I ntally organize my to-do list:
Heal injuries Butcher bird Get the fuck out of hereGive Pafu lot's of treats and hugs.Glare at Suret, but give her treats and hugs too.
Sitting down close to the corpse, I take a breath, close my eyes, and Seek Balance. My chi circulates throughout my body at my direction, informing about my wounds. Three deep puncture wounds, a mass of bruises, and two cracked ribs. All from that one kick. 400 kilograms of flightless bird packs a an wallop. And to think I laughed when they told to be careful of the birds.
I concentrate, directing my chi to the injuries. A sharp pain, like a thousand tiny needles stabbing my skin. The mass of pain in my chest goes from a dark green, to a nice light yellow. Opening my eyes, I check my wounds. The punctures have stopped bleeding, a thin healed film beginning to form. There's still so torn skin around it, and an ugly bruise, that looks weeks old. Gross. That's the best I can do for now. A few days and a couple of stitches to completely fix everything, and I'll be good as new. At least I didn't break any bones. Healing is a useful skill, but I still get confused about the how of everything though.
When entering the State of Balance, the Energy of Heaven surges into your body and strengthens it. Easy gains. When your body can't be strengthened anymore, you begin building up a surplus of Heavenly Energy, that will just fade away over ti, unless you bind it to yourself. The binding process is simple. You just will the energy to you, and as long as it is in your body, it belongs to you. It becos know as Internal Energy, or chi. When inside your body, it settles in your 'core', which sits around your belly. It doesn't take up any physical space, but it's there. It feels like a warm drink, settled in your stomach.
Self healing is controlled through a process called inner examination. I use my chi to perceive my injuries, in an abstract way. I don't actually see my injuries, but the information is interpreted by my brain. Everyone perceives it differently. I see colors. Red is good, which threw off at first. I thought I was dying. The further up the color spectrum you go, the worse it gets. Or is it further down?
Self healing is a simple process, but takes tis and practice. I get more practice than most, and even then the gain is minimal. I just don't have enough chi. Sotis it's easier to fix an injury the normal way instead. While my core will grow eventually, increasing the amount of chi I can store, there is nothing I can do to speed that process up. The only thing I can do is practice at getting more efficient.
I wanted to be able to heal my injuries in the middle of battle, without having to think about it. The sword trick Baatar showed earlier kind of put a damper on that dream. I can barely heal so holes in right now. How long until I can heal a missing arm? Taduk claims he can heal anything short of death, and I believe him. If he were here, a few minutes is all he'd need to fix back to new.
Healing other people is a world of difference from healing yourself. Internal Energy is just that. Internal. As soon as it leaves your body, it turns back into Heavenly Energy, almost imdiately, snatched back as if we had stolen it. It takes extre amounts of control to keep your internal energy from turning back into Heavenly Energy. Taduk is a little goofy, but hes an amazing guy, being able to heal as well as he does, almost without effort.
I get to work cutting apart the bird, just getting the big juicy parts and leaving the rest. Its skin is tough, and the feathers are fucking sharp. Chopping the head and feet off seems like a good idea. I'm sure soone can find a use for a beak that chomps through trees, and giant claws. There isn't any magic core for power ups though. The bones are no use either, they're hollow and fragile. Do I need its organs? I need a wiki for all this shit. I give up and stick to my initial plan. at, feet, and beak.
While wiping myself down and surveying the surroundings for danger, the roosequins go to town on the carcass. They are ssy little eaters, but make adorable noises. When they're done picking it apart, I split the at into two equal loads and pack them onto Pafu and Suret's back. We all walk ho slowly, tired after a long day. Fast mounts as they are, they can't carry too much more than a human rider. Bad for their hips. Plus, an hour ago I had 3 sucking chest wounds.
Four birds and two rabbits. t my goal for the day.
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You killed a Terror Bird, and didn't think to bring its feathers back?
Fuck. Feathers! It's a bird, and I didn't think feathers? They were hard and jagged. It would have made a terrible cushion, Sister.
Alsantset rolls her eyes, and taps on the head lightly. You have returned safely. I am glad. I should send you back out to scavenge them. The feathers make good scales for stitching to armor. What am I supposed to do with a beak, or the feet? Throw it in the pen for them to eat.
I sigh while turning to go back. Armor is pretty important. I'll have to borrow a mount from the neighbors. Pafu and Suret are spent, curled up with their pups. They won't even lend one out for to cuddle at night. So stingy.
Alsantset reaches out and grabs my shoulder. I am joking you wood headed fool. You're injured. Fix yourself and rest. You can just go kill another one tomorrow. A real codian. I hope that's a joke. That bird will haunt my nightmares.
I like the banter with her. The babying and swaddling when I first arrived was nice, but I'm a grown man. It's nice that she's treating like one. I saw it in her eyes, the instinct to rush towards and check my wounds, worry and fear evident. It's better this way. Just a normal day, just like yesterday, almost no tomorrow. No big deal. Deep breaths.
Alsantset takes the at inside, while I scrape and wash the furs. No ti to rest, even after a near death experience. Theres too much to do. Keeping busy also helps from freaking out. The at is best fresh, and without a freezer, will spoil quickly. So will be kept cold in an icebox, and the rest will be preserved, sold or shared. The furs will be tanned by , and either sold or made into sothing useful. There isnt a large need for coin in the village. Its used as a baseline for value, but barter is more common. Big rabbits make for big pelts. These two are probably enough for a jacket. I'll probably just give it to Sarnai, who will distribute it to soone. Socialism Ho! I guess.
I haven't really puzzled out how social and monetary values work around here. I haven't paid for anything or sold anything either. A lot of cooking is done communally, like baking, and there isn't an obvious intuitive process on how everything is distributed. Or who supplies all the food for all the festivals. I just eat my food, and give whatever Charok and Alsantset don't want to Sarnai.
Charity is respected, but debt is frowned upon in the village. Trading the farr furs and ats for two weeks, in return for a share of the harvest is seen as improper. But just giving the farr the furs and at is fine. The farr will thank you and tell people of your generosity. Eventually, the farrs will usually 'gift' you back with crops quietly, and ask you not to speak of it. It all works out fine in the end I guess. I don't understand why accepting a hand out is better than accepting a loan.
I need to figure this all out. Earn so money. I want another spiritual weapon, like a proper spear, or even so armor. Full body plate mail please. I dont mind if its uncomfortable, I need the protection. The world is terrifying outside the village.
Id also like to have sex. The best way for that is with prostitutes. Or courtesans, whatever. Either way, I need money.
Life is difficult, trapped in a teenage body. People my 'age' are just... so immature. I cant stand their stupid conversations, about who is interested in whom, or what new thing soone got, or the incessant giggling. They have brothels in the cities, but nothing here. Not even sexy older single ladies looking to have so fun with a younger man. Everyone's married. The mixed baths are nice, but you can only stare so much without being labeled a pervert, and that is not a label I want. Seeing without touching is its own special form of torture though.
When my musing is finished, I take the twins out to play hide and seek with so other kids. Lately, my nanny duties seem to have expanded to include the neighborhood. It's nice though, seeing kids laugh and play, almost therapeutic. I don't hate living in this world, but near death experiences happen far too frequently for to be comfortable. I always have an inkling that things could be different, better. When it cos to the how, I co up empty. Life is tough in the village, and imperfect, but I do love it here. While I would like to visit other places, I dont think I could stay away from here for long. Its just so beautiful and peaceful, the people so in harmony with one another. Plus the stories about everywhere else don't paint a pretty picture. Strife and power struggles, literal cut-throat politics.
As it turns out, terror bird is delicious, a little tough, but full of flavor and juice. Worth it. What's a near death experience, compared to delicious fried terror strips? The twins love it as well, tossing tiny bite sized pieces into their mouths. That alone makes the chest wounds hurt less. Well, not really. Alsantset spends dinner listing out different animals and the useful parts I should harvest from them. How does she rember all of it?
When dinner is over, lecture finished, and my chores are done, it's ti to head back to the training yard. Practice makes perfect. I begin to brutally chip Woodrow Woodson slowly to death. I am beco death, the destroyer of wood. I'm not getting any better. Still the sa small finger sized chunks.
I failed today, and could have died. I lucked out that the bird kicked away, without killing . And that he bled out before reaching . Just one bite and I would be gone the way of the dodo. This is not a happy world I live in. Illnesses are less of a concern for , because cultivating Heavenly Energy keeps healthy, but the world is filled with things trying to kill . Like giant bipedal birds, and demons of pure anger. I fucked up, leaving my gear on Suret. I need to be better, smarter. Failing that, all I can do is keep working, keep getting stronger. Keep practicing. My sword whistles through the air, landing on the wood with a thunk.
Again.
And Again.
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