Larger Than Life, Bigger Than Us

When Lily came back to herself, it was already morning and she was all dressed up in the forest, on the middle of a pond. Her feet were both on a thick pole. The Master was looking at her with a very severe face. She was shivering. Even though it was sunny, it was still chilly in the morning. Her wet clothing wasn't helping neither.

WET?!?! WHAT HAPPENED? Seemed she didn't manage to succeed at her first assignment.

"Take position again. Unless you are able to stay stable in the crane position, you will not be allowed to leave."

Her body, or in this case, Ran's body, took position. Seemed she needed to keep her equilibrium on one feet. Somehow, her body wasn't able to maintain the position. After a few minutes, she fell again in the low temperature water.

With a hand's swoop, the Master of the Valley put her back on the pole again. Lily grit her teeth.

"Again."

The full morning was spent trying to reach stability without success. Lily was feeling frustrated. It was already the 1000th time she tried. How come Ran was so untalented??? Just a simple position, Lily was certain she could have done without effort if it was left to her. But where did her confidence come from...She would have not been able to explain.

"Brother! Broooother!"

Lily was about to take position when she heard a girl screaming. Running towards the pond was Ivy. Lily felt even more irritated. She hadn't been able to do a simple position and now she was being interrupted.

Lily felt a soft slap on her cheek.

"Where's your mind at? You have not progressed far enough yet to afford to be distracted...Go back in position"

"Mas..ster...I...I....I....can't do...do....do... it any...more!" Lily finally managed to mumble through her frozen lips. Her eyes was full of tears, her head throbbing with a splitting headache. It was already noon, but the weather had barely warmed up. The water was icy, her clothing was fully soaked. Her skin was about to turn an unhealthy shade of blue and purple. Lily could tell she had probably caught the chill.

The Master of the Valley looked at her disappointedly. Clearly he was underwhelmed with the performance of his disciple.

Meanwhile, Ivy arrived next to him and started pulling on his sleeve.

"Brother, I have brought lunch for you!" Ivy's voice was sweet and candid. Contrasting vastly with the eye she gave Lily.

The Master of the Valley then turned to Ivy and gave her a slight smile.

"Ran Sheng, you can take a break. We'll resume training tomorrow. Ivy, let's find an appropriate place to eat. The forest is chilly, it will not do for you to be outside and catch a cold. Let's go to the moonlight pavillon."

Leaving her with those words, the Master of the Valley walked away towards a floral path. Before following her brother, Ivy gave Lily again another dirty look.

"Hmmpf, just a human and she thinks she can be big brother disciple....She should learn to face reality"

Soon, Lily was left alone, still standing on the pole, in the middle of the pond. Lily was fuming. How could he have left her like that? She had no idea how to go back to the shore. Though the pond wasn't the size of a lake, it was still quite far and the water was deep and she didn't know how to swim. What to do? Should she jump? Or should she stay there until Master remembered her?