Myrmidon's Ascension (Xianxia/cultivation)

The one Cu approached was the Dancer. Like all their kind, they were fragile-looking; towering over her but with a slender frame that was barely more than a stalk and a few leaf-like limbs, with flowers at the top. This one had many tiny pink flowers growing from a central bud. An unusual and likely created species, Cu'd heard, but more successful than most.

"Greetings," they said. "I am Seeks The Flow, and I believe you are... Cuddle Earth? From the Great Heavenly Void Hive, our newest ally."

"I recognize you from a dossier as well. From the Ruby Confederacy? But I remember the name being different," Cu said as she recalled the Dancers called their Ways by the name of Flow.

"My old name doesn't reflect this latest phase of my life, which started just today as I realized I had strayed from my own Flow. So I seek to right my course and find the Flow for me." Was Seeks's flower bud drooping? Sure, the Dancers were precocious in their development of their own Way, but having a Way crisis already in the first realm?

Cu's antennae twitched as she attempted to think of a way to be sympathetic without making the other feel worse. "May you right your course and follow your Flow," she finally said, adapting language she'd heard in Dancer dramas.

Seeks's 'head' bobbed. A nodding gesture learned from humans? "I thank you for your words and more importantly, the sentiment in them. I can see you're curious about our Flows. No, you don't have to say it."

Huh? Oh, Dancers often had some degree of telepathy or empathy. Cu cautiously replied, "I am curious about other species."

"Would you be interested in a discussion then? Thinking out aloud might help me straighten myself out and it is entirely possible you might learn some things."

"Why are you so willing to talk about it with a stranger and likely rival?" Cu said.

"Our Flows are no secrets. They are subtle and they are not. They flow openly and they do not. Their petals are endless. And they benefit from discussion."

Cu said, "I wouldn't mind." Getting a perspective on Ways straight from a Dancer? A great opportunity.

What followed was one of the most confusing discussions Cu had ever had, with many digressions about philosophy and other esoteric topics. Often Cu had to ask a question, only to get a still confusing answer.

What was that about Floral Wisdoms? Why were their Ways like rivers? How many blossoms did a Dancer have to make in their life, and what even was a blossom? Why was the answer to that 42? What was that about strange attractors?

But in the end, while she understood Dancers' Flows no more than she did before, she felt a little more enlightened in general.

"I can see you found that to be of some small help. As did I, though I still have much seeking to do," Seeks said.

"A little, yes. It was a very interesting if confusing discussion."

[Small but perceptible bonus to establishing a Way. Seeks the Flow is now at Acquaintance.]

---

It felt odd how little activity there were in the station. There were people coming and going, but it wasn't the dense bustle of activity like in the hive. Soon enough, Cu returned to her assigned suite. And found it already sporting more sensible decor than it started out with. Paintings employing abstract colors and light floral scents. A few scented sculptures to lighten up the environs. Those deliveries from the hive must've arrived already.

The outer room no one knew what to do with had been transformed into, apparently, a room for hosting visitors judging from the label on the map shared by her hivemates. Cushions and low tables, cabinets for holding foodstuffs ready to serve to guests, gentle lighting. A good choice, really. Also a good choice picking Game Break to work out what to do with the room.

She also nodded approvingly at the setup of the work room. In addition to the various crafting workshops she required, it also had been turned into a storeroom for assorted necessities and foods, miscellaneous talismans not in current use, materials for crafting, really anything at least one of the five of them might need. The overall arrangement was elegantly practical, with clear routes to everything and nothing hard to reach.

The sleeping room was entirely too large, but it was comfortable enough. Still, there was a lot of empty space once one accounted for the space necessary for beds and clothing storage. And the hygiene room attached to the sleeping room was ridiculous in scale but there wasn't much that could be done about that. It would be less and less necessary as they ascended in realms anyways.

Behind her, Smile chuckled. "Over the top isn't it? Trust me, it's more for luxury than necessity. That large pool of water? All for relaxing in. Can't wait to see what I can do to the other teams' pools."

"Oh, right, I've seen things like that in some of the romantic dramas," Cu said, ignoring Smile's last sentence. It was then that she saw the map indicators for her other teammates drawing near. Exiting, she went to meet them.

As it turned out, another human, male apparently, was with them, this one outfitted in a plain red robe with no decorations. The hallmark of a basic worker, judging from the uniform information she accessed. Said human looked apologetic as he gestured at the door to their suite. "I heard you were dissatisfied with the arrangements we had made for you."

"It's fine," Cu said, "Our rooms are satisfactory now."

The worker human said "Which one of you is staying in this suite?"

"All of us," Smile said with a wicked waggle of her antennae. "We're real snugglebug pals."

"Uh," the worker said. Cu was pretty sure he just became paler.

Gam stepped in smoothly. "We are content with our rooms. While the decorations and furniture your station supplied were beautiful works of arts, our sensibilities lie more toward simplicity. Thus we have arranged things more to our tastes. But we are grateful for the hospitality supplied to us and will not forget it."

The worker human seemed to relax somewhat. "May I inquire if you have any other requirements?"

"If we have any, we will let you know," Gam replied as he popped up a display to fill out a highly positive review of the worker and submit it.

The worker's broad smile wasn't hard to interpret. "I or another will be available at all times." He turned to withdraw from sight.

"Well then," Harmony said cheerily, "That was a harmonious resolution."

---

It had became the night before orientation. Cu drew up the schedule for that. Immediately, she said, "Three hours of speeches?!"

"Our diplomats have observed that they prefer a serene pace to their affairs," Gam said with a waggle of his antennae.

"There's a serene pace and then there's this... I suppose we'll have to attend as it's marked mandatory." Resigning herself to her fate, Cu considered what to do before group cultivation and sleep.

[ ] Hang out with someone
[ ] Game Break
[ ] Harmony to All
[ ] Null Music
[ ] Smile Sphere

[ ] Break in her shiny new crafting equipment

[ ] Watch a romance

[ ] Chat with her online pals.

"So how are our newest ally's delegation settling in?" The Head Dean said. He was a dignified man with long mustaches extending down to his waist and similarly long black hair. His face showed not a single sign of age, but his eyes seemed ancient.

The Dormitory Head, who chose an androgynous body neither man nor woman, said, "They replaced the decor we set out in their suite, which is to be expected. Faction delegates tend to apply their own motifs to their suites. But they barely have any decor at all! And they're all staying not just in one suite, but one room! They turned one of the rooms into a workshop and storeroom!"

Immediately, the Head of Interiors, a woman with flamboyant pink hair spoke up. "But have you seen their decor? Its subtle elegance, it reminds me of the Least Rose style. That careful attention to placements of the sculptures to complement the paintings. The way the light highlights their sculptures and adds texture to said paintings! And--"

The Head Dean held up his hand. "I understand. They favor minimalist styles and lifestyles. Head of Relations, what do you believe their reception to Orientation will be?"

A man with a soft baby face and short fuzzy black hair said, "Honestly? They're going to be bored. I did some research and the average speech given by Myrmidons is less than ten minutes, many a minute or less. They don't hold much on ceremony. But they will almost certainly politely try to pay full attention. Of course, the main wildcard is their trickster."

"I didn't even know that Myrmidons could have tricksters before I saw their delegate roster," the Dormitory Head said.

The Head Dean nodded. "So provide them with refreshments and such to alleviate their boredom. Prepare for what a bored trickster might do. Security Head?"

The Security Head, a short and burly woman, grunted that particular grunt that meant "I'll be ready but I'll handle the VIP with kiddy gloves." Then because she had been chastised many times for only grunting, she said out loud, "I'll be prepared and I'll treat their trickster gently."

The Head Dean smiled warmly. "So we're set. The reports indicate they're settling in and find their accommodations quite acceptable. Now let us get on to other matters..."