Shortly before the sun rose the following day, Micro watched happily as Kira began to stir from her deep sleep. Kolt, his eyes still tightly closed, remained curled up by the fire with a content look on his face while his sister sat up and stretched.

  “Are you feeling alright?” Micro asked.

  “I think so,” she replied through a yawn. “What in the world happened yesterday. That pretty lady started floating, and the statues…”

  “I think that lady was actually what they call a prophet, because she was talking with Nora. That’s the goddess who brought me here,” Micro explained.

  “I remember you talking about Nora…” Kira said as she slowly stretched her stiff neck. “But why did I fall asleep like that…?”

  “I’m not sure how it works, but when those magic symbols are written all over the place, the magicians can ask Nora to send them some chaos energy and a soul,” Micro explained. “I wonder why symbols are useful for that sort of thing though…”

  “What does the chaos energy do?” Kira asked. “Is that the stuff that felt weird and heavy?”

  “It really does feel weird,” Micro replied. “Nora uses that energy to make a strong vessel for the soul she summons, though this time all the energy went into the body of that prophet lady. She made a really strong core out of all of the energy really fast…”

  “I also wished to confirm the events of yesterday once you had rested…” Lena spoke up from across the campfire. “I was only able to stay conscious for around half of your encounter with that terrifying creature.”

  “I see,” Micro replied. “Well, Nora said something about a demon being more useful than a hero, and then she sent a bright red soul into that lady.”

  “So that really was the voice of a goddess…” Lena gasped.

  “It sounded the same as last time I met her, so I’m pretty sure it was,” Micro confirmed. “I’m not sure what the soul belonged to before, to be honest, but she seemed reasonable…”

  “Reasonable…?” Lena asked suspiciously. “Summoned heroes are known to rampage until they are slain. Few are sound enough of mind to be worth interrogating, never mind reasoned with!”

  “This one seemed thankful to have been summoned. Something about having a physical body for the first time in a long time…” Micro explained, trying to recall the words she’d said. “She was going to eat Blue, but she didn’t after I asked her not to. She said she would fight some strong cultivators, and she mentioned killing gods…”

  “Did the summoned being specify her purpose or enemy?” Lena asked. “Did she mention the empire?”

  “No, she only mentioned fighting some strong cultivators,” Micro replied. “She was surprised how weak we were.”

  “Then I suppose there is little I could do, as an Imperial Guard with a core so weak as to not even catch the attention of a summoned hero…” Lena sighed with a bitter expression.

  “She did give me some advice about killing gods properly,” Micro added. “Oh, and she mentioned destroying this world.”

  “I wouldn’t underestimate this world, Micro,” Lena replied with a deep frown. “Though the presence of a Silver Core was unmistakable… I feel like a fish swimming beneath a whale…”

  “What will the pretty lady do?” Kira asked.

  “She’ll likely encounter forces of the empire in the near future, given the powerful aura she emits,” Lena said solemnly. “I can still sense traces of her here and there, like an omen carried by the wind.”

  “So…” Kira said slowly. “It’s not our problem?”

  “Pretty much,” Micro replied with a smile. He brought his hand to his chest, focusing on the dull pain of the tightening ring of energy. “We’re on our way to another sect now, and they’ll help us find Lo.”

  “I’ll try not to fall asleep again,” Kira declared with a bright smile. “I actually feel a little stronger now. I felt tired before, but now I feel like I have more energy than ever!”

  “We’ll have to get you a core soon so you can make use of it,” Blue added as she awoke. Her energy seemed much more stable after a full night of meditation, though Trill had simply fallen asleep at some point. Kira’s smile brightened for a moment, but she was startled when Kolt awoke next to her with a yelp. After regaining his senses, Kolt’s face turned red.

  “Alright, let’s go,” Micro announced as he rose to his feet. “You two must be hungry, so we should get moving now. Hopefully the next restaurant we find doesn’t serve poison.”

  “I wanted to try one of those buns…” Kolt mumbled as he dragged himself to his feet.

  ~

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  The party began walking as the sun rose, but a cool wind blew across the plains to the woods with the smell of winter. Kira walked happily behind Micro, apparently warmed by the energy which filled her body, but Kolt was still struggling even after Trill had recovered enough to supply him with energy.

  Micro continued to enjoy seeing the world in more detail than ever despite his impaired vision, spotting birds high up in the sky and small animals hidden in the grass. Blue spent her time on his shoulder quietly looking up at the sky, and the morning passed in peace. Micro’s mood was unaffected even by the many uneven patches of ground on which he frequently stumbled. Around noon, hills began to appear on the horizon, and Lena confirmed that they were headed in the right direction.

  “I’d forgotten such a mountain range existed in this region,” she said casually. “I may have crossed through here in my youth on a pilgrimage to a wandering dungeon.”

  “Do you know any good places to eat in the neighbourhood?” Micro asked, looking back at the boy whose face was still filled with fatigue.

  “It was long ago…” Lena replied with a look of nostalgia in her eyes. “I travelled with a disciple who kept stores of dried meat with him using his Storage Skill.”

  “That’s a good idea!” Micro shouted, though frustration rose up as he replied. “Why didn’t I think of that before?!”

  “It is uncommon for cultivators of your level or higher to indulge in the consumption of material sustenance,” Lena explained. “You should be able to sate your hunger by circulating the energy you now store.”

  “I guess we’ll just try and get to the sect as fast as we can then,” Micro said, looking over to Kolt and waving his hand. He knelt down slightly and gestured for the boy to jump on his back. “Climb on. We should move a little quicker.”

  “What?!” Kolt looked confused at first, but when Micro repeated the gesture, he hung his head in shame. Kolt mumbled something in protest at first, but Kira tapped him on his back, and he eventually made his way over to Micro. “Fine… Just this once…”

  “You’ll be stronger one day,” Micro reassured him as he wrapped his arms under Kolt’s legs to brace him. “We all need a lift sometimes. Even tow trucks need a tow on occasion!”

  “I’ll follow your pace,” Lena declared.

  “I’ll try to keep up…” Kira added timidly.

  “Ready, Blue?” Micro asked the pixie who’d appeared on his shoulder.

  “I’ll keep you headed the right direction,” she replied, pointing ahead of them. “Go that way.”

  ~

  Micro was surprised to find running slightly easier than walking on the uneven terrain. He hadn’t tested his top speed since achieving an amber core, and he could tell he was able to run much faster than before. Mindful of this, he did his best not to run faster than Kira could keep up with, but he was further surprised by the ease with which she matched his pace. Before he knew it, another day of travelling had almost passed him by, and the sun was once again low.

  “The wind feels amazing!” Kira shouted as they gained speed. Her brother remained silent, though he also seemed to be enjoying the journey.

  “By the way, Lena…” Micro called back to the elder cultivator who followed silently behind him and Kira.

  “What is it?”

  “Have you found any answers yet?” He asked, unsure how to phrase his inquiry. “About your sect problems…?”

  “That…” Lena looked forward at him dismissively at first, but she sighed after a moment and nodded. “Not long ago, I would have been ashamed to admit it. But the sect which I just saw disgraced at the hands of a single enemy… That sect has been a monument of hatred in my heart for as long as I can remember, and yet…”

  “It didn’t seem very monumental, if I understand that word correctly,” Micro interjected.

  “Indeed.” Lena nodded. “I feel small for having indulged in such a petty grudge for so long.”

  “But what about your sect?” Micro asked.

  “I don’t think I can answer that yet…” Lena said, bowing her head apologetically while maintaining her speed. “I shall continue to observe your journey, as is the will of Master Feng.”

  “You’ve been a big help to me so far, so I appreciate that.” Micro smiled, then returned his attention to the world ahead of him, where more and more hills were appearing over the horizon.

  “And you’ve been a source of…” Lena replied with a softer expression. “New perspective…”

  “Good visibility is important,” Micro replied as he noted that an eerie darkness had suddenly fallen. The sunset was obscured by thick clouds that cast the world quickly into a moonless night. A feeling of frustration began to arise in him as he lamented his inability to see the way ahead, but a realization washed over him like a refreshing wind.

  CLICK

  A sound like a small switch being flipped rang out. Lena gasped and Kira lost her footing as a sudden flash of light blinded them both, but Micro let out a tearful laugh.

  “Headlights!” Micro shouted.

  “What in the…” Lena mumbled as she rubbed her eyes.

  “Wha—What’s happening?” Kira stuttered, unable to open her eyes at all. “Is it day time already?”

  “Sorry…” Micro said as he averted his gaze from the two. The beams of light pouring out of his eyes illuminated the path ahead beyond the abilities of any vehicle’s headlights he had witnessed. With a moment’s concentration, he managed to dim the light to a level more appropriate for a small truck, and sighed happily. “Spirit Vision is really a great Skill…”

  “So that’s a cultivation technique?” Kira asked, finally able to open her eyes. “Is it meant to blind your enemies?”

  “It’s a sacred and noble skill, prized by many,” Lena replied as Micro looked around happily. “It is rare to see it used in such a frivolous way, though creativity is a virtue…”

  “There’s nothing frivolous about safety,” Micro remarked with a stern voice, emulating the tone Lena often used when instructing him. “Not using headlights at night isn’t just foolish. It’s illegal.”

  “Illegal…?” Kira whispered with wide eyes.

  “Don’t worry, you’ll have your own headlights soon,” Micro said, patting Kira’s head gently. “You’re still just a passenger, so I’ll take care of lighting the way.”

  “Hmm?” Kolt suddenly stirred from his deep sleep on Micro’s back, but closed his eyes again shortly after.

  “You almost sound like a sect leader, but something…” Lena whispered with a frown, then she shrugged and relaxed her posture. “Oh well, it is your sect to lead in the way you choose. Let us continue on. We’re almost there.”

  “I’m the one giving directions here!” Blue shouted back. “She’s right though. I wonder if they have meat…”

  “I hope so,” Micro added. “Let’s go!”