Gleam Karma Cultivator Isekai

Chapter 32: Debt?

Chances eyes snapped open, and he shot to his feet with a gasp, his heart thundering. He was in the Old City once again. Bands of heat wrapped around his chest, constricting his heart. The vision of the glowing man rose to his mind unbidden.

Golden energy swirled around Chance, gathering around his chest in a small vortex. The heat instantly abated, shifting and mirroring the shape of the energy circling him. Then, with a final wave of warmth, something shifted.

A core formed within Chances chest, just below his heart. The Essence swirling around his body rushed into it and the heat abated, releasing him from its grip. A powerful sense of peace settled over Chance.

He savored it, closing his eyes and allowing the feeling to wrap around him like a comforting blanket. It slowly faded away over the next few minutes and he let his eyes drift back open.

Yamish sat across from him, in the same yogi position that the glowing man had used. You saw it.

I saw something, Chance said, his words sounding strange to his ears. What was that?

A vision of another who has walked the same path as you, Yamish replied. His words sounded hungry. The greatest and only guidance the universe will ever give you. What was it? Describe the vision.

Chance opened his mouth, then slowly closed it. He couldnt place why, but discussing the content of his vison seemed wrong. It was like stripping in a room of people hed never met before.

Forgive me, but I dont think I should, Chance said carefully. The words once again came to his lips sounding as if someone else spoke, but they felt right. If I did, I think that might establish karmic debt between us.

Yamishs eyes widened. Your understanding of Karma has grown quickly. Very well. I will not press. If this is your belief, then it should not be challenged. We already have debt enough between us.

Does that mean you didnt have the same vision as me? Chance asked.

No two ever have the same vision, Yamish replied. And not all visions are equal. Yours has granted you great insight. When you cultivate in the future, ponder upon it. You will reap great benefits from your seniors understanding of Karma.

You mean the person I saw he was real?

He was, Yamish confirmed. The universe cannot lie. You witnessed a scene that happened at some point in history, though it may have been countless millennia ago.

You mean this was just like a memory of sorts?

Yes. There are some who claim that their visions interacted with them, but even I cannot imagine the power of a creature who can stretch through time in such a manner.

Chance thought back to the smile the golden man had given him. Something deep in his soul knew that it had been meant for him, not somebody else. Something even louder screamed that he was absolutely not to share that particular piece of information.

You have given me great help once again, Chance said, inclining his head. I dont know how long I would have been sitting around trying to meditate had you not helped.

Not me. The Old City, Yamish corrected. This was its will.

Chance glanced down at the squashed Imp. Uh will I have to eat again?

Not today, Yamish said. This one was not of the Old City.

Chance did his best to hide his relief. I see. Yamish, I had another question, but please dont answer it if it establishes any more debt. Why would a mother and her child not have any karmic debt?

Yamish chuckled. Ponder that question yourself. When the Old City helps you and you help it, who has debt?

I suppose neither of us, provided weve done equal parts for each other.

Then you have answered your own question, Yamish said, interlacing his fingers.

Chance frowned, but he realized Yamish was right. He did know the answer. There was more than one way to build and pay karmic debt. Abes mother did just as much for him as he did for her just in their own ways.

Thank you. I see now.

Good, Yamish said. We will not meet again for some time. I have gained a spark of enlightenment from watching you advance, and I must ponder on it. Your debt to the Old City is not yet paid. You will have to come on your own. Do not fear it knows you now. The streets will give you no threat, so long as you do not venture too deep.

Chance hid his excitement at those words as best as he could. Yamish had done a lot for him, but every single fiber of his being screamed that the man was dangerous. He needed to find a way to protect himself, and every step he took to separate from Yamish would likely be vital in saving his life later.

How will I know when I need to come? And when will I see you again?

You will know. And it will be months of your time. Be wary Vex will take this time to act. I will be disappointed if you fall before providing me with more insight into our path.

With that, the Old City was gone. Chance sat on his bed, his legs crossed and hands resting on his knees, palms raised to the sky. He blinked, the momentary disorientation already fading away.

Light filtered in through his window, warming the side of his face. Chance cast his senses inward. The tiny ball of energy still rested below his heart. It grew warmer at the attention, but not unbearably so.

He slid to his feet and stepped out into the hallway. Both Yeo and Bellas rooms had returned to normal, but there were still scars in the wood from their advancements. He approached Yeos door and rapped on it.

There was no response, so Chance tried Bellas room. A few moments after knocking, he heard a shuffle from behind it. A moment later, the door opened to reveal Bella.

Chance! Howd it go?

Well, I think, Chance replied. It was intense, thats for sure.

Yeah, Bella said, her eyes glazing over. She shook her head and smiled. But wow. What business do you have advancing already? I could see Yeo, but youve only been cultivating for what, a month? What did they feed you on Earth?

If were talking food, it was either the stale Cheeto or a bunch of dead monsters. Not sure which is worse.

Chance laughed and rubbed the back of his head. Sorry. It just kind of happened.

Dont apologize for getting stronger, Bella said. I didnt realize how much Id been holding myself back with ah, a lot of things. And Id probably still be stuck if you hadnt stumbled into me and Vex. Thank you.

It was just lucky. Im glad to have helped, even if inadvertently, Chance said, shifting his weight from foot to foot. What happened to Yeo? He was also advancing, right?

Bella snorted. Yeah. He found out that I advanced a few hours before him and has been training ever since. Hes out with Pete right now.

I probably should have seen that coming.

They headed downstairs. A plate of sandwiches sat on the center of the dining table. Bella snagged one and offered another to Chance, who took it with a grateful smile. They sat down and ate, letting a few minutes pass in silence.

Bella, after you ranked up, did you feel something in your chest? Chance asked, tapping the spot just below his heart where the warm orb of energy rested.

Yeah. You made it longer than I did before asking someone I asked Pete almost as soon as I woke up. He called it the Gate. Its where

Essence is somehow stored? Chance guessed.

Yeah, kind of. He said it was more like where Essence was compressed and refined, though its stored there too.

To get rid of impurities?

Yeah, thats a big part of it, Bella said. The Essence we draw into ourselves when we cultivate is really thin and ineffective. By passing it through the Gate, we can get rid of most of the impurities while also getting it into a state in which we can get more use out of it.

Interesting, Chance said. Why didnt he tell us about this before we advanced?

Some people try to force the advancement to get stronger, but if you try to force it, itll just be slower or if youre really unlucky you might not have sufficient connection with your Essence and you could permanently damage your Gate with too many impurities.

Oh yeah, Yeo totally would have rushed it, Chance muttered. Makes sense, but that does make me wonder if every stage is going to be like this. Are we going to have a bunch of marbles rattling around in us by the time we get to the highest rank?

Bella laughed. I asked the exact same question. Pete said there are stages where similar bursts of power occur, but he isnt going to tell us what they are and suggests we dont try to find out either. Cultivation is a journey, not a goal.

That last bit sounds like a quote.

I stole it from Pete, who stole it from someone else.

Fair enough.

Oh, theres another thing now that weve got a Gate, we can use a lot of cultivation resources that would have previously been poisonous to us. Since youre from Earth, it might be a good idea for you to look into them and see if you can find any in your budget that can help get rid of impurities.

Im pretty sure thats the last thing I need.

Where are they?

Apothecaries around the city should sell pills and elixirs, Bella replied. Make sure theyre Shikari certified, though. There are a lot of scammers. I woke up a few days ago and spent some time wandering around their shops. I wasnt allowed in before, since only Squire ranks and above can enter its unbelievable what they claim to do. And expensive. Really expensive.

Nothing good comes for free, Chance grumbled. Ill look around after I get a moment to talk with Pete. Do you happen to know when theyll be back?

Probably not for a little while, Bella replied, polishing off the last of her sandwich. Id guess after dinner. Theyve been pretty busy. For that matter, I should really get back to cultivating myself. Be careful with using any of your abilities right now. Advancing seems to have made mine a little unstable.

Noted, Chance said. I guess Ill go check out an apothecary then. Do you know where the nearest one is?

Down Shikari Lane and take a right on Main Plaza Road. Theres one on the corner of the street.

Whats Main Plaza? I cant read the signs.

Oh, sorry. I forgot. Its the one with all the restaurants on it.

Gotcha. Thanks. Chance rose, waving to Bella. He went back upstairs to grab his urumi before heading out of the Whiteheart house and starting down the road. His split of the money sat heavy in the pouch at his hip. Anything he spent now would be less he could put toward finding his parents.

Ill just look around for now. I dont want to spend anything until Pete tells me how much finding people is going to cost.

Chance reached the end of Shikari Lane and turned onto the busy street. He did his best not to marvel at all the people walking past him in the streets. It had been weeks since hed arrived in Gleam, but Chance had yet to get used to seeing all the differences amongst the people.

In particular, his eyes kept getting drawn to the varying types of wings that some passersby had. They ranged in size and shape many of which looked far too small to actually lift anything, but the idea of flying around still tickled his fancy. A shudder ran down Chances spine.

Okay, flying around when the vehicle isnt a giant metal disk hurtling through the sky. Nice, comfortable wings. Those would be fun.

Chances distraction nearly caused him to bump into a tall, scaled man walking in front of him. He caught himself at the last second and, realizing that hed already made it to a corner in the street, darted out of the flowing river of people to take a look around the nearby shops.

Even without the ability to actually read any of the signs, it didnt take Chance too long to spot the apothecary that Bella was talking about. A tall, slender four story building rose between what he suspected to be a spa and an armory.

It vaguely resembled the Shikari base, but it was considerably smaller and painted a vibrant forest green. Chance pushed the wooden door open and a bell on it jingled, announcing his presence as he stepped into the shop.

A faint, earthy smell washed over him. Hints of moss and dirt mixed together with freshly cut grass and equal hints of honey and cinnamon. The shop was dark, with plain wooden shelves lining the walls and forming small isles.

At the back, an old woman sat hunched over a desk beside a stairwell. Her face was partially covered by a wide brimmed, pointed hat that sat askew on her head. A lantern hung from a hook just beside her head, rocking to and fro gently.