In another tent built from a much thinner, flowing cloth that let more light through, Instructor Wei and Abrial sat at a polished wooden table over tea. A young girl poured it for them, then bowed at the tent entrance, and left.
Curling steam rose from Abrial's porcelain cup. The tea smelled like calming lavender.
"Careful," Instructor Wei warned as Abrial picked up her cup right away. "It was just boiled — you might burn your tongue."
Abrial shrugged.
"I'm immune to pain! Mostly, heh."
Then she slurped down the entire cup in one big gulp. Immediately, she slammed the cup down and fell into a fit of hacking coughs, clawing at her throat as if that would help cool it down. When the coughing and sensation of fire running down her esophagus finally subsided, she wiped her mouth and returned to a normal sitting position, looking slightly sheepish. "It was — a little hot, I guess. But I'm fine!"
