The walls and floors were filled with gold, like they had been polished to perfection.
The servant led her to the east wing of the palace. She opened them with a slight bow, gesturing for Thana to enter.
"This will be your room for the night," the servant said quietly.
Thana stepped inside and immediately felt out of place. The place was huge, with a huge bed dressed in silken curtains and a large, balcony that opened up into the lovely gardens. It was far too grand for someone like her.
"Uh, thanks," Thana muttered awkwardly, turning to the servant. "This is... nice."
The servant gently bowed and left the room and closed the doors from outside.
Then she looked around for a few moments. She has spent her nights in a celestial palace before, although it has been a long time. This one felt... different. She felt something was wrong with the place.
She sighed heavily, placed the scythe beside the chair and fell on the bed. The mattress was completely soft and this is because the moment she lay down on the mattress, she sunk into it.
She glanced at a golden ceiling and said, "This is way too fancy."
Occasionally her thoughts would drift off to what the Supreme Heavenly Lord had said. You might see something.
Was there something else going on here that he wasn't telling her? And why did he care so much about a few rumors?
Thana sighed, massaging her forehead. She had a feeling that she wouldn't get a chance to sleep tonight.
Several hours later, Thana looked at the ceiling of the luxurious bed she was lying in. Despite the fact that she was tired after the working hours in searching, she still could not sleep.
As if she were about to pull the blanket over herself and shut her eyes and force herself to sleep, a gentle knock was heard coming from the door.
Thana sat up, frowning. "Who is it?"
The door creaked open slightly, and the same young servant from earlier poked her head in. "Pardon me, Lady Thana," she said quietly. "I've brought you some tea to help you rest."
Thana blinked in surprise. She had not asked for tea.
"Oh, ah, thank you," she replied, sitting properly on the bed as the servant came in and placed the tray on the bedside table.
There was a second of pause, and then the servant asked her. "Pardon me, but can I ask you something."
Thana raised an eyebrow. "Depends on what it is."
The servant glanced nervously at the door before looking back at Thana. "Why did the Supreme Heavenly Lord bring you here?"
Thana's eyes narrowed slightly. "I don't know."
Another servant who looked to be quite uncomfortable was twisting her small fingers together. "There are rumours spreading across the realms," she whispered. "Rumours that... well that he came for something more than a ghost in the netherworld."
Thana frowned. "What kind of rumors?"
The servant froze, compelling her lips to bite her index finger. "I shouldn't have spoken," she whispered, bowing deeply. "Please, enjoy your tea. I'll leave you to rest."
Before Thana could press her for more information, the servant quickly left the room, closing the door behind her.
Thana sat there in silence for a long moment, her mind racing. What was really going on here? Why was the Supreme Heavenly Lord so interested in her, and what was he hiding?
She had a feeling that tomorrow she would get more questions than answers.
The following morning, Thana awoke to the soft light entering her room through the curtains. She opened her eyes slowly and looked around herself as she sat up. The events of the previous day still rested heavily upon her. The conversation with the Supreme Heavenly Lord, the non-existence of a ghost, the servant's enigmatic words—none of it made any sense.
Pushing herself up from the bed, Thana sagged and began to rub the soles of her feet, feeling the cramps that had come from hours of walking. She looked at her surroundings for a moment before focusing on the tea set that the servants had brought earlier that evening. She hadn't touched it, too lost in her thoughts to bother drinking the tea. Now, the tea had gone cold.
'Anyway, it is a new day,' she said to herself while washing her hair. 'Ah well, better get on with this.'
She grabbed her scythe from the chair and placed it on her shoulder, and continued searching. However, as she reached out for the door, she heard a soft knock at the other side.
Thana opened the door, she saw the same young servants that served her at night, she was visibly scared and bowed before her.
"Good morning, Lady," the servants said quietly. "The Supreme Heavenly Lord requests your presence in the courtyard."
Thana blinked in surprise. "Already?"
The servant nodded. "He wishes to speak with you before you begin your search for the day."
Thana let out a small sigh, mentally bracing herself for whatever conversation awaited her. "Alright, lead the way."
The servant bowed once more and then guided Thana through the grand hallways of the palace. The morning light gave everything a warm glow, casting long shadows on the golden walls. As they walked, Thana noticed the curious glances from a few passing celestials and servants, but she ignored them.
When they got into the courtyard, the Supreme Heavenly Lord was already there, leaning against a fountain with his back towards them. His silver hair glistened under the sun's rays with the light, while his golden garment gleamed..
Thana approached him, stopping a few paces away. "You wanted to see me?"
The Supreme Heavenly Lord turned around, his expression calm and composed. "Yes, Thana. I hope you rested well."
"Rested?" Thana scoffed lightly. "Indeed, after running around looking for a ghost that doesn't even exist, I was too exhausted to think about resting.".
The Supreme Heavenly Lord didn't bat an eyelid in response to the sarcasm that she had just thrown at him; instead, his eyes had a thoughtful look as he looked at her. "I understand you may be frustrated, but your presence here is necessary."
"Necessary for what? You could've sent anyone else to handle this. Why me?" Thana said.
For the first time, there was a brief pause in the Supreme Heavenly Lord's otherwise controlled demeanor. He seemed to consider her question carefully before answering.
"There are certain things only you can see, Thana," he said softly, his voice carrying a weight that made her frown. "You are not like the others. You are of the netherworld, yet you walk between realms. Your perspective is... unique."
Thana stared at him, not entirely convinced. "And what is it you think I'm going to find here? I've searched the entire palace."