"Your beautiful form, your graceful walk , and your expressive eyes; surely with these you can enchain a man's heart. Well, have you lost your courage? Put out your little tongue so I may cut it off as payment; then you shall have your powerful draught."- said the witch, from Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid

Drifting in and out of consciousness, Selene still felt relaxed and safe. One moment she saw trees blurring past her. The next moment she saw hills.  

"Where am I?"  Feeling a gentle breeze caressing her face, she opened her eyes.

Finally awake, Selene found herself lying on a wooden table. In front of her is a small, dilapidated wooden cottage.

"COME IN..." a disembodied voice was heard, Selene guessed that the person who saved her already knew she was awake. Left with no choice and with lots questions. She decided to be brave and enter the shack.

Inside the room were wooden shelves with varying sizes of glass jars. The jars had all sorts of item, such as eyes, hair, horns, insects, and other unidentifiable objects. Some jars had glowing gems, sticks, and winged like creatures. Despite the multitude of things that caught her eye, entering a dim room with no one in sight gave Selene the chills. Just as she had decided to leave, she felt someone tugging the edges of her white dress.

"Oh, cute child, were you the one who brought me here?"

The child held her hand, "Yes, and please call me Anan"  a well modulated voice with a musical lilt was projected into her mind.

Amazed, Selene was glad to finally know her little friend's name and to find a familiar face in a foreign place.

"WELCOME.. A friend of Anan is a friend of mine. Thank you for saving him."

A masked being suddenly appeared. What was more scary was the fact that even though the person is already standing in front of her, she still did not sense this person's presence nor can she see through his cultivation, which means this person is definitely not ordinary.

"Hello, anyone would save an innocent and cute child like Anan. Senior, how may I address you?" She asked.

"You can call me Mr. Black, although many call me Witch, Devil, or Demon. It's your choice. Selene, you're wondering as to why I called you to this place? I wanted to show my gratitude for taking care of this child. And I find you interesting, betrayed by someone dear yet I don't see any thirst for revenge. Hence, I am offering my services to you."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Services?.."

"Yes, I can fulfill any wish, as long as you can offer a suitable trade of course. What do you want badly in this life? I can give you anything you desire."

"Well, I want to find someone who would truly love me, not because of my face, or what background I represent. I want to meet people who would always stay loyal. I also want the power to become stronger, so I can protect myself. However, these are just selfish requests of mine."

"Very well, I can give you a new life. Additionally, you would acquire an ordinary face. However, all your cultivation would be given to me as payment. And a single favor of my choosing in the future."

Selene wondered how she can protect herself if she lost her cultivation in this dog eat dog world.

"Trust me Selene, cultivating again, would allow yourself to become stronger. I would, of course, not leave you defenseless, since I consider you now a friend. Also, your new identity might come with problems, but this will shape you and allow you to grow into a better person." Without waiting for her agreement, Mr. Black then touched Selene's forehead and a flower pattern appeared.

"This sign would mark you as mine. Powerful beings would know to steer clear of you since those who harm you, will be cursed. They will receive harm that is tripled in intensity. But, for those people who have more or less the same cultivation with you. Well, I leave those kind of conflicts for you to deal with. Of course, in the road for power, you need to be tempered through experience. Remember, I will always be watching you. If you need me just close your eyes and think of me. Now, a new destiny awaits. Farewell!" Mr. Black said while opening a bottle.

Selene's eyes were bright with curiosity, until she experienced extreme pain then she became alarmed when she saw Mr. Black growing bigger. She also saw a miniature her materializing inside the bottle, though she chalked that up to hallucinations due to the agony she was currently experiencing.

"Hahahaha" When Mr. Black's chuckles entered Selene's ears, she shivered involuntarily. She then remembered that she forgot to say thank you. As it stands, she was glad she forgot. She didn't want to thank someone who delights in her pain.

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A.N.- Next chapter expounds more on Selene's past. However, her new life begins soon. Thanks for following, rating and comments. :) *evil laugh [Mek-pendragon] *