Imperium Descent: Volume V by Christopher Hopper

Author:Christopher Hopper [Hopper, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Somnium Publishing
Published: 2023-09-23T16:00:00+00:00

Once Hale was dry and night had fallen, Pi Tae met him by the fire pit and offered him a bowl of broth.

“Thanks,” Hale said and accepted the soup gratefully.

Choocheek flew down and landed on the rim of a second smaller bowl intended for him.

Pi Tae took a seat beside Hale and faced the fire. So many of the Embooshtii’s mannerisms suggested they still had eyes even though they’d proven to Hale that wasn’t the case. It was a long moment before Pi Tae asked, How do you feel on the eve of your departure?

Hale considered the question for a second. He wanted to be truthful, and yet he didn’t want to insult his teacher like he’d done a few days prior. “Disappointed.” It was the simplest and most honest word he could think of.

With regard to…?

“My performance. Your tutelage. The fact that I don’t have more to show for being graced by a planet’s exspiravit.”

Pi Tae’s lips curled into a faint smile. We are both new to this.

It wasn’t the first time they’d discussed this, and it didn’t help Hale’s mounting frustrations.

“How long do you think this will take?”

I don’t know.

That’s not great, Hale thought. “Aren’t there any records that you can consult?”

Not for this specific matter.

“Why not?”

Because every person is different.

“That’s fair. But aren’t there standards listed somewhere? Or just… how long did it take you?”

Much faster.

“Okay, see? Then why not help me out more?”

Because you’d have to carve out your eyes.

Hale blanched. He should have seen that coming. “Oh.”

Custosi, you are doing well. But you are expecting too much too soon. I feel you need months, perhaps a year to begin to apprehend what it is you’ve been apprehended for.

“Whatever that means, I don’t have that kind of time… refugees in the Imperium don’t have that kind of time.”

Then I caution you against this emotion of disappointment. You can only get out of the process that which you reasonably put in.

“Understood.” That was true of any worthwhile venture, Hale had to admit. The Stratus worked the same way, and every promotion came at the end of a steep learning curve and then multiple demonstrations of competency and proficiency.

You are still wrestling.

Hale sipped the broth and then wiped his mouth, trying to swallow his frustrations. “Guess I thought that the exspiravit’s gift would… I don’t know… have more supernatural power to it or something, ya know? I mean, I’ve already used it several times… just don’t really know how. Never figured it would be as hard as learning a natural skill.”

As I said before, you are doing well, all things considered. The most worthwhile skills take time, thus I recommend you return as soon as you’re able. And perhaps you come with less of a schedule to keep?

Hale raised an eyebrow in an expression of reluctance. Pi Tae was right, of course. This kind of training seemed to require more commitment… more focused energy with fewer obligations. But how could he manage that when he was, in fact, helping to lead a refugee camp? “Easier said than done.

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