Corvus had watched the red spirit consume the entirety of the qi vortex within his core, which signified the successful completion of the spirit binding and proved that he had fully stepped onto the first realm of the spirit path. Honestly, Corvus couldn't help the blooming excitement and pride welling up within him.
He was now at the early stage of the spirit channeling realm. His excitement immediately caused him to try drawing out his qi, which would now contain a fraction of the spirit's affinity.
However, his core was dried up and the red spirit was restless, running several circles within his core in a way that made it seem angry, according to the faint psychic link he shared with it.
He quickly calmed himself, realizing that even though he had bound the spirit, he really didn't know what happens next and the fact that he had to recover his qi did well to quench his excitement.
He felt he should try to replenish his qi, but during the binding process, he had lost track of time and had no idea how long it would take to fully replenish his core. Though he suspected it might not necessarily take that much time since this was a spirit realm; even though this one was desolate, it still carried way more qi than the outside world, as could be seen from the small droplets of qi forming within his core that were immediately consumed by the still-fuming red ball within.
"Better to be careful than sorry." Corvus decided to be cautious and fully trust the words of the Chief Servant, who had warned that those who failed to return in three hours would be abandoned. Though he had seen the importance he and the others who had awakened solid cores carried in the eyes of Cyprus, he knew full well that Cyprus was not the one in charge of the spirit realm; and he was certain the Grand Elder would not even bother to consider his core at all.
So he chose to make his way back through the canyon to the rocky forest, with half his attention observing the red spirit. Which still hadn't let a single droplet of spirit qi go without devouring it.
He even noticed the other lost spirits of the rock forest flee at the mere glimpse of his presence ,a behaviour he attributed to the red ball within his core, leading him to conclude that it was definitely a menace.
Corvus, though as expressionless and emotionless as he tries to be, was still a teenager, and the spirit within his core made him feel the euphoria any youth would feel with a new pet.
He couldn't help but think up names for the little guy he believed would dwell with him for the hundred-year lifespan guaranteed by the spirit channeling realm well that is, if he didn't end up dead by anything other than old age.
Corvus treaded through the rocky forest while contemplating names for the red spirit until he finally made it out into the stretching landscape that seemed to have no end. This made Corvus doubt if that were so, but alas, he knew almost nothing about spirit realms and how they worked.
He traced his way back to the hill where the spirit gate lay, noticing the fact that he hadn't come across any fellow young servants at all; yet the immensity of the landscape was probably the reason for that.
A few minutes passed until Corvus finally reached the hill, where he sighted the emptiness of the slope, save for the cross-legged figure of Cyprus.
'Am I too early?' The thought crossed his mind as he decided to climb the hill, not forgetting to consider the fact that those who might have already bound with their spirits might have crossed through the spirit gate.
Cyprus had chosen to sit cross-legged and close his eyes while he meditated on the new technique he'd been granted by his master. He knew full well that the limited knowledge given to the young servants would cause them to waste a lot of time, which would lead to most of them being abandoned. He couldn't help but hope the ones who carried solid cores would be lucky enough to find a superior spirit that could be easily bound, even though he doubted it; after all, in his day, it had taken the full three hours this generation had been granted.
Unfair, yes, but it was totally out of his control. His enhanced ears finally twitched to the crunching of the hard sand below the hill, which made him think that the Grand Elder hadn't really put much effort into holding back the spirit beasts, and probably one had slipped from his grasp. Though not a problem for him, it would be for the young servants;but luckily for them, it had foolishly approached him.
He slowly opened his eyes and stared down the hill, only to find the lean but tall figure of a boy with shoulder-length black hair in ragged clothing.
"Uhm?" Cyprus was taken aback at the boy he recognized as Corvus. He was slightly surprised by his return in just an hour and a half.
"He bound a spirit already" Cyprus quickly came to that conclusion, also choosing to inquire once Corvus reached the top of the hill. But He felt disappointed at how easily he thought Corvus had chosen an inferior spirit.
'He might not necessarily have the same drive as his father had. A pity.'
Corvus finally reached the summit, having already decided on a name he'll call his first and possibly only spirit: Red Ball.
Yes, he had opted for a simple name; after all, it was a tiny ball within his core, and it was red anyway.
But now Corvus was in a dilemma, for he easily felt and sensed the gaze Cyprus threw his way. It made him remember the oddity of the red spirit, and he couldn't help but fear it might be taken from him if Cyprus could see the peculiarities of the spirit,which he was certain was special. He started thinking of lies to tell, while at the same time cursing himself for not having thought this through.