“Can we take it with us?” he asked the Dungeon core.
“Who, Ferry? I suppose we can, though we’d have to send her somewhere to wait for us, as she can’t come through to the trial with you.”
“Is it even safe to take her?” he asked, surprised that Geon would have named a Beast.
“If it were any other Beast, I would say no. But I created Ferry as my Guardian after I was stripped of my power. Though she has died many times, I’ve always brought her back. I was going to tell her to run, but if you want to take her with us…” Geon trailed off for a few moments, lost in thought, then abruptly continued. “You can use a mount. We will be traveling, and until you’ve reached at least Orange, moving at any great speed will be difficult, and even then, it would depend on your Path.”
“So, how do I tell her where to go?”
“Just place your palm on her forehead, and I’ll do the rest.”
Roy shrugged to himself, then walked over to the massive ferret. He was still a bit wary of the creature, as it looked like it could tear him apart with no effort. His heart began beating a bit faster as he extended a shaky hand, placing it on the Beast’s head. The fur felt surprisingly soft, and Ferry pushed into his palm. He wondered why she was so friendly all of a sudden but figured it might have more to do with the Dungeon core currently residing in his chest. A flash of white light pulsed out of his palm and Roy sucked in a deep breath as it did so.
He had felt it when the Essence had traveled from the core, down the channels in his arms and out of his hand. The feeling had been electric, both terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. The ferret pulled back from him, shaking its head a few times. Then, it shot off down the open tunnel, disappearing from view in only a few seconds.
“Where did you tell her to go?” Roy asked, “and how did you control my Essence?”
“I sent her to a spot on the outskirts of the Shah clan’s territory. And as to how I can control your Essence, the answer is simple. It’s not yours yet. Until you complete the trial, the Essence will remain mine. So, best get a move on.”
Roy turned quickly back to the portal at that. If he had no control over the Essence in his body, that meant that Geon currently had more control over it than he did. As grateful as he was to the Dungeon core, that would not be allowed to stand. It was his body and nobody else’s.
Well, Geon was technically living in there as well, so it was kind of his body too, he amended a moment later. But he wouldn’t allow himself to be controlled like that.
“Alright then, let’s find out what affinities I have,” Roy said, stepping right up to the tear in space. Taking one last breath, he walked through.
The feeling was much the same as when he’d first been dragged into the Dungeon. He felt a cool tingling sensation running down his spine, and he emerged onto the other side just a moment later. He found himself standing on a twisting path laid out in gleaming cobblestone. Tall bamboo shoots grew to either side of the path; their leaves were swaying in a light breeze.
The air smelled sweet, as though a patch of wildflowers grew nearby, and the temperature was warm and pleasant.
Looking further down the path, Roy could make out a tall Torii gate about ten yards down, the two upward-curving slats on top, held up by two rounded poles planted into the ground. A wooden sign was planted next to it, and if he looked past the gate, he could see the path continuing, sloping upward.
So, this was the Trial of Beginnings.
Roy sucked in a deep lungful of air, reveling in the feeling of seeing something he never thought he would. He began walking down the path, heading for the trial gate. He could feel the cobblestones through his thin shoes, the green of the Wind Essence as it blew against his skin, and an almost indefinable pressure pressing down on his center.
Was the trial trying to measure him?
No one ever spoke of the trial, and it was only mentioned in books by name, so he had no idea of what to expect.
Finally reaching the gate, which he now saw was painted a rich blue, he took a moment to read the wooden signs posted near the gate.
Welcome traveler. You are about to enter the Trial of Beginnings. Please be aware that once started, the trials must be completed. You will not be allowed to leave until all eight have been taken, or, you have chosen an Advancement Path. If you are ready, step through the first gate. If you are not, simply turn back and you will be transported back to your previous destination. If you choose to leave, however, you will not be able to take the trial for a full year. Good fortune be with you, and may your soul stay strong.
Roy turned his eyes from the sign and looked up to the top of the gate, where the words, “Trial of Water” were written in black characters.
It appeared that the Water trial was the first one. Somehow, that made him feel at ease. He’d been around Water cultivators his entire life, so it was familiar to him. He was about to walk forward when Geon’s voice sounded in his mind.
“I won’t be able to talk to you once the trials begin, so I’d like to take care of something before you walk in.”
Before Roy could ask what that was, he felt the core begin pulsing in his chest. The pulsing grew ever faster as the seconds ticked by, and he could feel Essence practically flooding his body. A white light suddenly bloomed in the center of his chest, right over the spot where Geon was located. Then, to Roy’s utter astonishment, a long white stream of energy began snaking out from the center.
At first, he was alarmed, but as the white band grew longer and longer, he felt his fear turn to utter joy. The stream of light abruptly cut off as the band of white detached from his skin, falling into his open palms.
As the light faded, Roy stared down at a long Belt colored a pure white. It felt silky and smooth in his fingers and gave only slightly when he squeezed it. It didn’t feel as though it were made out of normal material, but out of solid Essence.
A real White-Belt
With shaking hands, Roy bound the long belt around his waist. He’d seen it done so many times by others, that he already knew how to do it himself. Wrapping the belt twice around, he pulled it around to the front and looped the ends together. He tugged on the ends three times to make sure it was secure, then looked down proudly at his waist.
This was another sight he’d never thought he’d see. The White-Belt holding his robe closed instead of the length of worn, hemp rope. He was practically bursting with pride and felt a grin stretching his face from ear to ear. He imagined he looked like a fool, but he didn’t care. The last piece that had been missing was now there. If anything proved that he was now a Martial Artist, it was the Belt, formed of Essence, now wrapped around his waist.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
He was truly grateful to the Dungeon core. It had given him more in the last few hours than anyone had given him in his entire life. It had shown him kindness and understanding, and though he understood that Geon was using him to get what he wanted, he was still grateful.
The Dungeon core didn’t respond verbally but pulsed lightly in his chest to show its understanding.
Roy stared down at his Belt for what felt like ages, his eyes glued to the lightly shining White-Belt. The longer he stared, the more certain he became that this was indeed real and not a dream. His blue robe and pants were still stained black and red in a mix of blood and foul-smelling ooze, proving the ordeal he’d survived.