Cultivating Chaos

by William D. Arand

  Ash noticed another stall not far away and off to one side, out of the open market but close enough to make some sales.

  Two teenagers were sitting at the makeshift and rickety stall. They looked to be brother and sister and in their teen years. The girl closer to fifteen and the boy fourteen.

  They were selling paper, quills, and ink pots.

  It was all rather cheap quality, but they had a large amount.

  The simple reality was they were clearly homeless, or nearly so, and were doing what they could to generate an income.

  Without resorting to selling the sister by the hour.

  You can’t eat pride.

  “Are we going to need ink and paper?” Ash asked quietly.

  “Yes. In bulk.”

  Feeling like a sucker and a fool, Ash walked over to the two teenagers.

  “I’ll take everything,” Ash said, pressing a gold coin into the hands of the young girl with a smile.

  ***

  Sitting in the valley of the ruined building, Ash rubbed his hands together eagerly.

  He’d put together more than enough food, water, and supplies to remain out here for several days.

  “If we stick to it and do nothing but this, we’ll be able to quickly turn this around into profit,” Ash said. “From that, we can purchase pills that’ll help us refine our body further.”

  “You do realize we could have simply become an alchemist, Chosen One.”

  “No thanks. Every genius, every throwaway hero in a story, and every outcast becomes an alchemist. You’re already calling me a Chosen One.

  “I’d rather not get involved with the crazies alchemists commonly become. No, this suits us perfectly. Because while I work, I can cultivate, remember?” Ash asked.

  Happily shifting around a large stone slab he was planning on using as a makeshift desk, Ash considered how to go about this.

  “Mise en place, right? I mean, this isn’t cooking, but same concept.”

  Ash began to unload all the cores. Setting them about the impromptu desk, he grouped them by element type.

  Next came the paper and quills. Stacking everything up and laying it out brought back some odd memories.

  Memories of his previous life.

  “Well, it’s not like we actually miss high school,” Ash muttered. Reaching out, he patted the cores lightly.

  He folded his hands into his lap, not quite sure how to begin.

  Do I just think about Enchanting or what I want or—

  Thoughts about apprenticeship and training lessons in Enchanting blasted through him.

  Blinking several times, Ash swallowed. It was as if he’d relived an entire apprenticeship at the feet of a master. He’d already had the knowledge, but he’d never accessed it.

  Looking down to the core, Ash realized he was missing an ingredient after all.

  An item to actually enchant.

  Technically, it wasn’t needed as part of the process, which might be why Locke missed it. But to actually do any Enchanting work, of course, an item to be modified was needed.

  Grimacing at the idea of heading back into town just to buy random weapons and items, Ash looked to the paper.

  Scrivening is the act of putting abilities and techniques into paper, right? Could I maybe load an Enchantment into the paper?

  An advanced lesson on Enchanting bubbled to the surface. On creating a core that could be pressed to any item and grant it the element it had come from. All through the use of a single, if complicated, pattern.

  Picking up the rune-chisel, he hefted it experimentally. Then he selected an earth core at random.

  Taking a steadying breath, Ash set the tip to the core.

  “Would you like a trace to follow?” Locke asked.

  Flinching at the sudden question, Ash almost shouted at the ring. Then he stopped and considered for a moment.

  “Yes?”

  The pattern came to life all over the core in glowing white lines. It had been contoured to fit the core perfectly in every shape and direction.

  What had seemed extremely difficult and time consuming a minute ago now felt a lot like tracing art out of a comic book.

  Ash set to work immediately with the rune-chisel. After what only felt like a handful of breaths, the work was done.

  The core pattern had been perfectly matched to the trace.

  “Expected transfer is ninety-nine percent. There is a one-percent loss due to material quality.”

  Picking up a piece of paper, Ash considered it for a moment. The last thing he wanted to do was push the core into the paper and have it so the paper was enhanced with the element, and non-transferable.

  Then he started to sort through the Scrivener lessons. They were the same pseudo memories, just with a different master and information.

  “Yeah, that would’ve been awkward. A paper with the power of earth, and nothing I can do with it,” Ash said. Making sure none of his Qi was in the core, he set it down on the stone and picked up a rune-quill and paper.

  “Locke, can you… make another trace? This time for the transference script?”

  A millisecond later, a glowing white script appeared on the page, laid out in a pattern.

  Tapping the rune-quill to the ink, Ash set to work following the trace.

  “Expected transfer is ninety-nine percent. There is a one-percent loss due to material quality.”

  Picking up the patterned core, Ash fed it some Qi and then pushed it into the paper.

  It began to disappear into the paper, then vanished outright.

  The pattern that had been on the core was now sitting directly in the middle of the pattern on the paper.

  “Attempt successful.”

  Well, that was easier than I really expected it to be. And now I can just… sell this as it is. The question becomes, will anyone actually want it?

  I imagine it’ll sell. Maybe not for a fortune, but it’ll sell. We’ll start with one of each element.

  Maybe I can buy some of those abilities back at the market. After we figure out what’s already in the Hall and what’s best for me.

  I mean, it said Jia was only suitable for—

  Ash stopped mid-thought, his eyes glazing over.

  “Locke, can I record abilities from the Hall?”

  “As the sole owner, the bloodline owner, and the master of the treasure, yes. Though I do recommend placing a drop of your blood on the item to bind it further to you.”

  “Great! And yeah, that’s… not a bad idea. I don’t really have anything to prick a finger with, though,” Ash said looking around. Then he shrugged.

  He’d take care of it later.

  “Ah, that’s not the question at hand, though. Locke, have you been able to scan Jia thoroughly?”

  “Yes.”

  “Could you identify the best cultivation method for her from the Hall? One that’d give her the best likelihood to be the best she can be?”

  “Already done.”

  “Transfer it to me? I want to put it into a paper so she can transfer it to her mind, like what I do in the hall.

  “Can you also provide the paper trace for it?”

  Ash dipped his quill into an ink-pot, then picked up a new sheet of paper and placed it in front of himself.

  “Oh, and while we’re at it, can you pick out several abilities for her as well that would match?”

  There was a strange pause from Locke. Until now, he’d almost always been immediate in his actions.

  Waiting, Ash looked around, not really sure what to do with himself.

  “Locke?” he asked after a minute had passed.

  Again, nothing happened.

  After another minute ticked by, Ash was getting nervous.

  “Done. There was a slight delay. Jia’s body type is expected to change with time, and there were some complications in making sure it would fit her future self.

  “The processing power available is limited to the strength of the treasure. After the work here is com
plete, it’s recommended we take the Essence Attractor pill. It will help strengthen both yourself and the treasure.”

  Ash nodded his head wordlessly. Taking out an Essence Attractor pill, he swallowed it down and began to cultivate.

  At the same time, he got to work with his hands. He copied everything exactly as Locke put it down on the papers for him.

  ***

  It’d taken a bit of work the next day, but he’d managed to track down where Jia was staying. She’d mentioned several times that she was living alone for the time being, so she could be closer to the training sect.

  Though now that training is over, why wouldn’t she go home for a while?

  It was a tenant neighborhood. Everyone staying here was only doing so temporarily. Though it wasn’t a bad area.

  In fact, it might actually be a better area than where his family lived.

  Shifting the lunch he’d bought for them to his other arm, he knocked twice on the door.

  “Ahh?” came Jia’s voice from inside.

  “It’s Ash.”

  “Huh? One second,” Jia said.

  “I apologize, I could not hear you as I—” Jia said opening the door. She stood there, staring at him with wide eyes.

  Her hair, which was normally tied up behind her head, was down. Hanging like dark curtains behind her pale face.

  Damn, she’s way prettier than I thought when she looks like a woman and isn’t hiding it.

  She was also dressed in a light robe. One that looked more like she’d been doing house work in it.

  It also did nothing to hide the fact that she actually had a womanly figure, and a bust that was certainly more than a handful. Though Ash couldn’t quite tell due to the way the fabric hung on her.

  Must be flattening those with some type of binding. That and padding her clothes like crazy to offset.

  Seems like a lot of work.

  Her eyes shot open and she crossed her arms front of herself.

  “Move out of the way, Jia. I brought gifts and lunch. Just point out where you eat and I’ll go set up,” Ash said, moving into her doorway. “You have been eating, right?”

  As if unable to stop him, or at least unwilling, Jia fell to the side and shut the door behind him as he entered.

  “Ah… just… go across the hall. The dining room is there. Yes, I have been eating. I will… be right back,” she said, her voice sounding extremely uncertain.

  Ash shrugged his shoulders and moved into the room she pointed out.

  Pulling out a small loaf of bread and several skewers of meat and vegetables, he laid everything out for two seats.

  Shit. I forgot water or wine. Eh… I’m sure she has something.

  Shrugging, Ash looked at the food. It’d cost him pretty much the last coinage he had, but he wasn’t concerned. He sincerely believed that when he went to the auction house later today, he’d be able to make more than enough back.

  Besides, Jia was his one and only friend. Who had stood beside and behind him in equal measure as he suffered.

  She was worth it.

  Glancing over his shoulder to make sure she was still busying herself, Ash pushed a thought to his ring.

  Out popped four sets of papers. He hadn’t taken the time to clean the papers, as Locke said they’d vanish the moment she learned them.

  Which meant it wasn’t worth the time to pretty them up or secure them.

  Dropping the stack onto the table, he moved over to a small cabinet nearby. He opened it and started going through it, looking for cups and drinks.

  “What are you doing?” Jia asked from behind him.

  “Good timing, where do you have your drinks and cups? I kinda forgot. I was trying to get here quickly so it didn’t get cold,” Ash said, stepping away from the pantry as he pointed to it.

  Looking to Jia, he found she’d changed her clothes but had done nothing with her hair.

  She was now dressed in her acolyte clothing.

  It took Ash a moment to realize why it felt like it hung on her oddly. The padding, which she might have sewn into the clothing itself, definitely hid her womanly assets. But her chest was still noticeable if one stared.

  She didn’t have time to bind her chest, ah.

  Moving to the table, he smiled to himself.

  “It’s not as if I’m going to ask you to spar, Jia,” Ash said, sitting down in the chair. His eyes moved back to Jia as she shifted things around in her kitchen.

  Her body shook once, her head turning to face him directly. Slowly, she pulled out a skin of liquid and two small bowls that could easily serve as cups.

  “I was not expecting you,” she said, coming over and setting the bowl down in front of him “In fact, I was expecting a family friend.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Should I leave?” Ash asked. He was happy to tease her a bit, but he didn’t actually want to bother her.

  “No, all is well. Just…” She paused, her eyes moving to the papers on the table. “What are these?”

  “You said you didn’t have a cultivation technique. I… got you one. I think it’s very suitable for you. I also got you some abilities that should match it,” Ash said.

  Jia tentatively picked up the papers. Her expression was somehow equal parts disappointment and hope.

  “Don’t try to put any of your Qi into any of them. If you do, you’ll probably end up with a headache after it transfers the entire thing to your memory,” Ash said.

  Jia visibly flinched and her eyes jumped to him.

  “These are transferred?” she asked.

  “Yeah. So be careful.”

  “Don’t you know how much these cost?” Jia said unhappily, looking back to the papers. “And what if I can’t use them? What if this isn’t something I can learn?”

  “You can; I made sure. All of them.”

  Jia snorted at his words. She opened her mouth as she read the cultivation ability on the paper and stopped. Her mouth hanging open.

  Her face went pale, her features slack.

  “You did,” she said finally, letting out a breath. She nodded. “You did make sure.”

  “See? Now, sit and eat. It’s getting colder by the minute. And if you’re expecting company, our time is short. No?”

  Jia set the papers gingerly to one side and sat down in her seat, her eyes fastened to Ash as he dug into his lunch.

  After this, the auction house.

  Six

  Ash had left Jia’s place as soon as he’d finished his meal. Her thoughts had seemed to be entirely inward facing, her eyes constantly moving to the papers.

  Realizing she wanted to learn them as soon as possible, Ash had wolfed down his meal, spared her the small talk, and got a leg on.

  Besides, he was excited to see if he could get enough coin today so Far and Duyi could stop working for a bit.

  If they could just… stop… for a bit… they’d live a lot longer. Right now they’re literally working themselves to death.

  Shaking his head to clear the morose thoughts, Ash kept walking.

  His destination was none other than the city auction house.

  It was managed by the city itself, which operated on the behalf of the kingdom.

  At one point, it had been owned and run by a family. After they’d grown in power, though, the head of the royal family hundreds of years ago had acted. He had laid the entire clan out, killing each and every member in it. In the same day, he’d rolled up their business as his family’s own. He took everything from the clan and made it his.

  If ever there was a lesson in this, it was never to grow so much in power that you could equal the royal family.

  Ash looked at the massive entrance. Guards lined the exterior, the interior, and beyond. The whole place was crawling with them.

  Unsurprising, considering this place was flowing with wealth.

  His goal was on the inside, and to the left. The anonymous auction.

  It would cost him an extra two percent of his earnings, but it would keep h
is identity secret. Even from the auctioneers.

  This change had come once the royal family had taken ownership. It was meant to help spur buying and selling, but also to put more coin back into the royal pocket.

  And it also put criminals in the city. Which gave the local authorities a chance to catch them.

  As if his thoughts were a prophecy, Ash saw some bounty hunters simply loitering around inside the auction house. They weren’t allowed to touch anyone in the auction, but as soon as someone left the property, they were fair game.

  Stepping into the left-hand archway, Ash found himself standing in front of a young woman.

  “This way please,” she said, then led him down a hallway that had a number of doors all along it. “Please enter. You’ll be assisted shortly.”

  She indicated an open door and the room inside.

  Not sure what to expect, Ash went inside. The door closed behind him and he found himself in a small chamber.

  It was little better than a bathroom. Bare of decoration, and with only a single chair sitting in front of a wall with a square carved into it and a handle attached.

  Must be a pullout drawer.

  On the walls, he saw metal plates with instructions that amounted to sitting down in the chair, pulling open the box, and putting the items inside he wanted to auction.

  Doing just that, Ash dropped one of each elemental enhancement into the box and closed the drawer.

  He heard the rustling of someone on the other side of the drawer. His items were probably being inspected and authenticated.

  Waiting, Ash sighed and looked at his fingernails. They were getting long again.

  Resisting the temptation to raise a hand to his mouth and start gnawing at them, he put his hands back down.

  The drawer suddenly opened again, and sitting in the middle of it was a rounded, common-looking green crystal coin with the number three on it.

  Taking the coin, Ash slipped it into his ring and left the small room immediately.

  “Will you be attending the auction? It’s set to begin in thirty minutes,” asked the woman.

  Ash almost immediately said no, since he had no coin on him. Then he shrugged. He didn’t have much else to do other than cultivate.