Dual Cultivation Path

The Ice Element HQ's frozen cathedral shimmered behind Roderic Vane as he stepped away from the frosty corner where Cressida Lorne had delivered her chilling warning—and a sharp smack to his head. His hazel eyes blinked against the lingering sting, his hand rubbing the spot where her palm had connected, but a sheepish grin tugged at his lips despite the ache. Her voice—icy, menacing—echoed in his ears: "Not a word, or you're dead." Cressida Lorne, 22, with her long black hair and violet eyes, her lush figure a vision that still pulsed hot in his mind, had left him rattled yet exhilarated, the memory of her breasts and the frost of her qi a dizzying clash.

As he rejoined Barnaby Quill near the sapphire orb, the air still crisp with mint and snow, Roderic caught the weight of eyes on him. The other male novices—clan heirs in silk, free admits in rags—cast glances his way, their gazes sharp with envy, lips pursed or muttering low. He'd spoken to her—Cressida, a senior Ice Cultivator, a beauty whose allure turned heads and froze hearts—and they hadn't. A wiry boy with a clan crest smirked, whispering to a companion, while a broad-shouldered lad glared, his fists clenching as if Roderic had stolen something precious. Their jealousy hung thick, a silent chorus of resentment, but Roderic didn't care. He shrugged it off, his grin steady, his focus on Barnaby and the next test ahead. Let them stew—he had bigger things to chase.

Barnaby tilted his head, his sandy blond hair catching the icy light, pale blue eyes glinting with curiosity as Roderic approached. "What was that about?" he asked, his lopsided smile twitching. "Looked intense—she hit you?"

"Yeah," Roderic said, rubbing his head again, his voice a mix of amusement and wince. "Warned me to keep quiet about… what happened the day before. Called me a pervert—again. Cressida Lorne's her name."

Barnaby's laugh burst out, bright and boyish. "You've got a knack for trouble, huh? She's a senior—heard she's fierce. You're lucky she didn't freeze you solid."

"Felt like she might," Roderic said, grinning wider, the heat in his gut still simmering from her image—those magnificent curves, that furious glare. "Come on—next HQ. We've got two elements each to find."

They slipped out of the Ice HQ, the crystal door thudding shut behind them, the chill fading as they stepped into the academy's sunlit grounds. The scroll crinkled in Roderic's pocket—Earth, Wind, and Spirit remained, three more tests to determine their second affinities. Every novice was required to master two elements, a foundation for their cultivation path, though advanced elements like Lightning, Shadow, or Mist loomed as distant peaks—complex, powerful disciplines reserved for seasoned cultivators, far beyond the reach of novices like them.

The Earth Element HQ lay south, a sturdy structure of brown stone quarried from the nearby hills, its walls rough-hewn and moss-streaked, its flat roof crowned with a lattice of vines that spilled over the edges in green cascades. The air grew heavy as they approached, thick with the scent of damp soil and crushed leaves, the ground beneath their boots softening into dark loam. A wide oak door stood open, flanked by disciples in earthen-brown robes, their hands callused, eyes steady as they gestured novices inside.

Inside, the chamber was a cavern of muted light—walls of packed earth reinforced with roots that twisted like veins, a ceiling of stone slabs held aloft by thick wooden beams. Lanterns of amber glass hung from chains, casting a warm, golden glow that mimicked sunlight filtering through a forest canopy. At the center stood a platform of polished granite, its surface etched with cracks that glowed faintly green, bearing a test apparatus—a clay basin carved with spiral runes, cradling an orb of deep brown jasper that pulsed with a slow, steady rhythm, like the heartbeat of the earth itself.

An Earth Elder oversaw it—a stocky man with a barrel chest, his brown robe dusted with soil, his gray hair cropped short, his hazel eyes calm but piercing. "Four at a time," he rumbled, voice deep and resonant, gesturing with a hand rough as bark. "Channel your qi—earth affinity shows green. Bright for strength, dull for weak. No glow, no earth. Begin."

Roderic and Barnaby lined up, the air grounding them, heavy with the weight of stone and root. Barnaby tested first, grouped with three others—a clan girl, a wiry free admit, a tuition heir with a nervous twitch. He pressed his palm to the jasper orb, his qi flowing from his modest core, and it flickered—green, but dim, a faint sheen that faded quickly. The elder shook his head. "No earth affinity. Next."

Barnaby stepped back, shrugging, his smile unshaken. "Not my thing anyway," he said to Roderic, who grinned and took his place with the next group—a broad boy, a silk-clad heir, a girl with braided hair.

Roderic pressed his hand to the orb, its cool, rough surface steady under his palm, and channeled his qi—a controlled stream from that vast flame within. The jasper pulsed, then glowed—green, bright but not blinding, a solid light that rippled through the basin's runes, the air humming with a low, earthy note. The elder's eyes narrowed, a nod breaking his calm. "Earth affinity—strong, but not exceptional. You're in if you choose it."

Roderic stepped back, the glow fading, his grin steady. "Good to know," he said to Barnaby, who tilted his head, curious.

"Two so far—fire and earth," Barnaby said. "Think that's it?"

"Nah," Roderic replied, his qi still itching, eager for more. "Let's keep going."

The Wind Element HQ rose to the east, a slender tower of white stone streaked with gray, its walls carved with flowing lines that mimicked gusts, its peaked roof crowned with spinning vanes that whirred in the breeze. The air lightened as they approached, alive with the rustle of leaves and a faint whistle, carrying the scent of open sky and wildflowers. A lattice door of woven reeds swung open, flanked by disciples in airy gray robes, their hair fluttering, eyes bright as they waved novices in.

Inside, the chamber was an open spiral—walls of lattice letting wind swirl through, a ceiling of glass panels revealing a sky streaked with wisps of cloud. Chimes of silver hung from beams, tinkling in the constant breeze, their notes weaving a melody that danced with the air's flow. A platform of pale wood stood at the center, its surface etched with feather-like runes, bearing a test apparatus—a glass basin shimmering with air currents, cradling an orb of translucent quartz that shimmered with a faint, shifting light.

A Wind Elder presided—a lean woman with silver hair flowing free, her gray robe rippling, her green eyes sharp as a hawk's. "Four at a time," she said, voice a soft gust, gesturing with a slender hand. "Channel your qi—wind affinity shows silver. Bright for strength, dull for weak. No glow, no wind. Start."

Barnaby went first, his group stepping up—a clan boy, a free admit girl, a twitchy heir. He pressed his palm to the quartz orb, qi flowing, and it flared—silver, bright and swirling, a gust spiraling from the basin that ruffled his sandy hair and chimed the lanterns. The elder's eyes widened, a rare smile breaking her sharpness. "Wind affinity—exceptional strength. Your strongest element. You're in."

Barnaby blinked, then grinned wide, stepping back to Roderic. "Wind—strongest, huh? Didn't expect that."

"Suits you," Roderic said, clapping his shoulder, his own grin mirroring. "Light, free—perfect."

Roderic tested next, his qi surging into the orb. It glowed—silver, steady but not bright, a faint breeze stirring the air. The elder nodded. "Wind affinity—moderate. Passable if you choose it."

He stepped back, the glow fading, his mind turning. "Fire's stronger," he muttered to Barnaby, who nodded, still beaming from his win.

The Spirit Element HQ lay west, a dome of pale gold stone veined with amber, its walls shimmering faintly, its rounded roof crowned with a spire that pulsed with a soft light. The air grew warm and serene as they approached, tinged with sandalwood and a faint hum, the ground paved with smooth tiles that glowed underfoot. A curved door of golden wood stood open, flanked by disciples in amber robes, their eyes calm, hands clasped as they ushered novices inside.

Inside, the chamber was a sanctuary—walls of gold-flecked stone etched with ethereal runes, a ceiling domed with stained glass depicting spirits in flight, casting multicolored light across the floor. Incense burned in braziers, its smoke curling upward in delicate spirals, and a low chant echoed from unseen corners. A platform of amber marble stood at the center, its surface etched with glowing sigils, bearing a test apparatus—a crystal basin shimmering with mist, cradling an orb of opalescent pearl that pulsed with a gentle, otherworldly radiance.

A Spirit Elder oversaw it—a slight man with long white hair, his amber robe flowing, his brown eyes deep and knowing. "Four at a time," he said, voice a soft murmur, gesturing with a graceful hand. "Channel your qi—spirit affinity shows gold. Bright for strength, dull for weak. No glow, no spirit. Begin."

Barnaby tested first, his qi sparking a faint gold, dim and fleeting. "No spirit affinity," the elder said, and Barnaby shrugged, stepping back.

Roderic took his turn, pressing his palm to the pearl orb, its warmth sinking into his skin. He channeled his qi, the vast flame within flowing free, and the orb flared—gold, bright and pure, a radiant light that pulsed through the basin, the runes glowing with a ethereal hum that filled the chamber. The elder's eyes widened, his calm breaking into awe. "Spirit affinity—exceptional strength, and potent."

Roderic stepped back, the glow lingering, his grin widening. "Spirit, huh? Fire and spirit—sounds right."

Barnaby clapped him on the back, laughing. "Fire and spirit for you, wind and fire for me. We're set."

"Yeah," Roderic said, the envious gazes from the Ice HQ forgotten, his mind on the path ahead—two elements each, a foundation laid. Advanced elements like Lightning or Shadow loomed distant, complex and forbidden to novices like them, but he'd get there. For now, fire and spirit called, and he'd answer with all he had.