Chapter 12: The dream of a child
In the vast library, where books stretched endlessly into the distance, the gentle clink of teacups echoed through the room. Near the wooden table, Sakura lay unconscious on a bed, her breathing steady but fragile.
Seated at the table, her Sensei sipped tea, her eyes skimming the pages of a book.
A quiet sigh escaped her lips.
She had told countless stories—some tragic, some heroic. She had spent most of her life telling the tales of others, but could she do so forever?
Once, she longed for others to tell stories about her. She dreamed of writing her own legend. But her ambition had led her astray. Over time, after assuming so many roles and identities, she had lost sight of who she truly was.
Her gaze drifted toward the unconscious girl.
"I shouldn't get attached. Masters exist to teach, not to stay. But every time I watch her… I feel like I'm about to make the same mistake again."
She set her teacup down with a soft clink, her fingers lingering on the rim.
Tilting her head back, she stared at the ceiling—or perhaps beyond it.
"What is all of this for?"
Her murmur barely stirred the air, too low to wake Sakura.
"Why send this girl here and demand that I train her? Bringing someone like that into this world… won't it only lead to suffering?"
The Tower's motives remained a mystery. No matter how many books she read, no matter how many stories she uncovered, the answers never came.
*sigh*
"It doesn't matter. If something is happening, I'll find out myself. After all, I am a storyteller—the best one at that."
Across the library, a particular book glowed gold.
Its title, inscribed in elegant script:
Scheherazade, the Witch of a Thousand and One Tales.
-
-
Far above, at the very peak of the Tower, a white-haired young man stood, gazing into the void.
A small cat perched on his shoulder.
"Master," she reported, "she's become very attached to the girl."
Yato smiled. His silver eyes flickered, traversing through countless layers of existence until he found the one he sought.
"Even if she has abandoned her title, her ambition remains part of her. And I know she sees Sakura's potential too."
His thoughts drifted elsewhere—to another promising figure.
"Now, about the boy..." Rael's image surfaced in his mind.
"He's progressing faster than I expected. The future is going to be fun."
The cat purred as he stroked its head, watching the Tower's endless expanse unfold before him.
-
-
Back in the library, Scheherazade closed her book and stood.
"I suppose I'll need to create something new."
With a blink, she vanished.
She reappeared in a void of absolute nothingness. A place yet to be written. Her eyes glowed, and a book materialized in front of her.
With a whisper, reality shifted.
A breathtaking world unfolded—rolling golden plains stretching endlessly beneath a sky filled with stars. Rivers of crystal-clear water carved gentle paths through the land, and mystical creatures soared through the clouds.
...
"This will do."
She took a deep breath as the wind brushed past her face.
"It's been a long time since I've walked in a place this loud."
She glanced toward the distance, where the library remained hidden beyond sight.
"She'll wake soon."
-
-
[Sakura Pov]
"My head hurts!" When I opened my eyes, I felt an uncomfortable sensation in my body, and my head hurt a lot.
"But... I'm really alive!
I had been sure I would die after that explosion, but here I was. My Sensei must have saved me.
I looked around the familiar library, but she wasn't there.
"Sensei?"
I tried to sit up—bad idea.
Pain flared across my body, a burning sensation radiating beneath the bandages wrapped around me.
[I recommend you avoid excessive movement. You have not fully recovered]
"Axis! Good to hear your voice."
[Hello, Captain]
The presence of the AI was oddly reassuring.
Left alone in this massive library… wasn't as comforting as it seemed.
"You're awake."
My head snapped toward the voice.
"Sensei!"
"Don't push yourself," she chided, stepping closer. "Your body still needs rest. You've been unconscious for a few days."
A few days?!
"I lost that much time?!"
Panic surged through me. I don't have much time left to complete the Floor Challenge.
As if reading my mind, Sensei shook her head.
"I know what you're thinking. No, we're not training today. Today, you're going to rest."
She placed a hand gently on the back of my neck.
"But—"
"Quiet."
I flinched at the firm tone. But then—a strange warmth spread through me.
The pain eased.
"This is…"
It was the same feeling I'd experienced while fighting the nightmare spider.
"Eternium." An indescribable force—one that had always been there, waiting.
"It's just a restoration technique," Sensei explained. "You'll feel better soon."
"Oh..."
"I was surprised you could tap into Eternium so soon," she continued, studying me. "Do you remember how it felt?"
I closed my eyes.
"It was like touching something that had always been there… but had never revealed itself." I said.
"Eternium isn't just power; it's an invisible current that has always run through the universe. And now, it flows through you, like a river that has finally found its true course." She completed and gave a satisfied nod.
Then, she gestured toward me.
"You should be able to walk now. Come with me."
"Where are we going?"
"Somewhere to relax."
I walked towards her until I was standing next to her. After that, a strange circle appeared at our feet, and I already imagined what would happen next.
"I'll have to get used to teleporting-"
-
-
[Rael Pov]
"I'll get him!"
My entire focus was locked on my target—a small white rabbit.
Not just any rabbit. A Thief one.
That damn rabbit had stolen my sword.
This was embarrassing. Really embarrassing.
The place I was in was stunning—a vast, green plain bathed in golden light. The air was peaceful, warm, and inviting.
While I was talking to my sensei while we were making roast meat, this damn rabbit stole my sword and ran away.
Sensei said this place was home to many creatures, but who knew there would be such a rabbit?
[Considering how absolutely incapable you were against it last time, I think your chances are low]
"It's not helping, Axis," I replied as I slowly approached the Rabbit. He was feeding, so now was my chance.
"Gotcha!" I jumped towards the Rabbit while trying to reach the sword, but what happened the next moment made my jaw drop to the floor.
[Literally]
*BAM!*
The Rabbit dodged with one swift movement and kicked me in the face, and worse... it hurt more than I imagined. I fell to the ground but took advantage of the moment to roll towards the sword.
"Bastard!"
The rabbit, that smug little demon, twitched its ears as if mocking me.
*Bam!*
Suddenly—
BAM!
The rabbit collapsed instantly, unconscious before it even hit the ground.
I barely had time to register what happened before my Sensei appeared beside me, effortlessly placing the rabbit somewhere safe.
"These creatures are playful," he said casually, dusting off his hands. "But they're not evil."
-
We eventually settled down on the grass, watching the sunset.
Gold, violet, and deep crimson hues stretched endlessly across the sky to the horizon.
Some small bird-like creatures fluttered toward us, their soft chirps blending into the evening air.
One landed on my head and started pecking my hair.
I was too tired to care.
For the first time in a while, I felt at peace.
I glanced at my Sensei.
"Sensei—"
"Next month, we will continue your training." His voice was calm, but firm. "After that, you'll face your final trial. Once you complete it, you can return home."
My fingers curled into the grass.
Home.
"Home… huh?"
I looked back at the sunset, my mind drifting into memories I had buried long ago.
"Only if I still have a place to call home."
-
-
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[Sakura Pov]
The teleportation circle lit up beneath us, and in an instant I found myself in the most breathtaking place I had ever seen.
A vast sky stretched above me, filled with millions of stars, each twinkling like tiny shards of crystal.
A river ran through the valley, its surface so clear it reflected the cosmos above.
Exotic creatures roamed freely, their luminous forms casting gentle glows against the grass.
I took a slow step forward, feeling the soft earth beneath my feet.
"Sensei… it's beautiful!"
Sensei remained still, arms crossed, watching me with her usual neutral expression.
"I'm glad you like it." Her voice was calm, but I could sense a faint softness. "But I expected you to be more surprised about these creatures."
I shook my head.
"Actually… I've seen something like this before."
I thought of Yato and the dream-like world he had shown me before I entered the Tower.
Sensei's eyes flickered with curiosity.
"Oh? The Tower's selection process is unpredictable even to me. I assumed you were chosen randomly."
"I wasn't." I glanced at her, remembering the silver-eyed man who had given me a choice. "I was invited… by someone. A mysterious man."
Sensei tilted her head slightly. Before she could ask more, something small and fast shot toward me.
A tiny dragon.
I let out a yelp of surprise as the small, shimmering creature leaped onto me and started licking my face.
"Hahaha! Are you a dragon or a dog?!" I laughed, running my hands over its scaly head. More tiny dragons appeared, circling me playfully.
Then, suddenly—they stopped.
They turned, lowering their heads, as if inviting me to climb onto their backs.
I hesitated only for a moment.
Then—I climbed up.
With a single mighty flap of their wings, we soared into the sky.
The wind rushed past me, cool and exhilarating.
Stars blurred around me as we rose higher and higher. Laughter lifted me, my arms outstretched, weightless.
For the first time in so long, I felt free. I turned back—two more dragons followed close behind.
For a brief moment… I imagined my sisters there.
A tear rolled down my cheek before I even realized it.
Then—a hand rested gently on my head.
I turned to see Sensei hovering beside me, standing effortlessly in thin air.
Her gaze was calm, unreadable—but not unkind.
I smiled softly.
"I'll make things go back to how they were before."
My fingers curled against the dragon's back.
"I promise."
---
Scheherazade's Silent Thoughts
Far below, standing on the soft grass, Scheherazade watched.
Her golden eyes reflected the sky, but her mind was elsewhere.
"A mysterious man, huh?"
She glanced at the pages of an invisible book only she could see.
"Another story unfolds."
The stars shimmered, and the night whispered its secrets.