If Enas had questions about cultivation before then after reading the book, she could say that she had even more. She tried to read it and understand it as best she could, but after she went past the third chapter, all the pages after were blurry. Like it was telling her that she wasn't ready for it yet.
Being secluded more than normal girls, even at the age of 17, she didn't know much about cultivation. Good thing her gaps were filled in with the book.
From what she understood, everyone that uses cultivation uses something called Star Energy for their cultivation. They could manipulate this energy in their body and within the world to gain their power. Star Energy as the name implies comes from the stars. Looking up at the two yellow suns that orbit her planet, she wondered if they were rich or poor in that regard.
Not only that but what they call the Star Diagram is inside one's body being the foundation of their cultivation. The realms cultivators try to achieve are related to the points of the star in the Star Diagram.
The first realm being the Power Realm signifying the top-left point of a star. Within each realm, there are 5 stages for your growth. The point on the star will grow brighter and brighter the further you progress on each stage.
With no cultivation resources allocated to her, Enas was barely in the Power Realm at the first stage. Her point was dim, nearly unnoticeable, and incomparable to what a real star should shine like. Picking up the necklace, her hunger finally found her again. She didn't know how far until civilization but the tower was a good sign. The faster she leaves the more energy she can muster to travel the final distance.
A white light encompassed her vision similar to the first experience. Back at the strange tower, in her clasp was the small potion bottle filled with red liquid...
---
Enas decided to go the same direction she was going previously by maneuvering around the tower. Hopefully, with the tower nearby, some towns would be nearby for her to go in and find food. Luckily, her decision was the correct one.
Merely 2 hours passed before she saw some buildings in the distance. She could not believe her eyes as she went closer and closer. The small town was akin to an oasis and Enas was fully intent on drinking it dry.
She was nearing the town before an uneasy feeling sprouted from her chest. Stopping in her tracks, she looked all around her. With only a couple dozen meters away from the town, what could possibly happen?
Then she realized it. Reaching up to her ears, the sharp point made her flinch. She retracted her hand in a dejected expression.
'I forgot...I'm an elf.'
No one could blame her, after all, she was human before. To be transferred into the body of an elf didn't feel that different besides the ears.
'I need a way to cover it up. As far as I know, these people probably won't be that welcoming to elves.'
But no matter how much she thought, there was nothing that could help her disguise herself. All of her protective equipment has long been torn to shreds and if she stitched them up to only cover her ears, that would be more suspicious.
'There is no way I am going to be able to pass those guards. That means there is only one way in...'
Enas approached the sandy town trying to be as stealthy as she could. Although such an act was futile since spotting her in the vast desert is as easy as picking a cherry from a sundae.
Realizing this point, she wondered why the guards haven't found her yet. She spotted two guards at the entrance to the town and for some reason, they were looking in only one direction. They had some low walls covering the town with towers overlooking key points, but when she looked at the top of the tower. She saw not a single soul.
Not thinking about this any further she successfully snuck into the town. Avoiding the bustling streets by hiding in the alleyways, she started to look for a disguise she could use. Rummaging through the trash she was able to find a dirty but intact shirt.
Not in a position to be picky, she wore it on her head by wrapping it around her ears like a turban until she could find something better.
'I guess this will have to do, I'm going to have to find something else soon.' She looked up grossly not knowing where this shirt has been.
Finally entering the streets, it looked like she entered a bazaar, the busiest place in town. Looking around at the stalls and stands she was able to see goods in every direction. Delicous food and its smell wafted over to her making her mouth salivate and her stomach rumble in hunger. The bazaar had clothes, food, and a random assortment of items everywhere.
Fleeing out of the bazaar with a small fruit in tow, she was able to steal a juicy fruit that fell on the ground unnoticed. She didn't complain and wiped away the sand and started to hungrily bite into it as she explored the city.
It looked like the city housed around a hundred thousand people with a healthy stream of tourists as well. Looking around, she found someone who could help her navigate around. She approached him because he looked similar to the guards at the entrance. Probably some local city law enforcement.
"Excuse me, sir, do you know where the alchemist shop is?"
The person in question stopped his patrol to turn around and greet the young lady that called out to her.
"You must be new here! Did you come by the carriage this morning?"
Not answering her question immediately, he tried to initiate a conversation. After all, the girl before him was extremely beautiful. If he were to guess she had the body of an 18-year-old but looks can be deceiving to a cultivator. As one progresses in their path as a cultivator, the younger their bodies get to match the life force inside. Some are rumored to live for thousands of years retaining their youth for most of it. For all he knew, she could be a 40 or 50-year-old cultivator in disguise.
Enas wrinkled her nose in disgust but tried to hide it as best she could from the old man that tried to pursue a conversation. She didn't want to flirt with the guy after a grueling trip in the desert, her stomach begging for satisfaction, and her clothes nearly ready to strip her of her dignity.
"Ah, yes I did. I had an appointment with the alchemist but I don't know where he lives. Can you tell me where?"
Being asked a second time, he was obliged to answer her unless he wanted to come off as rude.
"Sure, just take two lefts and continue straight down that road. Should be the biggest building on that street."
"Thank you. Do you also happen to know when the carriages leave today?"
Delighted that she kept talking to him, he didn't even notice that she asked a question that everyone in Gale's Desert should know. In his mind, she only asked this to keep talking to him.
"Why all carriages leave at the break of dawn of course! Maybe we should talk more over a cup of tea. I know a great restaurant that sells killer Desert Worm."
"I'll think about it, I uhh-know where you are stationed to find you..."
WIth that Enas gave the man a forced smile and ventured with the directions that she was told. Enas wanted to know when the carriages were to leave in case she wanted to go to a different city. After all, in the cultivation world, a city with a hundred thousand is nothing.
Hell, even the city that she escaped from had a couple million. She wanted the best opportunity to grow and a city like this could only go so far.
Finally arriving at the street that the cultivator told her to go, she saw a grand building on the side with a sign that said:
'Traser's Potion Shop'
Knowing where the alchemist was housed, she made her way towards the busy store for the next step in her plan.