Wooden Root: Barbara's Journey

Barbara was in her cave, focused on her alchemy, when she heard a knock at the door. She frowned, surprised. Few people sought her out directly. When she opened the door, she was even more surprised to see an elder of the sect standing there with a serious expression.

"Barbara, may I come in?" the elder said, his voice calm but firm.

Barbara immediately bowed in respect, allowing him into her cave. She felt a slight tension in the air, not entirely understanding what he wanted.

"Of course, elder. How may I assist you?" she asked, maintaining her composure.

The elder walked slowly through the cave, his gaze falling on Barbara's alchemy furnace, which stood there, softly glowing. He looked at her for a moment before speaking.

"I’ve been hearing rumors around the sect," he began, his voice low but authoritative. "I’ve been told you possess a rather rare and special alchemy furnace. I’d like to see it."

Barbara felt a shiver of nervousness, but she knew she couldn’t hesitate. The elder wasn’t here out of curiosity. He was investigating.

"Of course, elder," Barbara replied, stepping aside, allowing him to approach the furnace. She watched as the elder carefully examined the artifact. His experienced hands touched the golden surface and the ornate carvings engraved on the sides. The furnace was clearly ancient and rare, a relic that few possessed.

After a moment of silence, the elder straightened and looked directly at her.

"This is indeed an extraordinary furnace. Ancient, rare, and… powerful. Where did you find it, Barbara?"

Barbara's heart raced for a brief moment, but she remained calm. She knew this was a test and that she had to be honest, as the elder would not accept vague answers.

"I found this furnace in an isolated cave, elder, during a mission outside the sect. It was the treasure of a lone alchemist who, unfortunately, perished there. It was stored along with some ancient alchemy manuals. I brought it back to continue my learning."

The elder remained silent, reflecting on her answer. His deep gaze seemed to read every word Barbara said, but he found nothing to suggest she was lying. Finally, he nodded slightly, satisfied with her explanation.

"I see. You’ve done well to find it and use it to improve your skills. But know that possessing something so valuable brings responsibilities, and often, it attracts unwanted attention." The elder observed her once more, his eyes severe but fair. "Be careful, Barbara. Don’t let the envy and ambition of others cast a shadow over you."

Barbara bowed again, relieved that he had accepted her explanation.

"Yes, elder. I understand, and I thank you for the advice."

With one last look at the alchemy furnace, the elder turned and left the cave, leaving Barbara alone with her thoughts. Despite the relief of having passed the interrogation, she knew this moment was a reminder that the rumors might continue to haunt her.

After he left, Barbara sat in silence, reflecting on the importance of keeping her secret safe. The alchemy furnace had already attracted too much attention, and she knew that if the magical garden were discovered, it could cause an even greater storm. The elder’s warning was clear: her rise in the sect would be challenging, and she would need to be more vigilant than ever.

Barbara was in her cave, organizing her spiritual herbs, when she heard a familiar voice behind her.

"Barbara? Can we talk?"

She quickly turned and saw Hai Tu, her longtime friend, standing at the entrance of the cave. Hai Tu’s expression was a little different than usual. There was a mix of curiosity and a slight hint of disappointment on her face. Barbara felt a slight tension in the air and knew immediately that something wasn’t right.

"Of course, Hai Tu. What’s going on?" Barbara asked, trying to remain calm while gesturing for Hai Tu to sit.

Hai Tu slowly walked in, observing the cave, and finally, her eyes fell on the alchemy furnace. She sighed before speaking.

"I heard… about the furnace," she began, her voice calm but filled with emotion. "Why didn’t you ever tell me that you had such a rare and powerful alchemy furnace? We’re friends, Barbara. I thought we didn’t have secrets from each other."

Barbara froze for a moment. She knew this day would eventually come, but she hadn’t expected it to be so soon. Hai Tu’s discomfort was visible, and it made her feel a wave of guilt. But at the same time, Barbara knew the weight of keeping certain secrets, even from those closest to her.

"Hai Tu…" Barbara began, her voice soft. "It wasn’t my intention to hide this from you. It’s just… I thought it would be better to keep it a secret for now. I didn’t know how people would react, and I didn’t want this furnace to become a problem for me… or for us."

Hai Tu crossed her arms, clearly thinking over Barbara’s words.

"But why not tell me, Barbara?" she asked, her voice firmer now. "I’m your friend. I thought we trusted each other. You knew I could help you protect the furnace, or at least stand by your side. Now, with these rumors spreading, I find out from others and not from you."

Barbara felt a knot form in her stomach. She knew Hai Tu was right, but the fear of attracting even more attention than she already had was what motivated her to keep the furnace a secret. Even now, the magical garden was an even bigger concern, something she couldn’t even imagine revealing.

"I know I was wrong not to tell you earlier, Hai Tu. But… I was afraid. Afraid that if more people knew, it would put me in a complicated position in the sect. It’s not just the rumors—there’s so much envy, so much competition. You know how people can be here. I didn’t want you to get caught up in this."

Hai Tu looked at her for a long moment before softening her expression a little.

"I understand that you want to protect yourself, Barbara, but you also have friends. And I’m one of them. You don’t have to carry this burden alone." She gave a small smile, though there was still a shadow of disappointment. "I just hope that in the future, you’ll trust me with the things that really matter. I’m here for you, not against you."

Barbara took a deep breath, relieved that she hadn’t lost Hai Tu’s friendship, but aware that a level of trust had been shaken.

"I promise I’ll be more open with you from now on," Barbara said, her voice sincere. "I really appreciate your friendship and support. I’m just trying to adjust to all of this."

Hai Tu nodded, but before standing to leave, she looked at the furnace one more time.

"That furnace… it’s very powerful. I know you’re using it for your progress, but it also brings risks. Be careful, Barbara. Don’t let it become the center of attention in the sect. I don’t want it to bring trouble for you… or for us."

Barbara nodded, feeling the weight of Hai Tu’s words. As she watched her friend leave the cave, she knew she needed to be more cautious. The alchemy furnace had already attracted too much attention, and now the pressure to keep the magical garden a secret seemed even greater. She would need to be smarter, both in whom she trusted and in how she acted within the sect.

The friendship with Hai Tu was safe for now, but Barbara knew the road ahead would be full of challenges. And, above all, she knew that the next great test wasn’t far off.