{Text; UN: scraps}

[disgracedprince]

Does anyone know how to forge swords? I have one, but he's old and I don't want to push him with magic he hasn't encountered. A new one would be nice; one forged in this world and attuned to its peculiarities.

But I'm not terribly picky. I like all swords.

Comments

[disgracedprince]

{Oh! Xie Lian smiles at the cute display, clapping for his new friend. Then he turns towards Lyney and rests a hand on the side of Fangxin's blade.}

I believe Fangxin is older than I am. At times he grumbles, but he is incredibly powerful. Shall I show you a little?

[hathasacat]

[ His smile is bright in turn, the small appreciation keeping his own excitement levels up. Though he does keep it tampered, to not seem too eager to witness this entirely new being to him. ]

If he would not mind, I would love to see a display. I admit, I'm almost not sure what to expect at this point.

[disgracedprince]

{Xie Lian can hardly blame him! New power is always exciting and he has a soft spot for bladed weapons - swords in particular. Fangxin is...a little different. While Xie Lian respects the blade, he doesn't particularly want it in his possession.

Standing, he masters Fangxin, letting it know that they have work to do.

But not too much. Raising the blade, he chooses a target - a large rock that might serve some purpose or another. But not for long. With feet lighter than air, Xie Lian races in a flash at the target and lashes out with Fangxin.

The stone cracks and then crumbles into small pieces.}

[hathasacat]

[ Lyney's quick to applaud, eyes widened with the ease, and particularly the lightness, that the other displays in striking the stone. While breaking rocks isn't unheard of, he's seen some fairly powerful people among the Fatui, the seemingly light movements are rather new to him. It certainly has his curiosity up! ]

Amazing! I'd hazard there's not a chip on the blade either?

[disgracedprince]

Of course not. Fangxin didn't even touch the stone. {It had been the sword's aura that had truly shattered the rock.}

Take a look for yourself. {There isn't a mark on the dark blade. It shines like black jade.}

[hathasacat]

[ It's true that he doesn't see a single mark, leaning himself in for as close a look as he can without being rudely in the other man's space. ]

How did he do that then?

[disgracedprince]

{Lyney is much too sweet for him to find him intrusive! Xie Lian kneels down in front of his new friend and balances Fangxin between them. The old blade vibrates and grumbles.}

His spiritual power is strong. So strong that he can lash out with it.

[hathasacat]

[ How interesting! He'll lean in as the sword is offered then, head turning this way and that to see the blade from different angles, as if that would let him see all the secrets of it. ]

Is it something that's invisible? I hardly saw a thing other than the swing of a sword.

[disgracedprince]

Unless you train your eyes, it will be invisible to you. {Otherwise...} To me, he gives off a cold light. Like the way ice glows in the daylight.

[hathasacat]

[ Frankly, that sounds beautiful, and it only has Lyney all the more curious. He knows just the shade he's talking about, but it'd be lovely to see it with his own eyes if he could. ]

And how would a person go about training their eyes?

[disgracedprince]

Through training. I could offer you assistance, but it would take time for you to commune with your spirit and the spirits of others.

{Still it isn't impossible! Everyone has some ability.}

[hathasacat]

Well... how much time?

[ Lyney you have zero free time with all the projects you keep taking on- ]

[disgracedprince]

Give me two hours of your day four days a week to start. I will show you how to meditate and how to access your spirit. Then it's about practice.

[hathasacat]

[ Oh that is a lot of time. It's pretty clear that Lyney's frantically doing the math in his head and comparing it against everything else he's going on, and the various things he's been planning... ]

... Is that the minimum?

[disgracedprince]

{This is why he devoted most of his life to Cultivation. It's a lot.}

It will progress faster the more time you devote. But I understand it's overwhelming. I secluded myself in the mountains to learn.

[hathasacat]

[ There probably isn't a condensed course, is there? Alas, there go his hopes of gaining a new skill to use within his home life. ]

Ah, that does make sense... I'm sorry, it seems like I was taking it too lightly. It's all the more impressive that you have such mastery!

[disgracedprince]

{It doesn't work like that unless this world comes up with a "Quick Cultivation!" spell.}

It isn't so impressive. I've been Cultivating since I was a child.

[hathasacat]

[ World please, Lyney has greedy needs. ]

I'd argue that sticking with one thing since your childhood is plenty to be impressed by.

[disgracedprince]

I was working towards godhood. {As if it was some supreme prize.}

[hathasacat]

--You can become a god that way??

[ Maybe time investment is actually worth it?? ]

[disgracedprince]

...mm yes. {Multiple times apparently!}

[hathasacat]

The extraordinary hours of dedication suddenly make a lot more sense, I admit.

[ Though also it's not exactly the way he'd expect a person to attain godhood. ]

[disgracedprince]

I was very disciplined. Now acquiring spiritual power is more a necessity than a goal.

{...he turns a bit pink talking about "gathering spiritual power". There is one way to go about it and it's much easier than the others. And much nicer, too.}

[hathasacat]

So even now you're still working on it?

[ Is... there something about this that has turned the other man suddenly shy? ]

[disgracedprince]

Y-Yes. I have a...shackle...on my power. I earned it by defying Heaven.