[Video]

[gentledawn]

[There is a new face on the network; the face of a young Chinese man with long, raven black hair. He bows, a bit awkwardly, unsure if he is addressing this strange technology correctly.]

Greetings, everyone. [Adjusting his posture slightly, he smiles shyly.] My name is Xiao Xingchen. I... I'm not sure what to make of this...world.

[He frowns and bites his lip.]

Are cultivators known?

Comments

[pinkmin]

[There was a little widening of her eyes in surprise. It was a little silly that she had immediately thought of gardening when it turned out it was a wildly different thing.]

Oh...! I did not know of that kind. You have a golden core?

[gentledawn]

[In a way, it is like gardening! The weeds are just scary and tend to bite back before they can be "pulled".]

I do. I have spent most of my life strengthening it.

[pinkmin]

[Weeds be like that sometimes.]

Is it... [She paused, tapping a tiny finger to her chest.] Here? A spiritual kind?

[Rhys had tried to walk her through something like that before.]

[gentledawn]

[He tilts his head and frowns curiously.]

Yes, I believe you are correct. My power comes from my spirit. Not everyone possesses a golden core, but I do and it allows me to harness my spiritual energy. I use that energy for spells and talismans.

[pinkmin]

[She gave her chest a few more thoughtful taps. Not everyone had one, huh... That made sense. Rhys might have tried to explain how his healing magic worked, but she hadn't been able to connect to the spirits the same way.]

That is very impressive. [Vianca tilt her head in the same direction he had.] How did you know you had one?

[gentledawn]

[He blinks, shy, the color on his cheeks increasing. The smile he gives is humble and warm.]

My Master took me under her wing when I was only a baby. She saved me from certain death and taught me. I assume she sensed I had a golden core.

[pinkmin]

[... But what if he hadn't had a golden core? It was lucky that Vianca's face was always like this, or that pessimistic thought would have been more easily noticed.]

Ah... so you've always known in some way. That is a long time to make it strong.

[gentledawn]

[Knowing his Master, she would have probably saved him anyway and made arrangements. He would not have stayed with her on the mountain, however.]

Developing a golden core should be done over time as the body matures. Then it is more natural.