"Let me get dressed first. We can talk afterward."
Her voice broke through Kael's thoughts once again. He watched as Freya turned and walked away, disappearing into the mist. It was clear now that she was finally ready to have a conversation, and Kael clung to the hope that soon he would have answers to why he was here, what this place was, and why he seemed to be at the center of it all.
That was his hope, at least.
--------------------
They moved to a different room since the bathhouse wasn't an ideal place for a proper conversation.
Kael now sat on the edge of a bed in Freya's room. She sat across from him in a chair, her posture relaxed, but her sharp gaze was focused on him, studying his every movement. The room was surprisingly simple for someone of Freya's status. A single bed, a plain mirror, and a few chairs made up the furnishings. It wasn't what Kael had expected from the sect master of such a powerful organization.
Freya had changed into a clean, white robe that suited her well, enhancing her graceful yet commanding presence.
"Let me introduce myself first," she began, her tone steady. "My name is Freya Aurelis. I am the current sect master of the Frozen Sky Pavilion. You can just call me Freya."
Freya. The name struck Kael immediately, reminding him of a certain god from Earth.
"My name is Kael," he replied after a brief hesitation.
Freya nodded, a faint approving smile tugging at her lips. "So, Kael? That's a good name. You're still wondering why you're here, right?"
Kael gave a small nod. "Yes."
Freya leaned back slightly, folding her arms as she spoke. "To be honest, I don't know much myself," she admitted. Her words surprised him, but she continued before he could respond. "I only know one thing for certain - you are the one our Ancestor waited for."
"Your Ancestor?" Kael repeated, frowning. "How do you even know it's me?" The claim sounded absurd. He didn't know their Ancestor. From the looks of Freya, she was older than him, so how could he possibly know someone from her lineage?
"Your soul," Freya said calmly, her voice unruffled. "There was a soul mark left by our Ancestor. Only the sect master of each generation knows about this."
"A soul mark?" Kael asked, still struggling to make sense of it. He wasn't entirely sure what it meant, but the name itself gave him a vague idea. "How could there even be something like that?"
Freya sighed lightly and shook her head. "That's indeed strange, and I don't have the answers. But the mark is unmistakable. It means our Ancestor must have met you before. You see, our Ancestor was highly proficient in the Time Dao."
"Time Dao?" Kael murmured, the term only deepening his confusion.
Freya's expression softened slightly, and she continued. "There's more, but… there is one place that might hold the answers you're looking for. It's a sacred hall tied to our Ancestor's legacy. I've never been able to enter it myself - it is restricted solely for you."
Her words left Kael stunned.
"It's not uncommon," Freya continued. "I don't know from what kind of world you came from, but every strong being has their legacy. Even I have one, which gets passed to my daughter."
She had a daughter? Kael's curiosity was piqued. He pressed on, hoping to find out more about this sacred hall.
"About this hall, are you sure I can enter it?" he asked.
Freya nodded without hesitation. "Why don't we test it now?"
"Sure," Kael replied. Since he was already here and still unsure of how to return home, he figured he might as well get more familiar with this world and its rules.
Kael had already figured out that this place was some kind of sect, but seeing it in person stunned him even more. As they walked toward the hall, they passed many disciples, each wearing different robes. They all looked at Kael as if he were some kind of pest. He noticed that he didn't see any other men. Was it because of that? He wasn't sure, but with Freya by his side, he didn't feel threatened.
But if looks could kill, he would have been dead already.
Not long after, they arrived.
"We're here," Freya said, stopping before a massive gate that stood at least twenty meters tall.
What should he do? Kael had never done anything like this before.
"Just lay your hand on the gate."
Kael moved toward the gate and did as he was told.
As soon as his hand made contact with the gate, it slowly began to open.
He turned to look at Freya, who had a strange light in her eyes.
"Should I just enter?" Kael asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
"Go in," Freya said, her voice firm.
With her words as permission, Kael stepped forward and moved inside.
The moment his feet crossed the threshold, the gate slammed shut behind him, trapping him inside the room.
The room was much smaller than Kael had expected, especially considering the size of the gate. The walls were lined with countless swords, each displayed with great care. A throne sat at the far end of the room, positioned in the center of the wall. Kael hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do next, before slowly making his way toward it.
As he reached the throne, a light flickered on top of it. Mist swirled around, quickly dissipating. When the fog cleared, an old man sat atop the throne. His eyes scanned Kael carefully, sharp and unwavering. He had long grey hair, a thick beard, and a face full of deep wrinkles that spoke of many years lived. Despite his old appearance, there was an undeniable presence about him that commanded attention.
"You're finally here," the old man said, his voice surprisingly strong and clear. "This clone was about to disappear. You took longer than I expected."
Kael stood frozen, unsure how to react.
The old man noticed his confusion and continued, "You came for the Legacy, and I am here to deliver it."
"Excuse me, sir, but I don't even know you. And what do you mean by Legacy?" Kael asked, genuinely lost.
The old man chuckled lightly, but there was no mockery in his tone. "You don't? It doesn't matter if you do or not. You are here now. Let me explain the Legacy."
With a graceful motion, he stood up and, in an instant, flew down to stand right in front of Kael. Despite his age, his movements were fast and fluid, as though he were still in the prime of life. His eyes locked onto Kael's, and his voice grew more serious.
"Many years ago, in an era long gone, there was a time of great war. Powerful cultivators rose to claim dominion over vast territories. Among them was a man, a leader known for his immense charisma. Under his command, he unified the primordial chaos and founded the first great Dao sect. Though he wasn't the strongest individually, he was unbeatable with the countless loyal subordinates he commanded."
He paused for a moment, studying Kael closely.
"What do you think could stop such a man?"
Kael thought for a moment. It wasn't a hard question, but only a single word came to mind. "Betrayal?"
The old man's eyes brightened, and a small smile appeared on his wrinkled face. "You're right. He was betrayed. His most loyal followers stabbed him in the back as soon as they won the war. But even though he was severely injured, he managed to survive. He fled and lived for a few more years."
The old man sighed, as if recalling painful memories.
"During that time, he cursed himself for trusting others. But instead of giving up, he searched for a solution - a way for someone to rise without the fear of being backstabbed."
Kael was intrigued but hesitant to speak. "And before he died, he found one?"
The old man nodded firmly. "Yes, he did. The solution is this."
He snapped his fingers, and a strange cube appeared in his other hand. At first glance, it seemed ordinary, but there was something about it that felt off, as if it held more significance than its appearance suggested.
"What is this?"
The cube was unlike anything Kael had ever seen, and the fact that it appeared out of thin air made it even more mysterious.
"He called it the System. The Harem Overlord System."