"Grandma!" Liliana yelled as Kite and her reached the house.
"Found your stones and herbs?" her grandma asked, smiling.
"Grandma!" Liliana yelled as Kite and she reached the house.
Michiko, Liliana's grandmother, looked up from her work in the garden, her warm smile radiating a comforting aura. "Found your stones and herbs?" she asked, wiping her hands on her apron.
Liliana rushed forward, holding out the Heartstone and Solara Gem they had purchased. "We did! And the shopkeeper taught us so much about their properties too. Can you teach us how to make a cultivation pill with these?"
Michiko's eyes twinkled with pride and curiosity as she took the crystals from Liliana, examining them closely. "These are wonderful choices. They will be perfect for your first cultivation pill. Let me go get my cultivation pot. Be right back."
Michiko returned shortly, carrying an ancient-looking pot that seemed to hum with latent energy. She set it down on a sturdy outdoor table and began to prepare the space with a practiced grace.
"Making a cultivation pill is an art," Michiko explained as she carefully placed the Heartstone and Solara Gem beside the pot. "It's not just about mixing ingredients; it's about harmonizing them with the natural energies of the world."
Liliana and Kite watched in awe as Michiko began the process. She lit a small fire under the pot, the flames licking the bottom with a gentle hiss. With a fluid motion, she dropped in various herbs, each one releasing its essence into the mixture.
Kite hummed. He couldn't tell if she was still using prana or if she was using mana or Ki. Guess it went to show that at the end of the day, the three energies were basically the same, just taking on slightly different forms.
"Now, watch closely," Michiko said, her voice taking on a rhythmic cadence. She chanted softly, her hands moving through the air in intricate patterns. The crystals began to glow, their light pulsing in time with Michiko's chant.
As the chant grew louder, the crystals dissolved, their energy spiraling into the pot. The liquid inside began to bubble, changing colors from a deep blue to a radiant gold.
"This is the crucial moment," Michiko said, her focus unwavering. "The essence of the crystals must bind with the herbs to form the pill."
She continued her chant, and with a final, emphatic word, the bubbling ceased. The liquid solidified, forming two pills, one pink like shrimp, and one as bright as a yellow star.
Michiko let out a breath, her concentration breaking as she smiled at Liliana and Kite. "There you have it—a cultivation pills, one filled with the essence of the Heartstone and the other with that of the Solara Gem."
Liliana clapped her hands in delight as she stared at the pink pill. "It's beautiful, Grandma! I can't believe you made this!"
Kite leaned in to get a closer look at the pill. "It's incredible. The energy coming off it is more potent than the original gem."
Michiko carefully lifted the pills from the pot, placing them in a small box lined with soft cloth. "These pills will aid you in your magical cultivation, but remember to use them wisely. The path of cultivation is one of balance and discipline."
Liliana nodded, taking the box reverently. "I understand, Grandma. Thank you for teaching us."
She chuckled. "Well, it's not over yet. You two have to take the pill. But brace yourselves. The energy will make your bodies shake and tremble. You will feel a lot of pain as the pill breaks and reconstructs your magical organ and possibly other parts of your body. If anything bad happens, I'll step in and stop the process."
"You can do that?" Kite asked, blinking.
Michiko nodded. "Of course. I'm a master at cultivation. Although, I will need to act fast. There's an interval where I won't be able to stop it anymore."
Liliana gulped as she stared at her pink pill.
"Let me try mine first," Kite said, giving his best brave face. In reality, he was also scared.
Kite took a deep breath, steadying his nerves as he reached for the yellow star-like pill. The energy emanating from it was almost tangible, a promise of power and potential pain. He looked up at Michiko, seeking one last reassurance.
Michiko nodded, her eyes steady and calm. "Don't worry, I will guide you."
With a nod of determination, Kite placed the pill on his tongue and swallowed. Almost immediately, he felt a surge of warmth spreading through his body. It started as a gentle wave but quickly intensified into a burning tide.
His muscles tensed, his body shook, and he clenched his teeth against the overwhelming sensation. It was as if his very essence was being torn apart and woven back together, stronger and more resilient.
Liliana watched with bated breath, her hands gripping her staff tightly. She was ready to call out to her grandmother at the slightest sign of distress.
"Rotate the energy in your core, child," Michiko said.
Kite nodded and did as she said. Much to his surprise, he found it familiar. It reminded him of Ki, the energy used in his old world. It involved combining outer and inner energy.
Kite focused inward, drawing upon the lessons of his past life. He visualized the energy within him, a swirling vortex that needed to be tamed and directed. Following Michiko's guidance, he began to rotate the energy, channeling it through his core in a steady, controlled spiral.
The pain was intense, a searing heat that threatened to overwhelm him, but Kite held on. He could feel the pill's energy breaking down barriers within him, expanding his capacity for magic. It was a rebirth, a painful shedding of limitations.
Michiko watched over him, her presence a calming force. "That's it, Kite. You're doing well. Keep the energy moving, don't let it stagnate."
Liliana, though anxious, couldn't help but be impressed by Kite's determination. She knew that when her turn came, she would face the same trial, and she hoped to show the same strength.
As the minutes passed, Kite's shaking subsided, and the glow around him grew more stable. The energy within him settled into a new rhythm, one that resonated with his very being. When he finally opened his eyes, they were clear, and he exhaled a long breath, feeling a profound sense of peace.
"I... I think it's done," Kite said, his voice steady but filled with awe.
Michiko smiled, her eyes reflecting pride. "You've done well, Kite. Your body has accepted the pill. You've taken your first step into true cultivation."
Liliana rushed to Kite's side, her earlier worry replaced by joy. "Kite, that was incredible! How do you feel?"
Kite stood, testing his limbs, feeling the power coursing within him. "I feel... different. Stronger. More connected to the magic within me."
Michiko handed him a glass of water. "Drink this. It will help stabilize your energy."
As Kite drank, Liliana turned to her grandmother, her eyes filled with a mix of excitement and apprehension. "My turn now, right?"
Michiko nodded, her gaze softening. "Yes, Liliana. But remember, your experience may be different. Each person's path of cultivation is unique."
Liliana took the pink pill from the box, her resolve clear. "I'm ready, Grandma."
With the same bravery Kite had shown, Liliana swallowed the pill. Her body immediately responded, a soft pink aura enveloping her as she began her own journey of cultivation.
Kite, now steadier on his feet, stayed close, ready to support Liliana as she had supported him. He frowned as he saw the usually happy girl's smile fade.