A pair of people were flying in the clouds, one holding the unconscious other in her arms. It was the heavenly immortal carrying Sarah, immobilized by the ' bracelet of heaven and earth ' to the lower heaven. She was at the bottom rung of the hierarchy after all.
She reached the edge of the lower heaven when Sarah woke up. Her groggy senses were slowly clearing up. She felt her body weigh like a ton and not move like she wanted. Her senses felt extremely dulled, like her body couldn't keep up with her thought speed.
But even with her almost useless, half-open eyes, she could see the grandeur of the lower heaven. It looked like an ancient shrine on the mountains that were in the clouds. The entire place gave off a divine, serene aura that resembled the aura of the shrine of Garuda but only by a small faction. There was a huge statue of someone whose head was filled with locks and curls of hair. His eyes were half-closed and he sat in a meditative state. One of his hands was in his lap while the other was blessing everyone. There was a small smile on his face.
" That is the statue of the ' Enlightened one ', the Gautama Buddha. This is the lower heaven where his devotees who reached the level of a heavenly immortal or above live and pray to him. You will be safe here. I will temporarily arrange for you to live among the female ascetics and learn from them as well. I'm sorry. I will explain where Dastan is, where you are, why I brought you here and what happened after you fainted when you reach the stage you can move with the bracelet of heaven and earth is still on your wrist. Don't bother. You can't speak anyway. Just sleep. " The immortal waved her hand on Sarah's head putting her into a grudging sleep. She sighed at her inescapable guilt.
" O' great monk, please allow this unfortunate girl to stay in the lower heaven and learn to control the bracelet of heaven and earth, " collective gasps were heard, " and when she reaches the stage she can walk and talk like normal, I request you to please give her this letter where I have written everything she needs to know. "
The immortal was on her knees in front of the statue of the Buddha and the head monk who solemnly received the letter and read it. He nodded, accepting the request. The immortal, grateful, kowtowed and left with a heavy heart and a guilty conscience.
The head monk assigned three female monks under the leadership of an elderly female monk to take care of the girl. The female monks carried Sarah away to the female monastery. They were wiping her body with rags soaked in a silvery liquid when she woke up.
" Oh! You woke up. Hi there, Sarah. I am Latha, the head monk of the female monastery. These are Maya, Chaya and Mani. They are assigned to take care of you. I know you're worried about the boy and your current body condition. But, I can reveal things to you only when you gain the ability to move your body freely even with the bracelet on. You see, we fall under no jurisdiction but, we do respect the laws of the lower heaven. All I can tell you is that the boy is safe. Rest well and learn to control your body. " She said and left.
" Don't worry pal, we can teach you the Buddhist scriptures which help in harmonizing the body and the soul with nature. You may get your solution from it. You aren't the first one wearing the bracelet but you will be the first one removing it yourself. " Maya chuckled.
" This place is beautiful with lush greenery and wide grasslands and forests. You will definitely enjoy it. Maya was simply fooling around. We will definitely help you. Don't worry. " Chaya reassured and Mani nodded as well while moving her into a wheelchair.
Meanwhile, irrespective of the assurances, Sarah was extremely uncomfortable. Not being able to move the body in the slightest, not even the eyes, is not exactly a comfortable situation anyway. She couldn't even smile to express her goodwill. She was no different from a comatose patient but with slightly higher perception.
Sarah tried to move but couldn't do anything even after she put her utmost concentration and efforts. Somehow, it was as if her nerves couldn't carry any signals to her body from the brain. She tried to move her chakra but it was firmly locked in the dantain. Her constant companions, her lightnings, were imprisoned as well. But, what she didn't observe that her body was slowly evolving under the extreme pressure slowly assimilating the divine bloodline and transforming itself. The severe compression being put on her dantain caused her chakra to squeeze all the impurities out becoming as clear as spring water and slowly turning transparent. Her constitution was improving with time. Due to her depraved senses, her mental capacity and thinking over thinking ( thinking about thought process ) were improving as well. Her willpower was being fortified. Only a strong body can harbor a strong mind, but, the inverse was also true. Only a strong mind can control a strong body.
Only the harsh winter can make cherry blossom bloom. Only the harshest tempering can make a diamond out of an ugly rock mined from the volcanoes. Sarah was undergoing the same process. Only, she didn't realize it yet. Her mind was filled with concern for Dastan. She started to realize the depth of her feelings towards Dastan as well.
Sarah spent the entire day listening to the chattering of Maya and Chaya as they showed her all the places in their monastery. They were an entertaining pair of twins with a playful personality. She was put to bed by the twins after a tiring tour. Sarah immediately fell asleep due to her being mentally exhausted after sparring with the bracelet for gaining control over her body. The twins left after ensuring that she was in deep sleep even with half closed unmoving eyes.
This happened an year ago.