While she's certain her solar energy will play more of an active role, for comfort's sake she keeps the channel of lunar energy open to calm her nerves. After taking three breaths, Tara focuses her energies over her sternum and works her way back to her upper vertebrae. It was said that the best place to start Bone Crystallization was with the thorax because it directly protects a person's heart, lungs, and stomach.
At the same time, this was the hardest part because the reconfiguration of the bones could damage the internal organs. Luckily the Sun Seed pill boasts absolute protection of a person's organs during this time.
Even though it's just the smallest section of her ribs, the sweeping pain that comes from the transformation causes Tara to scream out. It's as if her bones were being rapidly withered into dust by an unending millennia of storms. The reformation is gentler but not by much as her aural and solar energies rapidly rebuilt her bone structure. It's only thanks to her Twin Sphere recovery arts working over time that she doesn't pass out an hour later.
Beiling is standing behind her, several steps away, once again impressed with her pupil's tenacity. The pain was unbearable even with years of preparation. No type of tolerance training could compare to the feeling of one's bones being reshaped.
In her own experience, well over a week was needed just to reform the lower half of the ribcage. This was because it was suggested that breaks be taken thanks to the threat of harming the internal organs. Tara ignores this precaution and pushes through for several hours. Her body is covered in sweat once she decides to stop.
"May I?" Beiling asks to inspect her, worried that Tara has caused damage by being stubborn. Tara gives a tired nod, much too exhausted to even speak. Beiling places a hand on Tara's shoulder and expands her senses to look over.
After several hours of grueling circulation, Tara had indeed transformed her lower rib cage into crystals. Once Beiling removes her hand, Tara swiftly falls asleep at the lack of contact. A maid comes to collect a snoring Tara to her bed, leaving Beiling alone with her thoughts.
"Really, just what are you?" She huffs to herself, as she returns to her office. Every time Beiling believes she holds some understanding of her first student, Tara blows away whatever notions she held of the world.
First was the display in the trial tower, then it was the ranking in the true Eight Swords of Death, and now it was this!
Beiling had her pride as someone with a zircon bone structure. Tara's was vastly more rare and unique: they were like amber topazes with the smallest hint of turquoise gems trapped within. To have a variant bone structure like this Beiling couldn't even begin to fathom what that entailed! Tara might even end up being a true high tier Bone Crystallization, finishing her full reformation before even tackling Billowing Muscles. Beiling hastily writes a letter to the Eight Sword Sect about this as she was truly unsure about how to proceed forward.
Tara sleeps soundly through the next day at the Headmaster's request, citing that the Academy's youngest student had made a breakthrough.
The young girl's dreams as she recuperated were filled with flashes of images: a woman made of starlight....a purple wool black sheep facing down a vicious silver crocodile...a sleeping brown-skinned baby with white serval like ears floating down the river.
While she sleeps, Oorun and Wolyung focus on healing their master as best they can whilst she is unconscious and in doing so saw changes that will later surprise Tara.
Two days later, Tara is freshly awakened and practicing the Dark Saber's katas for combat practice. The group of thirty immediately halt after seeing Beiling enter their training space located near their quarters. They immediately bow before standing at attention.
"Long Kwang, step into the square please," Beiling calls. Long Kwang grins, more than eager to step onto the black tile of their practice arena. "Hufang Tara, will you as well?"
Despite attempting to be dutiful and silent, chatter broke out among the small group of students. It is well known, even envied, that young Tara's personal teacher is the Headmaster. Surely such instruction was invaluable and Tara was bound to be powerful in the future but facing the school's strongest student? Tara stands before Kwang, looking even smaller than normal because he was so hulking. What was the headmaster thinking?
"I don't want a simple sparring session," Beiling admits, pulling out two small crystal orbs and placing them in their hands. "Simply channel your physical energy into this orb. It will change color according to your strength. Red will be the weakest and black the strongest."
Kwang resists rolling his eyes as he holds the orb in one hand. Without any real thought, the orb turns black instantly before cracks appear. He looks genuinely guilty but Beiling's proud smile eases his worry.
"When someone arrives at low tier Billowing Muscles physical strength, the orb will turn black. Cracks in the orb mean one is well near the peak of the high tier. It is one of the tests from the sect to see if a person qualifies." Beiling comments, causing even more chatter to erupt from the crowd. This meant that Kwang's chances to enter the true Eight Sword sect were very great! Kwang basks in their praise as they cheer him on. His chest swells with a sense of accomplishment before someone among them gasps!
He turns to Tara beside him. She's holding the orb in both hands, furiously channeling her physical energy. An unintentional wave of aural white swirls around her body and Kwang is certain he sees orange light mixing within. The orb shifts rapidly from cyan to yellow before going through white and landing on black. Only Beiling catches the faint flicker of black to cobalt blue, phlox pink, and finally royal purple before correcting back.
A small part of the orb is chipped off from the force, leaving everyone stunned. Kwang's success was a no brainer. He was the strongest student the Eight Swords Academy had witnessed in the last decade. They had all expected young Tara to do well but for her to reach black and also break a small piece of the orb? Didn't that mean her physical strength was at least on par with an initial Billowing Muscles?
A snicker is heard from Yaoyang before the usually stoic young man busts out in laughter. Everyone is startled by this between him, especially his elder cousin.
The look of shock on Kwang's expression morphs into the face of pure fury at the sound of laughter. Before he can go and silence Yaoyang, however, Beiling places a hand on his back.
"Tomorrow, I will be writing my recommendation for you to join the sect." Beiling's face has a kind smile on her face. Fear overtakes his entire body as an unbelievable pressure is focused solely on him. Kwang stiffly turns and bows to Beiling.
"This student thanks the Headmaster for the academy's time and resources! I will carve the graciousness of allowing me to take this test into my heart." He says before rising, shooting a glare at both Yaoyang and Tara, before excusing himself.
Word quickly spreads of Kwang's recommendation throughout the academy but it was Tara's achievement that slips through the cracks. Soon everyone, from the capital to the powerful outer families to even neighboring countries, heard the news of the prodigal child with the physical strength equal to a low tier Billowing Muscle but at the Bone Crystallization level.
The royalty of Riversword almost immediately afterwards announces an ascension ball! The sign of an ascension ball was the final statement of the Hufang family's rise to nobility. The last one had not occurred since 200 years ago when Jins had saved the royal family from an invasion. The capital is abuzz with activity as they make preparations for the end of the week.
Classes are suspended as many of the noble students are invited to participate. Tara is summoned to the castle at Leiana's request with the other main members of the Hufangs staying at one of their estates within the capital.
The halls within the castle were tiled with gold and royal blue, the walls aligned with art or portraits of past family members, and the servants cleanly dressed with the symbol of a river within a sword's blade on the back of their robes. Tara is still wearing her Dark Saber robes, in awe, a maid guiding her to the room.
A little while after she had settled in, a beautiful older girl entered her room. Tara's mouth parted wide as this regal figure gave a very familiar grin.
"Lei, uh, Your Grace?" Tara stumbled, remembering that Leiana was actually a princess of her nation. Leiana giggles behind her veil, raising a hand over her mouth to cover the action.
"Please, Tara, either call by my name or refer to me as your elder sister. You're one of the few people here who has seen what I'm like at the academy. I apologize I won't be able to spend much time with you during your stay."
Leiana says as she closes the door behind her, stepping into the room. "This is the first ascension ball in two centuries and my parents insist I be involved with every little matter. It didn't help to mention that I know you...actually, I think it made them more wishful for my input. I do have a favor to ask of you, if that's alright?"
"Of course! You've done nothing but look out for me since we met, I don't mind." Tara says with a serious nod. Another peal of laughter escapes Leiana's veil and she ruffles Tara's head.
"Viyen, you can come in. Tara, this is my little sister, the Fourth Princess of Riversword, Xei Viyen." Leiana is dressed in reds and gold, but the shorter girl who follows in now wears blue and silver. Her eyebrows are elegant and her cheeks still a little chubby from baby fat that hasn't eased away. With Tara naturally being short, Viyen was only a foot taller than her. The princess shyly moves behind her sister.
"Hi! I'm Tara!" Tara greets the other girl with a smile. Curious but wary stormy gray eyes looked back at her.
Leiana softly laughs, a little exasperated. "Forgive her, Vivi isn't really a people person. It takes a while for her to warm up to someone. My request is that you spend some time with her during your stay. She hardly ever gets to play and interact with kids her own age."
Tara happily agrees and so her week with castle life truly begins. With classes on hold and little involvement in the preparations, she takes the time to focus her efforts. When she wasn't meditating on her newest ancient knowledge, recording her past notes in the ancient script, or training her body, Tara could be found with Viyen. By Saturday, the two had become thick as thieves. Many who knew the young princess found that she hardly clung to someone who wasn't her elder sister or Yaoyang (whom she lovingly refers to as her older brother).
Tabanos brims with life. On top of the nobles and upper-class families staying in their various homes, many ambassadors and dignitaries from other kingdoms have brought their countryfolk with them in the excitement.
Though the Church of Daramick, the deity who presided over Wealth and Commerce, had established a coinage system several hundred millennia ago the act of cultural exchange through barter and trade was still happily established.
The ascension ceremony happens within the center of Tabanos, with a gigantic screen formed from various arrays formed for all to witness. Still this did not deter the hundreds of thousands of people who surrounded the center altar underneath the statue of Riversword's ancient king.
Tara and Neijin wear their Dark Saber robes as they stand besides Shuyren and Di. Each one is bestowed a silver medal with the Riversword's coat of arms on it. The booming cheers erupt from all around.