The First Cultivator

Loric was ecstatic as he walked toward Coralline's home, his two guards trailing behind him. Finally, he could have his firstborn daughter. True, the circumstances were terrible, but for the first time, he felt like he was making a difference. He was excited to see Coralline again as well. Things ended badly the last time they spoke. He couldn't fault her. He could make a difference now that he'd finally convinced his father to help. Loric planned for the two of them to stay in his private manse. Perhaps he could even rekindle his relationship with Coralline. It's not like his marriage was anything more than a political convenience.

All of Loric's hopes became ash, just like those that were present at the home he stood in front of. Kin worked all around, digging through the charred remains.

Loric grabbed the nearest kin, who stared at him in fright.

"What happened!?" He shouted, and everyone turned to look at him.

"A fire broke out last night. We tried to put it out, but all we could do was stop it from spreading."

"Was anyone hurt?" Loric asked, shaking the kin.

"Umm, we found two bodies. The city watch took them away earlier today. We…"

Loric pushed the kin away, tuning him out. Why? Why did this have to happen now? He had done so much all for this moment. Now, they were dead. He stumbled away from the ruins of his future.

***

Coralline woke gradually. She was warm and weak but felt safe enough for the moment. That lasted till she realized she had no idea where she was. First, she wasn't at home but rather in a cave. Blankets were tightly wrapped around her, as if she were an infant. Her thoughts were muddled.

How did I get here? Coralline thought. Then she remembered. She was attacked. Wait, no. They were attacked. Someone had attacked her little girl. Anger flooded her. She intended to go find whoever it was and gouge out their eyes. That impulsive plan failed when pain shot through her chest as she bolted upright. Coralline began violently coughing.

"Mom!" Azura rushed over, gently guiding her back down. Her daughter ran her fingers through Coralline's long white hair and fur as she spoke.

"It's okay. You're safe now." Coralline cared little for her own safety but wanted to know about Azura. The coughing prevented such a response.

"You have to take it easy," Fatania said, coming into view. "Azura, will you patrol the area? I would like to speak with your mother privately. If you're here, she will be too distracted."

"Huh? Oh. Umm, sure…" Azura leaned down and hugged Coralline. She returned it as best she could before her daughter left the cave.

Fatania waited till she was gone before sitting next to the cat-kin.

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"I'm unclear what happened," Fatania admitted. "Whenever I ask Azura, she gets so worked up that nothing makes sense. She just kept going on and on about being found out. I assumed that someone came after you. As a precaution, I moved you both to a secure location for now."

Coralline cleared her throat. "Assassins attack us. I only saw one, but I guess there were two or three from the blood." Her voice was a bit raspy but understandable.

Fatania handed her a mug of water, which she greedily drank.

"Do you know why they attacked?" Fatania asked once Coralline was finished.

"No. I haven't had a chance to think about it."

"I wonder if Azura's magic was discovered," Fatania mused.

"It's not magic," Coralline said slowly. Fatania gave her a strange look. They had both joked about Azura's insistence that she created something new. To them, it was all strange. They figured she didn't understand magic, having only been briefly taught.

"Really?" Fatania asked.

"Yes. I think I'm beginning to understand. Did Azura mention what exactly happened?"

"Not clearly. Azura just rambled on like she ate a gallon of honey. The girl can't hold still for more than a few seconds."

"I, I saw what she did to the one who attacked me." Coralline shuddered. "Her head simply disappeared. It happened instantly. I was looking into her face. The assassin turned, and then her head was gone. It was so quick that I didn't even see any blood. And the last one…" Fatania didn't speak. She just waited as Coralline gathered her thoughts.

"I was hurt badly. I knew it. I think I blacked out for a second. I came around when Azura started healing me." Coralline laughed. "I don't think anything could have kept me unconscious then. I couldn't move but saw the last assassin throw multiple spells at us. I was sure we were going to die." Coralline swallowed, and Fatania rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Azura ignored him. Spell after spell stopped several feet away from us. It was like rain falling on an umbrella. She didn't even appear to be trying. She was still healing me."

"Barrier spells are powerful…" Fatania began.

"No. This was different. I think she put some of that ki she keeps talking about into me. It did things…"

"Like what?"

Coralline looked directly into the rat-kin's eyes. "It awoke my mana pool."

Fatania gasped. "You can't be serious."

"I am. I can feel it now. The mana within me. Azura took control of it and used it to heal my body."

Fatania was silent for a moment, digesting this revelation.

"What's it like?" Fatania asked, her eyes intense.

"Wondrous. More than I could have previously imagined. But at the same time, utterly lacking."

"That's a strange response," Fatania said slowly.

"I know!" Coralline laughed and then coughed. Once the fit passed, she went on. "I felt the ki Azura used. It was so small. Yet it burned so brightly that it hurt. My mana is a mud hut. Her ki is a grand castle. I saw perfection and was left with the dregs."

"Huh," Fatania said. Then hesitantly asked. "Could she do it again? Could she make more mages?"

"You'll have to ask her," Coralline said. "So, back on topic. Do you have any idea who those assassins were?"

"I can only guess that Azura's secret is out and that the mages want her dead. I imagine that a kin mage might cause purist issues for them."

"That seems likely," Coralline agreed. "So where are we?"

"This is a cave I sometimes use for… less than legal purchases. Think of it as an illicit storehouse."

Coralline nodded in acceptance. She was well aware of the rat-kin's activities. As she always respected the kin in the city, Coralline didn't care. She was, after all, an old friend.

"How long was I out for?"

"Most of the day," Fatania said tiredly. "I'm going to head back home soon. But I wanted to keep an eye on you." She chuckled. "Azura would have broken my legs if I tried to leave before you woke."

"That's not true," Coralline protested. "She would have left you one to stand on. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to work."

They laughed, and Coralline promptly coughed.