Ashan continued sadhana under Nadrima's guidance.
Her touch guided his prana—showing it paths it had not known, channels it had never explored. The flow that had been a struggle became fluid. Effortless. And his atmic urja followed suit. Two currents, moving as one.
Time dissolved.
"Put on your clothes. Acarya arrives soon."
Ashan nodded. Produced garments from the storage ring. Dressed in silence.
Being naked is... uncomfortable. Understatement.
"Arashen Ashan."
The familiar voice. Ancient. Absolute. Ashan turned. Saluted.
"Praise the Lord of Greed." "Praise the Lord of Greed." "Praise the Lord of Greed."
Acarya Errick's old eyes held something new—approval. Rare. Valuable. "You have passed the mission. And the test." He paused. "Both."
He produced a scroll. Ancient. Dark brown. Bound with cords that seemed older than the Order itself. "You are eligible for this knowledge."
Ashan accepted it. Waited. "Channel your sin energy into it."
"Sin energy... you mean Lobha Urja?" Ashan's brow furrowed. "I can't control it."
"You can." Errick's voice was patient. "Guide it with intent. At your level, that is sufficient. Sin energy is volatile. Untamed. But it responds to will."
Ashan gripped the scroll. Here goes nothing.
He reached deep. Past the cultivated flows. Past the disciplined currents. To the root chakra's depths. Dark golden energy stirred. Wild. Chaotic. Uncooperative.
Tch. A mere energy defies its wielder?
He pushed harder. Drew it upward. The dark golden current crept along his spine—faint at first, then surging like a broken dam.
"Control it." Errick's voice. Calm. Instructive. "Don't let it run wild."
Ashan's jaw clenched. The wrestle began.
Minutes passed—each one an eternity. His body tingled with the effort of taming something that wanted to remain wild. Then—submission. The energy calmed. A thread of dark gold entered the scroll.
Blaze. The scroll ignited—not with fire, but with light. The same dark gold radiance.
"Gah!" Something entered him. Not physically—deeper. His mind. His Chit Sagar. Knowledge. The Samyama Marga. Finally.
Light blazed for heartbeats. Then faded. The scroll burned away with it.
Ashan clutched his forehead. Dizzy. Overwhelmed. Enlightened.
Three. The answer is three. His lips curled.
"Kumar Taevor instructed me to tell you—with this, you can solidify your foundation." Errick produced a wooden box. "Nine Union pills. Specially prepared for you."
"Well, well." Nadrima's snicker cut through. "Someone's favorite."
Ashan accepted the box. Stored it carefully.
Taevor... investing in me. Resources. Knowledge. Trust. I won't disappoint.
"Tell the Kumar my thanks. I won't forget his kindness."
"There is a condition." Errick's voice sharpened. "Use only one pill before your ascension. Two at most. If you take more before reaching Arohan..." He let the silence speak. "Gruesome pain. Understood?"
"I understand."
Arohan. Can I reach it? Serpent and Rat faction vidyas—I need both. Or another path entirely.
"When will you give him that?" Errick glanced at Nadrima. She frowned. Then: "Oh. Right. Almost forgot."
A pendant flew through the air. "Yaren's gift. He said to give it after I gave you a proper beating—for using his teachings to create blasphemy."
Ashan's lips twitched. Blasphemy. I'm reducing the population, and he calls it blasphemy.
He examined the pendant. Identical to the lost one. Black. Same shape. Same size. He wore it.
"Your next mission." Errick's tone shifted. Solemn. Weighted.
Not another voyage. I'm starting to hate the sea.
"Three years have passed. Your island has attracted attention. Two forces in particular: Suryazar Rajyam and the Hunter Union."
Expected. But I don't like where this leads.
"Ogefil sits at the Alonmari Sea's edge. Suryazar's occupied islands are neither close nor distant. Both forces have been... clearing pirate territories. Yours is one of the few remaining." The words hung. "Your mission: expand. By any means."
There it is. Should I ask for House support?
He glanced at Errick's face. Stone. Immovable. No. One word and he'll petrify me.
His gaze shifted to Nadrima. Smirking. Waiting. "If you want, I can help." Her smile widened. "Ten thousand gold coins. Rajyam or House mint—I don't care."
Forget it, bitch.
"I accept the mission. I'll do my utmost." A pause. "But what about Arohan-ranked threats? Dharmik sadhakas? Rakshasas?"
Errick's brow furrowed slightly. "Arohan rakshasas here?" Nadrima laughed. "This kid's luck is terrible. Don't tell me you met the Krakhan Matriarch on your way?"
Ashan nodded. Expression grim. Errick stroked his beard. "That creature surfaces rarely. That you survived speaks well of you. That you encountered it at all..." He trailed off.
"You don't need to fear it now." Nadrima patted her stomach. "That big fish? I ate it. Half, anyway. The other half went to Acarya."
WHAT? Ashan's eyes went wide. She... ate it? That Matriarch?
"Regarding the rakshasa—don't dwell on it. But stay vigilant." Errick continued. "Arohan Dharmik sadhakas are rare in these waters. Our intelligence suggests most fleets deploy mundane hunters and Bodnir-ranked soldiers. Hunter Union. Suryazar Navy." He paused. "Deploying an Ascender against common pirates is inefficient."
Not reassuring.
Ashan opened his mouth— Light blazed. Errick tore the paper. The blinding glow wrapped both him and Nadrima. "If you encounter a threat beyond you—run." Nadrima's voice carried through the light, darkly amused. "You're the Kumar's favorite, after all." Then—gone.
Ashan stared at the space where they had been. It never stops.
He looked at where they had stood. At least they could have left teleportation charms. Stingy bastards.