Corvus bowed his head to the cross-legged figure of Cyprus, who continued scrutinizing him from head to toe.
"What kind of strength spirit have you bound?" Cyprus inquired. Normally, such a question would have been an insult to any other spirit master, but Corvus was just a servant, and the clan required a record of every spirit servant's abilities.
"It's a battle spirit, sir," Corvus replied. He quickly noticed the slight displeasure crossing the Chief Servant's face at his vagueness, which made him immediately abandon any thoughts of dodging the inquiry.
"It strengthens my fist, sir," Corvus added. He had chosen to lie, feeling that claiming a spirit like the one his father once possessed would work in his favour. Anyone would believe he had specifically sought out a spirit similar to his father's and he was right to do so because Cyprus couldn't hide the flicker of surprise that crossed his brow.
"Hmm, you sought one similar to your father's. That's good." Cyprus slowly nodded, his earlier disappointment fading. After all, any spirit that boosted one's fighting capabilities was considered a superior spirit. Besides, he liked the determination Corvus showed in finding a spirit similar to his late father's.
Cyprus felt he should reward the boy; after all, he and Corvus's father had once shared a good relationship. Besides, the boy had essentially matched the speed at which the clan's own young members bound a spirit, so he believed Corvus deserved a reward.
He pulled a scroll from his robes and handed it to Corvus.
"Take this. I'm sure you must have spent all your qi during the binding process. This will let you replenish it faster."
Corvus hesitated, baffled by such generosity. He was certain this wasn't some kind of competition he'd won to earn a reward, yet the surprise on Cyprus's face proved he was the first to return.
And he wasn't about to reject something that could give him an advantage as a spirit master, so he pushed past his hesitation and took the scroll with both hands. He bowed even lower, thanking Cyprus, who simply nodded and closed his eyes, falling back into meditation.
Corvus held the leather scroll and watched Cyprus slip back into meditation. He exhaled a breath of relief that Cyprus hadn't chosen to peer into his core to verify the nature of his spirit. Though he wasn't sure if such a thing was even possible, he was acutely aware of how little he knew about the world as a whole.
He moved a good distance away from Cyprus and sat cross-legged, his curiosity burning. He unfurled the scroll and scanned its contents, feeling a surge of excitement as his questions began to find answers.
The contents weren't necessarily "special" in the grand scheme of things, but they were vital to a spirit master. It was a more complex breathing method than the crude technique they had been taught hours earlier. While the previous method focused on drawing qi out with little regard for refilling it this new technique covered both. It was, as he began to realize, a true qi technique and most importantly, it detailed the process of advancement, the most crucial knowledge for any spirit master seeking to break through to the next stage.
Corvus immediately delved into the contents of the scroll, quickly noting the opening lines that detailed a hierarchy for qi breathing methods. Much like spirits, they were ranked as inferior, superior and rare. The scroll contained a superior qi breathing method, which made Corvus feel even more keenly the partiality shown to him and the others with solid cores.
It wasn't until an hour later, as Corvus cycled through the qi technique and slowly began practicing it, that both he and Cyprus noticed the second returnee. Surprisingly, it was a boy just like Corvus, though he had short, rough hair and a much smaller physique.
It was Leon. Corvus wondered if his old friend had been as lucky as he was to bind a superior-grade battle spirit. Honestly, he hoped so because just as Corvus carried the burden of his sick grandma, Leon worked to cater for his own sickly younger sister.
Leon looked up the hill and froze in his tracks, quickly spotting the cross-legged figures of both Cyprus and Corvus. His eyes locked onto his old friend, who stared back with that familiar expressionless gaze, causing a few old memories to flash through Leon's mind. He quickly brushed them aside and made his way up the hill, where he bowed to Cyprus.
The Chief Servant simply nodded in acknowledgment and closed his eyes ompting to question leon about his strength spirit's abilty when the rest with solid cores return
Leon found a spot to sit cross-legged as well, his attention immediately drawn into his own core, causing a small smile to play across his lips.
A few minutes later, Blake returned, followed closely by Luna, and finally Aaron. Seeing the five youths with solid cores gathered, Cyprus rose to his feet to address them.
"Listen up, all of you. I am telling you this now because I want you to be prepared: I will be in charge of your tutelage and the assigning of your new duties," he concluded, scanning the exhausted faces of Blake and Aaron which was to be expected and the surprisingly vibrant expression of Luna.
"But first, I must know the spirit abilities of each of you to decide what work best suits you. So, you first," he continued, pointing directly at Blake.
Blake froze at the abrupt question, quickly earning a displeased glare from Cyprus that made both him and his spirit tremble under the slight pressure.
"Do not let me repeat myself," Cyprus remarked offhandedly, causing Blake to stammer.
"Yes, sir! I… apologize. M-my spirit strengthens my muscles."
"Good. And you?" Cyprus nodded in approval and turned to Luna with a slight smile.
"Mine strengthens my internal organs," Luna responded quickly, wanting to avoid the reprimand Blake had received.
"All of them?" Cyprus questioned in doubt and was surprised when Luna nodded affirmatively, making him smile even more before he turned to Aaron.
"My legs, sir. It strengthens my legs," Aaron said with a bow, earning a nod of approval from Cyprus, who then turned to the last one, Leon.
"And you?"
"It strengthens all my bones, sir," Leon said, also bowing.
"Wow, that's good," Cyprus remarked with a proud smile, feeling how lucky this generation was.
He crossed his arms behind his back and moved towards the spirit gate, leaving the four he had questioned to wonder why he hadn't asked Corvus.