Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Panting,Iasked,

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Quietly,Imuttered,

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Timepassed.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

Halftheeffort...?

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

“gratutions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Theeokeup:

“Oh?”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

likeaflowingstream.