Hatchling

by Lupine King

  Seeing Valerian's curious gaze, Jonas decided to elaborate a little on what he was doing. "The light markings are called glyphs. They are symbols of power that possess many qualities and are capable of an infinite number of things under the control of an array master. When put together in circles and in certain configurations they form arrays. The creation and control of these arrays is the job and passion of array masters like myself as well as the source of our titles and powers."

  "The array surrounding you is a rather simple one. The inner circle perform a check on your body, making sure your body is physically fit for cultivation. The outer one will, in turn, check your meridians and vessel for obstructions and abnormalities."

  Valerian nodded solemnly, digesting what was said to him and storing the information for later. Contrary to his outward appearance, his mind was racing as it tried to figure out how the array worked. Knowing that the pursuit was futile, he instead turned his thoughts back to the test.

  This whole time, Jonas had been observing the boy. So far he could say this for certain. The boy truly was very mature. He had watched when he came in and how he reacted when the news was broken to him.

  Most children would be visibly excited when told that they would be allowed to cultivate, and yet, he remained calm the whole time. Whereas others would be yelling in joy, he merely had a small smile on his face, trying to play it off like it was nothing special, just par for the course. At that time, Jonas did not think much of it. Many noble children were adept at hiding their emotions as well. Not as good but close. However, the boy standing in front of him now was a little unnerving.

  He had performed a lot of such examinations, both privately and publicly for the clan and for outsiders, and he had never seen this. Valerian stood there, ramrod straight, an arm behind his back and his head held high; a confident smile on his face. This was a test that pretty much decided a person's fate and future accomplishments. There was no one who had not been nervous when taking it. It did not matter if the person was a genius and had awoken some latent talent before the test. He or she would still feel some apprehension when confronted with tests concerning their talent.

  His eyes flicked over to the old magistrate wondering if the boy had been told that he was already at the preliminary phase of bone transformation. It was the only reason he could think of as to why the boy was so confident. He acted like the whole thing was a foregone conclusion. Receiving no response from the old man, he turned back to his charge only to look back at the magistrate. Jonas' eyes flicked from grandfather to grandson and from grandson to grandfather at least three times.

  He had picked up on something that was so funny and startling that he nearly burst into laughter. Both boy and man were in the exact same pose. Arms behind the back, small confident smile, head raised high with a sleepy, almost bored look. Everything right down to the small tilt of the head. How this happened? He did not know, but he guessed that the old man had finally trained himself the perfect heir.

  Putting those thoughts to the side, he made one final motion and the glow of the circles intensified from a dull red to a more fiery colour. The glyphs looked especially eye catching. The entire array fell to the ground. It hovered level with Valerian's soles for a moment, before slowly rising over his head and then falling again. After three cycles of this, it came to a stop at his waist. Then the light of the inner circle began to dim.

  Valerian shuddered for a few seconds before he adjusted to the sensation created by the arrays. All eyes were now truly focused on the event taking place, eagerly awaiting what came next. They were not disappointed. A large glyph, about a foot in size, rose from the inner circle. Everyone looked at it, knowing that it represented the first batch of results.

  Jonas looked at the results, dismissed them and announced, "Your body is very fit. The bones are regular and well formed. They are no deformities that might hamper your cultivation.”

  By this time, the outer circle had also begun to dim. The glyph had already risen so Jonas announced that as well. "Your meridians are also in perfect condition. There are no obstructions, leakages or recognised abnormalities."

  The results were expected but that did not stop some of the onlookers from sighing in relief. The magistrate in particular was relieved, despite his usual stoicism, it nearly showed on his face. Whilst this was certainly the easiest part of the tests, it was not a guaranteed pass. A healthy, strong body was a necessity no matter the cultivation path. Physical deformities could just as easily destroy one's hopes or limit a person's progress.

  Jonas, once again, made a grasping motion. The arrays burst into motes of light which quickly formed themselves into circles and glyphs again. The circles formed first, then the glyphs. It was a skill he was very proud of. Rather than erase an array and start over, he could take control of the energies and reform them into a completely different array. This form of recycling saved time and energy but also required intense focus and control.

  "For the second part of the test, the inner circle will measure your essence and check its level to see if you can cultivate. The outer circle will extract a little of your essence and check the type of force you have. This will tell us if you can cultivate and what direction you would pursue."

  This was the most important part and so everyone watched with bated breaths. They gazed intently as the bright array dimmed and pushed out three glyphs. Under their watchful eyes, Jonas leaned forward to announce the results, only to nearly choke on his own tongue. His coughing and spluttering caused the tension building in the hall to dissolve into sad disappointed whispers. Valerian had definitely failed and now Jonas was unable to proceed.

  The words that came out of Jonas' mouth quickly disproved those views though. "E...E...ESS...NCE LEVEL FORTY-ONE TIMES NORMAL!"

  The hall was plunged into sudden silence. No one could believe the words that the array master had spoken. In fact, not even he could, which was why he had choked the first time. After checking the results again he had been so unbalanced that he yelled it out. So he composed himself and announced the results again.

  "The essence level is measured at forty-one times the norm."

  The magistrate's wife stepped forward. "Jonas... Are you sure?"

  She could not be blamed for asking. All the guards and servants watching had the same thought running through their minds as well. No doubt, anyone who heard the results would question them as well. The reason being: essence was the most important thing for cultivating. A person required an essence level at least five times that of a normal person in order to cultivate. More was obviously better, but forty-one times more was just excessive. It had to be a record.

  As a second tier array master, Jonas' essence level was hundreds of times that of a normal person. However, he was pushing forty, had been cultivating from the age of ten and had achieved not only the second tier in array mastery but also as an arcanist. All this had increased his strength and essence. For an eight year old boy who had yet to truly start cultivation to have such a high level of essence was unimaginable.

  "Auntie Clara, I couldn't believe it too at first, but I've checked it three times. Plus there is more,” Jonas answered.

  "More?"

  "Yes!" he answered solemnly then indicating the two remaining glyphs he added. "Valerian possesses dual force. He has both qi and arcane energy.”

  This was an even greater shock than the first bit of news. Dual force was so rare it was considered a legend to most. Ordinary cultivators would have either arcane energy or qi, never both. For instance, Richard had qi whilst Jonas had arcane energy. The probability of awakening one or the other depended partly on lineage but also on chance. Arcane energy was rare in the Steelborn family and thus most cultivators possessed qi. Jonas as an arcanist was in the minority.

  Each force had its own properties, abilities and cultivation path. For a person to possess dual force meant that, at the very least, he could simultaneously travel both paths and gain all the benefits therein includi
ng twice the power. This information combined with his high essence level meant there was absolutely no doubt that Valerian would go far.

  Right now Valerian had a happy smile on his face. He stretched his body slightly to rid himself of the uncomfortable tingling sensation that the arrays had given him. It was not painful, just strange. By this point, the number of servants and guards watching the tests had doubled and even more were rushing in. He was glad that he had not humiliated himself in front of them. He made a move to get out of the array.

  "Wait!" Jonas exclaimed.

  Valerian nearly cursed. ‘I thought the array was harmless. Don't tell me it will explode if I disrupt it', he muttered mentally. He was trying to get to his grandparents now that the tests were done, but hearing Jonas' yell reminded him of all the stories he had heard at Fang's about the destructive powers of array masters. He really should have asked for permission.

  "We aren't done yet", Jonas explained but seeing the look of confusion on Valerian's face he elaborated. "The tests are usually a series of five first circle arrays. Even performing them two at a time we should still have one left. However, we will have to create two now."

  "Why?" Valerian couldn't help but ask unknowingly voicing the thoughts of many of the watchers.

  "The final test is done to sample the examinee's force and determine if he or she possesses any innate attributes. Normally, it requires only one array since there'd only be one force, but you have both so we'd need two”.

  Understanding dawned on everyone and Jonas wasted no time shattering and reconfiguring the array. This time when it dimmed, it gave rise to no less than four large glyphs. Jonas left out a huge rush of air and everyone knew that the results were once again astounding. They were just waiting for Jonas to read them out.

  "Innate dual attributes of metal and wind for both forces!"

  FOUR

  Clan Matters

  THE NEXT DAY WAS A very hectic one in the magistrate's household. In spite of their wishes to the contrary, the results of the test could not be kept hidden. Three elders of the Steelborn clan had come over. One of them was a third tier array master sent over to confirm the results of the test. After putting Valerian through the ceremony twice more, he too came up with the same results. The three elders then locked themselves in the study with his grandparents and engaged themselves in a discussion.

  Realising that he would receive no training or teaching for yet another day, Valerian picked up a book on geography and sat in the hallway outside the study for some self-study. The planet Verre contained three continents. The continent he lived on was known as the World's Heart. To the east and separated by the world's thinnest ocean was Breathland continent whilst the southern Na'ar continent sat separate and distant. The reason the World's Heart was known as such was that it was the centre most of the three continents. There were also the two polar caps.

  World's Heart was undoubtedly the largest continent of all and was split between three major empires. The greatest of these and perhaps the most powerful in all of Verre was the NewHaven Empire in which he lived. The other two powers were the CrystalSpur Empire and LongCrest Federation. Each empire was divided into numerous smaller kingdoms or states. These kingdoms had their own rulers even though they were under the rule of the various major powers.

  Besides paying tribute, obeying imperial edicts, and fulfilling the imperial objectives, the twenty-four kingdoms mostly managed themselves. There were imperial offices and command posts but on a whole, the management of a state was left to the king or appointed official. So long as a king remained loyal, obedient, paid taxes and tributes and did not overly harm his people, he could have a nice, long albeit slightly restrained rule.

  The imperial force was not one to be questioned. It was genuinely powerful. It managed the largest and most dominant power in the continent. Forty percent of the entire Newhaven Empire was directly managed by the imperial force. The remaining sixty percent was what made up the twenty-four countries and beast lands.

  Nonetheless, the situations in the countries were not bad. While they were a few steps down from the actual imperial land, they enjoyed a large variety of benefits from the empire. The Kingdom that Valerian belonged to was the Kingdom of Bathar. Bathar was recognised as the seventh most powerful kingdom under the Newhaven Empire.

  Kingdoms were ranked according to population, wealth, size, military, resource endowment, infrastructure, and the calibre of their cultivators. Thus, the fact that Bathar occupied the seventh rank slot was not a small achievement. The competition between the various states was a major driving force for development and probably one of the reasons that the empire had held its position as the greatest for so long.

  Valerian's head shot up, his mind breaking away from the book. The door to the study had opened and he could hear the voices within coming closer. Quickly, he straightened his appearance and pretended to be absorbed in his book. Even as a child, he knew that he had to make a good impression on the elders. Aside from the clan head and the patriarch, the elders held the most influence in all clan affairs. Having even one of them on his side would improve his own standing.

  The three elders and his grandparents exited the study and saw him sitting quietly in the hallway. Seeing him so engrossed in study made them nod to themselves, but seeing him swiftly put the book away, stand up, and greet them, impressed them even more.

  The elders of the Steelborn clan were not your typical, elderly upper management types.To be an elder in the clan, one had to be at least a hundred years old and possess strength of at least the second tier. Each elder wore embroidered steel grey cloaks, as was the custom for clan elders and massive steel armour in the exact same style as his uncle Richard's.

  Carved over their left breast was the clan's signature Stormhawk on the outcrop insignia. In World's heart, the left breast usually carried badges showing loyalties or allegiances whilst the right showed status or position.

  "Valerian, come here!" the elder in the middle called.

  Quickly, he moved over wondering what they needed him for.

  "Good child. I need you to do something for me. Is that alright?" he inquired.

  Valerian answered measuredly, "If there is anything you need honoured elder, ask. Taxing or not, I will fulfil it so long as I am able."

  The elder's grey eyebrows raised slightly at his manner of speech. From the corner of his eye, he looked at the magistrate immediately pinning him to be the source of this. Obviously, the boy had picked up his overly formal and exaggerated mannerisms. He chose not to comment on it though and instead raised an arm and had the palm face outward saying.

  "It is nothing so difficult, child. I just need you to punch my palm as hard as you can."

  Valerian's face immediately changed and his body became tense. Due to his longstanding practice of always appearing outwardly calm, it was not too obvious but the experienced eyes of the elders easily saw through him. They had expected something like this. His actions had only served to confirm it. Now, all they had to do was measure the degree.

  Valerian was very apprehensive but when he looked at the elder he could tell he was being serious. He wanted to refuse but ended up asking, "Are you sure?"

  The elder nodded with a smile. "Just punch this old palm of mine. No need to be shy. This old man can handle it."

  This made Valerian even more determined to refuse. He knew that the old man was baiting him, but he was not going to be goaded into hitting him. However, before he could open his mouth to do so his grandmother's voice rang out.

  "Don't worry Valerian. Hit him. Elder Foreson is a King tiered cultivator. You cannot possibly harm him. Just give him all you've got".

  Valerian looked the old man over, his fears abating somewhat. Elder Foreson was an extremely well-built man. He was as tall as his grandfather but more robust and muscular. His aura was vastly different too. Even the magistrate's recognisably authoritative aura paled in strength and force when compared to his. His hair, despite be
ing the same shade of grey, did not sit on a body as frail as the magistrate's. Rather, his very form implied strength and power. Inwardly, Valerian cursed his own foolishness.

  The Steelborns were the most powerful clan in DaleGuard. Any elder of the clan was definitely a powerhouse. He could not hurt him if he tried his hardest. He was now convinced that the man knew what he was doing. It could not possibly matter if he revealed his secret now. So he backed up two steps and raised his fist.

  "Okay. I'm going to attack, Elder Foreson", he reminded. It could not hurt to be a bit cautious, right?

  "Good!" the elder said. "Remember! Put in everything you have.”

  Valerian nodded. He breathed in deeply and taking a step forward he punched out with all his strength for the first time in his life. The fist cut through the air. It was a simple punch, devoid of any proper skill and performed with an untrained fist. Yet, the moment it met the elder's palm, a loud sound rang in everyone’s ears, and the elder's eyes immediately narrowed as he focused.

  You would think someone had slammed a stone club into a wooden wall. A slight wind from the strike’s shockwave swept through the area and ruffled the elder's clothes. However, the elder’s palm remained unmoved. Indeed, it was as if nothing had happened to it, but shock could be seen on his face and on the faces of all the others.

  Valerian withdrew his fist. In his mind, he nodded appreciatively. Sure enough, a clan elder was not that simple. The strength of someone at the king tier could not be underestimated after all. He would definitely have to acquire this kind of strength in the future. No, he would have to be stronger.

  Valerian had a good estimate of his own strength. This was the other reason he ignored all the provocations at school and declined all fights despite how annoying they got.

  For as long as he could remember, he had always been abnormally strong. He did not notice it at first, but eventually, as he grew older he began to see the disparities between his own strength and that of the servants in the household. Still, it was not until he knocked his grandfather out by accident when he was celebrating his fifth birthday that he realised how great it actually was.