Seed Of Speed

Diego awoke the next morning refreshed and put off learning the [Heaven's Celestial Eye] cultivation manual since Swordflash had given him a week before he should ask for a manual from Shadowbolt. Instead, after he sent his clones off to his classes, he took the time to have a proper meal before calling up Tovao and Stormblade to team up for a trip to the Catacombs. Since he had not had much time to spend with either of them, they both agreed while Stormblade asked him to find another shaman and he would find another martial student. His first thoughts were of a familiar face that moved with otherworldly grace and someone he had not seen in person in over four months, Rainshower.

Surprised by the sudden message, Rainshower quickly agreed and everyone made their way to the common room built within the pocket world. Tovao had been the first to arrive and Diego found him polishing a new glaive that had glowing red runes carved into the blade. During his training under Swordflash, Diego had not actually seen his brother and only talked to him a few times through the message system, so he was surprised to see the changes in him.

Although it was not as drastic as his own transformation under the repeated baptisms, Tovao's rusty colored skin had turned a true red color. His hair was still the same sandy blonde as their father, but the unruly, natural waves had finally been tamed as it hung limply in the short ponytail he always wore. His body had also bulked up significantly, no doubt his new master had assigned him intense workouts.

"Brother!" Diego laughed as he walked up.

"Ishu? Damn, your baptism changed you that much?" he asked, setting his weapon to the side and standing up.

"There were multiple," Diego replied with an unamused tone. "But the returns are undeniable."

The two brothers shook hands, but it quickly turned into a contest of strength when Tovao tried to crush Diego's hand. He was unfazed at first, but when Tovao used a bit of chi to further strength his grip, Diego returned the favor.

"Aaarrh!" Tovao complained as Diego not only crushed his hand but twisted it so he forced into a kneeling position.

"I'm also at the peak of the ninth stage of the Mortal Body now," Diego added as he released his brother's hand.

"The peak of the ninth stage?!? You are as strong as father now?"

"Well… actually I should be stronger," Diego replied with a grin. "But father has also spent a much longer time at the peak, f.o.r.c.i.b.l.y consolidating his chi. If we were to fight and I was unable to use magic, he would still likely win a duel."

"I've talked with my new master, and he told me it was possible to purchase a Demi Body Cultivation Manual for the clan, but the price is ridiculous! Fifty thousand pellets, and we are restricted to choosing only the weakest of manuals!" Tovao said grumpily.

"Well that is to ensure that the power remains with the sect. Do you honestly think that if father did not need Shaman Firesand and Shaman Moonwater for the clan's survival in the harsh desert, there would even be shamans in the clan at all?"

Tovao nodded and sighed, "Yeah."

"But don't worry about the price. Now that my martial master has released me from his training, we will be able to earn more pellets than you will know what to deal with," Diego said, a fire shining in his eyes.

"Ha! Don't let your new power go to your head! I can still beat you if you don't cheat!" Tovao laughed.

"Oh, yeah? We'll have a duel tomorrow to test that."

"Big brother, don't be like that! You've already pushed all of your clan duties onto me and we still haven't explained anything to father. He won't accept me if you cripple me!" Tovao pleaded on his knees.

Diego flicked him in the forehead and snapped, "Big brother, my ass! You are the elder brother! These duties should have been yours before me in the first place!"

Tovao rubbed his forehead as he stood back up and chuckled, "It's no good being your elder brother, but if I am your little brother, no one wants to offend me."

Diego rolled his eyes, but before he could scold his brother anymore, a familiar voice called out, "Tovao!"

Diego turned around to find Rainshower walking up, who stopped when she saw his face. He had not told her about undergoing multiple baptism, so she was stunned when she saw him. He smiled at her with a similar dazed expression as she had undergone her own transformation.

Rainshower's complexion had become fair and her shin was a rosy color now. Her orange hair had taken on a metallic, rose-gold shine and she had shaved the side of her head while leaving the rest long and hanging loosely around her shoulder. Somehow, her body even seemed to take on a more womanly charm and grace.

"Senior apprentice-sister Rainshower, its good to see you again," Diego said after a moment, regaining his senses first.

That snapped her back to reality as she blushed and smiled then said, "Junior Apprentice-Brother Ishu, I… I didn't recognize you at first."

"I could say the same to you," Diego said, returning the smile.

"Heavens, can you two get a room? Some of us are still single despite these good looks," Tovao griped.

Diego sent an elbow into his gut on 'accident' as he turned around to face his brother then just snickered as he watched his brother crumble to the ground. Rainshower shook her head in exasperation as the two never seemed to change despite their outward appearance, but she could not deny that it made her heart feel better. She had worried that after being apprenticed to a grand master and then becoming a core disciple so quickly, she fear it would have inflated his ego like a few of her senior apprentices in Healing Hall, but it now seemed unfounded while he joked with his brother as always.

"Brother Brightmelody! Just how much can one person improve in a short three months?!?" Stormblade asked as he walked up with an apprentice in crimson martial robes.

"It was just because the sect invested so heavily into me that I was able to improve so much… Good day, martial apprentice, please me call me Brightmelody. This is my brother, Tovao, and my senior apprentice-sister, Rainshower," Diego introduced.

"Bah! What good is being humble when you have such talent? I am the top earning apprentice within the sect and have just as much access to those benefits yet it took me five years to climb the same three stage you have," Stormblade insisted.

Diego chuckled and shrugged.

"Kang Chan," the martial apprentice said with a nod.

"Kang Chan? The Kang Chan?" Tovao exclaimed as he examined the new person closer.

"What are you getting at, Tovao?" Diego asked.

"Brother Chan is the highest ranked martial student in the Gambling Arena," Stormblade said proudly.

"He is in the top fifty of the overall rankings, including the shamans!" Tovao said excitedly.

"Forgive my ignorance, I am still rather new and have been locked away in hellish training for half the time," Diego said.

"There is nothing to fault," Kang replied.

"Well then, since introductions are out of the way, are we ready to go in?" Stormblade asked.

The others nodded while Diego added, "I've got a new Song-Spell that I would like to try. If the drain is within the expected range, I think this will be our best haul yet!"

"Music to my ears," Stormblade chuckled while the others laughed.