NOVPUBI considered the pros and cons of each method she had demonstrated:
Song required musical aptitude I simply didn't possess, and while its area effects were impressive, the lack of precision control was a significant drawback for someone like me who preferred exacting techniques.
Sculpture offered durability but lacked the speed and adaptability I would need in combat situations. I had always favored quick, decisive action rather than preparation-heavy approaches.
Calligraphy had its appeal, the precision reminded me of the runic system I was already familiar with, but its limitations were significant. If it truly was becoming obsolete among modern Lightweavers, it might not provide the versatility I needed, especially considering they relied more heavily on infusing meaning than the others.
"Master, there’s an interesting pattern here," Azure observed. "It seems that the more effort put into creating the medium itself, the less 'meaning' needs to be infused separately. Writing requires tremendous meaning infusion because the characters themselves are simple to create. Meanwhile, sculpture and painting require less meaning infusion because the creation process itself embodies much of the intent."
"That makes sense," I replied silently, my thoughts focusing on the remaining method – painting.
It seemed to offer versatility without sacrificing too much in any particular area. But more importantly, the possibility of being able to incorporate the other methods (and maybe even formations) was too much to pass on.
"I’d like to choose painting," I said finally. "The potential to incorporate elements from other methods appeals to me. I could potentially write lyrics or poetic verses as calligraphy within my paintings, combining multiple approaches."
Thara sighed, though there was a hint of a smile beneath it. "I'm not surprised. Saint candidates are often drawn to the most ambitious paths. You're all likely to become Elders someday if you survive the Selection, so naturally you gravitate toward methods with the greatest long-term potential."
She moved to a nearby bookshelf and pulled out an enormous leather-bound tome, its blue cover inlaid with what appeared to be fragments of crystal. The book was easily the size of my torso and looked ancient despite its well-preserved condition.
"What is that?" I asked as she heaved it onto a reading stand with a grunt.
"This," she said, running a hand over the cover, "is the Compendium of Cerulean Patterns. It contains designs that scholars from the Academy have developed, refined, and recorded since its founding hundreds of thousands of years ago."
As she opened the book, I realized this was essentially the Lightweaver equivalent of the Skybound's Foundational Rune catalog, a collection of established patterns that practitioners could adopt rather than designing their own from scratch, which was always risky.
The pages were filled with intricate blue diagrams, each one a possible Cerulean Vein design. Some were simple and elegant, while others were complex and detailed.
"The design you choose is critically important," Thara explained as she carefully turned the heavy pages. "It will determine which aspects of painting come most naturally to you. Some designs are better for practitioners who wish to focus on offensive techniques." She pointed to a pattern that resembled a spiral with sharp projections. "Others emphasize defensive applications." Her finger moved to a more circular, shield-like design.
"There are patterns optimized for different elemental affinities as well, though light is naturally the most popular among Lightweavers. And some," she continued, turning to a page showing a design that looked almost like a stylized animal, "are particularly suited for those who wish to specialize in summoning or creating autonomous constructs."
She looked up at me, her expression serious. "I want to be clear: choosing a design that emphasizes one aspect doesn't mean you can't utilize others. A Lightweaver with an attack-focused Cerulean Vein can still create defensive barriers or summon constructs. It just means those applications will require more energy and concentration than they would for someone with a more suitable design."
"And can the design be changed later?" I asked, already suspecting the answer.
"It can be modified and refined as you advance," she confirmed, "but it cannot be completely replaced without potentially catastrophic consequences. The Cerulean Vein becomes an integral part of your spiritual anatomy. Attempting to remove it entirely would be like trying to replace your actual veins."
I nodded my understanding and began to carefully examine the patterns displayed in the tome. Azure was meticulously cataloging everything, adding it to his comprehensive database of this world's cultivation systems.
As I turned another page, I stopped abruptly. There, rendered in blue ink, was a design that looked remarkably similar to my Foundational Rune, a Fibonacci spiral tree pattern. The resemblance was uncanny, though this version was more fluid, with branches that curved gracefully rather than the sharp angles of my Skybound rune.
"This one," I said, pointing to the design. "What's its specialty?"
Thara peered at my selection. "Ah, the Arboreal Spiral. That's an excellent choice for someone interested in nature-based manifestations, it facilitates connections with plant life and ecological systems. Practitioners with this design often excel at creating living constructs that grow and evolve rather than simply appearing fully formed."
Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
The synchronicity was too perfect to ignore. My Foundational Rune was wood-based, focused on plant manipulation. If I selected a Cerulean Vein with similar affinity, it might create natural resonance between the two systems, a potential bridge for future integration.
"Master," Azure's voice sounded in my mind. "This is a remarkable opportunity. The structural similarities between this design and your Foundational Rune suggest they might be harmonious rather than antagonistic. It could significantly reduce the difficulties of dual cultivation."
"My thoughts exactly," I replied silently. "If I'm going to attempt what Elder Vareyn achieved, true integration of both cultivation systems, then aligning the foundational elements seems like the logical first step."
"There's risk, of course," Azure cautioned. "The similarity might make interference more likely as well. The two patterns could resonate too strongly and create unexpected feedback loops."
"True, but that's a problem for future me," I thought. "Right now, we need to establish a foothold in Lightweaver cultivation, and this seems like the most promising path."
After a brief internal discussion weighing various options, Azure and I agreed that the Arboreal Spiral offered the best combination of utility and potential synergy with my existing cultivation.
"I've decided," I told Thara. "The Arboreal Spiral feels right to me."
She smiled approvingly. "A thoughtful choice. Not the most popular among candidates, most prefer designs that facilitate direct combat applications, but one with great depth and potential for growth." She chuckled at her own pun. "Pardon the wordplay."
I blinked. Once. Twice. My lips parted slightly, debating whether to acknowledge the joke or pretend it hadn’t happened. In the end, I settled for an uncomfortable half-smile, the kind that looked more like a grimace.
"...Right," I said after a beat, nodding slowly. "Very... uh, deep."
Closing the heavy tome, Thara led me to a different section of the pavilion where a circular platform of blue crystal stood elevated above the floor.
"This is a Resonance Amplification Dais," she explained. "It's designed to temporarily strengthen your connection to the blue sun, making it easier to establish your Cerulean Vein. Normally, this process would take weeks of preparation and gradual attunement, but we don't have that luxury."
She gestured for me to sit in the center of the platform. "Before we begin, I need to know, do you have any experience channeling blue sun energy?"
I feigned ignorance. "I'm not sure what that would even feel like, Professor."
Thara nodded, unsurprised. "The blue sun's energy feels cool and clarifying, like a mountain stream flowing through your spirit. To channel it, you need to open yourself to its influence, imagine your body as a vessel waiting to be filled with light."
Her instructions were basic but sound. I followed them with deliberate clumsiness at first, allowing small "mistakes" that she could correct, establishing the expected learning curve of a novice.
After a few attempts, I channeled a controlled amount of blue sun energy from my inner world, allowing just enough to flow through my body to create the impression of successful attunement.
My eyes flashed azure briefly as the energy circulated through my system.
"Good!" Thara exclaimed, clearly pleased with my rapid progress. "That's an excellent first attempt. Now let's move on to the fun part, creating your Cerulean Vein."
She sat cross-legged opposite me on the platform, her posture shifting from the slightly scattered professor to a focused cultivation master.
"Everyone has an inner space within themselves," she began, her voice taking on a rhythmic, almost hypnotic quality. "Not a physical location, but a spiritual nexus where your essence gathers and flows. It's the center of your being, the core from which all energy emanates and to which all energy returns."
Her description immediately made me think of my inner world. But from her explanation, it seemed that what Lightweavers called the "inner space" was something much smaller and more limited, more like a focal point than a fully realized dimension.
"To locate this inner space," Thara continued, "you must follow the currents of your own life force inward. Imagine tracing a river to its source, following a thread to its origin. Let your consciousness sink deeper and deeper within, past thought, past emotion, to the still center where you truly exist."
I closed my eyes and pretended to struggle with the concept, but in truth, I simply directed my awareness to my inner world. Given that I already had a fully developed spiritual realm rather than merely an "inner space," locating it was trivial.
After what I judged to be an appropriate amount of time, long enough to seem like I was making an effort but not so long as to appear incompetent, I opened my eyes and nodded.
"I think I've found it," I said softly.
She put away a small pouch that I noticed contained some kind of herb. "I was prepared to offer you a spiritual catalyst if you struggled, a herb that induces a dreamlike state, making it easier to perceive the inner space. But it seems you won't need it."
I couldn't help but smile inwardly at the thought. If you can't get the job done yourself, just use some mystical LSD to speed things along. Typical cultivation world solutions.
"Now that you've located your inner space," Thara continued, seemingly both impressed and slightly suspicious of my rapid progress, "the next step is to create your Cerulean Vein within it. Visualize the Arboreal Spiral design clearly in your mind. Every curve, every branch, every detail must be perfect."
I called up the image of the pattern I'd selected, allowing Azure to project the exact design into my consciousness so there would be no errors or inconsistencies.
"Once the image is fixed in your mind," Thara instructed, "begin to channel the blue sun energy through your body in that pattern. The energy should naturally flow into the visualization, filling it out and making it real within your inner space."
She rose to her feet, brushing off her robes. "I need to attend to some other responsibilities, but I'll return to check on your progress. This part of the process is deeply personal and works best without observation. Take as much time as you need, though preferably no more than a few hours." She added the last part with a small smile.
Before I could respond, she had hurried out of the pavilion, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the gently humming Resonance Amplification Dais.
"Well, that was abrupt," I commented to Azure. "I'm beginning to think Professor Thara isn't quite the conventional master I expected."
"She seems knowledgeable but distracted," Azure observed. "Perhaps she has multiple responsibilities and limited time. Or perhaps she simply trusts your ability more than she's letting on."
"Either way, it gives us the privacy we need." I settled more comfortably on the platform and turned my attention inward, diving fully into my inner world.
It was time to get started on creating my very own Cerulean Vein.
