POV Lila:
When I found out that the handsome man I was talking to was an imperial prince, I was really surprised. Honestly, I was expecting that man to be a noble, but being a prince really exceeded all my expectations.
Fortunately, this involuntary mistake could also be seen as a golden opportunity for me. If I could captivate the prince to at least hire me as a servant, then I could live a relatively comfortable life, and even if some things happen... no, let's not think about that yet.
Returning to the most important topic, the prince, whose name by the way was Illios, asked me some questions about my past, to which I honestly and promptly responded. They weren't anything out of the ordinary and my past wasn't really spectacular and exciting, rather I would call it a tragic story of decadence.
After telling him everything that happened in my life, from the bandits' attack to my years of survival as a beggar, the prince began to think deeply. His reflection took quite a while and honestly, I was starting to worry a little. What if I said something wrong? Questions like that flooded my mind, but everything was resolved when he said:
"Well, Lila, I'll give you a week to adapt to this place and after that time, I'll tell you what duty I will entrust you with so that you can stay with us."
When I heard that, I felt relieved to the point where a big sigh of relief escaped from the depths of my being, and so began the week of adaptation.
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Elsewhere...
The Ice Phoenix Sect is an ancient and powerful immortal cultivation sect, which makes its home on a snowy mountain that is difficult to access. According to legend, its founders were direct descendants of the Ice Phoenix, a legendary creature that possessed the power of ice and the ability to be reborn from its own ashes.
It is also known to be one of the most rigorous and disciplined sects in the world of immortal cultivation. Its members are fully dedicated to the practice of cultivation, seeking to attain enlightenment and perfection in all aspects of their being. The sect is divided into different levels of cultivation, each with its own trials and challenges that aspiring members must overcome.
The members of the Ice Phoenix Sect are known for their control over ice and cold. It is said that they can create snowstorms and freeze their enemies with just a movement of their hand. Their cultivation abilities allow them to control the natural elements and challenge the laws of nature.
The sect is led by a wise elder, known as the Sect Master, who is responsible for guiding members on their path to enlightenment. The Master is a woman of great wisdom and power, possessing magical abilities that allow her to control the natural elements and challenge the laws of nature.
The Ice Phoenix Sect also harbors many secrets and treasures, which are hidden in the depths of their home on the snowy mountain. It is said that these treasures contain ancient and mysterious knowledge that allows members of the sect to challenge the laws of the immortal world.
But unfortunately, these treasures, customs, and even their lineage from the past cannot prevent the unfortunate situation in which they currently find themselves.
----
The elders of the Ice Phoenix Sect gathered in the main hall of the sect to discuss the decline they had observed in the sect in recent years. Most of the members were women, but there were some men who had also been accepted into the sect due to their ability and dedication to immortal cultivation.
The Grand Master of the Sect, a wise and powerful woman, began the discussion: "Sisters, we have observed that our sect has been declining in number and strength in recent years. Does anyone have any idea why this is happening?".
A woman dressed in white with a serious expression on her face spoke: "I think part of the problem lies in the lack of motivation of some of our members. We have allowed cultivation to become a routine for some, instead of a true quest for enlightenment and perfection."
Another woman, this time dressed in blue with red accents, intervened: "In addition, I believe we have neglected our training and practice in ice and cold control. Our magical skills are what make us unique and powerful, but many of our members have lost the necessary dedication to perfect them."
A younger woman, who had recently been accepted into the sect, spoke timidly: "I also believe that part of the problem is that we have lost the sense of community and unity in our sect. Many of our members focus on their own individual progress, instead of working together to strengthen the sect as a whole."
The Grand Master silently nodded, meditating on what her sisters had said. "You are right," she finally said. "We must work together to regain motivation, dedication, and unity in our sect. Only then can we face the challenges ahead and maintain our position as one of the most powerful sects in the world of immortal cultivation."
But instead of feeling hopeful, the women looked at each other with concern. The Grand Master could feel the tension in the air, and she knew her sisters were thinking about what could happen if they failed to regain the sect's strength.
"We must act quickly," said another woman. "The Fire Phoenix Sect has been gaining too much ground in recent years. If we don't do something to strengthen ourselves, we'll never be able to catch up to those fire bastards."
The Grand Master nodded gravely, knowing her sisters were right. But despite her best efforts, she couldn't help feeling a growing sense of despair as she wondered if it was already too late to save the Ice Phoenix Sect.
----
Later on...
The Grand Master was in her room, meditating on the future of the sect, when her daughter entered silently. The young woman approached her mother and sat down beside her, saying nothing.
The Grand Master's daughter was a young and beautiful immortal cultivator, with dark blue eyes and hair as black as night with deep blue streaks. She had skin as pale as snow and fine features, inherited from her mother, that made her look like a princess from ancient stories. She wore white and silver silk robes that gave her an elegant and mysterious air.
But despite her beauty, the Grand Master's daughter was almost expressionless. She always had a serene expression on her face, showing no emotions, neither joy nor sadness. It was as if nothing affected her, as if she were an unshakable rock in a sea of emotions.
The Grand Master knew that her daughter was not insensitive, but had learned to hide her feelings behind a facade of calmness and self-control. She knew it was an important quality for an immortal cultivator, but she also knew that her daughter needed to learn to express herself better to lead the sect in the future.
After a long moment of silence, the Grand Master sighed and spoke softly. "My daughter, I am worried about the future of our sect. There are fewer and fewer immortal cultivators willing to join us, and our resources are running out. I don't know how much longer we can stay here in the mountain."
The Grand Master's daughter nodded without saying anything, staring fixedly at the ground. She knew her mother was right, but didn't know what to do to change the situation.
"And not only that," the Grand Master continued. "There are rumors that more powerful sects are planning to attack us and take our resources. We cannot allow that to happen, but I don't know if we have enough strength to defend ourselves."
The Grand Master's daughter still said nothing, but her gaze became more intense. She knew her mother was right, but she also knew she could not allow her pessimism to take hold of her.
"My daughter, I know you are a strong and skilled cultivator," said the Grand Master, placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "And I know you have the potential to lead this sect in the future. But I need you to face the reality of what is happening and think about how we can get out of this situation."
The daughter of the Grand Master solemnly nodded, her expression still serene but with a gleam of determination in her dark eyes. She knew her mother was right, and it was her duty to find a solution to save the sect from decline. Together, mother and daughter entered into deep reflection, hoping to find an answer that could change the fate of the Ice Phoenix sect.
The daughter of the Grand Master remained silent, reflecting on her mother's words. But then, suddenly, she remembered something that made her look up and speak.
"Mother, some time ago I received a message that may be able to help us," said the daughter with a hopeful tone in her voice.
The Grand Master looked at her with surprise. "What message?"
"It's about an imperial princess who is interested in our sect. She wants to come and visit us," explained the daughter. "Perhaps if we show her our power and potential, we can gain her support and make other sects fear us."
The Grand Master frowned, distrustful. "I'm not sure we can trust the interests of an imperial princess. And furthermore, how can we guarantee that our power and potential are enough to impress her?"
The daughter of the Grand Master remained steadfast in her position. "Mother, we have to take any opportunity that comes our way. We can't just sit here and do nothing while our sect weakens. We must show our strength and defend what is ours."
The Grand Master reflected on her daughter's words, and finally nodded with a sigh. "You're right, my daughter. We must seize this opportunity and do what we can to protect our sect. But we must also be alert and prepared for any eventuality. We don't know what real intentions this imperial princess has."
The daughter of the Grand Master nodded, knowing her mother was right. But she also knew that this was a unique opportunity to show the strength and power of the Ice Phoenix sect, and she hoped they could seize it to save their sect from decline.