Staring far off into a sea of trees and cold snowfall, Edward reads the jade slip given by Master Hao. The slip speaks of multiple arrays that artificially separate the forest into 4 zones. The first zone housing rank 1 and 2 spirit beasts, the second layer holds ranks 3-4, and the third zone rank 5-6. The fourth zone is split into four equal parts, holding a dominate rank 7 beast, that feed on spirit beasts the array funnels into their territory automatically.
"Humans always restrain nature, then watch and call it natural" Edward wondering why the jade slip didn't mention the area at the heart of fourth zone
[There is something far out there, between the rank 7 beasts]
"Young Lord" Master Haos hand boy bowing to Edward carrying news
Edward remaining quiet, the servant continues "Three warriors from the estate have arrived. I tried to show them to their room, but they insisted on meeting you."
"Bring the one named Liam before me. Tell the others I said to rest."
A few minutes later Liam opens the sliding doors and steps onto the terrace "Master"
"Liam, come over here and look" pointing at the third zone of the forest "That section of the forest contains rank 6 spirit beasts. Could you survive there?" Knowing his subordinate could not walk out from the zone Edward was testing him
"Master, I am not confident. Rank 6 is too much, I am sorry."
[Knowing your limits is virtuous, good boy]
"Liam when I was young and came face to face with superior beasts, my instincts would scream to flee. However, I never did, no matter circumstance I confronted my inadequacy and weakness. You will spend this month on the edge of zones two and three."
Liam whose throat became dry clinched his fist with determination "I understand"
"No, you don't. Your goal is not surviving the forest, but taking from it opportunity remember?"
Knowing his master wants him to fight beats above his level for practice and advancement Liam kneels "Master, I will not let you down!"
"Take this and go rest, your tribulation starts in the morning." Handing Liam the Chi method for Roaring Dragon Fang
[The kids should survive and advance in the places I station them, but I should make preparations in case]
Edward separates his soul into tiny pieces and searches Beast Pavilion for Master Haos loot. Finding the hiding place of hard gold and cold steel Edward makes his preparations then heads to bed.
-
The Sun a few hours from its pinnacle in the sky, the five gather in a dining room for breakfast. "Brother, why did you make your knights eat over there and not with us?"
"Well Rhea, I didnt make them. They respect me and gave us this time alone together. Also, they are not my knights." Edward with dark circles under his eyes wasn't hungry and just sips his water waiting for the others to finish
"If you don't want them, then can I have them? They all are much better than my guards, I will put them to good use, promise."
"You putting people to good use? I dont envy who ever pisses you off! HAHA"
Rheas body stuttered at Edwards joke, bringing back her feelings of shame "Brother, I am sorry. But please, that girl is beautiful I think we would get along."
"Rhea. I like you, I will enable you to grow and prosper under my charge. However, do not ever try and take more than what I give you."
Edwards gaze and tone cause Rhea to break eye contact, looking down at her plate and choking on her food. Reaching for her cup that is empty, Edward lifts the pitcher and pours her some water.
"Wow. It looks really awkward over there." Wei Li spitting food from her mouth exclaims
"Cadet Whitton. Mind where you look and who you speak of in my presence." Liam dropping his chopsticks and glaring with not lethal but bad intentions
[Good job Liam] thinking to himself before continuing with Rhea "If you want people capable to come under you, I could arrange it in the future. I plan to bolster the strength of my clan top to bottom, but that does not mean I can just assign you warriors. You must prove yourself a leader before that can be entertained."
"Brother I want to prove myself. You said you would give the place to, so when will it be?" Rhea sits her chopsticks aside and ask with resolve
"At first I thought I would have you train and then be let loose at the Banquet of Three, but arent we planning for war? Come with us into the forest, survive a month inside."
"Aha. Thats it? A month playing with beasts, and youll give me warriors? No take backs brother!"
"No Rhea you misunderstand. Survive a month slaying beast, that would be the minimum qualification. After we leave the forest train with my warriors and earn their praise. Then-"
"Brother just get out with it!" Rhea with impatience not fond of speeches
"What I was about to say, if you want warriors you can lead an attached unit to my vanguard in the war. You will be responsible for carrying out my orders and after the war you can keep the survivors. Only if you perform to my satisfaction leading up to the war."
"Deal!"
Now done with breakfast and ready for their trials, the siblings head towards a burial ground, and the warriors head for the forest. Albert Memorial Garden, a cemetery housed on the east face of Soaring Lion peak. All Albert family bloodline lay rest in the garden, branch and main. The higher you are laid at rest of the mountain, the more distinguishable of a life you led. A minimum base line to be buried as to not shame a family member, yet all Alberts desire an eternal bed at the very top.
"Brother, lets go the peak. Lets see where our descendants will bury me!"
"Rhea its almost noon, its time to head into the forest."
"But I want to pick my plot while I am here brother!"
"Why are you planning for your death? Stop being foolish and lets go."
Edward growing tired of Rheas energy grabs her from behind, right arm under her legs and left arm supporting her back, using his divine art to step for the entrance of the first zone. Sending Chi high into the air to let his location be known to his subordinates.
After a couple minutes the three are seen barreling towards the siblings, almost like they are in race to reach their master first.
"Whew. Liam your cultivation made that bet unfair." Wei Li unhappy that she lost a spirit stone
"Men gather around. Each of you take one of these rings. They are not storage rings, but treasures that will save your life if need be."
Handing out four hollow rings that contain his soul to the party, Edward eases his concerning mind for their safety. While before he would have thrown them into the spirit beasts jaws and watched them live or die, he realized last night that he had cared for these people. He wanted them to walk with him. So he stole from Master Hao and put the cauldron from Lord Gregor to good use.
"Also take these weapons. Wei Li you dont like weapons so I made these gloves that have arrays inscribed on them. The left glove can teleport to the right glove. Jamir and Liam these swords also have arrays on them. Your arrays are kind of unique, nourish them with your Chi and it will be stored in the array, you can cause serious explosive damage to a target with them."
The trio are all awed by the goodwill Edward is showing and dont know how to react. Jamir thinking about his life to this point, Wei Li scheming combos she could use with the treasure, and Liam feeling undeserving. The three come from different privilege and sorrows, but look at each other with no words said between them their hearts are perfectly aligned to each other "Thank you, for your grace Master!" they all let out with a bow simultaneously.
"Brottttther!" Rhea hands together like a prayer nearly drooling for her turn
"Rhea, I am sorry. These treasures I prepared for my warriors before our conversation. I will make you something much better, after we return." Edward was lying of course he made her a treasure, but didn't want to give it to her yet. He had refined Rheas sword with his soul unlike the others. The treasures mere aura would ward off spirit beasts making her training useless.
"Brother dont lie to me. You made these? I admit, you are probably the biggest monster alive now that you broke your curse, but you cant claim to be an array master! Array masters are cultivators of the highest order." Rhea whirling in disappointment
"I will truly have you treasure when this is done my dear sister. But what do you mean curse?"
"Hmph. Ask your knights that aren't knights!" Turning away from the group and kicking up dust
[This kid] "Liam explain this child's words"
"Master... your prior spirit veins. That condition is known as a curse, as nobody lives long with them. It is said people with this condition are born a genius and shackled as restraints. It is also believed if anyone breaks this curse, with their monstrous talent they will become someone very powerful very quickly." bowing Liam feeling worried Edward will think he came under him for this reason
"HAHAHA" [These people, superstitious and ignorant. While it is true having crippled spirit veins accompanies a talented person, breaking them doesn't give them such providence. It only makes them normal]
"I see, people truly believe nonsense here. Anyways you three wait here. I will take Rhea into the forest and find a place for her to control."
"Yes Master!"
Walking into the forest Edward is scanning the geography, looking for a place with drinking water and not an overabundant number of beasts. Coming to a cliff with a flowing river that is clean, he notices the water falling off the cliff falls into an embankment that pools the water.
"Rhea you will train here. That pool of water there is drinkable and deep enough for bathing."
"Yeah, yeah. I got this"
"I know you do. Just keep that ring on at all times"
Stepping back out into the forest entrance Edward faces his subordinates "Wei Li and Jamir, while you are both prodigies, rank 4 spirit beasts might too much for you. Where you will be training holds them, its a hazard unavoidable since rank 3 beasts are what is appropriate for you. That being said you will train close by to each other and help one another. Rank 4s are doable together."
"I understand" they respond
"I can control the arrays here, so we can travel unimpeded into the forest. Stay behind me and lets depart."
TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP
The four race into the forest of secrets