At first, he saw nothing, but as he cycled his blood, it became obvious what was happening. Blood was moving along the path he wanted, but not all of it. In fact, much was being lost to the blood outside the pathways, bleeding off.
It was the same issue he’d had when he first learned to suck prana from the ground. The same issue that reared its head when he first tried Empowering his arms.
Luckily, he already knew how to fix this problem. By saturating the blood lining the pathways, he trapped the blood inside, preventing it from leaking out.
He’d learned to do this subconsciously for his torso long ago, which is why it completely slipped his mind.
Vir once again cycled prana through his calf muscle, and this time, the tingling sensation nearly made his leg spasm.
On a whim, he activated Leap, but instead of simply dumping prana into his leg, he channeled it through Parai’s pattern.
The effect was both surprising and predictable. Instead of hurtling forth, he tumbled and fell over, but he fell over, laughing in pure glee.
It was obvious why it hadn’t worked—he’d only boosted a single muscle with Parai’s technique, while Leap relied on several muscles working in tandem. Except Vir proved that whatever ability he had before, was now augmented even further. Even better, this upgrade took no additional prana. Rather, it made his existing usage even more efficient.
And unlike an individual Talent, this evolution boosted nearly every Talent he had. Leap, High Jump, and Empower all leveraged the same fundamental principle, and so it stood to reason that all would improve.
Vir only hoped it would be enough.
Needs a name, Vir thought. Calling it ‘Parai’s Technique’ was cumbersome, and inaccurate, since Parai had many. Considering the ability involved channeling prana through a set pattern, Vir decided on Prana Channeling.
Now he had to replicate the same pattern on all of his major leg muscles, then again on his arms. Having the benefit of a template to follow, he hoped it wouldn’t be much longer until he had a full set.
When Maiya returned hours later and knocked on his door, Vir opened his eyes. He was feeling less and less excited about his upcoming journey. Anticipation had given way to anxiousness and doubt.
What terrors will I witness in that blighted land? he wondered.
Vir would soon find out.
56THE HARDEST FAREWELL
“You ready?” Maiya asked, standing proudly in Vir’s doorway. It wasn’t quite the look he’d expected. In fact, it was just about the opposite. While training, Vir had thought of several ways of cheering up his best friend, though none of that seemed like it’d be necessary.
“I dunno if I’ll ever be ready for this,” Vir replied nervously.
While he’d worked as fast as he could, he’d only inscribed Parai’s simplified cycling technique onto the muscle groups in both legs. The arms he’d have to do on the flight over.
“But my bag’s packed. Picked up my new armor, and I’ve got all my supplies, so I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. Say, why are you so happy?”
“Oh, you’ll see,” Maiya replied with a smile, though Vir felt it was a bit forced. “Not yet though. Only when the time is right.”
Vir shrugged. “C’mon, Neel. Let’s go.”
Maiya lost her smile in an instant. “Vir, um… Maybe it’s best if you didn’t?”
“You agreed to take care of him, right? He can ride with us to the wall.”
“That’s the thing. I’ve been to the Wall. Fought along it for weeks. We patrol the walls diligently in Kin’jal, but even then, Ash Beasts slip through. Some just… appear on the other side without warning. It’s not a safe place, Vir. Not for a bandy like Neel. Especially not if you get into a fight.”
“That’s… true.”
“Don’t worry! I’ll return for him right after I drop you off. Same with Bumpy. I’ll bring them both back to Sonam. They’ll get the royal treatment, so don’t worry about them.”
“Y’know, you were a lot sadder about me leaving before. What changed? You’re not planning on following me into the Ash, are you?”
“If I could, I’d be jumping up and down with joy. No, it’s not that. You’ll see,” Maiya repeated, again with a sly smile. “For now, it’s probably for the best if you say your goodbyes to Neel.”
Vir’s mind went blank. It hadn’t really sunk in that he was about to leave his four-legged friend behind. Until now.
Dropping his bulging, oversized rucksack, he knelt and stroked Neel behind his ears.
“You like that, boy, don’t you?”
Awooo! Neel said, rolling over to expose his belly.
“Y’know, I normally wouldn’t spoil you like this,” he said, rubbing his friend’s stomach. “But I’m afraid this might be the last chance I get. At least for a while. I’m leaving, Neel.”
The bandy couldn’t understand his words, but he picked up on Vir’s tone. Righting himself, Neel began whimpering, as if asking what was wrong.
“Look, I want you to be a good boy, alright? Maiya’s… Maiya’s gonna take care of you. You like Maiya, don’t you?”
“Awooo!” Neel replied, hearing a familiar name.
“That’s right. So don’t cause any trouble for her. I’m gonna be gone a while, but I promise I’ll return. So you better protect her, okay?”
“Arooo?”
Having freshly reapplied his makeup, Vir had done everything he could to hold back the tears, but as he hugged his best friend of many years, they rolled down his cheeks, anyway.
“I’m sorry, boy. I can’t take you. I wish I could take you.”
Neel whimpered again. His tail was flat on the ground, unmoving.
Wiping his tears and steeling his face, Vir picked up his rucksack and left. When Neel followed him, he nearly cried again, but Maiya squeezed his arm.
“Don’t worry. He’ll be happy with me,” she said softly. “I promise.”
With a nod, Vir locked the door behind him, meeting Neel’s pleading eyes one last time.
Vir led the way with heavy steps, all excitement about his recent advancement gone without a trace.
If saying goodbye to Neel was this hard, then… He stole a glance at his crimson-haired friend, then immediately purged the thought. Dwelling on separating with Maiya might very well break him. The hole in his heart Maiya had plugged might come undone.
Her timing had been impeccable, appearing right when he’d lost Tia—when he was at his lowest. Her mere presence fixed everything. Their short time together had been so full of contentment. Of inner peace.
With each step, Vir second-guessed his decision. More than the Pagan Order, more than the dangers of the Ashen Realm, it was leaving Maiya that tore at him the most.
Will I ever see her again? How long will it be?
To survive years without her, when even a few months made his heart ache…
“Don’t get so down, yeah?” Maiya said, squeezing his hand. “You’ll see Neel again. Promise.”
Vir forced a smile. “Right.”
Lord Reth, Disanna, and Zora waited for Vir at the Acira stables, discussing amongst themselves.
“This is quite the sendoff,” Vir said as he approached. “Wasn’t expecting the whole Tribunal to show up.”
“Not every day one of our own ventures into the Ash. Let alone someone as valuable as you,” Lord Reth said with a tight smile.
“You’re committed, then?” Disanna said.
“I am. You’ve been incredibly gracious. I don’t know how to repay you for all you’ve done.”
“Repayment is neither required nor desired, friend. You’ve done just as much for us.”