Kale briefed Elder Myrra about his circumstances, though he kept silent about his active seeking state. He carefully omitted details that might raise suspicion—like the Midnight Dust or the Moon Bloom flower—and focused instead on what he deemed safe to share.
Elder Myrra listened intently, nodding occasionally as Kale recounted his experiences. When he finished, she leaned back slightly, her expression thoughtful but not entirely surprised.
"Kale," she began, her tone casual yet tinged with approval, "you've already gleaned insights into the Shallows. That's remarkable for someone your age."
Kale nodded in agreement. He had only grasped basic skills so far—spearmanship, survival techniques like sensing wind direction and identifying edible plants, and rudimentary combat stances—but even he could sense how quickly he was progressing compared to others.
However, Elder Myrra seemed more impressed than he expected. Her eyebrows rose slightly, amusement flickering in her eyes.
"So," she said, a faint smile playing on her lips, "you're already a 'WaveBinder.'"
"A… WaveBinder?" Kale echoed, confusion written across his face.
"Yes," Elder Myrra replied, her tone shifting into something akin to a professor lecturing a student. She gestured for him to sit closer, clearly enjoying the opportunity to explain.
"You see, Kale, I've taught you about the Shallows before—the starting point for every seeker. It's the most basic layer of the Ocean of Knowledge, where all seekers build their foundation. Within the sect, we have names for seekers based on their level of insight into these layers. This information is typically introduced in the second dojo, so don't go repeating it outside this room, alright?"
She pressed a finger to her lips conspiratorially, emphasizing the secrecy of the matter. Kale nodded silently, intrigued despite himself.
"The first rank," she continued, "is called 'Droplet Seeker.' These are new seekers who've barely touched the Shallows and have only grasped fragments of basic knowledge."
Her words struck a chord within Kale. Fragments of knowledge? His mind raced, wondering how much more there was to uncover. What did those fragments truly mean? And why did his own connection to the Ocean feel so… different?
Elder Myrra didn't pause long enough for Kale to dwell on it.
"The next rank," she went on, "is 'WaveBinder.' These seekers are comfortable navigating the Shallows and use its insights to their advantage. Based on what you've told me today, Kale, you fall under this category."
She chuckled softly, shaking her head in disbelief. "Who would've thought the so-called Empty Vessel of our sect would progress this far? Truly unexpected."
Kale felt a swell of pride at her words, though he masked it well.
Finally, Elder Myrra concluded, "The last rank of the Shallows is called 'TideKeeper.' These seekers have built a stable foundation in the Shallows and are ready to dive deeper into the second layer of the Ocean of Knowledge."
She paused then, as if remembering something important. Leaning forward slightly, she added, "Oh, and one more thing I forgot to mention: the Ocean has three layers, each with three ranks. These titles are purely symbolic and hold no real weight in the outside world. Only sects like ours use them. Other factions, such as the Church, have their own systems for ranking seekers."
Kale sat there, utterly bewildered by the sheer scope of what she'd just revealed. The Ocean of Knowledge was far vaster than he'd imagined, and he'd only scratched the surface.
Elder Myrra noticed his stunned expression and laughed lightly. Patting him on the shoulder, she stood up and prepared to leave.
"Well, Kale," she said with a warm smile, "it seems you've got quite the journey ahead of you. Don't let the enormity of it overwhelm you. Take it step by step."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Kale alone with his thoughts.
As he sat there, staring at the empty space where Elder Myrra had been moments ago, a fire ignited within him—a burning desire to learn more, to explore further, to push beyond the limits of what anyone thought possible.
He realized then just how small he was in the grand scheme of things. But rather than feeling insignificant, he felt invigorated.
There was so much more to discover.
And Kale wasn't about to stop now.