Corde looked thoughtful, knowing that her questions would probably be pointless. But not asking if there was a chance someone had not thought of a thing was a small evil all its own. No breath was wasted if it sat your mind at ease.
"Have you attempted your cultivation only here at the estate? Sometimes location affects essence accumulation, particularly if there's interference from another source."
"Everywhere I've lived. This isn't a new problem. Different techniques, different environments. The result is always the same."
Zyris exhaled. The frustration was so old and deep that it sometimes seemed like she was unbothered. But the truth was, she was always subtly angry about it. While she loved Meyran now, what might have changed had she been able to cultivate properly in her early life?
"I begin to gather essence successfully, and then it... simply drains away, leaving me fatigued and nauseated. Which is why I compare it to such energy poisoning."
