Cultivating Ink 12

The first thing he did was to reach under his armor and remove the stone from its hiding place — well, the second, thing, the first thing was to look around carefully to make sure there was absolutely no one. 

The glow of the stone moved in the same pattern, only much richer. Previously, Alaric could only see a flat and gentle color, but now, it was like a prism, but glowing it all colors at once … or not. He found difficult to even start describing what was going on.

It also felt warmer, but not in a way Alaric could understand. 

Curious, he repeated the same breathing pattern that triggered his success — which came far more easily. It didn’t react, but when he focused on the mindset as well, it earned a reaction. Not only the glow from the rock intensified for a moment, but also the glow actually entered his palms. And, from there, spread through his body. 

He could feel that, whatever that the earlier attack had consumed replenished by the glow … and more. More importantly, the glow of the stone didn’t diminish the slightest, at least, not to a degree he could identify. 

No wonder it created a riot. 

“Though, whatever it is, it is clearly not uncommon considering the merchants identified it at first glance,” he muttered even as he bound stone against his torso once again. He didn’t intend to practice. He couldn’t. 

Because, the moment he used the breathing pattern, the hunger hit hard. Whatever that was going on, it required food. One thing that he was lacking … and continue to lack for a long while. 

Stealing was not an option. His position in the camp was too dangerous to risk it. He would be surprised if the guards didn’t push for his execution just to prove a point. Unfortunately, hunting was out as well. Any beast that was weak enough for him to hunt either mad variety, and attacked the army immediately, or they avoided it completely. 

“Foraging it is,” he muttered even as he looked around, trying to see through the darkness. One good thing about moving in with full provision, no one tried to search for food. Unfortunately, he could move around fifty paces and excuse it by hearing a suspicious voice, but any more, and he risked being called out for abandoning his post. 

Not that he really considered moving. He couldn’t find anything closer to the camp, and maintaining the distance would bring him to other guard posts. The only realistic option was to go deeper … and away from the protection of the army, he would much likely to end up as the food. 

So, he didn’t expect to find much in the dark of the night. Maybe an edible mushroom or two, and maybe some wild carrots or another tuber if he was lucky.  

But, as he started looking, he noticed something interesting. His gaze was sharper, significantly so, allowing him to see in the darkness better than he had expected. He wondered if it was the side effect of absorbing the energy of the stone, or the martial technique. 

He guessed it was the latter, but he couldn’t be sure. 

The enhanced vision meant that he could see deeper into the darkness, which not only allowed him to forage more efficiently, but also see if any guard was getting closer enough to see him. 

Maybe he didn’t have to stay hungry. 

However, before moving forward, he looked around, appreciating his ability to see through the darkness. He could make out more details, from the texture of the bark on nearby trees to the subtle dance of the grass under the shadow of the trees. 

“I wish I still had my brush,” he whispered, feeling a pang of loss. Even with the newly revealed capabilities of the stone, a part of him still wished to have his brush instead. 

With a sigh, he walked forward, careful not to move too far away from his spot, his grip tight around his spear as he carefully rustled the grass. His enhanced sight meant that he could find more. What he found wasn’t enough to fill him completely, but it was enough to take away the worst of the pang. 

There was one thing that could have changed it. He detected a rabbit nest. Unfortunately, even if he managed to hunt or trap it, he couldn’t consume it, not without creating too much commotion in the process. 

A bad idea, considering his standing in the camp. 

Instead, once he finished foraging every possible edible plant in the limited range he allowed himself to move, he went back to his spot, and stood straight, occasionally practicing the physical parts of the spear attack without employing the breathing part, not risking consuming his very limited strength. 

To his absolute lack of surprise, no one came to relieve him of his guard duty. A few times, the guards came to check him, and Alaric did his best to look absolutely miserable to make sure their sadistic drive had been fulfilled. 

He was only relieved of his duty when it was dawn, leaving him less than an hour to sleep. “I have a feeling I won’t be able to sleep,” he muttered even as he stumbled forward — through his misery was mostly performative. 

He didn’t know whether it was his achievement with the martial arts technique, or it was the effect of the stone, but he was feeling quite lively. He still acted like exhausted, knowing that they would bored bullying him in a few days. 

And, even if they didn’t, Alaric was ready to play along until he could get a stock of his new capabilities and make a new plan.

Which was why his eyes widened when his eyes met with Lucian, who had been just returning to the camp, his happiness quick to turn into anger when he caught Alaric’s state. Alaric was quick to give him a signal to calm down and play along, not wanting him to create a commotion. 

Especially not before a talk that he could understand what was going on. 

Lucian seemed reluctant, but he still followed his direction. But, talking with him seemed to be more difficult than Alaric had expected, because the chosen twenty didn’t march with the rest of them anymore. Instead, they stuck with the soldiers. 

It meant Alaric had received a similar treatment at the breakfast line, but he once again managed to save his bread from the bullies. 

Then, it was time for the march. Alaric expected to be utterly spent when the march came to an end, but to his surprise, it wasn’t the case. The march felt more like a leisure stroll. Even the spear didn’t feel as heavy. 

He wondered if the enhanced senses weren’t the only benefit he received. Unfortunately, he wasn’t in a position to test it. 

Then,, it was time to train. He was pushed to the back of the group as they lined up to receive training, which was to be expected. Yet, he was barely able to hide a smile. Most of his fellow residents were excited to receive another lesson, enough to gossip during the march about how they would prove themselves to be selected as well. 

The moment he saw the trainer’s barely concealed anger, Alaric knew that it wouldn’t be the case. “I’m impressed. It looks like you have some true gems among you, enough to earn the honor of being discovered by our esteemed sergeant. Maybe I should see if I can discover some. Any volunteers.” 

To Alaric’s surprise, a great number of people raised their hands. It surprised Alaric. He expected the other slum rats to catch their trainer’s angry tone, one that probably was targeted at Lucian and the rest, their mere presence treated as an insult. 

He wasn’t even doing a good job of hiding it. 

But then, Alaric looked at the faces of the trainees, and saw hope. It clicked. 

It was the hope that drove them, enough to blind a lifetime of instincts. Alaric would have pitied them … but his body was still aching from the beating he had reached the night before, delivered by the same people that were currently being beaten down. 

Though, he still had the presence of mind to keep his smile concealed. 

Once the first beating had been delivered, the others were quick to lower their hands, but it didn’t trainer from calling them forward one by one, and delivering the same treatment … then several that hadn’t volunteered. 

It was not fair, but then nothing else was fair either. 

Alaric couldn’t say that he was unhappy about it, especially since the beating was spectacular enough to turn the resentment of the guards into amusement, the proper order establishing once more in their perspective. 

Not only that, but the sharp attitude of the trainer was enough to shift focus. It transformed the resentment toward Lucian to anger toward trainers, which meant Alaric wasn’t a convenient collateral anymore. 

He still needed to be careful to avoid some opportunistic bully, but it wouldn’t be as bad. 

Hopefully, he would have the time to explore his new abilities.