Mana 4 Chapter 18 (Patreon)

My soul palace was quiet as I sat up and enjoyed the tranquility for just a moment.

Things were coming together after the mess that was my arrival in the immortal world. I might still be cuffed, but things were improving.

I’d filled my fourth ring and gotten away with murder. Guo Ying’s spatial ring will help Kat make space for our family. Now it was time to turn to my progress.

Since I’ve come to the immortal world, I had made no progress besides getting back into fighting form under the strain of the higher gravity and immortal mana.

It was time to change that and Lumi just might hold some answers for how to progress my cultivation. I could try to find a new technique and start from scratch, but the seven hell’s meridians was my foundation and with a little help I had confidence I could push them further than the teachings from the mortal world.

Now it was time to find the skittish raiju girl.

I sent out a pulse of mana directed towards the soul palaces of my four mana beasts above my own.

In no time, Aurora, Quinn and Mei were launching themselves from their floating pieces of land with smiles on their faces as they came to greet me.

“Master!” Aurora jumped into my arms. “You have a disciple. Does that mean I get to be her mistress?”

It was so unexpected I nearly choked on my own laughter. “No, I don’t know if she’ll accept that.”

“But but…” She pouted. “I’m her superior!” It might be true, but I didn’t see Rachel accepting that so easily.

Quinn sighed and rolled her eyes, grabbing Aurora under her arms and lifting her off me to replace the rambunctious kunpeng with herself cuddling into me and getting that physical touch she craved. “Missed you. Glad you are doing better.”

Dodging her horns, I kissed the top of her head. “Missed you too. But I came here with some purpose in mind. Is Lumi around?” I cut to the chase.

All three of them looked between each other in silent communication before Mei spoke. “I think you are going to have to pin her down. We managed to talk to her a little, but…” She trailed off and I reached a hand over and snagged one of her tails.

“But what?”

Mei sighed and scooted closer as I ran my hand through the fur of her tail. “She’s pretty feral still. Similar to me when we first met, and I was this big.” She held her hands only a foot apart, reminding me of the cute little black fox she was in the cave so long ago. “I had Aurora to tell me a few things before I reached the 4th rank. But Lumi? She’s been on her own fighting for her life for hundreds of years.”

“So what do you suggest?” I asked. These three would know better than me how to reach a mana beast.

“Play with her.” Mei suggested, her tails flipping out of my hand and splaying about behind her. “She likes to play hide and seek or chase.”

I raised an eyebrow in question. “Just go up there and play hide and seek?”

“Oh, she’ll definitely hide.” Quinn chuckled. “You’ll have to seek and then probably chase. But if you catch her, make absolutely sure there’s no harm. I think if you catch her without hurting her, she’ll relax a little. It worked for me.” Quinn smiled.

“Bah.” Aurora spat in disagreement. “She’s terrible at hiding, worse at chase.” The other two giggled, and Aurora blushed. “Don’t you dare say it.”

Mei didn’t listen to her. “Lumi beat Aurora pretty badly in the chase.”

It wasn’t exactly surprising. She moved like a bolt of lightning. Despite any speed Aurora might have in the air, she was outclassed by Lumi. Another reason to pin her down.

“I still beat her at The Game.” Aurora said proudly, crossing her arms under her chest.

There it was again. Maybe one of these days I’d get a chance to see what The Game was. Then again, it was probably something silly that the girls played to pass the time.

“Well, then I guess I’ll go play some hide and seek with her.” A smirk curled on my lips. It had been a very long time since I played hide and seek. The childhood memories buoyed my spirit, and I stepped into the air, floating up to their soul palaces.

This was my soul realm. There was no gravity to restrict me. I could fly if I wanted to.

I was curious what they kept hidden up here. Like walking into one of my wive’s rooms for the first time and seeing another side of them.

As I floated up and there was more to see than just the underside of their soul palaces, each of them became distinct little mountains connected tightly, like a square mountain range. Each of their soul palaces were pressed into the side of a mountain.

It was obvious at first sight who’s was who’s. Aurora’s little mountain was covered in a dense mist, but even though that it was impossible to miss the kunpeng sized opening in the side of the mountain. The mountain was covered in a dense blanket of trees with bright flowers, a tropical jungle bursting with life.

I guess in hindsight; it made sense for their soul palaces to look far more natural, like a landscape rather than a structure. They were originally beasts. Home in their hearts was more likely a cave than a palace.

Mei’s was simple, a plateau with a tunnel leading down underground. Looking at it for a moment, it seemed familiar and then I recognized a broken monument at the front of the entrance to her den. It was the seal that had once kept her trapped in that underground dungeon.

The seal that my mother had left her sword for me in and that I had broken to free her.

My heart warmed realizing that of all the places she used to protect her soul, it was the cave that me and Aurora had found her in. There were memories attached to it.

“You like them?” Mei and the others caught up. She was fidgeting as I floated there, looking at each of their soul palaces.

“That’s the cave we found you in?” I asked.

“Mmm” Mei bobbed her head and blushed. “It’s my safe, happy place.”

She was just too cute. I pulled her close and squeezed her with a hug full of affirmation of my love for her. “It’s lovely.”

“Can you guess which is mine?” Aurora asked, flapping her wings to keep afloat, even though I was pretty sure she didn’t have to.

“The giant hole in the side of the mountain gives you away.” I pointed to the misty tropical jungle.

“Hey! Did he just call me fat?” Aurora puffed out her cheeks in mock anger.

Mei chuckled. “You are quite large.”

Aurora gasped. “You take that back.” She dove at Mei and tackled her dragging them both down from where we floated.

Always so playful.

“Yours is interesting, though, Quinn. Makes me realize how important your draconic bloodline was to you. But I’m pretty sure that one isn’t a dragon. Looks more like a Pixiu.” I pointed to her mountain, which had a massive golden shrine cut into the side. Guarding the entranceway was a depiction of her mana beast form and a Pixiu partially intertwined.

They would always be touching that way.

Quinn cleared her throat over the excited banter of Aurora and Mei below us as they wrestled in the sky. “Sometimes it is important to honor what is important to you. But let’s not go inside. You need to focus on finding Lumi.” She pushed me towards the last mountain.

It made me want to see the inside of her soul palace even more. I wondered if there were more statues inside, no I would bet money there was. More so, they might not be quite as appropriate as the ones outside.

Quinn hid her sensual side, but I bet there was at least one nude statue in there.

I let her distract me for now, because I had something I needed to do.

Lumi’s palace was the last one and looked a little familiar. It was a mountain peak covered in conifers and rocky outcroppings that looked similar, but not quite like the mountain range we’d just left. Like a distorted memory of the mountain range she’d lived on for so long.

Floating down to the surface, I let my feet touch the ground. As soon as they did, there was a flash of lightning further up the mountain.

“I think this is where I leave you. If I don’t miss my mark, she just went to hide.” Quinn smiled and kissed my cheek, stealing one last hug before she floated back to break up Mei and Aurora’s spat. “Oh, and don’t hold back.” She tossed over her shoulder before she left.

Hopefully, I didn’t have to with Lumi. She was a powerful mana beast and though she had joined my ring and wouldn’t hurt me; she was still a 5th rank mana beast.

Scanning the dense woods I found myself in, I didn’t see hide nor hair of Lumi. She wasn’t likely to make this easy, I realized, and the flash of lightning wasn’t close.

Her soul palace was an extension of my own. And in my own soul palace, I was king. Stepping forward, I blurred to the top of her mountain and stopped. The top was flat save for a few logs and an outcropping of stone that protected a small log cabin, puffing away smoke. Like a place you’d expect to find an old hermit in the woods.

This wasn’t something I expected to find in Lumi’s soul palace. Given that she was still a beast her whole life, for there to be a structure stood out.

Curious, I approached. The door was slightly ajar, but I didn’t go in just yet circling around the cabin. It was very detailed, a stack of cut wood with a stump and ax that I doubted Lumi used. It was decoration, no doubt, a memory of some place in her past.

Some place that she was comfortable with.

So vivid were the details of the cabin that I was positive at some point in her long life she had lived here or at least visited often enough to ingrain each of these details not only in her mind but that they were so familiar and comfortable that they were what she chose for her own soul palace.

Ducking through the door, I heard the boom of thunder, this time much closer.

I smiled. She couldn’t stay away if I poked around here, could she?

Inside it was decorated like a hunting lodge, large fur rugs carpeted the floor. Bows hung on the wall next to two huge heads of powerful looking stags. It was simple, but everything about it radiated a cozy, comfy atmosphere.

The main point of the cabin was a fireplace that took up far too much room to be reasonable. I could only imagine it was important to Lumi and therefore slightly exaggerated.

In front of the fire were several more furs piled up thick, like a warm resting place for a favorite hunting dog. Or maybe someones once favorite hunting wolf. This was the first indication of how Lumi interacted with this cabin.

It was mundane in a way that didn’t speak of a cultivator, but some old pecker in the woods that just didn’t want to be part of the city life. The perfect person to take care of and befriend a young mana beast.

The door creaked, and my head snapped to look. But if Lumi had been there, she was gone now. I guessed she hadn’t been able to resist checking in on me in her little cabin.

“I see.” Not bothering to dig around in her soul palace, I left the cabin. It wasn’t my place to dig too deep into her past.

There hadn’t been a boom of thunder after the door creaked, so I wondered if she might still be around here.

My eyes scanned the clearing around the hut, and I nearly sputtered.

Don’t react, don’t do anything.

Behind one log, a pair of furry blue ears peaked out, giving her away.

“Darn. Where is that mana beast? She's so fast, I’ll never catch her.” I talked to myself as I wandered closer to the log but wandering and weaving my way over to hide my true destination.

“I just wanted to talk to her. After all, she’s such a wise and powerful mana beast. Fifth rank! Heavens, the knowledge she must have.” I stayed back from the log far enough that she wouldn’t see me as I turned my back to her and made a swooping pass. Close enough that she’d see me but feel comfortable that I didn’t know where she was.

“Or I could cuddle up next to the fireplace. It looked like a nice place for a nap.” I was close enough to the log to sit down now, but I was looking back at the cabin as if thinking about heading back in.

Now.

I jumped to the side, hoping to surprise her. My hands passed over something fluffy, and I grabbed, feeling my fingers dig into her soft flesh. Just enough to hold her till my weight came crashing down on top of her.

The skin under my palm was squishy and I couldn’t help giving it a little squeeze as I sat up to look at my prize.

“Ah!” Lumi smacked my hand off her chest. “W-what are you doing?”

Good thing I had her pinned, or I was sure she would bolt. As for the hand on the chest, I felt a little bad, but it had been an accident.

“Trying to talk to you.”

“Get off.” She struggled, and I almost jumped right off her. After all, she was a woman, and I wasn’t a pig.

But something told me if I did, she’d bolt and that would be it for today.

No, I needed to take this chance. Be a little more forceful to get her to open up. I grabbed her by her hip and lifted her up as I stood, tucking her under my arm as I headed for the cabin.

“Let me go.” She yelled and electricity crackled around us, but I ignored it and when we got close to the cabin she settled down as if she was afraid to damage it.

Good.

“I’m not going to let you go just yet, but when I do, can you promise me you won’t bolt?”

Lumi huffed and turned her head away. She’d bolt.

So I held tight and carried her inside to the fireplace and the pile of furs.

“What are you doing?” She sounded more confused than anything else now.

“Well, I’m going to sit and probably put you in my lap and we are going to talk.” I pulled her down with me next to the fire, doing just that.

Thinking about how it might have been for her once upon a time, I loosely held her waist with one arm.

She looked up at me as I raised the other hand and patted her head just once.

There was a moment where she froze in complete and utter shock. Before her eyes went big and she snatched my hand before it could escape and pulled it back down to her head.

“You like that?” I rubbed the top of her head, using my thumb to add some pressure as my hand went around her ears.

All the tension bleed out of her and she sank into my lap, stretching her legs off my lap and closer to the fire. I noticed that her ankles and shins were covered in a patch of fur that she seemed interested in warming.

“Yes.” She sounded reluctant, almost imperial, as she said the next part. “I’ll stay as long as you keep petting me.”

“I can do that, anywhere in particular?” I let my fingers dig through her hair so I could scratch at her scalp.

Her jaw dropped at the question like she hadn’t even considered me asking something like that a possibility. “Between the ears, firmer. I like it when you run your thumb there.” She spoke more easily, coaching me on the best way to pet her.

Though I continued to change it up, running my fingers through her hair, giving her a scalp massage.

With each pass, more and more of the tension in her faded until she was slumped across my thigh like she had no bones.

“So. Tell me about yourself, Lumi.” I pushed her to talk more.

But in doing so, I had stopped petting for just a moment. “You stopped.” She tensed like she was about to bolt and I put my hand back on her head, ruffling her hair.

“Paused. Not stopping anytime soon. You have my promise I’ll keep going for as long as we talk.”

She settled back down, but it was a long quiet moment before she relaxed enough to answer the question. “I don’t know how to start. I remember a lot of things. That mountain had been my home for a very, very long time. The original owner of this cabin died long ago. I know now that humans count the passing of time, but I didn’t keep any reference before.”

“Was this cabin still up there?” I asked.

“Not like this. The roof had fallen in, the rugs had faded and the fireplace stopped.” Her ears sagged as she spoke about it. “But I had this place in my inner world.”

There was a question in there for me, but I wasn’t about to press her about her cultivation.

Lumi continued. “That bastard destroyed it though.” She growled and her tail went rigid.

“That’s terrible. The man who killed you destroyed it?”

“Yes. There was no reason for him to do it.” She was angry and understandably so. If I had to guess, that place meant a lot to her.

“He did it to anger you and draw you out.” I explained, “He was only interested in defeating you.”

The anger faded to a pout. “I know. I’ve been as smart, if not smarter, than humans for a long time. Just… I lost control when he did it.”

“Angering your opponent is a common tactic, and it works quite well. I’ve used it myself many times.”

“You destroyed these other girls' homes too?” There was a flash of anger in her eyes.

“No. You’ve talked with them, right?” I needed to set the record straight.

She nodded. “The three of them care about you a lot, the others I haven’t talked to.” I realized she had been at least spying on my wives when they entered the shared soul space.

“The others are my wives. I love them dearly.”

Lumi’s mouth made an ‘O’ “You have a lot of women.”

“Yes, I do. They are all wonderful in their own way. But my mana beasts are special to me not just because I love them, but because they are my closest partners when I fight.”

Lumi jumped ahead in the conversation. “You want me to fight with you.”

There was no reason to lie. “I would. You are powerful and, no doubt, cunning. Am I going to force you to fight? No. It is your choice what you do with your life from here on out, but we will always be attached.”

She nodded against my leg, nuzzling against it. “Can I just feel your pets for a while?”

“If you promise not to run next time I come, I’ll sit here and pet you all night.”

“I won’t run next time.” She promised as she shifted to get more comfortable and we relaxed into a long silent session of me petting Lumi as she recounted small stories of her life.