Normal cultivation... I had been introduced to it a long time ago now, and even after all these years I still dreaded it because of one simple reason; it was such a boring and bland process to go through for seemingly little gain.
You sat down, closed your eyes, focused your being on that Spirit Root inside of you and then you 'listened' to it as it guided your mind to the area around your body, seeking out every single drop of natural Qi that might be around you.
According to the various higher level Cultivators that I had listened to, it was only the Foundation stage that felt this 'boring', since the moment you entered the Spirit Blossoming stage you were naturally producing Qi yourself, so your attention and efforts could go to 'studying' your techniques over and over again.
Figuring out how the Qi you made worked and what it's possible uses could be before actually doing something with it; compared to now that sounded like so much fun, but I needed to reach the Ninth Foundation and then awaken my Spirit Root completely before I could do that, so for now...
I just sat here, on my bed, pulling in every single droplet of Qi that my Spirit Root could find in hopes of it being enough to completely form that seventh bud, and compared to earlier with the Spirit Jade I was nowhere near capable enough to track the passage of time.
I just knew that eventually someone knocked on my door and pulled me from this reverie, causing me to grumble since I had been about to harness another few droplets of Qi for myself, though I always knew that someone knocking on my door meant something was happening that needed my attention.
When I opened the door I saw Giovanni standing there with Leo right behind him, the two dressed in practically the same robe yet still looking very different; Giovanni made the simple heavy black robe look elegant and refined, his sharper features and steady smile making him quite handsome.
Meanwhile the robe Leo wore was just a bit too big for him, causing his fingers to poke out instead of his hands while the pins keeping it from dragging along the ground were clearly visible; it made him look all the more adorable, especially since he was smiling warmly like always and looking up at me from behind our older brother.
"Izzy, do you wanna come to town with us?"
"And watch you get that apprenticeship or whatever? 'Course I do! Lemme get my robe- never mind, already in it~!"
Leo chuckled and muttered "Idiot..." while Giovanni just rolled his eyes, and the moment I heard that from Leo I reached over and ruffled his hair, earning a bemused cry from the boy as he rushed away from me, hoping to escape.
"Get back here!"
Chasing after him, I paused to get my boots on and watched as he laughed and ran onto the path, turning back to stick his tongue out at me before he darted towards town; when I was ready I chased off after him, gaining on him quickly before controlling my speed to be just slower than him, drawing this out for as long as I could.
Giovanni jogged after us, watching from afar and shaking his head as we made our way to the town far quicker than we should have, and thanks to so many years - our whole lives, really - being beneath this rain we were accustomed to the run, though that was why I had kept myself just a bit behind Leo.
Just because we were accustomed to it didn't mean we were immune to slipping, so I was making sure he was good and safe, but the moment we reached town I surged forwards and grabbed his collar, effortlessly lifting him up and grinning at him as I held him up, waiting for Giovanni.
"Gio~! Look what I caught~! A drenched lil rat!"
He was giggling and squirming in my hand, but the moment Giovanni arrived he pouted and tried to act all pitiful and sad, saying "Brother, save me! Izzy is evil and-!" only to gasp when Giovanni pursed his lips and said "Not a rat... he's a puppy, Izzy. Bit too big for a rat, and definitely better looking too."
"Yeah, a cute lil puppy that doesn't know what's gonna happen to him!"
Leo tried - and failed - to wiggle free from my grasp, though before I could do something to 'punish' him for calling me an idiot we were interrupted by a girl running up to us and saying "Sis Izzy! Bro Gio! Leo! That lady's here again! Your Pa told me to show you here! C'mon!"
A young girl rushed up to us with wide eyes and a toothy smile, tugging on my sleeve and pointing towards the pavilion in excitement before she blinked a few times, realizing that Leo was currently being dangled over the wet ground like a stray.
I let him go and snickered when he almost fell on his face, earning a pout from my younger brother before slapping his back and pushing him forwards as I realized that the young girl - Amy - was staring, like she always did whenever she saw Leo.
She was just... a decade too young for him, but that didn't mean that even at that age she didn't appreciate good looks, because like always she was blushing and peeking at him despite him having been in a rather precarious position moments ago.
"C'mon then! Let's not keep this lady waitin'!"
Leo almost managed to dodge my hand again as he surged forwards, but I still grabbed his collar and 'walked' him forwards, causing Giovanni to chuckle quietly to himself before he said "You never learn, Leo."
"Izzy's just a meanie!"
"Yeah, Sis Izzy is a meanie! I... I mean..."
Amy's surge of confidence crumbled as fast as it had appeared, the girl's infatuation with Leo causing her to misspeak and earning her a grin from me as I said "I sure am a meanie, Amy~!", my target switching from my brother - for now - and to her, though I just hoisted her up and tickled her before slinging her over my shoulder, carrying her with us instead of letting her walk.
She beat her little fists against me and complained the whole way there, but the moment we stepped beneath the pavilion and I moved to put her down she just pouted at me and let out a huff, keeping her arms slung around my neck as she stayed where she was.