I still can't get used to the constantly changing climate, which jumps around every time I move to a new place. Acclimatisation was a familiar consequence of moving to a new place; a person from the desert couldn't feel comfortable on the seashore or by a foggy lake. To say that I was lucky and didn't feel the change in environment would be an obvious lie. The hardest hit came while I was still at the lake, when I was getting to know the members of the White Lotus: the cold and high humidity caused all sorts of unpleasant feelings, which I managed to overcome solely through training. My head was filled with other things, and there was no time to feel unwell — this works for almost everyone, especially if you are working. But who could have thought that things would turn out so badly?
Shmyg*
"What a nightmare," I thought the next morning as I walked through the streets of Gaolin with a red nose, periodically trying to blow it into my handkerchief. I... got sick. Yes, I didn't care about the cold, the sea air, or even the relatively mild climate in the forests. But who would have thought that after returning to a fairly warm place, so familiar to my body, I would catch a bug for the third time in my life. I feel that the problem was in the bruises, which my body was working hard to heal, and also in the sensory shock, which further weakened my body.
How careless I was... but it was nothing compared to the first two times, when it really seemed like my life was over. Anubis wasn't sure I would survive then, because when you're small and helpless, you can't really influence what's going on around you. It's even scarier when you're literally forced to get sick, and no matter how strange it may sound, you have no choice — that happened when I first started training, my body wasn't prepared for such a load and hit me with a high fever — Anubis said that I had to go through it to have at least a chance of survival. The second time... I don't even want to talk about it. It happened in a cave with beetles, and I had a reason to screw up in the truest sense of the word. Oh, that honey with a rotten taste, which I will never forget, even on my deathbed.
However, I didn't remember all these incidents for nothing. Each time, they heralded some kind of big change: either an improvement in my physical condition or the discovery of an additional, I would say, very powerful source of protein suitable for body development. Now everything was a little different, most likely my brain had adapted to new possibilities, it had to get used to a developing sixth sense, finding some kind of balance - dulling all other organs, making me feel like I had a temperature of thirty-seven and three. I had strange hallucinations in my eyes, my ears picked up sharp sounds, and my tongue, in turn, felt nothing at all. What was I doing outside in that case?
Since I lived alone — Afka doesn't count, she has paws — I had to go get my medicine myself. There was no delivery or courier service, but there were all kinds of herbalists and shops selling useful ingredients on every corner. I used to be suspicious of them, these blackmailers with their "real" medicines that "really" help. They were even in my world, I had dealt with them, I knew them, I didn't use them. However, the amazing local nature really did produce very useful herbs and animals, and who would have thought that you could even buy supplies here to make your own ointments. That didn't rule out scammers, but since I knew what I needed, I hadn't fallen for them yet.
"Hey, guys, did you hear how the Blind Bandit's last opponent ran away from the arena, his heels flashing? - But just as I was returning to my hotel room with my eyes half-closed, my ears were pierced. I caught the vibrations and heard guys passing by ten metres away.
"Stone Cutter? They beat him up like that? No wonder. He was probably shaking with fear when he got home. He's not worthy of being called a magician of the earth."
"Heh, I wonder how he feels after meeting a real earth mage.
I stopped and rubbed my tired eyes — today I had to learn to focus to get rid of the sharp flashes of headache caused by my involuntarily activated seismological sensitivity. Breathe in, breathe out, stop processing the ton of information coming into my head... A couple of seconds of calm, and now all six senses are back to normal.
No matter how intense the seismic sensitivity training is, it takes a lot of time. And the most unpleasant thing is that it affects your mental state, filling your head with an unimaginable amount of noise and junk.
Exhaling wearily once again, I glanced quickly at the schoolchildren who had already left.
"He got away..." I raised the corners of my lips. Adjusting the strap of my bag, I headed back to the hotel, recalling interesting approaches to combat chosen by other Earth mages. All my opponents were individuals with interesting fighting styles — this was what distinguished the Arena from a simple army. In the arena, you learned to duel; all your opponents could see what style you used, so you had to adapt every time. Boomi was right, it was fun.
However, I had already been to all the places the King had told me about... I had learned about the art of construction, made friends among influential people, and now I had seen a variety of Earth mages, whose opposition made me realise that adapting to your opponent and finding their weaknesses was fun. What can we conclude? Boom has discovered amazing places and found a chance for improvement where I would never have thought to look. This man's strangeness is both frightening and amusing — to become so strong, his entire life had to be spent in battle, but he retains his youthful idealism. I like that — I won't lie if I say that he has become an example to me that even with great power, it is possible to keep your head on straight...
Although in his case this is not true, he has always been a little strange, but the main thing is to look at his attitude towards people. If he managed to remain human, then so do I. To keep my sanity and stick to my rules for as long as possible.
"There you are! - However, someone almost made me lose my mind. A sharp cry, amplified by my shifting body, made me grab my head. Opening one eye, I looked at the person standing in front of the hotel where I had booked a room... a girl in a green dress and a beige cape, with long hair tied back with a ribbon. She was looking away from me and scratching her cheek in embarrassment. "I found the place where you're staying after all!
"You again?I quietly blinked and looked at my clothes. Frankly speaking, there was nothing left of my previous appearance, even my face was now covered with a mask so as not to infect other people with my germs. And she... still managed to find me.
"Not again, but once more. Stone Cutter, I've come to get answers out of you," her voice was determined. She was very embarrassed, probably because she was showing herself to people outside the Arena, but even through her blindness, she showed her toughness. "What did you mean by 'lucky you're blind'? And hurry up... I don't have much time.
So much for the strongest mage in the whole district. A stalker, boring with her... presence, and beating answers out of people like a gangster. Ah, of course, that's exactly what she is — I didn't even think that a phrase thrown out without any intention would hit her so hard. And she even ran away from home early in the morning.
"...Not now," he rubbed his head and squinted in pain, "You wouldn't understand what it's like to be hit by all six senses at once.
"Wh... - Tof, holding her breath, felt me pass by. She frowned sharply and stamped her foot on the ground, creating vibrations that were instantly picked up by my sixth sense. At that moment, the ground began to move. I felt a small earthen burrow forming, like the ones she had sent out in the arena. If she had touched my leg, she could have simply pushed me aside as she pleased. That's why, at that very moment, I sent my chi through my legs and strengthened the ground beneath us. Tof's technique dissipated before it even had a chance to manifest itself. "You..."
"Oh no, another migraine," and at that very moment, I had to lean against the wall. Under Tof's silent gaze, I took out a couple of round, foul-smelling pills and washed them down with water. "The worst thing is when your sense of taste becomes heightened — they make me want to vomit.
I took out my handkerchief again, blew my nose, and slowly made my way home.
"Go away.
Tof clearly saw how uncertain my gait was and understood that now was not the best time to talk. I could even feel her clenching her fists behind my back, and I sighed in frustration, intending to back off and go home. And at that moment...
"Choose:
1 - Invite her to your place (Tof wants to talk to someone who has the same abilities as her. Your relationship will become - Close. By becoming the first person who can listen to Beifong, you will become the object of her affection, and she will decide to go on a journey with you)
2 - Laugh at the girl's flaw (You have learned to choose less than honourable options. If you start pointing out her blindness, your relationship will become hostile. This will allow you to develop seismic sensitivity through beatings in the Arena)
3 - White Lotus (You know perfectly well what future awaits the person in front of you. Become a spiritual practitioner for her to facilitate future achievements, nurture an ally and a new member of the Lotus. You are on your way to becoming a hero)
Top
Stopping in my tracks, I ran my eyes over the inscriptions several times, and a heavy sigh escaped my lips. Was this a choice? Well, it depended on how you looked at it. If I was in a hurry, I could probably make a decision here and now. If Kioshi Island was waiting for me and counting down the days until my arrival, then yes, it would be a choice. But Anubis, damn it, you know what I'll decide!
Become the object of a little girl's affection? Anger her so much that the situation itself would force me to awaken my seismic sensitivity? I would have sent you far away, but you're not in my world anyway.
I've already decided what I'm going to do.
"Blind bandit," he said, turning halfway around and making the girl cover her ears. Only by turning off your fear do you begin to see more possibilities, and you begin to be driven by different motives, different from the principles and rules established by society. There is no point in mimicking other people's expectations. The real you is someone who is not afraid of boundaries.
He spoke like a member of the White Lotus. But that's how it is. After the arena, I understood even better that no two people are alike. There is no point in parodying other magicians of the earth or supporting the foundations of an entire people. Forge your own path... the only problem is that only the brave can do it.
"You're leaving, aren't you?" Toff snorted in response, not understanding.
"Hmm... there's no need to rush. If you don't have much time, we won't be able to make the most of it. I'll find you myself. Wait. I'll come," and turning around again, I shuffled back to my room. I limped, leaning on the railing as I climbed the steps, but I still left with dignity. Toof stood in the doorway for a while, then left.
I wasn't lying... So she became curious about how I was going to find her.
***
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