likeaflowingstream.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Oh?”

Quietly,Imuttered,

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Theeokeup:

Timepassed.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

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

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Panting,Iasked,

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Halftheeffort...?

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.