Spirit Night's POV: The Week of Ice and Sneezes
A week has passed since I handed over that scroll, and I've come to a very important realization: being a God is easy, but being a teacher to ten tiny, stubborn humans is the hardest thing in the universe.
In front of me, the clearing has turned into a makeshift training ground. Six boys and four girls are scattered about, looking less like future legends and more like frozen statues in various states of distress. Because my Spirit-Body Resonance Method requires drawing freezing energy into the Martial Spirit first, the "side effects" for beginners are... well, adorable and messy and the little one who doesn't awake their spirit laughing loudly on their older siblings.
San is currently sitting cross-legged, his eyes squeezed shut in deep meditation, but he has a giant, shimmering icicle hanging from the tip of his nose. Every few seconds, he let out a wet, shivering sneeze that sent a puff of frost into the air. Next to him, Yu was accidentally freezing her own hair to a nearby tree trunk every time she lost focus.
This week has been the most entertaining theater I've ever seen. Yin and Min, who usually act like the "Empress" and "General" of the village, have been thoroughly humbled. Watching them try to teach the other younger ones who awake their spirit while they themselves didn't fully understand the manual was comedy gold.
"No, Fu! You have to swirl the energy left!" Yin would bark, looking very authoritative, only for her own ice spirit power to accidentally pop out and sneeze a cloud of snow into her face.
The younger ones would howl with laughter, pointing at their "mighty" leaders, only to get chased around the clearing five minutes later once Yin had defrosted her eyelashes. They were like a pack of unruly puppies and kittens, biting and playing until they collapsed from exhaustion.
Of course, it wasn't all giggles. On the third day, San—bless his impatient heart—tried to rush the third cycle. He wanted to be a hero so badly that his spirit power began to deviate, turning his blood into slush. If I hadn't been watching like a hawk and grabbed his shoulder to stabilize his meridians with my divine warmth, he would have turned into a literal ice sculpture.
I spent the next four days personally supervising every breath they took. Now, they finally have a minor mastery over the technique. No one has almost died for at least forty-eight hours, which I consider a massive victory.
The Great Spirit Ring Debate
As I sat on my favorite rock, nibbling on a piece of dried fruit, Yin approached me. She had been "Level 10" since the moment I awakened her, and the lack of a Spirit Ring was clearly eating her alive.
She walked up to me, clasping her hands behind her back and tilting her head to the side. She gave me her best "puppy-dog eyes" combined with a cheeky, hopeful smile. Behind her, the other nine stood in a semi-circle, looking like a litter of hungry orphans.
"Master Night... beautiful, amazing Master Night," Yin began, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness. "When are we going to get our Spirit Rings? Please? My Ice Swan is bored! She wants to go Whoosh! and Bam!"
I looked at her, then at the nine pairs of longing eyes behind her.
"No," I said flatly.
Yin's face fell instantly. Her "cute" expression twisted into a pout so powerful it could probably crack stone. Min stepped forward too, looking equally aggrieved. "But Master! Yin and I are already Level 10. If we get our rings now, we can become Spirit Masters and help you fight! We can protect you!"
I rolled my eyes. These kids... they really think they're the grown-ups and they can protect me after becoming spirit master. I'm technically only dozens of days old! I'm the baby here! Why don't I get to throw a tantrum?
"Listen to me," I said, hopping off my rock to look them in the eyes—which was hard, because Yin is already quite tall for her age. "Yin, I'm not saying no because I'm mean. Well, I am mean, but that's not the point. The weakest among you is Level 6. Within a year, using my method, all of you will hit the Level 10 bottleneck together."
I crossed my arms. "I am not going to the forest ten different times. We will go as a pack or a group. Until then, you will master the Resonance Method. You will toughen your skin and strengthen your bones. A Spirit Ring is just a tool; if your body is weak, a powerful tool will only break your hand."
Yin looked like she wanted to argue—her jaw was set in that " I want a spirit ring" way long face —but she knew better than to push me when I used my authority like 'God-Voice.'
"Fine," she huffed, looking a little angry. She turned around and stomped back to the others.
Min caught up to her, whispering something in her ear. I watched them closely. Min was always the level-headed one he would understand the mean when I say group. After a moment of whispering, Yin's anger seemed to transform into a terrifyingly intense focus.
"You heard Master Night!" Yin shouted to the group, her voice cracking with determination. "Nobody sleeps until you hit Level 10! If I catch anyone slacking, I'll bury you in the snow!"
The children shivered—not from the cold this time, but from Yin's gaze. They immediately scrambled back to their meditation spots, breathing in the cold evening air with renewed ferocity.
I sat back down, watching the golden pillar of faith in the distance where angel mom consolidating her power. I didn't want to kill Spirit Beasts. My silver dragon king Mother was their Queen, after all. But for these children to survive in this Dark Age and become a force that I can use to protect my mom and mother, blood would eventually have to be spilled.
I'll protect the soul beasts race later, I promised myself. For now, I have to my own powerfull force, starting from this little one.