The Swan Orchid Blooms

Clang, clang... Inside the training ground, Mick and Lei clashed as they always did, the crisp ring of striking weapons ringing out from time to time. Xilutaiya stood behind the railing nearby, her gaze following the two boys as they continually shifted positions. She watched the varied tactics they employed and how each attempted to leverage his own strengths to seize an opening. (Basic Swordsmanship proficiency +2) (Basic Swordsmanship proficiency +1) ... At this point, she was gaining less and less experience merely from watching. Having observed them for so long, she had built a rough model of their swordsmanship in her mind. Gently closing her eyes, Xilutaiya relied solely on sound and memory to reconstruct what they were doing at each moment. When she opened her eyes again, their movements and reactions matched her expectations down to the finest detail. *In that case...* She lightly pressed a finger to her chin, pondering how best to guide the two of them. Her own swordsmanship was by no means vastly superior to theirs, but with her keen powers of observation, pinpointing their shortcomings was effortless. As a general rule, a person’s observation and critical appreciation had to outstrip their current ability if they were to make steady progress. When someone's practical ability caught up to the ceiling of their vision, leaving them unable to spot any flaws even while falling short of others, they fell into the most agonizing and perilous state of all. Through two months of rigorous training, both Mick and Lei had reached what they considered their ideal level. From that point on, however, further improvement proved elusive, and both had hit a bottleneck. Reflecting on the months since she had awakened, Xilutaiya felt that the greatest influence on her present life was neither the yet-uncomprehended Cornflower's Attachment nor her Stars Talent, but rather the perceptual and analytical faculties that had been completely out of reach in her past life. To clearly hear ten people speaking at once while comprehending and memorizing every word, and to catch subtle shifts through observation that ordinary people would never notice—these two gifts allowed her to master new skills with astonishing speed. A few minutes later, the sparring pair came to a halt. Returning to the rest area, they drank water and wiped away their sweat before turning to inquire of the black-haired girl. "Well, Tiya? Did you make any sense of it?" Mick still doubted whether this quiet girl could truly understand what was happening in his fights with Lei. "I understood most of it." The girl nodded, then paused thoughtfully before adding, "I can give you two some advice, but you must not tell anyone that I was the one who taught you." "Why not? Well, whatever—Lei and I won't tell a soul." Mick couldn't understand her reasoning, but after a moment's thought, he agreed. "Still, your advice had better be useful. If it isn't, I won't listen." Over the course of their time together, his formerly hot temper had been softened by the girl's gentle presence without him even realizing it. From time to time, his thoughts would drift back to that sweltering, drowsy afternoon when Xilutaiya had placed her hand against his forehead to check his temperature. Perhaps it was from that day on that he had lost the will to lose his temper with her. *Could I have fallen for her?* No, that wasn't it either. It didn't feel anything like the burning rush of blood or the overwhelming longing Brother Jieluo had described. Rather, it was like the scent of grass and leaves carried on a breeze during an afternoon nap—always subtle, drifting into his mind whenever he quieted down. While Mick's thoughts wandered, Xilutaiya sketched on paper with a quill, calculating and considering her thoughts. After ten minutes or so, she had settled on a general approach. "Over here." Stepping before the blackboard, she used a stick of chalk to sketch their tactical movements and weapon handling. "This is a private lesson, all right? No leaking it to anyone, and no daydreaming." The girl had grown adept at using her soft, melodious voice to command their full attention. ... ...(Mick's Basic Swordsmanship proficiency +12) ...(Lei's Basic Swordsmanship proficiency +9) ...(Mick's Basic Swordsmanship proficiency +11) ...(Lei's Basic Swordsmanship proficiency +8) ... Time slipped by unnoticed during the lesson. By the time Xilutaiya finished explaining, both Mick and Lei felt as though a vital lock had clicked open, revealing new horizons and insights. "So it can actually be done like that..." Mick stroked his chin. "Lei... gets it now." Lei offered a simple-hearted grin. *Whew. I suppose I've finally managed to teach these two blockheads.* Xilutaiya breathed a sigh of relief, shaking her head faintly. She had spent considerable time tutoring them and understood their comprehension limits and thought processes, allowing her to tailor her explanations specifically to them. Had that not been the case, she really would not have known how to convey these concepts. At this pace, their Basic Swordsmanship would likely break through to level 4 before long. Level 5 would be much harder, as Xilutaiya herself had yet to attain that realm. "Now for Kailun." She turned to the girl who had been listening nearby. "Your spearmanship could actually use a few adjustments as well." Blinking softly, she beckoned her good friend over for some one-on-one guidance. ... When the day's lectures and training drew to a close, evening fell, and Xilutaiya returned to her residence. The moment she stepped across the threshold, she sensed something different. Guided by that subtle perception, she quickened her steps toward the backyard and found that one of the Swan Orchids beneath its glass cloche had burst into full bloom. A slender pistil emerged from between the unfurling petals, curving in a graceful S-shape that dipped downward before arching upward, much like the elegant neck of a swan. The five surrounding greenish-white petals spread out naturally with gentle curves, symmetrical about the swan-like pistil like outstretched wings—at once wholly natural, yet wondrously beautiful. [Swan Orchid] (Flawless - 91): Blooming. Nurtured by your meticulous care, this Swan Orchid has achieved a near-flawless bloom. As a reward for your painstaking cultivation, nature bestows upon you a condensation of Emerald Honey attribute. [Swan Orchid] (First-Order Emerald Honey): A manifestation of a gardener's devoted care and patient cultivation. Can be used to purify other attribute powers and create a tranquil environment free of disturbance. Carefully bending down to kneel on the flagstones, Xilutaiya examined the blossoming Swan Orchid in detail. Upon the pistil, shaped so gracefully like a swan's neck, a faint, almost imperceptible golden luminescence seemed to surface, drifting downward in gentle motes before dispersing into the surrounding air. When she rested her hand gently against the orchid's pseudobulb once more, a curious ripple traveled through her fingers into her body and mind. It was the condensed Emerald Honey attribute—like scattered fragments fitting together into a complete picture. The Swan Orchid's once-transient and fragile attribute power was no longer easily dissipated; it had become cohesive and resilient. It could even act like a lodestone, guiding and manipulating the latent Emerald Honey attribute power hidden within the surrounding grasses. As Xilutaiya immersed her consciousness in the Swan Orchid, an epiphany struck her: if she guided it, she could draw this newly condensed first-order Emerald Honey from the orchid into her Fate Board, advancing her Destiny Card, [Sleeping Maiden] (Attribute Rank: None), and imparting to it the first-order Emerald Honey attribute. *Should I advance it right now?* After weighing her options, she decided to hold off and consult Master Haide before making a decision. Besides, the other two Swan Orchids were also close to blooming. She turned her gaze toward them; their buds had already partially unfolded, beginning to condense the first-order Emerald Honey attribute. Condensing the attribute in the very first Swan Orchid was always the hardest part. Now that the first had succeeded, the other two would find the process significantly easier under its guidance and assistance. She certainly couldn't disturb the first orchid at this critical juncture. It would be best to wait until all three were in bloom before making any decisions. The girl rose to her feet. As usual, she watered the Swan Orchids, replenished their nutrients, and carefully aerated the soil. Once finished, she washed her hands and sat in the backyard with a book, reading by the light of the lamp. From time to time, she looked up at the blossoming Swan Orchid, which cast a faint golden halo into the night. The harvest reaped after patient cultivation and long days of labor filled her with quiet joy and contentment. Even drifting off to sleep right here in the backyard felt deeply peaceful.