Wooden Root: Barbara's Journey

A week had passed since Barbara arrived at the Sect of the Eternal Chalice. At first, life as an outer disciple seemed simple, almost monotonous. She quickly adapted to the daily routine of tending to spiritual plants, a vital task for any disciple with wood spiritual roots. In this place, the plants were not just ordinary flora but sources of power and spiritual strength.

Still, she felt the weight of her humble position. She hadn’t purchased any cultivation manuals yet, as her savings were minimal, and so far, her skills remained at an initial stage. Each contribution point she earned seemed small, but slowly, she began to understand the value of what she was building.

As Barbara diligently worked with the sect's spiritual herbs, she felt her energy being slowly drained. The work of cultivating and caring for these plants required more than just physical strength—it was a spiritual connection that, for her, seemed always a bit more challenging than for the other disciples. The exhaustion didn’t come just from the physical effort but from a strange sensation, as if her very life force was being drawn into the earth.

The sun's warmth beat down on the plants as she watered them, but the sweat dripping down her face did nothing to ease the sense of fatigue. She had little strength left to continue, but she forced herself to work, after all, this was the only job she knew. There was little rest for outer disciples like her.

Despite her efforts, Barbara had yet to make friends with other disciples in the sect. She saw them, always in groups, exchanging words and laughter, but she never seemed to find an opening. Perhaps it was her shyness, or the fact that she hadn’t yet learned how to fit in. At the end of the day, she returned to her small room in the dormitory, alone.

The silence of the dormitory was comforting but also reminded her how far she still was from her true goal: cultivation and connection to the spiritual world. The feeling of being a mere outer disciple, with little chance of rising, grew stronger as time passed. However, even with that feeling of stagnation, something inside Barbara never stopped burning: a flame of silent determination, the hope that, somehow, she would find her place.

At the end of the day, Barbara collapsed onto the bed in the dormitory, exhausted. The fatigue was deep, but not enough to silence the constant pain coming from her spiritual roots. She felt a strong burning, as if something was trying to adjust inside her. The cramps bothered her, keeping her from falling asleep. She wanted to rest, but the pain seemed to intensify with every minute.

As the discomfort grew, she felt a cold hand touch her forehead. The softness of the palm and the pressure of the hand calmed her momentarily. Her mind, dazed by the pain, barely managed to open her eyes to see who was touching her.

“You don’t have a fever. Are you alright?” a soft and concerned voice broke the silence.

Barbara, still dizzy, turned her face and found a chubby girl with braided hair, dressed in the same simple clothes as the outer disciples. She had a gentle, attentive look.

“I’m just tired... from tending to the spiritual plants. It’ll pass soon,” Barbara replied in a low tone, trying to convince herself that it was just exhaustion.

The girl observed carefully, noticing the fatigue in her eyes.

“What’s your name?” she asked with a soft smile.

Barbara, still feeling the discomfort, responded,

“My name is Barbara. And yours?”

“I’m Hai Tu. I’ve been watching you for a week... and I noticed you don’t seem well.”

Hai Tu sat beside Barbara with an understanding look.

“The first week of tending to spiritual plants really drains our Qi. I recommend using your contribution points to buy pills that improve your energy. It helps restore Qi and eases the pain,” she suggested with a smile of empathy. “I spend my points on spiritual herbs since I take alchemy classes.”

Barbara looked at her with gratitude, feeling a little more relieved by the company and the helpful tips.

“Thanks for the advice. I’m new here and don’t know much...” she responded, with a slight sense of shyness.

“Don’t worry. We all go through this at the beginning. If you need help, let me know. I’ll be around.”