The Heavens Shall Fall

It was only a week since their successful mission when Siu was getting beaten up again. Of course, according to Quillian, that meant it was for reaching a new level in his training.

“Right!” Arya's shout echoed in his head, and he obeyed without second-guessing it.

Right then, a silver-colored ripple cut through the air and struck the stone wall behind him, rebounding and dispersing in the air, making Siu's body resonate. Already, he was using the same type of resonance, letting it vibrate through his bones and flesh, canceling it out, resisting Seloryn's notes.

"Right again!"

“Stop yelling in your head!” Siu grunted under his breath as he avoided her illusory figures that came at him, finally countering the real Arya by grabbing her wrist and throwing her away before Seloryn could strike him.

"I am not yelling!" Arya argued, but of course she was; every time she made a move, it became much easier to deal with her.

Naturally, they were sparring, a simple but tiring setup where Siu was facing both Arya and Seloryn. It wasn't exactly a battle to help him hone his reflexes; instead, it was for furthering his ability to switch between affinities. On that front, even Siu realized that he had made a proper breakthrough, as his shifts were smooth and pretty much instantaneous.

When it came to the two, Siu felt like he had ample familiarity with their presence, and by just thinking about their abilities, he made his own rearrange itself, copying it at will. Once again, when Arya's body flashed, summoning copies of herself, Siu just whistled, using the sound to identify and rush down the real one. Seeing him come for her, Arya abandoned her copies at once, dropping down and sliding beneath his first punch. Her tail whipped around his ankle as she went by his legs, but Siu shifted his weight before she could pull him over, resisting her attempt.

Before he could reach down to catch her, he saw a light of silver coming at him out of the corner of his eye. It was Seloryn's flute, whistling through the air, ready to whack him on the head. Raising a hand, he blocked it and winced, not because the hit was powerful, but because the sound it made was making his teeth tingle and rattle his balance.

Siu grunted and used the hoarse sound of his voice to cancel out the resonance, throwing Seloryn back, who had a smiling expression throughout their sparring session.

“Way better,” Seloryn called out, this time without using her voice as an attack.

“Thanks!” Siu answered, but his was indeed an attack, making Seloryn laugh, diverting his yell that could have confused her if it landed.

Using his distraction, Arya reappeared behind him, already in midair, bringing down her fists to the back of his head. With an instant switch, golden light erupted from Siu's body, blinding her. She missed when he stepped sideways, and only yelped out when she felt passing through a warm filament that kept her eyes closed, being way too bright.

“Huh?!”

That was when Siu struck her body from the side, hard enough for Arya to spin through the air and crash-land onto the ground, rolling a few more times.

“MASTER!” She groaned in a whining voice. “I'm dead!” she added, and with a big, theatrical flop, she just lay there, no longer moving.

"Haaah..." Siu sighed as even Seloryn stopped moving, knowing that this was Arya's sign that she was done, tired, and wanted a break.

"Okay, let's end this for now," Quillian's voice cut in before Siu could say something, coming from beneath the shade at the edge of the private training field.

"Already?" Siu turned his head in surprise, because it was rare for him to just agree with Arya like this.

“Victory!” Arya sat up at once, stretching.

“You were dead.” Siu looked at her with a deadpan expression. "That's what you call the opposite of victory."

"We can call it a draw," Seloryn offered, wiping her forehead, "Although, this may be Siu's win, because he stayed standing and could block off the two of us." She added, measuring him, "Maybe you could try and get onto the Paragon list, hm?"

"Don't try to goad me into it, I'm not Ruben to fall for your plays, Senior." Siu countered, knowing full well that in an actual battle, he may have a much harder time going up against Seloryn.

What Siu didn't know was that Seloryn was unsure of the outcome in that hypothetical fight. The way he copied her affinity, and then used it in his own way, was almost like a perfect counter. She wasn't holding back when using her abilities and spells, yet Siu now managed to cancel them out... It was pretty annoying. Not to mention, she couldn't make her own body resonate as Siu could, which was probably the most infuriating part, because Seloryn felt like Siu had a better command over it than she did.

But she never said that part out loud.

“You are close to exhausting yourself,” Quillian said again, “And that is why we stop. I am not going to waste a meditation room on you again.”

"Sorry..." Siu muttered quietly, because three days ago, he spent so much of his energy that when it was time for meditation for the night, he managed to fall asleep before properly beginning it.

"I say," Seloryn walked over while wiping the mouthpiece of her flute, "That for the next time, you should go against the others. You can effortlessly mimic us two, so you need new targets."

“I was thinking of the same.” Siu agreed, looking towards Quillian, who was taking notes with frantic hand movements.

"Not exactly," Quillian spoke up with a bit of a delay, raising his quill and tapping it against his lips, looking up at Siu.

“Senior?” Both Seloryn and he asked, watching the old man squint.

“Your problem is no longer copying. Even if we set you up against them, for now, that would result in wasted time. You got down the feeling to switch and copy well enough, so in a real fight, you won't stay stuck. Naturally, later on, we will have to put people in front of you so familiarize yourself with different affinities and their feelings, but that is no longer a priority.”

"Then what is?" Siu's expression changed, feeling curious.

"Spells." He said bluntly, "You are already using their abilities in your own way, which is why we need to explore that and set you on creating your own versions. You can copy others' elements, but if you don't have the ways to utilize them, it means nothing. That's why we will stay with Seloryn and Arya for the foreseeable future. You got them down good, so you can start creating proper spells with their affinities. When you finally make something new, then we will move on to further variants. My boy," He stood up, closing his book, "you will have to start to read properly."

"I... do?" Siu looked between him and the others, raising a brow, "I have been going through your shop, at least a book a day."

“That's light breakfast reading!” Quillian snorted, waving a hand pretty aggressively, "After your meditation session for today, by the time you come back, I'll have five to six volumes ready, all concerning the basics of spell creation. It will cover essence gathering, release, manipulation, and thought-control."

“And how much time I have to read... those?” He asked, feeling he wouldn't like the answer.

"The day?" Quillian looked at him like he had asked the stupidest question possible. "What did you think?"

"That it will be only the afternoon," Siu answered flatly, making the old man nod.

"Eventually, yes, but you are still an amateur."

"Tough to be you," Seloryn chuckled, patting his shoulder, "But at least you got guidance; many don't and need years to stumble around."

"Don't make him feel special," Quillian continued walking toward the edge of the field, “Anyway, Siu, we are going to rotate. For now, we will dial back your sparring sessions. Instead, you will have reading days and meditation days, mixed in with training when I will oversee your spell creation.”

“Isn't it enough that I can, like, resonate my punches and kicks?”

“If you want to be an amateur your whole life, yes, it is enough.” He snapped at him, "Or, you can learn how to use that to amplify your Snake Form's velocity. Or boost your Ox Form's sturdiness.

“...”

“The important part,” Quillian continued, still looking at him seriously, “is that you stop thinking of your ability as borrowing someone's powers. You need to make it really your own. We will build on what you have and integrate it into your forms. Then you won't be stumped if you get a new type of affinity in a battle.”

"I'll come around and help when it's time to test the theories," Seloryn added, stretching her back. "Senior is right," she said, smiling as she noticed the way Quillian was wording things. "You need to make them your own."

"Yes..." Siu muttered, also catching on to the same thing.

Although everyone, including himself, called his affinity copying, it was only true for the type of affinity he came in contact with. As for what he did with it afterward, it was wholly up to him. And that part... that was no longer just copying.

“So.” Seloryn continued when Siu glanced at her.

“So?”

“Did you hear anything?”

“About?”

"..." She gave him an impatient look at that.

“Oh. Orzimar... No.” He shrugged, rubbing his wrists. "Absolutely nothing. Did any of you go to check on the parcel?"

"Actually, I did," Seloryn muttered, puckering up her lips. "Something definitely is going on, because I couldn't find the spot. The place has vanished from view and can't be plotted; the road simply makes you walk around it. Definitely the old bastard is doing things there."

"Then let's not disturb him or call him that!" Siu shrugged, shaking his head. "The last thing we need is for him to hear it, and make the next mission into stealing the Sect Master's favorite sandal or something."

After leaving the private training room and walking back towards the Public Road, several disciples passed them in both directions. It was a good life, as far as Siu was concerned. Every day, he had something to do, his mind constantly occupied, and every day he felt himself getting stronger. For now, he didn't see where his current road would end, not that he ever thought about it. He was satisfied, and deep down, he enjoyed the repeating motion of training, meditating, and growing. It was... satisfying.

“Food!” Marly said, waking up from her sleep, this time, traveling on Arya's head for a change.

“Sounds good.” Seloryn agreed after Arya translated her suggestion.

“Recovery food!” Arya nodded her head while Marly held onto her big ears, walking a step or two ahead of the group.

"This time, I'm not paying," Quillian spoke up at once, making Siu smile sheepishly as he agreed that he would, which also meant he had to keep the two of them in check.

They had barely taken ten steps towards the road Seloryn suggested when someone approached them. The moment he spotted them and managed to identify Arya, the young-looking disciple turned sharply and took big strides to reach them as fast as possible. Siu did not recognize him, and throwing a questioning look towards Seloryn, she also indicated with her eyes that she had no idea who he was.

“Excuse me.” The man spoke up politely when their paths crossed, and everyone slowed down to a halt. “I am looking for someone named Siu.” He added, cupping his hands, his eyes settling on Siu in the end, as he was the only one who fit the description.

"..." Arya immediately stepped a little closer to him, her tail standing still and alert.

“That would be me.” Siu nodded, returning the gesture politely.

"I see." The disciple examined his face, memorizing it before reaching into his robe and pulling out a simple letter. “This was given to me with instructions to deliver it directly into your hands.”

“By whom?” Siu asked before taking it.

“It's not my job to ask those questions.” The boy smiled, still holding it out, even if Siu hadn't taken the letter yet.

“You agreed to deliver something without knowing who sent it?” Seloryn asked, watching the envelope, but it was... just that. An envelope.

“I was paid.” The boy chuckled, without feeling intimidated. "This is my job. I'm only a courier."

"..."

“The person who hired me knew where you would be today and approximately when your training would finish." He continued, seeing they weren't biting yet, which he was used to. His job had the exact same situation play out day after day. "Naturally, you can refuse to take it, but please, do so with a written form. I learned the hard way how to prove such occasions.”

"Sorry," Siu smiled as he finally took the letter. "I was just lost in thought."

“No worries," The boy cupped his hands again, "Thank you.”

And with that, he left already, probably heading to a different place, ready to deliver another letter or package. Arya watched him disappear down the path, only tearing her eyes away when he was completely gone.

“Suspicious.” She mumbled, finally glancing at the letter.

“Very,” Seloryn agreed. "Because whoever sent it knew where you would be."

"Yeah," Siu turned the letter over in his hands, "And it has no seal or name on it."

“Poison?” Marly asked, sniffing the air.

“Don't give people ideas.” Arya grunted, throwing out her own in the next moment, “Explosion?”

"Both of you are unbelievable," Siu sighed and opened it before they could start outbidding each other with worse and worse ideas.

There was only one sheet inside when the envelope unfolded, and the handwriting was neat... Worse, Siu recognized it.

“Well...” He grimaced, "I did not expect this."

“What?” Arya immediately asked.

"Hmm...?" Seloryn leaned slightly closer, too, reading it.

[Siu,

We have both been busy long enough. I hope you have improved as much as I hear, because I believe it is time we spoke again. Come alone if you wish or bring your friends if you don't. I have accounted for either possibility. However, we need to talk. I will be at the Nine Hanging Bells tomorrow at sunrise.

Toban.]

“Throw it out,” Arya said at once, grimacing. "That letter is worse than poison or an explosion!"

"Is it?" Seloryn blinked, almost laughing, "Look, I get the past between you two, but..." She hummed, "You could still hear him out. The way the letter is written, I can somewhat sense he needs you. You can use that!"

"Or he wants me to think that, so I come." Siu answered, with a shrug, rubbing his face, "I really don't want to go."

"Good," Arya answered, taking the letter, "Master, you are going to have a reading day. That can't be missed, um, um. Let's throw this out!"

"Well," He hesitated, looking at Quillian, who just raised a brow, deciding for him in the end.

"I'll go with you... I heard enough of this boy from you, so... I am curious what he wants."

"Nothing good!" Arya argued, pouting that they would meet up with him.

"Do fill me in later!" Seloryn chuckled, indicating she wouldn't come. "I will stay away from him, though, because I had enough experience with boys like him... And believe me." She shrugged, her smile being a bit too... aggressive. "I wouldn't be able to hold back."