SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!! A tiny wiki, or should I say a Character Sheet has been created (by me). In it are all the abilities of Karni, explained as neatly as possible! This will be updated as the story progresses, so you can always reference the character sheet if you think something doesn't make sense. If I missed anything, just comment.
P. S. There is also synopsis of all the arcs and the most important points so far there. The current arc isn't there yet, I'll put it in sometime this week.
You can find this on my user profile on the Soul Land Fandom. Just search in AzKoPo (same nickname as here), and go under "people". You should find it. I hope it's helpful.
Now then, onto the chapter!
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"Water, food… meat, spices, bread, milk…" Karni went quitter as he counted things. Pointing a finger at each item on the table.
"Sisi!" He shouted. "Where's the sauce for spaghetti?" These last few days, Karni had learned this really good recipe and had been, perhaps, enjoying it a bit too much.
"It's in the top drawer on the left!" Siduo shouted from the upper floor of the house.
They've been living in their new house for three months already and have gotten quite used to it. Now that they were alone and could do whatever they wanted, Karni almost couldn't imagine going back to the life of living with other people in the house anymore. The independence was fantastic. Though of course, they also had more responsibilities. Taxes, utilities, food, buying things when they break down, and so on. Not that they worried much, since they had a lot of money, but they still had to keep track of it.
Karni took the tomato sauce from the drawer and nodded to himself. He directed his storage ring to the abundance of food items and stored them all inside. After he was done, he went upstairs, just catching Siduo as she finished the same thing with clothes.
They finished packing. Siduo's storage ring had their clothes, Karni's storage ring had the food. But thankfully, they wouldn't need much more than that. The rest was already taken care of by the school and the organisers.
Except the organisers were them. But that didn't matter, they've already organised everything about lodgings and curriculum a month ago, all they had to take care of now was their own things.
"Alright then, I think that's everything. Shall we go?" Siduo asked.
Karni nodded. "Let's go."
… … …
Ten buses waited in front of the school. This time, the whole academy was coming. Just the intermediate academy already had about 600 students. The Junior Academy was about the same, while the Advanced had a little less with 300 students, since it was far stricter to enter and had only one class per year.
That meant around 1500 students in total. The school hired buses. Ten buses, with each bus having enough to fill 60 people. With a few teaches per bus, the buses could take around 55 children on one bus.
The academy, along with Karni and Siduo, decided that the buses would take the route three times. It was about an hour one way, so the students would go in three batches, each two hours apart. The same would happen when they leave.
The first to go were the Advanced students and the older students of the Intermediate Academy. They were the oldest, hence they also had to go the earlier. The thermal baths opened at six in the morning, so the first batch of buses went at five.
The second batch of buses would go at 7, picking up the younger Intermediate Academy students and the last year students of the Junior Academy.
Finally, the youngest students of the Junior academy would board the last round of buses.
Since Karni and Siduo were the organisers, they obviously had to go with the first batch of the buses. This meant they had to be in the school a good half an hour before the buses departed.
It was pitch dark, but most of the Advanced Academy students had already gathered.
"Everyone got their winter clothes?" Karni asked.
Whispers of "yes" and "of course" went around in a disorderly manner.
"Does anyone have summer clothes?" Siduo asked next to him.
A few chuckles escaped the students, some just rolled their eyes, and yet others nodded or gave another round of whispering confirmation.
Indeed, they would need swimwear for the pools and shorts because the baths were heated, but outside they would need warm clothes. It was snowing this week.
"Everyone, check your things one more time- Dong Gaogao, don't roll your eyes at me. Check. Some of you have definitely forgotten something, even if you think you didn't." Karni crossed his arms. The students did as told, and of course, some of them did find out they forgot some things.
Thirty minutes was up, and those that managed to find what they were missing did, those who couldn't, well, they would have to figure something out later. As long as it wasn't a necessity, they didn't try to rush home. These sorts of plans never did go perfectly. There was already a few of them who decided they would go on a different bus, hoping there would be space, or alternatively, they would just have to stand for an hour.
Karni boarded the bus alongside Siduo. They sat down at the very front, while the rest of the students sat wherever they wanted to. There were no specific rules at this point. Karni almost wanted to say that those who get sick easily should sit at the front… but then he remembered that all of these students were highly talented Soul Masters. They would not just get sick randomly.
All the students boarded the buses, the ones Karni and Siduo boarded happened to be the same as Hu Fuya's and Song Daiyu's bus.
All ten buses departed, and Karni sat down on the seat next to Siduo. He closed his eyes and spread his Spiritual Power and senses to all ten buses. Already a difficult feat due to it being quite the large area, made harder by the fact that the buses were moving.
"Alright students, it's Teacher Val here." He started talking, moving his Sound across all the buses.
"I'm speaking from the middle bus, so do not be confused. You know of my abilities." Really the only ones surprised were the bus drivers.
"We'll be arriving at our destination in about an hour. Ten minutes before that, I want each one of you to be ready to get off quickly, grab your things, and let the buses return. Teacher Wu will take you to register and find your rooms. After you are registered, you will be free to do whatever you want until ten."
The ten buses cheered at that.
"But really, do be ready to get off the bus. I will tell you again when we're close to remind you. The buses are on a tight schedule. If anyone dilly dallies, they'll find themselves outside in the snow unprepared." He listened a bit to the students' murmurs in the buses. There was at most two or three students that grumbled. He'd been a teacher here for three years now which meant he had a certain reputation to be taken seriously.
"Finally, once it's ten, I expect you all to gather in the main pool building, if you cannot figure out which one it is, you can ask the teachers. We will have an introduction of the place there for the whole academy, and after that the first round of special classes will start. Alright now, enjoy the ride."
He moved a bit in the chair, going into a comfortable position.
Siduo smiled on the side and leaned on him. "It's gonna be tiring day for you huh."
"Says you. I only travel and sit. You actually have to talk to the staff when we reach the baths."
"Yeah, but I rather do that than sit around for five hours."
"Agree to disagree."
… … …
"Alright everyone, get off one by one." Karni looked at the many children coming down the bus. Some more clumsy than others. This was the last batch of the students.
"Teacher Yi Lan." Karni called out.
"Yes, Teacher Val?"
"If you can take them directly to the apartments and then to the pools, I would be grateful. I will ask Teacher Ye to also bring the older kids of Junior Academy toward you."
Yi Lan nodded. "Right. Our curriculum will be a bit different than the others. I remember."
"Good. In that case, I'll see you later." Karni went toward the pool where the Intermediate and Advanced Academy students had already gathered.
During the first batch of buses, it was Siduo who led the group. During the second batch, Teacher Ye led the groups. All of the Intermediate students were familiar with her. Finally, Teacher Yi Lan was the one who led the Junior Academy batch, since he mostly taught in the Junior Academy. He had a talent with the kids.
Karni arrived at the pool. Most of the students had already arrived. The teachers were just counting them all. At the head of the pool and already in her swimming dress, Siduo was catching the gazes of many male students who were in the Advanced Academy. The oldest generation right now was a year older than Karni and Siduo right now.
Karni arrived next to her and gave her a peck on the cheek which she returned. There were a couple of "ooos" among the Intermediate Academy students.
"Everyone listen up." Karni used his authority over Sound to command the room. "Our first lesson today will be simple. You will start with straightforward battles. Soul Power is allowed, but Soul Abilities are not. You may pair up freely—yes, even in between years. We will have one hour of sparring. Afterward, you will distribute yourself on your classes. You'll just have to follow your headroom teachers, and they'll lead you to a spot. They will tell you how you will continue. Lastly, during this sparring sessions, those with Water Attribute Martial Soul, or ones that can control water in one way or another listen up. You will have the job of spilling as little water as possible from the pool."
Siduo stepped up. She had a paper in her hands. "I will now call out the names of those that will be in charge of keeping the water steady."
… … …
Karni and Siduo were relaxing in an outside pool. A warm, steamy outside pool. Cold on their faces, warmth over their body. It was an incredibly comfortable feeling. For now, their job was done. Classes would last until three in the afternoon. They've been busy during the morning, and now their hard work paid off, enabling them to relax.
This was also an enclosed area, specifically reserved for the teachers so they could get away from the students a bit during their free time.
The thermal baths owners did not hold back in making this area as comfortable as possible. The water even nourished the body a bit. It was clear that the owners put in some medicinal herbs for the teachers to enjoy. It was heavenly.
Siduo and Karni laid in the water, cuddling together. Every now and then, a teacher would join them when they had the free time to get rid of the fatigue. Their reactions were all the same. A long, relaxed sigh.
But soon their time of relaxation came to an end. The classes ended, and they had to go watch over the students. The students would now have two hours of free time before events started. They had to look after the students while preparing for the events.
As Karni was watching one side of the pool together with Siduo, an older couple approached. A familiar couple.
"Hoho. You really did bring the whole school." The wife smiled.
Karni smiled. "Hello, long time no see."
"Oh now." The man laughed. "You two have visited us quite regularly now. We were glad to help convince the owners."
The wife looked at all the students. Some of them had Soul Rings circulating around them. "These kids are all incredibly strong. Val Karni, or should I call you Teacher Val right now, are you sure us showing off our entertaining abilities will do them any good?"
Karni nodded. "They're battlers, but that means they often get stuck in their thinking in how their abilities can be utilised, even if they are stronger than the two of you. It will do them well."
"We'll do just fine then." The husband raised his chin. "Dear, let's show the yung'uns how we do."
"Of course, dear." The wife answered back.
Karni and Siduo smiled at each other. Siduo checked the clock. "We still have half an hour left, so you can prepare in peace. After that, Kiki will start the event."
The older couple nodded, looking both nervous and excited.
… … …
Karni clapped his hands once, and the whole room turned quiet. Not because they all heard it, but because Karni commanded the Sound to quiet down.
The older couple looked in disbelief for a second. They may have seen Karni's Soul Rings before, but they've never actually seen him use his abilities.
"Listen up everyone, and watch closely. You are about to see a performance. It will be performed by this couple. They are entertainers in these baths and have kindly agreed to cooperate with us."
"Your job is simple. Watch their performance and take anything you can from it. They are Soul Grandmasters. Enjoy."
The students, instead of expressing disdain at having to watch two older Soul Grandmasters, instead showed interest, because it was Teacher Val that expected the students to gain something from this.
The older couple stepped forward. Two White Soul Rings appeared on both of them. White mist surfaced over the whole area. The students quickly noticed that the mist was borrowing water from the pool. It was thick with chlorine.
Then the lights turned off, and everything went dark. They were already quite late in the evening, and it being winter, the moon was already up.
The lights started dancing in the mist, giving them a surreal appearance.
The lights then multiplied, and twenty rays of light now moved around from a single central point. The light looked like tiny dancers circling around, switching partners every now and then.
Then the paired-up rays started combining, and new pairs started forming. They were brighter than before. Those soon combined and lit up more and more, until a single ray of light stayed, moving in the air swiftly.
The ray then slowly started shrinking in a controlled manner. The students noticed that one of the White Soul Rings was shining from the man. The light coalesced into a ball of light and started expanding, shining ever brighter, until the rays could not be controlled anymore.
The mist started gathering as well. All of it toward that ball. And the mist circled around the ball of light, giving it an appearance of what Karni would call a black hole if black holes produced light.
But the shrinking had yet to stop. It shrunk more and more, before the energies couldn't be contained anymore by the couple, and the two Soul Grandmasters let go. But they let go with precision.
The explosion set off beautifully. The husband controlled where the light could leak and let loose the power. It let out light like balloons let out air. Little holes were released, but when enough light leaked, those leaks were captured like flies, kept in the air in form of multiple tiny balls.
The man's age and experience was showing through. He might only be a Soul Grandmaster, but his control was exquisite. And what was more, each light had tiny bits of mist around them, giving them the appearance of the night sky.
The central ball of light dissipated, and hundreds of little lights stayed in the air, then slowly started lowering, setting in the water.
Finally, the thermal baths turned on the ceiling lights. The show was over.
The students could not help but clap, enamoured by the performance. Karni caught the older couple breathing heavily. They expended quite a bit of energy. If they hadn't known that the two were Soul Grandmasters, the students would think these two had at least reached the realm with Soul Ancestor with their immaculate control.
"You have witnessed what controlling one's Martial Soul really means." Karni started quieting them all down.
Siduo nodded next to him. Karni boosted her voice. "What we wish of you is to take this experience and really internalise it. What did they use? How did they do it? Experiment. Before the school trip ends, all of you will have to present your findings. You may form groups of up to seven people, if you wish, you may also be alone. Until the end of the trip, you have to create a performance of your own."
The students started chattering among themselves. Most of them sounded excited.
"Most importantly," Karni continued. "Is that you have to use your Soul Rings. All of them. Think of how you can make them look as cool as possible. On our last day, the two of them will be the judges and decide the top three. The top three will also get some rewards. I won't tell you what those are, but I give you my word that they are good."
The chatter became louder. It didn't take long before the students already started forming teams, already started throwing out ideas of how they could make this look as good as possible.
"Good. I like that all of you are so enthusiastic." Karni smiled. "Now you're dismissed. Classes will resume tomorrow. Take the rest of the day off, or…" Karni looked at the field, the students were still whispering plans while he was talking. For once, he wasn't angry about that. "You can also plan as much as you like. It is up to you."
Karni and Siduo went off. They too would take the rest of the day off, as would the rest of the teachers. Sure, they had a schedule of who would watch over the students—someone always had to watch over the students, especially the little ones—but they definitely used the chances they could to relax.
Karni and Siduo headed off back into the teacher's private area. It was the internal baths area, connected to the outside with the pools. Many of the teachers were outside of the pools, since they've been in them the whole day. There was a small coffee shop set up here for the teachers. There, Karni and Siduo noticed Teacher Ye and Teacher Yi Lan chatting along passionately.
To be more exact, Teacher Yi was doing most of the talking. He was talking about some Martial Soul theories, especially in regard to the children and how best to help children develop Martial Souls, as that was the most important time of development. Teacher Ye who was next to him listening, was smiling widely, it was a bit of a dumb smile even.
"You think she's aware that she's smiling so much?" Siduo asked.
"No… When do you think that started."
"Today." Siduo said without a second thought.
"Oh?"
Siduo nodded. "When they were on watch duty together, I saw them start talking. Teacher Ye didn't wear that smile yet. And they seemed to have only gotten properly acquainted then. It was just a casual conversation."
"Hooo. I feel like we should tease Teacher Ye a bit." Karni mused.
"I don't think we'll get the chance." Siduo pointed.
Karni watched. Indeed, Teacher Ye kept looking around nervously, like she was trying to gather courage.
Soon, they heard it. "Say, Teacher Yi." Teacher Ye started talking with a slight tremble in her voice that only Karni could catch. She was scarily steady.
"As I was… Oh, yes?" Yi Lan was interrupted.
"How do you feel like grabbing dinner?"
"Oh, sure. We should invite some other teachers as well."
"No, no." Teacher Ye looked him straight in the eyes. "I meant just the two of us." Karni and Siduo watched as Teacher Ye's actively tried to keep a straight face.
"Wow." Karni commented. "When Teacher Ye wants something, she really goes for it eh?"
Siduo nodded with a smile next to him.
Teacher Yi Lan was silent for a bit, processing what Teacher Ye just said. "Oh, uhm. Sure, sure. We can go."
"Good! Let's go right now!"
"Right now?"
"Right now." Teacher Ye nodded.
"O-Ok." Yi Lan was fully surprised. He probably had yet to fully realise what was happening.
Karni and Siduo watched the two teachers leave together, now in a more awkward atmosphere than before.
"I feel like another bath." Karni said, deciding to change his focus. He was rooting for Teacher Ye, but he didn't have any right to intervene. That was between two adults. The only relationship he would ever meddle in was Tang Wulin's and Gu Yue's, and that was only because he knew what a mess that would be.
Siduo agreed with Karni and stepped into the bath with him. There were quite a few teachers chatting in this private bath, but a lot of them were also just outside of it. The vast majority of the teachers were gathered here in this one area, including the Headmaster.
Siduo cuddled onto Karni in the bath, relaxing herself.
Some of the teachers looked at them with a smile. "Teacher Val, Teacher Wu. You two are quite open about your relationship, eh?" One of the middle-aged teachers commented with a chuckle from across the bath.
"Mm. We're not exactly ashamed of it. It's not like we're revealing some private information." Siduo smiled, her eyes still closed in comfort.
"Still, even most young people aren't so daring." A woman teacher next to the man said. The two were wife and husband and have taught at Star Luo City Academy for a long time.
"Well," Karni chuckled. "What are people going to do about it? We're both powerful, we can do what we want as long as we don't directly affect other people."
"Whatever you want, eh?" The male teacher smiled cheekily. "You two sound quite wild. You must have experienced it all already then."
"Dear!" The female teacher hit her husband.
"What? Look at them! They're so chummy, you cannot convince me that they-"
"We haven't actually." Siduo added.
The wife and husband fell silent; surprise colouring their faces.
"We're waiting till we're both eighteen." Karni added, shrugging. He did not feel like explaining more than that, but that would at least get them to stop asking about it.
"Heh. But Teacher Val, isn't your birthday on the second to last day of this trip?"
Karni and Siduo fell silent. Now, they did feel awkward, but they still didn't move away from one another.
"Alright there hubby, you've had one too many drinks. Let's go."
"Wha? But…. Wifey!" The man complained as his wife pulled him out of the water.
Karni and Siduo visibly relaxed as the two teachers left and let themselves float freely in the water; but the other teachers were now all looking at them. Both of them just closed their eyes and decided not to mind. They would relax and focus on each other.
The chatter of the teachers began after Karni and Siduo showed their willingness to not care. They didn't discuss Karni and Siduo. Some of them discussed what just happened, but those conversations quickly led to all sort of different conversation between various groups.
The noise that the teachers made became white noise to Karni, and he could fully focus on the warm medicinal bath. The two slowly floated from the inside part of the private bath through a plastic floaty door and entered the outside. A few teachers were here as well, but it was almost silent here. The teachers here were enjoying the atmosphere.
The warm medicinal energy floated through the body, while cold, misty air was breathed in through the nose. It was hypnotically comfortable.
Karni held Siduo close as the two floated to the edge of the bath and settled there. He opened his eyes. It was quite a beautiful sky. There were few stars, but that added to the atmosphere, as far above the baths, they could see snow gently falling towards them.
Karni's body was incredibly comfortable, his mind was at ease, unfocused, but perfectly calm. He focused on his breathing, and on his heart. And his body felt a connection to Siduo, her breathing, her heart—just as calm as his own.
Siduo released a sigh of satisfaction. She whispered. "Kiki. This is wonderful."
Karni hugged her closer. Such a long day, now finally reaching its end. This fluffy feeling was amazing. It was the most relaxed he had been in years, but it was also one of few times when he was relaxed and not feeling sleepy.
"It is wonderful." Karni answered back after being silent for a few seconds.
As if the two's minds were connected, their Soul Power suddenly stirred at the same time. It was not intense. It was slow, it was stable, interconnected.
The medicinal effects affected their Soul Power, their state of mind. The surroundings affected them. Utter calmness.
The two's body released a milky white mist, Soul Power leaking.
No one noticed the transformation that had begun. The teachers continued to relax in the outside bath, while the internal baths were still full of chatter. But so distant, perfect gentle noise meant for the background.
The last few years were meant for them to calm down, and they succeeded. This was the result of their recalibration.
And here were two bodies, relaxing next to each other… the calmest they have ever felt…
Their Soul Rings appeared involuntarily. Five Soul Rings on each of them. Five Black Soul Rings.
From below the bath, a sixth started rising on both their bodies. On Karni a single Black Soul Ring; on Siduo two Black Soul Rings. One for each of her Martial Souls.
Soul Emperors! They have just become Soul Emperors! The people resting in the outside pool awakened, the people inside stopped chatting and came to look.
The Headmaster wore the widest smile of them all. Yet he also cried right now. He really, really regretted not recruiting them at the end of their first year. These two were the talents amongst talents in their generation! They were monsters!
The two opened their eyes, still relaxed. Then they looked at each other and started laughing. That had to be the weirdest breakthrough they will ever have.