Tantra likes Terkat.

It is the definition of prim and proper, not a speck of dust to be seen, all the residents taking immaculate care of themselves and their clothing. They have, quite frankly, put in a significant amount of time and effort into their image.

Tantra approves.

Which is all the more embarrassing when she walked into such a pristine place with an arm that looks like it needs an amputation. Rakan, lucky bastard, no longer has to worry about his guts so it’s just her that gets the frequent glances of disgust. They think they're being sneaky, but being observant is a valuable trait amongst merchants.

She doesn’t do anything about it of course, she is not one of those cultivators, but still, it hurts. Especially since Yorin’s family will have to see her in this state.

Yorin knocks on the door of a rather large house, at least compared to the surrounding buildings, it’s miniscule compared to Tantra’s residence in Ralth but that’s not really a fair comparison, they wait until eventually the door opens to reveal a young woman.

“Yoyo? what are you-oh my gods what is that smell?” the woman of sharp features, a distinct contrast from Yorins, says as she scrunches her nose.

Yorin beams a smile so bright Tantra thinks she might go blind, “Ronoka! Don’t worry about that, that’s just Tantra, she’s hurt, but it’ll heal! She’s strong like that.”

“I’m assuming Tantra is the one with the mangled arm?” She says while pinching her nose.

Yorin nods happily, “yup!”

“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, honourable Ronoka,” Tantra says as she bows, her right arm makes the fist where her left palm would be if she could move the arm.

“A pleasure to make yours as well cultivator, now get inside, have you even washed that wound?”

Ronoka drags Tantra into the house, seemingly ignoring the fact that Tantra is obviously a cultivator and that handling one like you might a child is not a good idea for long term survival. Then again she’s also turning fourteen in…three days? Probably doesn’t sell the image of the big bad cultivator very well, not that she wants to be seen that way. The others enter the house bemused, not even given the chance to introduce themselves to the woman.

Tantra is plopped by a table as Ronoka goes to grab a bucket of water and a rag.

There are three children just staring at her, one of which looks barely old enough to walk.

The oldest of them points a finger at her, “sis, that’s a ghoul, why are you helping a ghoul?”

“Yorik! Don’t be rude, this is a guest, and a cultivator.”

“Why do they smell like a ghoul then?”

“I got hit by a spirit beast,” Tantra says blandly.

“Sure thing ghoul-girl.”

Yorin chuckles, “ghoul-girl, I like that.”

“I don’t, so we won’t be using it.”

“Whatever you say ghoul-girl,” Erick chirps.

Tantra groans, then hisses as the rag rubs against infected flesh.

Yorin looks from side to side, “where’s mom and dad?”

Ronoka does another very painful pass at Tantra’s arm as old scabs and pus ridden flesh is peeled off, letting small amounts of blood flow onto the rag and into the bucket. Tantra’s pretty sure this isn’t how you’re supposed to treat a wound but it would be rude to stop her now, besides, she’s in purification, she can heal it back.

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“Aria got her contractions, so mom’s helping with that.”

“Aria’s getting a kid?!? Who’s the father?”

“Jorobol, they got married just after you left”

“Wow,” Yorin say with wonder, “I’m gonna be an uncle”

“Don’t get too excited, isn’t your whole cultivator gig gonna take you out in the big wide world?”

Yorin harrumphs, “the plan was always to help the village Ronoka, you know that.”

“And every day I wish you’d change your mind. Why chain yourself to this village when you can be free?”

“It’s not chaining, it’s helping!”

“It is chaining,” Rakan interrupts, “cultivators go on journeys kid, that’s just what we do, tying yourself to one place for the rest of your life will only stunt your growth.”

Yorin scowls, “whatever,” he says, “anyway where’s dad?”

“He’s sleeping, his back’s been hurting again so he’s just resting upstairs right now.”

Yorins face falls, “he hasn’t been working the fields has he?”

“Yorin, we’re not so flush with coins that we can afford more help, and before you even say it, no, it’s not your godsdamned fault. All of us are proud of you.”

Yorin looks down and kicks the ground, “okay.”

Ronoka sighs, “hopeless dope.”

-

Tantra is staring at a stone.

Well it’s a Qi stone, so not exactly a stone. Qi stones aren’t purely physical afterall, it’s why the material is so absorbent of atmospheric Qi. She doesn’t know how an inanimate object can contain metaphysical properties but she’s not one to question the findings of lifelong researchers.

“See anything yet?” Rakan says idly as he lays on the cot Ronoka spread out for him.

Tantra huffs, “other than the pale majesty of this stone? No.”

“Try harder,” He says helpfully.

Tantra grumbles as she continues to stare at the stone, looking for anything out of the ordinary, or something mystical to the eye. Everyone has a sixth sense for Qi, though only the true masters have it developed enough to be of some use. The rest of the cultivator world has to satisfy themselves by pairing they’re Qi sense with a literal sense.

Which unfortunately involves a lot of staring at a stone.

Her and Rakan are in a corner of the living area while Yorin entertains his siblings and Erick in some sort of game where he pretends to be a beast and they the hunters.

She stares intensely at the stone, it’ll reveal its secrets, eventually.

“So you’re my little brother's master,” a voice says from beside her, breaking her focus.

She turns to see Ronoka staring down Rakan.

That is not a smart course of action.

“Only student I’ve got is this kid and the munchkin,” Rakan replies, “everyone else is just a tag along.”

“But you do teach him.”

“Occasionally.”

Ronoka puts a fist into her palm and bows deep to Rakan.

“This one thanks you for your generosity, and hopes that you continue to provide guidance to this one's little brother.”

Rakan has a look that’s mixed between shocked and amused, “you’ve got guts girl, you should be careful not to get gored. Few are the cultivators that would respond kindly to the implications in that statement.”

Ronoka doesn’t move from her bow.

Rakan chuckles, “alright, I’ll keep helping your brother, now get up and leave us alone, you're distracting my student.”

-

Zara walks through the village square with exhausted steps, Aria’s delivery was not an easy one, the baby came out the wrong way, which scared her something fierce as she’s seen more than one young woman die from just that. But it’s done now, and a new life graces Terkat. A small smile plays on her face, time certainly does fly, it feels like it was just yesterday when her niece was running around and being a general menace to the village.

Now she gets to learn the joys and horrors of motherhood.

Zara really should help her, the poor woman’s going to lose so much sleep.

She lets out a small chuckle as she goes to open the door.

She is greeted with a sight that baffles her.

three cultivators and a child are sleeping on her home's floor, covered in the fur of blankets. The oldest of them is snoring like a bear in hibernation. There’s a girl with a…oh wow that arm is really fucked up. Zara shakes her head, she’s too tired to deal with this right now.

Tomorrow.