A figure slowly came into view as the invisibility faded, and Ruwen sprinted forward in concern. An old man, who looked at least eight hundred years old, had appeared. Ruwen had never seen so many wrinkles on a person, and brown spots covered the old man’s skin. White stubble was all that remained of his hair, and he held his side.
Ruwen slowed as he approached, having learned too many times not to let appearances fool him.
The old man met Ruwen’s gaze and then winced in pain. He looked miserable.
“I’m sorry, child. I have dishonored myself.”
The old man looked at his hand and Ruwen read seventy-eight.
“Why did you attack me?” Ruwen asked.
“Desperation. I’m trying to save my grandson.”
“Excuse me?”
The old man pushed himself to his feet and bowed while still holding his side. “My Step name is Pine.”
Ruwen returned the bow. “I’m Ruwen.”
Pine nodded. “I have been teaching my grandson the Steps. He found my crossing stone and touched it. I’m trying to find him before his time runs out and he’s sent back home. He’s only learned twenty Steps and shouldn’t be here yet. He’ll never make it to the Journeyman glade without help.”
“Journeyman glade?”
Pine tilted his head. “Is this your first time here? From that throw I assumed you were a Master.”
Ruwen avoided the question. No reason to explain he skipped the Journeyman initiation and that he was only an Adept. “Why didn’t you just ask for help?”
Pine winced again. “I am not the only desperate person here, and I can’t afford to trust anyone. Not when my grandson’s future is at stake. I have wasted too much time talking already. Please forgive me and let me continue my search.”
Ruwen didn’t feel any sympathy for Pine’s injury. The old man had brought that on himself. But assuming it was the truth, looking for a lost grandchild tugged at Ruwen’s compassionate side. He wondered if this was part of the test the Founders had created and if it might be a trap.
It didn’t matter, Ruwen had never met his grandparents, and he had to admit he felt some affection for the old man who badly wanted to find his family. Ruwen had been carrying around that same need for the entire year his parents had disappeared.
“If it’s so dangerous here, let’s work together. I’ll help you find your grandson, and you tell me everything you know about this place.”
Pine glanced at his palm, bit his lip, and then sighed. “I pray to the Enlightened One you are an honorable man.”
“I’m not sure I’m honorable, but I’ll keep my word. Lead the way.”
Pine nodded, moved to the center of the street, and made his way toward the bamboo forest. Ruwen followed, staying alert for any threats.
“How were you invisible?” Ruwen asked.
Pine answered while monitoring their surroundings. “Almost fifty years ago I came here as an Adept, and I remembered a bramble bush north of the ruins. I would have given you a run for your money back then.”
Why would Pine want to run with Ruwen’s money? “Wait, you only tested fifty years ago? How old are you?”
“Seventy-six,” Pine said. “The Steps have kept me young.”
Ruwen looked at Pine in disbelief. “You mean seven hundred and six.”
Pine gave a short laugh. “What do I look like? An elf?”
The elves Ruwen had seen looked nothing like Pine. “No. You just, uh, don’t look your age.”
Pine smiled but kept his eyes on the decaying buildings around them. “I told you, the Steps are the secret to my health.”
Pine was obviously joking, and Ruwen let it drop. He needed information. “How many fruits are there?”
“There are three sorrow fruits, red, green, and black. The red sorrow are the most plentiful. They’re basically cherries that increase your senses and add a minute to your counter.”
Those were the ones Madda had said Sift loved.
Pine slowed and studied a building to their right. Ruwen did as well.
Ruwen closed his eyes and concentrated. “I hear three in there.”
“Let’s head further north,” Pine said. “Fighting will only delay us.” As they moved, Pine continued. “Green sorrow are like grapes that increase your physical abilities and add fifteen minutes. They’re harder to find. The last ones are black sorrow berries. They add thirty minutes and make you invisible until you take damage.”
Two women and a man emerged from the building Ruwen and Pine had moved to avoid. The strangers headed directly toward them.
Ruwen stopped and faced the newcomers. “Stop advancing immediately.”
The trio slowed but didn’t stop. The tallest woman spoke. “You look like more trouble than you’re worth. Give us the old man and we’ll let you go.”
Ruwen took three steps toward them. The three all looked at least a decade or two older than Ruwen, and all were Adepts. But in the seconds they’d strode toward him, they’d given him a massive amount of information on their skill levels.
From their breathing and posture alone, he knew that while they might be Adepts like Ruwen, their training hadn’t remotely approached his. The fact that they didn’t recognize these things in Ruwen reinforced his conclusion on their skills.
Ruwen relaxed and gave them one more chance. “Turn around now or I’ll take half your minutes.”
The tall woman laughed, and while the man frowned and the shorter woman looked uncertain, they didn’t stop.
Ruwen didn’t bother speaking again. He hadn’t disguised his Step skills and had warned them twice. It was far more warning than they deserved. Again, just like the appearance of the old man, he wondered if this constituted some sort of test by the Founders. It was impossible to know, so he decided to just react, and not change his behavior at all.
Ruwen sprinted toward the three Adepts, closing the distance in two seconds. The coiled energy of the Viper Steps filled his muscles, eager to attack and dominate.
The three Adepts transitioned into Bamboo Steps, spreading out and lowering their stances, preparing to counter his Viper attacks. They didn’t show any concern yet, which reflected badly
