The kitchen had grown quiet after their meal prep.
The lantern on the table flickered softly, its warm glow stretching long shadows across the wooden walls.
Outside, the city had begun to settle into the slower rhythm of night.
The distant sounds of merchants and travelers had faded, replaced by the occasional creak of wooden carts or the faint murmur of voices drifting through the streets.
Inside the house, the calm atmosphere remained undisturbed.
Evan stood near the counter, flexing his fingers again.
"…It's still there," he murmured.
Lyra had not taken her eyes off him since he first mentioned the strange warmth.
"…Describe it again," she said slowly.
Evan raised his hand and turned it slightly under the lantern light, studying it as if he expected to see something different.
"…It's not exactly hot," he explained. "It's more like… warmth spreading under the skin. Like something moving slowly."
Lyra stepped closer.
Her expression had changed from casual curiosity to careful attention.
"…When did it begin?"
Evan thought about it for a moment.
"…While I was cutting vegetables," he replied. "At first I thought my hand just got tired, but then it started spreading up my arm."
He rotated his wrist again.
"…Now it feels like it's everywhere."
Lyra frowned faintly.
"…That should not happen."
Evan raised an eyebrow.
"…That doesn't sound very reassuring."
Lyra ignored the comment.
Instead, she reached out and gently took his wrist, checking his pulse.
Her fingers rested lightly against his skin.
For a moment she said nothing.
Her eyes slowly narrowed.
"…Strange."
Evan leaned slightly toward her.
"…That's the second time you've said that."
"…Your pulse is stable," she continued calmly. "Your breathing is normal. There are no signs of instability."
"…That sounds good so far."
"…However…"
She paused.
"…The surrounding Qi is reacting."
Evan blinked.
"…Reacting?"
Lyra lifted her gaze toward the air around them.
The kitchen felt the same as before.
But to someone who could sense it—
Something had changed.
The natural Qi in the air had begun to move.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Almost like a gentle current in water.
"…It is gathering," Lyra said softly.
Evan looked around the room.
"…I don't see anything."
"…You would not."
"…Then how do you know?"
Lyra studied him carefully before answering.
"…Because it is gathering around you."
Evan froze.
"…Around me?"
"…Yes."
He laughed awkwardly.
"…Okay, that sounds a little dramatic."
Lyra did not smile.
"…I am serious."
Evan's expression slowly shifted.
"…Wait… you're not joking?"
"…No."
Evan rubbed the back of his neck.
"…That's weird."
Lyra nodded slightly.
She stepped back a little, watching him more closely now.
"…You are not actively circulating Qi."
"…I don't even know how to do that."
"…Exactly."
Evan spread his arms slightly.
"…So… what's happening?"
Lyra didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she focused on the invisible flow surrounding him.
The Qi was moving slowly.
But steadily.
Like mist being drawn toward a center.
Toward Evan.
"…You are absorbing it," she said eventually.
Evan blinked again.
"…Absorbing it?"
"…Yes."
"…Is that bad?"
"…Not necessarily."
"…That does not sound comforting."
Lyra remained silent for a moment.
Then spoke again.
"…Normally, Qi absorption requires deliberate cultivation techniques."
"…Which I definitely did not do."
"…Correct."
Evan scratched his head.
"…So you're saying my body is just… doing it on its own?"
"…It appears so."
Evan let out a quiet laugh.
"…That sounds convenient."
Lyra did not share his amusement.
"…It is also unusual."
"…Unusual how?"
"…Most people cannot absorb Qi without guidance or training."
"…Well," Evan said with a shrug, "I guess I'm talented."
Lyra's gaze remained serious.
"…This is not a matter of talent."
The air in the room shifted slightly.
The gentle current of Qi slowly became stronger.
Evan suddenly paused again.
"…Okay, now it's getting stronger."
Lyra noticed it too.
The Qi was no longer drifting slowly.
It was gathering faster now.
"…Evan," she said calmly, "remain still."
"…I wasn't planning on running anywhere."
"…Good."
The invisible energy in the room continued flowing toward him.
Slow.
Steady.
Controlled.
Almost as if something inside him was guiding it.
Lyra watched closely.
Her confusion slowly deepened.
"…This should not be happening so smoothly," she murmured.
"…That sentence keeps appearing tonight," Evan replied.
The air suddenly felt heavier.
Evan inhaled slowly.
"…Okay… that definitely feels weird."
"…Explain."
"…It feels like… pressure."
Lyra's attention sharpened instantly.
"…Where?"
"…Everywhere."
The Qi continued gathering.
The lantern flame flickered violently for a brief moment.
Then—
A sudden pulse erupted from Evan's body.
BOOM.
A small shockwave spread through the room.
The lantern rattled.
Loose papers on the table fluttered.
The wooden stool tipped over with a soft thud.
Then—
Silence.
The Qi settled.
The air returned to normal.
Evan blinked several times.
"…What just happened?"
Lyra stared at him.
For once—
She looked genuinely surprised.
"…Your first step in cultivation," she said quietly.
Evan frowned.
"…My what?"
"…You just awakened your essence."
"…I did what?"
Lyra crossed her arms slowly, her eyes still fixed on him.
"…Essence Awakening," she repeated. "The first stage of cultivation."
Evan looked down at his hands again.
Then back at her.
"…Just now?"
"…Yes."
"…From cutting vegetables?"
Lyra sighed softly.
"…That part remains unclear."
Evan leaned against the counter.
"…So… let me get this straight."
He raised one finger.
"…I tried learning how to cook."
A second finger.
"…Then my body randomly started absorbing energy."
A third finger.
"…Then something exploded and i started my first step in cultivation."
Lyra nodded calmly.
"…Correct."
Evan stared at her.
"…That's ridiculous."
"…It is unusual."
"…Unusual is an understatement."
Lyra stepped closer again, studying him carefully.
"…How do you feel now?"
Evan stretched his arms slightly.
"…Honestly?"
"…Yes."
Looked at his hand again.
"…Better."
"…Better?"
"…Like I have more energy."
Lyra nodded slowly.
"…That is expected, You entered the first step of cultivation after all."
Evan looked thoughtful.
"…But why did it happen?"
Lyra was about to answer—
When suddenly—
A faint mechanical voice echoed inside Evan's mind.
!~Ding~!
Evan froze.
"…What?"
Lyra frowned.
"…What did you say?"
Evan blinked rapidly.
"…There is something you should know."
"…what?"
The voice continued.
[Notice: Passive Qi Absorption skill has been activated.]
"The system."
Evan's eyes widened.
"…Lyra…"
"…Explain."
He stared straight ahead, confusion spreading across his face.
"…The system told me what happened."