Chapter 2: The Soul's First Lesson
The next day.
Long before Nameless woke, the Flint Spirit was already at work. It slipped out of bed without disturbing him and, with a thought, teleported outside.
Once the little house had accepted its master, the first task was done, and the Flint Spirit had gained a few new abilities. As Restsoil's caretaker, teleportation was essential. More importantly, it could now read anything stored in the house whenever it wanted.
It decided to test this. It retrieved the log it had written the night before and read it again.
Black and Red played out before its eyes. It watched Nameless gain, then lose, and still charge straight ahead. It saw the Red Qi Nameless had flung out in his excitement—
Wait! Nameless had never learned to wield Qi. How had he managed to throw out that firework?
"Probably a fluke... Never mind. We have to learn it all over again today anyway."
Then it saw the light screen it had opened, flickering in the darkness. Nameless chose a language, and the world took shape.
It put the log away. The next instant, its teleportation took effect, and it was back in bed. Nameless was sleeping soundly. It should probably wake him now, but he had been exhausted yesterday. It could let him sleep a little longer.
The Flint Spirit seemed incapable of getting tired. As long as it was inside Restsoil, Red Qi kept it running. So it wasn't sleepy now, either.
Maybe it should plan some lessons. After all, its job was to help Nameless.
It started planning at once. Fast asleep, Nameless had no idea this might be his last lazy morning for a while...
It wasn't until noon that Nameless finally stirred awake. He opened his eyes. It was pitch-black around him, but the faint Red Qi told him the Flint Spirit was still beside him. He couldn't tell whether it was awake, so he reached over to poke it—
A flash of red, and the Flint Spirit teleported away before he could touch it. By the time Nameless finally looked up and spotted the faint red glow on the ceiling, it had already been hovering there for quite a while.
"Good morning. I've been up for ages, so you didn't have to wake me."
"Hmph... Next time, I'll beat you to it!"
Now fully awake, Nameless rolled over and got up briskly. The white robe seemed to have grown right onto him; it didn't occur to him to take it off.
"From now on, we need to get ready to study. This Empty Shell has half a month of protection left. You need to learn to defend yourself before it's over." The Flint Spirit's voice came from above.
...He didn't understand. He looked up and asked, "Protection... what does that mean?"
"It's the gods' protection of Wandering Souls. For a month after taking root, we're completely safe. Without that protection, most Wandering Souls would die as soon as they took root."
Death? Like being scattered by the black wind? That seemed a long way off, Nameless thought.
"So we need to learn everything we can as quickly as possible! The house already has lessons prepared. Come with me."
The Flint Spirit gently opened the door, and soft light immediately filled the room.
"Go up the stairs first. I'll join you once I've tidied up."
Nameless bent down to look at the stairs, then ran a hand over them. Plain, rough, but sturdy.
Behind him, the Flint Spirit turned once and sent a wisp of Red Qi into the middle of the blanket. In the light coming through the doorway, an upside-down triangle appeared. The Flint Spirit could use this mark to control certain objects more easily. It teleported the blanket and mattress onto the roof, then tossed them aside. The blanket floated there in midair.
"Let's let the Qi air this place out."
Satisfied, it spun once, flew down from the roof, and passed through the second-floor window.
The second floor was even barer than the first, with no furnishings or decorations at all. Nameless had no choice but to sit on the floor. When he saw the Flint Spirit, he stood and asked, "There's nothing here. What are we supposed to study?"
The Flint Spirit only smiled. "The wonders of this house only show up when you fill it with color. You can't see them yet because you don't know how to use Qi."
"So once again, only you can see them?"
"...For now. But not for much longer."
The Flint Spirit paused. "Our first lesson is color."
It stirred its Red Qi, and red light blazed around it. The walls and floor seemed to come alive, filling with lines of writing. Nameless looked closer and saw that they were the Chinese characters he had chosen earlier.
A few characters on the wall rapidly grew larger.
"Color is Qi's true form, and Qi is color's outward appearance. The three primary colors are Red, Green, and Blue. Every color in the world is made by combining them."
"For example, my own color, vermilion, is a combination of Red and Green."
A ring of Green Qi suddenly appeared around the Flint Spirit. The vermilion color of its body gradually deepened until it became a pure red, exactly like the Red on the mark.
Nameless thought for a moment. "So Red Qi is what Red looks like on the outside?"
"That's right. Do you remember the White you had before taking root? White is an even blend of the three primary colors."
The Flint Spirit pulled a paintbrush from who-knows-where and tossed it to Nameless.
"Try your Red Qi."
Nameless tried swinging it. A faint wisp of Red Qi appeared at the tip, then quickly vanished. He couldn't help feeling a little dejected.
The Flint Spirit moved closer, just about to comfort him, when he came up with a new idea. He hurriedly asked, "Then I should be able to use White now, right? So does that mean I already know the three primary colors?"
"...Of course not. What are you thinking? We can't split White apart."
Seeing Nameless grow downcast again, the Flint Spirit quickly added, "We only just started, after all. Splitting White is hard. I've only read about it in the records. But we'll learn how to do it someday!"
"All right."
The Flint Spirit took the opportunity to add, "Besides the three primary colors, there's a special fourth color."
Another line appeared on the wall.
"Black is useful, but we'll learn about that later. Give me your hand."
Nameless obediently held out his right hand. The Flint Spirit flew over and landed on it, making his wrist dip slightly under its weight. It felt smooth and solid.
"Each living being also has its own signature Qi, which lets us tell different kinds of Qi apart. Even our Red Qi is a little different. I'll pass some of mine to you now. Feel how it moves."
The Red Qi around it began to swirl and surge, then flowed through Nameless's hand and into his body.
"Try to send the Red Qi around once, then bring it back to your hand. Pay attention to how it moves."
The Qi did collide with something inside him, but the impact wasn't anything special. It was just a warm little mass. Nameless didn't even have to guide it. The Qi found its own way, flowing up his arm, past his shoulder, and making a quick circuit through his body. Wherever it passed, his dormant body warmed faintly. The instant it collided with his own Qi, all he felt was a sense of fullness. He could feel his Red Qi coming alive.
Soon the Red Qi returned the way it had come, gathering in his palm before flowing back into the Flint Spirit. It had been much easier than he'd expected.
The Flint Spirit fell silent for a moment.
"Huh?"
Nameless looked down at it. "What is it?"
"My Qi signature has been assimilated! You fused our Qi signatures all by yourself?" Its voice rose.
"Did I?" Nameless flexed the arm the Red Qi had just passed through. "I wasn't controlling it or anything..."
The Flint Spirit rose from his palm, spun a few times in the air, and let out an astonished sigh.
"You're a natural. Looks like you won't need a separate lesson on channeling Qi into a weapon, either. Just circulate your Red Qi yourself now, and practice a little."
Nameless hadn't yet figured out what the praise meant when the Flint Spirit continued, "Try channeling Red Qi into the paintbrush, then swing it toward me. If your Red Qi can hit me, you pass."
"You can't hurt me, so don't worry."
Good. Was it like before? Nameless tried. The Red Qi was already dancing inside him. At his call, it surged from his body into his fingertips, then into the paintbrush the Flint Spirit had tossed him.
He gave it a simple swing. This time the Red Qi didn't vanish right away. It left a visible red streak in the air. The Flint Spirit sent out a streak of its own. The two lights collided, canceled each other out, and then sank into the wall.
"Our Qi signatures canceled each other out," the Flint Spirit explained. "Qi without an owner returns to its surroundings automatically. Once you use it, it's hard to get back. But the house seems able to gather this Red Qi on its own."
Nameless nodded thoughtfully. "Did I pass?"
"No. Either you hit me, or you use up all your Qi."
"All right..."
Nameless settled into position again. Either use it all up or hit the Flint Spirit... If he sent out all his Qi at once, he could probably meet both conditions. That sounded pretty good! He turned slightly, held the paintbrush in his right hand, and raised it to the level of his left ear. The red light gathering at its tip was much brighter than before.
He swung hard at the Flint Spirit.
A crescent-shaped blade of Red Qi flew from the brush. It was taller than Nameless himself! It tore through the air and shot straight at the Flint Spirit. As soon as he released the strike, Nameless shuddered, his whole body dimming. He staggered back a step and barely managed to keep from falling.
As the Qi blade took shape, the Flint Spirit changed course from its planned counterattack. Instead of letting the Red Qi around it spread outward, it swept it inward, gathering it into a round shield in front of itself.
"Bang—"
A dull impact echoed through the empty room. The enormous blade of Red Qi slammed into the shield. Cracks spread from the point of impact; then the shield burst into a cloud of drifting Red Qi. The Flint Spirit was thrown back by the force, tumbling through the air several times before finally stopping several meters away.
"Flint Spirit! Are you all right?" Forgetting how weak he felt, Nameless immediately staggered toward it.
"I'm all right—"
The tumbling sphere finally steadied itself. Most of the Red Qi that had surrounded it was gone, and the sphere itself had dimmed. But there was an unmistakable excitement in its voice.
"Your talent is incredible! You managed a full-power strike right from the start—"
"As long as you're okay! You scared me half to death!" Once he'd made sure the Flint Spirit was all right, Nameless went limp and lay flat on the floor, completely relaxed.
The Flint Spirit drifted down, coming to rest on his right.
"—But that's dangerous in a real fight. If you use up all your Qi, we won't be able to defend ourselves. You have to keep enough for at least one more strike. Rest for a while. We're continuing this afternoon!"
Nameless lay on the floor for a long time before a faint white glow returned to his soul. A flash of red, and the Flint Spirit vanished. Downstairs, he heard the soft rustle of the bedding. He braced himself against the floor, got to his feet bit by bit, and slowly made his way toward the stairs.
This time, he didn't have the energy to stare at the stairs. He reached the living room, stumbled back to the bedroom, and nearly threw himself onto the bed. Face buried in the pillow, he fell asleep at once.
The Flint Spirit went outside alone and patrolled along the stream. There was no Black Qi inside the Empty Shell, and it was always daytime outside. Still, with that perfect place to rest, a bright sky that never darkened wasn't so bad.
Thinking of that earlier strike, the Flint Spirit gave a helpless shake. Using up all his Red Qi in one go looked an awful lot like slacking off... That wouldn't do. What should he learn next? Defense? Right, defense. First, a Qi shield...
About an hour later, a rhythmic vibration woke Nameless. He opened his eyes groggily. A mischievous wisp of Red Qi was pressing into his back, diligently pushing him toward the edge of the bed. He tried to roll over and grab it, but it quickly vanished, leaving him clutching at nothing.
If it had resorted to this, he really did have to get up. He resigned himself to climbing out of bed. When he reached the living room, the Flint Spirit was hovering perfectly still, as though it had nothing to do with the prank.
He came closer, but it didn't greet him. It merely said, calmly, "You're up? Take a minute to get ready, then we'll keep practicing. Don't waste time."
"You definitely aren't angry because you got knocked flying..."
Nameless muttered under his breath. The Flint Spirit didn't hear him. Besides, he'd been the one at fault, so he obediently did as he was told.
The Flint Spirit flickered. "Go outside first. I'll tidy the bedroom."
Soon he was out in the yard—but he thought he heard something in the bedroom laughing...
The next instant, the Flint Spirit appeared beside him, having finished tidying up.
"There's a channel here," it explained briskly. "Now use Qi to make a sluice gate and hold back the water."
"A sluice gate? But isn't Qi one-use only?" Nameless thought back to his earlier attack, puzzled. "All I know how to do is throw it."
"Fair point. Then let's start with the basics." The Flint Spirit's voice was calm. "You shattered my Qi shield. But have you ever wondered how Qi can be shaped into a shield at all?"
Nameless didn't know what to say. Qi had no shape; even when it could be used to attack, it dispersed as soon as it left your hand. How could the Flint Spirit control it so freely, even using it to block a strike?
"I'll be direct," the Flint Spirit announced. "It takes precise control of Qi. First, gather a handful of Red Qi and hold it in your hand. Don't throw it."
Nameless gathered only a tiny amount, carefully, afraid he'd accidentally fling it away again.
"Good. Now release it and draw a simple shape outside your body."
It sounded easy. Release it and shape it—what could be hard about that? But when Nameless actually tried, he discovered that as soon as the Red Qi moved any distance from his body, he lost control of it completely. Luckily, he had only used a little. The escaping current merely blew away a few innocent leaves.
"Don't get discouraged," the Flint Spirit reassured him. "This is your first attempt at controlling Qi outside your body. Mistakes are inevitable. Give me your hand."
The Flint Spirit landed in his hand once more.
"Feel this cloud of Qi around me. I can lend you control of it for a while. Once you can manage it even a little, you'll have the basics."
What if he treated the Flint Spirit like a rather round paintbrush... Would that make it easier? Nameless closed his eyes and tried to sense it. Soon, he could clearly feel the Qi cloud around the Flint Spirit. An invisible force encircled it, tracing the shape of the cloud.
But how was he supposed to control it? He couldn't just swing the Flint Spirit around like a paintbrush and send it flying. He tried gripping it a little tighter, but its surface was so smooth it almost slipped out of his hand. He quickly cupped it with his other hand. There he was, holding it in both hands, unsure whether he should move or stay still. The whole thing was getting awkward.
"Stop grabbing me!" the Flint Spirit called. "If you want it to move, it'll move. It's that simple."
Then... make the Qi cloud turn once? Nameless thought.
"Turn!"
"Come on, turn!"
"..."
Every time he shouted, his hands squeezed the Flint Spirit a little harder without him meaning to. He called five or six times, but the cloud didn't budge.
"Think it! Control it with your thoughts! Don't shout at it!" The Flint Spirit was holding back laughter and nearly bounced out of his hands. "I'll do it. Feel what I'm doing!"
The Flint Spirit drew out a wisp of Green Qi and wrapped its intention around it. Then it sent the Green Qi into the cloud, and the whole cloud began to turn smoothly. It gave a small twist and flew back into the air.
"Simply put, you have to make the Qi hear what you're thinking. Start practicing now. We'll continue once you can finally control Red Qi outside your body."
Nameless immediately began practicing in earnest. Gather, release, dissipate—until the sixth time, when he tried to keep the escaping Red Qi together, he finally made progress. The Red Qi gathered into a small ball in his hands and held together for fifteen seconds before dissipating.
"Good! How does it feel?" the Flint Spirit asked.
"Fine. It isn't that hard."
"You don't need to keep Red Qi outside your body for long, so that's enough. Keep going."
Nameless nodded and tried again with his new insight. After more than ten failures, he finally managed to shape a ball of Red Qi about the same size as the Flint Spirit. By then, he had used up most of the Qi inside him.
"Is that enough? I'm tired."
"More or less. Go rest on the second floor and replenish your Red Qi. We only need one test."
Nameless went back into the house and sat quietly on the second-floor floorboards. Red Qi seeped from the patterns in the walls and floor and spread beneath him, slowly filling what he'd spent. Half an hour later, he felt restored and returned to the yard at once.
The Flint Spirit spoke. "Ready? I'm opening the sluice now. Stop the water."
The moment it finished speaking, it opened the sluice and set the water moving. Clear stream water surged down the channel. Nameless immediately stood by it and shaped his Red Qi into a round disk, blocking the water's path. The stream looked gentle, but its force was merciless.
How could colorless water have so much force?
"That's the force of nature. And there's Qi in the water too. We just can't see it," the Flint Spirit explained from beside him.
Nameless answered, then focused on keeping his Qi shield in place. Every rush of water wore away some of the Red Qi. Besides, the channel wasn't regular, and a simple circle couldn't plug all the gaps.
Was his control still not good enough? Nameless silently resolved to get better at this!
But however gifted he was, it was still his first time. The water upstream suddenly rippled, and a wave crashed into the round shield. A tiny crack opened in its center, but Nameless was so focused he didn't notice. The Flint Spirit simply watched without saying a word.
Splash—
Another wave came. The already strained round shield finally reached its limit and shattered with a crash. Nameless, who had been bracing himself against the current, lost his balance and pitched forward, but a soft cushion of Red Qi caught him.
"This is your first try, and you did very well." The Flint Spirit shut the sluice and gave its verdict. "That part is a pass. Now, do you feel anything?"
Nameless had just caught his breath. He focused inward, but felt nothing except exhaustion.
"Not really..."
"That's right. When a Qi shield breaks, all you lose is a little Qi."
"That's it?"
"That's it. Your control still needs work. There's one last thing for today. Keep it up!"
Nameless nodded silently. The Flint Spirit led him under the willow and handed him the paintbrush.
It opened from the middle again. The light screen no longer showed the language-selection menu. Instead, a few willow leaves appeared, each with a different shape.
"I picked these leaves at random. They go from simple to complex, from outline to veins. Your goal is to reproduce them using as little Red Qi as possible."
Nameless nodded and tightened his grip on the paintbrush.
The Flint Spirit enlarged the outline of the first leaf. Nameless studied it for a moment, then lifted the brush. A few strokes and turns, and a slender red leaf of light took shape.
"Good. Now add the details." The Flint Spirit switched to the second image. "It has to last at least twenty seconds."
It showed a simple pattern of leaf veins, just a few lines added to the frame he'd drawn. Nameless understood. He drew on more Red Qi and began to paint: first the outline, then the veins. Unfortunately, before the twentieth second was up, the willow leaf's glow dimmed, and it collapsed, letting him down.
"Again." The Flint Spirit's tone didn't change.
He only needed a little more than before. Nameless didn't complain. He gathered Qi again, set the brush down, and drew.
"Twenty-five seconds. That's enough. Next leaf."
Then came the third, fourth, and fifth. Each took more Qi, and each had finer details to draw—but it was only a leaf. How hard could it be? By the time he reached the last one, if not for its vivid red color, the leaf of Red Qi he'd painted was indistinguishable from a real willow leaf.
And the moment it took perfect shape, the Red Qi inside him was exhausted once again.
The leaf lasted a full minute. The Flint Spirit put away the light screen, circled the fading leaf once, then stopped in front of Nameless.
"You are unquestionably gifted at observation and imitation. It looks like we can stop practicing. Go back to sleep."
A wisp of gentle Red Qi separated from the Flint Spirit and nudged his back, telling him to head inside.
Nameless asked no more questions. Being drained of all his strength twice in one day didn't feel good. He went back to the familiar little bedroom, fell into the soft bed, and quickly sank into darkness.
In the living room, the Flint Spirit hovered quietly. The light screen opened again. A streak of red swept across it, erasing most of the densely written lesson plan.
"Time to rewrite the plan again. Honestly, plans never keep up with change!" it grumbled to itself. "How many more surprises are in store for us?"
Then the light faded, and the wooden house settled into a long silence.
— End of Chapter —