Cultivation is Creation

"The angle of the first cut is crucial," Azure advised as I positioned the dark blade over my chest. "The trunk spiral needs to be deep enough to hold the energy, but not so deep that it damages the muscle beneath."

I took a deep breath. This was going to be very different from using Elder Molric's specialized tools. No practice runs, no safety measures, just cold steel and determination.

"I don't suppose you could just magically know the exact depth needed?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"Unfortunately not, Master. But I can guide you based on what we learned in the Two Suns world."

"Right then." I pressed the blade to my skin, angling it carefully. "Here goes nothing."

The first cut hurt more than I expected. The knife was incredibly sharp, but without the specialized resonance ink to guide the energy flow, I had to rely purely on physical precision. Blood welled up immediately, threatening to obscure the lines.

"Slightly too deep," Azure observed. "Adjust your angle by about fifteen degrees for the curve."

I wiped away the blood with a cloth torn from my inner robe, then continued the spiral.

Each cut had to be perfect – this wasn't like drawing on the Meridian Lotus where if I made a mistake, I could just start over with a new plant.