With the qi wrapped around his body, the force no longer felt crushing feeling. He felt like he was cheating, but they weren't any rules for the test to begin with. He glanced down at the steps beneath his feet, he and Damian was on the thirty ninth step.
He slowed and stopped.
Damion was beside him, and had a grin on his face. The man truly was used to this kind of strain.
"Ill be right back, Damian"
Lucius headed down a few steps below, Raveena was climbing carefully. Her movements were slow but steady, each step taken with focus. She was not panicking like many of the others, nor was she forcing herself recklessly forward. Instead, she paused every few steps, letting her body adjust before continuing. It was exactly what Lucius had hoped she would do.
He stepped down until he was just infront of her.
"Raveena," he said quietly, keeping his voice low so others would not overhear.
She looked up, surprise flickering across her face, followed by relief. "Lucius?"
"You're doing well," he said. "But this pressure will only get worse the higher we go."
She nodded, her hands clenched slightly at her sides. "I can feel it. It's like something is pushing me into the ground."
"I want you to try something. You already have qi inside your body now. Instead of letting it stay only within, try spreading it around yourself."
Raveena frowned slightly. "Around myself?"
"Yes," Lucius said. "Like a thin shell. Just let the qi flow outward and wrap around you."
She hesitated. "I don't know if I can control it that well."
"That's normal," Lucius replied calmly. "Your control won't be good at first. But this is good practice for learning how to control your qi under harsh conditions."
He watched her carefully to make sure she understood. "I don't want you to get injured. Use it only until you feel you can't take another step."
Raveena swallowed and then nodded slowly. She was truly glad that Lucius was still willing to help her. Since the exam had started, she had noticed him talking with another boy. The way they laughed and spoke made them seem like old friends.
But hearing Lucius say he didn't want her to get hurt eased all her worries.
When the exam was over, she decided, she would get Lucius a gift.
She took a deep breath and her expression hardened, determination settling into her eyes. "Thank you, Lucius. I'll try."
"I'll meet you at the top then," Lucius said while giving a small wave
Lucius stepped back up the stairs, returning to Damion's side. As he climbed, he glanced down once more and felt a quiet sense of relief. He had given her the best help he could.
Now, the rest depended on her will.
With his qi spread around his body, he did not take it slow and soon fell back into step with Damion.
Damion glanced sideways at him, then looked back down the stairs. "That girl just now," he said casually. "Your friend?"
Lucius nodded. "Yes. I was just giving her some advice."
Damion gave a short nod in approval. They continued climbing side by side. Lucius had his hands in his pocket and then on the fiftieth stair.
Lucius felt the pressure increase. It was heavier now, pressing against his shoulders and legs, trying to force his body down. Instead of resisting directly, he guided more qi outward, thickening the layer around himself. The sensation eased, becoming manageable once more.
Damion noticed.
He squinted slightly and looked Lucius up and down. "You're definitely doing something," he said. "No way you're walking this easily without a trick."
Lucius chuckled softly. "Maybe."
Damion laughed and suddenly threw an arm around Lucius's shoulder, pulling him closer as they walked. "Since we seem to get along," he said, "do you mind telling me?"
He added with a cheeky grin, "I know I'll pass anyway, but it'd still be good to have an easier way."
Lucius slowed his steps slightly, thinking for a moment. There was no harm in it. This wasn't some secret technique, just proper use of qi. Plus Damian would most likely learn this technique since he was a martial artist.
"Alright," Lucius said. "I'll tell you."
As they continued climbing, he explained calmly. He told Damion how to spread qi around the body instead of keeping it only inside, how to let it form a thin layer that reduced the pressure around them.
"This is a body strengthening technique," Lucius said.
Damian stopped walking for half a second and facepalmed.
"…That's it?" he said in disbelief. "That's basically the foundation of close-combat martial arts."
Lucius smiled. "Well it is strengthening technique afterall. You don't want to go breaking your hands fighting against someone.."
Damion let out a long sigh, then laughed. "Man… why didn't I think of that earlier?"
He immediately adjusted his breathing and began to copy what Lucius described. His qi shifted, rough at first, but his body adapted quickly. With his martial background, the change came naturally.
They continued upward.
By the time they reached the seventieth step, far fewer people were still climbing. Many had stopped to rest, while others had sat down completely, their bodies unable to handle the pressure any longer.
"Oh… it's her," Lucius said.
Damian glanced ahead. "You know her?"
"Not really," Lucius replied. "She was the second person to finish the first exam."
Not far above them, the white-haired girl continued upward. She was the closest to the top out of everyone still climbing. Even so, Lucius could see the strain on her body. Her steps had slowed, and her breathing was no longer steady.
Lucius grinned and let out a short laugh as he looked at Damian. "Well, my friend, I can't be coming in second place."
Damian's eyes sharpened with determination as he straightened his posture. "Then let's see who makes it to the top first."
Both of them took another step forward, the pressure pressing down harder with every move.