Life Giver

After a good earful from Gloria and producing some sample's for Gloria's use, Casmir carried the books to his room in order to study them.

There were many books, some dealt with particular topic's such as specific skills like the 'Qi Manipulation - Beginners' book, others described the general application of Qi such as 'Fundamental's to using Qi technology - Human'.

At the moment the only books Casmir was interested in were overview books, the general idea's and use's for Qi energy. Casmir was familiar with Qi energy and some of it's uses but lacked detailed knowledge of its uses, he knew that Qi cultivator's drew Qi energy in from the world and stored it in their bodies to be used later but he wasn't knowledgeable on how this worked.

Casmir found three books helpful in this regard, 'Origin and history of Qi cultivator's', 'Qi Cultivation fundamental's - Human' and 'Emergent properties of Qi energy'.

The history book included many of the advances made by the various race's regarding Qi energy, these advances lead to the current state of Qi cultivation. One of the earliest and most important advances was the establishment of the Qi grading system, this system helped to clarify and organise the many resources, Race's and organism's that used Qi energy.

The Qi Grading system relied on a fundamental property of Qi energy, it's purity. Qi energy can be clearly separated by purity into 10 known Grades with each grade having 6 sub grades, e.g. Grade 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 Grade 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 etc. The lower the grade, the lower the purity and rarity, Grade 1 Qi energy is so common that it can be found in the air in most places, Grade 10 Qi energy is so rare that only the strongest organisation's and people can come into contact with it.

Grade 10 Qi energy is only publicly known to be used in some of the greatest construction projects, such as the Unbreakable Hellion fortress or the beautiful Ocean city Ena.

The Qi Grading system was also used to class Qi cultivator's, it was used as a bridge to connect the differences in each race's cultivation system.

For example, human cultivator's mainly choose to fuse large amounts of Qi energy together into a crystal, called the Dantian. The greater the amount of Qi energy infused the higher the Dantian's purity and therefore it's Qi energy grade, the higher the grade of Dantian the more Qi energy can be stored inside of it to be used, the Dantian basically acts as a large Qi storage medium.

The cultivation system for human's is more simple and some race's have similar system's but many others rely on completely different idea's. The Elemental Race for example, infuse Qi energy into their entire body, because they are fundamental made from Qi energy as they infuse more into it, they improve every part of there bodies.

Instead of creating an internal source of Qi energy like the Dantian, every part of their entire bodies contain the Qi energy that they use.

A human cultivator's grade is typically described like so, Grade 2 - Advancement 3, this means that their Dantian has achieved Grade 2.3 in Qi energy purity. Similarly an Elemental at Grade 2 – Advancement 3, would have Grade 2.3 Qi energy across their entire body. The grading system applies to the highest purity of Qi energy in the beings body even if it doesn't represent their actual ability.

A cultivators actual ability is determined by another system, the Class system.

A cultivator will always choose something to pursue, whether it is strength, knowledge or something else. A Class represents whatever the cultivator wants to pursue, for example someone of the Qi Warrior Class is one that pursues strength and fighting ability above all, they will use their Qi energy to strengthen their body and learn the ability to fight with it.

Another example being the Qi Scholar, is someone who uses their Qi energy to pursue knowledge or skill, they are doctors, academics or artist's.

There are many Classes, some are Common and broad like Warriors or Scholar's, other less so like Emitter's or Healer's. Every established Class has institute's and organisations that support and train them, these organisations work together to determine how to Grade their cultivators and organise strict examination's to Grade individual people.

This Class Grade is a much more accurate representation of strength and skill, a human Grade 2.2 Warrior should be able to fight an Elemental Grade 2.2 Warrior on even ground. Similarly equally graded Scholar's should have similar level's of skill, it was an adaptive system that had flaws but was the only system universally accepted.

The Qi Grading system and Class system were only 2 parts of the complex world of Qi cultivator's.

As Casmir read further into the books he started to feel confused about some things, Gloria knew he wouldn't be able to understand it all in a few hours, she was hoping that his intrigue would get the better of him, making him want to learn Qi studies.

One thing that Casmir did understand however, was how to become a Qi cultivator. Human's needed to undergo a process called Qi Drawing, it involved a cultivator learning how to bring Qi energy into their body.

It involved being exposed to a high grade Qi energy object such as an ore, a Qi crystal or even a high level cultivator themselves.

Upon being exposed to this high grade Qi energy for a period of time, their bodies would naturally acclimate to the presence of Qi energy, eventually they would be able to sense the Qi energy and draw it in to their body.

Qi energy would be drawn into the back of the skull were it underwent an unknown process that essentially brands the Qi energy with a unique signature, this allows the Qi energy to become an extension of one's self. After it is branded it passes down the spine and rests at the navel where it eventually collects and condenses into a crystal, the Dantian.

The process it known as Qi drawing because the branding process feels as if one is writing or drawing upon the Qi energy. Once this stage has been passed and a Qi crystal has been formed, you are officially a Grade 1 Qi cultivator, from that point on you must continue the Qi Drawing process to refine and purify your Dantian.

Soon after Casmir understood this he decided to go look for Elena so that she could help him, she was a Grade 2 cultivator after her advancement, she could definitely help his understanding progress.

========

It was the early Evening at the moment, Casmir had spent most of the day reading and thinking about the books he had received.

Elena was in the back garden at this time, she enjoyed taking care of plant's. It was part of the Floral races tradition to tend to plants like crops, except they were much more respectful to individual plants.

On a normal farm plants would often be destroyed in the harvesting process but the Floral race were much stricter on maintaining plants until they naturally died, sometimes this led to a decrease in productivity but often cause a large increase in quality.

Elena was tending to a small patch of Redmouse flowers, this was the same variety that Casmir gifted Elena on her birthday, it was one of her favourite flowers.

She liked them because of their vibrant red colours but also because they were a favoured nesting site for the aptly named Meadow Redmouse, an extremely cute and innocent species of mouse. Every year around November they would leave their foraging grounds, this was in order to find a cl.u.s.ter of Redmouse flowers so they could hibernate in the thick leafy foliage, the foliage would last through the winter.

It was October 22nd at the moment, mice would be scouting around for appropriate hibernation patches at this time, this was why Elena was tending to the flower, she was making sure there was enough foliage and dry material for them to build a nest from.

"Ah... " Elena softly cried, her black her hair blowing in the wind, clearly she had re-dyed it.

A small mouse had just leapt out from a patch of grass onto a pathway, it was a Meadow Redmouse, Elena couldn't help but fidget at how cute the little mouse was.

It stood still on it's hind legs, it's reddish brown fur was clean and soft, it cleaned it's whiskers with it's little paws before quickly jumping across the path into another patch of grass.

Just as Elena wanted to quietly creep over to it in order to further watch it, Casmir appeared.

"Elena!" Casmir shouted, clearly unaware that he should stay quiet.

As Casmir shouted, Elena who was focusing on the mouse saw rapid small movements in the grass, they gradually appeared further and further away from her indicating the mouse was escaping away.

"Casmir!" Elena shouted with a frown on her face.

Casmir was walking over to Elena when she shouted at him, he was shocked still, he didn't know what he had done.

"What's wrong?" he carefully asked, clearly Elena was annoyed at him.

Elena sighed and walked over to him, she understood that it wasn't his fault.

"Nevermind..." she said, clearly put out.

Casmir walked up close to Elena, holding her hand.

"Come on... what did I do? You're clearly angry at me for something.. perhaps I should tease it out of you..?" Casmir said as he revealed a sinister grin.

Elena's face quickly flushed red as she stepped away from Casmir, not letting him take any advantages.

"Don't you dare!... Look I was just annoyed because you scared away a mouse that I was watching..." Elena said while keeping an eye on Casmir.

Casmir suddenly realised what had happened, he knew about Elena's adoration for Meadow Redmice, she mentioned them often around this time of year, he clearly must have disturbed one of them.

"Ah.. so sorry Elena I didn't know there was one about... How about this, I'll get some Harroway seed's, those mice love them they surely come back if they know they're here." He said sincerly.

Elena was clearly happy for his offer but wasn't satisfied.

"No, I've already got some Harroway seeds for the mice. You need to get me some Pine cones and Holly seeds... remember they need to be fresh." Elena said strictly.

Casmir put on an awkward smile, she was clearly exploiting him, Holly seeds were easy to get but fresh Pine cones were hard to find this time of year.

Eventually Casmir sighed and agreed to her demands, after remembering that he came here to ask for her help he should at least concede something.

"Ok, Ok, but in exchange I want to borrow you for a few hours." Casmir said without any hidden intentions.

Yet Elena perhaps naively misunderstood Casmir's words, her cheeks became rosy red.

At first she couldn't believe that Casmir had come for her already but at second thought she remembered how all day she had been thinking about Casmir....

She wasn't going to reject his offer.

"...Ok... I'll meet you in your room in a few minutes just let me clean myself up a bit..." Elena said softly, as if embarrassed.

Casmir didn't take notice of her reaction and simply smiled.

"Great, I'll be waiting. Don't take too long."

Casmir then left the garden, leaving Elena to her thoughts.

'Ahh... so soon... I wonder if he'll want anything special...' Elena's thoughts grew strange and muddled as she tumbled down a rabbit hole of her own making.

Elena stood in thought for a few minutes before quickly rushing inside to get changed.

========

Soon enough Elena was standing in front of Casmir's door nervously.

She wore a fresh white dress, she had tied her Black hair up in to a pretty ponytail, her face was clean with rosy cheeks and she had clearly applied some lipstick to her lips.

Elena looked very enchanting at the moment, she had fully prepared herself for some activities.

*knock* *knock*

Casmir was sitting in his room reading a book when he heard the knock.

"Come in!" he shouted.

Elena opened the door before entering, she then closed the door and locked it.

Expecting to turn around to find a dimly lit romantic room full of flowers and other such romantic item, Elena was shocked.

The room was the opposite of the romantic setting Elena had envisioned, as she looked at the piles of paper and books spread across the room she was confused but before she could ask anything Casmir spoke.

"Thanks for coming, I wanted to ask you about Qi cultivation, Gloria has given me a bunch of books telling me to start cultivating but this stuff doesn't make much sense." Casmir said without looking at Elena, he was too absorbed in the books.

Elena suddenly realised her mistake, she stood still frozen by her foolishness.

'...I'm an idiot... I'm an idiot.. oh my god....' she thought to herself

She had put some effort into making herself look good but Casmir was fully absorbed in his books, she really felt put out.

As Elena didn't respond for a moment Casmir looked over, he was dazzled by her appearance, all of his thoughts on Qi cultivation were lost, she truly looked beautiful this evening.

"You look great Elena..." Casmir said almost involuntarily as he stared at her.

Elena was ignorant to his words, she was lost in her thoughts in an attempt to forget her perverted idea's for the evening and focus on his request.

In all honesty this was likely a good decision, even though the couple wouldn't mind a sensual encounter, Elena would likely have a rough night because of recent 'injury'.

"Ahem... yes, Qi cultivation... I can help you.." Gloria said as she arranged her thoughts.

Casmir nodded as he tried not to stare at her.

"... Erm... I don't really understand this part? What exactly happens when the Dantian collects enough...." Casmir explained.

Casmir pointed at a passage in a book, Elena soon walked over to read it, she was very smart and had read some of these books herself so she understood them quite clearly.

As Casmir started asking question after question and Elena answered them sincerely, they gradually fell into a teacher and student relationship, Elena had forgotten her original intentions as she guided him.

They talked for hours on different subjects as Casmir's knowledge was gradually refined and expanded...