Chapter 14 - A Foreshadowing Shadow

His father talking about the Beolum Kingdom in the west, its seven founding clans, and the Deatus Empire further to the west, did not seem to enter Mark’s ears, as the morning lessons had drained him of energy. Mark had always been an action over words person, Daniel mused. Daniel himself, though, liked these classes, especially the Study of Body and Nature. There was something inherently beautiful about how living things grow, take in food to create energy, make waste, and reproduce. Of course, History, Geography, and Politics lessons were also important, as they explained where they all were, what elements surrounded they, and how they came to be. Decisions, wars, and disasters had shaped the world into what Daniel lived in now. However, he still found natural phenomenons and wonders of nature much more appealing. Although he had not see it with his own eyes, the endless depths of oceans, the unforgiving tornadoes, the towering tsunamis, the undying trees and tall mountains piercing the skies were simply… cool.

Daniel looked on amusedly as Evan smacked Mark from his stupor. Eifion on his laps also let Daniel know of his amusement through their mental link. As Mark overreacted, Dellons could not help but chuckle and Mark glared at him, clenching his head. Daniel could already imagine Dellons’ ass get walloped later during the spar. Mark had already displayed his overwhelming talent in the art of swordsmanship: he had something, something that gave him an edge over the other two children. Mark and Daniel were by no means bad. The ten-year-old red haired had reflexes that far-outclassed his peers and owned a sort of controlled lucidity whenever his hand grasped a sword. He was a genius of the sword, although a disappointment in most other fields. Although sometimes, he’d have too much fun that he becomes a bit sloppy in his form.

During this half year, all three of them were smoothly getting stronger and the progressively longer morning runs had shaved off most of the boys’ baby fat. Speaking of morning runs, as soon as the blue dragon could wield its wings to fly, it had taken a liking to following them on their runs. Eifion usually slept during their trainings in the basement room, breathing in the golden Qi in its long naps, but it seemed to have taken a liking to riding on the wind that the three friends hated so much. It had never occurred to him until he compared himself to the little dragon, but Daniel realized how truly feeble a human’s body was. The fact that cultivating could allow them to secure more and more land from the other inhabitants of the world was plainly a miracle. It wasn’t just on their physical capabilities that they could not compare to other species; there were still many other fields they were lacking in.

The fertility rate of most Qi creatures were higher than humans of the same level and their offspring were mostly born in batches, instead of individual birth. If wars were to be fought solely by population, in a given area, humans were most likely to get overrun than not. Humanity’s cooperative ability were also lacking compared to races who shared experiences and feelings telepathically, and humanity’s resistance to extreme weather was pathetic. Of course, this was solely if humanity’s ability to cultivate was not considered.

Smack.

It was now Daniel’s turn to be reprimanded for having his head in the clouds.

-------

“Mark, stop swinging your sword with too much momentum. You’re losing balance.”

“Daniel, it’s fine to be calm, but don’t overthink it when you see an opening.”

Evan instructed the two children as they sparred, but occupying the greater part of his mind was another thing. In the last week, there had been several sightings near Ván of wandering Qi creatures that were usually too frightened to approach the human bastion. He had ordered the hunting squad to investigate, and for some reason, this news had caused all the Elders’ sixth senses to ring menacingly.