"Lastly, every disciple will receive their robes and a badge that identifies you as our sect's disciple," the Sect Master declared. His voice echoed through the massive courtyard, and for a second, I wondered if he enjoyed hearing himself talk. "From now on, no disciple will be allowed to leave this floating island until they reach the Nascent Soul realm. Tomorrow, your cultivation classes will start. You will each be assigned to your class according to your cultivation talent. Now, every disciple will proceed to the dormitories. Each room will have two partners."
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the speech ended, and with a casual wave of his hand, the Sect Master flew off into the sky, leaving the rest of us grounded—literally.
"Just how much does he talk?" I muttered to Kael, trying to hide my growing impatience. This place was beginning to feel less like a prestigious sect and more like an endurance test for speeches. "Kael?" I nudged him, but of course, I got no reply. The guy was like a living statue, minus the part where statues sometimes have personalities.
As I was about to huff in frustration, a disciple handed me my robe. I barely had time to process the whole 'floating island' thing before the robe caught my attention.
It was purple. Everyone else had blue robes—normal, standard blue. But not me. No, I had to get the special robe. A few murmurs started spreading through the crowd as some disciples noticed my purple robe. I could already feel the stares. Great, I thought, as if the blue eyes weren't enough.
And the murmurs began:
"Shit, I'm a Grade 2 talent and can't reach Nascent Soul… does that mean I'm stuck here forever?" someone grumbled, panic in their voice.
"These robe colors are so ugly," another muttered, tugging at their sleeve.
"Hey, that prince guy with the blue eyes received a purple one," a disciple nearby whispered, staring directly at me.
"Didn't you hear? He's the one with Grade 4 talent! He's really blessed with it all," another replied, with a mix of envy and admiration.
"Yeah, now he's even a core disciple. Look at that purple robe! I'm really jealous," one of them sighed, clearly sulking at the sight of my outfit.
Even Kael got a black robe, which suited his mysterious brooding look perfectly. The crowd barely murmured about him, probably too scared to even breathe in his direction. Meanwhile, my robe screamed, "Look at me, I'm special!"
I glanced down at the embroidered calligraphy on the chest: 'Core Disciple'.
I sighed. "Guess I'm making headlines today."
As I adjusted the robe, trying to come to terms with my fate, I turned to Kael. "Well, let's head to our room, then," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. If I had to stand out, I might as well lean into it, right?
Kael glanced at me, his lips curling into one of those rare smirks. "Room?" he said, his tone holding back laughter. "Mortal, I'm the Sect Master's disciple. I have my own house."
I blinked. "Your own… house?" My brain tried to catch up with that. "Wait, so you're living the mansion life while I'm stuck in a dorm?"
Kael gave me an exaggerated, thoughtful look. "That's right. Perks of being important."
"Yeah, yeah, rub it in," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "Next, you're going to tell me you've got a personal butler too."
"That's classified information," Kael replied, completely straight-faced.
I threw my hands up. "Fine. Guess I'll be roughing it with the commoners, then."
Kael pointed toward the dormitories in the distance, barely hiding his amusement. "Building 1, near the entrance. That's where Grade 4 talents stay. Don't get lost."
"Don't get lost, he says," I muttered under my breath. "Like this place isn't the size of a small country." We waved goodbye, and I set off in the direction he pointed.
As I walked through the bustling streets leading toward the dorms, the crowd's murmurs followed me like a shadow. Groups of disciples huddled together, whispering and glancing my way. Some murmured about my purple robe, but most were fixated on my eyes—blue eyes. It was obvious they weren't used to seeing anything other than the usual brown.
I kept my head high, though inside I was cringing. Why couldn't I have just gotten brown eyes like everyone else? I thought as I passed another group. They stared openly now, probably trying to figure out if I was royalty or some alien species.
The streets themselves were impressive—large, wide stone pathways lined with ornate lamps and carefully placed trees, giving the sect a serene yet imposing atmosphere. The floating island felt like its own world, complete with towering pagodas and elegant bridges stretching across peaceful streams. Even if I was attracting attention, I had to admit the place was breathtaking.
Finally, after walking for what felt like miles under the gaze of every disciple and their cousin, I reached the dormitory area. Two large buildings stood in front of me. Building 1 was for Grade 3 and 4 talents, while Building 2 was for lower grades. Without hesitation, I made my way to Building 1.
I stepped inside, the air filled with a soft warmth and the scent of polished wood. The interior was surprisingly luxurious, with polished floors reflecting the soft lighting. After some searching, I found my room easily—Room 1. I let out a sigh of relief, grateful to finally escape the crowd's prying eyes.
As I pushed the door open, I braced myself for the sight of my new roommate. Maybe they'd be meditating or unpacking. Just as I turned the handle, a soft rustle caught my attention. I paused, my heart racing slightly.
Should I knock first? The thought flashed through my mind, but I shook it off. I mean, we are in a dormitory. This is bound to be awkward no matter what.
With a deep breath, I swung the door open, expecting the typical roommate situation. Instead, my brain short-circuited.
Standing right in the middle of the room was a girl, half-naked and clearly in the midst of changing. I froze, my hand still gripping the door handle as my eyes struggled to process what I was seeing.
She was… beautiful. I'm talking goddess-level beautiful—the kind that makes poets write odes and artists go mad trying to capture her perfection. Her long, black hair cascaded down her back, and her skin glowed with an ethereal radiance that made it hard to believe she was human.
For a moment, the world around me faded, my senses overwhelmed. Then, reality crashed down like a runaway carriage.
Oh… this is going to be awkward.