"Kuya Berto, we can harvest the cabbage and the carrots now," Ysa said, turning to Berto, the courtyard's gardener.
Berto gave a nod, his weathered face breaking into a small smile. "Yes, Ysa. Cora will be thrilled, no doubt."
Ysa's smile widened, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she imagined the mouth-watering vegetable stir-fry that Cora always made. The thought alone made her stomach rumble.
Mmm, delicious…
It had been three years since she first set foot in the Montemayor courtyard, and those early days had been rough. She had been so used to Nana Maria's pampering that the sudden shift was a shock. How I miss Nana Maria. I wonder how she's doing now, Ysa mused, a pang of longing hitting her.
Back in the Montemayor mansion, despite her parents' coldness and indifference and her sister's constant pranks, Nana Maria had always been her source of comfort.
But then came the banishment—yes, banishment. The word echoed in Ysa's mind, sharp and cold, like the look in her mother's eyes as she'd stepped through the portal. Three years had passed, and still, the memory stung.
They had sent her here without so much as a second thought, and in the three years that had passed, not once had they visited. It was as if they had erased her from their lives.
The first few months were the hardest, Ysa reflected. She would sit by the window, hoping her parents would miss her and call her back home. But that never happened. Over time, the hope faded, and though she still missed Nana Maria dearly, she had stopped caring about her family's indifference.
I'm better off without them, she thought. The words felt hollow even in her own ears. A part of her, a small, stubborn part, still yearned for their love, for their recognition.
"Ysa, you're spacing out again. Are you thinking about your family?" Kuya Berto's voice broke through her thoughts, causing her to jump a little.
"Huh? What, Kuya?" Ysa blinked, snapping out of her daydream. "My family? Nah, not really. It's Nana Maria I miss." Her gaze softened as she thought of her Nana. "I wish I could see her again."
She looked around the courtyard, the familiar faces of the people who had become her genuine family here flashing in her mind. With a small smile, she added, "But my family is here—Elsa, Carol, Cora, Josie, and you, Kuya Berto. You're all the ones who matter now."
"Come on, Kuya, let's take the vegetables we harvested to Cora," Ysa said with a smile as she stood up, brushing the dirt off her hands.
Ysa, unaware of the expectations and pressures weighing on her sister back in the city, happily carried the basket of vegetables to Cora, eager to share the fruits of her labor.
Meanwhile, in the opulent study of the Montemayor mansion, Sylvia sat cross-legged, her brow furrowed in concentration. Ms. Melinda Sarte, her stern yet encouraging tutor, guided her through the intricate process of absorbing elemental essence.
"Sylvia, concentrate. Don't let yourself lose focus," Ms. Melinda whispered. "You need to feel your Heart Crystal as you focus. Just like during your awakening, concentrate on your surroundings. You should be able to see tiny lights attuned to your element. Since you are an Earth elemental, focus on the yellow specks. Slowly guide them toward your body and into your Heart Crystal."
Ms. Melinda moved closer, placing her hands on Sylvia's, guiding her. "For this first time, I'll help direct the flow. Pay close attention to how the essence moves into your heart. This process is crucial."
This was the moment Sylvia had been preparing for—absorbing the essence of her surroundings. Over the last three years, Ms. Melinda has visited the mansion regularly, training Sylvia for this very day. The process of absorbing elemental essence was a critical part of Sylvia's growth, fortifying her body and organs.
In Kalibutan, children began absorbing essence into their bodies shortly after their awakening. The practice helped strengthen their organs, especially the Heart Crystal, which stored their elemental power. Today, Sylvia would take the next step, filling her Heart Crystal with essence. But the process carried risks—if her heart couldn't handle the influx of energy, it could lead to serious consequences. That's why strengthening her body has been so important in these past two years.
Ms. Melinda's touch was steady as she guided Sylvia. "Remember, a strong Heart Crystal is essential. Focus, absorb, and let the energy flow."
Beads of sweat glistened on Sylvia's forehead as the first influx of earth essence flowed into her Heart Crystal. She could feel the shift within her, the surge of strength that coursed through her slight frame. Earth elementals were naturally stronger than most, and she could already sense the difference in her body. A faint yellow light enveloped her, signaling that the process was complete.
Ms. Melinda lifted her hand and offered a congratulatory smile. "Congratulations, Miss Sylvia. You are now an Earth Novice." Her voice was warm, but firm. "But remember, this is just the beginning. You must diligently absorb essence from nature to continue filling your Heart Crystal. Right now, you're an early-rank novice. As you fill your crystal to the middle, you'll reach the mid-rank novice stage, but be cautious. Advancing through each rank is critical, and you must do so carefully."
Sylvia nodded, her chest still glowing faintly from the energy absorbed.
"Once you reach the peak of the novice stage," Ms. Melinda continued, "you'll be ready to advance to the Initiate stage. At that point, your Heart Crystal will overflow with essence, releasing energy that will circle your heart. That will be your sign of reaching the Initiate level."
Her tone grew more serious. "Be diligent, Sylvia. The higher your rank, the better your chances of receiving a token to enter the most prestigious academy in the First District. I'm betting on you. You also need to work harder because of your dual-element affinity."
Ms. Melinda paused and gave her a thoughtful look. "I'll discuss this with your parents as soon as we're done here. But you have great potential—if you stay focused."
In the study of the Montemayor mansion, Lucinda and Greg sat across from Ms. Melinda Sarte, their expressions intent as they listened.
"Your daughter is a remarkable girl," Ms. Melinda began, her tone filled with approval. "She's now an early-stage Earth Novice, which is an impressive start."
She paused for a moment, her gaze steady. "However, I want to discuss something important regarding Sylvia's elements. As you know, she has a dual affinity—a high affinity for Earth elements and a low affinity for Shadow elements. While she can cultivate both, she must focus primarily on her Earth element for now."
Ms. Melinda leaned forward slightly, her voice becoming more serious. "If Sylvia continues to cultivate her Earth element diligently, she'll advance quickly. However, if she attempts to cultivate both Earth and Shadow simultaneously, it will significantly slow her progress toward becoming an Earth Adept. That would mean she may not be qualified to enter the academy in the First District when the time comes."
Lucinda and Greg exchanged thoughtful glances as they absorbed the information.
"The plan should be to concentrate on Earth for now," Ms. Melinda continued. "Once Sylvia reaches a higher rank, say Adept Stage, the process of absorbing Earth essence will naturally slow. At that point, she can begin to focus on cultivating her Shadow element as a way to rest her Earth element."
Ms. Melinda looked directly at them. "But it's important that she doesn't neglect her Earth element. You are her parents, so I wanted to make sure you're aware of this balance. If she spreads herself too thin, it could compromise her chances of securing a position in the prestigious academy."
Having delivered her message, Ms. Melinda rose from her seat. "I've shared my thoughts, and now it's up to you and Sylvia to decide. She has great potential, but her journey will require careful guidance." With that, the instructor departed from the Montemayor Mansion.