Chapter 141: Through Greyspine

Serena's letter arrived two days after Joe returned from the forestry station. The state selection was approaching, and Montclair had begun finalizing its candidates and arranging their evaluations. Serena had already handled his preliminary registration, but several appointments required his presence in Ashbourne. She recommended returning before the final preparations began, particularly since Marcus had been holding his training arrangements open during his absence.

Joe decided to leave within three days. His visit to Blackwood had lasted longer than originally planned, although he had accomplished considerably more than expected. With Innate Transformation complete and his current cultivation stalled, the equipment and resources in Ashbourne had become his next priority. He informed Simon that afternoon, finding his brother occupied with the workshop accounts.

"I'll be returning to Ashbourne alone," Joe explained after Simon finished reading Serena's letter. "The state selection is getting close, and I have research to continue there. I'll take the maps Serena left behind and travel on foot."

Simon offered to arrange a carriage, but Joe declined. They settled the transport of his remaining equipment and reviewed the household's immediate affairs before ending the conversation. Simon could manage the businesses without further assistance, and Joe had already prepared the medicines his family required. During his remaining days, he visited his parents and grandparents, answered their questions about the selection, and promised to write after reaching the capital.

On the evening before his departure, Joe spread Serena's maps across his desk. The established route ran from Blackwood through Stonegate, crossed Greyspine, and continued east toward Ashbourne. He had traveled it several times, although always with a caravan or carriage. The nineteen-day journey with Serena and the Montclair guards had followed the commercial road, stopping regularly for horses, supplies, and lodging. Several smaller trails appeared on the maps, particularly through the mountains, where hunters and local travelers used paths unsuitable for wagons.

Joe marked a route through the higher ridges before packing his belongings. He needed little beyond his spear, money, maps, clothing, and a few personal supplies. Traveling alone would allow him to cover considerable distances without the restrictions of a carriage, but he had no intention of rushing through the mountains. Months of medical research and Innate Transformation had left him wanting a change of surroundings, and Greyspine offered an opportunity to spend several days away from the demands of cultivation.

He departed Blackwood shortly after sunrise. The eastern road carried the usual traffic of merchants, farmers, and freight wagons, but the crowds thinned beyond the surrounding settlements. Joe increased his pace along the quieter stretches, occasionally leaving the road to follow a shorter path across the hills. Unbroken Step allowed him to maintain his balance over uneven ground, and his Innate body sustained the effort comfortably.

The first part of the journey passed through cultivated valleys and small villages. Joe stopped when he found a pleasant place to rest, purchased meals at roadside establishments, and spent his evenings at inns whenever he reached a settlement. He had traveled through the region before, but previously his attention had remained on reaching Ashbourne. This time, he occasionally followed paths toward streams or higher ground simply to see where they led.

Stonegate appeared on the second evening. Joe recognized the commercial district near the eastern gate, where caravan companies maintained offices and merchants purchased supplies before entering Greyspine. He spent the night at an inn and examined his maps after dinner. One trail climbed north from the commercial road, crossed a broad ridge, and descended through a valley before rejoining the eastern route. The additional distance presented no difficulty, and Joe selected it for the following morning.

Beyond Stonegate, the cultivated land gradually disappeared beneath forested slopes. The commercial road followed narrow passages between exposed stone and tall pines, occasionally crossing streams descending from the higher mountains. Joe recognized several bends from his first journey to Ashbourne, when a beast disturbance had scattered the caravan and eventually led him toward the Greyspine inheritance. The incident had occupied his attention so completely that he remembered the surrounding terrain mainly through the places where the caravan had stopped or encountered trouble.

At the marked junction, Joe left the commercial road and followed the northern trail. The path climbed through dense woodland before emerging onto a rocky slope overlooking the valley. He continued toward the ridge, occasionally stopping where the trees opened onto the surrounding mountains. The higher he climbed, the more of Greyspine became visible. Forested ridges extended in several directions, separated by deep valleys and streams that joined larger rivers farther below.

Joe reached the summit in the early afternoon. A broad section of exposed stone provided an unobstructed view of the neighboring peaks, while a stand of pines offered shelter from the wind. He placed his pack beneath the trees and walked along the ridge, examining the landscape from different positions. The commercial road appeared intermittently through the forest far below, disappearing where the valley narrowed between steep slopes.

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He eventually settled beneath a tree and ate a little of the food he had brought from Stonegate. Clouds passed over the distant mountains, casting broad shadows across the forests before sunlight returned to the higher slopes. Joe remained on the ridge throughout the afternoon, enjoying the cool air and the absence of any immediate obligation. When evening approached, he selected a sheltered place farther along the trail and prepared to spend the night there.

The sky cleared after sunset, revealing stars above the surrounding peaks. Joe stayed awake for some time before resting, listening to the wind moving through the trees. He had spent so many months recording every small development in his cultivation that an evening without measurements or experiments felt unusually pleasant.

He resumed his journey the following morning, following the trail across uneven stone before descending into a wooded valley. The path required frequent adjustments in footing, particularly where loose gravel covered the steeper sections. Joe occasionally increased his pace to practice Unbroken Step, changing direction across the irregular ground while maintaining control of his movements.

His progress came readily because he had already mastered the inheritance. The coordination developed through Foundation and his earlier movement training provided the necessary foundation, while his improved Innate body allowed him to execute familiar techniques with greater precision. He experimented with several approaches to the same sections of terrain, but made no attempt to force a breakthrough. Return to Nature required more than refining movements he already understood.

Around midday, Joe reached a stream flowing between two rocky slopes. He followed the water downstream until it entered a broad pool beneath a small waterfall. Smooth stones bordered the basin, and moss covered the shaded surfaces near the falling water. Joe removed his pack and washed away the dust accumulated during the descent.

The water was pleasantly cool. He remained near the pool for much of the afternoon, exploring the surrounding banks and following a narrow path that passed behind the waterfall. Sunlight entered the valley through openings in the trees, illuminating sections of the water and the vegetation growing along its edges. Several birds moved among the branches overhead, while insects gathered near the slower portions of the stream.

Joe eventually found a level clearing where he could practice with his spear. He worked through Ninefold's fundamental forms before concentrating on individual thrusts and recoveries. His improved physical condition made the movements easier to control, although he still needed to regulate the force transmitted through the shaft.

He also revisited several principles from Piercing Line and Turning Shaft, examining how the two inheritances approached distance and close-range recovery. His previous training allowed him to move between their methods without difficulty. He had already reached Perfection in Ninefold Spear and studied several additional systems before leaving Ashbourne, so his present improvement came from applying established knowledge through his transformed body.

After practicing, Joe cleaned the spear and returned it to its cover. His earlier experience with Foundation Return to Nature had taught him that mastery of an inheritance did not guarantee a deeper breakthrough. He intended to study more spear and movement systems after returning to Ashbourne, particularly those that approached familiar combat problems through different principles. Marcus could arrange the necessary instruction, but Joe saw no reason to occupy the remainder of his journey planning every detail.

He spent another day following the stream toward the eastern valleys. The mountains became less severe as he descended, and the trail eventually joined a road connecting several small settlements. Joe stopped at one village to purchase provisions and ask about the eastern crossing. The innkeeper warned him that recent rain had damaged a smaller trail farther south, so he consulted Serena's maps and continued along the maintained road.

The terrain gradually opened into cultivated slopes and wider valleys. Terraced fields appeared along the hillsides, while villages occupied the flatter ground near the rivers. Joe passed repaired bridges and roadside shelters, eventually encountering the mounted patrols that regularly traveled the approaches to Ashbourne. The increased traffic confirmed that he had left the more isolated sections of Greyspine behind.

He continued east at a comfortable pace, occasionally stopping at viewpoints along the road. His improved endurance allowed him to cover the remaining distance quickly, even after spending several days exploring the mountains. By the time he reached the eastern plains, he had enjoyed the journey more than any of his previous travels between Blackwood and Ashbourne.

On the final morning, the road passed through increasingly developed farmland. Orchards and workshops occupied the surrounding settlements, while utility poles followed the larger roads toward the capital. Freight wagons and passenger carriages became more common, requiring Joe to maintain an ordinary walking pace as he approached the city.

Ashbourne came into view on the tenth day after his departure from Blackwood. Its outer districts extended beyond the surrounding farmland, with warehouses and merchant compounds lining the roads leading toward the gates. Joe joined the travelers approaching the checkpoint and presented his documents when instructed. The guards completed their inspection without difficulty, allowing him to enter the capital.

Joe followed the familiar streets toward the East District. Serena would need confirmation of his arrival, and Mary would want to hear about his visit to Blackwood. His alchemical research and martial training also awaited him, along with the approaching state selection. He had returned with sufficient time to attend to those arrangements and felt thoroughly rested after his days in Greyspine.