"Every cultivator has their own goals. For some, it may be immortality, but for me, it's freedom."
— Jack Ernstahl, Traveller and Geographer
*Theo POV*
I drag Rich back down to the study, excited to show him what I prepared for him - books laid out and organised for us to go through. Unfortunately, we didn't have any books on herbs like he had requested before, but I offer him a cooking book to borrow, since it could refer to herbs in the recipes. He said it was a nice gesture, but to keep the cooking book here with us in case mother ever wants to learn a thing or two.
"Aside from those, we have a couple books about cultivators on journeys. I'm afraid we don't have any children's books or picture books for us, but I'm sure these would be fun to read."
He nodded in understanding. To me, it looked like Rich was somewhat glad that there weren't any children books, perhaps because he's too advanced a reader to carry on reading those. It really is astounding how fluent he is at reading. When he taught me, it would take me forever to figure out a word, having to slowly break apart each sound it makes, but he could just glance at something and immediately recite it. It's really inspiring.
After going through a couple book covers, we decided to read "Jack's Travel Guide: Fly on the Wall", as neither of us knew anything really about the world outside of the village. Thankfully, I know a bit more than Rich does, since my family moved here soon after I was born, but even then, it's all unknown to me.
"Travellers seeking sights must never forget the power of Wind Qi. Push yourself to new heights and look at the world from a new perspective with the power of Wind Qi. If ever in danger and need to escape, never forget the power of Wind Qi."
Rich begins to narrate, making his voice deeper and grandiose to fit the theme. It's so natural to him that I don't even know if he realises he's putting on a show for me. He turns the page and describes many different landscapes to me - tales of raging volcanoes, of domineering mountains and valleys, of oceans blue and glistening, playing the role of Jack the Wind Cultivator, narrowly avoiding danger to see all that the world offered. At times, I gasped - once I even stood up in shock! At other times, I could feel my eyes tearing up, hearing of goodbyes, of people never seeing each other again.
"When you grow up, will you still read with me?" I ask him, not wanting this to end.
"Only if you still listen."
"Alright then. You be a bard, and I'll be your guard!"
He smiled. Not the polite kind he used with adults, but a real one. Bright and crooked and just a little lopsided.
***
Soon, it was time for Rich and his parents to go home for the night. As much as I wanted to stay up all night hearing all about the world, and, more specifically, hearing Richard's storytelling, it was also time for me to sleep.
"See you tomorrow, Rich." I yawn, waving a goodbye. He waves back whilst our mothers hug each other goodbye, and then, the doors shut, and I am left alone with mother and father.
"Johanna and Gertherd are such lovely people. And that Richard boy, he really is clever isn't he? I'm sure he'll be successful in the future," says father. My parents then proceed to ask me about everything we read together in the library, but I'm too tired to respond in coherent sentences. My head feels too full from all that reading.
As I lay in bed in the darkness of my room, it took no time for me to drift off.
***
When I came to, I was already falling off that tree in the front yard, with the sound of wind speeding past my ears comforting me. Only, I look down and don't see anyone trying to catch me. Yet, even stranger than that... I should have hit the ground by now, but instead I can still hear wind circulating all around my body and whizzing past my ears.
I think back to the book Rich read out to me - the stories where Jack used Wind Qi to traverse the world around him. He couldn't fly just yet, but would propel himself off the ground, lightening himself as he travelled, allowing himself to jump to further heights and smoothly make his way from rooftop to rooftop in towns, seeing a point of view of the world he would have never been able to see as a mortal.
For some reason, I feel like I can do those same things. I might as well try, especially if this wind around me is some sort of Qi manifestation. I will myself to touch the ground, immediately switching from hovering head first to planting my face in the soil. Alright, note to self to flip myself so that doesn't happen ever again.
Next, I try to recreate that feeling - that sensation of wind all over my skin, feeling currents and the breeze circulate all around me. I try to jump like this, and I manage to jump a little further than I had ever managed to before. I try to run like this, and keep on tumbling and tripping, but eventually manage to run a little faster than I had ever managed to before. I even try to jump off the tree once again, and manage to slow down my descent through the air.
It felt so freeing - the author was onto something. But I don't want to explore the world outside - it sounded so dangerous in his writings. I want to explore the village. Once I start sprinting out of the garden and towards the main high street, the world around me suddenly warps.
*THUD*
Ouch! I bumped my head on something. I look up, and I'm in my living room, plunged headfirst into the hearth, lucky that the coals weren't burning.
Father barges into the living room, broom in hand functioning as a makeshift weapon, which he drops after seeing me in the fireplace.
"What are you doing here? You were meant to be asleep hours ago!"
"What am I doing here? I don't know how I got here"
He looks me up and down, then down and up before blinking twice and doing a double-take.
"Elisabeth! Get over here! I have some great news! Look at Theo! Look at him!"
Mother stumbles into the room, barely awake, scanning me just as father had done before. Suddenly, she jerks awake properly, grinning with all her teeth and embracing me in her arms.
"Theo, you started using Qi! Oh, you're just like your aunt aren't you. Okay, here's what we're going to do. We'll bring someone in tomorrow to test your spiritual roots, and, whilst we're at it, we might as well offer testing to that Richard boy as well. He's clever, so he must have something special too. Oh, and we could als-"
Mother spouted word after word, but I had completely zoned out. Qi. I had used Qi. And it had drained me so much that I soon fell asleep once more.
***
The next day, father prepared a hearty meal for me, telling me to regain as much energy as I can for the big day. He also said to keep it a surprise for Rich, that it'd be hilarious to see his reaction after getting our roots tested together.
At daycare, it was really difficult to keep it secret from Rich. Every time I looked at him, I wanted to tell him. I couldn't focus on our reading lessons that well, but I knew that it would all be worth it to see the shock on his face. He always looks like he knows everything - that he sees everything five steps ahead, but this time I know something he doesn't! Oh, it's just so fun!
As daycare drew to an end, it was time to meet the Detector. I didn't understand much of father's explanation about today, but I recall that the Detector is a special cultivator who can see our spiritual roots - the thing that determines how quickly we can gather Qi - and knows lots about all sorts of constitutions. My father and Rich's father stood outside the gate with anticipation in their eyes, whilst a lady I had never met before made conversation with them. She must be the Detector.
Rich looked at me with confusion in his eyes, but I told him to trust me as the five of us walked towards my home to begin the process. It feels so good to know something he doesn't. For once, I was the one with the mysterious plan. If Rich could read minds, he'd have been tearing his hair out trying to figure me out today.