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,