Lassim and Cirra, setting out early in the first rays of sunlight, traveled the swampy outskirts of the town. The well-worn damp road in and out of the town gradually gave way to a denser, more wild landscape.
They traversed along a raised path, a relic of the town’s efforts—an effort spearheaded years ago by a Nature elental spirit warrior they commissioned—to add connectivity through the Threads for non-spider folks; mainly rchants.
The pathway was a ribbon of damp, but solid ground amidst the mushy terrain, making their initial journey smoother.
Cirra, prepared for the muddier parts of their trek, wore waist-high overalls that seed enchanted with a water-repelling array.
Lassim couldn’t help but chuckle at her overly cautious attire. "You know, I can just create so ice footholds across the swamp when we get to the wetter areas, or just control the water to move out of the way," he remarked, his tone light and teasing.
Cirra’s cheeks flushed a light shade of pink, her eyes briefly eting his before looking away. "This is usually what I wear when I’m heading into the swamp for research anyways. It’s always better to be prepared," she muttered, her voice slightly tinged with embarrassnt.
As they continued, the raised path ended after an hour of travel. Both of them had cultivations in the Spirit Transformation stage, so their physical ability to travel allowed them to cross a significant distance, even if they were setting a casual pace.
The real challenge of navigating through the wetlands approached as they prepared to step off the path.
Lassim eyed the murky waters, contemplating the best way to proceed.
He turned to Cirra, his curiosity piqued about another aspect of her capabilities. "So, before we get there, I feel like I should ask… what’s your battle prowess like? Can you defend yourself if things go sideways?
I should be able to protect you without worries, but the story you shared about the infections makes wonder if I should just put you in a cage of ice for protection or if I can just keep a casual eye on your position and not worry."
Cirra huffed slightly, a wry smile crossing her lips. "I may be only a ’tad’ weaker than you at Spirit Transformation Stage 2," she said with a hint of pride. "In my 153 years, I think I’ve managed quite well, considering my cultivation talent. Though," her voice lowered, a touch of ruefulness in her tone, "I could have been higher, maybe even at your level, if not for my dedication to my research."
Lassim paused, his brain slowing to a near stop as he processed her words. "Wait, did you say 153 years?" he asked with surprise.
Cirra’s expression stiffened slightly, and she shot him a warning glance. "You shouldn’t judge a lady’s age, Lassim. It’s quite rude," she chided, then with a curious tilt of her head, she added, "But you must be older or at least similar in age, right? Maelin ntioned you were young too?"
Lassim faced a mont of hesitation.
He knew his age was never going to be a straightforward topic in the future; his rapid advancents in cultivation made it even more complex to relate his actual years to his physical and spiritual cultivational growth.
Should he continue with a half-truth, or trust her with the reality of his situation? If he was going to introduce her to Sanvra to assist with her research, he was going to need to really trust her to not take advantage of them or cause problems.
’Admitting my actual situation might be a good chance to test her attitude and worthiness. Let’s go with that," he thought to himself.
Choosing honesty over ambiguity, Lassim took a deep breath. "I’m not as old as you might think... I’m much younger. My… advancents have been unusually rapid." He watched her closely.
Lassim hesitated for another mont, before continuing, "Actually, I’m only 14 years old," he confessed, watching her closely for any sign of disbelief or judgnt.
Cirra stopped, nearly frozen, her eyes wide with astonishnt. "Fourteen? But how? That’s... remarkable. Please, you must explain!" she urged, her scientific curiosity piqued.
Taking a deep breath, Lassim shared more about his unique situation. "It’s a bit complicated, but it has to do with having two spirits and elents, among other factors... There are hardly any barriers to my cultivation because of it," he explained, trying to simplify the complexities but not overly share his divine encounters that he’s had so far.
Cirra listened intently, her initial shock giving way to a professional fascination. "That’s absolutely fascinating," she remarked, her tone sincere.
"I almost wish I had chosen to study human physiology more instead of flora, cultivation and languages. You’d make an intriguing subject of study." She chuckled softly, then added, "But, my love for plants and languages wins out in the end."
Lassim felt like her lack of a real serious reaction and her still treating him like an equal was a good additional step in the right direction of trusting her with eting the Drow.
With that out of the way and returning to the problem at hand with the murky waters in front of him, Lassim focused his mana, intent on creating a small platform of ice on the swamp water.
Initially, the effect was much larger than intended, and a vast area around them began to freeze rapidly, extending up to fifty ters out.
Realizing his mistake and miscalculation, he quickly reined in his power, shrinking the icy expanse to a manageable five-ter diater ring.
They stepped onto the ice, and Lassim adjusted his elental manipulation to lock their feet in place, propelling the ice forward like a makeshift boat.
As they andered through the swampy outskirts, navigating patches of mud and clusters of waterlogged plants, Lassim and Cirra discussed his first practice in using the Spider language.
"So, how are you finding the Spider language now that you’ve had to use it outside our first lesson?" Cirra inquired, her curiosity piqued.
Lassim grinned, shaking his head slightly. "It’s more challenging than I expected, especially trying to get all those clicks and gestures right. But it’s also fascinating. There’s a rhythm to it that feels almost… natural, once you get the hang of it."
Cirra’s face lit up at his response. "That’s wonderful to hear! I also found the sa feeling for when Maelin was first teaching . I really love languages. To , they are more than just words; they’re an expression of culture, history, and even emotion. That’s why I love studying them—they open up new worlds in ways that nothing else can."
Lassim nodded, appreciating the depth of her passion. "It is indeed pretty thrilling to dive into a new language and begin to communicate."
"It is!" Cirra agreed enthusiastically. "And it’s not just about understanding—each language offers a unique view of life. Like the Spider language with its integration of movents, it shows how deeply physical expression is embedded in their communication.
Their relationship with physical touch, how they move about their surroundings with their additional limbs, is fascinating how it’s affected their entire language."
Cirra’s expression grew thoughtful as she considered her ongoing research.
"Although, what if there’s instances where we can’t use mana to adjust our vocal notes or we don’t have the necessary body parts to mimic the correct phonetics of their language? I’m hoping the plant we find today might finally be the breakthrough I need," she said, her tone a mix of hope and caution. "My research to unlock communication through spirit sense… well, it’s had its ups and downs.
Just recently, I had a bit of a mishap with a hallucinogenic mushroom."
Lassim raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"
Cirra laughed, a bit sheepishly. "Yes, I had a hypothesis that it was supposed to enhance sensory connections, theoretically allowing communication across species. Instead, I spent three days convinced I could hear plants talking. Gregor found in the storeroom, mumbling to a fern about the correct procedure for making a five-at stew that my mother used to make for as a child."
Lassim chuckled, "That sounds… like quite the experience."
"It was enlightening, in its own way," Cirra admitted. "But it’s also a reminder of why proper research and testing are crucial. Those days of confusion, however amusing in hindsight, push to find a real, functional solution.
I’m hoping that with a more stable specin that has the correct properties for actual communication between individuals, like the one we’re after today, I can develop an alchemical potion that actually fosters the psychic abilities I theorize about."
Their conversation flowed naturally, deepening Lassim’s understanding of Cirra’s dedication and the challenges inherent in her research.
Eventually, up ahead, tall, thick bamboo stalks towered ominously, marking a drastic shift in the environnt.
The usual chorus of birds and insects was conspicuously absent here.
Cirra gestured towards the bamboo grove. "This silence... It’s unnerving. It seems the influence of the Monkey King and his troop is devastating the local ecosystem." She said with a grim tone.
Nodding, Lassim controlled the makeshift ice raft forward.
As they moved towards the grove, Cirra circulated her cultivation and summoned a pair of telescopic glasses on her face, that she adjusted briefly, her eyes scanning the distance.
Lassim raised an eyebrow at the new accessory, obviously her spirit weapon, but said nothing, trusting that he’d soon find out how she used them in a fight as he could see what was up ahead.
With his spiritual sense, Lassim had detected the presence of the mindless monkeys lurking among the bamboo.
Their blank, vacant stares and the eerie silence around them gave them a creepy and intimidating vibe. He could make out the necrosis on their limbs and how their hands and feet were barely being held together by their muscle tendons. Yet, those too seed to be rotting away, looking gangrene.
Holding his halberd at the ready, he prepared for any sudden attack, while Cirra, seed poised and slowly tensed as she noticed Lassim adjust his stance.
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