Timepassed.

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Panting,Iasked,

likeaflowingstream.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

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

Theeokeup:

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Oh?”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

Halftheeffort...?

Quietly,Imuttered,