Dormitory Hall Three had a faint smell of burning incense mixed with a certain type of dried herbs, one that Siu couldn't quite identify. Yet, the effects were apparent as he felt his thoughts flow more... clearly. Not that he was versed in any kind of herbal knowledge, so he gave up on trying to identify the ingredients after becoming accustomed to the smell, and his mind settled on ignoring it. Looking around, watching his own reflection in the polished stone floors, moving onto the thick wooden beams supporting the tiered ceiling above his head, the place felt old yet new at the same time. The entryway itself was quiet, save for the echo of the sandals they had to wear inside, rubbing against the stone, and the occasional voice flying by his ears, coming through the open window slits.

  Siu quickly found the room labeled with his name etched just beneath a carving of a swirling pattern. Without hesitation, pushing on the handle, the door creaked open to reveal a well-kept but pretty much straightforward, utilitarian space. There were four sleeping mats arranged in a square shape, a shared chest in each corner, and a set of folded robes laid out on a lacquered bench at the opposite end of the room. Above one of the beds, a small window let in the muted sunlight, and soft, woven floor mats covered the otherwise cool stone beneath. It was... nothing to cry about, as it was made to let the disciples sleep somewhere and nothing else.

  It was a simple start... As it should be, and soon enough, he wasn't alone as three others were coming inside only a moment later.

  The first was a boy, about thirteen years old, from the looks of it, with a set of sharp eyes and a mop of wind-tossed brown hair on the top of his head. He was slim, clearly wiry rather than bulky, and he was already standing with arms crossed, studying Siu like a hawk, looking for signs to decide if he was to be his rival or an actual enemy.

  The second person was a girl of similar height; her fine robe was still travel-wrinkled, and the road dirt had stained the edges of it. She had a lean build and wore her dark hair tied in a high ponytail. Meeting her eyes, her gaze was confident but not hostile, just... curious. As for age... Siu put her in the same bracket as the first boy.

  The third person, looking a bit younger than the two and shorter too, was another girl fidgeting with the hem of her coarse robe. She had soft features, big eyes, and short hair that framed her round face from both sides. She tried not to stare at Siu too obviously and failed immediately in her endeavor.

  "Well, being the first here," Siu called out to them, smiling, breaking the silence, "I call dibs on the window spot."

  "Hmph." The boy snorted in answer. "That sounds unfair. Just because you got here first?"

  "It is a pity, isn't it?" Siu answered, walking over to the empty mat before the bed, turning and looking at him. "But it is exactly how it is. Still, I like a good challenge... So... what will it be?"

  "Let's... not get into a fight all of a sudden." The ponytailed girl gave a half-laugh, looking at them, stepping forward.

  "Hmph." The boy grunted, but it seemed he was not going to take up on Siu's offer, so he simply took the bed, facing opposite him.

  Seeing it play out the way it did, the youngest girl let out a small sigh and a smile, then tried to hide it behind her hand, being content to be the last to occupy the remaining empty spot.

  "Well," The boy spoke again, gazing at Siu, "Let's just get this out of the way. I'm Tian. From the Lugovin Province. Don't snore, or I will smother you." He stated forcefully, gazing at Siu from start to finish.

  "I'm Lorean," the older girl added, nodding as a greeting. "I am already a bit more advanced than I may look, and I was already tested to have wind affinity by my family techniques."

  "Oh good... a noble." Tian snorted but said nothing more, and Lorean let the comment slide, not even looking at him.

  "I noticed you during the tests." She continued, her eyes scanning Siu from top to bottom, "I'm pretty sure Elder Yan nearly smiled. That never happens..."

  "Even knows the elders... nepotism at its best..." Tian added again, and this time, the girl finally shot him a cold glance... but held back her tongue.

  "I noticed that too," the youngest girl said quickly, then blinked her eyes as if she was startled by her own voice. Or perhaps by Tian's gaze, as he was becoming annoyed that everyone kept ignoring him and speaking to Siu. "I'm Neya... I… um… I followed the west path up the mountain. It took me two nights to arrive, and I have no background... Really... Um... That's all."

  "Well met," Siu nodded to each of them. "I'm Siu. Just Siu. From somewhere far from here and a pretty much unimportant place, so that's that."

  "Sure..." Tian spoke again, but once more, nobody reacted.

  "If it helps, I do hope to make it less unimportant," Siu said after a moment of silence, finally giving him some attention.

  "Sure," Tian shook his head. "You're too modest, my lord!" he continued mockingly, then turned somewhat serious, "You didn't flinch during the resonance trial... The rest of us looked like we were being steamed alive... I don't like liars and pretenders like you."

  "You don't have to. My results are of training and good genes," Siu shrugged, and his words were lined with a bit of edge, making Neya's lips curl into a thin smile. Clearly, she was letting Siu be the target of Tian's apparent ire, letting it play out while watching from the sidelines. To widen her smile... Siu indeed ended the discussion with a sharp comment, just as she expected. "And maybe I just don't have deficient nerve endings like you."

  "..."

  The silence reigned for a little bit longer before Siu broke eye contact with Tian and turned to the bench, where the folded robes were laid out for them all. Each set was marked with a thread stitch of their name and the Hollow Song insignia, a stylized feather surrounded by a spiral of mist, forming the shape of a spirit beast that appeared to be changing its form depending on how the light fell upon it. Upon closer inspection, the outer disciple robes were simple, gray with black trim, but their material was sturdy yet lightweight, designed for training and general wear and tear.

  "Hm," Lorean grabbed hers first, examining it. "No sashes yet. That indeed comes later, I guess."

  "If you know something, out with it," Tian quipped, already untying his travel wrap and changing clothes, not bothering to wait until the girls turned around, earning their apparent ire.

  "It comes with being an inner disciple!" Lorean snorted, turning around, but of course, not changing yet. "Silver for being an Inner Disciple, Gold for a Core Disciple."

  "Makes sense." Siu nodded and took advantage of them showing their backs, and he also changed quickly, as he was accustomed to dressing efficiently anyway. To his surprise, the robe fit him well. It was a little loose in the shoulders, but breathable and comfortable to move around in. He tied his belt neatly and checked the feel of the cloth along his spine. No issues... nothing out of the ordinary.

  "Out," Lorean said after the boys were finished, and this time around, not even Tian argued, just throwing her a glance before following Siu out of the room.

  They didn't need to stand there for long as Neya emerged from behind the door, looking awkward but excited, the complete opposite of the calm expression of Lorean, both of them wearing their uniforms.

  "We match. Sort of." Neya tried, but she only got a nodding smile from Siu while the others ignored her comment.

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  "Now that we're dressed, what do we do?" Tian asked. "Wait for orders? Because if nothing else, I'm going to the training fields."

  "Dui said we could explore the grounds until the bell at dusk," Lorean nodded, and by the time she finished, Tian was already walking away. "After that, group meditation should be held in the east garden. As far as I know..." she added, narrowing her eyes, watching the boy's backside until he disappeared.

  "As for one, I want to explore a little," Siu said, stretching, ready to also leave the girls behind, "I want to know what kind of kitchen this place runs."

  "You're hungry?" Neya asked, tilting her head, surprised, trying to decide what to do.

  "I'm always hungry. Enlightenment burns a lot of energy." He joked, but seeing that it only landed with Neya, he added a more straightforward, more honest answer, "I burnt a lot of energy resisting Elder Yan's probing."

  "Understandable." Lorean nodded, blinking her eyes, "Well, you do you... I will head to the meditation room."

  And with that... she was also off, leaving Neya behind, not even asking what she would want to do. Standing there, feeling lost and troubled, Siu could see the rising panic in her eyes and face.

  "Come," he said to her at last, remembering that in the past... he felt just as lost once... and how it felt when someone helped him ease into the sudden change of life, "A good meal is always a good start~!"

  ...

  ....

  .....

  Siu led the way with ease, seemingly as if he had already lived here for years, but really, he just followed his nose more than any signpost. Within The Hollow Song Sect’s territory, most of the footpaths were winding, often arched over small creeks or through gardens of moss-covered stones. The pathways were surrounded by growing, faintly glowing flowers, creating a natural labyrinth that had become overgrown by nature. At least, it did feel like that for the new disciples until they got used to it. Neya trailed behind him closely, doing her best to keep up without tripping or getting distracted by the scenery and possibly getting lost.

  Siu found the kitchen area after barely five minutes of trekking. Standing before it, the building was a low stone structure with wide eaves and smoke curling from four different vents built into the tiled, red roof. The scent was now noticeable to Neya as well. Sniffing, she could detect the aromas of roasted root vegetables, steamed rice, a hint of something hot and spicy, and one more thing... She needed a few more sniffs to make out that it was... And to know it was meat... but not the type she was used to.

  "Hm," Siu stepped inside with a smile, taking a deep breath, "Jackpot."

  The kitchen from the inside was larger than expected, with elongated wooden counters and low-burning braziers. Several outer disciples moved back and forth, wearing their robes, serving simple plates of food, and marking ledgers as they worked. It seemed that the disciples did every job inside the Sect, and there were no hired workers, not even in the kitchen. Walking in behind Siu, Neya watched as the air shimmered faintly with heat where the cooks worked. However, no matter where she looked, she only saw outer disciples of the same age, up to actual adults.

  "I expected nothing less," Siu muttered while he took a tray and motioned for Neya to do the same before getting in line.

  In the end, when getting their turn, Neya didn't want to stand out, so she ordered the same pickings as Siu did: steamed rice, slices of marinated mountain hare, and a soup that smelled of ginseng and probably some other herbs mixed in with it. After sitting down and taking the first spoonful of the soup, her body shivered as her eyes grew wide in an instant.

  There was power in the food; she could feel it. It wasn't like the meals back home... There was a type of... essence in it. It was the same kind of energy every cultivator needs and uses. But she heard that eating something like this was a privilege...

  "It’s real," Siu spoke, chewing slowly, watching the surprise on her face. "They feed us with cultivated meat, or more precisely, the animals around this part of the mountains are a tier higher than elsewhere. Even if we are just outer disciples, we aren't discarded dregs. Well, we also won't get the best of the best, as these are not high-grade meat, but they are enough to help the body adapt to it. It's ideal to get your body accustomed to it and help it adjust to the increased energy intake later on. Just don't expect a significant improvement and continue spending all your money on meals, as it will likely plateau. After a year or so, they won't do anything for you."

  Listening, Neya blinked at him, spoon halfway to her mouth, lost in the explanation, something she didn't expect to get from him.

  "It tastes good," she said softly, wanting to curse herself as that was not the best answer at all. Not even what she wanted to say! Why do the most idiotic answers come out of her mouth whenever she feels flustered?!

  "It does," Siu agreed with a chuckle, "Once your cultivation starts and your sensitivity goes up, you can sniff out quality meat from a mile away!" he joked, chuckling, as he finished his soup. "So do enjoy it~!"

  "Um..." Neya fidgeted with her fingers before speaking again, "Thank you for inviting me along. I would have... probably gone back to the room... Or gotten lost."

  "You're welcome," He said, waving a hand to not even bother with it. "Besides, I could use a quiet eating partner. We are comrades now, not enemies. Well, we can be rivals if you want that, but we are now part of the same Sect. We work towards the same goal, not against each other. But... if you want to thank me, then you owe me a story." He added, biting into another piece.

  "Yes, we are comrades," Neya flushed slightly, eating her soup, "Well... A story? Um... Mine... I... It’s not very interesting."

  "Try me."

  "Haaah..." She moaned, stirring with her spoon absentmindedly, sighing with a bit of nostalgia, "I’m from Windermere. It is a small farming village east of the Mistenguard stretch, a month of travel from here. I'm from nothing, really, just a farming family. Well, it's a big family... There were nine of us, including me. As for my siblings, I’m the second youngest, and we mostly grow radishes and peas, working the local lord's field."

  "Don't worry about that," Siu nodded his head, searching for her eyes, "No background counts in a Sect. Only the talent. Never feel inferior to others."

  "I guess..." She muttered, looking away, "I was always a bit strange. I saw things others didn’t. Not ghosts or anything… Ugh, that would have made me way too frightened! They were just... hm... colors. A shimmer in the air; sometimes, when I walked by the river or near the old trees, I could swear there was something at the edge of my perception, but when I looked, it was gone."

  "So you perceived the energy flow." Siu nodded, understanding her situation. It wasn't rare among talented people to notice it, as their bodies had an affinity to absorb it. It was one indication that they had what it took to start cultivating, as they could sense it permeating every part of the land and surrounding the whole world.

  "Yes!" She nodded her head rapidly, "But I didn't know it back then. However, a wandering cultivator passed through last season and noticed me looking at them. He knew immediately because he could see them more clearly than I could. After that, he spoke to my parents and said I had the talent to become like him..."

  "Dangerous." Siu shook her head, making Neya blush, as, in hindsight... it was.

  "He helped us and helped me get here." She gave a shy smile. "He prepared me while we traveled and... I still don’t really believe I passed."

  "..." Siu didn't say anything at first, watching her fidgeting. Of course, Neya also knew what he meant by being dangerous; her own mentor told her that. He could have been someone who simply wanted her to use her in a ritual or just consume her essence... or sell her off. She never even considered it, but to her luck, the man was simply helping someone else to become a cultivator. "Well..." Siu chuckled, shaking his head, "It turned out great! You walked up the mountain. That counts for something."

  "It counts for everything to my family," she whispered. "I will make it and then help them out... They gave up half of what they owned, selling them to get me a travel coat and new shoes."

  "You have good parents," Siu looked at her for a long moment before continuing, "Don’t waste the opportunity. You can do it."

  "Y-yes..." She nodded, getting a bit braver, "I won’t disappoint them."

  As they talked, they also finished the meal, and now, just sitting there, enjoying the tea, the silence between them was comfortable. It was then that one of the working disciples walked up to them, seeing they were finished.

  "That’ll be two Ember Crystals. One per tray."

  "...!" Neya froze immediately, "I... what?"

  "Sure," Siu raised a hand, stopping her from saying anything, "Here, I got it."

  He reached into his sleeve and pulled a small leather pouch out of it, something that Neya knew was not part of the outfit they got from the Sect. From it, he retrieved two reddish crystals, modest in size, but they were glowing faintly when light from the braziers fell on them. The disciple marked the payment and bowed his head before leaving, not even glancing at them more than necessary.

  "Um..." Neya looked at him wide-eyed. "Those were..."

  "So you heard of them?" Siu smiled, causing the girl to redden with shame, and she gently nodded her head.

  "I just forgot..." Neya muttered, "I was told that I would need a lot of Cultivation Crystals to get things done... I just didn't expect that the food would cost CC, too."

  "It is what makes a Sect work," Siu shrugged while they stood up and left the kitchen. "Disciples work to earn it, and then they spend it to further their cultivation. Those who struggle with managing their spending will not get far and will likely fall into a never-ending cycle of debt. It is one of the filters within the Sect to select those who have the brain to become someone. Cultivation is not just about getting stronger... It is about having the mental fortitude and smarts to get from A to B."

  "..." Watching him talk, Neya had the feeling Siu was more complicated than she initially thought. "Did you... cultivate before? Or... Were you in a Sect?"

  "Well..." He smiled, "That is a long story," he said in the end, tucking the pouch away. "I’ll explain it next time when it will be you who invites me for lunch, hm?"

  "Don't worry!" She said, bowing, "I’ll pay you back! Promise!"

  "No rush. First meals are meant to be shared," he chuckled, "It tastes better that way."