True to her word, Barathi led Fii into a simple, secluded hut within the Kurigali's forested hideaway. Fii's anxiety was slowly replaced by a curious wonder as she entered the space.

  Inside the hut, there was a square tub filled with an array of flowers—marigolds, orchids, hibiscus, and others Fii didn't recognize by sight or scent—that emitted a gentle aroma, teasing her nostrils and making her lean in for a better smell. Steam wafted from the surface of the bath, the heat having caused the petals to unfurl and release their fragrances into the air.

  Around the tub, candles cast a warm glow on the wooden walls of the hut. An array of painted clay bowls sat on a stone shelf, each filled with a different colored powder.

  "I thought it was just a water bath!" Fii blurted out, her cheeks flushing pink. "This is so fancy."

  Barathi smiled, clearly amused. "This is a ritual of cleansing and purification. It's a part of our tradition to welcome a new member of the community, and it's not meant to be rushed."

  "New member?" Fii's eyes widened as she glanced between the tub and Barathi.

  Barathi's smile softened. "Well, not officially yet, but we'll see where your path takes you. But for now, the purpose of this is to clean the body and soul before you embark on a spiritual journey."

  Two other women who looked close to Fii's age stepped into the hut, carrying small clay jars and bowls.

  "This is Raiya and Miko, my apprentices," Barathi said, gesturing to the women. "They will help me with the bath preparations."

  "Oh, uh, hi," Fii greeted, feeling a little overwhelmed by the sudden increase in company. Raiya and Miko smiled back, but didn't speak; their attention quickly turned to setting up for the ceremony.

  Raiya began lighting a bundle of dried herbs tied together with a piece of string. She gently waved it around the room, letting the smoke fill the hut. The scent was earthy and soothing, but Fii couldn't quite place the fragrance.

  Next, Miko picked up a small bowl containing a blue powder. She dipped her fingers into the bowl, then began tracing lines on the floor around the tub, humming softly as she worked.

  "What's that?" Fii asked, leaning over to get a better look at the blue powder.

  "Those are lines of protection, to keep any negative energies from entering the space," Barathi explained, nodding towards the lines. "And Raiya is cleansing the air with sacred herbs."

  As Raiya finished smudging the room and Miko completed the lines on the floor, Barathi stepped over to the bath and started stirring the flower petals with her hand. The water made gentle splashes, creating small ripples in the surface. She then picked up a jar, uncorked it, and poured an amber-colored oil into the tub.

  "So... what do you want me to do now?" Fii asked, rubbing the back of her head.

  "Disrobe and enter the tub," Barathi stated, motioning towards the bath. "We will begin the ceremony. The herbs in the bath will cleanse your skin, while the oils we add will soothe your mind and nourish your spirit."

  Fii felt a jolt of shyness run through her, her eyes flicking between the three expectant faces. She was usually pretty casual about stripping down, but something about this felt more... intimate. Plus, with Quinn's words in her mind...

  "Um, what about those two?" Fii pointed at Raiya and Miko, her voice a bit high and strained. "Is that part of the, uh, tradition?"

  Barathi glanced over at Raiya and Miko, who had started to whisper and giggle quietly to themselves. She sighed and gave Fii a sympathetic look. "It's alright. They're young. They are supposed to learn about our rituals and customs by observing."

  Fii grimaced. "That's... not super reassuring, but okay. If that's how it's supposed to be."

  She squared her shoulders and began taking off her shoes and socks. Then, with a small sigh of resignation, she pulled her tank top over her head, letting it drop to the floor beside her. Next, she slipped out of her bike shorts, feeling the warm air of the hut on her bare skin.

  The two apprentices exchanged looks, but Fii couldn't really make out the meaning behind their glances. Raiya was shorter, with jet-black hair and sharp, striking features. Miko had softer, rounder features, her brown hair cropped short. But in their matching robes and their quiet, observant demeanor, they seemed like reflections of each other.

  Once she was fully undressed, she tried to cover herself as best she could with her arms. Slowly, Fii approached the bath and stepped into the tub.

  The water was just shy of scalding, and she could feel her skin tingling as she sunk in, surrounded by the fragrant petals. The flowers floated around her, their petals gently brushing against her legs and arms. She tried to find a comfortable position, but the tub was a bit cramped for her taste.

  Fii decided to sit with her legs bent to her chest, her chin resting on her knees. She wrapped her arms around her legs, a small buffer of modesty.

  As she settled into the tub, the three Kurigali women stepped closer, forming a triangle around her. Barathi picked up a wooden ladle, dipped it into the tub, and began pouring the fragrant water over Fii's body, letting it cascade down her skin and hair. Raiya and Miko followed suit, dipping their ladles into the tub and gently pouring the water onto Fii.

  "Uh, this is kinda weird," Fii murmured, her cheeks flushing red. The sensation of hot water and the gentle touch of their hands on her back and shoulders made her feel self-conscious, yet cared for at the same time. The water felt soothing against her skin, and she couldn't deny that the herbal scent of the bath was quite pleasant.

  Barathi, standing behind Fii, began massaging her scalp with scented oils, while Raiya and Miko continued to pour water over her. As Barathi massaged her head, she recited words in a low, melodic voice in her native tongue.

  "Ura-lo ta-hali, lo-ka ta-tera ta-navi, Sala-lo ta-fira," Barathi chanted softly.

  "Umm... what does that mean?" Fii asked, feeling a little uneasy.

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  "May the waters cleanse you, may the flowers heal you, and may the spirits embrace you," Barathi translated, her fingers moving gently through Fii's hair.

  "Oh, that's nice," Fii said, relaxing a bit. She closed her eyes and let herself focus on the feeling of the water on her skin and the soft, rhythmic chants of the Kurigali women. The herbal bath was starting to make her feel a bit drowsy, as if she were sinking deeper and deeper into a warm, peaceful sea.

  After a while—Fii wasn't sure how long, as time seemed to stretch and blur in the dim light of the hut—Barathi's hands left her head. Fii was left sitting in the bath, the water now cooled to a lukewarm temperature.

  "All done?" she asked, glancing back at Barathi.

  Barathi smiled. "Not yet, young one. You still need to be fully cleansed."

  She turned and motioned to the two apprentices. Raiya and Miko moved forward, stepping closer to the bath. They kneeled, each dipping a cloth into the bathwater. They began to rub the cloths over Fii's skin, starting from her shoulders and moving down her back.

  Fii jolted a bit, a small squeak of surprise escaping her lips as the cloth made contact with her skin. They were very thorough, too, lifting her legs and doing a full scrub-down.

  How long has it been since someone else washed her? She couldn't really remember...

  The Kurigali women worked in silence, the sound of dripping water punctuating the occasional crackle from the candles. Once they finished the bath and cleaning, they helped Fii out of the tub. Miko handed her a soft, white towel to dry herself off with.

  The warmth of the bath lingered on her skin, and her face felt flushed—not just from the heat, but from the whole experience. There was something humbling, almost surreal, about being cared for in such a ritualistic way. She was used to doing things herself, after all.

  As Fii wrapped herself in the soft towel, patting herself dry, she stole glances at Raiya and Miko, who moved about the hut with practiced ease, gathering fresh cloths, powders, and other items. Barathi approached with a bundle of fabrics and an assortment of small clay pots in her arms, each one containing different colored paints.

  "Now that you are cleansed," Barathi began as she set the bundle on a stool, "we will apply the virelo paint to prepare you for the initiation. Each symbol we place upon you tells a story, a blessing, and a protection. Your path ahead will be difficult, so you must carry these symbols with you."

  Guess the towel needs to go again...

  She carefully laid the towel next to the tub, exposing herself once more to the three women.

  "So, uh… how does this paint work? Do I get, like, warrior stripes or something?" she asked, trying to lighten the mood, though a little voice in her head whispered that maybe this wasn't the place for jokes.

  Barathi, to her surprise, chuckled softly. "In a way, yes. Each stripe, dot, and curve holds meaning. The virelo will protect and guide you. Some of the symbols are for endurance, some for wisdom, and others for strength."

  Fii nodded, still feeling a bit disoriented from the bath. "What should I do now?"

  "Stand for us," Barathi replied, motioned for Fii to stand on a small woven mat in the center of the hut.

  She stepped onto the mat, her bare feet pressing against the coiled fibers. Barathi and the other two Kurigali women moved around her, beginning to dab patterns and symbols on her skin with their fingers. They started from her forehead and worked their way down her body, the cool paint contrasting with the lingering warmth from the bath.

  Fii resisted the urge to squirm as the brush tickled her skin. She could feel each stroke, like the touch of a feather, tracing across her body.

  "The virelo is made from special herbs and roots that are sacred to our people," Barathi explained as she painted a spiral on Fii's cheek. "This line is the Path of Sight. It is to help you see clearly, not just with your eyes, but with your heart. To see the spirit within others, and to find your own truth when you are lost."

  Fii nodded, though she wasn't sure if she entirely understood. Seeing with her heart? Finding her own truth? It all sounded a bit... abstract. But she figured there must be some deeper meaning behind it all.

  As the ritual continued, her mind started to wander. She was a bit embarrassed by the whole process, but at the same time, it also felt somewhat... liberating. Plus, it was hard not to admit that the paint looked kinda cool and pretty against her skin.

  Raiya dipped a cloth into the red pigment and began drawing curved lines along Fii's collarbones and down her shoulders, still allowing her to stand upright. Miko followed suit, painting delicate whorls and spirals along her forearms, as if adorning her skin with a winding river.

  "These markings," Barathi explained, pointing to the lines on Fii's arms, "are the Veins of Strength. They honor the resilience of our people and carry the spirit of endurance within them. When your body tires, you will feel their guidance."

  The paintings continued in this manner, with Barathi and the others explaining each set of symbols as they were applied to her body, connecting them to stories of their ancestors, spirits, and the natural world.

  Fii couldn't help but squirm a bit as they painted her midsection, though she did her best to stay still. The wet paint felt cool against her skin, and the steady movement of their hands across her abdomen was a little ticklish.

  Barathi added another swirl to her lower abdomen, then declared, "This is the Spiral of Growth, a symbol of transformation and rebirth. As you pass through one stage of life to the next, it helps you stay rooted in who you are and understand the person you are becoming."

  On and on the application went. Every inch of her skin felt alive with the brush of their hands and the wet touch of the paints.

  Miko knelt in front of her, painting a series of dots and lines down her thigh and knee. Her other leg was being worked on by Raiya. The paint tickled her skin, and she had to bite her lip to keep from giggling at the sensation.

  "These here," Barathi gestured to the symbols on Fii's legs, "are the Footsteps of Courage. They represent the bravery of the first Kurigali who ventured into the unknown, and they carry that spirit with every step you take."

  By the end, Fii's skin was a canvas of rich, earthy paints. Barathi placed her hands on her hips, examining their handiwork.

  "It is done," she said with a note of satisfaction. "Now, you must let the virelo dry. Let the colors and their meanings seep into your skin and spirit. Then, when the time is right, you may come to the center of the village to begin the next step."

  Barathi then handed her a small bundle of garments. "Dress yourself in these once you are dry."

  Fii held the bundle in her hands and did a double-take. "Umm... What is this?"

  "It is the traditional dress for the ceremony," Barathi replied, raising an eyebrow.

  Fii held up the bundle, which was really only two small pieces of cloth. One was a long, colorful loincloth, while the other was a matching bandeau, essentially a single strip of fabric.

  "This is for real?" Fii asked, dumbfounded.

  Barathi smiled. "It is. The virelo paint should be exposed for the ceremony, so the traditional garb is minimal. This is customary for our people during rites of passage."

  "Oh. So... just this? And I'm going to be around a bunch of people like this?"

  "Yes. Don't worry. Soon, you'll forget all about the clothes. The focus will be on the teachings, and you will see others dressed the same. It is not so unusual among us."

  "O...okay..."

  After Barathi and the others left, Fii did her best to dress herself in the ceremonial clothes. The breeze coming from the cracks in the hut's wood made her feel oddly exposed. The small garments did very little to hide anything from view. Even growing up in the slums, she had never gone around wearing this little before.

  She wondered what Quinn would think, if he could see her like this. A little jolt ran through her. Not in fear of his judgment, but something else...

  How did the Kurigali go around like this without getting all shy and weird?

  Looking down at herself, she gave a sigh.

  This is going to be so awkward...