Chapter 4: Breaking Bread

  The dining hall of the Academy of Eccentric Geniuses blazed with warm light from crystal lamps hanging from the high ceiling. Leo paused at the entrance, taking in the grand space with its long wooden table that could seat twenty but currently had only six place settings clustered at one end.

  The stone walls bore tapestries depicting scenes of cultivation battles and peaceful meditation. A massive fireplace crackled at one end of the hall, casting dancing shadows across the polished floor.

  Leo hesitated, unsure of where to sit. The other disciples were already gathered, their conversations halting as they noticed his presence.

  Great, now I feel like the new kid in the cafeteria, he thought, forcing himself to walk forward.

  "Leo! Over here!" Aline waved enthusiastically, patting the empty seat beside her. "I saved you a spot!"

  Relief washed over him as he made his way to the offered chair. "Thank you, Senior Sister," he replied, remembering the formality she had playfully requested.

  Aline giggled. "I was just joking about that 'Senior Sister' thing earlier. Just call me Aline! I don't want to seem old."

  Leo took in the seating arrangement. Second Sister sat at the head of the table, her posture perfect as she nodded in greeting. Altan lounged to her right, legs stretched out carelessly beneath the table. Across from Leo, Renzo sat with rigid formality, his back not touching the chair. Kaelin occupied the far end, his large frame making the sturdy wooden chair look almost delicate.

  An awkward silence settled over the table as Leo took his seat. Five pairs of eyes studied him with varying degrees of curiosity.

  Do I have something on my face? Or is the "alien from another world" thing just that interesting? Leo resisted the urge to squirm under their collective gaze.

  Altan broke the silence with a lazy grin. "So, what do you think of our little family so far, Leo?"

  Before he could answer, servants entered bearing platters of food that made Leo's stomach growl. Roasted meats, steaming vegetables in colorful arrangements, bread still warm from the oven, and fruits he didn't recognize filled the table.

  "The food here is excellent," Altan continued, helping himself to a generous portion of meat. "One of the perks of having fewer disciples than most academies is that we eat like emperors."

  Leo followed suit, loading his plate with a bit of everything. The first bite of meat nearly made him moan with appreciation. It was tender and seasoned perfectly, unlike anything he'd tasted on Earth.

  "Good?" Aline asked, watching his expression with amusement.

  "Amazing," Leo admitted. The thought of his mother's cooking sent a pang through his chest.

  The table fell into silence again as everyone ate. Leo noticed how Kaelin focused entirely on his food, never looking up. Renzo ate with the same precision he displayed in training, cutting each piece of meat to exactly the same size. Second Sister's movements were graceful and measured, while Altan ate with enthusiasm and no sense of propriety.

  They're just as curious about me as I am about them, Leo realized. They're trying to figure me out.

  "So!" Aline suddenly burst out, unable to contain herself any longer. "Tell us more about yourself, Leo! Where are you from exactly? And do you know anything about First Brother? Were you sent by him?"

  "Aline," Second Sister admonished gently. "Let's not overwhelm our new brother. He is still adjusting to our world."

  "It's all right," Leo said, setting down his fork. "I understand the curiosity. I just don't have many answers myself." He took a breath, organizing his thoughts. "I'm from a place called Earth. I was a college student studying business and sciences. One night I went to sleep in my room, and the next thing I knew, I was waking up here."

  "College?" Aline asked, tilting her head.

  "It's a kind of advanced school," Leo explained simply, deciding to keep things basic for now.

  "Science?" Renzo inquired, his first words of the evening.

  Leo smiled. "I study natural sciences, about how the world works - plants, animals, the sky, the elements."

  "Fascinating," Altan murmured. "So your world focuses on understanding nature through different means than cultivation?"

  "Exactly," Leo nodded. "No qi, no cultivation, no spiritual energy that I know of. Just science."

  Selian's brow furrowed thoughtfully. "Perhaps you're simply from an undiscovered region of our world. This continent is vast, with many unexplored territories despite cultivators being powerful enough to cover hundreds of miles in seconds. Some isolated regions might have developed differently."

  Leo laughed and shook his head. "I'm certain I'm from another world entirely. The sky on Earth has one sun and one moon. And Earth is completely explored."

  "He's right," Altan interjected, twirling a cup of wine between his fingers. "First Brother specifically spent time exploring the edges of our known world during his leaves of absence before he disappeared. If this Earth existed within our world, he would have found it."

  A somber mood settled over the table at the mention of First Brother's disappearance. Even Aline's bright expression dimmed.

  "Made things," Kaelin said suddenly, his deep voice startling in the silence. "For journey. Special compass. Never returned."

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  Everyone looked at the large man with surprise. It was clearly unusual for him to offer so many words at once.

  "That's right," Selian said softly. "First Brother had Fourth Brother craft several special instruments before he left."

  The conversation lulled, weighted by unspoken concern.

  Seeing the shift in mood, Leo decided to change the subject. "The food here is incredible. On Earth, I mostly survived on instant noodles and pizza."

  "What's pizza?" Aline perked up immediately.

  Leo described the concept of pizza, which led to questions about other Earth foods, music, and customs. By the time dessert arrived, a sweet rice pudding with cinnamon-like spice, the atmosphere had lightened considerably.

  As the meal concluded, Selian rose from her seat. "Seventh Brother, please meet Third Brother and me tomorrow morning at the same pavilion where we trained. We will discuss your cultivation plan in detail."

  "Look forward to it," Altan added with a wink. "Rest well, because tomorrow your real journey begins."

  Leo nodded, both excited and nervous about what lay ahead.

  Leo returned to his quarters that night with his mind spinning. As he sat on the edge of his bed, he tried to make sense of everything he'd learned so far.

  Cultivation levels, qi circulation, meridians, aptitudes—it's like trying to learn calculus while riding a unicycle.

  He stared at his hands, trying to feel the energy Second Sister had instructed him to sense during their lesson. Nothing happened, but he hadn't expected it to. According to her, it would take time and practice.

  The thought of his family surfaced in the quiet solitude. He could picture his mother's worried face, his father's stoic concern, his little brother's confused questions about where he'd gone.

  He lay back on the bed, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling. The disciples seemed genuinely clueless about his arrival, yet also convinced it wasn't coincidence. There was a connection between him and their missing leader that none of them fully understood.

  They all seem to think I need to get stronger to find answers. So that's what I'll do.

  With that resolution, Leo eventually drifted into sleep.

  The next morning dawned clear and bright. Leo awoke feeling refreshed despite his tumultuous thoughts the night before. He washed his face in the basin, changed into the clean robes that had been left for him, and headed to the lakeside pavilion where he'd trained with Second Sister.

  He found her and Altan already waiting. Selian sat with perfect posture on a stone bench, her green robes crisp and unwrinkled. Altan reclined against a wooden pillar, spinning a small whirlwind above his palm, looking as though he'd just rolled out of bed yet somehow still appearing elegant.

  "Welcome, Seventh Brother," Selian greeted him. "Please sit. We have much to discuss regarding your cultivation path."

  Leo sat across from them, folding his hands in his lap. "I'm ready to learn."

  "Excellent attitude," Altan grinned, letting the whirlwind dissipate. "You'll need it."

  Selian nodded approvingly. "We'd like to discuss your training schedule and goals. As you may have gathered, our academy is unique in its approach to cultivation."

  "Most schools force all their disciples to follow the same techniques and paths," Altan explained, his tone carrying a hint of disdain. "Like forcing every painter to use the same brush strokes."

  "Our academy believes in individualized instruction," Selian continued. "First Brother founded this school on the principle that each cultivator must forge their own understanding of the Dao."

  "That's why we're called the Academy of Eccentric Geniuses," Altan added. "Each of us cultivates differently, following our own insights and building personal techniques."

  Leo nodded, appreciating this approach. "That makes sense. Different people have different strengths."

  "Precisely," Selian smiled. "Now, regarding your immediate goals. There is a competition held every four years where all major schools and academies participate. The Emperor’s Cup will be held in six months' time."

  "We hope you can achieve Foundation stage by then," Altan said. "Then you can represent our academy against other Foundation realm cultivators from competing schools."

  Leo's eyes widened. "Is that realistic? To advance that quickly?"

  "It's ambitious," Selian admitted. "Most cultivators with your aptitude wouldn't be able to advance that quickly. But with exceptional dedication and hard work, we believe you can achieve it."

  "Plus, we're excellent teachers," Altan winked.

  Selian's expression grew more serious. "This tournament will be especially significant for our academy. It's the first one since First Brother's absence. Many rival schools believe our strength has diminished without him."

  "They've become bolder in their challenges," Altan added, his usual carefree demeanor briefly giving way to something harder. "A poor showing at the Emperor’s Cup would only encourage them further."

  Selian shot Altan a look before continuing. "I will teach you the essence of cultivation and help you build your cultivation base through Purification. This involves sensing and absorbing qi, strengthening your meridians, and establishing your core."

  "And I," Altan said with a flourish, "will teach you to understand the world and build your own techniques and cultivation insights. This is what distinguishes our academy from others."

  Selian's expression grew proud. "While in Purification, you cannot manifest qi into techniques, but this stage is crucial. The foundation you build now will help stabilize and guide your entire cultivation career."

  "Think of it like constructing a building," Altan explained. "Second Sister will help you lay solid foundations. I'll help you envision what magnificent structure you might build upon them."

  Leo considered this information carefully. So I need a strong base and a personalized approach. Still though, can I really achieve Foundation in sixth months?

  "We each have our strengths as instructors," Selian said. "You may choose which aspect of cultivation you would like to focus on first."

  Leo looked between them. Both were clearly powerful cultivators, but their approaches seemed vastly different. Selian represented structure and precision. Altan embodied creativity and insight.

  I need to understand this world better before I can truly begin absorbing its energy, Leo reasoned. And Altan seems to know more about First Brother.

  "I think I'd like to start with understanding the world and building my insights," Leo said. "So I'd choose to train with Senior Brother Altan first."

  Selian's expression soured slightly, her lips pressing into a thin line. Altan, by contrast, beamed triumphantly.

  "Excellent choice!" Altan exclaimed, puffing up with pride. "See, Selian? He recognizes quality instruction when he sees it."

  "He simply prefers your less rigorous approach," Second Sister replied stiffly. "Structure and discipline form the backbone of cultivation."

  "Backbone, shmackbone," Altan waved dismissively. "Inspiration and understanding are the soul of cultivation. First Brother always said so."

  Selian sighed. "Just ensure you don't fill his head with nonsense about shortcuts or dangerous techniques."

  "When have I ever?" Altan placed a hand over his heart in mock offense.

  "Would you prefer the comprehensive list chronologically or alphabetically?" Selian retorted.

  Leo suppressed a smile at their banter.

  Altan clapped his hands together. "Well then, no time like the present! Leo, we're going back to the city. Real understanding comes from observation, not meditation in isolation."

  "Now?" Leo asked, surprised by the sudden declaration.

  "Of course now!" Altan stood, straightening his robes. "Pack nothing. Bring only your wits and curiosity."

  Selian rose gracefully. "Remember, Seventh Brother, absorb what serves your understanding, but question what seems careless. I will see you after Third Brother's lessons to begin your meridian exercises."

  As Selian departed, Altan leaned close to Leo with a conspiratorial grin. "She's just jealous because my lessons are more fun. Come on, the markets of Sunglow City await us, and there's no better classroom than the chaos of humanity."

  Leo nodded, excitement building in his chest. Whatever lay ahead, he was ready to embrace it.