Meanwhile, back at the apartment, Clara was busy taking care of the house chores. She moved from the kitchen to the living area, organizing the space after moving Ethea to her room, since she was fast asleep. To anyone looking in, she appeared entirely at rest, but she was actually deep within her own mind, engrossed in her cultivation.
Time passed in silence.
Suddenly, Ethea's eyes snapped open.
An invisible and mystical aura rippled through the room. Tiny stars had filled her eyes, glittering in her pupils as her body slowly began to lift. She levitated a few centimeters above the wheelchair, suspended for a few seconds before gently falling back onto the seat. The stellar light in her eyes receded, her pupils slowly regaining their natural color and clarity.
'I... I've broken through,' she thought, her lips curling up subconsciously.
The joy was instantaneous, but it lasted only a fraction of a second.
