Cultivation is Creation

"Step forward, child," the first elder commanded, his voice still carrying those impossible harmonics that made it sound like several people speaking in perfect synchronization.

I approached the center of the chamber, keeping my movements steady and controlled. The Genesis Seed pulsed reassuringly in my inner world, its massive canopy still sheltering the blue sun from view. The red sun, meanwhile, blazed proudly in its orbit, as though ready to put on a show.

"Vayara tells us you can channel the red sun's power without runic stabilization," the lightning elder said. "Show us."

Just like last time, I reached for the red sun, the familiar red lines traced themselves across my skin. It was a crude display compared to using runes, but that was exactly what they expected from a "Natural."

"Interesting," the female elder murmured. "The resonance is crude, but stable. How long have you had this ability?"

"A few weeks," I replied, sticking to the truth that I remembered had worked before.

"Impossible," the flame elder scoffed right on cue, his runes burning with intense fire. "Without stabilization, he should have transformed or died within hours."

"Unless," the wind elder countered, "he's a Natural."

The conversation flowed exactly as it had before. They debated my status, argued about the headmaster's absence, and eventually turned to the question of who would claim me as their disciple.

"Nonsense," the lightning elder countered. "Look at his control – he needs precision training. Lightning resonance would suit him better."

As they continued to argue, I studied Elder Molric more carefully than I had before. The trace of wood energy I'd sensed in him last time was still there, barely noticeable beneath the crimson power. But now I noticed something else: tiny fluctuations in his energy signature that suggested he was conducting some kind of experiment even during the meeting.

"The choice should be his," the ice elder said finally, bringing the argument to its predetermined conclusion. All eyes turned to me. "Well, child? Who would you have as your master?"

I didn't hesitate this time. "If you would have me," I said, bowing to Elder Molric, "I would learn from you, Venerable One."

The chamber went silent once again. Elder Molric's eyebrows rose slightly – the same expression of mild surprise I remembered.

"Interesting choice," he murmured. "Why?"

"I feel... a connection to your energy, Venerable One. As if it resonates with something in me." The words came easier this time, probably because I knew they were true.

"Hmm," he studied me for a long moment. "Very well. I accept."

"A waste," the flame elder muttered, but didn't openly object.

"Then it is decided," the ice elder declared. "He will study under Elder Molric. See that proper documents are filed."

As we left the chamber, Vayara gave me that same approving nod. "A logical choice," she murmured. "I was wondering if you'd be tempted by the more... flashy elements. Many initiates forget that true power comes from mastering what you already know, not chasing after every new technique."

I let her words wash over me, having heard them before. When she delivered her characteristic farewell about hoping I wouldn't die too quickly, I simply bowed and watched her glide away down the crystalline corridor. It felt strange knowing that the next time I saw her, she would be impaled by light spears.

The administrative tasks that followed were just as tedious the second time around. The quartermaster still gave me those silver bands inscribed with crimson markings, still warned me to wear them at all times.

I nodded along even though I knew the Genesis Seed’s filtering ability meant that the silver bands were not necessary.

When she placed the stack of books on the counter, I didn't feel the same panic as before. "These are your initial study materials. Elder Molric expects you to be familiar with the basics of resonance theory before your first lesson tomorrow."

"Thank you," I replied calmly, already knowing I wouldn't need to spend the night studying. The knowledge was still fresh in my mind from the previous loop, and even if it wasn’t, I had Azure to remind me.

When the evening meditation bell tolled, I joined the neat lines forming along the walls.

"The platforms are arranged in tiers based on cultivation level and resonance strength," the same senior as last time explained. "The higher the platform, the more concentrated the red sun's energy becomes. Attempting to meditate above your level can be... fatal."

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"Thank you, Senior Sister. I'll be careful."

This time, when we reached the meditation hall with its thousands of floating crystalline platforms, I made a different choice. Instead of showing off by climbing to the highest level, I found a modest platform in the middle section. It still resonated with my energy, but wouldn't draw nearly as much attention.

The senior sister seemed slightly disappointed by my choice, probably expecting an impressive display from the mysterious Natural.

"A wise choice," Azure commented as I settled into meditation position. "Less impressive, perhaps, but also less likely to paint a target on your back."

“I would rather Zoren not be stalking me like some hound this time around.”

The platform's energy began flowing into me, gentler than the torrent I'd experienced at the higher level last time. The red sun in my inner world started its familiar process of absorbing power.

"Let's see if it learned anything from last time," I thought to Azure as the miniature sun began to swagger around.

Sure enough, despite its previous humbling in the last loop, the red sun core still turned its attention to the Genesis Seed once it had absorbed enough energy. It pulsed with that same aggressive challenge, apparently no wiser for its past experience.

The Genesis Seed's response was just as dismissive as before. When the sun launched its spiritual tantrum, the seed simply swallowed it, performed that same exaggerated chewing motion, and spat it back out.

The deflated sun retreated to its corner just like last time. Clearly, the red sun would never learn its lesson.

Hours passed in peaceful meditation. Without the spectacle I'd made last time, no one paid any attention to me. Kiran, who had tried to talk to me in the previous loop, walked right past without a second glance. When the bell finally rang to end the session, I was just another initiate among many.

The walk back to my quarters was much more pleasant without the weight of unread books hanging over me. The thin mattress still wasn't particularly comfortable, but after the day's events, I was ready for some proper rest.

"Master, take a look at your inner world. The Genesis Seed seems... different somehow."

Curious, I closed my eyes and directed my attention inward. The massive tree stood as majestically as ever, its canopy still carefully concealing the blue sun while its red counterpart traced its usual orbit. But Azure was right – something had changed.

"There," he pointed out. "Among the highest branches."

I focused where he indicated, and my breath caught. Nestled in the crown of the Genesis Seed was a single fruit unlike anything I'd seen before. It was perfectly spherical, about the size of my fist, and seemed to be made of living gold.

"That's... definitely new," I managed, mesmerized by how it slowly rotated in place.

The fruit pulsed with an energy that made my spiritual sense tingle. It wasn't qi, nor was it anything like the red or blue sun's power. It felt... older somehow. More primal.

"Master, it could be that the repeated worldwalking caused the fruit to form. The Genesis Seed has now experienced multiple transitions between realms in rapid succession. Perhaps this is its response to that stress – or opportunity."

I tried to focus on Azure's words, but the fruit's pull was getting stronger. It felt like it was calling to me, promising... something. Knowledge? Power? Or maybe just a way out?

"Another possibility," Azure pressed on, apparently sensing my distraction, "is that it's successfully combined energies from both suns into something new. We've seen it repeatedly process the red sun's power while sheltering the blue sun. This could be the result of that experimentation."

"But you don't sound convinced," I noted, forcing myself to pay attention to him rather than the hypnotic rotation of the golden fruit.

"No," Azure admitted. "Because neither theory explains the energy it's emanating. This is something... different. Something that doesn't belong to either world we've visited."

He was right. The more I studied it, the more alien the fruit's energy felt. It reminded me of the sensation just before worldwalking – that moment of being between realities.

“What if this isn't about combining energies or responding to stress?” Azure said quietly. “What if the Genesis Seed is trying to show us another path? Another world?"

The pull from the fruit intensified at his words, as if confirming his suspicion. I could almost feel it beckoning me toward... somewhere else. Somewhere beyond both the sect and the academy.

"Should we... try to do something with it?"

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