Boneroot ran into Guang on his way to the Combat class. The boy was shocked to learn of his and Iris’ misadventures in the woods just an hour previous.

“A Wei bear?” He exclaimed, a hint of wonder in his voice. “I can’t believe I missed it. I didn’t need to recuperate my qi that badly.”

To Boneroot’s bemusement, Guang seemed genuinely upset that he missed the opportunity to be saved by Kuroki. Clearly, he was not familiar with the cat’s boastful side. He was napping now, but the tsovar had babbled with tenuous coherence about his valor since they returned from the woods. It didn’t help that Boneroot really had no way to refute his claims this time.

“You’re crazy, Guang. If Kuroki wasn’t there, we might have actually died. That bear was at least in the Orange realm and I don’t think I could have done much against it.”

“Well, sure. In the military, they told us if a spirit beast and a human of equivalent cultivation fight, the beast wins around seven times in ten.”

“I should really know things like that. In my village, we just avoided anything in even the Red realm. Does the military deal with spirit beasts a lot?”

“I never did,” Guang said. “But it’s necessary from time to time. Usually if a strong enough unit is nearby, they’ll take on any mid-range threats. If the beast is particularly nasty, though, they’ll call in a team from the Ministry of Rites to handle it.”

“The Ministry of Rites?” Boneroot tripped over that detail. “Isn’t that for parades, or ceremonies?”

“Ha, yeah,” Guang replied with a laugh. “It’s really just a specific group of cultivators that handle those things. Apparently, they were a division of the Censorate at first, but that tipped the scales of power a bit too heavily for the Shio clan.”

“Huh. How do you know all that?”

“Soldiers gossip, Boneroot. It’s their best skill next to killing civilians.”

He was looking for a response, but Boneroot was still smitten with the idea of an elite team of beast-hunting cultivators in the Ministry of Rites, of all institutions. He had quite a few questions about the group, though Guang proved incapable of answering nearly all of them. Still, that occupied the two until they reached the raised stone platform where Grand Master Yan had welcomed them to the sect a few days earlier.

They had since learned the area was called Fen’s Arena. According to one of the attendants Boneroot had talked to in Central, the stage was enchanted to box in the collateral damage of any cultivators fighting within. At the moment, the platform was populated by roughly fifty other cultivators milling about as they awaited the instructor of the Combat class. Guang had nihilistically bet Expert Kang would be making another appearance, but Boneroot was confident it would actually be an Inner Sect disciple teaching this one. By his estimation, none of the Experts cared enough to do two classes in one day.

To their mutual surprise, Yun arrived a couple minutes after them. She scanned the crowd with her one good eye while Boneroot wondered how it was possible for a cultivator of her level to have a wound as significant as a ruined eye. Iris had theorized it was either a recent injury yet to be fixed by a breakthrough, or a quirk of her cultivation art.

There were several instances of that kind of change at the Brightmoon Sect. Aside from Iris’ and Master Lei’s lightning-like eye colors, there was also the bright, blonde hair of a Light cultivator like Yalwa Haske. According to Venh, these physical quirks were either eliminated, or exacerbated as one reached higher realms of cultivation. Master Rabi’s breezy beard was a fairly tame example of the latter.

As the time for the beginning of the class struck, Yun was staring into the distance instead of addressing the present disciples. Boneroot followed her gaze and grimaced at what he found. Iris was racing across the sect grounds, Biku right by her side. She reached Fen’s Arena with commendable speed, but paled upon seeing the specific Expert waiting for her. Boneroot realized this would make the third class with Yun to which Iris showed up late.

“Disciple Iris, is punctuality going to be an issue for you?”

She stuttered out a hasty ‘No Ma’am!’ before slinking in to the crowd. A round of snickering had to be quelled before they could begin the class in earnest. As she waited for the noise to die down, irritation was plain as day on Yun’s face. Boneroot was beginning to think she was the most frequently saddled with work the other Experts didn’t want to do.

“Fifty four of you, then.” Yun stated plainly. “Even number. Good. Separate by cultivation level. Orange realm to my right, Peak Red over there, High Red there, Mid Red here, Low Red at the edge there. Disciple Bao, you are not in High Red, don’t even try it. If anyone else wants to lie about their cultivation for some pittance of pride, you are only doing yourself a disservice. Even worse, you’re annoying me.”

Yun’s glare evoked a frenzy of shuffling between groups. Iris looked miserable to be at the far end of the stage with the other disciples in Low Red realm, but Boneroot noticed the distribution for the combat class didn’t actually match what Venh had told him of the Outer Sect in full. Either a lot of disciples were lying about their cultivation, or not as many Low Reds showed up. On the other hand, Guang had his characteristic serene smile on in the ranks of the Mid Reds.

In the Orange realms’ area, Boneroot noticed there were six cultivators present, consisting of himself, Hana Shio, Amina Zafi, and three others he didn’t recognize. He realized as he swept his eyes over the crowd that a portion of it was comprised of the older Outer Sect members. They weren’t a majority, but Boneroot hadn’t even known they were allowed to participate. A surge of excitement ran down his spine. The chance to match up against new opponents at his level was getting his blood pumping.

“We’re going to be sparring pair versus pair, as assigned by me. For this first class, you will be matched with and against people of the same or close cultivation. You will also be fighting with and against the same disciples for the entire duration of the class. In later sessions, you will be split into pairings of varying numbers, cultivation, and experience. The battlefield is chaos and, eventually, this class will reflect that. For now, you will go where I say and with whom I say. Let’s begin.”

Sect Expert Yun started to partner cultivators and assign opponents. Boneroot couldn’t decide if he wanted to be paired with or against Hana Shio. He wanted to take some sort of revenge for his loss a few days prior, but she was also the only one with whom he felt confident working together.

However, it wasn’t his choice. Hana was paired up with one of the Peak Red cultivators to face off against another duo of Orange and Peak Red cultivators. Boneroot caught a glimpse of Guang being paired off with Bao Tiankaiji of all people up against Hana Kasumi.

Finally, Yun announced Boneroot’s partner to be Song Zeide, one of the three Orange realms he didn’t recognize. They were to fight against Amina Zafi and someone named Feng Ji.

“You have five minutes to prepare with your partners and then we will begin.”

As the mass of cultivators turned to one another, a number of medical attendants bustled around the outskirts of the greater area, setting up tents and supplies for the inevitable injuries. Boneroot’s partner was waiting for his attention with an easy grin. He wore robes more billowing than even the most ostentatious Sect Masters or Experts. Boneroot found himself affixed by half-open, yellow eyes and thin lips parted in a showy yawn. The boy’s hair was pinned back in a neat bun.

“Sup?”

“Hello, I’m Boneroot,” he replied stiffly. “You’re Song?”

“S’right. Heard you were pretty strong. You know anything about the Zafi girl?”

“Just that she’s a Fire cultivator and she’s out for blood. She lost so badly at our orientation that nobody got to see what she can do. I imagine she’ll be putting every last ounce of effort into making a good showing here.”

“She’s weak?” Song’s expression never changed from laid-back indifference.

“I doubt it. The guy who beat her didn’t even bother to show up here. He probably doesn’t think it’s worth his time.” Boneroot chuckled thinking of his brief conversation with Jota Guling.

“Right, right. Well, sounds like she’s the perfect match for ol’ Feng there.”

“You know him?”

“Yup. He thinks we’re rivals, but I’d rather be left alone, y’know? I don’t much care what sort of feud are clans are in. Anywho, he’s attuned to Metal in both ki and personality. The boy’s only love is scowling.”

Boneroot laughed, egging on his partner.

“You don’t even know. His clan enchants weapons, got it? Mine enchants robes like these beauties,” he gave a flourish of his ridiculous sleeves. “Thus the ‘rivalry’. Instead of an enchanted weapon, though, I swear his pops gave him an enchanted stick up his ass. There’s just no other explanation.”

Boneroot was in hysterics as Song described their soon-to-be opponent.

“Yeah, well, that’s Feng, for you. I’m Wood and a bit of Wind. Mostly qi techniques. You?”

“Ah,” Boneroot wiped a tear from his eye. “Mostly Spatial and Light ki. Some Shadow, too.”

“Any Void ki?”

Boneroot’s eyes widened before responding, “How’d you know?”

With a sly grin, Song told him, “I didn’t, but that’s perfect. Feng’s family, the Ji clan, they’re real tight with that Guang clan, who makes these fancy void rings, get it?” With another flourish, Song flicked his hand out of his sleeves to reveal a plain, iron ring on one finger. “So, anyone in the Ji clan with a Void attunement can make enchantments with the Guang’s weaponry that nobody else can. Very high in demand and all that. Guess who doesn’t have the right attunement.”

“Do I really need to guess?”

Song flashed another lazy smile, nearly drawling, “No, you do not.”

The two of them spent the next few minutes trying to organize a strategy. The best they could come up with was Boneroot providing ranged support while Song closed the distance and fought up close with his qi techniques. It was a rough plan, but Song was staunchly anti-preparation. Boneroot was hesitant at first, but eventually enough to go along with it, even if it risked losing against who his partner dubbed ‘the sweatiest individual on the mountain’.

The boy in question was in the middle of fervent discussion with his partner, Amina. Whereas Song wore excessive, flowing robes, Feng wore the sect robe plus the addition of select armor pieces on his forearms and chest, as well as a shortsword strapped to to his hip. Aside from that, he looked eerily similar to Song. Boneroot wanted to make the comparison, but he didn’t think either boy would appreciate it. He lost the chance, anyway, as Expert Yun signalled for the final preparations and, once all the disciples and medical attendants were in position, she gave one more address.

“These are practice spars. Go at your opponents hard, but if you’re caught attempting to inflict permanent, or even lethal damage, there will be no forgiveness. The spar ends when one team is incapacitated, or five minutes have passed. After a quick break for everyone to heal, we’ll go again. If you’re hurt past the point that that’s enough to heal, wait for my instruction. Begin.”

Song Zeide wasted no time. Wind rippled through Boneroot’s hair as his partner sprinted forward. In the same moment, he aimed two Radiant Claws at each of his opponents. He wasn’t yet able to properly power them with natural essence, so he was using his standard technique. On top of that, readying two at the same time significantly downgraded their potency, which meant they didn’t accomplish much.

Even though the other pair was focused on the cultivator rushing at them, they still managed to avoid the brunt of Boneroot’s attack. Feng Ji blocked the technique’s advance through space with his weapon, but Amina Zafi was clipped at the top of her arm, drawing blood from a shallow cut. Song noticed the small opening this gave him and pressed the opportunity.

Divets appeared where his feet had been and in the next instant, he was beside Amina. Before she could react, he drove a fist into her side and immediately put space between them, dodging the jet of fire and the sword thrust aimed at him in retaliation. As song retreated, Boneroot went on the attack.

The ten Mini Mega Beams that shot across the field forced Amina to abandon her counterattack, while one managed to sear the flash on Feng’s thigh. The boy barely had time to wince before Song was at his throat. He put two punches into his rival’s stomach and backed off once more. Frustrated with the opening to the fight, Amina loosed a wide swath of flame to catch Song before he could retreat farther.

Boneroot knew he couldn’t do anything to prevent the attack heading toward his partner, so he chose a different route. Just as the flames reached Song, Feng was back on his feet and following in their wake. Boneroot, meanwhile, was channeling his Sunless Stride. With both of his opponents focused on putting down Song before his next assault, neither noticed Boneroot slip into the space behind Amina. With his right hand, he manifested a Radiant Claw and in his left, the CHAOS YARN technique Venh had taught him. In one motion, he tore deep gashes into Amina’s back and sent a bundle of unstable Light ki toward Feng Ji’s feet.

The Zafi scion dropped with a howl of pain, while tendrils of Light battered Feng’s lower body in a frenzy of erratic lashes. Though it didn’t incapacitate the boy immediately, it left him wide open for another attack from Song. Feng only weathered a couple seconds of the joint assault before succumbing to the cumulative damage.

A medical attendant rushed onto the field, signalling the end of the fight and preventing Boneroot and Song from doing anything else to the injured cultivators. Though the woman in the white robes seemed to only be in the Red realm, Boneroot felt a much stronger force barring him from potentially attacking the downed cultivators any more.

“Barrier enchantments,” Song said as they regrouped. “The sect spent a fortune a while back on getting all the medical robes enchanted with Spatial ki strong enough to stop any errant attacks from people below the Yellow realm. Courtesy of yours truly. Clan. Yours truly’s clan. Your clan’s truly?”

He swung his head about in a lopsided grin as he spoke. Boneroot matched his partner’s enthusiasm, but with curiosity.

“What do they do in the Yellow realm, or higher, then?”

“I’m told those disciples aren’t allowed to fight unless someone at a full realm higher than them is overseeing the fight. Good job back there, by the way. That went more smoothly than I expected.”

Song pointed a thumb toward their opponents, both of whom were currently being treated by the attendant in the white robe. Amina was staring daggers at them as the woman applied a salve to her back. Feng was unconscious on the ground, though he didn’t look to be too badly damaged.

“Thanks,” Boneroot said, though his gaze lingered on Feng’s crumpled form.

“Don’t worry about Feng. He’s obnoxiously tough. I’m surprised he went down that easily, to be honest.”

“Ah, that’s good. How’d you avoid that Fire technique, anyway? I could’ve sworn you were caught in it.”

Song gave another flourish of his robes to accompany his sly eyebrow raise, “Did you think the medical attendants were the only ones with enchanted robes?”

Boneroot had approximately a thousand questions, which Song waved off quickly.

“Don’t be too impressed. These are basically hand-me-downs compared to what my clan might have given me if I managed to get into the Inner Sect last year.”

“Why didn’t you? You certainly seem strong.”

Song cocked his head to the side and laughed before saying, “You don’t shy away from the uncomfortable questions, hmm? Oh, don’t give me that look, ‘sfine. I didn’t break into the Orange realm until this summer. I was fairly strong compared to the other High-Red-realm disciples, but Orange realm is the bare minimum for getting into the Inner Sect.”

Boneroot pondered a moment, “Even if you’re on the winning team?”

“Yeah, didn’t they tell you that the first day? In the end-of-year tournament the whole team made it, but in the mid-year, like I mentioned, only two people got through. Twins, actually. Supposedly they try to limit the number of people in the Inner Sect even if more people are feasibly strong enough to enter. You know how us nobles are.”

The wink was entirely at odds with the boy’s sleepy demeanor. Then again, so were his qi techniques and fluid movement. Apparently, Yun agreed. She appeared at their sides, which wasn’t entirely surprising, as Boneroot couldn’t see any other pairs done with their first spar yet.

“Adequate performance, Disciple Boneroot. Your ranged attacks leave much to be desired, but your decision making in the heat of battle was commendable.”

He gave a slight bow, replying, “Thank you Sect Expert. I’m working on it.”

“Disciple Song, someone with your talent for qi shouldn’t be relying on their robe to get them out of trouble. Those kinds of enchantments are not infallible, nor will they always be available to you.”

Song grimaced and Yun strolled over to Amina Zafi and the now-waking Feng Ji. Boneroot was pleasantly surprised by the assessment, particularly since he already had a clear way forward in improving his Radiant Claw.

Over the course of the remaining hour of the Combat class, Boneroot and Song Zeide managed to win all but one of their ten spars with the pair of Amina Zafi and Feng Ji, much to the other duo’s intense displeasure. Toward the end of the class, their anger was making them even sloppier, a fact Expert Yun did not hesitate to point out.

All in all, it was a productive, if tiring afternoon. Boneroot made plans with Song to do some one on one sparring before they parted and he met up with Iris and Guang soon after. Boneroot was happy to relay to them his success, as well as a potential ally in Song.

In high spirits, Iris relayed her own domination of the battlefield, though she took the wind out of her own sails when she kept mentioning their comparatively low cultivation. By contrast, Guang was none-too-happy with how he and Bao Tiankaiji had performed.

“So I jump in front of Hana Kasumi’s mist blade, which was aimed at Bao and when I wake up he tells me he could’ve handled it. Not a scratch on him, right? So I ask, why didn’t you? He says his clan art uses a bow and arrow. I ask him, where’s your bow, Bao? Get this, yeah? He says, ‘I don’t need it for such low-level spars’. I damn-near punched him. Mind you, the whole hour, Hana’s just grinning ear to ear as she tears into the both of us. We barely even winded her.”

Boneroot and Iris did their best to console him before they parted ways to cultivate.