Marshell looked at this man voicing none of his inner thoughts.
The man considered any kind of involvement, but this wasn't too bad. In this case, it could mean a stable solution to problems that could occur, but since lady Rong was unwilling, this half-naked man will do it instead of her.
The man pointed his finger upwards as the energy flowed and enveloped himself, Lady Rong, and Marshell. A trio of the previous occupants of the table took their leave in a form of politeness and respect for the official business.
Sitting in the prime chair on the table, the man motioned for Marshell to take a seat as well.
Lady Rong remained where she was, without batting an eye to any potential issues that someone could have against her. Like with any kind of mission, deal, or problem, there was a place for them at the Table of the Discussion. Since the man had no problem with her idea, she took the stance of a neutral bystander in this case.
“For the role your master had, she can still listen to this conversation. Out of respect for her, since her position as a master. As for you, Marshell of our little ancient diary. I guess what I am about to tell you will awaken some memories.” The man asked with no issue against Lady Rong, and her idea.
“Ancient diary? Is it something related to the Diary of the Body?” Marshell answered after he took a seat right to his master.
“Indeed, it is. For the start, I may as well introduce myself, since we have not officially met each other. I am the 3rd seat of Honor, Lixin.”
“Greetings, sir Lixin.” Marshel bowed his head as he made a formal greeting. Some manner was the least his master taught him. In truth, he was wondering if there were some unofficial meetings between them before, but that wasn't something he could voice out loud.
There were plenty of chances for some meetings, or secret observing of him. His involvement in the Diary of the Body left his person in a strange turn of events. One that forever changed his life, and there was no way to tell it in a different way. At once a demonic figure was a rather peaceful cultivating Immortal who seeks a new and grander purpose.
“Hmmm. I won't concern much about your past... If I would, we would discuss many things, and I am not fond of it. Since your master thinks you can accept any sort of task, this particular one would be a splendid chance for your past. ”
“Past regarding the Diary of the Body? What is it about? Tell me.” Marshel asked directly and without hesitation.
“I knew you would be interested. There was some sort of disturbance while retrieving the massage from certain something. You know the one who manages the insides of the Diary, aren't you?”
“I know.”
“Well, we don't actually know much more than that. There was a message sent from within the Diary. I know for a fact that the message left, but isn't readable. It has been a long time since the Diary was put in use, but since it is our predecessor's treasure, whenever there is an issue, it needs to be resolved. You will retrieve the Diary of the Body from the last place we store it. That's the goal.”
“Why? Since you know where it's stored, there shouldn't be an issue with finding the problems or these issues. Did someone steal it, damaged it, or something else?” Marshell asked in curiosity and try to dig for more information.
“Don't ask too many questions, Little Marshel. Lixin won't tell you much anyway. I knew this was just some stupid reason and whatever the real cause is, I don't care about it. Since it is so simple, my disciple shall do that. Is that good enough?” Lady Rong said, for the resolution and out of his disciple's willingness.
“Of course, I am fine with his involvement. It's for the betterment of his past, which could lead to a fine future. Here is the documentation about the incident and information that you will need.” Lixin explained and a parchment piece of paper materialized from the table. Marshell saw it right before his eyes.
It went right from the texture of the table into the paper form. There were a few sentences, which could hardly be called an official record of such an important object.
“Huh? Why in the bloody world do you store it in such a place? It will be such a bother to reach this...” Marshell complained in dissatisfaction from reading those sentences.
“That's not important at all. It's from the long past. This was an option, and we took it. Only a singular individual can retrieve it anyway, so deal with it as you wish. Considering the small amount of power you possess, there should be no problems whatsoever.” Lixin added.
“Hmph! I can finish this much.” Marshell snorted and took this paper away.
Lixin took a small-looking jade-like talisman from his robe and tossed it towards Marshel.
“Take this piece of jade with you. It involves the retrieval and the business of the storage.”
“That's it?” Marshell voiced his concern. Very little was said in this discussion so far. It may as well be an errand, but considering the Diary, it's no ordinary one, and he knew it. That's one of the reasons he did not complain all that much.
“Yes. If everything goes well, you can acquire a treasure from the Inner pavilion. That doesn't seem that far watched of a reason for you to try your hardest, doesn't it?” Lixin smiled at the pair of master and disciple, while obviously leaving out some of the information behind.
“Inner pavilion? What is this about anyway? It's a simple retrieval of that diary of ours, isn't it?” Lady Rong added. Clearly questioning his unreasonable words.
“I've recently collected some stuff. It won't hurt your new disciple so take it as you wish since I will take my leave.” Lixin stopped the surrounding energy which encompassed them all in this discussion exchange.
“I will do it, elder Lixin.” Marshell said in silent resolution with jade and paper in hand.
“Have a safe journey, Marshell of our ancient Diary.”
Getting up, Lixin left his final words out, and in a pillar of light, disappeared into the mysterious ceiling.
Left sitting by the table was Lady Rong, who had some things left to say, but she was restraining herself.
She clenched her fist, and made complaints in her mind, rather than voicing them in this space. Grabbing the hand of still seated Marshell, she stormed out of the table, in the hope to go out of this damned tower.
“M-master?” Marshell let out a small shriek as he was dragged out of the building.
“What strength... Ayayay... This woman isn't what she seems at all.” He complained in silence as he was left out by her grip outside of the tower.
Alas, it did not stop there.
“Oh, my little Marshel. Don't end up like them at all.” She cried out and reached out to Marshell's head who was taken aback by it, but otherwise did not struggle. She pulled him to her chest and catered his cheeks with her palms. She watched his face from a bare distance away.
“Hmmm... Will you manage this mission well?”
“Of course. Although it's a long journey outside of the Central Region. I can manage this little, but it will take me time. Traveling will be the annoying part, but it involves only taking something back for the organization, so I will do it.”
“That something is your origin! Don't lie to me. I know what it meant to you when I met you at that time.” Lady Rong told him in a firm voice while giving her grip a bit more strength.
Marshel paused within her hold. Not given an option for negotiating the answer, he felt more hesitant than ever to tell her about the past. It felt like a gentle touch of an extraordinary being which could end his life in a moment held him.
This woman... perhaps if she would be somewhat different, she would destroy his life while caressing his cheek.
That in itself was not the least bit frightening to him. His heart was a tough one and will be reaching the heights he couldn't imagine in the past.
“It was my origin. Right now, I am who I am. What sort of philosophic answer do you expect from me? I am not one to be lost in the river of the past. That was something you used to tell me all the time.”
“Good. Good. You remember your past. That's great. As long as you know yourself well, you can expect something from others. Have a good trip, but don't cause unnecessary death.” Lady Rong patted his head and although a little unwillingly at first, she pulled her hands away. She wanted to enjoy his hold a little longer since he was her precious disciple and he will be gone for a while.
In the distant past, she had a very slim chance to get affection for herself or others. This little moment can fuel her for a long time, as the memories of a distant past of that situation about Marshel resurfaced in her mind.
A smile with a hint of worry appeared on her face as she stepped away from the path before disappearing in the motion of speed.
Disappearing into the distance, Lady Rong had her own things, while her disciple has a task to follow.
Marshel was left standing there, below the tower. He wondered whether he made a mistake by telling so compulsive answer. It was about his very important piece of history, and whether the problem it had, meant a lot to him.
“How crazy... This is a long way for me to understand everything there is under the heaven. I cannot fathom the differences between these people at all. What makes them so different than others?” He pondered because the way he said Lixin was different from his master. Both of them are undeniable monsters.
His own expectations towards this summons were slim, to begin with, and now, he had a long mission before him.
“Heh... He told me something about my own little power... Was he mocking me or what?” Mashell sneered, while he knew very well what the universe had to offer. He long knew that understanding the world held very little to his current state. Any Lord would feel the same way.
Only the universe and constellation level of secrets could quench their thirst for power.
In the past, he reached the 2nd Lord stage. A stage where any cultivator would cry in happiness, and their own life would be greater than countless others. He managed the existence of the second sphere within his very being. They were barely sufficient, but it was unfortunate that his days were cut short by the intervention of beings he had no way to resist. It was a very similar picture to the curses of 36, but way behind his story, and time.
To this day, he kept dreaming about those times. Back then, they were shadowy figures of a few members of The Ones, yet it was forever etched into his heart. There were no faces, as far as he could tell. He never knew what those people were at that time. Even though they destroyed his very self and ceased his soul to travel out of The Underworld. Then, he was pulled into a dull space of unchanging paralysis.
A long time in the void, where he felt the encompassing time of numbness, and emptiness.
It was a nightmare for the former demonic figure, and it still lingered in his mind to this day.
There was nothing from that moment, which has escaped the continuous pursuit of power. He even considered forgetting the redundant and insignificant memories from the post. Though he assumed them to be fuel, and a small toil to continue going forward.
He held himself high as he watched the void in the space, as well as a distant artificial sun. Marshel then glanced at the jade and paper, before disappearing into the space towards his goal.
Little did he know that this journey would be boring to him, but the cause of it would be not so much. He would never find it in the location he was given since The Ones didn't get a full message. No, they were probably unsure of it themselves.
However, certain motions of destiny would mold the path into multiple, different, and extremely intricate locations. Little Cendirr as well as our little Marshell would sooner or later meet. It was unknown what sort of problems could occur when Marshell won't find the Diary in his cave.
It was only unfortunate that the view of the Diary wasn't that important for the current head of The Ones. It was a long and forgotten piece of method that they did long ages ago. A method... that had no significant results, but a historical aspect of it held an important reason for The Ones.
Nevertheless, of the internal struggles and motivation of Marshell, Lixin, though otherwise. He was charged with this smallest of the task, by someone very important to him. In fact, he was even facing that figure at the moment. Someone majestic as well as frightening.
Lixin traveled back to the mysterious space above the ceiling of the Table of Discussion. On a singular planet, which should be more described as a dozen of kilometers wide rock, was built a rather massive palace. It was even bigger than the piece of rock underneath it, but the reason for its majesty, size and utmost bizarreness was the owner of this palace.
He talked and gestured in a try to make his message across, but to no avail. It seemed that the being which was hiding behind waves and layers of twisting energy didn't care about his words.
It was of no surprise to Lixin, even though certain problems could arise. The problem of the past could go back to the present in the form of fated strings... They should know it. The same as everyone in the past. Especially this person before him. This was, after all, the current head of The Ones and his direct master.
“Master! Are you sure about this?” Lixin insisted on his question while in a deep bow.
The swirling vortex of the energy and utmost power revealed no man, but a voice instead. It told an unyielding tone of voice, which no one would question.
“Let the fates decide anything. The universe is no place for plays... Not even The Ones can change it.”
“B-but the Diary of t...”
“Enough! That old book of ours was a demise of ideas of the old age. A thing that no longer matters!” The voice spoke, and Lixin couldn't help but tremble.
A sliver of the vortex made a temporary vision of the utmost demon. No... it was safer to call it a man of the utmost pitch black eyes. A diagram on his forehead, while his bald head included many jewels and other diagrams.
“I still think it's worth keeping its records.” Lixin insisted, amidst the pressure and his nervousness.
“Records? Which ones? Nothing there isn't in our treasury or library.”
“My words still stand. Why did you insist on Lady Rong? You knew she wouldn't be willing to move.”
The man chuckled and only uttered the last words before his storming cocoon closed.
“We are the players of fate. While that Diary is only a piece of a toy. Let the small people decide what they want, so we won't have to.”
Lixin got from his bow, while a stoic expression was on his face. The kind with respect and reverence towards this man. So he left this place, that floated in the mysterious treasure of self-contained space.
This was a private residency of this man. A Crystalim Rising Palace, which even Above would care about.
Mountain formations made of crystals, jewels, and gems alike made this whole embodied with power.
It was a home for the all leaders of The Ones whose name was never known to anyone. All of them had a singular name. Some would say it was more akin to the nickname, or because of the name of the organization.
The One was always the name of the leader of this group.
What occurred in this unique space was outside of the ordinariness. A scope so far away, yet partly related to the flow of the universe.
Obvious to any of that, the rural places of the universe had many planets sustaining life for the benefit of others. The very same was the current location of Allan, who had full hands of his stuff. Even if he didn't, what he would do if he knew about the grand scheme of the universe would be beyond laughable.
Right now, he was testing himself on pieces of rock, the same as before a few days ago. This was the third day after the first climb into the massive wall. It left him little to be desired for himself, and improvements weren't noticeable like the previous training.
He even went back to the climb at some point, and the weights were getting on his nerves. He had made no progress towards moving upwards at all, yet still managed to tell himself a few comforting words. Like his way of movement, which was better after each climb.
Let's just call it a nativity, that was better to be unbothered. A positive attitude can go a long way, and Allan did exactly that.
There were already very slim differences in what he could tell about himself. His arms, in particular, felt drastic changes. He could feel his tendons, as well as his wrist, strengthening. It was about the muscles that he never felt like this before. The firmness of his grip as well as core stability was more pronounced. Allan even noticed it in yesterday's spar with Zigmund.
He held his ground for quite longer than he used to because of that, but Zigmund was always victorious in the end. Stamina had nothing to do with his defeats, as he had a long way before himself. He always held himself straight and defended and struck according to what he assumed to be the right move. It was never fine since any wounds were already common. Mostly his, of course.
The only difference was the last day, which was the first time when both of them ended without wounding each other. Instead, both were tired after a long spar.
Sarey could only chuckle at the reasoning of the spars, as 36 held his voice from telling too much.
The wooden, yet mysterious figurine was on the ground, facing Sarey, and Allan, who stopped his training. It was about time for another summon.
“What do you think?” Sarey asked out loud.