Tantra couldn’t do a push-up to save her life, so instead she has to do a modified version where her knees are touching the ground to reduce the weight.
She’s still struggling, much to the instructor's amusement.
She’s easily the weakest amongst the disciples, mostly because all the people here got in through the proper channels and proved themselves, while her father just found whichever sect valued coin over face and dumbed a practical fortune on their laps. She wouldn’t be surprised if it was the most money this place has ever seen and ever will see, it’s not exactly a sect beyond sects.
Still, it is a place to train, a place to improve. That’s all that mattered to her father when he shipped her here like common cargo. Yes, she is still angry with him, yes, his death makes those feelings complicated. Their last conversation was a rather explosive argument about exactly this topic, many words were thrown, a few curses were said.
She doesn’t like to think about it.
Instead she focuses on the motions of the exercise. It’s pretty easy when her muscles are screaming so loudly, like a newborn demanding attention. That reminds her of her little brother, and how she won’t get to see him grow anymore. By the time she can leave this place with some measure of safety he’ll already be grown.
She focuses on the exercise.
-
Tantra stomps over to the library with a chastised Yorin in tow, taking glances at her before looking at the ground, “are you still angry?” he asks.
“You punched me in the face!” Tantra whirls on the boy, and points at her eye, “can you see my eye? No! You can’t! Because it’s all covered up by a bruise the size of your fist.” She raves.
“But we were sparring.” Yorin says weakly
“We were supposed to be sparring, not beating me senseless!”
Yorin scratches his cheek, “sorry, I’m used to fighting against the other village kids, I thought you’d only be a little weaker…but…you’ve never been in a fight before, have you?” A light seems to shine through Yorins mind.
Tantra huffs, “no, violence is unbefitting a lady.” She grumbles.
Yorin tilts his head.
“But I’ve fought plenty of girls before.” He points out.
“They are not ladies.”
Yorin scrunches his brow and stares at Tantra, “but…neither are you.”
Tantra ignores him as she opens the door to the library.
-
The library is surprisingly well maintained considering the resources of the sect, candles flicker creating a dim lighting as disciples go from shelves to desks. Tantra walks up to the librarian’s counter where an older gentleman in purple robes writes on a scroll.
She knocks on the counter.
“Yes, yes, give me a moment child.”
She waits with hands behind her back as the librarian continues to write.
“Why are we here?” Yorin whispers.
“You’ll soon find out disciple Yorin”
Yorin groans, “don’t start being fancy Tantra. I said I was sorry.”
Tantra doesn’t dignify that with a response.
Eventually the librarian finishes with his writing and looks up at the two of them.
“What do you want?”
Tantra bows, “greetings master, this one is in search for a primer on Torrakian letters, along with a scroll, ink, and two quills”
The librarian stares at her, “Is this for the boy?” he queries.
Tantra nods, “indeed master.”
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
The librarian scratches at his chin and raises a brow, “you’re that brat Jorin’s been complaining about. I’m surprised that one such as you would find the time to play the tutor, all things considered.”
Tantra bows deeper, “This one is simply repaying her friend for the thorough lesson of martial prowess he delivered earlier”
Yorin perks up when she calls him her friend, blissfully unaware of his fate.
The librarian chuckles, “Alright, I don’t have a primer for letters, but I do have a stockpile for language, I’m sure you can work back from there. Aisle one section C, once you’ve found them come back here for your scroll and quills.”
Tantra gets up from her bow with a radiant smile, “Thank you master”
-
Tantra breathes in through her nose, and the Qi of the world enters her lungs. She holds her breath as the Qi slowly travels down their respective bridges and into her core, she breathes out the dead air through her mouth and repeats the process. This method is…inefficient and slow. It’s why despite taking a whole evening she still can’t fill her core.
But that’s fine, Tantra isn’t hoping to become some legend amongst legends, hells she’s barely aiming to be a cultivator, if only to survive the journey home. So this’ll have to do for now.
Still, she can’t say this doesn’t bother her, it’s frustrating to be so glaringly inept at anything.
-
Tantra walks into her home to find Karaz and Ranya scowling at each other. While doing handstands, and juggling small leather balls with their feet. Tantra just stares, amazed and confused. The aches and pains from the day's training temporarily forgotten in the face of something so ridiculous.
“Yeah they do that sometimes.” Says a voice directly into her ear.
Tantra squawks and jumps in fear, only to sigh in relief at the sight of Sola.
“Honoured senior, please, show mercy to this junior,” Tantra says.
Sola chuckles, “not when your reactions are so funny.”
Tantra actually has to hold herself back from a rather unclouth retort, reminding herself of the rules of etiquette with a steadying breath.
“What are they doing?” She asks instead.
Sola shrugs, “competing for something I'd guess. They usually get like this after an argument, then challenge each other to some such bullshit-” Ranya launches a ball at Sola which she catches and throws back at the girl, ”-competition to determine who was right. I was out when this one started so I can’t tell you what it’s about, usually it's something stupid though”
Tantra just glances between Sola and Ranya. She decides it would be best to ignore that interaction. Actually, maybe it’s best to ignore this whole interaction and just go to bed.
“Oookay” She says, “tell me who wins?”
“Sure.”
-
Tantra is running.
Again.
She can confidently say that this routine is getting rather boring. Are there really cultivators who seriously do this for every hour of every day? That sounds exhausting, and not just in the physical capacity. Aren’t all those cultivation stories about excitement and action? Not that she’d prefer that but it's been a week and she hasn’t run afoul of a single young master. Then again there are only two and the rumors that surround them makes them sound like disgustingly decent people. Tantra’s expectations have been seriously disillusioned. Not that that’s a bad thing, it’s a very good thing in fact! Means that her journey will be easier than expected.
Yorin slaps her back lightly as he passes her, she huffs and increases her speed.
Her condition hasn’t even been leaked, and if Sola can tell then surely there are other disciples who can see her weakness. Yet there is nothing, not even the slightest hint of bullying. Although the only ones that talk to her are Yorin and her housemates so maybe their style is more social isolation rather than bullying.
Yorin slaps her back as he passes her again, Tantra grits her teeth and keeps going.
The masters haven’t said anything to her either, which is strange. You’d think a disciple who bought their way in would get some level of scorn from the proper masters, but no, they teach her just the same as everyone else. Not even a hint of derision when conducting their classes. It’s all surprisingly professional.
Yorin slaps her back.
-
Tantra creates a thread of Qi from her core and weaves it through her body.
First is the head, the psyche, how we perceive the world. To cultivate this part is to become more of who you are, experience more of the world around you. It is the greatest among equals, and therefore always comes first.
As the small motes of Qi absorb into her mind, Tantra moves the thread to her chest.
This is where life is made and maintained, breath and blood in synchronicity. It takes the greatest amount of Qi from the thread, because it was the one most abused when training.
Next is the muscles of her arms.
Just a cursory pass to keep her in the habit, a few motes are absorbed, but nothing noteworthy.
Then comes the abdomen, the strongest muscle of the body becomes even stronger as it absorbs the Qi, and the organs it contains become more capable of their functions.
Lastly is the legs, and they take the rest of the waning Qi all to themselves.
Tantra takes a breath and pulls on another thread and begins the cycle anew.
-
Tantra has a serene expression plastered on her face as she moves her bishop.
“Checkmate” She says.
Karaz looks at the board bewildered, “this…this cannot be! I am the greatest mind in this house, how could I be bested by a junior?!?”
Tantra smirks, “forgiveness honoured senior, this one has simply been trained in the ways of chess since she was but a child.”
“You’re still a child.” Karaz grumbles
“Now now, no need for that, my victory was fair under the gaze of the gods.”
Karaz sighs, “fine. Lets go outside, we’ll need some space”
Tantra smiles.