“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

Theeokeup:

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Oh?”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

Timepassed.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Panting,Iasked,

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Halftheeffort...?

likeaflowingstream.

Quietly,Imuttered,

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“gratutions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”