The First Cultivator

"That was disappointing," Azura said, returning to the crimson-haired mage. She had seen her getting chased. The internal debate about whether to help or not was quite fierce. Ultimately, she thought having a mage in her debt might be helpful. If she was honest with herself, the idea of watching someone, even a mage, get eaten didn't sit well with her. Besides, it was a good chance to test out her new powers.

Pfft. What a letdown that was. With her ki steps, the thing couldn't even nudge her. Then, with a ki-infused punch, the bug simply exploded. That part was quite satisfying, but it was over too quickly. She still didn't have a benchmark for her abilities. Azura sighed as she knelt down next to the mage.

Should she leave her?

It would be cruel to leave her here to die, but if she let her go… her secret could be out.

"Hmm" Azura hummed. The mage didn't appear to be powerful. Otherwise, she wouldn't have fled from such a weak creature.

After another minute of debate, Azura decided to see what the mage had to say. Perhaps she could intimidate the mage. Torren said she was good at that. Of course, he only said that after she thwacked him on the head a few times.

The only problem was that the mage was still out. Fetching a stick, Azura began prodding her. It wasn't until the stick drove up the mage's nose that she thrashed about, snorting loudly.

***

Brianna flailed wildly before scrambling away. She was about to bolt when a stick plopped on her head. It must have fallen from the tree above. The jolt broke her blind panic. Brianna's rapid gasps calmed as she tried to recall what had happened. A loud cough drew her focus.

A kin. She vaguely recalled something with a kin. Her mind was still foggy as she stood up.

"What happened?" Brianna asked, her voice slightly slurred. She glanced around, confused. Where was she?

The cat-kin didn't answer. The kin just peered at Brianna curiously as if waiting for something. What was she looking at? Did… did she like girls? Brianna felt herself blush.

"I'm Brianna of house Runedane," she stumbled. "Who are you?"

"Azura."

"What happened?" Brianna asked again.

"You don't remember?"

For a moment, the confusion remained. That lasted until Azura pointed at a mana beast's splattered corpse. It all came rushing back.

She was in the mana forest. This would have been obvious if she were thinking clearly.

She had been chased and nearly caught by a mana beast. Then, a kin saved her. A kin in the mana forest. A kin mage. What else could it be? A surge of terror raced through her.

"I need to get home," Brianna said, her voice quivering. She had to get out of here now. She might be in more danger than ever.

She turned to go when Azura grabbed her wrist. Her grip wasn't painful, but it was immovable.

"We have a problem, Brianna. Can you guess what it is?"

"Unhand me," Brianna said in a panicked tone, pulling as hard as she could. The hand didn't move in the slightest.

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"I see you are beginning to understand," Azura said. "I saved you, mage. In doing so, I exposed my secret. What should I do with you?" The kin tapped her chin as if in contemplation.

"I won't tell anyone…"

"I'm to trust the word of a mage? I think not, Brianna Runedane." The intensity of her name sent a chill down her spine. Fear flooded her heart as it thumped wildly.

What was she going to do? Every exaggerated tale of violent kin flashed through her mind. She had never believed such tales before. But right now, with this powerful kin staring at her, she did. Perhaps that is why she lashed out.

"FORCEBOLT!" Brianna cried, launching the spell at Azura's chest with her free hand.

The spell landed. The kin should have been torn apart. Or at least hurled backward.

None of those things happened.

In fact, nothing happened besides the kin's tunic tearing from the force. What was left couldn't even be called rags. Brianna only got a quick look at the kin's exposed chest when a crushing pain enveloped her wrist. Bones broke, then broke again as they compressed against each other. Brianna screamed.

"Whoops," the monstrous kin said.

***

Azura didn't mean to break the young woman's wrist. She had been annoyed. She had intentionally antagonized the woman, but didn't think she would attack. Fortunately, her ki reinforced her body to an absurd degree. She hadn't even taken a scratch. The same couldn't be said for her clothes. Perhaps she could extend the flow of her ki just outside her body, like an aura. Then, she could reinforce that. She would have to experiment. Now she had to deal with the weeping girl. Azura let go, and Brianna fell to her knees, cradling her wrist.

"That is two you owe me Brianna," Azura said, her tone menacing. "So, for the first one, give me your undershirt."

Brianna's tear-streaked face looked up at her. "W…What?"

"Your shirt under your robes. Give it to me," Azura clarified. "You ruined mine."

"Okay," Brianna sobbed. "Just don't hurt me." She struggled to undo her robes and remove her shirt, whimpering as her wrist moved. Azura suppressed her feelings of guilt. She was being mean, but she couldn't show any hesitation. Perhaps she shouldn't have saved her. But… wouldn't she be just as bad as the mages?

"You attacked me," Azura reminded Brianna and herself as she took the offered shirt. Azura slipped it on. It was finely made and was the nicest shirt she had ever owned.

"So now about my secret…"

"I WON'T TELL!"

"I wish I could believe you. However, I'm not that dumb. I will take an oath on your mana pool."

Brianna stared, her eyes wide. The request was so absurd that she even forgot her shattered wrist.

A mana contract, as it is called, was an oath sworn on one's mana pool. The mage's mana pool would shrivel and close if the oath was ever broken. The mage would lose their magic.

"I can't…"

"You can," Azura countered. "You will swear to never tell anyone about what happened here today. Not by word of mouth or by any other means. You will also swear to owe me a favor to be done to the best of your ability when I come to collect."

"If I don't…"

"Use your imagination," Azura said with a smile as she hid an internal grimace. Gods below, she sounded like some storytime villain. There was no way the mage was going to believe this.

Brianna swallowed. Azura could see the sweat beading on her face. Perhaps she was doing a better job than she thought…

"I, Brianna Runedane, hereby swear on my magic that I shall tell no one of today's events by any means. I will also not discuss what had transpired with the individual known as Azura and me."

"And…" Azura prompted.

"I… I also swear on my magic to owe one favor to Azura to be claimed at her chosen time."

With the words spoken, Brianna grimaced as the binding oath wrapped around her mana pool, squeezing it as it locked into place. Her magic and intent made it real.

"Good!" Azura chirped. "Now, let's get out of here."

The pair walked toward the exit in silence. Azura took it slow, practicing with her ki on each step. Brianna was just as slow. Pain and exhaustion were sapping her strength. When the pair left the mana forest, Brianna collapsed in relief.

"I made it…"

"With a little help," Azura chimed in. "Remember your oath." Tired of dealing with the mage and wishing to be dramatic, she waited till Brianna looked at her, then deliberately stopped practicing her technique. Instead, she moved as quickly as she could. Within a minute, Azura was out of sight. She stopped her rushed movements and started practicing again as she returned home, one careful step at a time.

***

Brianna shielded her face as the kin moved. The burst of speed was so great that the backlash of the wind was similar to a tornado spell. Once the wind died, she looked back to see the kin moving far in the distance faster than she thought possible.

Supreme haste???

What else could it be?

Brianna gazed dumbfounded, momentarily forgetting the pain.

The kin must have been a Grand Magus, at the very least. Perhaps more. How did a kin get so much power? By the gods above, what had she gotten herself into?