Chapter 16 The Valley (1/2)
Arran looked at the monastery in wonder From where he stood, it looked like a miniature
The journey up the , and now, they were on the side of the mountain, a thousand feet above the monastery and the town
The view filled Arran with awe It was like standing on top of the world
”Not scared of heights, are you?” Initiate Guha grinned The young lect, and several tie down into the depths below
”I've never been up this high,” Arran said ”It's…” He lacked the words to describe what he felt
”You'll get used to it,” Initiate Guha said with a grin
Initiate Jiang silently glared at them Ever since Adept Kadir had come to take her and Initiate Guha away from the other initiates her otten worse when theher practice
”Adept Kadir, how o?” she asked
”We should arrive any moment now,” Adept Kadir said As they ascended the radually disappeared, and by now, he looked every bit as cheerful as he normally was
They followed yet another twist in thebeneath some trees that protruded from the mountainside above the path The path turned sharply, and when he stepped around the turn, Arran was surprised to see a srassy and scattered with large trees, and through its rass, flowers bloo the valley were majestic snowy peaks that stretched toward the sky
The only thing that marred the beauty of the valley was a small wooden cabin Its walls and roof were crooked, and there were gaps in the walls Overall, it looked like it was on the verge of falling apart
”This,” Adept Kadir said, gesturing toward the valley, ”is where I go to lift my spirits For you, it's where you will spend the nexthere forimmediately asked, ashen-faced
”Correct,” Adept Kadir said
”But why?” Initiate Jiang said, a look of despair on her face
”First carry your bags inside,” Adept Kadir said ”Then, I will explain why you're here”
”We're staying in there?” Arran asked, pointing toward the cabin
”Beautiful, isn't it?” Adept Kadir said ”I built it ood, honest work Not a bit of ic involved”
The proud look on his face prevented the initiates fro, and they carried their packs to the cabin
Up close, it looked even worse than it had fro could collapse at any moment from sheer misery
———
”Now,” Adept Kadir said ”Why you're here… I think the best explanation would be a small deround
”Initiate Li, please show theathered up his Wind Essence, then sent a blast of it at the pole When the Essence struck, it tore the pole fro several paces, as if it had been struck by a large boulder
Initiate Jiang audibly gasped, and when Arran turned around, he saw that Initiate Guha'sopen in shock
”That's i said ”He only left to open a Wind Realo!”
”Initiate Li opened his Wind Realress has been faster than usual”