When Lucy's fever broke, Father sent her off to the Rimes Manor while more maids were arranged for the Butterfly Courtyard. Really, Father acts like he doesn't have a billion random maids running around the Jing Palace he could toss into my courtyard.
Lucy yawns, basking in the sunlight. Big Sister Amu managed to take charge of Lucy's small body, so she was in the Peach Blossom Courtyard today. Honestly, they pass me around like I'm a doll. It's a good thing, Selena is my shadow or I'd starve to death. Her big brothers and sisters were too busy fighting over her time to notice any minor details like hunger. I can't wait until Lin An gives birth, so I'll finally have some peace!
"Ah! I'm supposed to tutor the Awakened!" Big Sister Amu yells, jumping up, her silk knot puzzle landing on the dirt. Lucy grimaces. Big Sis Amu picked Lucy up and bolted out of the courtyard. Lucy simply yawns again. It's official. No one in this family has a sense of time.
Even with her Aunts, or Uncles, they were liable to rush off somewhere after remembering an appointment. When I'm bigger I need to introduce a planner to these people.
Soon enough, Big Sis Amu stopped outside a small room, and tidied her dress, calmly walking into it. There were three, 5 or 6-year-olds waiting patiently in a small half-circle. Big Sis Amu set Lucy down at the side, passing her a rag doll than sat in front of the children. "Now that you've passed through your awakenings. You are considered Tier 0 Novices. However, if you can't sense your attribute, you will never make process. I'm in charge of guiding your sensing and absorbing of Spirit Essence of our attribute. Close your eyes" Big Sis Amu starts.
Lucy sat by the side, highly interested in the process. A few minutes of calm quiet meditation passed than Big Sis Amu lifted her hand, a small glowing marble in the center of her palm. "This is the Dark Attribute. It's what you seek, and it's all around." Big Sis Amu says. Lucy stares at the marble. Isn't that the black sparkles? Wait? So I have pure, or Light. Air, and this Dark attribute? That sounds like a lot of work. A sigh escapes Lucy's lips. She would have to spend so much time studying.
"Before you even sense it, you must learn the Refinement Chant. We'll work on it together until everyone has memorized it." Big Sis Amu says. Lucy stares startled. Refinement? Lucy had never refined the energy absorbed, it would just slowly adjust to her body until it was the same as her inborn energy. The process could take months.
There's actually a way to do that myself?! Lucy quickly shakes off her puzzlement, listening carefully as Big Sis Amu went through it again. Luckily she was being meticulous, so the children could learn it. Big Sis Amu went through it 4 more times, than began to coach them on how to sense the Spirit essence in the air.
Lucy ignores it, as she had long been able to see the spirit energy if she bothered. She could even absorb it if she was crazy. Lucy cries in her mind. Ai, why was so she unlucky? The atmosphere in this world was so much richer than Earth, but she didn't dare absorb any spirit essence, or she might crack her overfull inner sky.
I might as well test out this Refinement Chant on my inborn spirit essence to see if it does anything. A second later, Lucy's face twitches. The compressed sparkle she had tested on was now smaller than her pinky nail, when before it was the size of her fist. Lucy took several breaths, relishing the loose feeling of her inner sky. It was no longer taunt as if it might snap. Lucy plops on the floor, shoving the ragdoll in her mouth so she can scream.
AIIIIHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH. RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! IT'S THIS FUCKING SIMPLE! "Lucy?" Big Sis Amu was looking over with concern. Lucy sits up, calmly spitting the doll out. Big Sis Amu watches her for a moment with a wrinkled brow, but one of the other children quickly distracts her.
Once her gaze was gone, Lucy very carefully imprints the Refinement Chant into her Center Palace, so she would never forget. Lucy lightly swirls her refined spirit essence, her eyes widening at how strong it was. I wonder if I can reach the next level of my Heart & Soul shield if I refine all my inborn spirit essence?
Lucy closes her eyes, beginning to refine. It was so simple and fairly quick. When Lucy had roughly a quarter of the spiritual essence in her inner sky refined, a voice interrupted her focus. "I got it!" A boy shouts. "That's great. Now slowly embrace it, allowing it to sink into your heart. It will feel warm." Big Sis Amu says, slowly guiding him until the sparkle that glimmered in the dark disappeared into his chest.
Big Sis Amu pats his head. "You did great. Now carefully refine it, with the Chant. Once your done refining goes straight back to sensing spirit essence. Remember. Sense. Absorb. Refine. That is the building blocks of being a Mage. You even as a Tier 3 Mage, you will Sense. Absorb. Refine. It's essential to always do these steps." Big Sis Amu says, sounding as if she was repeating someone's words.