Cursed Comprehension

The two roommates quickly found their way to the courtayrd, where a group of 5 teens were already waiting.

The group consisted of 3 females and two males, all of whom were quite friendly towards Ato and his roommate, who he still did not know the name of and was too embarrased to ask of.

"So," Began one of the girls, adressing Ato's roomate. "How did it feel when you broke through?"

He pause for a second, racking his brain to come up with a proper description, before finally answering.

"It felt like by body was on fire, then I felt lightheaded, and then there was a cracking sound kinda like this." He picked up a twig from the ground and snapped it, using that as a demonstration of the sound of his breakthrough.

"That's kinda like how I felt." Chimed one of the other boys.

"Yeah, me too."

"I felt the same way."

The group spent the next few hours discussing their prospects for immortal cultivation and playing a variety of games, all of which Ato unwillingly participated in.

Totally unwillingly.

He wanted nothing to do with them and felt absolutely no sense of nostalgia from the games they played.

And, as it turned out, their breakthrough had drastically increased their energy levels and athleticism, resulting in games of tag that were just a bit too high octane and went on for a very long time.

Eventually though, they calmed down and simply sat around wating for whoever was supposed to meet them.

Said person did come, but not in the manner they expected.

They were all simply sitting on the ground, playing a rudimentary form of the game checkers, when suddenly, a pillar of fire sprung up from the ground, the golden glow lighting up the now dark courtyard.

Each of the teens quickly fell on their knees and began bowing to the pillar, an action which Ato replicated.

A snort came from the pillar, and out stepped on old woman, her face painted in black and white colours, she held a grey walking stick in her right hand, which she used to prod the teenagers, instructing them to rise, an order which they complied with.

"The one of you who is called Esi may step forward." She commanded, boredom apparent on her face as one of the girls stepped forward.

"Place your hand on my palm, girl."

Esi complied, putting her outstretched palm on the old woman's.

The old lady stood still as a statue for a brief second, her eyes turning grey and misty.

"Single root Sunsum: No element" She stated in a robotical manner, before retracting her palm in a swift motion.

"Kweku denkyem, step forward."

Ato's roommate quickly stepped forward, anxiety visible on his brown face.

He repeated the same actions as the girl before, and the old lady underwent the same transformation.

"Half root Sunsum: Minor Earth element."

She then retracted her palm, and repeated the same actions for the rest of the group.

"Kwame Boadi: Single root Sunsum: No element."

"Fiifi Nfansesem: Single root Sunsum: No element."

" Abena: One-and-half root Sunsum: Lesser Fire element."

" Yaa Nsem: Single root Sunsum: Moderate Wind element."

And then it was Ato's turn.

"Ato." Called the woman "Come forth."

Ato stepped forward and placed his hand on the old lady's palm, watching with interest as her eyes went grey.

He felt something like a wispy tendril enter his body, feeling around for something within him.

"Double root Sunsum: No element."

He had half expected this, yet it still stung to know that he didn't have an element.

The old lady retracted her hand and turned to adress the small group, the authority behind her voice being clear as day.

"Those of you without an element will be granted the basic cultivation technique and non-elemental spells, while those with an element shall be granted spells and techniques related to their respective elements."

She then turned to leave, summoning the pillar of flame once again, but not without giving a closing speech.

"Now that you have embarked on the road to Immortal cultivation, you are expected to serve the Clan and the Empire, insubordination shall not be tolerated and traitors shall expect to recieve swift retribution. I hope you shall not dissapoint the man who brought you here, you are free to go."

Saying that, she stepped into pillar dissapearing and leaving the group of teenagers behind.

This whole time Ato had been thinking only one thing.

I wonder what her cultivation realm is...