The First Cultivator

A delicious aroma barged into Azura's bedroom and dove down her nose. It tugged on every smell receptor as it wiggled further inside, crawling down to its ultimate goal. Only half of the drool escaping from her mouth was now from sleep. Once the aroma reached her stomach, it did a dance that was more like a seizure on cocaine. The explosive gurgle from her stomach snapped Azura's eyes open. Moving faster than magic, Azura burst out the door in an azure flash. Instantly, she was at the table, a fork in hand, her mouth ajar with a tiny trickle of drool pooling on her chin.

Not dissimilar to a cat fixed on a mouse, her gaze never left her mother as she flipped a massive steak over in a pan. The sizzling of the meat as it splashed down brought a tear to her eye, which was the only time she blinked. Ten agonizing minutes later, the delectable dish was in front of her.

"I love you so much!" Azura cried as she cut a piece that was far too big for her mouth. Despite all the laws of reality indicating such an action was physically impossible, she shoved the meaty brick into her mouth. Fortunately, the mana beast was so tender it fell apart and slid down her throat.

"It's so good!" Azura cheered once her mouth was clear enough for speech, yet all that came out was a barely intelligible mumble.

"I give up on teaching you proper manners," Coralline said sadly as her daughter once again filled her mouth to 120% of maximum capacity.

She eyed her daughter carefully. "You were pretty tired yesterday. Are you all better now?"

Azura, her mouth too full to respond, paused and examined her mana pool. As expected, her mana was still mostly exhausted. However, as she watched, she noticed something odd. The mana from the meat didn't enter her pool. Her mana was denser. It did, however, re-energize part of her dense mana before seeping out of her. The ratio wasn't good. It took about 10 parts of the meat's mana to recharge 1 part of hers, but it did help.

"I might need another nap later before I can go out," Azura said once her mouth was empty.

"Go out?" Her mother asked. "You're grounded for a month. I thought I told you that already."

"You were serious about that?!" Azura cried, tears forming in her eyes.

"Don't give me that look."

"So, I can only go out for my lessons?" Azura asked.

Coralline hesitated a second. "There are no more lessons for now. With the crisis going on, they were shut down."

At least a tiny bit of good news, Azura thought.

"However, I have different plans," Coralline said smugly, and Azura gulped. "You told me your magic enhances your body, right?

"…yes."

"Well, Fatania and the others came over this morning while you were asleep. We discussed it and put together a training regimen for you."

This was bad! What was she going to do? Her mother had an evil smile in place. It was one she recognized and deeply feared. Azura knew she had to do something, or her precious childhood was over!

"I, I need time to work on my magic," Azura said.

"Oh, I figured as much. You were spending a lot of time in your room. So, during your physical training, you will use no magic at all. Since you said, it has to recharge. Your training sessions will take place in the morning. After lunch, you can work on your magic. I'll give you a free day once a week."

"But…I want to spend time with my friends," Azura wailed.

"They're going to join you. They wanted to be heroes. They have to be prepared for the part."

"So cruel…" Azura whispered.

"Exactly," Her mother grinned at her. "Now finish your food. Then, head over to Burton's place. Your training begins today. Remember, no magic."

Burton, Gerald's father, ran a smithy. He wasn't a great smith nor a bad one. He was the kind of smith everyone needed. Horseshoes? No problem. Axel broken. Leave it to Burton! Punish willful cat-kin girls who constantly get in trouble? Well, that was just fun.

***

The orc lord gleefully mocked his prisoners.

"Only three more laps!" He called to the poor, sweet, innocent cat-kin girl who never did anything wrong. Next to her, the rabbit-kin was crawling, the heavy weights strapped to his body taking their toll. The rat-kin was faring even worse, as he had already collapsed, unmoving. She wept frustrated tears at his loss but knew she must push on. What choice was there? If she didn't move, she would remain in this nightmare forever. Or at least until lunch, which was practically forever. The only one in their group who could handle the load was Gerald, who trotted past Azura. The fool had a grin on his face. Blood traitor!

One step after another, Azura went on, nearing the end. Her vision narrowed as she barely managed to complete the final lap. The sacks with discarded metal bits fell from her shoulders as she collapsed, panting. Toren hadn't finished his last lap. He lay around the back of the house, unmoving. Hamal was squished like a pancake.

"Do you all feel energized after a good workout?" Burton asked.

"You said it, Pa!" Gerald said.

Azura didn't even have the energy to maintain her orc lord prisoner fantasy. She couldn't even muster up foul names for Gerald… she would have to do that later.

"Come on, you lot! The warm-up is over. Time to get started."

Azura looked up at the sadistic bear-kin. He had to be joking… he was not.

Two hours later, Azura couldn't feel her arms or any other part of her anatomy. She had to double-check to verify that she was still in one piece. Yet the cruelty of her day was far from over. After the beating at Gerald's house, the weary party went to Hamal's. This was slightly less torturous than the previous session.

"Hiyaa!" Azura cried as she punched Gerald in the chest. It had slightly more effect than a grasshopper's fart. The bear-kin looked down, then back up. He proceeded to hand-chop Azura on the head.

"Ow!" Azura cried, falling to her knees.

"Always move," Fatania sighed. "You're smaller than Gerald, you need to be swift. Dash around and get a few jabs in. Never stay still."

"He's not moving," Azura complained. "And this mail shirt is heavy. It's too hard to move."

"He's a bear-kin," Fatania said. "You're a cat-kin. Speed is your greatest asset. And the shirt is for training. If you can move fast with that on, then you'll be even faster with it off."

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"But Gerald doesn't have one," Azura whined.

"Stop complaining. Gerald has his own objective."

That was true. On top of Gerald's head was a cup he had to keep balanced as Azura tried to knock it off. The way Fatania described it, this would increase the bear-kin's awareness and balance. For Azura, it would be practice for her speed and precision. Although slowed by the shirt, she wasn't much faster than Gerald.

Azura sighed. This day wasn't much fun. Gerald, seeing Azura's disheartened look, raised his hand for a pause as he got a contemplative look on his face.

"How about we make a game out of it?" Gerald asked.

"Fatania said this was a game already," Azura pouted as she kicked a pebble.

Gerald grinned. "How about I'm an evil dragon-kin, and atop my head rests the Kin's Crown! The legendary artifact that can make any mage shit their pants if they come within ten feet. Your mission is to recover the artifact and use it to defeat the mages once and for all."

Azura just looked at the smiling bear-kin. Then, slowly, she smiled as well. She closed her eyes, diving into the fantasy.

The scorched earth lay around her as molten rock flowed in a nearby river. The air was heavy with sulfur from the constant lightning strikes, making breathing a challenge. Fortunately, the chain mail of easy breathing allowed her to persist in this hellish zone. After three years of constant trials, which would have broken lesser kin, she stood before the king of dragon-kin, Tuffles!

"No, I want to be called Talgore," Gerald interrupted. "Also, lightning strikes don't make a sulfur smell."

"It does too!" Azura argued

"Does not," Gerald said.

"Does too."

"Does not."

"Let's just pretend, okay?" Azura said.

"Okay…"

The dragon-kin Talgore towered above the blue-haired cat-kin warrior, the last of her people. He had mercilessly killed her entire clan. Now, it was time for her revenge. The pink dragon-kin...

"Black," Gerald interrupted again.

"Pink!" Azura demanded.

Gerald crossed his arms.

"Fine!" Azura scoffed.

…The black dragon-kin, who was secretly pink, laughed as the cat-kin approached.

"The mightiest cat-kin is a small girl! Truly, your kind is as worthless as a mage's droppings!"

"Hey!" Azura interrupted.

"What?" Gerald asked.

"That's not nice!"

"Of course not. I'm an evil dragon-kin."

"Still…"

"We'll never get this fantasy going if you keep interrupting," Gerald said flatly, the cup on his head rattling slightly.

"You're the one who interrupted before."

"You knew I would when you made those silly additions."

"A pink dragon-kin named Tuffles would have been cute," Azura argued, crossing her arms.

"It's not supposed to be cute."

"I'll show both of you cute if you both don't get started," Fatania barked, shaking her fist, then used that fist to club Hamal in the head.

"Okay," the pair said in unison.

After a verbal sparring session that was so epic that the landscape itself was devastated by the remarks, Azura, the last cat-kin champion, launched herself at Talgore. She fainted and weaved, striking his abdomen before reaching up high. If she could just take his crown, the dragon-kin would lose most of his power. Yet the blow failed to affect the mighty dragon-kin. With casual ease he swatted aside her reaching hand. With his other arm Talgore swung low, determined to rid himself of this nuisance once and for all. Azura cursed the need for the magical chainmail as she barely dodged to the left. Twisting with all her might, she evaded the next blow, which had enough force to shake the land. The land kept trembling as Azura stumbled away, then Talgore stumbled, his crown falling to the ground to shatter. Yet the ground kept trembling…

"What's going on?!" Azura shouted as the ground shook.

"Earthquake!" Fatania shouted.

A few moments later, the shaking ceased. The eerie silence was only disturbed by frightened birds taking flight. Gerald picked up the fallen cup as they resumed their training. Such events happened every few years. It wasn't a big deal.

***

Loric stood up from his pretend tea party with Elise when the trembling started.

"What's happening Daddy?" The girl asked, jumping into his arms. He didn't answer as he began sweating. His gaze was immediately drawn to the west. For he knew the mists were surging once more.

***

The rest of Azura's training with Fatania went without incident. The minor quake didn't do any significant damage to the city. To the kin, it was a regular event. They were never made privy to the significance of the tremors. They never knew that the corruption was drawing ever closer. As they did not know this, they continued on as if nothing had happened, even as mages scrambled, knowing that the reach of the mists had just grown.

The next training was at Toren's house. It was by far the worst trial yet. The agony was beyond comprehension. Azura knew she could go no further. The weight training at Burton was difficult but BEAR-able. Azura chuckled at the mental pun. The sparring at Fatania was slightly enjoyable if she could incorporate her own flourishes. But this training… It was just cruel.

"Your penmanship needs more work," Alenina said to her. "And you too Toren."

"But, Mom," Toren whined. "It's good enough."

"It's not. You all need to practice more, except for Hamal. Good job Hamal."

The rat-kin preened at the compliment. Azura glowered.

"Try again," Alenina said, dropping off fresh paper. "After this, it's mathematics."

Azura panicked at the declaration. Perhaps she could do more weight training instead…

By the time Azura got home for lunch, she was exhausted. She had gotten up early and had been moving non-stop. Only the fantastic breakfast she had kept her on her feet. When she came in through the door, the smell of another mana beast steak greeted her.

"Welcome home," the delicious smell said. With spectral hands, it cradled Azura's head, lifting her off the ground. Then, gentle as a babe, it carried her to the table. Her mother might have been speaking, but she couldn't focus on what she was saying. She was halfway through her meal before she noticed the words directed at her.

"Are you even listening to me?" Coralline asked, exasperated.

Azura nodded frantically.

"Oh? What did I say then?"

Once her mouth was empty, which took several minutes, Azura answered.

"You said. 'Are you even listening to me?"

Her mother gave her a flat look. Azura gave her mother her most innocent expression before shoving more food in her mouth.

"Are you at least listening now?" Coralline sighed. Azura nodded.

"I was telling you that Fatania has already sold the meat. We have set up a free soup station for the kin who can't afford the food prices. I was just telling you that I'm proud of you."

Azura beamed.

"But you're still grounded."

Azura's beam turned to a scowl.

"You will have to spend the rest of the day at home."

Azura nodded in resignation. At least she would have plenty of time to work on her magic.

The meal done, Azura went to her room and began cultivating. She cultivated for several hours until the bed shifted as a weight settled in next to her. Opening her eyes, she found her mother looking at her speculatively.

"I've been checking on you. It looks like your magic practice involves meditation?" Coralline asked.

"Sort of," Azura said. "It requires focus, but it's becoming easier the more I do it. I want to get good enough that I can do it without even trying."

"Hmm," Coralline said, chewing on her lip. "Come out to the living room with me."

"Uh, okay," Azura said.

When they left her room, Azura saw her mother moving tables around, making ample open space. Unsure what was going on, Azura waited as her mother finished up.

"Come here and do what I do," Coralline said and began moving strangely. Azura struggled to follow at first. It was like a dance, but not. Each movement flowed seamlessly into the next. Their hands were in the shape of knives, their stances low, taking advantage of strong legs and tails to keep them balanced. It was ten minutes into the routine before Azura realized this was some type of combat form.

"What's this?" Azura asked as they continued.

Coralline, her eyes closed, continued to move as she spoke. "Have you ever heard of martial arts?"

"No," Azura answered.

"Some kin practice them once they get older. Each kin type has its style to take advantage of our attributes. Our style uses kicks with our claws and sharp jabs. It is a small bit of rebellion against magic users." To emphasize this point, she moved into a slow series of kicks where her feet claws extended out, slashing the air. This was immediately followed by a knife jab that would have been deadly, thanks to her long nails. Azura followed as best she could, although she lacked any of her mother's long nails.

"I do this when I need to think," Coralline said. "My mother taught me long ago, before I left the village. I'm not very good, but I always found this relaxing."

Azura's eyebrow raised. Her mother didn't often speak of her village or her own mother. Something happened, and she had to leave. Azura learned not to ask as her mother would become gloomy afterward.

"I'm showing you this because it might be useful in your magic training. Give it a try." Coralline said.

Azura frowned but obeyed. She accessed her mana pool. With each step Azura took, she folded her mana. With each jab or thrust, she pressed her mana, compressing it further. Soon, a rhythm started. Azura was lost in the motion and closed her eyes. Only the movements of her body and the mana inside her existed. It was beautiful. It gave her cultivating something that she had been lacking. As her magic enhanced the body now, for the first time, it began to work in the opposite direction. Her body began to help strengthen her mana. It always had indirectly restored her exhausted mana, but now it improved it as well. With each step, her mana moved with her. It became thicker, purer, and better.

"Dinner," a voice called. All thoughts of magic abruptly vanished as the scent of food enticed her. As some things changed, others remained the same. And so Azura's routine was settled as events far away began to move.