Chapter 7: Threads of Shadow and Light

The chime of tiny bells rang softly as Nyxia stepped into the dimly lit shop, Miko trailing behind like a glowing lantern. The scent of aged fabric, incense, and something vaguely sweet lingered in the air. Shelves were stacked with folded silks, woven cloaks, and shimmering scarves, each piece whispering stories of forgotten hands that crafted them.

A plump shopkeeper with kind eyes and a bushy mustache greeted them with an eager smile.

"Welcome, young miss! Looking for something special today?"

"Dresses," Nyxia said simply, her tone calm, her gaze unreadable.

"Of course!" The shopkeeper's eyes sparkled. He hurriedly pulled out several elegant gowns—lavender silks, gold-stitched brocades, deep blue velvets with shining threads. Each dress shimmered under the warm lantern light, a spectacle of colors and craftsmanship.

But Nyxia remained still. Her eyes swept over the dresses, and then—silence. No sparkle of interest. No change in her face.

The shopkeeper faltered, the light in his eyes dimming. He scratched his head nervously and bit his lip. For a moment, he stood unsure, and then suddenly, a thought struck him. He hesitated, walked to the back, rummaged through an old chest, and returned holding a small wooden box wrapped in silk.

He opened it carefully.

Inside lay a simple white dress.

No jewels. No shine. Faded threads. Worn hems. It looked like something from a different time, forgotten and unimportant.

Nyxia raised an eyebrow, looking at him curiously.

Before she could speak, Miko suddenly darted forward, eyes wide with astonishment"Take it!"he shouted in her mind. "This isn't an ordinary dress. It's a fairy-grade treasure—slightly damaged, yes, but still incredibly valuable! The people here don't even realize what they're holding…"

Nyxia's heart stirred. She felt something from the dress—a quiet energy, aged yet dignified. But her expression remained calm.

"How much for this?" she asked.

The shopkeeper fumbled, taken aback. He stammered, "Uh… five hundred silver coins, miss."

Nyxia stepped back slightly. "I can't afford that. I like it… but it's beyond my means."

As she turned to leave, the shopkeeper's panic bubbled to the surface. He called out quickly.

"Wait! Just give me a hundred. I'll take the loss."

Nyxia paused, then turned back with a faint smile. "Alright. But throw in that black dress over there too."

The shopkeeper blinked, looked at the plain black dress hanging in the corner, and then sighed. "Fine. Deal."

As he packed the dresses, he couldn't help but smile. Somehow, he felt he had just made the best sale of his life.

---

Back in the noisy streets of the market, Nyxia and Miko slipped into a quiet alley and vanished into Vyāpti. The serene green land welcomed them with its foggy borders and mystical calm. There, under the gentle light of floating orbs, Nyxia changed into the plain black dress and pulled a dark cloak over her head, blending into shadows.

She emerged once again into the real world and made her way to an apothecary nearby. The shop smelled of ground herbs and warm dust, its shelves stacked high with powders, roots, and rare blooms.

Nyxia stepped forward and silently placed a single herb stalk on the counter.

The shopkeeper looked down—and froze. His eyes widened in disbelief.

"P-please wait a moment," he stuttered. "I must call the manager."

As he disappeared into the back, Miko floated close, nodding in understanding.

A few minutes later, a tall, refined man with sharp eyes and a gentle smile appeared.

"Welcome, esteemed guest," he said. "May I ask… are you truly selling this herb?"

"Yes," Nyxia replied. "How much will you offer?"

The manager examined the stalk with care.

"This is a Tier 3 spiritual herb. Although it's not rare among Tier 3 herbs, its quality is high. I can offer eighty thousand silver coins—a fair price, I assure you."

"Done,"Nyxia said without hesitation. "But I also need a few more herbs."

She handed him a list.

Within five minutes, the manager returned with a carefully packed pouch. Everything was accounted for.

Nyxia took the herbs and left the shop quietly. But outside, she noticed shadows trailing behind her—three men, pretending to browse but watching her every move.

She smiled faintly, then turned into a quiet corner—and vanished.

In the safety of Vyāpti, she changed back into the black dress and cloak.

When she stepped back out, the pursuers were still scanning the streets, unaware that their target had already vanished from sight.

---

Later that evening, Nyxia returned to the inn with Miko. The room was quiet and warm, lit by a single lantern. She filled the wooden tub with hot water and added the herbs as instructed by Miko. The scent of spiritual energy filled the room like a rising mist.

She stepped into the bath, the heat and power of the herbs seeping into her skin. Her muscles relaxed, but her focus sharpened.

Eyes closed, she began to circulate her energy, pushing against the bottleneck with steady force. Again and again, she tried—and failed.

Then, with a burst of will, she surged her inner energy forward, powered by the herbs' strength.

Crack.

A subtle shift. A barrier broken.

"Now!" Miko called. "Add the spiritual water—slowly."

Nyxia obeyed, pouring the silver-blue liquid drop by drop into the bath. Each drop sent waves of energy crashing through her body. The flow intensified—like a river, dense and unstoppable, surging through her meridians.

She gritted her teeth as pain erupted from her feet to her head. Her cells screamed as they absorbed the energy, refining and remolding her body. It felt like being torn apart and rebuilt all at once.

And then—silence.

The pain ebbed. She opened her eyes.

A strange glow shimmered in them. Energy pulsed gently beneath her skin.

She exhaled.

"Finally… I'm a cultivator now."

She didn't smile—but her heart danced.

Then she caught a whiff of something horrible and glanced down. The bathwater had turned black, thick with expelled toxins.

"Ugh," she muttered, quickly draining the tub and rinsing herself clean.

She dried off and dressed again in her plain black clothes, wrapping the cloak tightly around her.

Then, quietly, she stepped into Vyāpti once more, ready for what would come next.