Just as the smell became so cloying that it was impossible to continue to meditate, I was interrupted. An acolyte leading me to a system of hot spring-fed depressions. The water was high in sulfur, the smell almost as nauseating as the black gunk that had been expressed through my pores. Still, I was directed to disrobe and soak in the waters, assured by the acolyte that they had a purifying effect and that they were ideal for scrubbing the grime and residue of my first embrace with the merging of affinities and Qi. It appeared nudity taboos and issues were nonexistent amongst the elves as I noticed others being shepherded to the same area, male and female. Everyone was too focused on the smell and the chance to cleanse their bodies to notice anything as insignificant as who had what dangling bits. Sexual curiosity and shyness simply didn't exist, cleanliness was more important. A rough sandstone for scrubbing was supplied. I'd never used anything so coarse or full of grit before, but I found that with a bit of work, I was able to produce suds and soap foam, the grit could be softened. I was studiously creating foam, determined to remove every particle of detritus that was coating my body. Scrubbing body and hair and repeating until finally, I had removed all the gunk I could reach. "Would you like me to help with your back?" a shy voice said interrupting my dogged determination to get clean. Turning I saw another novice, a young woman that had also successfully concluded her first merging and had discovered her affinities. Smaller than me, or it appeared so, she may have just been in a deeper part of the pool than I, she was cute instead of beautiful. A freshness and innocence to her features that suggested that she was more farm girl than sultry vixen. Like me, she seemed just as stunned and unsure about the day's event. And was determined to remove the impurities. "Thank you, I'd appreciate that. I'll do your back, too," I agreed. "My name is Jay. I would say it's nice to meet you, but I can't imagine a more disgusting way to get acquainted," I said as I continued introducing myself. I turned to offer my back for her ministration. "I'm Niake," she said immediately as she began scrubbing my back, her fingers really digging in, as much a massage as anything. My shoulders released the tension they had been holding, and my teeth, that I hadn't realized I was gritting unclenched as her kneading continued. "I'm from Cas'l," she said continuing her introduction. "My family hoped that I would awaken with a high enough spirit root and affinity that I would be invited to join Flowing Water Sect. I am the first of my line to earn a spot. We normally join a smaller Sect near our farm." "I don't think I've heard of Cas'l, how far away is it?" I asked. "I doubt many people have, it's a smallish village in the Shian Province. About midway between here and the Spring Festival Sect. My parents debated between coming to Flowing Water or Spring Festival. Water Flowing was just the tiniest bit closer to home, so they eventually decided that joining this Sect would mean I might be able to visit home more often. That is if I was lucky enough to be invited to join." "Is your family very large?" I wondered. In most fantasy novels Elves were slow to reproduce because they were so long-lived. I wondered how that would factor into inter-personal relationships if that was translated into reality. "Yes! At times I swear we could establish our own Sect." She exclaimed notes of devotion and love influencing her intonation and response, softening the harsh complaint and removing any real power behind her complaint. "Our family compound is large enough to host my Great Grandparents, Grandparents, Uncles and Aunts, cousins, brothers and sisters, and nieces and nephews." "Sometimes it seems so crowded that you have to escape to get a moment of peace or they'll drive you nuts," she asserted, her voice giving lie to her words. "We raise and train Protoceratops, as well as the feed and spirit grain needed for the stable and the table." Protoceratops were a domesticated animal used for riding and as livestock. Their meat was comparable to pork and their versatility made them a well-rounded choice for most farmers. Egg layers, surplus eggs were useful, and all parts of the egg were exploited. The shells becoming part of a nutritious slurry of ingredients ideal for fertilizing for those interested in farming spirit crops and herbs. In rare instances, they could be vicious, but mostly they were as gentle as horses. She patted my back signaling she was finished, "Switch," she said moving forward, so that she stood at a higher part of the natural pool offering her back allowing me to take my turn at washing the gunk off. "You don't seem to have as many residual impurities," I said surprised, as I noticed the impurities, she had coated on her back. "Probably because my family grows spirit crops and slaughters Protoceratops for our diet. We have access to better quality and less processed food than those that live in larger towns," she explained. "Where are you from?" She asked. "Flowing Waters town, the town at the base of the mountain," I answered. "My family is small, just my mother, father, and two siblings, both younger than I." "You probably never even considered another Sect then, growing up in the shadows of Flowing Water?" Niake asked. "We did have secondary Sects in mind. Even third and fourth choices depending on what rank my Spirit Root awakened at. But Flowing Water was our first choice," I said agreeing. The decision and selection process of something as important as which Sect to pledge was a Family decision. The expenses could become prohibitive. Flowing Waters deferred half those expenses for residents of Flowing Water town. That adjustment to tuition and the benefit of proximity had been instrumental in my family's choice. My newly awakened Spirit root was rare enough that I would probably be offered even more financial assistance. Honestly, we hadn't thought I stood a chance of being accepted. As the healer had mentioned they had assessed me with an Iron Spirit root when I was younger. We had planned to join a professional consortium or guild. They would give enough training to allow me to make the best use of such a weak Spirit root. And allow me to establish a trade. Things had changed now, and the expenses for training were going to be exponentially higher. I not only needed to worry about monies for tuition but cultivating resources. Rare pills and potions made available to Sect members to complement and nourish abilities in a timely manner. As I finished scrubbing Niake's back, I patted her shoulder like she had mine to let her know I was finished. Together we began making our way out of the pool. Attendants rushed to intercept our exit with towels and clean clothes offered in lieu of what we had been wearing. I was happy for the small courtesy. Happy that I wouldn't have to try to wash that black crap out of the applicant uniform we'd been presented with at the beginning of the day. I was pretty sure that there was no saving them, no amount of soup or scrubbing would get the smell out. The Hanfu we were provided required a trick to the voluminous folds of cloth that we'd been issued. A layering and folding as it was draped over the body in such a way that Flowing Water sigil and colors were displayed correctly. Niake was especially adroit at settling the folds of her robes correctly. I took a few tries to get it correct The clothing was not Kimono-like, but it did have an Eastern influence. Folds adjusted so that the length gently kissed the floor. A wide cloth belted and cinched to keep the layers in place. And trailing sleeves that came halfway down my forearms before cascading in rivers of blues to join the over-dress as they swept the floor. If our hair had been swept up, and makeup applied judiciously, we would have been at home in any oriental period drama I used to watch. Instead, I contained my locks in a simple ponytail, while Niake's blond locks were swept back behind ears that were elegantly draped with bits of metal and cloth, highlighting the points and curvature that made up her elvish ancestry. Niake was kind enough to help me once she noticed I was struggling with the excessive cloth. Her nimble fingers suggested that the family she was part of, even if they were located in a small village, came from money. It was possible they were even minor nobility or landed gentry. My parents were certainly not poor, but the habits of the rich and powerful were not something we were familiar with. Clothing for us was more practical. Loose over-tunics and pantaloons that made it easy to move as we worked. Once we appropriately attired, the servant who had been stationed in the area where we dried ourselves and dressed was kind enough to lead us to the exit of the building and pass us off to an outer disciple that was waiting impatiently for those of us that had succeeded in merging our affinities and Qi. "Novices," he said bowing perfunctorily, his movements displaying an obvious disdain for the two of us. We could tell he thought he was better than us, and that he was wasting his time waiting for those that had passed the requirements to join the Sect. "Elder Zorac wishes you to know that you are done for the day. You may return to your hotels for now." "An official invitation will be delivered in the next day or so detailing your standing, tuition expenses, and who has been appointed as your mentor. "Elder Rhys wishes to inform you that you should not practice the cultivation techniques that you used before today. These were techniques that any awakened can manage, but to continue to use them now, may harm your cultivation progress. "Once you have received your letter of intent and accepted Flowing Water Sects invitation you will be gifted with a cultivation manual and technique that is more suitable for you. In the meantime, you may meditate. But when doing so, refrain from gathering any Qi," he instructed us. Bowing, mine deeper than Niake's, I noticed the look of contempt, the glare that the outer disciple gave Niake. I had no idea who he was, but his glare suggested that Niake may have insulted him by returning his perfunctory bow with one of her own.