From the first light of dawn until the sun reached its zenith, painting the sky in hues of gold and azure, Silak remained within the tranquil embrace of his cultivation. Time seemed to melt away as he focused inward, oblivious to the world outside. His parents, their faces etched with a mixture of hope and concern, had watched over him for the initial hours.
Seeing his peaceful countenance and sensing no disturbances in his energy, they made a silent decision to entrust him to the natural rhythm of his training. To rouse a novice from the profound depths of cultivation could be detrimental, disrupting the delicate balance they were striving to achieve. It was best to let the process unfold organically, allowing Silak's body and spirit to awaken in their own time.
Rajah Bayani, his brow furrowed in thought, finally spoke, his voice a low rumble, "It appears our son has indeed found the proper path. He has navigated the initial, most critical stage of cultivation with surprising ease." He had observed the subtle shifts in the energy around Silak, the almost imperceptible glow that now enveloped his small form.
Iskra, her gaze softening with pride, nodded in agreement. "You are right, my love. Now, all we can do is wait for him to emerge. Only then can we truly understand the extent of his progress." With a gentle sigh, she rose, her silken skirt whispering against the wooden floor as she turned towards their house, the familiar scent of spices and simmering broth already beginning to emanate from within, promising a comforting dinner.
Within the confines of the water-filled wooden barrel, Silak remained lost in his inner world, the flow of Qi coursing through his meridians like a revitalizing stream. Unseen hours slipped by after his parents left, marked only by the gradual descent of the sun outside.
Finally, a tremor ran through Silak's closed eyelids. Slowly, hesitantly, they fluttered open, revealing eyes that seemed to hold a newfound clarity. He stretched his limbs, adjusting to the return of sensation, before slowly pushing himself up from his lotus position.
"Are these… all the impurities expelled by the Qi I absorbed earlier?" Silak murmured to himself, his gaze sweeping over the contents of the wooden barrel. The water, once pristine and invigorating, was now a murky concoction, thick with sediment and discoloration – a testament to the cleansing process he had undergone. "I suppose the water served a dual purpose, not only aiding in the slow assimilation of Senior Gahumdagat's potent blood essence but also drawing out the dross within me."
With a slight squelch, he stepped out of the barrel, the cool air raising goosebumps on his skin. Reaching for the pail of fresh water his mother had thoughtfully placed nearby, he quickly rinsed himself before changing into the clean set of clothes laid out for him – a silent testament to Iskra's unwavering care.
Silak then looked up, his eyes widening slightly as he took in the changed sky. The vibrant hues of day had long since faded, replaced by the deep indigo of night, sprinkled with the brilliant pinpricks of countless stars. High above, the silvery glow of the moons cast an ethereal light upon their small clearing. 'I truly did not expected that a single cultivation session could consume so much time. Judging by the position of the stars and moons, it must be close to midnight now.'
Having cleaned himself, Silak began to make his way back towards the warm glow emanating from their house. However, his steps faltered. A figure materialized from the shadows near the edge of the forest – a woman whose very form seemed to shimmer, as though she were crafted from solidified moonlight.
Her gaze was fixed upon Silak, a gentle curiosity in her luminous eyes as she slowly approached. 'It's the same woman! The one from years ago!' Silak's heart gave a startled leap in his chest.
"Hello, Silak. We meet again," she said, her voice like the gentle chiming of unseen bells. A warm smile graced her lips as she greeted him, her tone suggesting a recent parting rather than the years that had actually transpired.
The woman appeared exactly as he remembered – her presence as fluid and graceful as moonlight filtering through a canopy of leaves. She wore a gown of elegant black silk, the fabric so dark it seemed to devour the surrounding starlight, making her skin appear even more radiant.
Long, black hair cascaded down her back in gentle waves, swaying softly with each silent step she took. The jewelry she adorned was simple, understated, yet it seemed to capture and reflect the ethereal glow of the celestial bodies above, lending her an otherworldly beauty.
And remarkably, not a single line or shadow of age marked her features. Time seemed to have no hold on her.
"Hello, Big Sister!" Silak exclaimed, a touch of awe in his voice. "It has been so many years since our last meeting, and I never even had the chance to ask for your name." He felt a newfound confidence compared to their first encounter. "I sincerely hope you will honor me with it this time."
A melodious giggle escaped the woman's lips. Silak's attempt at mature composure, despite his still-childlike appearance, struck her as amusing. "Mayari," she finally said, her eyes twinkling. "You may have heard my name whispered among your tribesmen before."
"Mayari?" Silak repeated, his brow furrowing in thought as he searched his memories. Suddenly, his eyes widened in astonishment as realization dawned.
"It couldn't be… Are you the same Goddess Mayari who blessed me on the day I was born?!" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief. The thought had flickered in his mind during their previous encounter, but the sheer improbability of it had quickly dismissed the notion.
"As far as I am aware, no other Goddess bears the same name," she replied with a playful smile, clearly enjoying his incredulous expression. "So, yes, it is I."
"I am not sure if you can still remember the conversation we had on our first meeting, but it was then that I began the process of awakening of your ring," Mayari explained, gesturing subtly towards his forehead. "However, the initial awakening does not grant immediate access."
She paused, her gaze becoming slightly more serious. "Furthermore, I have observed through my blessings that you have now embarked upon the path of Qi Gathering. Therefore, I decided to visit and share with you both good news and… a less favorable news." A subtle smile then touched her lips before she posed a question. "Which would you prefer to hear first?"
Silak's mind raced, attempting to process this cascade of revelations while maintaining a semblance of calm in case the Goddess was pressed for time. "Let's proceed with the less favorable news first, Goddess," he said after careful consideration. It seemed best to clear the path of potential disappointment before allowing any positive tidings to take root.
"The less favorable news, then, is that you will likely remain in the Qi Gathering stage for a considerable number of years. The precise duration will depend heavily on your innate talent and, of course, a measure of good fortune."
"And here I was, thinking I had performed rather well for my first attempt earlier," Silak sighed, a touch of deflation in his voice after hearing the Goddess's pronouncement. Now that he knew her true identity, the chances of her being mistaken were virtually nonexistent. She was a Goddess, after all.
"The good news, however," Mayari continued, her voice regaining its cheerful tone, "is that all your diligent efforts will not be in vain, despite the seemingly slow progression in your cultivation realm. In fact," she added, her eyes holding a knowing glint, "it is precisely this dedication to gathering Qi that is necessary to unlock the true potential of your ring."
"As a Goddess, I am bound by certain cosmic laws and cannot directly interfere with the threads of fate," Mayari said, her gaze unwavering, as if she could already perceive the questions forming in Silak's mind before he could voice them. "Therefore, I trust you will understand if I cannot provide specific answers to your inquiries."
Silak fell silent for a moment, absorbing the weight of the Goddess's words, before finally nodding slowly. "I understand, Goddess. While I may not possess all the answers at this moment, I have faith that they will be revealed in time."
He then lifted his chin, a spark of defiance flickering in his young eyes. "I have no need for others to hand me answers. In this life, I will forge my own path and discover them for myself. I do not believe to the notion of an immutable fate or destiny; for I am the master of my own destiny!"