I woke up to warm sunlight filtering through the delicate paper windows of my cozy little room, oddly comforting. In one corner, a soft bed awaited, neatly made with crisp linens and a thin quilt that looked like it hadn't seen a single wrinkle. Above it, a window offered a glimpse of the serene sect grounds outside, the sunlight casting playful patterns on the wooden floor.
At the center of the room sat a sturdy wooden table surrounded by a couple of chairs, their surfaces worn, telling tales of countless discussions and late-night studying. The walls bore simple decorations, while a small shelf held a few scrolls and books, probably remnants of whoever had occupied this space before me.
I spotted Kael standing by the window, arms crossed, looking like he was waiting for me to wake up—as if I were a particularly slow alarm clock. Seriously, what was this guy's deal? And why the hell was he always in my room when I woke up?
"Hey, Sleeping Beauty, wake up," he said, his voice dripping with that trademark arrogance. The sunlight cast a halo around him, making him look even more like a brooding hero in a romance novel. No homo, though. I was half-tempted to ask if he wanted me to throw a shoe at him.
"So, where were you staying last night?" I mumbled, I curiously asked, stretching and hoping he wasn't one of those people who camped out in my room just to keep tabs on me.
"None of your business," he replied, brushing off my question with a flick of his wrist. "What matters is that you need to get moving."
"Get moving? Is there a fire somewhere I need to put out, or are we going on a quest to find the Holy Grail?"
"Better," he said with a hint of a smirk. "You're going to the Sect Library to learn about cultivation."
"Ah, great. Study time. Just what I wanted. I hope they have snacks."
After a few more sarcastic exchanges, we made our way down to the dining hall. The inn was elegantly designed, with wooden beams adorned with intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes. Lanterns hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow, while the aroma of breakfast wafted through the air. My stomach growled in agreement as I spotted bowls of rice and steaming buns waiting to be devoured.
It's good that everything is within sect grounds, I thought, as I piled food onto my plate. While I started eating, I noticed something strange. A group of female disciples had gathered nearby, their eyes glued to us like moths to a flame. I glanced over, and a chorus of whispers erupted as they exchanged glances.
The girls stopped staring and approached our table.
"Your Highness, Kael, is it true that your eyes can see the future?" one girl asked, fluttering her lashes, her voice lilting like a songbird.
"Not just the future," another chimed in, her cheeks flushed with admiration, "but the past too, right?"
"Only the past, ladies," I interjected, unable to help myself. "Although, I can see a future where I don't have to deal with this."
The girls giggled, and Kael looked mildly annoyed but amused. He managed to say something profound about the sect's history while I sat back, munching on my bun and pretending to be fascinated by the random painting on the wall.
As the crowd closed in, I leaned over to Kael and muttered, "You know, if you're this popular, we should start charging for your autographs."
Kael shot me a look that said, "Stop talking and eat."
I shrugged. "Fine, you're no fun."
After what felt like an eternity of girl talk and dreamy sighs, the group still didn't seem satisfied. Their curious glances shifted between him and me, which made me feel like a handsome CEO from a Korean K-drama.
"Are you new to the sect?" one of the girls asked. With her brown eyes and jet-black hair, she was quite beautiful, sparkling with curiosity.
"Yeah," I replied, flashing a grin. "Just got here from the land of the mundane, where people don't stare at you like you're a rare beast."
The girls giggled again, their laughter like a chorus of chimes.
Once our breakfast was mercifully over and the girls had still not lost interest, Kael stood up and waved his hand like he was dismissing a pesky fly. "We're going to the library now. No more distractions."
"Right, because reading about the history of a bunch of ancient weirdos sounds like a blast," I said, rolling my eyes but getting up nonetheless. "And here I thought we were going to have a fun day."
"Studying is fun," he replied, deadpan. "For someone like you, it will be enlightening."
I groaned. "Great. Enlightenment in a dusty library. How thrilling."
As we stepped outside, we found ourselves on a floating island—this was the only one where there were no disciples visible, located on the eastern side with only one building on it.
Kael flew me to the island, and the grand library loomed before us—its structure more impressive than anything I had ever seen. Towering walls adorned with jade and gold depicted epic battles and legendary cultivators, each carving telling a story of its own. A massive archway, intricately crafted with mythical beasts, welcomed us into the building. The air buzzed with the energy of the sect, vibrant and alive, as other disciples hurried past us, their robes fluttering like wings.
"Wow," I murmured, taking it all in. "What do you think? Should I pray to the gods for guidance before going in?"
Kael merely raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with my humor.
"Let's not waste time," he said, gesturing me toward the entrance.
"Shouldn't we get permission from the sect master before going in?" I asked.
No response. Sigh. Why did I even ask when I knew I wouldn't win this battle?
Stepping inside the library was like entering another world. The air was heavy with the scent of parchment and ancient wood, and a profound silence enveloped me, swallowing the sounds of the outside world. Row upon row of scrolls and jade slips stretched into the distance, arranged on floating platforms as if gravity had decided to take a day off.
At the center, a massive statue of the sect's founder, according to Kael, known as the Great Love Immortal Venerable, dominated the room. He stood tall, with abyss-like black eyes and hair falling like silk on his shoulders, holding a scroll in one hand and a sword in the other, his expression both wise and enigmatic, as if he were guarding the secrets of the sect. I couldn't help but notice the sculptor had given him an impressively smug look, like he was judging us for our ignorance.
"Is it just me, or does he look a little too pleased with himself?" I murmured under my breath, unable to resist commenting on the statue's almost self-satisfied expression.
"Concentrate, Michael," Kael admonished, his voice low but with a hint of amusement.
"Right, because I'm sure the statue is about to start giving me life advice."
Kael guided me to a nearby shelf filled with jade slips that shimmered as if infused with Qi. "You'll start with the sect's history and the founder, then learn about the starting cultivation realms—how they increase lifespan, how powerful they are, and what it takes to reach them based on talent grade."
"Fantastic," I said sarcastically. "Just what I want—more information about how I can be less of a mortal. Just kidding, I know it's important."
Kael ignored my eye-roll and began to scan the shelves, his expression serious. I took a deep breath, feeling both overwhelmed and curious. "Okay, let's see what ancient wisdom can teach me about not dying in this ridiculous world."
As I followed him deeper into the library, I felt a sense of excitement build within me. Here, amidst the scrolls and the whispers of ancient knowledge, I knew I was stepping into a realm that could change my fate. The day was just beginning, and while it might be filled with epic tales, I was determined to sprinkle in my own brand of humor along the way.