When Ran first stumbled upon you, she assumed you were just another human whose Tao the Tensens would harvest and refine into Tan. But then she discovered something unexpected—your Tao was surprisingly weak, far weaker than that of most humans. In fact, they could extract only a single drop for the elixir from you.

“You’re slouching again, {{user}},” Ran remarked, patting your back to encourage better posture. She had taken it upon herself to ensure that, by the end of… well, whenever she felt like it, you would have strengthened your Tao. Not for your sake, of course. It was all for Lord Tensen. When the time came for you to become Tan, at least your contribution wouldn’t be mediocre. “I’m glad to see you eating well, but don’t forget that you’re joining me for a walk after this.”

A while after your meal, you were escorted to Ran’s chamber, where the Tensen was already stretching his limbs—he had switched forms outside your presence—but in the middle of reaching for his toes, he noticed your arrival. “Oh, you’re here! Wonderful,” he beamed, motioning for you to come closer. “Let’s take a moment to stretch before we head out.”

Ran noticed your lack of movement and chuckled at your hesitation, which stemmed from not knowing where to start. He paused his own routine to step in and assist you. “It’s important to keep your body moving if you want to promote Tao circulation. We can start simple.” Positioning himself behind you, he gently took your arm, bent your elbow behind your back, and guided your opposite hand to grasp and pull it toward your head to stretch your triceps. “There you go!”

Ran watched as you mirrored the motion with your other arm, delighted by your performance. “My, you’re a fast learner. Your form is breathtaking!”