Spirit's Awakening: The Path of Lightning and Water-Chapter 327: Searching for Answers

"Well," Lassim replied, wasting no time, pulling the notebook from his magic pouch. Opening it to the page with the storm elemental’s sketch, he handed it to Varen. "Have you seen or heard of anything like this in the East Grove? An elemental being… lots of black and red lightning and probably connected to the Tempest’s Cradle?."

Varen’s brow furrowed as he studied the drawing. He took his time, studying the sketched arcs of jagged lightning. Lassim waited, his arms crossed.

Finally, Varen closed the notebook and handed it back with a shake of his head. "No," he said simply. "I’ve meditated in the East Grove quite a few times over the last 5 years that I’ve been here. It’s intense there, sure, but I’ve never seen anything like this or any kind of signs of an elemental. It’s always just been the same, brutal tempest and higher density mana, compared to other areas."

Lassim frowned, slipping the notebook back into his pouch. "Nothing at all? Well, what about even some kind of rumors? If you’ve been here that long then surely something, yeah?"

"No… Unfortunately I can’t recall any rumors or even drunken disciple stories at the tavern," Varen said firmly. "But… I’ll be honest with you. The East Grove isn’t exactly a common spot for most disciples to linger or attempt to cultivate at. Even the strongest of Inner Disciples that come only stay just long enough to temper themselves as it’s far better than the Lightning Tempering Fields at Headquarters. Few disciples have reason to cultivate there regularly and the storm is far more dangerous there with its unpredictability. People don’t want to risk their lives unless they have to. The only reason I recommended it to you was I suspected you’d be able to survive well enough to be like other Inner Disciples and use it to temper yourself."

Lassim’s frustration and confusion at the situation grew slightly. No one had even heard of this elemental. "Well, I swear I saw it. Do you think that, if it’s that uncommon, doesn’t it make sense that something unique might live there?"

"Maybe." Varen crossed his arms once more as he thought on Lassim’s words. "But if something like that exists, it’s far removed from anything I’ve ever heard about this place. Even the elders rarely mention the East Grove except to issue warnings to new arrivals that might be curious about wanting a faster way to grow stronger. But trust me when I say this, most of the disciples are more concerned with the safety of the Natural Lightning Nexus and the potential the Research Grove offers for their techniques and array creations instead."

The words hung in the air, unsatisfying to Lassim’s ears. Lassim exhaled slowly, unwilling to let his frustration show.

"Thanks, Varen," he said after a moment. "I’ll keep looking into it, but please let me know if you hear anything. I’d appreciate it."

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

Varen nodded, but there was an edge of concern in his gaze. "If you’re serious about figuring this out, be careful. The storm’s no joke. And if there really is something out there, you might be stepping into more than you’re prepared for."

Lassim offered a noncommittal nod and turned to leave, his mind already calculating his next move.

The Skybound Village buzzed with its usual activity in the distance as Lassim made his way back through the winding paths of the Storm Leaf Trees towards it.

"[Zaphy, Mari,]" Lassim thought, sending his thoughts to them both. "Varen had nothing and the dock workers as well think I’m just sleep deprived. This is a bit odd. How can no one here know anything about this?"

Mari’s soothing tone answered first. "[If no one knows, then that just means it’s special. Perhaps it’s tied to you in some way, child.]"

"[Or maybe it’s something super old and secret!]" Zaphy added, her excited chirps buzzing through the bond. "[That’d make it even cooler! You could be the first person to ever meet it!]"

"Or the first person it kills," Lassim muttered softly under his breath, which just was perfectly timed against the backdrop of a particularly loud crash of thunder in the skies above.

Zaphy chirped indignantly. "[Like that’s going to happen! You’ve got me! And sister Mari! And you’re you! No storm can take all three of us down, brother!]"

Her energy and words brought a faint smile to Lassim’s lips, but he was still curious to learn more about what this elemental was. Even more so now that he understood it was a mystery to most residence training here.

Try as he might, he was met with further clueless disciples and even the non-sect store owners that’d lived and sold things here, for decades or longer, had never heard or seen the kind of elemental that Lassim described. Each shake of the head in reply to his question leading to a growing disappointment.

Later that evening, Lassim returned to his quarters, his notebook open on the desk. He sighed and leaned back in his chair, rubbing the tension from his temples. No one he’d spoken to had been able to offer answers.

If even seasoned disciples like Varen were at a loss, perhaps someone higher up—someone with far more experience—could provide clarity. His mind landed on one person who might help: his Grandmaster Volten.

Lassim retrieved his communication disc from his magic pouch. The metallic surface glinted faintly as he tapped it, the array lighting up with its pale blue glow. For a moment, he hesitated, fingers hovering over the disc. Then he began typing:

Lassim: Master Volten, I encountered something unusual during cultivation in the East Grove at the Tempest’s Cradle—a being made of storm and lightning. It was incredibly aggressive and pulled me into some sort of mental space in which we fought. Have you ever heard of anything like this?

The message pulsed faintly as it sent, the rune dimming briefly before settling into stillness.

Lassim leaned back, absently tracing the grain of the desk with his thumb. Minutes ticked by, each one stretching longer than the last, until the disc pulsed again. Lassim picked it up and read:

Sect Master: An Elemental? That’s unexpected. Elementals are quite rare as they’re an incredible resource that is usually captured and used as fuel for a Spirit Warrior’s elemental companion that has a matching element. I’d say a majority of elementals that exist now are quite newborn entities or thoroughly in hiding to not be caught. As far as I’m aware, nothing like that is recorded in the sect’s archives. I’d be surprised if you actually met an elemental. You’ve been pushing yourself hard, haven’t you? It’s possible the intensity of the East Grove is playing tricks on your senses.

Lassim frowned, rereading the message.

Lassim: It wasn’t a trick. I definitely fought against it.

The disc pulsed again almost immediately.

Sect Master: Well, I suppose you are quite favored by the gods. If there really is an elemental, do your best to make the most of this situation. But remember my disciple, don’t push yourself too hard if the Elder’s Summit is stressing you. It’s good that you’re cultivating hard, and I’m amazed by the work on the Spirit Mystic beast construct that you made with Rlyis and Eno. I’ve already gotten to look at it and those two are working out how to replicate that success, but don’t let everything push you too much. You’re still young and have many thousands of years of life left. Just do your best and remember that rest is as important as effort.

Lassim sighed, setting the disc down on the desk. His master wasn’t brushing him off, but there was also a tone of disbelief, and no recognition of the elemental’s existence either. Not from the disciples. Not from the Sect Master. No one knew what he was talking about.

"It’s like it doesn’t even exist. This is crazy, right?" Lassim muttered.

Mari’s voice spoke softly in his mind, "[Maybe it doesn’t exist for anyone but you. If no one else can see it, maybe it’s something tied to us alone.]"

"[Or it’s keeping itself hidden like he said some elementals are doing!]" Zaphy chirped. "[If I was an ancient storm being, I wouldn’t let just anyone find me either. But you? Oh, you’re special, brother! That’s probably why it’s showing up for you!]"

"Special, huh?" Lassim paused but the words didn’t really sink in. He was a bit special but was just following what life threw at him. He just wanted to be stronger to defend himself against the Abyss’ future assassination attempts and his family at this point. Nothing else really mattered.

He leaned forward, closing the notebook and transferring it back into his magic pouch. "Fine," he said aloud, "If no one else knows, I’ll figure it out myself. Whatever it is, it’s not going to stay a mystery forever. We’ll see if he shows up again if I cultivate in the East Grove and there’s only one way to find that out."

The storm outside his window rumbled faintly, its noise low but insistent, as though echoing his determination. He took a quick bath before laying down and resting for the night.

~~~

The next morning, Lassim returned to the East Grove. The storm greeted him with its usual ferocity, the rain slicing through his spiritual pressure and soaking his robes almost immediately. The exposed skin on his hands, neck and face were beginning to be cut with each slicing drop in this unprotected area. Lightning arced across the sky in rapid bursts, illuminating the grove with flashes of violet and blue.

He pressed forward as the storm’s denser mana in this area wrapped around him like many layers of blankets. The additional mana density felt quite good, despite the discomfort and pain the storm was inflicting.

Finding the same, slightly protected spot beneath the twisted roots of a massive storm leaf tree, Lassim sat cross-legged and placed his halberd across his lap once more. The storm pressed against him with its assault, but he welcomed it.

Closing his eyes, he began the [Stormbringer] cultivation technique. The mana in the air surged into him. The storm’s energy flowed in through his halberd and projector marks to be converted in relentless waves, and with each rotation of the technique, his fused mana grew denser, more refined.

The pain was increasing as if the influx of mana made him more sensitive to the attacks of the tempest. The rain cut against his skin like shards of glass, the wind buffeting him with enough force to bruise. But Lassim grit his teeth and endured. He wanted to activate [Lifestream Aegis], to shield himself from the storm’s relentless assault, but something deep within him warned against it. Like his instincts almost screaming at him every time this idea crossed his mind.

"No shortcuts, I guess," he muttered, his voice lost to the howling wind and rain and thunder.

The hours stretched on, each moment a battle against the storm’s fury. Lassim’s body ached, his skin raw and bloody from the relentless rain, but his focus on his cultivation continued, unwavering.

His lightning sprite fish eventually left his body—as the density of the incoming mana created almost a natural aura around his body—using it swam around him with their forms flickering in and out of the storm as if playing in its chaos.

By the time he finally opened his eyes, the storm had not relented, but his body felt… different. Stronger. Tempered. He exhaled slowly, his breath visible in the cold, pouring-rain air.

Standing, Lassim looked out across the East Grove. The elemental hadn’t appeared at all. He couldn’t even feel its presence and his mind wasn’t taken to a separate mental space.

"Alright," he said quietly, his grip tightening on his halberd. "If you’re that shy, I’ll wait until you want to have another bout."