The sun streamed in through the large windows of the village schoolhouse, soft beams spilling across a wooden floor. Inside the room, simple yet expansive, was lined with wooden benches facing each other and evenly arrayed. Along the sides, faded tapestries hung alongside old maps that must have been taken from times when Elaris was busier with cities close to it. Though the schoolhouse was smaller than the much larger town academies of their size, it boasted a certain charm of its own-the scent of pine blending with the whispers of eager children.

From youngest to oldest, the students who had arrived gathered in those usual places, whispering excitedly about the lessons for the day. Sound of scraping chairs and light chatter filled the air since everyone had settled in-appetite palpable.

Near the front, between a bunch of excited children were Kai and Lia. The room had an electricity to it in the excitement, and he could barely contain his excitement. He looked at Lia, fidgeting uncomfortably in her seat; her dark eyes shone with enthusiasm.

"Do you think we'll really start cultivating today?" she whispered, hardly able to contain the excitement.

"I don't know," Kai replied, peeking around the classroom. "But maybe we'll catch a glimpse of what it's like."

The door creaked open at that moment, and Mistress Elena entered. Her silver hair shone in the sunlight like spun silver. Deep blue eyes swept across the room as she took in the eager faces, and a gentle smile played on her lips. The room fell silent immediately, and the air changed to an atmosphere of concentration.

"Good morning, everybody," Mistress Elena said warmly, voice clear and soothing. "The lesson today will be different. We're going to be discussing Energy Cultivation."

The wave of excitement and interest by the students flowed. Kai sat upright as his racing heart beat in anticipation of today's stories. Cultivators who seem to defy impossible feats fill his thoughts and maybe today is going to get them a little closer to those stories.

"The world of cultivation is vast and mysterious," Mistress Elena continued as she walked to the front of the room. "And it all begins with the Awakening Stage, the very first step on the path of cultivating energy."

She paused, letting her words sink in. The room had fallen silent, every child hanging on her every word. Even the creaking beams seemed to grow quiet in reverence.

"Awakening Essence," she said, drawing a simple diagram on the chalkboard behind her, "is when a person first begins to sense and control the energy inside their body. This energy is a fundamental part of who we are, though most people live their entire lives without ever realizing its potential."

The other kids looked at each other. Faces of awe and puzzlement were there. Lia's eyes sparkled.

"Then we get stronger just because we are controlling this power?"

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"Yes. As you advance, you will begin to understand how to work the energy inside your bodies. It is a slow process initially, but when you train, you would be able to harness it, working it your way."

Kai leaned forward, furrowing his brow in concentration. How was he supposed to master something he couldn't even see?

"I do wonder how long it'll take before I can feel it for myself." He glanced around at the pensive faces. Mistress Elena smiled at him.

"It is perfectly normal to have questions. None of you has started to feel this energy yet, but when you do, you'll all feel it in your own way."

The class sat there, speechless, in stunned imagining at the possibilities Mistress Elena described. The world of cultivation was far away but seemed closer than ever. Vision of mastering such energy swept through Kai's mind. Vision of the day that he could protect home and friends because he became power enough.

"Can you imagine being able to throw energy flying like in the stories?" Lia whispered and excitement was bubbling to her lips.

"I bet we will be amazing for it."

Kai smiled, his mind still in a whirl. "One day, maybe."

Mistress Elena's voice brought him back to reality. "Finally, once you've mastered the Awakening Stage, you'll move on to the Essence Refining Stage. This stage is much deeper, strengthening not just your body but your soul as well. But that's a lesson for another time."

A murmur of awe swept through the room. The Foundation Stage seemed even more incredible, a thing far beyond their comprehension.

"For now," Mistress Elena said softly, "focus on learning about the Awakening Essence Stage. It is the first step in a long journey, and while the road is difficult, it is also full of discovery."

At the end of the lesson, Mistress Elena encouraged the pupils to have questions. All the students had their hands waving and eagerly wanted to let loose their thoughts and questions while the mystery of energy and cultivation hung in the air.

The room was filled with chatter as if each one of them were saying, "That would be great. Then maybe I can become like him, her, this person.".

"What if we don't feel it?" asked one boy, wrinkling his brow with anxiety.

Mistress Elena knelt beside him, her face warm. "Every journey starts at the edge of uncertainty, but with time and effort, you will all find your own connection to this energy. It could come in the most peculiar ways."

The students nodded, some exchanging determined looks. Kai felt a lump of determination rise within; he did not want to be one of those left behind. He wanted to be tough for Lia, for his mother, and for his village.

As the bell rang to mark the end of the lesson, the children slowly filed out of the schoolhouse, their chatter filling the air with the noise of the bustling village outside. Kai and Lia hung back for a moment, their minds swirling with thoughts of the future.

"Do you really think we'll ever be able to control energy?" Lia asked, her eyes flicking back toward the chalkboard, where Mistress Elena's diagrams still hung.

Kai looked back, excitement mixed with uncertainty. "I hope so. But we have a lot to learn first."

Lia smiled, determination shining in her eyes. "Well, we'll just have to learn it together then. Who knows what we might discover in the woods?"

Their united smile was the motivation that led them into those familiar trees, their imagination overflowing with what lay ahead on the path to their dream of becoming cultivators. The path was unknown, replete with trials and adventures they would overcome side by side, in pursuit of mastery and discovery.

As they continued on, the sun set low on the horizon and colored the sky orange and pink. The world seemed to whisper its own secrets and invited them to discover those hidden inside. With each step, they felt the excitement of possibility and the weight of destiny pressing on them as they eagerly sought what awaited them in the heart of Elaris.