Spirit's Awakening: The Path of Lightning and Water-Chapter 359: Stormward Return

The sun hung low over the Vanthar Estate, casting long shadows across the well-tended grounds. Lassim stood near the estate gates. His parents, Sanvra, Hallen, and Cirra were gathered in front of him, each taking turns to give hugs and wearing expressions with the weight of parting.

"It won’t be long," Lassim said, straightening the edge of his robe after he let go of his mother. "Once the device is completed, I’ll return with a gateway and set it up. It’ll be the first step to something bigger, and it gives me another excuse to return home for a short bit."

His father standing by the side nodded, his fiery eyes gazing upon his son with softness. "Just don’t let the politics drag you down once it’s that time. I’ll begin my preparations with the royals to prevent the start of their meddling, but make sure you have your plans in place with your Sect Master just in case. They’ll come sniffing around as soon as they sense an opportunity, but I’ll work with the King to avoid the worst of it, hopefully."

Egelina still held onto the edges of Lassim’s robes, not wanting to let her baby go as she said softly, "Still, six months will feel like a long time. We’ll miss you."

"I’ll miss you, too." Lassim glanced at her, then at the others. "But I’ll be back soon enough. Our home will always be my anchor, no matter where my journey as a Spirit Warrior takes me."

Sanvra clasped her hands together, her pale blue eyes reflecting the orange setting sun. "The blessings of Khaalseru will guide your path, My Star. Do not hesitate to call upon us if you need anything."

Cirra waved a hand lazily, her cloak trailing behind her in the faint breeze. "And remember, don’t leave Westwynn hanging! Gregor and I are counting on you to fix that supply chain problem."

Lassim smirked. "You just keep refining that potion—I’ll handle the rest."

With a final glance at the group, Lassim inclined his head. "Well, I’ll be off. I’ll see you all again soon."

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With a soft pulse of his fused mana, Lassim activated [Storm’s Dance], the air around his feet swirling faintly with miniature storms as the space array in the soles of his boots caused the space to fold around him.

With a single step, he disappeared from the estate grounds, leaving behind his family’s well-wishes.

Lassim’s pace was unrelenting as he began his journey south, crossing the Veridian Continent.

He’d not forgotten about his idea to meet up with the Headmaster at the Myriad Spirit Academy or Sirium at the Military Officer’s Academy in the Aurora Kingdom capital. However, the words of his father regarding the royal family stuck in his mind and made him rethink the visit.

If he was going to have to travel there anyways once the device was finished, why not just see his best friend at that time?

Also, the revolutionary aspects and news would spread quickly, probably requiring him to stay within the kingdom for a few days before he could return and make plans to set up gates elsewhere, like Westwynn in the Western Continent. He thought it’d be better to use his visit to his former academy as an excuse to get away from any unnecessary meetings as well.

[Storm’s Dance] carried Lassim over the landscape like a silent slipstream above the clouds, each step compressing the distance between him and his next destination. The familiar storms made of his fused mana around his feet swirled gently as he moved, the condensed energy propelling him forward with ridiculous speed, crossing larger and larger distances with each step as he became more proficient with the technique.

The Veridian Continent stretched out below him, a vast mosaic of dense forests, rolling hills, and winding rivers, all shrinking in scale beneath his relentless pace.

Despite his cultivation, the journey was relatively long considering the constant need to concentrate on the spatial fabric with each step. Lassim maintained a careful rhythm, periodically glancing ahead with [Spatial Vision] to chart the most efficient path forward.

He avoided settlements, weaving instead through wilderness and uninhabited regions to minimize any risk of interruptions.

By the time the sun finally dipped below the horizon, he had crossed nearly half the distance needed to the Southern Seas, reaching a broad expanse of unfamiliar plains dotted with the flickering lights of distant towns.

As he moved, he activated [Lifestream Aegis], covering and filling his body with the tendrils of his fused mana. The technique filled him with a fresh surge of vitality, washing away the faint fatigue from the morning’s duel and several hours of travel so far. It was more to get rid of the slight bit of sleepiness he was feeling, but it didn’t do anything to aid his tired mind.

Lassim’s thoughts wandered briefly to his parents and their supportive words and the long conversations they’d had over the last day. Their unwavering support for everything he was doing and achieved so far fueled his determination as he sped up on his journey, the night air cool against his skin.

By the time dawn broke the next morning, Lassim was already beginning his journey across the Southern Seas.

The early morning sunlight bathed the waters in golden hues, but he paid it little mind. [Storm’s Dance] carried him across the expanse of the ocean that stretched out before him, his storm-cloaked form an invisible blur that had zoomed past the coastline behind him.

With no onlookers in sight, Lassim activated [Spatial Vision] once more. The intricate web of spatial threads came into view, and he traced a path toward the distant Southern Continent.

Carefully tearing through the fabric of space, Lassim activated his [Teleportation] and stepped into the void. The transition was seamless with his destination, but he still hadn’t completely overcome the disorienting effect of the sudden shift in location before he emerged on the other side. He repeated this trick for the next several hours, continually taking breaks of just [Storm’s Dance] and [Lifestream Aegis] to not wear out too quickly.

Eventually, the arid landscape of the Southern Continent stretched before him, its heat and dry winds that shaped the tall and endless dunes were a stark contrast to the salty and water mana filled ocean air he’d just left behind.

Lassim wasted no time, his movements unerring as he crossed the desert sands. The heat was palpable, but his cultivation made it a distant concern.

He followed the natural contours of the land, [Storm’s Dance] flying high above the shifting dunes and rocky outcroppings. By the afternoon, the arid terrain gave way to rolling hills, their sparse vegetation a sign that he was nearing the more temperate regions of the southern side of the southern continent.

The journey through the hills and forested regions was straightforward and familiar. He encountered no other travelers, his chosen path deliberately avoiding the Lightning Sect’s trade routes and settlements that he knew.

By the late afternoon, he reached a dense forest that marked the edge of the Southern Continent’s coastal region and that he was nearing his destination. The horizon darkened with familiar storm clouds far into the distance and the faint shapes of the floating islands could be made out just by his vision alone.

Lassim felt a faint tug of anticipation as he approached the Tempest’s Cradle, its perpetual tempest visible even from a distance. The storm grew more pronounced with every step through the air, the swirling clouds forming a barrier around the floating island that was awe-inspiring.

By the time he reached the coast, the day had faded into twilight. Lassim paused briefly above a high bluff overlooking the ocean, the winds carrying the distant sound of thunder and the sky flashing with large bolts of angry lightning.

His gaze locked onto the faint silhouettes of Thunderbirds circling above the island and the line of them heading to and from his eventual destination, their powerful forms cutting through the storm with ease.

With a deep breath and the tiredness now wearing heavily on his strained mind from a full day’s non-stop use of [Teleportation] and [Storm’s Dance], he adjusted his stance and pushed forward, [Storm’s Dance] carrying him toward the heart of the tempest bypassing the line of travelers on Thunderbirds.

The storm clouds thickened, arcs of violet lightning streaking through the sky, as he casually melded with the storm. Carefully, but quickly, he flew through the wall of the natural lightning resource.

Ahead, the main floating island of the Tempest’s Cradle came into view. It was vast, its canopy of Storm Leaf Trees glowing faintly in blue and violet, their charged leaves glowing and offering light even through the storm-darkened air.

As he approached the Skybound Dock, the protective barrier surrounding the island village shimmered faintly, its intricate arrays repelling the fierce winds and lightning strikes, allowing Lassim to land smoothly on the reinforced platform.

His arrival was marked only by the faint swirl of the storms around his feet. Disciples moved purposefully around the dock, their robes a sea of violet and various colors of embellishments for their sect ranks, as they tended to their tasks or walked about.

A few glanced in his direction, their expressions shifting to recognition as they registered who he was, others offering brief greetings or nods.

"Senior Brother Lassim!" one called out respectfully before resuming their work.

Another disciple, a familiar face he’d seen in the Research Grove when he passed it to head to his meditation spot but whose name he couldn’t recall, stepped forward. "Welcome back, Senior Brother," he said, giving a slight bow. "Master Eno and Master Rylis are in the workshop. They’ve been waiting for your return, and asked a few of us to mention it if we saw your arrival during the lectures they’ve been offering for free at the Grove."

Lassim gave a small nod. "Oh, that’s great. I was about to go look for them. Thank you," he said simply.

He wasted no time stepping onto the stone road leading deeper into the village. Around him, the activity continued as normal, the disciples returning to their tasks with only a few murmured remarks exchanged about his arrival.

The Storm Leaf Trees lining the pathway swayed gently in the winds, their faint glow lighting the way toward the edge of Skybound Village where the workshop was.

Lassim exchanged nods and brief greetings from the disciples that called out to him as he made his way. Soon, the sound of tools and faint hums of mana arrays greeted him as he entered the workshop made of esoteric metals formed from Eno’s creation.

"Lassim!"

Rlyis’s voice rang out as she looked up from a table covered in glowing array schematics. It looked like she was working on the "Keystone" portion of the teleportation device’s gateway from the glance he gave the table. Her expression shifted from surprise to delight as she approached.

Eno emerged from one of the storage rooms when he heard Rlyis’ shout, his calm demeanor unchanged as he took in Lassim’s arrival. "You’re back. I take it that your trip was productive? Though… I’ve heard you made a fairly large impression on not only my friend, but the entire kingdom of Stellanora."

"It was," Lassim replied, stepping forward. "I’ve secured the Astrium Veinstone and several other materials. They were gifts from the companies I also helped, and some of them might have a use? I wasn’t sure what even a majority of them are so I’ll be relying on you Master Eno to see if they’re any good."

He then pulled on and untied the additional magic pouch on his belt before tossing it over to Eno who promptly caught it in one hand. Eno’s spirit sense quickly traveled to the insides of the bag to study what else arrived.

Rlyis grinned, clapping her hands together. "Finally! I’ve been dying to see if our array lines and Eno’s theories will hold up. We can finally get to building!"

Eno nodded, gesturing toward a cleared section of the workshop where the beginnings of the device were already taking shape. "We’ve made some progress while you were away. With the materials you’ve brought, I believe we have enough that we can begin assembly immediately."

Lassim’s gaze moved to the work in progress, his stormy eyes flickering with anticipation but also exhaustion. "Great and I’d love to, but… I’m a bit tired. The trip took a lot out of me, so let me get some rest for the night, and we’ll start fresh tomorrow."