Chapter 5:
The ascent was a brutal test of endurance. Each step was a victory hard-won, the thin mountain air burning in our lungs, our muscles screaming in protest. Supporting Joren and Lina added a significant burden, not just physically, but mentally. Maintaining the subtle flow of energy from the earth, enough to aid my own stamina and partially counteract their weight, required constant focus. My mental reserves were slowly but surely being depleted.
The sun beat down relentlessly, reflecting off the pale stone of the stairs, amplifying the heat. The initial chaos of the climb had long subsided, replaced by a grim determination etched on the faces of those who remained. The weak had fallen behind, their dreams of power dissolving into exhaustion and despair.
Joren and Lina leaned heavily on me, their breathing shallow and ragged. Every few steps, they would stumble, their small bodies threatening to give out entirely. "Just… a little… further…" Joren would gasp, his voice barely a whisper. Lina, her face pale and streaked with sweat, could only nod weakly.
I gritted my teeth, pushing onwards. The image of the branded man's cruel smile and the heavy-set man's bloodthirsty eyes fueled my resolve. I wouldn't let them win.
My "Earth Sense" remained active, a constant awareness of the solid ground beneath my feet. It was a lifeline, a reminder of the subtle power at my disposal. I focused on the connection, drawing strength from the very mountain we were trying to conquer.
Ahead, the group of older children had thinned out as well. The relentless climb was taking its toll on everyone. I could see some of them slowing, their initial confidence replaced by grim determination. The top of the mountain remained frustratingly out of sight, hidden behind a seemingly endless series of switchbacks.
Suddenly, Joren stumbled, his legs buckling beneath him. I tightened my grip, preventing him from falling completely, but the sudden shift in weight sent a jolt of pain through my arms.
"I… I can't…" he choked out, his voice laced with defeat.
Lina, seeing his despair, began to cry softly, her small shoulders shaking.
A wave of frustration washed over me. We were so close, yet so far. My mental energy was dwindling, the passive aid from the earth feeling less effective under their combined weight. I needed to do something, and fast.
An idea sparked in my mind, a risky application of my limited "Minor Earth Manipulation." It would cost limited mental energy, but it might be enough to give us the boost we needed.
I focused on the stone steps directly in front of Joren's faltering feet. With a surge of mental will, I activated the skill.
(Skill:Minor Earth Manipulation Initiated. )
The stone beneath Joren's feet shifted subtly, forming a slight, almost imperceptible upward slant, a tiny natural step where there wasn't one before. It was a minuscule change, but enough to momentarily ease the strain on his legs.
"Huh?" Joren mumbled, surprised by the sudden, almost imperceptible support. He looked down, confusion etched on his face.
I repeated the manipulation in front of Lina, creating another small, temporary foothold. It was like creating miniature, fleeting ramps with the very fabric of the mountain.
"Keep going," I urged them, my voice strained but firm. "Just a little bit more."
The subtle aid seemed to give them a renewed, albeit temporary, burst of energy. They pushed forward, their steps slightly less labored. I continued the minute manipulations, creating fleeting support beneath their feet, one small adjustment at a time. It was exhausting, requiring intense concentration, but it was working.
Ahead, one of the older boys, broad-shouldered and muscular, stumbled and fell to his knees, his chest heaving. He looked up at the seemingly unreachable summit with an expression of utter defeat.
We slowly but steadily gained ground, the subtle aid of the earth manipulation allowing Joren and Lina to keep pace. The distance to the top seemed to shrink, the outline of structures becoming faintly visible against the hazy sky.
The old man watching from above narrowed his eyes. He had noticed the subtle hesitations in Lishen's steps, the almost imperceptible moments where the ground seemed to shift beneath the younger children's feet. A thoughtful expression crossed his weathered face.
"Interesting…" he murmured, stroking his chin. "He's not just strong. He's… resourceful."
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we reached the final stretch. The air was thin and cold, but the sight of the rough-hewn buildings of the sect's main quarters spurred us onward. The instructors stood at the top, their expressions impassive.
Joren and Lina, pale and trembling, stumbled across the finish line, collapsing onto the rough stone. I sank to my knees beside them, my own body aching, my mental energy completely depleted.
We had made it. Against all odds, the three of us, the unlikely trio from the bottom of the pit, had survived the mountain's trial. But as I looked at the cold, assessing gazes of the instructors, I knew this was only the beginning. The true trials, and the awakening of our Tessera, lay ahead. And I had a feeling that the power granted by the system would be crucial in the challenges to come.