Upon arriving home, Dara began to prepare the food she'd purchased earlier. While she was out, Dimas had been studying behind the small lodge, unaware that his sister had returned.
"Dimas, come eat! Your sister brought you food," Dara shouted to summon her brother.
"When did you get back, sis?" Dimas asked as he emerged from behind, hastily entering the house upon her call.
"Just now, let's eat, I brought us some Padang cuisine," Dara said.
"Wow..." Dimas's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
To Dimas, Padang food was the epitome of culinary delight, a rare treat he scarcely enjoyed, perhaps once or twice a year, depending on whether they had spare funds.
"Sis, whose clothes are you wearing?" Dimas inquired after finishing his meal, noticing for the first time how fine her garments were.
"Oh these? They're mine. On my way to the market, I ran into a school friend from the capital. She gave me these clothes and also brought something for you. It's in your room," Dara explained.
Dimas rushed to his room, finding two large duffel bags; one contained three sets of clothing and the other held shoes and a bag.
"Sis, why is your friend so generous? Is she your girlfriend?" Dimas queried.
"Come on, do you think your sister is not normal, dating a girl?" Dara responded.
"Your friend is a girl?" Dimas clarified.
"Yes, a girl. She gave these as gifts and also bought you a bike for commuting to school," Dara mentioned.
"She got me a bike too?" Dimas asked, surprised and thrilled at the news.
"But sis, why is your friend so kind? Who is she, do I know her?" Dimas asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice.
"Don't overthink it; my friend is kind because I've also been good to her. She knows we're far from wealthy. She just wanted to help out. You've never met her; she only attended school here for one semester," Dara reasoned.
Dimas nodded, trustful of his sister, whose character he knew well.
"Bro, there's something I want to discuss with you," Dara said.
"What is it, sis?" Dimas asked.
"After you graduate from school, I plan to take you to the capital for further education. My friend wants to start a business and has asked me to manage it. What do you think about that?" Dara proposed.
"Are you serious, sis? But is it really okay for me to study in the capital? Isn't education there extremely expensive?" Dimas asked, considering the cost of city schooling.
"Don't worry about the tuition; I can afford to support you. Besides, you're smart, you could apply for a scholarship there, right?" Dara reassured him.
"True, sis, I'd like to study in the city. What kind of job did your friend offer?" Dimas inquired.
"She's opening a five-star restaurant and needs someone she can trust to manage it. She said that although I have no work experience, skills can be honed as long as there's a strong willingness to learn. She believes I can do it because I was a top student back in school. So, should I just accept the job offer?" Dara relayed.
"In that case, take it, sis. It sounds like a great opportunity for your career and future. But is it okay to wait a month? I'll be done with exams and graduation in a month," Dimas remarked.
"It’s not just for me but for your future as well. That's fine; she said the restaurant's still being renovated. It'll be another month or two before the grand opening," Dara reassured.
"But how will we contact your friend? We don't have a phone," Dimas questioned.
"Don't worry; I already got one from her, for business communications. She also said if you manage an average score of at least 9 on your exams, she’ll get you a phone too," Dara explained.
"Wow, that's amazing! I'll start studying hard from now on. But may I try the new bike?" Dimas asked eagerly.
"Sure, it's out front," Dara replied.
Dimas, filled with joy and enthusiasm, rushed outside to try the new bike. Though they never owned a bike, they had learned to ride through borrowing from friends in the village or at school.
....
The following day, after Dimas left for school, Dara headed to the forest, seeking to strengthen her physique before commencing her cultivation training.
Dara needed the aid of the Holy Spirit Pill to unlock her meridian points. She had already initiated her physical training, with White assisting her as a sparring partner. Fortunately, Dara possessed a robust and flexible body, making it easier to train and move.
This intense training routine Dara adopted for the past week aimed to physically fortify her. She embrace extreme exercises to swiftly acclimatize, in preparation for withstanding the excruciating pain when consuming the Holy Spirit Pill.
.....
And on this morning, after a week of earnest training, feeling sufficiently strong to endure the pain, Dara ventured back into the forest to undergo her body's transformation with the Holy Spirit Pill.
Riding White, Dara reached a stunning waterfall deep in the forest.
"White, stand guard here! Let no one disturb me while I begin to unlock my meridians," Dara instructed.
"As you wish, Your Grace," White responded.
Dara entered the waterfall, stepping onto a rock at its heart and seated herself cross-legged. She regulated her breathing and began to consume the Holy Spirit Pill.
A sensation of heat enveloped her the moment the pill was swallowed, followed by an excruciating pain as if vital organs were being shredded from within.
Dara’s bones felt as though they were being broken, threaded, then fused back together. Her flesh was torn apart and then reformed.
Struggling against the intolerable agony, she strove to maintain consciousness. This process required her to remain aware, for unconsciousness would mean death.
CRACK!!!
CRACK!!!
The sound of bones fracturing resonated loudly. Dara bit her tongue to stay focused and aware.
"AAAAARRRRGGGHHHH...." Dara's scream echoed throughout the forest, startling birds into flight.
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