Morning sunlight bathed the outer disciples' quarters in a soft glow, the serenity of the day contrasting with the turmoil brewing in Yuna's heart. She stood in the kitchen, her slender hands carefully stirring a medicinal brew. The earthy scent of herbs filled the air, but her mind was far from the task at hand. Her thoughts circled back to the dwindling contribution points and the sacrifices she had made to nurse Makoto back to health.
When Makoto emerged from his meditation, his sharp senses immediately caught the slight tension in her movements. Over the past few weeks, he had come to understand Yuna's mannerisms well. Her usual grace was now tinged with hesitation, her usual calm shadowed by worry.
"Yuna," he called, his deep voice breaking through her thoughts.
She turned, startled. "Makoto, you're awake."
"I've been awake for some time," he replied, his piercing gaze fixed on her. "What's wrong?"
Her hands faltered, and she sighed, placing the ladle down. "It's nothing. Just a few things to take care of."
Makoto crossed the room, his steps measured but firm. He stopped in front of her, his eyes softening. "Yuna, you've done too much for me already. Tell me what's troubling you."
The weight of his sincerity made her defenses crumble. She reached into her robe and pulled out a small cloth pouch, opening it to reveal a mere handful of contribution tokens.
"This... this is all I have left," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Makoto's expression darkened as he examined the tokens. He knew what they represented: hours of grueling work, dangerous missions, and personal sacrifices. "You used your contribution points to help me recover," he said, a statement rather than a question.
Yuna nodded, guilt flickering across her face. "You were in such a critical state. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. But now... I don't have enough to sustain us both. Soon, I won't even have enough for myself."
Her words hung in the air like a heavy cloud, and Makoto felt a pang of guilt. Yuna had given so much, and he had taken without hesitation. But he wasn't the same broken soul who had been carried into this room weeks ago.
"You shouldn't have had to bear this burden alone," he said softly. "But I'll make it right."
"How?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Without contribution points, we'll be forced into the lowest tasks—cleaning, fetching water, or worse, taking on missions beyond our strength."
Makoto's eyes burned with determination. "I'll venture beyond the sect."
---
The Decision to Leave
Yuna froze, her hands tightening around the pouch. "Leave the sect?"
Makoto nodded. "There's a world of opportunities outside these walls—spirit herbs, ores, and treasures that can be traded for contribution points. Staying here and relying on you isn't an option."
"But it's dangerous!" Yuna protested, her voice rising. "The sect's borders are surrounded by spirit beasts, rogue cultivators, and worse. You're still recovering, Makoto. If something happens to you..."
Makoto placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I've faced worse dangers in my life than anything outside the sect. You've done more for me than anyone ever has. Let me take this chance to repay you."
Yuna looked away, her emotions a storm of worry and helplessness. "I just... I don't want to lose you."
"You won't," he promised. "I'll be back, and when I return, we won't have to worry about contribution points anymore."
Makoto spent the day preparing for his departure. He visited the mission hall, a grand structure bustling with outer disciples. The air was filled with the hum of conversation and the occasional clash of wooden practice weapons.
The mission board was a towering slab of polished stone, etched with glowing inscriptions that updated in real time. Makoto scanned the available tasks:
Collect Spirit Herbs from the Moonlit Forest
Hunt Lesser Spirit Beasts in the Crystal Vale
Investigate Missing Merchants near the Eastern Pass
Makoto selected the first mission. The Moonlit Forest, though dangerous, was rich in resources. It would give him the chance to gather valuable herbs while testing his newfound strength.
With the mission token in hand, he returned to his quarters to pack. Yuna watched him silently, her heart heavy with worry.
"I've packed some healing pills," she said, handing him a small pouch. "They're low-grade, but they might help if you're injured."
Makoto accepted the pouch with a grateful nod. "Thank you, Yuna. I'll be careful."
As the evening descended, casting long shadows across the sect, a sharp knock echoed through their quarters.
Yuna opened the door, her face paling as she saw the man standing there. Dressed in the pristine robes of an inner disciple, Kaizen's presence was as oppressive as it was unwelcome. His sharp features were twisted into a smirk, his cold eyes sweeping over Yuna before landing on Makoto.
"Yuna," he said, his tone mockingly pleasant. "I heard you've been struggling with contribution points. It seems you've been spending them on... unworthy causes."
Makoto stepped forward, his expression calm but his eyes steely. "If you have something to say, say it."
Kaizen's smirk widened. "Ah, the cripple speaks. Tell me, how does it feel to rely on a woman to survive?"
Makoto's gaze didn't waver. "Better than living as a parasite, I imagine."
The room seemed to tense, the air heavy with unspoken challenges.
Kaizen's smirk faltered for a brief moment before he turned back to Yuna. "You don't have to live like this, Yuna. If you'd only accept my offer—"
"Enough," Yuna interrupted, her voice firm. "I don't need your help, Kaizen. And I certainly don't need your pity."
Kaizen's eyes darkened, his voice lowering to a threatening growl. "You'll regret this, Yuna. Both of you will."
He turned on his heel and left, his robes swishing dramatically behind him.
As the door closed, Yuna collapsed onto the nearest chair, her hands trembling.
"Makoto," she said, her voice barely audible. "You shouldn't have provoked him. Kaizen is dangerous. His influence in the sect..."
Makoto knelt before her, his expression resolute. "I'm not afraid of him, Yuna. And neither should you be. He's nothing but a bully hiding behind his family's power."
Yuna looked into his eyes, searching for a hint of doubt but finding none.
"Trust me," Makoto said softly. "I'll return stronger than ever. And when I do, Kaizen won't dare to trouble you again."
At dawn, Makoto stood at the sect gates, his pack slung over one shoulder and the mission token in his hand. Yuna stood beside him, her worry etched into her features.
"Be careful," she said, her voice thick with emotion.
"I will," he promised, his hand briefly brushing hers in a gesture of reassurance.
As he stepped beyond the gates, the world opened up before him—a realm of dangers and opportunities waiting to be seized. For Makoto, this was more than a mission. It was the beginning of a journey to reclaim his power, protect the one who had saved him, and confront the shadows of his past.