The Exalt [Cultivation Fantasy]

Oscar sat on his bed, leaning against the wall. A faint blue flame was slowly waning, burning for a while now. Oddly, the sparks and embers floating from it resembled snowflakes and ice crystals. No wood or timber was fueling these unique blue flames, only a few round stones with sapphire veins on their surfaces.

Old Yule explained these were frostfire coals, strange coal that burned an icy fire to lower the temperature and provide comfort against the heat—a convenient resource discovered by inhabitants of the Burning Valley. According to Old Yule, people have lived here since ancient times and have long since adapted to it.

Oscar peered outside through the entryway. The dark clouds of ash and soot had moved away. In its place was a bright red, orange sky, unlike the ocean blue of his home. Glancing upward, he saw the cause, a large burning sphere of molten lava, somehow held in place and overlooking the entire land.

The Burning Valley had no night, only an eternity of burning day.

Oscar glanced around the rest of the hut. Avril and Erden were sleeping near him, and on the other side were Old Yule and Quinn. Old Yule placed herself in a protective position even when sleeping, an act of affection for Quinn. Oscar stared in longing at them, a loving family.

'Mom and Dad must be suffering. I can't keep them waiting for much longer.' Oscar palmed his face and rubbed, loosening his tense cheeks and brow. He calmed down, recalling his lessons from past teachers on not to rush. The next step was to find more information from people in the Burning Valley.

Recalling what Old Yule said, Oscar still couldn't believe it. The most interesting part of her tale was the origin of these strange lands, the floating paths of debris, and the nonsensical shifts in direction. It was a legend passed down to the native inhabitants of these lands.

Long ago, the world of Talos was whole and perfect in shape, a round spherical world. But then came a calamity unlike any other. None could properly tell the reason or what the calamity was. Old Yule told many variations of the legend, a vast war across Talos with horrific consequences, a second moon crashing into the world, or a battle between two mythical warriors.

In the end, whatever the reason or cause, half of Talos was shattered. The broken pieces floated around, becoming strange places due to the chaotic energies barely holding them together. The Burning Valley, the grasslands, the forest, and the uncontrollable roads were the result.

Oscar realized he had lived on the unbroken half of Talos known as Vallen. The broken half was known as Shattirma, the land of loss and suffering. Frustrated, Oscar plopped down and rested with a frown. Just how many things did he not know? He couldn't get the annoyance out of his mind until he fell asleep.

The next morning, according to the routine in the Burning Valley, Oscar packed up his mattress and comforts.

'Did you have a good watch? Nothing happened?' Oscar spoke to Demon.

'Not a single peep from them. However, I sensed the old crone would act if any of us made a sudden move. Her defenses were high and alert.' Demon had been awake the entire time in Oscar's body throughout the hours.

'I would like to think they're trustworthy.' Oscar said.

'Another hopeful bout of lunacy.' Demon faded away from his thoughts.

"Heading out so early?" Old Yule smacked her lips.

"We need to keep moving. I thank you for your hospitality." Oscar took out a bottle of water and tossed it to her.

Old Yule held the water with trembling arms but didn't quench her thirst. Instead, she woke up Quinn and gave him the bottle, to which he reacted with wide eyes, stunned at the vast amount of refreshing water in it. Quinn drank heartily and passed the rest to Old Yule.

"You care a great deal for your grandson. Where are his parents?" Oscar asked.

"Long gone…." Old Yule's eyes were looking at him, but it seemed they were seeing something else, someone who wasn't there.

"I'm sorry."

"No. It's fine. We're happy as we are now." Old Yule smacked Quinn on the back of his head. "Say thanks to the young man who gave you water."

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"Thanks, uncle!" Quinn said, rubbing his head.

Uncle…Oscar twitched his brow. It made sense since Quinn was sixteen years old and he was thirty-six. Yet, being called an uncle for the first time was strange. He had truly gotten old, no longer the young student he used to be.

"You're welcome. I should leave soon. Wake up, Avril." Oscar crouched and shook Avril until she started mumbling incoherently as her eyes fluttered unsteadily. She finally got up with a yawn with Erden, her bed hair as wild as ever. After tidying themselves, they stepped out of the stone hut, back into the blasted wastelands.

"Quinn and I can take you to the nearest settlement. It's a small village of a hundred people a short distance away, but it's a start. Be wary. The people of Shattirma despise outsiders. It'll be hard to gain some meaningful conversations." Old Yule warned. "Especially that space pocket of yours. Hide it well. You may attract some trouble."

"Then why do you trust us so much?" Oscar pointed to Quinn. "You don't know us. Why the sudden desire to guide us."

"The three of you could have fought me, and I would lose while trying to protect Quinn. Yet, you did nothing and gave us water, a precious resource. I haven't lived this long to misunderstand people." Old Yule cackled. The sound opposed the sweet words in her mouth. She reached into her pocket and gave Avril some shoes. "I notice you don't like the floor. These shoes will hold nicely against the hot ground."

"Thanks, Old Yule!" Avril accepted the gift, wore the thick brown shoes, and slowly inched toward the ground. Her face brightened when the shoes didn't burn on the floor.

"Here's a pair for you as well." Old Yule passed a pair to Oscar.

The shoe was comfortable, a soft, enveloping cotton filling the crevices between his toes. He couldn't feel anything from the ground while his feet remained cool. The people of the Burning Valley created an amazing item. With their new bearings, Oscar and the others set out for the settlement, wondering what they would find.

Old Yule mentioned the Burning Valley had a large population, around a million total, and many settlements and even a few cities. Their location was on the edge of the Burning Valley, far from the cities in the center. The closest was the settlement a few hours away, even with their speed as Knight Exalts.

Under the blazing molten orb of lava and the red sky, Oscar passed through the scorched lands. He leaped across rivers of lavas, stepped between vents of toxic fumes, and wandered through a flat land of white ash. People living in this place were a miracle in itself.

"So, what's the outside world like?" Quinn never stopped bombarding Oscar and Avril with questions. "I want to get out of here and explore like you two."

"Much better than this place. You could jump out and explore by yourself. There should be much better places to live on than this molten rock." Oscar responded.

"I want to!" Quinn scoffed and grumbled. "But grandma keeps saying we must stay here even though we live right by the edge! Just jump off, and we're off!"

"Little cretin!" Old Yule smacked Quinn on the dome of his head. The dull sound of his skull being pounded made Oscar flinch. "You try moving around outside. You'll get lost the moment you set out, and what then? You lose your way back and be forever gone."

"You can come with me, you old bag! Why are you always hitting me on the head? Don't embarrass me in front of others." Quinn snapped, his face reddened as he took glances at Avril. Oscar raised an eyebrow. Even with nearly half her face covered, Avril was a charming lady, and Quinn was an inexperienced boy.

"You dare talk back to your grandma?! Calling me an old bag" Old Yule hit his head again. "You can leave on your journey once you're a Knight Exalt and when I'm dead. Before that, you're staying with me."

"Excuse me. I think Quinn got the message." Oscar interjected. "How far are we from the settlement?"

"A few more minutes. A map would be the most precious thing, but they're so expensive. I had a makeshift one I made myself. If I sold it, I could get a hefty price." Old Yule croaked.

Finally, they arrived at the settlement. It was a large gorge with a small stream of bubbling black sand. Old Yule explained it was the smallest source of water, which had to be carefully extracted and left to cool down in an underground cellar. Many stone dwellings were carved into the gorge's walls along with pathways.

"This is the Tung Village, a hundred people, give or take." Old Yule led them into the Tung Village. Some people stared warily at them until they saw Old Yule and waved hello. "These villagers won't try anything since you came with me. But still, be careful."

"Hello, everyone!" Avril shouted, crossing her arms in a stalwart stance. "My friends and I want to talk to your village chief."

"What are you doing?!" Oscar and Old Yule shouted.

"Isn't this how it goes? You go in and shout you wish to meet the chief." Avril tilted her head, confused at their reactions.

"Not if you have someone who can recommend you like me! Where's your head at?" Old Yule stared around. The villagers stepped back, shutting their doors. Her wrinkled face was shaking.

"Sorry, Old Yule. Avril, say sorry." Oscar gripped her head and shook slightly.

"Not my hair. You know I don't like that! Ok. I'm sorry." Avril bowed deeply to Old Yule.

"Haha! Sister Avril is too funny!" Quinn laughed his heart out, clearly satisfied at his grandma's dilemma.

'I'm uncle while Avril is sister?' Oscar understood how patient Old Yule was now, seeing Quinn's unruly behavior. While thinking of how to discipline this punk, he sensed some hostile stares watching them close by. None seemed to be a threat, so he didn't act.

Suddenly, a bell rang across the gorge, and the villagers started to shout and close their doors, barricading them. Something was happening. The few hostile stares went away to elsewhere.

"It's an attack!" Old Yule shouted.

"An attack?" Oscar stared down the entrance to the gorge, seeing a cloud of ash being kicked up by something making its way here. Curiosity pulsed through his veins. How powerful were the people here, and what kind of battles did they wage?

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