“I think I feel something!” Emily exclaimed.

  All the young Roys and Selia had gathered in ludus’s green patch early the following morning. Sam wasn’t allowed in the training building or the Summoned residency. Nil doubted the Schema would appreciate him and the others training in the civilian staff building. As luck would have it, the location with the second-densest energy signature was the green patch everyone used to relax after running or between sessions with the ludus trainers. It was where Meatball had made her burrow. She was yet to emerge. Nil’s attempts at coaxing her out had failed.

  “Spark affects your ability to detect magic, Qi, and similar energies,” Selia said. “Mind also does so to a lesser extent. Since your potential for both is ridiculously high, you should have an easier time than Nil or me.”

  “I needed a separate ability for it. If you can already, that means you’ll do good with spells and magic,” Nil commented.

  “I feel nothing,” Sam said, sounding crestfallen.

  “Pretend you do,” Nil told him. “You want to learn to cultivate? Most of it is image training. Think about the diagram I drew you and imagine energy flowing through you. Use the tiger fighting an opposing current if you want while maintaining the breathing exercises. You’ll find what you need.”

  “This will be a test of patience,” Selia added. “Nil tried to teach me, and I thought I had it, but I learned during my time away that I was sorely mistaken. People with far more experience and opportunity than you struggle with this. Make it muscle memory and get to a point where you can maintain the breathing and image training going even while exercising, running drills, and executing katas.”

  “Fake it till you make it,” Emily said. “That’s my strategy.”

  The Forge’s other residents also appeared to have sensed the change. Some joined them as the morning continued, while others watched them curiously. A good deal of people who joined were mages and summoners. Their daily training already involved meditation and arcane control, which, in theory, seemed like another form of cultivation and Qi-technique training. Susan claimed that most summoners didn’t bother with such things until the late Iron Realm or early Bronze when they had the energy to spare for magic after maintaining summons. Nil hoped starting Emily on the path early would make her life easier.

  Udit was, of course, not happy about the state of things, and despite the lack of arguing and yelling, it seemed things were tense in the apartment. After dinner, Emily returned to her new private room in the Summoned residence building, Sam was sent to bed, and Selia disappeared to catch up with Zora and Isabella. Nil and Udit stayed up late into the night discussing matters.

  Neither of the men was happy about Emily’s decision regarding Apocalypse Arena. If that wasn’t bad enough, Sam was acting out. Nil becoming a Summoned didn’t bother the teenager since he had always idolized him. But now that Emily was one as well, he wasn’t pleased. She had never considered such a life but ended up in it while it was something Sam had always dreamt about. It was too early for him to become eligible for ascension, but that did little to soothe him.

  The Roy patriarch and his son discussed how to deal with the matter. Udit wished to nip it in the bud, but Nil believed that was the wrong approach. He feared that Sam would do something stupid trying to emulate the conditions leading up to his cousins’ ascension. In the end, they agreed to placate Sam by letting him take martial arts classes and meditate with Nil. If, on the off chance, the teenager became a Summoned in a few years, he’d be ready for the questing life.

  Nil didn’t tell his father, but he also saw it as an experiment. After watching Master Seer teach several students how to sense and cultivate Qi, Nil wanted to find out whether he could do the same. There was always the chance that people born in worlds with unnatural energies evolved their senses to detect them, but Nil hoped that wasn’t the case. He hadn’t made up his mind about it, but the chances of moving to a Control World someday were high. It made sense to ensure that his family would be ready. Udit was likely too late and too old to become a cultivator, but Sam was the perfect age.

  After morning training, the four of them had breakfast in the cafeteria together. Emily and Sam rushed through the meal. They needed to bathe and prepare for school. Becoming a Summoned and trying out for Apocalypse Arena didn’t excuse Emily from her education. She also seemed to enjoy her new routine. Once alone, Selia started telling Emily about her time with the Weave, but then a call interrupted her.

  “You’re back!” Bunty exclaimed. “I’m guessing you’re not happy about coming in second, but your performance but you’ve been amazing.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Thanks,” Nil said, accepting the compliment even though he didn’t consider it deserved. Despite the prizes that accompanied second place, it didn’t feel like he had won anything. “Are the sponsors still happy?”

  “Garuda Systems would prefer you wear their logo more often and make appearances around the city riding their new hoverbike. The fashion brands want you to be seen at more events in their fancy threads, too. But your posters and adverts are all over the city. But, the bi-monthly arena appearances and your general attitude during them have them reasonably placated.”

  “That’s a relief. I worried that five months with zero engagement from my end would piss them off. Let them know that I’m available again and my next event will be in about a month. It’ll be another big group thing. Do you have anything on what I asked you to look up?”

  “Unfortunately, not.” Bunty sighed. “My team has been on it all night, but Ten-Ton Lucy is notoriously secretive. I’ve heard through the grapevine that she has turned down almost every partnership and just has a few fashion and fragrance deals. Given her rapid ascent and undefeated track record, you’d expect her to capitalize on her popularity and performance. The paparazzi struggle to get her either. The few appearances we have on camera always have her with the latest Arthurtech gear, and she’s always with big names from Wilson Luduses.”

  “No media partnerships either?”

  “None. My people and a few others I know have tried to reach out to her, but contacting her is a pain. I think she’s connected to someone big. Your rumor about big and powerful parents might not be wrong.”

  “Do you think she is Wildshape’s? He seems about the right age for a daughter Lucy’s age.”

  “I wouldn’t discount the possibility, but probably not. Wildshape Wilson’s personal life has always been super public. Anyone who’s dated or hooked up with him has ended up a celebrity. Hiding a kid from the paparazzi would be a nightmare.”

  “Alright. I want to do something a little dirty to bait her and the Wilson Luduses team. If you’re not up for it, maybe—”

  “Just tell me what you’re after,” Bunty said. “I already got my hands dirty with the Pietro bashing. This won’t be much different.” He hesitated. “Except, you know, possibly pissing off one of the most powerful men on the planet.”

  “I want a video out on Lucy and my fight that focuses on her and her ability,” Nil said. “It's not weight alteration, as she wants everyone to think. Lucy controls gravity and has masked it pretty well so far. In fact, I think she’s been fighting mostly using her soul armor’s ability and hiding her power seed for something big like the Cleansing.”

  “Soul armor? Gravity? Holy shit, that’s big. Just a speculative video might gain a fair bit of traction.” Bunty paused, and Nil heard the sound of fingers on a glass keyboard. “Why are you doing this? What’s the objective?”

  “Think of it like an enormous think tank. I have heard from a reliable source that Wilson Luduses has analysts and trainers dedicated to strategy. They don’t just plan on how to overcome events but also take on specific opponents. No reason why we can’t do the same using whatever resources we can muster.”

  “Hold on a moment. Are you trying to make me your strategist?” Bunty sounded amused.

  “Yes. But I’m also trying to piss off Wilson Luduses. There is going to be a bunch of them in the Hunt. If they’re mad and targeting me instead of trying to win the event, I might just be able to mess with their minds and trick them enough to get the ticket.”

  “You’re not saving the battle just for the arena, are you?”

  “Why should I?” Nil asked. “They aren’t. Most of my friends are in the Cleansing, and I refused to be left behind. It’s time I start doing whatever it takes to win.”

  “I like this side of you, Godpuncher Nil.” Bunty laughed. “I’ll get on this straight away. Expect results by the week’s end.”

  The pair discussed finances and offered deals for so long that Nil’s breakfast and tea went cold. Nil agreed to partnership deals from a men’s grooming company and to make a few appearances at an Indian celebrity chef's new opening later in the year. Because of his past experience, they wanted him to make an appearance in their kitchen as well as some promotional material. Nil especially liked the sound of the latter and asked to check for more involvement.

  The celebrity chef in question had a recent fall from grace regarding foolish remarks on social media. Some of his statements were taken out of context and blown out of proportion, and he was subsequently fired from the restaurant he had opened and won a Michelin star. Nil offered to invest moderate time and perhaps some capital in the restaurant to get his name on the door, consult on the menu, and make it look like a joint project. The man would need to share the spotlight but was bound to make far more money from a rising star’s involvement.

  No restaurants had a head chef, executive, or culinary director who had ascended to the Silver Realm. If Nil made it to the Cleansing and eventually ascended, all parties involved with him were bound to profit.

  It wasn’t something Bunty had ever done or attempted before, but he seemed eager to try. Nil had always dreamed of having his own place and knew it would mean dividing his time, but progress significantly slowed down at Silver Realm. It was unlikely he’d have the time for such a venture on top of cultivating and working for the Nexus. The chances of the chef agreeing to it also seemed low, but it didn’t hurt to try. Working in Ashe Fall made him miss working in a high-end kitchen and the pressures of a busy evening far more than he expected.