Dew dripped onto the ground, the morning air thick with mist. Two elders sat quietly, their voices low as they spoke. Both seemed lost in thought, their expressions heavy with unspoken concerns. Elder Myrra sipped her tea slowly, her gaze fixed on the horizon where a gentle breeze swept through the trees, ruffling her hair. Beside her, Elder Sylra mirrored her posture, though her bandaged arms betrayed the recent battle she had endured.
Elder Myrra listened carefully to her sister's report. The grave was now labeled forbidden, and its entrance had been sealed by Sylra herself. Yet one detail troubled her deeply. One of the newer members had been killed by an unknown force.
"An unknown force?" Elder Myrra asked, her frown deepening, matching the wrinkles etched into her face.
Sylra nodded. "It could be rival sects causing trouble, or perhaps an outsider seeker meddling around that place," she said, her tone cautious but firm.
"That place" was the Lake of Mist, long labeled a danger zone by the sect. Its waters were shrouded in mystery, and its reputation for danger had kept most seekers away. Still, Sylra shrugged off the uncertainty and proposed a mission. She and a few second dojo members would set out to investigate the lake further.
Myrra nodded in agreement but added something that made Sylra pause.
"Why not bring Kale with you?" Myrra suggested, her tone casual yet deliberate.
Sylra frowned at the suggestion. "Kale? Why him? He's still inexperienced."
"He may be inexperienced, but he's shown promise," Myrra countered. "This could be a chance for him to gain real-world experience. Besides, his adaptability might prove useful in unpredictable situations."
Sylra hesitated, considering the idea. While Kale wasn't a seasoned fighter or a master of any particular skill, his ability to think on his feet and adapt quickly had already been demonstrated. Taking him along could help him grow—and perhaps uncover something others might overlook.
"Fine," Sylra relented, though her tone remained skeptical. "But I'll keep an eye on him. If he becomes a liability, he stays behind."
•---•
As night fell, Kale closed his eyes and prepared to pull at the familiar sensation within him—the pull of the Ocean of Knowledge. Before diving in, he took a moment to focus on what he wanted to achieve. His anchor was perception, and he intended to build upon it systematically.
First, he planned to seek insights related to his sense of sight. He imagined being able to spot even the faintest movements in the dark, to notice subtle changes in his surroundings that others might miss. Details like the glint of sunlight on metal or the faint ripple of water could mean the difference between life and death in dangerous situations.
Next, he considered refining his hearing. If he could isolate specific sounds from a noisy environment—like the rustle of leaves caused by someone hiding or the distant echo of footsteps—he could anticipate threats before they arrived.
Finally, he thought about enhancing his awareness of scents and textures. The ability to detect unfamiliar odors or feel disturbances in the air might give him an edge in tracking or identifying hidden dangers.
With his plan clear in his mind, Kale reached for the Ocean. Motes of light began to swirl around him, and soon he found himself standing once again in the shallows. Golden threads stretched endlessly, glowing faintly in the pristine expanse.
He scanned the threads carefully, searching for those that resonated with his goals. Each thread held potential—a fragment of knowledge waiting to be claimed.
Kale focused intently, ready to dive deeper and begin the process of building his foundation.