Chapter 38 Birds

Felix had gotten Sunlight’s approval to stay with Forest Fire for at least a little bit of time. It was mostly just Forest Fire living by himself out in a Forest when Felix moved in. It was a simple log cabin structure, not even the common Formations that any decent building should have.

(“Is this really where you live?”) {Felix}

“I know… It is great.” {Forest Fire}

(“I mean, it feels… simple?”) {Felix}

“That is the point. You cannot just stay inside all day. How will you learn about the world?” {Forest Fire}

“…”

“Did I say something wrong?” {Forest Fire}

(“I spent most of my live in the family manor. I have barely gone outside.”) {Felix}

“Oh… Well, no more. You will experience life as it was meant to be! Let’s first see what you know then we can go from there. What are the steps of Cultivation?” {Forest Fire}

(“Gi-Gathering, Foundation Establishment, Mortal Core… Greater Core?”) {Felix}

“…”

“Has… Has no one taught you about Nascent Soul?” {Forest Fire}

“…”

“No…” {Felix}

“You at least know about your first Tribulation, right?” {Forest Fire}

(“I do not…”) {Felix}

“…”

“Well not to worry, you will have the best teacher in this forest!” {Forest Fire}

(“There are only two of us here.”) {Felix}

“…”

“I will get someone better!” {Forest Fire}

Forest Fire was right. He got Purelight to come to and stay in the forest. The reason it was Purelight was because Dawn also started staying in the forest as well. Quickly each one of them got a cabin, and Purelight made sure to have someone set up Formations.

After everything was done, the group had a conversation.

“Felix, what do we say?” {Forest Fire}

“Thank… you… Grand” {Felix}

“Felix, you do not need to thank me. You on the other hand!” {Purelight}

“Thank you, Purelight.” {Forest Fire}

“Still, I thought we had agreed to have Dawn stay with me while at the Sect. What changed?” {Purelight}

“I thought that Dawn and Felix would train better together. And besides she does not need to stay here all the time.” {Forest Fire}

“Fine. That was my plan any way.” {Purelight}

“Sweet, now for my first task, we will ” {Forest Fire}

“Fight.” {Felix}

“Fight… Fight?” {Forest Fire}

“Dawn… Spar?” {Felix}

“YES! I mean… Sure, whatever. If you want.” {Dawn}

“Now hold on. That is” {Purelight}

“That is a great idea!” {Forest Fire}

“ASH!” {Purelight}

“I am Forest Fire now. And this will be great for the two of them. I expect them to do this more often so this will be great start! They will have us to look after them.” {Forest Fire}

“Alright, but if anything goes wrong!” {Purelight}

“It won’t. Okay get into positions.” {Forest Fire}

Felix and Dawn stood away from and faced each other. Felix pulled out his sword while Dawn did not pull out a weapon. She clearly looked in distress, then she had an idea.

“Felix, pick a number.” {Dawn}

“Two…?” {Felix}

Dawn pulled out a finely decorated golden spear.

“Are you both ready?” {Forest Fire}

“Yep.” {Dawn}

“Yes.” {Felix}

“Then, begin!” {Forest Fire}

Dawn launched into the first attack. Felix was just able to react by blocking with his sword. Dawn’s Aura roared as the spear and sword meet. Felix was sent flying with his sword being shattered. He landed face up in the dirt. Before anyone could say anything, Forest Fire was already next to him and scanning for injuries.

“FELIX!” {Dawn}

“He is fine. Just a little shaken up.” {Forest Fire}

“That is good.” {Dawn}

Forest Fire looked down at the red face of Felix.

(“You do not need to be embarrassed about losing to Dawn. I cannot get to into it but she is special.”) {Forest Fire}

(“It is not that.”) {Felix}

(“Then what is it?”) {Forest Fire}

(“I do not know. I just… When I think about how she looked when she did that, my heart just starts beating rapidly.”) {Felix}

“…”

“This could be an opportunity.” {Forest Fire}

(“Get your head in the game. Do you think any girl would like a man who lies in the dirt?”) {Forest Fire}

Felix shot back up.

“Felix, are you okay?” {Dawn}

“Again.” {Felix}

“Really? Are you not hurt?” {Dawn}

“No.” {Felix}

“So cool.” {Dawn}

(“Dawn, I know that look! You need to be careful around boys. You never know what they are thinking!”) {Purelight}

(“But ”) {Dawn}

(“No ‘buts’. I do not like Grand Darkness, but I will still work to keep you safe.”) {Purelight}

“Felix. I am glad you are okay, but do you even have another weapon to use?” {Purelight}

“…”

“No.” {Felix}

“Then let’s call it for sparing today.” {Purelight}

Time passed, and soon a routine formed for everyone. Purelight would take Dawn and come and go as she pleased. In the morning, Felix would help Forest Fire with his forestry and farm areas that he set up. If Dawn was there that day, she would help as well. Then depending on the day, Felix and Dawn would spar while Forest Fire watched on. Other days Purelight would and give lectures on the World and how it worked. If Dawn was not there, then Felix would practice with a new sword given to him by Forest Fire. The day normally ended with Felix Cultivating, sleeping or reading books about the world.

One of the big things during this time was that Felix and Dawn learned more about each other. Felix learned about her Storm Qi, and now it was formed by mixing Lightning, Water, Wind, and Darkness Qi. He also learned about her fighting style and how she will switch between many weapons at will. He also learned that because she was basically locked inside all day, she got into reading books in her free time.

Dawn learned more about Felix and his past.

It was like this for a year before Forest Fire gave the two of them a mission instead of forestry in the morning.

“Okay, time for some really practice.” {Forest Fire}

“What will we be doing?” {Dawn}

“Well, I am glad you asked. I have found two Light Birds and released them into this Forest. They are both at Low Mortal Core. You need to bring them both back to me. They will be your dinner tonight.” {Forest Fire}

“You did not ‘find’ them. I raised them.” {Purelight}

“Same thing.” {Forest Fire}

“…”

“I am not going to fight you on this. Dawn, Felix, I understand this will be both your first real missions and first battle with monsters. You must be careful. We will be watching but your safety should always be your first priority.” {Purelight}

“Yes!” {Dawn}

“Yes.” {Felix}

“Good. It is already too late to study if you have not read up on them. Off you go.” {Forest Fire}

“Can we work together?” {Dawn}

“Up to you.” {Forest Fire}

“Felix?” {Dawn}

“Yes.” {Felix}

Dawn and Felix started walking into the woods. After training in the forest, they gained a good understanding of it. They started looking for the clues of the birds. After searching for a few hours, they found one, a small bird with white but red tipped feathers. 

(“Okay, it is one of the smaller ground variants.”) {Dawn}

(“What is the plan then?”) {Felix}

(“I will go around and when I tell you, we will rush it.”) {Dawn}

(“Okay.”) {Felix}

Dawn slowly made her way around the bird, making sure not to disturb it. Then she was ready.

(“NOW!”) {Dawn}

Dawn and Felix rushed to attack it. However, it was ready and the bird rushed at Felix, thinking that he was the weaker target. Felix was able to block the bird’s claws with his sword. The bird was able to grab and hold on to the sword. Dawn was close behind the bird with her own golden sword, but when she tried to attack, the bird pulled itself onto the top edge of Felix’s sword before using it as a platform to jump off of. The bird was able to jump away as Dawn’s attack was now heading towards Felix. Felix was able to dodge thanks to Dawn changing her attack at the last moment.

“Sorry!” {Dawn}

(“It is getting away!”) {Felix}

Felix and Dawn started running after it, but it had a fast and light body.

(“Dawn, can you catch up to it?”) {Felix}

“Yes!” {Dawn}

(“Try to get in front of it! Then try to get it to fight! If it tries to run, I will intercept it!”) {Felix}

“Got it!” {Dawn}

Dawn used her Aura to increase her leg strength and sped up. She was able to jump over the bird and pull out her spear. She was able to throw the spear at the bird. The bird stopped just before the spear hit it. Felix was able to attack the bird from behind. The bird tried to dodge but was grazed in a wing by Felix’s sword. It was able to run off but was bleeding badly. Felix and Dawn were able to chase it down and wear it down. They had it tried and cornered.

(“I will attack it but you kill it! I will kill the next one!”) {Felix}

“Are you sure?” {Dawn}

(“Yes!”) {Felix}

Felix rushed to attack the bird was able barely dodge but Dawn was ready and beheaded it. The two of them fell to the ground tired. After a moment, Felix spoke.

(“We need to drain its blood.”) {Felix}

“No. *Deep Breath* We need to store it in a storage ring first. The ring will keep it fresh and the other bird could *Deep Breath* smell it.” {Dawn}

(“Okay. Good plan.”) {Felix}

 Dawn stored the bird in her ring. After a few minutes, Felix got back up.

(“We need to look for the other one.”) {Felix}

“Okay.” {Dawn}

As they looked for the other bird, they talked.

(“I have been wanting to ask something.”) {Felix}

“What?” {Dawn}

(“I… um… How do you get your Storm Qi?”) {Felix}

“I thought I had already told you that it was a mix of other Elements of Qi. If you want an exact mix, then I cannot say because it changes.” {Dawn}

(“I mean why did you choose to Cultivate such a unique Qi? I do not think Storm Qi would be a Qi tested for.”) {Felix}

“I. Um. Let’s just say it was clear to Dad that I should Cultivate Storm Qi.” {Dawn}

(“Okay.”) {Felix}

“…”

“…”

“Anything else you want to talk about? Anything… Anything you like in a girl?” {Dawn}

“I…”

(“What about your many weapons? Why fight with all of them?”) {Felix}

“Oh, that is easy. A storm should be unpredictable. All my weapons allow for me to change at a moment’s notice.” {Dawn}

(“Now that you say it, I have noticed that you change weapons quickly in fights. Okay, here is a good one. Forest Fire says that Cultivation without a goal is meaningless. So, what is your goal with Cultivating?”) {Felix}

“Easy, become rich.” {Dawn}

“…”

(“That’s it? Just become rich?”) {Felix}

“Yep. Everything you want has a price. Rare books requires money.” {Dawn}

Dawn pulled out a fancy bow.

“Weapons, money. I think it is just something in my blood that wants me to have all the valuable things.” {Dawn}

“…”

“I. Um. Not that I want to keep everything to myself. I would still try to get the one of a kind books copied so that more people could read them. What about you? What do you want?” {Dawn}

“…”

“Um. You do not have to ” {Dawn}

(“I think I want a family.”) {Felix}

“WHAT!? Oh, you mean just in general.” {Dawn}

“…”

They were silent until they found the other Light Bird. This time they were able to kill it without incident and started walking back to the cabins.

“You…” {Dawn}

(“Yes?”) {Felix}

“You have not told me what happened with your family.” {Dawn}

“…”

(“I will tell you about them. The only ones that I still care about are my half-brother Mercury and grandfather Sunlight.”) {Felix}

As they walked back, they learned more about each other.

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Thank you for reading.