After two hours of walking, Kira arrived at the library.
She was one of the first to do so—most others had chosen to explore or linger with the group. But Kira couldn't wait. She had to shed the life of a peasant as quickly as possible and begin her path toward cultivation.
The promise of near-limitless power was far too tempting.
She stood in awe before the magnificent structure. It was easily the grandest building she had ever laid eyes on—a towering five-story marvel of white stone, carved as if from a single colossal block. The entire building gleamed in the evening sun.
Disciples in white robes came and went through the entrances, shooting glances at the newcomers still dressed in rags. Kira felt their stares and tugged at her worn clothes, her disheveled ebony hair only making her feel more out of place.
She hurried inside through one of the enormous doors.
Despite the number of disciples—easily over a hundred—the interior was silent.
Rows upon rows of towering shelves stretched in every direction. As Kira approached the nearest one, a bored-looking disciple in a blue robe stepped forward and held out his hand.
"Token," he said flatly.
Kira fumbled through her pouch and handed it to him. He studied it for a moment. Though she couldn't see anything on it, he seemed to read something before handing it back.
"You're allowed to take techniques from the first floor only. You may choose one hand-to-hand combat technique, one movement technique, one weapon technique, and one body-refining technique. Anything else requires contribution points," he recited in a tired, rehearsed tone.
With that, his attention turned to the next new disciple walking through the entrance.
Kira headed straight for the body refining section, which she considered the most important. As she browsed through the scrolls and manuals, she noticed that many listed specific elemental affinities.
Her heart began to race—she didn't know her affinity.
Glancing around in mild panic, she spotted an elderly man speaking to a few new disciples. She waited politely until he finished addressing the person before her.
"Excuse me," she said, "how do I find out what my root affinity is?"
The old man raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by her lack of formality. But instead of reprimanding her, he reached into his sleeve and handed her a small stone.
"Hold this."
Kira blinked. Another stone? What is it with these people and stones?
Still, she obeyed. The stone lit up twice in her hand—first a deep purple, then a vibrant green.
She looked up at the elder, confused.
"Purple is lightning. Green is wind," he explained.
"Quite bad manners for someone with a dual spiritual root. But I suppose that's due to your upbringing, not arrogance. With this combination, you have a bright future—if you don't do anything foolish. Like being disrespectful to an esteemed elder. Others would have you killed for less."
Cold sweat broke out across her forehead. "Thank you, honorable Elder, for your help… and your leniency." She attempted a bow, stiff and unpolished.
"But… why didn't you punish me if I was disrespectful?"
The elder smiled faintly. "Never attribute to malice what can be explained by ignorance."
Kira bowed again, still awkward, then hurried back to the body refining section.
She combed through scroll after scroll. Most required incompatible roots—three-element combinations, or dual roots she didn't possess. Hours passed.
She was about to give up and ask the elder again when her eyes caught the title of a dusty manual.
Thunderstorm Tempering
Requirements: Dual Lightning/Wind Root
A grin spread across her face. Finally. You're my ticket to greatness.
With renewed energy, she moved on to the other sections.
For hand-to-hand combat, she chose the Windy Hands Technique.
For movement, she selected Light Breeze Steps.
For weapon, she picked the Lightning Sword Technique—the sword being the only weapon that truly called to her.
By the time she exited the library, the two moons hung high above. Lanterns adorned the path to the living quarters, casting soft light across the ground.
Using the map, Kira quickly found her assigned house—Number 2854.
Inside, she noticed someone already asleep in the bed on the right.
That must be my roommate.
The house was simple but functional: two beds, a shared table with a stool, two meditation mats, and a pair of nightstands.
Kira was exhausted, but her curiosity burned stronger. She pulled the introduction guide from her bag and began reading.
It was short, so she finished it twice in about an hour, committing the most important parts to memory.
Finally, she returned the guide to her pouch and laid back.
Her eyes closed slowly, but her thoughts remained vivid.
She pictured herself as a mighty cultivator—an immortal feared and admired.
But to her surprise, the image that lingered before she drifted into sleep wasn't of power or glory.
It was Mizu's face.