Tantra stares at her reflection, tracing a line across her neck with a finger. She can still feel the edge of the blade, pressed against her neck, just before it sliced her open. Yet here she stands, in front of a mirror, distinctly alive. She has to remind herself of that fact, she is alive. Each painful intake of breath is evidence to that fact. Yet she can still feel the steel on her throat.

“Good morning!” Sola appears behind her, Tantra doesn’t react, “what? Nothing? You used to be so jumpy.”

“I could hear the floorboards creaking,” Tantra croaks, her voice has become a hoarse thing, like she was a Hedge enthusiast that’s been smoking for years. That’s fine, it should fix itself once she reaches foundation.

It’s fine.

“Hmmm, I’ve gotten sloppy, ah well. Breakfast’s ready by the by, Ranya cooked you some noodles. Best to get to it before it gets cold.” Sola chirps.

Tantra nods, giving a final glance to her mirror before heading out of her room. She walks through the hallway and into the kitchen, where Ranya is absolutely destroying a plate of ribs. Tantra takes a seat in front of a steaming bowl that she assumes are her noodles, since the only other plate has curry.

Tantra looks down and sees strips of pork floating in the broth. Funny, last she checked, they didn’t have pig in the storage.

“Did you go out?” Tantra asks Ranya flatly, the girl stops her crusade against protein and regards Tantra sheepishly. She gives Tantra a hesitant nod. Tantra takes a deep breath through her nose, and lets it out slowly through her mouth.

“We only went after beasts,” Sola interrupts, before Tantra starts her tirade “she didn’t break her promise”

“There are still bandits out there,” Tantra argues.

“Tantra,” Sola gives her a flat look, “we are cultivators, we do not cower in our homes.”

Tantra sighs and concedes the point.

She balances the metal chopsticks in her left hand, grabbing a few noodles and slurping them into her belly.

Hmmm, not bad. Could use some spice but she can’t expect to find that all the way out here. Though maybe the villages across the mountain have something that could add some zest or something. Still, noodles are noodles, and noodles are king. She eats slow and practiced, she knows how to handle chopsticks with her offhand, had to learn in case anything happened to her right arm, although she’s still a little sloppy. Especially since she’s been out of practice.

Ranya burps as she finishes her ribs.

“Ranya!” Tantra scolds, “that is not how a proper lady should act.”

Ranya groans, “Ranya is eight, she doesn’t need to act like a lady.”

Tantra shakes her head, “when I was your age I was holding tea parties with nobility, could you imagine if I acted in such a manner in front of scions?”

Ranya giggles, “that would be hilarious Tantan! You totally should have done it.”

“Someday I’m gonna drag you to Ralth to learn proper etiquette” She grumbles.

-

Circulation, Boosting, Gathering.

The trifecta of Qi manipulation, conventional knowledge states that these are the only methods before one touches the dao. The bedrock of cultivation if you will, and how the great masters navigate its mysteries.

So what is Offering then?

She can’t replicate the feat, she’s missing something, like trying to start a fire without anything to burn. She remembers the feeling, with agonizing clarity, but no matter how much she tries it just won’t work.

The scribe who was in her room, who she’s learned is named Vozen, doesn’t seem perturbed by this, recording everything she said of the experience with the enthusiasm of a starved wolf to a fresh kill. She doesn’t much care for the man, he watched as she was suffering, and all he did was scribble on his little scroll.

Like he’s doing right now.

“Remarkable, simply remarkable,” he says, pacing around her. “Your lungs are still absorbing Qi, so many weeks after your recovery. Granted it’s a miniscule amount, but the fact it is happening at all has so many implications.”

Tantra resists the urge to spit at him, she does not enjoy being made into a science project, especially not by this man. She has…feelings on the sect right now, and not good ones, encouraging children to hunt bandits while still in their foundations? Prioritizing study over keeping her alive? Yeah, she has a lot of feelings. She chooses to bury them as she can’t really do much about it.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“What kinds of implications master?” she asks instead, choosing to salvage at least something from recent events by sating her curiosity. The man looks at her with eyes that shine a deep indigo, whose crows feet crinkle with a smile.

“Well!” he says excitedly, “first there’s the obvious, you’ve mutated before integration disciple Tantra, and without a dao. That by itself opens a myriad of avenues to study. Then there’s how you mutated, if we can replicate the conditions-” Tantra gives him a horrified look,”-let me finish. If we can replicate the conditions with the proper equipment then we might be able to expedite the journey to foundation. Right now your body’s unconsciously gathering and circulating (which is another wonderful little detail, but let's not get distracted) which means you are, right now, slowly getting closer to foundation without having to do anything. At a much slower rate than regular training mind you, if you only used this method it might take half a century to pass through the first step, but if applied in conjunction with regular training it could shave off years for exceptional disciples.”

Tantra raises a brow, “what about regular disciples?”

The man waves her question away, “the sect has to keep its secrets somehow, disciple Tantra, can’t go around announcing every discovery we make, that’ll just attract the sharks.”

-

She can’t see inside her body, but she can feel it, with her Qi.

It’s always so fascinating, to get a sense of the internals you otherwise overlook, this rudimentary version of Qi sensing is the reason biology exists. Pushing a rope of Qi through her intestines, she marvels at her gastrointestinal tract, it’s so long. She’s started to use it as her method of measurement, to track her progress. So far she can maintain about half the length of her small intestine before everything falls apart. Which is much longer than her arm, when she originally upgraded to three threads, you’d think that’d mean she’s ready for four, but no.

She can’t even stop them from dissolving once they leave her core.

If three were a hill, four would be a mountain. She’s supposed to get to six before she’s ready for the next exercise. She knows that this is from an advanced manual but how in the holy light of the gods is she meant to learn all ten exercises?!? Is the librarian messing with her? He has to be messing with her. But she pushes on, it’s something to occupy her time, It’s also a nice bonding exercise with her friends.

“I got it to my sternum!” Yorin shouts excitedly, thoroughly breaking her focus.

Tantra sighs, “Yorin, while congratulations are in order, you couldn’t have proclaimed your accomplishment after the allotted time?”

Yorin looks sheepish as his gaze meets hers, “sorry” he says.

Tantra sighs again and a hand places itself on her shoulder.

“Forgive him honourable Tantra, you can only expect so much from an idiot” Kisrin intones wisely.

Tantra sighs, “you’re not wrong”

“Hey!”

The three of them look at each other, then share a chuckle.

“Still, that is impressive Yorin, it took me a month to reach the same point.” Kisrin says.

Yorin lets a slight smile color his features, “well, all I have to do is keep trying. Much easier than learning words.”

“Speaking of, I think it’s about time we get you a new book, that old one doesn’t seem much of a challenge anymore,” Tantra contemplates.

Yorin pales, “please, honourable mentor, please please don’t”

Tantra waves him off, “come now Yorin, it’s progress! Don’t you love progress? Besides, begging doesn’t suit you.”

“Nor does it suit proper cultivators.” Someone says as they approach them.

All three pairs of eyes turn to find Hakan with a small entourage behind him. His brown hair tied back into a man bun, and ornate robes of purple trimmed with gold rather than green. He walks to them with purpose, and all of them are wary.

Tantra is the first to get up and bows to the boy. “Young master, it is an honour to be within your presence.” The other two scramble to their feet and give him their own bows.

“The honour is mine, disciple Tantra.” Hakan says, “Tell me, what is it you were doing a moment ago?”

“Just simple control exercises, young master.” Tantra replies.

“Ah,” a knowing smile crosses his features, “wise of you, many neglect it, not realizing its inherent benefits.”

Tantra bows again, “this one is grateful for the praise, but she is simply following the guidance of the master librarian.”

Hakan chuckles, “humble, a rare trait among cultivators.”

“Thank you, young master.”

“You have nothing to thank me for.” Then he bows deep, getting a few scowls from his entourage, “I came to offer my sincerest apologies, honourable Tantra.”

Tantra panics, “raise your head young master, I do not know what you are apologizing for but surely it doesn’t warrant such a display.”

“But it does,” he says insistently, keeping his head distinctly bowed, “I left you to squirm in the forest like a worm. That is not conduct befitting even the lowliest of cultivators. It is my shame, and I must make recompense.”

She goes to tell him that no recompense is needed, that no one could have truly known that she would have survived so long drowning in her own blood. But her more mercantile side tells her to shut up for a moment and think, the favour of a young master? Even in a sect like this that could prove a magnificent boon, if she navigates correctly of course.

She puts on her mask and refuses to let the sly smile she feels in the back of her mind play across her face.

“I am truly honoured young master,” she reciprocates his bow, “but I find myself free of any desires at the moment. If it so pleases you, perhaps you could join this one in her training once her arm has healed and provide instruction? This one is sure the depth of your knowledge is more than enough to pay any debts.”

There are a few gasps from the crowd

Hakan rises from his bow with a bright smile on his face, “of course disciple Tantra, you may seek me out at any time.”

Tantra has to hold back a devious smile.