Chapter Two

LIA POV:

As Lia slowly regained consciousness, she found herself lying on a soft bed within the confines of the grand white palace. Her head throbbed with residual pain, but the strange concoction given by the child seemed to have brought some relief. She sat up and took a moment to orient herself.

As she looked around, she couldn't believe her eyes. The palace was a marvel of European architecture mixed with intricate, otherworldly designs. It was adorned with beautiful tapestries, elegant chandeliers, and ornate furnishings that seemed to carry a tale of ancient elegance. Lia marveled at the opulence surrounding her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she had been transported to a world of dreams and fantasies.

Curiosity and a sense of adventure beckoned Lia to explore her surroundings. She stepped out of the room and into a lavish hallway with polished marble floors and walls adorned with breathtaking paintings depicting mythical creatures and epic landscapes. Each step she took echoed through the corridor, making her presence known to the silent halls of the palace.

As she wandered further, the palace seemed to unfold into a vast maze of wonder. She discovered rooms filled with books containing knowledge from ancient times, artifacts that seemed to whisper stories of a forgotten era, and chambers adorned with celestial artwork. Each room seemed to hold a secret waiting to be unraveled.

Her eyes widened as she stumbled upon an enormous library filled with ancient tomes and scrolls, each one carrying the knowledge of ages past. Lia felt a sense of awe and reverence in the presence of such wisdom. She couldn't resist but run her fingers along the spines of the books, as if seeking a connection to the knowledge they contained.

As she roamed further, the palace revealed its magnificent gardens. Lia gasped at the sight of lush greenery, vibrant flowers, and trees that seemed to reach for the heavens. The air was filled with the fragrance of blossoms, and butterflies danced among the blooms, adding to the enchanting atmosphere.

Following a winding path, she discovered a secluded courtyard with a sparkling fountain at its center. The water danced and glistened under the sun's rays, creating a mesmerizing display of light and colors. Lia approached the fountain and cupped her hands, splashing water on her face to refresh herself.

Venturing deeper into the gardens, she found herself standing at the edge of a cliff that overlooked the awe-inspiring landscape she had seen from the palace window earlier. The view was even more breathtaking from this vantage point. The cascading waterfalls, majestic mountains, and the vast expanse of greenery blended together like a masterpiece crafted by nature itself.

As the day progressed, Lia continued her exploration, meeting some of the palace's inhabitants along the way. Each person she encountered seemed to have an air of mystery and wisdom about them, adding to the enigma of the place. They greeted her warmly, as if they had been expecting her arrival, but Lia couldn't shake the feeling that they knew more about her than she did herself.

The palace seemed to have a life of its own, almost as if it responded to Lia's presence and desires. She felt like she had stepped into a realm where dreams and reality intertwined, where the boundaries of time and space blurred. Every corner she turned revealed another wonder, leaving her in constant awe and amazement.

As night fell, Lia found herself standing at the palace's balcony, overlooking the shimmering lake and the twinkling stars above. She felt a sense of peace and contentment wash over her, as if she had found a place where she truly belonged.

As I sensed someone keeping an eye on me, I shifted my gaze in that direction and saw a child, just like the previous one who gave me the herb, looking at me.

Like he was solving the greatest mystery of the world, one that required the utmost attention. Meanwhile, another child dressed similarly to the first one appeared calm as he observed the scene. Then, he shifted his gaze to me, and it felt as if he already knew everything about me. His intense stare made me uncomfortable, as if he could see right through me, baring all my secrets. Eventually, he looked away.

"So, Tengen, tell me, out of all the people, why do you insist on bringing her from the planet of humans? I just can't seem to understand. She's not strong, has no spiritual power or anything, just a weak human girl. And why did you send Auzlin to carry her?...and why the heck does Auzlin react like a baby who lost his mother years ago and is now meeting her?!!" The person fired a barrage of questions at Tengen, their frustration evident in their voice.

As the person continued to bombard Tengen with questions, I realized that I wasn't the only one feeling confused. However, I couldn't help but be annoyed by the way they were behaving. Their inquisitiveness bordered on impatience, and I wished they would consider my presence and feelings in this situation.

"Hellooo???? You have forgotten that maybe this girl is a weakling, but I do have ears. I can listen, so kindly don't ignore me!!" I wanted to shout these words, expressing my frustration at being overlooked. However, I knew it was essential to stay composed and let Tengen provide an explanation.

I kept my mouth shut, but my eyes were fixed on Tengen, urging him to acknowledge my presence. My priority was clear - I needed answers and reassurance about the bewildering situation I found myself in.

Tengen shifted his eyes from the person who had been questioning him to me and then closed his eyes. It was as if he was intentionally shutting us out, treating us like annoying pests. The temptation to grab something, anything, from the palace and give him a good whack on the backside was strong, but I resisted the urge. As much as I wanted answers, I knew that resorting to violence wouldn't solve anything, and I needed to find a way to make him open up and explain.

"Tengen!!!! You!! How dare you close your eyes after creating such a mess ???? We fucking need your explanation now. Now open your two damn sockets and start explaining!!! Otherwise!! Otherwise!!!" the person aka a child exclaimed, their frustration evident.

Tengen just barely opened his eyes and said, "Otherwise what??"

He just lit the fire, I guess because the next thing that that child did was so comical that I had to control myself otherwise I would have laughed like manic right now.

As the tension lingered, the atmosphere suddenly shifted as the other child, whom I didn't know the name of yet, decided to intervene in a rather unconventional way. With mischievous glee, the child took swift action. They pulled down Tengen's pants, and to my surprise, a cake magically appeared in their hand.

Smack!!

The whole Tengen's face was now covered in whipped cream and cherry from the cake.

"Bwahaahaha! You..y..ouu told me what I can do??? Hahahaaha seee do you like my masterpiece ??" the unnamed child burst into laughter, clearly amused by their own antics. If this was not enough, they started to laugh and roll on the floor, joining in the hilarity.

This happened so fast that it took me a minute to understand what just occurred. I would love to follow their lead and laugh, but somehow, after looking at Tengen, I restrained myself, feeling that his reaction might not be as amusing to him.

As we all tried to collect ourselves, I couldn't help but marvel at the dynamics among these beings. Each one of them had their own distinct personalities and powers, making their interactions a constant source of intrigue.

As we regained our composure after the chaotic laughter, I couldn't help but admire the audacity of the unnamed child. "Damn, this child has courage," I thought to myself, recognizing that even though I had just arrived in this strange realm, I could sense that Tangen was not someone to be trifled with.

Meanwhile, Fudoki emerged from a nearby door, struggling to carry three books stacked upon his head. I quickly went to his aid, eager to assist him. Together, we managed to balance the load, and I left him with one book while holding the other two.

"Thank you, Lia," Fudoki expressed his gratitude with a warm smile.

"You're welcome, Fudoki," I replied, returning the smile and appreciating his kindness despite the unusual circumstances we found ourselves in.

I carefully placed the books on the table and settled into a nearby chair, my gaze fixed on Tengen and the mischievous child who had played the cake-smacking prank. With a flicker of amusement, I observed as Tengen swiftly took control of the situation, grabbing the child's hands and suspending him on a wall hook. It was an unexpected turn of events, yet the scene before me had a strangely artistic quality, as if the child had become a living sculpture adorning the wall.

While the child swung back and forth like a pendulum, my mind raced with thoughts on how to approach Tengen. It was evident that he held some vital information about my presence in this realm, and I was determined to coax the answers from him. But Tengen's guarded demeanor and cryptic responses made it challenging to know where to begin.

As Fudoki conversed with Tengen, their discussion delved into matters far beyond my comprehension. Their exchange of words and gestures held a depth of meaning that eluded my understanding, leaving me feeling like an outsider in this world of divine beings

As I stood there, my gaze fixed on the child swinging from the wall hook, I couldn't help but wonder about their identity. Were they Shikai or Bodhin? The mischievous and playful demeanor of this child could belong to either of them, but I had no way of knowing for sure.

Fudoki was indeed the first person I met in this otherworldly realm. He was the one who had given me the herb, the sanjeevni booti, to ease my pain and calm my nerves.

Tengen noticed my curiosity and amusement, and he chuckled softly. "Ah, that one there," he said, pointing to the child hanging on the wall, "that's Bodhin."

With this new piece of information, I now knew that Fudoki was the one who had given me the herb and Tengen had been responsible for bringing me to this extraordinary realm. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together.

After spending more time with Fudoki, he revealed to me the identities of the other children. Fudoki, Bodhin, Tengen, and Shikai were not ordinary children but powerful gods in this mystical realm.

In this otherworldly realm, alongside the powerful gods, there were also individuals known as cultivators. Cultivators possessed a unique ability to harness spiritual energy from the surrounding air and absorb the particular energy associated with their birth element.

Among the cultivators, there were those with extraordinary talents who could manipulate not just one but two or even three types of energies from the air. These exceptional cultivators were known as dual cultivators and triad cultivators, respectively.

The most common type of cultivator was the air cultivator, as the abundance of air allowed them to manipulate its flow and even hear long-distance voices. In every hundred individuals, fifty were air cultivators.

Water cultivators held the power to control water flow and were capable of causing tsunamis with their strength. About one in a thousand individuals were water cultivators.

Land cultivators, on the other hand, had the ability to control nature, including plants, trees, and soil. Their power allowed them to use trees as soldiers in defense or attack. In every ten thousand individuals, hundreds possessed the power of land cultivation.

However, the most treasured and rarest cultivators were the fire cultivators. Only one in a million individuals had the ability to control fire. Despite their rarity, fire cultivators were held in high regard and treated like celebrities.

In this mesmerizing realm of gods and cultivators, I couldn't help but marvel at the diversity of talents and powers that existed. Each individual possessed their own unique abilities, contributing to the harmony and balance of this enchanting world. As I embraced this new reality, I knew that my journey here would be filled with awe-inspiring wonders and challenges, as I learned more about the extraordinary beings and their fascinating abilities.

In this mystical cultivator world, four elements hold sway, and their power is signified by distinctive colors: red represents fire, blue represents water, green represents land, and white represents air.

The cultivator world is divided into five main levels, each comprising nine sub-levels:

Fundamental Level: This is where every cultivator begins their journey. Novices learn the basics of harnessing spiritual energy and cultivating their innate element.

Master Level: After gaining proficiency in their elemental abilities, cultivators ascend to the Master Level, where they refine their skills and delve deeper into the mysteries of their chosen element.

Warrior Level: At this stage, cultivators become formidable warriors, capable of manipulating their element with finesse and precision. They can utilize their powers for defensive and offensive purposes.

Sage Level: Cultivators at the Sage Level attain a profound understanding of their element, achieving harmony with the forces of nature. They can unleash powerful attacks and exhibit extraordinary control over their abilities.

Godly Level: This is the pinnacle of cultivation, where cultivators attain god-like mastery over their element. They can manipulate vast amounts of spiritual energy and wield their powers with immense strength and precision.