NOVEL WEB Chapter 5: LEARNING
After drifting through the Whispering Hollow, they finally made their way out unto the streets. It was bustling with people here and there with intermediate technological innovations blended into the natural nature of the world.
"Hey, where do you think we should go first? I can show you around some structures here first before I send you to some of the Martial Sects. Which first?" Shalyn asked looking at Neon. Neon just shrugged. "Fine, I will show you around then.
They started heading down the street. According to Shalyn, spending her time here, she has learnt a lot of things on the structures around this vicinity and they are the same on other areas too except maybe, for their quality.
According to Shalyn, the structures here differ according to their functions and the materials they are built from. There are those that reflect sunlight, those that causes heating sensations, those that are always cool within, and even those built for defense and offense.
For example, the Emberstone dwelling is a compact stone house with glowing ember veins running through its walls, giving off warmth and faint orange. It has a self heating mechanism due to the emberstone and it is ideal for cold regions. The walls also store energy from the users to power itself.
There are other structures and housings out there too, like the Skyglass Pavilion, Floating Crystal Residence, Sandstone Sanctuary and the likes. Each comes with it's unique qualities.
Each region too is divided into zones. Thus zone one, two,three up to nine according to their advancement. And they are currently in Zone Seven.
Listening to all of these, Neon noticed that everything here is just the same as where he comes from. This made him a little at ease because he didn't want to become a noob to anything here.
"That's on the structures for now. Let's now talk about the sects. There are five sects on this planet featuring five different disciplines of martial arts, each with their unique styles and disciplines." After walking for almost half a day, she now decided to speak about it.
All these while, Neon was just bored and doesn't even know what to say as he already knows about those structures. Also, he could see that Shalyn was happy with what she is doing.
"Let's just runaway." Zypheriel will say sometimes. "What if she finds us? Won't she kill us. You just don't feel some of the pains that's why you are spoiled like that." Neon will reply. "I mean she is strong though, hey kid, pay attention when she is talking about the martial arts disciplines. I will choose the one that suits us." Zypheriel said in a serious tone for once.
Neon didn't bother with her because he has already started on the basics of one of the aspects without even having his Realm. This was all thanks to his father, Jaguar Drayce.
"There are five sects, the Azure Tide Sect, Immovable Citadel Clan, Midnight Mirage Order, Skyblade Consortium and the Primal Wild Pact..." Shalyn started her tutoring.
These five sects has specialties. Let's start with the Azure Tide Sect which focuses on adaptability and blending all the other disciplines into one. This sect is the one with the lowest member count that is not even up to five percent the population. This is due to their rigorous training and hardwork. They practice the Flowing Stream discipline.
The Immovable Citadel Clan practices the Stonewill Discipline which focuses on strength and defense. They dominate the population.
The Midnight Mirage Order practices the Dreamwalker Discipline which focuses on illusions and unpredictability, blending reality and the subconscious. It is the second with the lowest member count after the Azure Tide Sect. This is because it requires time and patience.
Next is the Skyblade Consortium which focuses on the Skyblade Discipline which focuses on agility and precision of the blade. They are the most agile. They have the second highest member count.
And the last one, Primal Wild Pact which focuses on making bonds with beasts and cultivating them. It could be their summoned beasts or the real world beasts. They practice the Beastbound discipline.
In each of these disciplines, there are milestones and breakthroughs, each unique to that particular discipline.
"There is a rivalry between each of these sects making them very competitive. Also, I practice the Flowing Stream Discipline." Shalyn finally said. "Wow, that's very nice of you. Your family should be rich right?" Neon giggled.
Not knowing to Neon, what he just said has triggered something within her. She remembered her family and at the spot, tears started running down her cheeks and she started shaking rigorously.
They were currently nearing where they had come from, where they set out for the tour, the Whispering Hollow. Looking at the situation, it was unfavorable. Neon quickly took her by the hand and quickly dashed into the forest.
It was a wild forest where the very trees seem to whisper into the ears of those within the territory. Without great mental resilience, it wouldn't be easy to go out there.
"What's happened, speak to me." Neon said worriedly in a rushed tone. He can't afford to lose the girl. No one knows but in the whole universe and his life so far, she is the only one he can consider as a friend. Yes, he was despised by others, sometimes bullied and even called useless. That was not until he met Shalyn.
With tears flowing down her cheeks, she started to speak but barely audible. She proceeded to tell Neon everything that has happened. It was just like Neon's but for her, she lost all her family, it was only a demon that saved her, Vexar Thorne.
Neon also got slightly emotional but quickly got over it. It was his personality. After saying that, Shalyn's aura surged. Her eyes started reddening and her face looked like a demon casted out of hell, a stark contrast to her usual appearance.
"Hey kid do something! Her Realm is destabilizing. Quick!" Zypheriel said with urgency. "How, what am I supposed to do? I don't know anything like this and I have not seen it before." Neon said worriedly. "Argh, you are just a pig and I know it. Don't you know the power of your mind? Think about it. I can help you but figure it out. You are me and I am you. If I can, so could you." Zypheriel said.
Even in this crucial moment, the two couldn't stop their little quarrels. Neon thought back to where they had met. How they saw each other. How was their relationship? Is it love? No! He threw that out of his head and then suddenly, he remembered Shalyn calling him brother mostly without even caring to know his name.
"Shalyn, I am your brother!" He shouted. "I mean not really, actually, preferably.." He was caught in dilemma as he couldn't make sense of how he was able to say that.
"What did you say? Are you my brother?" A voice like thousand echoes came out of Shalyn. "Y..ye..yes", Neon stammered. All of a sudden, her aura started dissipating and her usual calm demeanor appeared.
"Huh, finally. But you looked terrible at that.
Maybe you should be a little romantic next time, I mean I love romance." Zypheriel said.
"Neon...", Shalyn looked intently into his eyes, "can you vow to the heavens and nature that you are my brother? Please, I need you, you are my anchor, my strength when I am weak." Neon hesitated for some moment and then, " yes, I swear to the heavens and the forces of nature. On top of that is my birthright." Shalyn was even shocked. He really meant it.
"Hey kid, don't let love blind your eyes..." "Shut up!!" Before Zypheriel could finish, he was shut by Neon. Come here, she said and embraced him. After embracing him, they both had different sensations.
Neon could feel the warmth of his mother while Shalyn could feel the only comforting presence she needed, the warmth of the son of her elder sister, Dray.
Zypheriel started whistling and speaking jibrish. Neon just laughed in his mind, not caring about what he was trying to do.
---
On another side of the planet, when Shalyn's aura surged, someone sensed it.
"Oh no, the young maiden, Vexar will kill me."
This was Vexis, the demon brother of Vexar who has followed Shalyn under the command of Vexar in the guise of an independent powerhouse with the power to influence even the sects.
Before he could even make the attempt to move, her aura diminished again and it meant only one thing, she has found an anchor.