Chapter 1: Day of Adulthood

“The path of the martialist is the road to godhood! Only by following this path can a human become a god!”

Everyone in Hochland knows this mantra by heart. From a young age, children are taught their letters, numbers, and to show respect to martialists. In Einburg, the strongest martialist is only at the Novice level, but even someone at the second level of the martial way commands respect throughout the kingdom, let alone the town!

In this world, martialists dedicate their lives to advancing through nine realms: Human, Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert, Master, Legendary, Mythical, and Godly. Each realm has its stages, marking the journey to becoming a god. Andric is ready to start this journey!

“Andric, step forward. I’ll open your heart-lung meridian,” Instructor Hubert called, spotting a youth who sat near the back of the classroom.

“Yes, Instructor Hubert!” Andric stood up and walked to the front of the room.

Instructor Hubert glanced at Andric’s chest, his eyes seemingly peering through the fabric. The younger students didn’t understand, but the others knew: Spirit Sight! Only a few martialists in Hochland could use it, and Einburg was lucky to have one.

Using Spirit Sight, Instructor Hubert examined Andric’s body, searching for the meridian pathways that channeled spirit energy. There are different ways to open meridians, but the most effective is to inflict a spiritual wound at the meridian site to clear any blockage. With Spirit Sight, the process becomes a lot easier, as Hubert doesn’t need to measure or try repeatedly!

Andric stood in front of the instructor, bracing himself for what was to come. He had seen other youths have their heart-lung meridians opened and knew it would be painful.

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Suddenly, Instructor Hubert jabbed his finger into Andric’s chest. His finger pierced about half an inch into Andric’s skin, then released a focused pulse of spirit energy. This pulse hit Andric’s heart-lung meridian, blasting away the impurities. Hubert withdrew his finger, and Andric stood still for a moment.

Experienced martialists feel a spirit energy attack in their meridians before their nervous system registers it, which can lower their meridian usage. Inexperienced ones, however, might not feel anything. Many martialists endure hundreds of such attacks to clear their meridians. In real battles, spirit energy attacks are lethal, but in controlled settings, they’re used to clear meridian blockages!

Andric tried to sense his meridian, but he lacked Spirit Sight and Spirit Sense. Spirit Sight is innate, while Spirit Sense can be learned but only allows sensing one’s own spirit energy. For now, Andric could only hope that Instructor Hubert’s technique had worked.

“You can sit down now. Your heart-lung meridian won’t be fully opened for a few hours. If successful, you’ll be able to meditate with the first rank of our town’s Standing Tortoise Manual.”

Andric bowed to the instructor and returned to his seat at the back of the room. Though Hubert was precise, he didn’t distribute meditation techniques. Most in Einburg bought the Standing Tortoise Manual from the town hall, but some had techniques passed down through family. Andric’s special circumstances allowed him to get the manual for free.

Unable to focus on the rest of the lesson about medicinal plants, Andric concentrated on his own body, trying hard to feel the energy within him. Despite his efforts throughout his life, he had never sensed the spirit energy that supposedly exists in all living beings.

After the lesson, Andric hurried to the town hall. He knew Einburg and its surroundings well, and the town hall felt like a second home.

“Hello, Miss Erminhilt!” Andric greeted the woman by the entrance. She was a few years older than him, with long blonde hair that caught everyone’s eye. Despite her appeal, it was known that Miss Erminhilt had never had a male suitor, and many thought their chances with her were slim to none.

“Hi, Andric. It’s not a grain day, is it?” Miss Erminhilt asked with a friendly smile. Her mother had helped Andric’s mother when he was young, which started her fondness for him. She’d watched him grow up.

“No, not today. I’m here for the Standing Tortoise Manual,” Andric said.

“That? If you’re here for that, it must be your birthday!” Miss Erminhilt exclaimed. She stood up and hugged Andric. “Why keep it a secret? Happy birthday!”

Andric hugged her back, saying, “It’s no big deal. I’m just a year older.”

Miss Erminhilt let go and sat back down, feigning annoyance. “Hmph. Go get your manual or whatever. I’m not celebrating anyone’s birthday.”

Andric chuckled inwardly and walked past her. While most families in town celebrated birthdays from one to fifteen, Andric’s family didn’t celebrate any. Miss Erminhilt knew the month of his birthday but not the exact date, which was even removed from the town hall’s records.

The town hall, as its name implies, is a long hall with many tables and chairs for meetings, currently empty. Andric walked to the end of the hall and entered a storage room, where the Standing Tortoise Manuals were kept among other items. He grabbed a book and headed back.

As he passed Miss Erminhilt, he called out, “There won’t be a party, but if you make me a cake, I’d definitely appreciate it.”

Miss Erminhilt smiled but said nothing. Andric walked quickly to his home, eager to start reading the Standing Tortoise Manual. Once home, he went straight to his room.

Andric sat on his bed and opened the manual, written in Empyrean Standard, a language still used long after its empire fell. He found the language familiar and learned it quickly.

The manual described meditation techniques to gather spirit energy from the environment to strengthen oneself. For every meridian a martialist opens, their ability to gather spirit energy improves. Opening all twenty-four major and thirty-six minor meridians is known as achieving a Heavenly Channel Body, a goal many martialists aspire to. Everyone starts with just one open meridian.

Andric read the manual and began circulating spirit energy through his body. As instructed, he felt energy entering from the atmosphere, flowing through his heart-lung meridian, and exiting his body, strengthening his heart and lungs.

“So, this is spirit energy?” he asked the empty room. It was the first time he felt the mysterious energy, even if just a little.

He spent several hours meditating with the manual, feeling the energy circulating and strengthening him, gradually opening his heart-lung meridian a bit more.

As evening approached, Andric was interrupted by a knock on his door.

“Andric, it’s time for dinner,” a young woman’s voice called. Andric recognized her immediately.

“Yes, mother!” he replied, putting away the manual. He inspected his clothes, then followed his mother to the kitchen.

The dinner table was set, and Andric’s grandparents were already eating the meal his mother had prepared.

“Alda, sit down. Let Andric serve you,” Andric’s grandfather said, waving his daughter to her seat. Although they lived together, Andric’s grandfather had a low opinion of him, and Andric didn’t expect that to change.

“Right, let me get the food for you,” Andric said, pulling Alda’s chair out.

“Okay, thank you,” Alda said quietly as Andric pushed her chair in. He fetched a bowl of grain porridge with boiled vegetables for her and a similar bowl for himself. He took his seat next to Alda.

Andric’s relationship with his grandparents was strained. They had once tried to sell him into slavery, but Alda had intervened just in time. Although Alda had always been distant, that act revealed her care for him. Since then, he had distanced himself from his grandparents and focused on supporting his mother.

He learned about his mother’s past a few years ago. When other kids tried to bully him, they mentioned his father, whom Andric had never met and always assumed was dead. Discovering the truth about his father explained much about his grandparents’ hatred and his mother’s protective nature.

After dinner, Andric cleaned up and returned to his room to continue practicing the Standing Tortoise Manual. He practiced for a few more hours until he was interrupted again.

Alda stood at his door and said, “Erminhilt is downstairs. She has something for you.”

“Thanks. I’ll go see her,” Andric said, putting down the manual and heading downstairs with his mother.

In the sitting room, Erminhilt was chatting with Roza and had a wrapped package on her lap. She looked up and smiled at Andric.

“I hope I didn’t interrupt you,” she said.

“It’s fine,” Andric replied. He sat next to her, and she handed him the wrapped package. Inside was a small wooden box containing a tiny round cake, enough for about ten bites. “Thank you.”

He grabbed a spoon from the kitchen and enjoyed the cake while Erminhilt, Roza, and his grandparents chatted. The conversation turned to Andric’s childhood, a tough topic for his grandparents, but Erminhilt was unaware of their animosity.

Andric quickly finished the last piece of cake and offered it to Erminhilt, who smiled as he fed it to her. “It’s getting late. I’ll walk you home.”

“Alright,” Erminhilt agreed. She took the box and cloth from Andric, and

they walked outside together.

As they strolled down the road, they both kept to themselves, avoiding eye contact.

“Happy birthday,” Erminhilt said softly.

“Thanks,” Andric replied.

He walked her to her door, then returned home. Back in his room, he lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, and thought, ‘Fifteen years after my reincarnation, and I still haven’t met a single magician. The age of magic must really be over.’