Chapter 2: First Steps

  The cobblestone path leading to the Academy grounds stretched before Leo and Altan as they walked in comfortable silence. The last rays of sunlight painted the sky in hues of orange and purple, casting long shadows across the terrain.

  "Get some rest," Altan said when they reached the main courtyard. "Tomorrow your training begins."

  Leo nodded, unsure how to respond. The events of the past days weighed heavily on his mind.

  Altan reached into his sleeve and pulled out a small jade token. "This will let you access your quarters. Just hold it against your door." He tossed it to Leo with a casual flick of his wrist. "Oh, and Leo?"

  "Yes?"

  A mischievous smile spread across Altan's face. "Welcome to the Academy of Eccentric Geniuses. Where the impossible becomes merely improbable."

  With that enigmatic statement, he turned and strolled away, humming a tune Leo didn't recognize.

  Leo watched him go, then examined the token in his palm. It was cool to touch, with intricate patterns etched into its surface that seemed to shift when he wasn't looking directly at them.

  Is this really happening? he wondered for the hundredth time. I'm in another world, holding a magic key, about to learn cultivation. If this is a dream, it's the most detailed one I've ever had.

  The Academy grounds were expansive, with various buildings scattered across a landscape that blended natural beauty with purposeful design. Following Altan's directions, Leo headed toward the eastern section where his quarters should be located.

  As he passed a flowering bush near one of the garden paths, a flash of movement caught his eye. Leo slowed his pace and peered more carefully.

  Two bright eyes stared back at him from between the branches. A young girl, perhaps sixteen, was crouched behind the bush, watching him with undisguised curiosity. When their eyes met, instead of hiding, she smiled shyly.

  "Hello there," Leo said, waving awkwardly.

  The girl's eyes widened. With surprising agility, she sprang up and darted away, her long robes fluttering behind her like butterfly wings. Just before disappearing around a corner, she glanced back and gave him another small smile.

  Leo couldn't help but smile in return. The brief encounter lightened his mood somewhat as he continued toward his quarters. At least not everyone here seems like a mysterious and powerful cultivator.

  His room was simple but comfortable. A bed with surprisingly soft coverings. A wooden desk and chair. A window overlooking a small garden. Shelves lined one wall, empty save for a few basic items. A washbasin sat in one corner next to a privacy screen.

  Leo sat heavily on the bed, and the events of the past days crashed over him like a wave.

  He remembered waking up on that stone circle, his head pounding as if it might split open. The disorienting sensation of unfamiliar gravity, unfamiliar air. The faces of strangers looking down at him with expressions ranging from curiosity to disappointment.

  Then darkness had claimed him again.

  When he awoke the second time, he had been in this very room. Altan and a stern woman he now knew as "Second Sister" had been there, watching him. They had bombarded him with questions. Where was he from? How had he gotten here? Did he know a cultivator who called himself "Starlit Sage"?

  His confusion had been genuine. He remembered going to sleep in his college dorm room after a late night study session, then waking up here. Nothing in between.

  When he told them this, Second Sister's face had fallen. She had murmured something to Altan and left the room without another word. Leo had felt guilty, as if he had personally disappointed her, though he didn't understand why.

  He had passed out again shortly after, exhaustion claiming him. The next thing he knew, Altan was rousing him for their trip to Sunglow City.

  And now here I am. Still alive. Still sane. I think.

  Leo lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Questions swirled in his mind like autumn leaves caught in a whirlwind. Who was this mysterious First Brother that everyone spoke of with such reverence? Why did he and Leo share this "untethered from fate" quality that Altan had mentioned? Was he also from Earth? Could he help Leo get back home?

  With these thoughts chasing each other in circles, Leo eventually drifted into an uneasy sleep, the two moons in the sky reflecting light down onto his sleeping form.

  Morning came with a sharp knock on his door.

  Leo bolted upright, momentarily disoriented. The unfamiliar room, the strange quality of light streaming through the window. Then reality settled back in. Right. Magic world. Cultivation academy. Not a dream.

  The knock came again, more insistent.

  "Coming," he called, quickly pulling on the simple clothes that had been provided for him. They were loose fitting and comfortable, made of a fabric that felt like cotton but lighter.

  When he opened the door, Second Sister stood there, her posture straight but her expression welcoming. She was tall for a woman, with defined features and hair pulled back in an elegant ponytail with a few strands framing her face. Her robes were immaculate, a deep green color with intricate embroidery around the edges.

  "Good morning," she said with a warm smile. "I hope you slept well."

  Leo blinked, surprised by her friendly tone after their previous meeting. "I did, thank you."

  "Excellent. The first rule of cultivation is that a rested mind learns faster than an exhausted one." Her eyes twinkled. "Though punctuality is still important. We have much to cover today." She gestured toward the path. "Shall we begin?"

  Leo nodded and followed her through the Academy grounds, appreciating her considerate approach.

  In daylight, he could better appreciate the beauty of the place. Gardens bloomed with flowers in colors he had never seen before. Fountains sparkled in the sunlight. What struck Leo most, however, was the complete emptiness of the grounds. There wasn't a single student to be seen anywhere.

  Where is everyone? he wondered, looking around at the training fields and meditation platforms. Isn't this supposed to be a school?

  Second Sister led him to a secluded pavilion overlooking a small lake. The structure was open on all sides, with a roof supported by carved wooden pillars. The floor was polished stone, cool beneath Leo's bare feet.

  "This is where you will begin your cultivation journey," she said, stepping onto the pavilion floor and turning to face him with an encouraging smile. "The energy here is particularly conducive to meditation."

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  Leo remembered the book in his hand. "Oh, Altan wanted me to give you this," he said, holding it out to her.

  Second Sister's composure cracked for just a moment. Her eyes widened, and a faint blush colored her cheeks as she took the book. "'My Master's Cold Heart'?" she read, the blush deepening as her eyes widened in alarm. She quickly glanced around as if checking that no one else was witnessing this moment.

  "That interfering troublemaker," she muttered, shooting Leo a mortified look.

  She hastily tucked the book deep into her sleeve, making sure it was completely hidden. "Thank you for delivering it," she said stiffly, clearly trying to regain her composure. "But please forget you ever saw this. Third Brother has no sense of propriety."

  The human moment made her seem more approachable, and Leo seized the opportunity.

  "Can I ask you something about First Brother?" he blurted out.

  Second Sister's expression softened. "I was wondering when you would ask." She sat gracefully on one of the stone benches that lined the pavilion. "Curiosity is natural, and honestly, understanding our Academy's foundation may help your cultivation journey."

  "Thank you," Leo said, relieved by her receptiveness. "Altan said First Brother and I share some quality. I need to understand what that means."

  She patted the space beside her. "Let's take a few minutes for your questions. Training without context is like trying to read in the dark."

  Leo nodded eagerly. "Who is First Brother, really?"

  Second Sister closed her eyes briefly, as if gathering her thoughts. When she opened them, there was a softness there that Leo hadn't seen before.

  "First Brother is the founder of our Academy," she said. "He established this place thirty years ago, gathering those of us he thought was special and teaching us cultivation methods that others deemed impossible."

  Her voice took on a reverential tone. "He never wanted to be called Master or Sifu or any other title that would place him above his students. 'We are all walking the same path,' he would say. 'I have simply gone a few steps further.' So he called himself First Brother, and named us accordingly as we joined."

  Leo watched her face as she spoke. There was clear admiration there, bordering on adoration.

  "He is one of the strongest cultivators in the empire," she continued. "His understanding of the Dao is profound. His techniques, revolutionary. And his heart..." She trailed off, looking out over the lake. "His heart is as vast as the sky."

  "And we share something in common?" Leo prompted.

  Second Sister's gaze returned to him. "The quality Altan mentioned, being untethered from fate, is rare. It does not necessarily mean First Brother is from your world, if that's what you're wondering. But it is significant that our academy would encounter someone again with this quality."

  "Did he ever mention being from a place called Earth? Or anything like it?"

  She shook her head. "Not that I recall. But he did tell us that anyone who arrives through the transportation formations he left behind is a friend to the Academy and deserves our protection."

  Her expression shifted to one of quiet pride. "And truly, Leo, our Academy stands at the pinnacle of cultivation. Each student was personally asked to join by First Brother himself, a testament to our exceptional talent. Since his departure, those larger, so-called 'prestigious' academies have been circling like vultures, jealous of what we possess." A dismissive wave of her hand accompanied a confident smile. "Their techniques are antiquated, their understanding shallow. What First Brother taught us surpasses their centuries of tradition. Our standards remain beyond their comprehension."

  Transportation formations, Leo thought. Is that how I got here? Did this First Brother somehow bring me here on purpose?

  "I believe that's enough background for now," Second Sister said, rising from the bench with fluid grace. "If you wish to solve the mysteries surrounding you, you must grow stronger. Learning to cultivate is your path forward."

  "That's what Altan said too," Leo noted.

  She smiled. "Third Brother and I may differ in our teaching methods, but we agree on the fundamentals." She gestured to a cushioned mat in the center of the pavilion that Leo hadn't noticed before. "Please, make yourself comfortable. Cultivation starts with perception, and perception begins with a relaxed but alert mind. You must learn to sense the qi that flows through all things."

  Leo sat cross-legged on the comfortable mat, eager despite his confusion and lingering concerns about home. If cultivation was the key to understanding what had happened to him, then he would learn it.

  Both Altan and Second Sister seem to think I need to get stronger to find answers, he thought. They clearly miss First Brother. Maybe they hope I can help somehow.

  "Close your eyes," Second Sister instructed, her voice taking on a melodic quality. "Cultivation begins not with action, but with stillness."

  Leo closed his eyes, feeling somewhat self-conscious.

  "Now, breathe deeply. Not from your chest, but from your lower abdomen." She placed a gentle hand just below his ribs. "Here. Feel how the breath should originate from this point. We call it the core, the sea of qi. It is the foundation upon which all cultivation is built."

  Leo tried to follow her instructions, focusing on breathing from his core.

  "Good," she said after several minutes. "Now, with each inhale, imagine drawing in not just air, but light. Visualize it flowing through your nostrils, down your throat, and dispersing through your body. With each exhale, feel it circulating outward, through your meridians."

  "Meridians?" Leo asked without opening his eyes.

  "The pathways through which qi flows in your body. Like rivers carrying water to nourish the land." Her voice remained steady, guiding. "Don't try to force it. Qi follows intention, not command. This is the first lesson that many cultivators struggle with."

  For the next hour, Second Sister guided him through various exercises, each building upon the last. She taught him how to sit properly, back straight but not rigid, shoulders relaxed, hands resting gently on his knees.

  "The body is the vessel for the spirit," she explained. "If the vessel is crooked, how can the spirit flow freely? But tension is equally detrimental. Finding balance is key."

  When his posture began to slump, she would lightly touch his spine, her corrections firm but patient. "Remember what First Brother always says: 'The path of cultivation is not a straight line but a spiral. We revisit the same lessons again and again, each time with deeper understanding.'"

  As the morning progressed, Leo found himself increasingly able to maintain the meditative state she was guiding him toward. There were moments when he thought he could almost feel something, a whisper of sensation, a warmth beneath his skin that wasn't quite physical.

  "Every living thing contains qi," she explained when he described the feeling. "Plants, animals, humans, cultivators. The difference is in how we use it. Most people never learn to sense it, let alone harness it. But you will."

  She demonstrated by holding her palm up. A small green flame appeared above it, dancing without consuming any fuel. "This is qi made manifest. My qi, specifically, shaped by my understanding of the dao."

  Leo stared, mesmerized. "How long before I can do that?"

  "That depends on your aptitude and dedication," she replied, extinguishing the flame with a closing of her fist. "In this world, aptitude ranges from D-rank to S-rank. D-rank means you cannot cultivate at all, which is the case for most people in the world, though they can usually absorb some qi energy."

  Leo nodded, absorbing this information. "And the other ranks?"

  "C-rank allows cultivation within the mortal realms. B-rank, which is your aptitude, typically allows one to reach the peak of mortal realms. A-ranks can break into the divine realm and cultivate beyond. And S-rank..., S-rank represents the most talented cultivators of all, with nearly limitless potential."

  She produced a crystal about the size of an apple from within her robes. It was clear as glass but seemed to contain swirling mists within its depths.

  "Place your hand on this," she instructed. "It will measure your innate capacity for qi absorption and cultivation."

  Leo hesitantly placed his palm on the crystal. Immediately, he felt a tingling sensation travel up his arm. The mists within the crystal began to glow with a soft blue light.

  Second Sister watched intently as the glow stabilized. Her expression shifted subtly, thoughtful in pose.

  B-rank aptitude," she announced with a nod.

  "Is that good?" Leo asked, removing his hand from the crystal.

  She smiled reassuringly. "It is solid. You have the potential to achieve great things with proper dedication."

  "Third Brother is S-rank, though he often wastes his potential with his carefree attitude," she continued, rolling her eyes slightly. "I am A-rank. If I had his aptitude..." She shook her head with a wistful expression.

  "But here's something important to understand. Aptitude is like having a larger or smaller canvas. The true art depends on the painter, not the size of their canvas."

  Leo felt a small surge of determination replace his initial concern. Not the highest, but I can work with this.

  "Throughout my own experience," Second Sister continued, "I've seen B-ranks surpass A-ranks through diligence and creativity. Aptitude merely determines your starting point and perhaps your speed. The destination depends on your heart and will."

  She tucked the crystal back into her robes with a flourish. "We've done good work today. Your mind absorbs quickly, which will serve you well regardless of aptitude ranking. Now, I believe it's time you met your fellow disciples individually. They've been quite curious about you."

  "How many other disciples are there?" Leo asked, realizing he had seen almost no one since his arrival.

  Second Sister smiled proudly. "Five," she said brightly. "Or now six, with you. We may be few, but First Brother always said quality matters more than quantity."

  Leo blinked in surprise. "Six? But this place is huge! It looks like it could hold hundreds of students."

  Second Sister shrugged with an amused expression. "First Brother was extremely wealthy. He built it this large simply because he wanted to and because he could. The fact that it annoyed our competitors was just a bonus he thoroughly enjoyed."