting her lower lip. Yet, he seemed to have already gotten over the incident.

“Who are they?” Said Felix.

Xue followed his pointing figure.

Oh, gross.

A man, or perhaps more accurately called a mass of giggling fat, was being carried on a pavilion by four cultivators. Three of the carriers were also quite fat, though the fourth was wiry to a near anorexic degree.

“That would be an elder from the Mammoth Sect.” Said Xue. “In fact, all of them are I believe but the man being carried is actually a nascent soul cultivator. Be wary of that one, I’ve heard he is a nascent soul in both body and dantian cultivation.”

“Um, how can he be fat and a body cultivator?” Said Felix. His eyes followed as the Nascent soul Mammoth Sect Elder shoveled whole steaks into his mouth.

“It is part of their technique where they store qi with fat and then lose it all during a breakthrough. See that fourth cultivator with nearly no fat? He probably just had a breakthrough. It has its advantages though I heard it struggles with impurities.”

Felix nodded in thought and Xue’s eyes narrowed.

I am not helping him obtain that manual. I am so glad my father had no interest in me cultivating when we travel there.

“What about those two?” Said Felix.

“Oh, those two men with the red robes. They are from the Bloody Buddha Monastery. Body cultivators all of them. They’re annoying to fight from what I hear.”

Ignoring the fat man, she idly noted the few other Nascent souls who had arrived. A frown graced her face as she realized some sects with one or only a few nascent souls had sent core realm elders to represent them.

They must not feel safe to leave their sects unattended. Some of them might have already moved to help the sects in the west and north. Or flee in the opposite direction.

Felix asked about another group and Xue noticed that he still seemed distracted by his conversation with that disciple Edward. Still, she continued to explain what she knew each time he asked. A few of them she only knew the names of but that was limited to the weaker powers.

“So, Xue, they are on our side, right?

Xue watched the ear of the last man to walk in twitch at Felix’s words.

Well, he must be a nascent soul. Though even I am surprised if he heard it from here. Clear Sky sect?

“Someone heard you first of all.” Said Xue, smiling as Felix flinched. “And yes, for the most part. It is a little more complicated than that though.”

She watched as a few of their own elders talked to the crowd of guests below, before beginning the track up the mountain.

“Come on Felix,” Said Xue, turning. “Let’s go.”