“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Quietly,Imuttered,

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

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

likeaflowingstream.

TomakeacultivatoratFoundatioablishmehismuch—itwastheequivalentofanordinarypersontrainingintenselyforhours.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Panting,Iasked,

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“ThisisthefirstformoftheSorSparrowBattleTeique.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“SorSparrowBattleTeique,FirstForm.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Halftheeffort...?

“Oh?”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Theeokeup:

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowar

Aminiaturefigureappearedinmymind,demonstratingamartialsequence.Meanwhile,appeared:

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Timepassed.

Thistime,somethingcriticappeared:theactualteique.

Thefirstformtainsfivemoves.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Tweer,thefigurefisdemonstration.Imimickedit.

Therewerefivedistinctmoves.Afterpletingthem,Iwasdrenchedi,myqipletelydepleted.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”