Hardcore: Qi Worlds Chapter 6: Nothing good comes easy

Leaving a meditative state was not the same as waking up from sleep. However, there were a lot of similarities for Benzhi in the Qi Worlds simulation. He felt rested, normally, as any human did, Benzhi needed sleep. At least six hours a day. However with meditation in the simulation he had not needed to sleep, yet. He did not feel sleep deprived. This was the second-morning Benzhi woke from a meditative state and he felt refreshed, rejuvenated, hell even his cuts and bruises were almost gone. He was not hungry either.

Benzhi surmised this was more to do with the simulation and the pool than the meditation. Or perhaps it was a mixture of them all combined. He did not concern himself with it too much, at the moment Benzhi would just follow his body's needs as they arose. Standing and gazing at the surface of the pool Benzhi wanted to see what his face looked like. He had inspected his body, yet his face was a mystery other than what he gleaned from touch. 

He had grey eyes with green flecks. His nose was pointed without being pointy and fairly average width if anything it was short compared to the size of his head. His chin and jaw were almost Hollywood hunk standard, defined and square. If he wasn't bald and without eyebrows, he could have been handsome. What was Gisael talking about? His skin tone was still pale, however, it had taken on some colour.

The vines circling his body were not a hindrance nor was there an overabundance of them. They were just peculiar where they were fused with his skin. The stats screen had no race field, was he a Wood Elf, or Human with fused vines, or something else? Benzhi called up his stats. Interesting, there was definitely something to be said for meditation.

He walked over to the Willow tree where Mother was found. Reaching the tree it was time to start his day, perhaps a couple of questions first if she would allow.

"Mother, do you know much about me, what I am?" Benzhi enquired.

Mother circled Benzhi as if inspecting him, "you are a Forest Guardian of course. As to what you are, you are Benzhi." Mother answered matter of factly and accurately, however it gave Benzhi no insight. Perhaps he could try another tack.

 "Mother, if I may be so bold, what type of being are you and Gisael?" Benzhi asked politely hoping not to offend.

Mother answered with a gleam in her eyes, "we are Fae. I am Mother and daughter is a forest guardian like you, but not like you. Benzhi, I can sense you yearn for more knowledge of your world, but Gisael and I are new to this world. This is a new forest, I have travelled here to be Mother, where I came from I was like my daughter. As this," she waved her hand around to express their surroundings," is new to you, it is also new to me as well. However, what I do possess is knowledge of Qi and the way of the forest. The time is now for training, explanations are done."

"Show me the form from yesterday, what progress have you made." Mother ordered softly.

Benzhi closed his eyes, took a deep breath and centred himself. He would have run through the form once in his mind in preparation apart from the fact he had been doing that all night. So he just began.

Mother watched quietly, unbeknownst to Benzhi, Gisael also watched from the treetops. Benzhi was a quick learner. Mother felt fortunate to have a disciple like him. It would make things easier.

With quick smooth steps and with his own expressiveness Benzhi completed the form strongly. He wasn't elegant or beautiful like Mother, but he felt it was, for the first time, competent. 

Mother clapped once, "Good," she paused for a moment, "now let us began another."

For the next few hours, Benzhi struggled with the second form he was to learn from Mother. Using the same methods of physical practice and mental visualisation that they used for the first, he felt he was slightly more adept this time. His basic movement had improved, there were a few similarities, enough for Benzhi's body to adopt them with much more ease than yesterday.

 While the pattern of the morning's training was similar over the first week, each day learning a new form and while not mastering it, at least gaining a level of competency. The training with Gisael was varied and different. One day she took Benzhi on a walk and showed him all the different plants and animals that lived there. She tried to explain how they interacted with one another and as a whole were part of a harmony. The primary lesson of that day was it was the role of a guardian to protect the forest from anything which threatens the harmony.

The other days were spent with varied activities. Learning to track and an introduction to herbs, plants, barks and their uses. Scouting and exploring the entire forest mixed up with obstacle courses and minor trials for Benzhi. Gisael was nearly always aloof with a rare spout of laughter the only departure, and always at Benzhi's expense, to their established curt relationship.

 Benzhi made progress with his meditations. He was still imagining his qi, it wasn't real yet. Using the method Mother gave him, Benzhi guessed there may be a relationship with the forms and qi. There was certainly a relationship with qi and the pool. Everday Benzhi's Qi Core increased and he was fairly certain it was the waters of the pool and his meditation practice that enabled it to rise. It was of great concern to Benzhi that his current relationship with qi was in his imagination only. He had not manifested anything tangible. 

On the tenth day, after nine of intense activity with no breaks, Mother raised her hand to Benzhi, palm outwards, the universal sign of halt. 

"You have worked very hard, your effort is faultless. Today, Benzhi, today." Mother spoke slowly making each word distinct. "You will not practice forms, you will control your qi."

Benzhi was desperate to make something real happen with qi. Gisael could run straight up a tree. It was amazing and terrifying. Benzhi so far could recuperate and sustain himself, with no food or sleep, which was not explainable, with his limited knowledge, yet it was the reality. It was a fact, other than indirect evidence, he had not achieved anything directly.

She paused, waiting for it to sink in, "Benzhi, your core is overflowing, I am concerned that you will burst. It is time. I was hoping it would happen on its own, but you are different to us, you must make a connection which you were not born with. This is what needs to be done."

Benzhi was both excited and confused. Mother, at first, told him today was the day. He initially got excited thinking it was a gift or she knew it would manifest in some way. But then, as she explained further, it became apparent that he had to make something happen. 'What did she mean by connection exactly?' 

 "Benzhi," Mother began, "I wish you to complete the first form, slowly, and when your hand is extended," she demonstrated, "thus, you will entice qi to your palm. Ask it gently and if that doesn't work, order it"

 Benzhi began the form, slowly, a quarter of his normal cadence. And whenever his hand extended, as instructed, he tried to bring qi to his palm, without thinking of what it would do, what the purpose was. He just wanted it to go there. At first, he tried to imagine it going by itself. He noticed nothing and Mother stood still as a statue. Benzhi then tried to coax it gently, his imaginary qi. 'Come on little fellas, move to the palm.' Making no progress after many repeats of the form Benzhi got angry and tried to force it with all his mental might.

Mother spoke suddenly and loudly, "Stop!" Mother didn't shout but it felt like the best parade ground imitation of a Sergeant Major Benzhi could imagine. 

"Benzhi, your qi is from your core, not your head. Begin." Mother instructed with a wave of her hand.

Benzhi closed his eyes and began. He knew this form so well now he did not need to see. The glade was flat and large enough, he would not trip on or bump anything or while completing the form. He visualised his qi, like when he was meditating, he could see a pool of it in his core and the streams circulating his body. He continued to move, not at a slow cadence, the normal pace he would practice with. Although moving he was almost in the same meditative state he would achieve while sitting completely still. Benzhi imagined watching himself from afar, the qi circulating through his body as he progressed through the form, he sent a stream out to his palm.

Something happened, he was sure of it, there was a movement of wind. Benzhi continued and repeated the method over and over. He slowed to a quarter cadence and attempted to achieve the same result without imagining watching from a distance. Benzhi had the feeling now it was just a matter of repetition. He kept going, again and again, Mother never asked him to stop so he would continue.

It was early afternoon Benzhi had been pushing qi to his palm all day. He was exhausted, more than his first or second day, more than ever in his life. Midstride he crumpled to the ground, lying motionless.

Gisael must have dragged him to the pond again. Because Benzhi woke as she fed him some water from a small wooden bowl while holding his mouth open.

"My skill must be lacking to be punished so," Gisael said as she trickled some more water into his mouth. Benzhi's eyes fluttered shut despite her attention. He heard Mother say something sounding concerned. The next thing he knew Gisael was forcing a small pea into his mouth with the water.

"Swallow," she commanded. What the hell was that pea? Some sort of superfood? What the...Benzhi jumped to his feet.

It was like he was just injected with adrenaline directly to the heart. "Holy forest beast girl, what was that?" Benzhi excitedly yet apprehensively asked.

"A small amount of Core," Gisael informed softly. "Mothered ordered me," she said matter of factly in explanation. "A waste," she said vehemently and marched off leaving the glade.

"Benzhi," Mother called and he made his way over. "You are replenished. There is still light. You are to practice bringing qi to your palm until it is nearly dark." She demonstrated bringing with her arms by her side and completing just a minute part of a form. Bringing her palm up as if to push someone away. Benzhi felt the pressure even though he was still ten metres away.

"No more than five hundred times," Mother ordered.

 Benzhi began. He could sense his qi. He could feel it moving through his body. There was definitely a push emanating from his palm. It was such a struggle to get to this point. Nothing good comes easy.

Chapter end