Spirit's Awakening: The Path of Lightning and Water

Chapter 256: Yeher the Fisherman

The sun was already setting as Lassim made his way toward the inn Master Lorcan had recommended.

After the intense sparring session, his muscles still held a dull stiffness, but the walk to the Stormwatch Inn helped get things moving again.

Lassim found a building soon after that looking like your stereotypical resting place for travelers and merchants alike. He stepped through the inn’s doors.

The place was modest but well-kept. A few patrons sat quietly at tables, and the scent of freshly baked bread and grilled seafood wafted from the kitchen that he could see peeking out from the serving window adjacent to this tavern style arrangement.

The innkeeper, an older gentleman carrying a tray and some plates to a table greeted him with a nod.

The interaction was short as Lassim requested and then handed over a few hundred ESS for a room for the night, noting how reasonably priced the stay was compared to other cities he had visited.

He then headed down a hall, still on the first floor towards the room marked on the face of the key the innkeeper had handed him from his key ring on his hip.

Opening the fourth door down the hall on the left, his room was small but clean, with a wide window that opened onto a straight shot view of the ocean in the, albeit far, distance.

The rhythmic sound of the crashing of the waves seemed to come through quite clearly, as if there was a speaker or noise making array in the room.

He didn’t mind it as it seemed to relax and his still slightly-frayed and tense nerves from the spar.

He sat down cross-legged on the bed, closing his eyes to meditate and reflect.

Master Lorcan’s use of lightning rings during their fight had been enlightening.

Lassim had seen plenty of cultivators use lightning in direct attacks, bolts, or arcs of energy. But rings? Binding, trapping, layering them like shackles or constraints—it was an approach Lassim had never considered.

"[He had definitely had his own style figured out, that’s for sure,]" Lassim thought, his mind replaying the battle. "[I wonder how he came up with it? I guess I’ll ask him when I see him again before I leave.]"

The concept of twirling the lightning into rings intrigued him, though he didn’t feel inspired to mimic the technique exactly.

Still, there was something about the idea of using his elements in a non-linear way that stirred his thoughts. Maybe there was something for him to use in that.

Lightning moved in unpredictable paths, striking where it wasn’t expected—yet Lorcan had tamed it into circular, repetitive forms. Could Lassim do something similar and would it even suit him?

"[The rings were definitely folded in and into themselves,]" Lassim murmured quietly as he opened his eyes.

"[That might work for lightning,]" Marinelle’s calm voice flowed into his mind. "[But water is different. Water is more fluid, adaptable. It doesn’t fold; it bends, flows, takes the shape of its container.]"

Lassim smiled. "[That’s true. Volten said to get inspired so I’m just trying to see if there’s any part of it that’s work for us? What if I could create something that bends like water but hits as hard as lightning? What if we had some sort of shackle system? I really am not sure about it though.

It doesn’t really suit us.]"

Marinelle’s presence in his inner heart world was soothing, like the quiet flow of a river. "[It could work, but rushing things won’t help. We need to see more and then experiment with all of the ideas when the time is right.]"

"[Yeah, and we can zap them all while we’re at it! Maybe mix it up with some CHA,CHA, WHA-BAMS too!]" Zaphy’s excited voice chirped in, her boundless energy buzzing through his mind like a storm cloud ready to burst. "[Think about it, Brother! It’ll be fun when we can experiment like we did with your [Hydroburst]!]"

Lassim chuckled, his spirits lifted by their familiar banter. "[You’re always so full of energy, Zaphy. But you might be onto something. It was satisfying when we got [Hydroburst] to work, so maybe there’s a way to create something entirely new with our style when we’ve seen enough.]"

He reached into his magic pouch and pulled out a small booklet. He decided he was going to start jotting down ideas and insights he had while on this journey. The pages were basically empty, so it didn’t take much for him to flipped to a blank page and begin writing:

Idea: Master Lorcan of Fogbeach, the Ringmaster. His control of lightning rings was spectacular. Shackles and restraints. Can possibly combine fluid movements of water with the folding power of lightning? Potentially create overlapping techniques that bind and strike simultaneously?

He closed the booklet, transferring it safely back into the pouch. The spar with Master Lorcan had given him a lot to think about, but for now, he wanted some rest.

Tomorrow, he’d take another look around the city and confirm whether Fogbeach really didn’t need any help from the sect.

And maybe, he thought, he’d talk to Lorcan about his inspirations before leaving.

With that, Lassim lay back on the bed with a soft thud, the rhythmic sound of the waves that seemed to be playing from the corners of the room lulling him into a deep, peaceful sleep.

—-

The next morning, Lassim woke with the sun already high in the sky. The aches from yesterday’s sparring session had all faded. Stretching out, he quickly used a cleaning function he discovered on his new persona disciple martial attire and made his way downstairs.

After a quick breakfast of some sort of local fresh fruit that looked like little purple balls called "grapes" for the first time, along with some bread, he set out into Fogbeach to explore more thoroughly.

Master Lorcan had said the city didn’t need help, but Lassim wanted to confirm that for himself. He also hoped to find something he could have the sect assist with, even if it wasn’t an official request.

The streets were bustling with activity as merchants set up their stalls, the scent of fresh fish, exotic spices, and roasted vegetables filling the air.

Lassim wandered from stall to stall, sampling different foods. One particularly unique dish, a spiced seafood stew that an old granny type lady shoved into his mouth to try, left his tongue tingling and his mouth watering. It was pleasant but he wanted to explore a bit more first.

He continued traversing the city, passing various shops filled with trinkets, mortal weapons, and the typical magical supply shops one could find in any average city. But despite the situation facing the rest of the continent, everything seemed to be in order.

"Master Lorcan wasn’t lying," Lassim mused as he was sitting at a restaurant with some outdoor seating on the street’s fringes. He’d already ordered and was currently nibbling away at a sandwich and side of chips as he spoke aloud to himself, "The city really is running smoothly and everyone seems to be doing well. But still, it feels like there’s more I could do…"

His thoughts were interrupted when a young man bumped a table as he was at. Lassim’s hand shot out, steadying his drink that had nearly spilled.

"Ah! Apologies!" The young man’s voice was warm, though his eyes were closed, and he reached out hesitantly, as though trying to find the table again. "Sorry, I’m a bit directionless when I’m on land."

Lassim raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "No problem. Do you need help?"

The young man’s nose twitched as if catching a scent, and a grin spread across his face. "Actually... We don’t get many foreign water elementalists here, could I sit with you? I hate eating alone."

Surprised but curious, Lassim nodded. "Sure."

The man, from looks alone, appeared to be possibly just a few years older than Lassim, but his power level was Spirit Ascension stage, level 1, putting him similarly to Lassim. Yet, probably a thousand years older easily. He sat down with a sigh, shaking his head slightly. "Ugh, land is so confusing. I lose all sense of direction away from the water."

Lassim’s curiosity grew further as he asked, "What do you mean?"

The young man chuckled. "Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. My name’s Yeher, and I was born without eyes. Never had ’em, not even cultivation or the best healing potions could change that. It’s rare, I know, but I get by using my spirit sense to ’see.’ The problem is... everything that doesn’t have water mana in it comes off blurry.

I don’t have regular vision as a reference for what things look like since I don’t have eyes, so I use the water mana to sense their outlines better. Unfortunately, when I’m away from the ocean, I end up bumping into tables, chairs, walls—pretty much everything that’s dry and solid."

Lassim blinked. "That’s… unique. You can’t see anything without water mana?"

Yeher nodded. "Sort of. I mean, it’s there and I can kind of tell it exists, but by comparison to when I’m out at sea? Man, it’s perfect. Everything’s clear, bright, and vivid. But here?

It’s a bit of a hassle." He smiled good-naturedly, as though it were something he had long accepted. "I guess it’s a good thing I was born here and that I love the ocean so much."

Lassim leaned forward, intrigued. "How did you know I use water mana or that I wasn’t from here?"

Yeher grinned, tapping his nose. "It’s the smell. Everyone gives off their own scents, but I guess not having eyesight has made me more sensitive to the subtleties. Your smell has this stormy, electric scent to it—like an ocean storm. A bit fishy, sure, but the kind of terrifying one where ships batten down the hatches and everyone hunkers down and waits for it to pass.

There’s a strong hint of lightning in there too."

Lassim couldn’t help but laugh. "You’ve got a sharp sense of smell! I use both Lightning and Water elements."

Yeher’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Both? Wait, are you that new Spirit Ascension cultivator in the Lightning Sect that I’ve heard about? I’ve got a sister that was blessed with a Lightning companion and is in the Lightning Sect. She’s just a spirit Growth cultivator right now, but she’s told stories of some young guy with two elements in the messages she’s sent back home lately.

You’re him, aren’t you?"

He got excited as he started to reach across the small table to pat Lassim on the shoulder, "Hey, tell you what. I’ve got a favorite fishing spot just outside of town. Why don’t you come along after lunch? It’s nice and quiet, and you’ll definitely appreciate it. Plus I can brag to Jasmine how I met you to her later."

Lassim smiled, "Sure. That sounds like fun."

After Yeher ordered a lunch of his own and they finished their meal together, Lassim paid for the food, and the two headed out of town.

They fly along the coastline for a short while, the ocean breeze growing stronger as they left the bustle of the city behind with Yeher leading the way.

Eventually, they reached a small dock at the edge of a secluded beach. There were no ships or people around, just the sound of the waves gently lapping against the wooden pier.

Yeher took a few steps and reached the end of the dock where an old fishing rod and bucket sat waiting. "This is my spot," Yeher said, smiling as he picked up the rod. "Best place for fishing anywhere within 20km of Fogbeach! Though, I guess it’s only the best when I’m here. Hehe."

Lassim chuckled. "The best?"

Yeher grinned and summoned his elemental companion—a large, octopus-like sea creature that splashed into the water beside the dock. Its tentacles rippled through the water, and Lassim could feel the strong bond between the two.

"This is Tako," Yeher said, patting his companion on the head. "He likes to watch. Our bond is real close, and well, I’ve gotten pretty good at mimicking him. You’ll see what I mean in a second, but with all those extra limbs, it’s like I’ve got eyes everywhere in the water. I can feel every little movement, every ripple. I’ve got a special technique I use with the fishing line in honor of my buddy.

Take a look!"

Yeher cast the line into the water, and Lassim watched as the young man channeled water mana into the line.

The hook suddenly split and broke apart into multiple hooks, each on their own extension of the line and moved through the water with precision, guided by Yeher’s control. They darted and weaved like a puppet on strings, moving with a grace that was a mesmerizing set of arms grabbing and hooking anything he wanted.

Within moments, Yeher had caught several fish, pulling them up with ease and dropping them into the bucket. "See? Pretty good right?"

Lassim was impressed. "That’s amazing! How are you doing that?"

Yeher smiled and patted Tako again. "Like I said, it’s all thanks to my bond with Tako. The connection we have boosts my control over water, probably because of all his limbs, and I can actually see pretty clearly out here with my spirit sense since the water mana is so abundant. It’s like I can feel every movement of each line and hook in the water through our bond.

Plus, I’ve spent quite a number of years perfecting this technique."

Yeher handed the fishing rod to Lassim. "You want to give it a try?"

Lassim hesitated for a moment, then took the rod. "Alright. But no promises I’ll be any good at it."

Yeher laughed. "Don’t worry. I’ll give you some pointers."

Lassim cast the line into the water, focusing his water mana into the hook just as Yeher had done.

It was tricky at first with everything just ending in a tangled mess as he tried to replicate the multiple different lines all working independently at once like Yeher had done. It was only slightly possible once he reduced the number down to two, trying to control the movement of the line and hook with precision. But after a few tries, Lassim began to get the hang of it.

Eventually, Lassim felt a strong tug on the line as he directed the hook into the mouth of some passing fish. He grinned as he reeled in the large blue scaled fish, but as he reeled it in from the water and tried to remove the hook, the fish slipped from his hands, flopping wildly before slapping him in the face and falling back into the ocean.

Yeher burst out laughing, his hand slapping his knee as Lassim rubbed his stinging cheek. "And the seas fight back against the mighty Lightning Sect! Ah, Jasmine is going to love this when I tell her about it!"

Lassim couldn’t help but laugh too. "I’ll still call that a win, though. At least I caught something."

The two of them spent the rest of the afternoon fishing and talking, sharing stories of their experiences.

For Lassim, it was a welcome break and he forgot all about his worries for the city and the sect war’s aftereffects.

More importantly though, it gave him a chance to see how another water elemental spirit warrior used their element in a unique and creative way.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the water, Lassim felt a sense of peace settle over him. This simple afternoon had given him a new perspective—another way to think about his own techniques and the balance between his elements.

"Thanks for the fun afternoon, Yeher," Lassim said as they packed up the fishing gear. "You don’t know it, but this meant a lot to me and you’ve given me a lot to think about."

Yeher smiled, his eyes still closed as always. "Anytime, Lassim. You’re an interesting guy. If you’re ever back in Fogbeach, let me know. We’ll fish again. Oh, and if you see my sister, please look out for her.

She’s a bit wild and crazy, so she’d often get in trouble at home. I can only imagine what trouble she’s provoking in the sect if she’s still the same."

Lassim nodded, "Sure thing! I haven’t met a Jasmine yet, but I’ll do my best to keep an eye out if I meet her!" Feeling lighter and relaxed, he made his way back toward the city.

This journey was already proving more valuable than he had expected. He still had a long way to go in discovering his own path, but with each encounter, he felt like he was getting closer to finding his true fighting style. He took out his small booklet to write down a few notes of his encounter with Yeher.

Idea: Elemental sense and multiple limbs, Yeher the fisherman from Fogbeach. Little sister is named Jasmine. His style, inspired by his companion Tako, allows control at the level of a puppet master within the water. Can Lightning become branches that do the same? Can the void and spatial weave be controlled at this level?