Chapter 118: Katra

The elves were once an extremely violent and emotional race that were easily consumed and corrupted by anger, fear, sadness and joy. Within the ancient text, it was believed that the ancient elves had even reached a point where their violent nature threatened the universe and would lead to the extinction of their own species.

In the effort to avoid this disastrous fate, the ancient elves decided to develop a cultivation method that would allow them to be able to control their emotions and channel it into a newfound source of strength instead of being consumed by it.

This was the origin of the creation of Katra, which was the culmination of the wisdom of many elven ancestors.

Each elf would be taught the way of the Katra from an early age. 

As times passed on and eons fleeted through, Katra gradually became the foundation for almost all of the elven teachings.

Other than their magic rank, the accomplishment of Katra stages became the way the elves differentiate the talented ones amidst the masses.  Those who managed to become Katra Masters could control their emotions and body to the utmost of their potential, and reached towards Katra enlightenment.

From Master Ortiz's explanation, Tristan found that the benefits of Katra go into enhancing the five senses (touch, smell, hearing, sight and taste) and greatly affect the spirit senses used for magic as well.

In Sindur's case, he was already in the mid level of Katra. At that level, he was able to sense the flow of energy within other's bodies, which was very helpful when he tried to use his battle art ability to pinpoint the nerve points and take advantage of them in the most effective way possible.

Hearing something that would be able to increase his strength was surely something that Tristan was very interested in. For him, it was like being able to drive a luxury car for free and being given the opportunity to own it in the end.

Tristan straightened his back, looked at the old master with a determined gaze, and said, "Master Ortiz, please teach me Katra."

The old elf nodded his head as if he had anticipated Tristan's words, and made a gesture with his hand. Immediately, all the other elves who had unknowingly came, including Serene and Sindur, gave the master a bow and left the room.

While Tristan was still surprised by the unexpected development, Master Ortiz already stood up.

"Come. Follow me, Tristan."

Master Ortiz took Tristan outside where the snowy garden was. They walked past the exquisite patio, towards a small pagoda that was situated in front of a pond. The old master then motioned for him to sit in the pagoda overlooking the small pond.

"Now, your training will start from the very basic foundation of understanding Katra."

Even though Tristan didn't know what the old master was going to do, he still nodded his head enthusiastically.

"Yes, Master Ortiz."

"Now, Tristan, listen and focus."

Tristan shook his head and swiftly focused his concentration because he realized that Master Ortiz wasn't playing around.

The old master started chanting certain words in a repeating sequence. As Tristan heard the words, they seemed to be able to stir his heart albeit slowly. Afterwards, the old master told him to repeat the same chanting until he got it right. 

It wasn't hard to do at all but the words somehow felt weird when he said them.

"Now, Tristan, to see your progress.."

Master Ortiz raised his hand and Tristan watched a ripple form in the small pond in front of him, as if a small stone had been thrown into it. Then through his enhanced senses, he spotted something very small floating on the surface of the pond and approaching the pagoda.

It was a very thin spider-like creature. It reminded Tristan of water spiders that could also move on the water's surface.

"This tiny creature is called a Lowii, and it will become your training partner today." said Master Ortiz as the small creature had unknowingly stood on the old master's palm.

Tristan, who was busy trying to get the chant right, was brought out of it because he was stunned by the old master's words. 

A small, thin, insect creature as a training partner? What kind of training did he actually sign up to?

Ignoring the dumbfounded look on Tristan's face, Master Ortiz used his magic to send the Lowii insect back to the pond

"That insect will only move every once in a while. Therefore, what I want you to do is focus your attention on the insect and feel where it will go when it finally moves while continuing to chant the words in your mind."

"..."

Tristan was silent for a moment, processing the old master's instruction. It seemed that this was some kind of perception training, where he would have to know which direction the Lowii insect would go. Sounded easy enough.

Master Ortiz then left him to practice by himself.

Without further ado, Tristan immediately gave it a try. He couldn't believe that he would have a hard time learning this Katra with his super elf body.

Alas, harsh reality hit him like a truck.

Half a day had passed, but Tristan still couldn't feel the slightest movement of the insect at all.

"Left!"

Tristan got it right, but he knew he guessed it and got lucky, because his next attempt was completely wrong. 

Half an hour later, Tristan still didn't know how he was supposed to 'know' where the insect was going. Even though it was only for a moment, the thought of giving up did appear in his mind. This was because Tristan had absolutely no idea on what exactly the old master wanted him to learn from this training.

"Right!"

Wrong.

"Left!"

Correct.

"Right!"

Wrong again.

"Is this for real?!"

Tristan was so annoyed that he wanted to just cast [Blood Seal] on that insect.

While Tristan was considering that outrageous problem-solving method, he suddenly recalled the invisible string that he always felt when he sealed someone. His hunch told him that this might be the solution he needed. Hence, he swiftly tried to search for that same exact feeling.

The sun had almost completely sunk on the horizon and the pagoda he was in was getting darker from the absence of light. 

While chanting, Tristan was surprised when he discovered that in the absence of light, where he was barely able to see the insect, he could somehow feel the string-like feeling - exactly the one he perceived with his blood-sealed human.

Tristan could somehow feel something from the small insect, but one of the disciples suddenly came and told him to come again tomorrow as it was already dark. 

The training ended at that time, leaving Tristan with a somewhat bitter taste in his heart.