A feathered quill was frantically scratching away on a piece of paper, expertly commanded by the hand that wielded it. A boy was hunched over a wooden desk, diligently writing in a red leathered book. It was dark outside, the only light source available being the slow-burning oil lamp on his desk. It bathed the room in a warm glow, forming a cosy atmosphere. Eventually, the boy finished his writing and sat back deep in thought, waiting for the ink to dry.

I had just finished jotting down all my theories regarding how to increase the speed at which I could erode the essence orb. The conclusion I came to was that all the plausible methods involved the use of chi. It was the only medium through which the sphere could be safely and reliably influenced. There was no way I could interact with it physically. The location of the first chi node was situated at the base of my spine, the orb resting within. Was I gonna cut my way inside? Definitely not; that would not only injure me but leave irreversible damage. It would be a futile effort. I knew one couldn’t interact with chi through physical contact; it was as slippery as an eel, except if the eel was ethereal as well.

Unless there was some other energy form I didn’t know of, this left me with no option other than using chi. So the question became, how do I increase the potency of my chi to erode the orb faster? I had come up with three different solutions, but they all posed differing risks and challenges.

The first was through physical exertion. Over the years, I discovered that my chi would react in kind whenever I did exercises or experienced intense emotions. Chi mirrored both the physical and emotional state of its owner. I had observed this many times; sickly or elderly people would generally have sluggish, dimmed chi while those who were experiencing anger or frustration, for example, had their chi flowing fast and fierce.

This birthed the idea of using intense physical activity to rouse my chi into a manic state. The stimulated chi would subsequently erode the essence orb without requiring the cycling method. However, there were many disadvantages to this. For starters, how much physical activity needed to be undertaken before a notable difference was made compared to if I used the cycling method? There was no way to figure this out, and, therefore, I couldn’t make an accurate judgement.

There was also the question of exhaustion. I had the still-developing body of a child, and even though I had been diligently training, could I keep the intensity high enough throughout the duration to gain the noteworthy benefits? No, I was sure of this, and if by chance using this method somehow harmed my body’s natural development, the cons outweighed the pros.

I had played around with the idea of using combat to excite my chi, both the physical and emotional stimulation would surely bring about great results. But I was untrained and had no one to spar with. It was too dangerous for my current self, but who’s to say that won’t change in the future.

The next and my preferred method was chi absorption. It was something that had been proven possible on account of me sucking my mother dry. My chi had ballooned in quantity, energising me and thanks to that, I was able to survive. It was also a method that could be undertaken discreetly under the right circumstances. As far as I could tell, no one I had ever come across could sense chi as I could. I had tested it before, waving my chi before people’s faces, but the best reaction I got was a sneeze. The increased chi amount would allow the cycling method to significantly affect the energy orb, improving the rate at which it eroded.

The only problem was that I had been unsuccessful in replicating what I had done as a newborn. I could not absorb chi, or it was more accurate to say I did not have a chance to. Chi was only present in living things; that was a fact. This meant my only viable sources were people, animals, or plants.

People were definitely not an option. Not only would absorbing their chi gradually kill them, which I didn’t particularly care about, but they could also sense when foreign chi infiltrated their bodies. I had tried it a few times on other kids, and they always displayed adverse reactions when my chi entered them. Not only that, but the resistance their bodies instinctively put up made it akin to trying to pierce metal armour with a stick, completely impenetrable.

My mother had most likely allowed me to absorb her chi so that I could have a chance of surviving and what a good mother she was. I will definitely use my life for the greater good, the greater good being my interests of course.

Animals could work, though I assume the results wouldn’t be much different from humans. It may be easier to siphon chi from smaller creatures like chickens, but I doubt I could get away with it. People would ask questions if their animals got sickly or began dying whenever I was nearby. The last thing I needed was to confirm people’s suspicions, that I was some sort of bad omen that only brought about misfortune to those near him. To gain reputation and authority, I needed to be viewed favourably by the public, not like a walking curse. And seeing as children weren’t allowed outside the city unsupervised, catching wild animals like pheasant squirrels or sugar gliders wasn’t possible either. I mentally crossed animals off my list of options.

That left plant life. This was the option I was most comfortable with. Plants wouldn’t put up any resistance, and no one would bat an eye at a few dead plants. Hell, they wouldn’t even know anything occurred if it was done in an area with some vegetation. The disadvantage, however, was the amount of chi present. Compared to humans and animals, plants had a minuscule amount.

Trees, however, were akin to giant pillars of light when viewed through my chi sight. But the resistance they put up matched their majesty being far more substantial than a human’s. I had no chance of siphoning off any chi from them. I decided to make do with plants for the time being to supplement my cycling technique if I had the opportunity. However, one last option was available, which could provide me with the greatest benefit if I managed to pull it off.

Drugs. That’s right, drugs. More specifically, chi stimulants. Due to the nature of our circumstances, the people here were forced to adapt to a warlike society. Everything we did was so our warriors had the best support and could go to battle in the best possible condition. Naturally, this meant things related to earthbending and combat were our most advanced fields of study. One such field is the use of substances to aid our warriors in battle, the most common of which stimulates the body, increasing strength and chi by varying amounts depending on the consumables potency.

The low-grade variant was common amongst the population, aiding them in everyday activities or consumed recreationally. However, there were dangers; like all similar substances, one could get addicted to the stimulation it brought forth, becoming what was known as a doði. They would be limp and lethargic, reminding people of the dead, hence the name. During one of our sessions, Teacher Fróði told me it was common to dispose of those who did not contribute to our society. Such a harsh response was meted out because our civilisation as a whole was in a precarious balance, and we couldn’t afford to waste resources on the dregs of society.

Due to their potential for addiction, chi stimulants though easily attainable for adults, were absolutely off-limits for children. There was no chance they would allow the youth population to get hooked onto this substance, losing an entire generation. This meant my chances of procuring any through regular means was out the window, leaving me with the less savoury courses of action, shall we say. There weren’t any adults I could turn to in this endeavour either as they knew of the dangers it posed, plus I didn’t want them knowing what I was doing. The last thing I needed was to be caught in possession of the stuff; who knew what the repercussions would be.

No, I needed someone close to me that wasn’t an adult and could be easily manipulated to do my bidding. Only one person came to mind that fit all those criteria. Their face flashed past my mind while I was lost in thought, ‘Let’s hope all the time I used trying to form a close relationship finally pays off.’ Sitting in my chair, I started to create a plan that would allow me to get my hands on a steady supply of chi stimulants.

The ink had dried by the time my brainstorming session finally ended. This leather book held most of my plans for the future, so it needed to be kept in a safe place. Walking over to my bed, I kneeled down to get under it. There was a hidden compartment I had carved out of the floor in which my notebook was stored. Feeling around, I stopped over a depression in the stone, coating my hand with chi gluing it to the chilled stone surface. Lifting my arm up, a stone tile slightly larger than my notebook rose along with it, firmly attached to my hand. I placed the book in the square-shaped hollow then lowered the tile back into position, perfectly concealing the text within.

Seeing that everything was in place, I blew out the candle that had been faithfully providing illuminating the room and crept into bed, excited for what the new day would bring.

Candlelight flickered as eerie shadows crept over the room; through the window, the pale moon languidly bathed the world in a murky glow. Ronnow was seated in her study, going over the monthly expenditure and accounts for the Illugi household. As the one in charge of all household affairs, this naturally fell under her responsibility. There were many things to balance and keep stock of to ensure everything operated smoothly, food, clothing, materials, equipment, and staff salaries, just to name a few.

Putting her quill down, she leaned back while massaging her eyes. This was one of the things she hated about being here; housekeeping and sorting accounts was never her strong suit. She would have much rather been out there with her sisters on the frontlines. Fighting for honour and glory were the only things that gave her purpose; this was not the life she wanted. Just the thought of growing old and peacefully dying made her wretch; it was not a warrior’s death. To die on the battlefield amidst blood, bone, and fire was the only way she was taught to go.

‘If only father hadn’t forced her to marry into this damn family, I could be out there right now…’ Ronnow thought, gritting her teeth and clenching her fists in anger. Her state of mind caused the surrounding stone to groan in protest as if pleading with her to stop. She calmed herself lest the residence collapse due to her rage, taking long deep breaths.

“I didn’t realise accounting was such a difficult task for those of the Ólarr house. Though thinking about it, it does make sense; the only thing you lot are known for is being brutes after all.” Whipping her head towards the voice, she saw a frail old woman standing at the doorway.

‘How long has she been there? I didn’t even detect her presence until she spoke.’ Thoughts churned in her mind as the old woman slowly walked across the room and took a seat opposite her. The crones icy blue eyes seemed to stare right into her soul, making her feel exposed and vulnerable. Cold sweat rolled down her face as the tense silence continued. But she did not break under pressure; her pride would never allow it.

Eventually, the old woman broke the stalemate. “I heard what you did to the boy today.”

“And? I see how everyone treats him like some sort of social leper. Why have I garnered your attention for doing such a thing?” Ronnow questioned, trying to keep her voice from wavering.

The old lady let out a sigh as if conversing with her was the most tiresome thing in the world, the thought only serving to increase her rage. “Child. You do not need to know why we are doing such a thing.”

“Then tell me!!! I’ve already been here for over ten years faithfully doing my duty!!! Am I still not considered an Illugi!!!” Ronnow exclaimed as she slammed her fist on the table, sending the table’s contents into the air.

Ink splattered all over the room, but oddly, not a drop landed on the old crone. “This is why I hate you Ólarrs. Always so loud and brutish. Get this through that thick skull of yours. You will never be an Illugi. Not now, not ever. I know you warrior types like your oaths, so honour yours and be a good wife to my son. DO NOT interfere with the boy, or else.”

Unwilling to fold before this woman Ronnow struck back. “Or else what? Are you going to silence me if I do not obey? My father would never let it slide!!!”

A slight chuckle escaped the old crone’s lips, her frail form looking more sinister than ever. “There are many ways to get rid of… uncooperative elements, shall we say. But if I must humour you… say we find out you’re actually a spy for the Cult of the Verdant Mother. We would have no choice but to do our rightful duty and execute you. With you being so far from home, no one would come to your aid. Even your father would be powerless.”

Ronnow paled at the insinuation, to be associated with such a heretical group would leave her no way out. The old lady gave a smile that, if seen by any other, would look kind and motherly, but to Ronnow, it looked nothing close to the sort. “Seems like you finally realise the situation you’re in. No harm will come to you as long as you follow our orders. So stay away from the boy from now on,” the crone uttered the last part with authority, leaving no room for refusal lest she suffers the consequences.

The old lady calmly rose to her feet and walked towards the room’s exit. She paused at the doorway, turning towards Ronnow, “Also, don’t ever raise your voice with me again, or it will be the last thing you do.” The sound of something clattering to the ground broke Ronnow from her frozen state. She looked over only to find a flake of stone, the consequence of her earlier outburst turned against her. She gulped, lost in thought as the moon hung in the sky, nightly winds blowing through this tenebrous valley of deception, exploitation, and struggle.