Hardcore: Qi Worlds Chapter 11: Aftermath

A cool breeze swept through the glade, the air was fresh, pure and without any hint of pollution like the kind found from Benzhi's previous world, Earth. As Benzhi practised the forms the cool breeze was a welcome intrusion. The leaves and branches of the willow swayed calmly in the breeze, akin to Mother's mood. She was always calm.

It had been ten days since the battle in the glade with the ferals. Benzhi had healed slowly and begun training again. For the last ten days he trained with sword forms only, no qi, extended his knowledge of forest craft with Gisael and scouted the surrounding areas for more ferals, there were none. Even the feral village was now deserted. If any had survived, which there must have been some, they were long gone. 

Benzhi's body was experiencing changes slowly, not obvious on a daily basis. Over the last two weeks, Benzhi slowly changed into what was closer to a wood elf. His ears were becoming elongated, his frame slighter and the vines surrounding his body were growing and changing as well. His skin was becoming tanned with his forays into the wilderness each day.

Lathered in sweat, Benzhi had finished practising forms for the day, his muscles were becoming wiry, strong and agile. Usage of many hundreds of martial moves was becoming like second nature. Benzhi would spar with Gisael on occasion, although she still outclassed him in speed and agility Benzhi was now able to stay on his feet for minutes instead of seconds. 

He bowed to Mother, she had stopped giving him daily instructions. Content with Benzhi setting his own agenda, however, they still kept to the routine of forms in the morning, forest activities during the day and meditation at night. The fight with the ferals had taken a toll, not only did his body need healing but so did the tranquillity of the glade and for some reason, his relationship with Mother had undergone an evolution. He went from junior disciple to an ally whom she trained.  Mother tilted her head to the side and then bowed in return before she dissipated.

Gisael was waiting for Benzhi at the treeline, something which had become a tradition. She was leaning against Hyperion. It was as if she was waiting for him to accept the challenge of climbing it again. She kept teasing him about his lack of tree running ability. What made it worse was, she was right.

"I had an idea," Benzhi announced. Gisael moved, adopting a ready stance as if she was preparing to defend herself.

"Very funny," Benzhi said. "I noticed something when we fought the shaman. It only occurred to me last night that it could benefit the training of my qi arts." Gisael looked interested yet remained silent.

Benzhi continued, "I will engage qi sight and watch you prepare to tree run."

Gisael chuckled patronisingly. "If you think this will work oh great guardian of the forest, then I shall comply." Clearly, Gisael did not see the merit in the strategy, Benzhi thought. Everything came naturally to her, she did not understand his struggles to manipulate qi in the correct pattern and flow.

Benzhi focused on Gisael and engaged qi sight. He closed and layered qi on his eyes, he also sat in a meditative pose, not that it mattered but it did assist his focus. The soles of Gisaels feet were enveloped in qi, however, what concerned Benzhi was the shape and form of the qi itself. It was something Gisael created without thinking. The shapes were concave discs, tiny ones, there were thousands on the sole of her foot. If he wasn't so close to her and she wasn't standing still he would easily miss the nuance.

"Take to the tree," Benzhi asked and Gisael complied. Benzhi sighed, as soon as she took off and up the tree the shapes lost all definition. He did not know if they moved, grew larger, or what occurred it was all a blur. However, he had gained insight. This technique for learning could be applied to anything, or at least attempted on anything.

Benzhi stood and coated his feet with the tiny concave discs. "Time to tackle the tree," he said quietly to himself. Remembering his last embarrassing attempt Benzhi took off for the tree and ran up its trunk. The Hyperion was tall, very tall. Benzhi ran up what must have been ten stories, in a less than ten seconds, if he were to lose purchase now, he would fall, to what was most likely, his death. No stopping now, he thought, as he breached a covering of leaves. He looked down, the branches were massive, almost tree size themselves. Benzhi jumped and landed on a large platform, which was ostensibly small and large branches intertwined. He was only halfway up the Hyperion. He could now see how Gisael was able to snipe the ferals with impunity.

The forest looked completely different from this vantage. With the qi enabled tree running ability it opened up a whole new world. And to think, all he had to do was watch and learn. Slapping his forehead, for once he agreed with Gisael, he was stupid.

"You are here," Gisael pointed and laughed, stating the obvious, yet sounding surprised at the same time. Smiling she continued, "Follow, I have much to show you."

Benzhi did his best to follow Gisael, almost plummeting to his death three times. He had to layer his hands with qi discs as well to maintain purchase when traversing some scary paths that Gisael took for granted. Death defying tree running was a gigantic adrenalin rush, Benzhi was so focused on placing his foot on the next branch or trunk that he didn't have an opportunity to sight see in the least. He stopped, breathing heavily, not from over exertion, most likely from over excitement. He could see a wooden structure in a particular confluence of branches and trees. It looked like a giant upside down nut with an opening large enough for a person to enter.

"That is my home," Gisael informed him. "You are not allowed to enter." She added in a serious tone.

Of course, Benzhi thought. Gisael was amiable on occasion, but she always kept her distance from Benzhi. He wasn't even in the friend zone. He was in the 'work colleague that I dislike' zone.

Benzhi spent the rest of the day exploring the forest anew whilst practising tree running. Stopping once in awhile to use qi sight to view the forest from this new vantage point.

Benzhi informed Mother of his progress and more importantly his discovery the next morning before form practice.

"Mother, are you able to form qi blade?" Benzhi enquired. He was not satisfied with his qi blade and its inability to cut. It was more akin to a club at the moment. If Mother knew the technique he could gain insight from her.

Mother looked thoughtful, "Yes, I can do this for you. But something important first. You must make a decision."

Benzhi perked up. This sounded ominous. Did she require something else of him in order to show him this technique?

"Do you recall when I told you Daughter and I are not from this world?" Mother asked.

"Um, yeah," Benzhi replied. That was about the last thing he expected her to ask.

"There has been time since you place the feral core in the pool and it merged with the forest core. The forest would grow on its own as it grows in strength, but the merging of the Cores has made this growth sprout like a well-nourished seedling in spring. Have you noticed the forest has grown?" She asked.

Benzhi thought about it. He had noticed changes when he scouted the outskirts but the forest was so large he rarely went to the same spot, at the outskirts, twice. He was also travelling much faster, than when he first arrived, yet sometimes it took him longer to break the treeline. Benzhi nodded, yes he had noticed.

"I have a feeling," Mother informed Benzhi. "If you wish it, more like daughter will come."

Oh really? Benzhi thought, she was so obnoxious at times, do we really want more like her? He cast the thought aside asking "What do you mean exactly?"

Mother drew in a breath, "Do you wish more of the people to join us here in the forest?"

Benzhi thought about it. In game terms, this might mean that the additional Core had given the forest domain more power, which meant a larger territory with more assets. However, this world was not like any game ever. It was more like life, just a much different life to his previous one. Every skill had to be learnt and earned. There were no freebies. Every stat he had felt very real as well. Come to think of it, Benzhi hadn't checked his stats since before the trial.

Holy changes Batman. Benzhi didn't have time to ponder them right now he had a decision to make. What he did realise was that every stat increase was also earned. Old school games, you went up a level and allocated points. In Qi Worlds you earned every increased and it was basically a measure of your current competency. That was Benzhi's estimation in any case. Like everything, almost nothing was certain. There was no wiki, no guides, no tutorial. Even his decision right now, he did not know what effect a yes would have. Was there something else that he was missing out on?

Benzhi could contemplate what ifs for a month. What he did know was more wood elves would be great. Gisael was amazing during the fight with the ferals, hell she could have probably soloed all of them only it was left to him to play the main part.

"Yes, Mother, more wood elves would be welcome," Benzhi answered. "Would it be possible that they have a better attitude than Gisael?" He couldn't resist that request.

Mother laughed. "That I cannot decide. They are people, they are who they are."

"Go to the pool Benzhi. Meditate. Think of welcoming and openness towards the people. Meditate on what the forest needs. Protectors, Gatherers, Artisans and their families. Daughter and I will assist in sending out the call."

Benzhi did as Mother instructed. He, Mother and Gisael meditated all day. Benzhi wondered how much longer this would take. There was no instruction from Mother to stop, so he continued. He meditated until sunrise the next morning. Focusing on welcoming a community of guardians, crafters and gatherers.

As the first rays of sun splayed over the horizon before the forest came into full light itself a portal opened above the pool. Rays of qi streamed from the Core opening a large man sized portal above the pool. Benzhi stood, amazed.

"Gisael, quick." He called. "We better get some sort of plank otherwise anyone coming through the portal will get a surprise dip in the pool." Benzhi laughed imagining a stoic forest guardian striding through the portal and landing in the pool.

Benzhi and Gisael found a log suited for the task within half an hour had it in place. A place which it stayed, with an open portal, for almost a week and nothing had come through. Benzhi would meditate each night on welcoming new members to their community and each day train new qi skills of tree running and qi blade while practising forms.

On the seventh-day wood elves began streaming through the portal. Their backs burdened with their worldly possessions. 

Chapter end