Earth Metaverse 10 years, September 21 ,2031 AD.
Lindsay brought the badge her grandmother had left behind and arranged to meet Shawn at a small café next to the school library.
The warm, golden light of the café spilled over the tabletops, casting a tranquil atmosphere. Lindsay carefully took the badge from a velvet pouch and handed it to Shawn.
Even though Shawn had already formed a theory in his mind, his heart still trembled as he took the badge. He ran his fingers over its smooth surface and murmured, "An obsidian badge… the insignia of a Soul Realm member." He looked up at Lindsay, his expression complex. "Your grandmother's name… was it Lucy?"
Lindsay's eyes widened in shock. "How do you… How do you know my grandmother's name?"
Shawn frowned slightly, glanced around cautiously, then lowered his voice. "I don't just know her name… I know who she was."
"Who she was?" Lindsay inhaled sharply. "What do you mean?"
Shawn hesitated for a moment before speaking in a low tone. "She was a member of the Meta Origin Society."
Lindsay's expression shifted as she absorbed his words. "That… actually makes sense. My mom mentioned something about that once. She found the badge while sorting through my grandmother's belongings." Then, her gaze fell on the pendant around Shawn's neck. "And your pendant… Could it be that you're also—?"
"No," Shawn interrupted. "This pendant wasn't mine originally. It was given to me by someone else. But I do know a bit about the Meta Origin Society."
Lindsay studied him, half-convinced. She fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. "If that's the case, then my grandmother must have been involved in something important during her lifetime. And…"
She hesitated briefly, but then her eyes shone with determination. Her tone was firm. "There's something else that might be connected to the Meta Origin Society."
She unlocked her phone, scrolled through her gallery, and tapped on an image before holding the screen out to Shawn. "This is a painting my grandmother left behind. I've always felt there was something special about it."
Shawn zoomed in on the image with two fingers. A traditional Chinese painting unfolded before him—its brushstrokes as fluid as drifting clouds and flowing water, its colors as delicate as ink and mist. Rolling hills stretched across the background, while a row of ginkgo trees stood prominently in the foreground, their golden leaves gleaming in the soft light. In the distance, a forest of pink blossoms lay shrouded in mist.
But what caught Shawn's attention first were the bold, ancient seal script characters in the upper left corner of the painting: "Elucidating Witch." The strokes were powerful, exuding an air of solemnity.
"Look—there's an old castle here," Lindsay pointed to the vague outline of ancient buildings within the landscape. "Isn't that strange? And this inscription…" Her finger traced a line of smaller seal script in the lower left corner: 'Zhen Chen—Qian Kun Zi Wu Xing Xu.' "I have no idea what it means."
It was clear Lindsay had studied this painting before and had long suspected it held some kind of mystery.
"This… is definitely unusual," Shawn murmured, examining it closely.
Lindsay nodded. "I think so too. But my mom told me this painting was one of my grandmother's most treasured possessions. She used to take it out often, just to stare at it. Do you think there's a hidden message in it?"
Shawn didn't answer immediately. He was lost in thought, his mind lingering on the words "Elucidating Witch."
Lindsay continued, undeterred. "My mom also told me something strange—Grandma once said that the castle in this painting wasn't imagined. She claimed she had seen it with her own eyes when she was young. But at some point, the place seemed to… vanish. Almost like it was erased from existence."
Shawn snapped out of his thoughts and looked up, his brows furrowing. "Are you saying someone didn't want people to know about this place?"
Lindsay nodded. "I don't know for sure. But Mom said that in Grandma's later years, people thought she was acting oddly. She spent most of her time staring at this painting, rarely interacting with anyone."
"Did she ever say where the painting came from?" Shawn asked, studying the image more intently.
"No. But according to my mom, it's been in our family for generations."
A storm of thoughts swirled in Shawn's mind. The more he looked at the painting, the more it felt like it wasn't just an heirloom—it was a glimpse into a hidden history.
His gaze returned to the ancient seal script. "Elucidating Witch."
"'Elucidating' means to reveal," he mused aloud. "And 'Witch' is often linked to ancient rituals… supernatural phenomena…"
Lindsay's curiosity was piqued. "You think this painting might be hinting at some kind of ritual? Or… some mysterious event?"
Shawn paused, his eyes fixed on the castle in the painting. His expression darkened. "This castle… It has no doors. No windows. It's completely sealed off. Don't you think… that's meant to keep something inside?"
Lindsay pursed her lips, lowering her voice. "On the back of this painting, there's a faint line of writing in pencil—almost illegible. It says: 'Everything begins in the mist of Qishan Mountain and ends at the Meta Origin.'"
Shawn's heartbeat quickened. "The mist of Qishan… leading to the Meta Origin? This sounds symbolic. But could Qishan Mountain be a real location? And what does 'Meta Origin' refer to—the Meta Origin Society or something else entirely?"
Lindsay shook her head. "Mom never heard Grandma explain the meaning of 'Qishan Mountain' or 'Meta Origin,' but judging by the handwriting, she might have added this note later. Maybe she was trying to leave a clue for future generations."
Shawn took a deep breath, his thoughts churning. "Lindsay, I have a strong feeling this painting is no ordinary relic."
He hesitated before meeting her gaze. "Until we figure out what it really means, I think it's best you don't mention it to anyone."
Lindsay's expression was conflicted. "But where do I even start looking for answers?"
Shawn's eyes flickered with thought. "Let me think about it." He almost blurted out that he could seek help from the Kapteyn's Star Meta Origin Society—but in the end, he held back.
Lindsay still looked expectant. "Do you think my grandmother might have uncovered something hidden within this painting?"
Shawn nodded. "It's highly possible. Your grandmother was an important member of the Meta Origin Society, and both the 'Elucidating Witch' inscription and the ancient fortress hint at a deeper secret. The string of symbols in the lower right corner—they could be a cipher, or some kind of coded message. Your grandmother must have discovered something, which is why she left that note. It might hold the key to the Meta Origin Society's history."
Lindsay hesitated before speaking again. "There's… one more thing. There's a rumor that my parents' deaths—supposedly from eating poisonous wild mushrooms—weren't an accident."
Shawn's expression didn't change—he had heard similar suspicions before. His grandfather had once mentioned that there was something suspicious about the deaths of Grandma Lucy's daughter and son-in-law.
Lindsay's voice dropped lower. "They say my grandmother was with my parents when they went foraging. But just before lunch, she got a phone call and had to leave. The mushrooms they ate later were laced with poison."
Shawn's brow furrowed. "Was there ever an investigation?"
Lindsay shook her head. "My mom spent years looking into it, but she never found anything. As for the phone call Grandma received… she never talked about it. Looking back now, I can't help but wonder if it was connected to this painting."
Shawn's mind raced. If Lucy had been a key member of the Meta Origin Society and the holder of the Zhen Palace Spirit Key… could this painting be linked to a secret the Society was trying to protect—or uncover?
Just then, Shawn's phone buzzed.
Kent's voice came through the receiver, lighthearted yet firm. "Shawn, I need your help with something."
Shawn straightened. "Secretary General Kent, what can I do for you?"
"There's a general assembly for the Meta Origin Society on October 1st at the Sunzen Yi Yuan Villa. We need a few volunteers to assist with the event. I'd like you to find some students to help out. Consider it an opportunity to attend the meeting."
Shawn blinked. Attend the general assembly? This wasn't just a routine event—it was a rare chance to be in the presence of the Society's core members.
"I understand, Secretary General Kent. I'll find volunteers as soon as possible," Shawn assured him. But deep down, he knew Kent's invitation wasn't just about logistics. There had to be another reason.
After ending the call, Shawn turned to Lindsay, his expression serious. "On October 1st, you should come with me to the Meta Origin Society's meeting."
Lindsay's eyes narrowed slightly as she considered his words. Then, she nodded, her voice tinged with quiet resolve. "Yes. It's time I saw for myself what kind of organization my grandmother once dedicated her life to."