As they walked through the city, the people avoided them, feeling the intimidating aura of the supervisor and his City Guard armor. They soon arrived at the orphanage, which didn’t have a name—just a simple orphanage. Astrid stopped and tugged at Lys’s arm. “I’ll just watch from here, okay?” Lys nodded in agreement.

Astrid watched from a distance as Lys and the supervisor approached the orphanage. Her heart stirred with conflicted emotions. The orphanage had been her home for most of her life, a place that sheltered her when she had nowhere else to go. She owed them a debt, a debt she swore to repay one day. But for now, she would only observe.

‘I don’t feel like I have the right to interfere,’ she thought, her gaze fixed on the two figures who were making arrangements on her behalf. Lys had promised to fund the orphanage for the next ten years, ensuring the children wouldn’t have to suffer through hunger like she had. A wave of relief washed over her, but it was quickly replaced by a gnawing sense of aimlessness.

‘Ten years... It’s been ten years since I remembered my past life,’ she mused, her thoughts spiraling inward. ‘Back then, I thought I’d join some sect after reaching the Energy Refining Realm. I wasn’t expecting to be taken in by an inner elder of a hegemonic sect, and certainly not by someone like her. Lys isn’t simple. The moment I met her eyes, I could tell she’s not kind—not really. There’s a ruthlessness there. She hides it well, but I’ve seen it.’

She shifted on her feet, her arms crossed as she continued to watch the process unfold. Lys and the supervisor spoke with the head of the orphanage, a tired-looking woman who had been struggling to make ends meet. Astrid noticed the woman’s relieved expression as the supervisor handed over 20 gold coins that would cover the orphanage’s needs for a month which would be paid out monthly for the next 10 years. The orphanage head didn’t ask too many questions—she couldn’t afford to, not when salvation was being offered so freely.

‘At least the kids will have food,’ Astrid thought, a small weight lifting off her chest. ‘I was strong enough to survive hunting those Tier 1 beasts, but they’re too small and weak to fend for themselves. And I... I’ll pay them back, just not now.’

Her mind drifted further. ‘I promised myself I’d live for me this time. Do what I want. Back on Earth, I let people walk all over me. My sister, especially—I took the blame for everything, cleaned up every mess. I even paid off her debts just to keep those thugs from hurting Mom. I didn’t have a choice. Mom was too kind; she didn’t deserve to suffer because of my sister’s cruelty. By the time Mom was gone, I had nothing left to live for. That world was only full of pain. Giving up felt like the only option, and in a way, the heart attack was my escape. A way out.’

She tightened her fists, then quickly relaxed, pushing the old memories away. ‘But that part of my life is over. This world is different. I can feel it—there’s so much more I can learn and become here. I don’t know what I want yet, but cultivating is my way to survive. A means to an end. No one will force me into anything this time. I won’t let it happen again. I’ll find my own way. Power, wealth—they don’t matter to me, but cultivation will give me choices. No one can control me anymore. And if they try? I’ll fight. Even if it comes to life and death. That’s the reality here.’

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The conversation between Lys and the orphanage head seemed to be wrapping up. Astrid could see the woman bowing slightly, gratitude written all over her face. Lys had asked her about Astrid’s origins, and the orphanage head explained the little she knew—Astrid had been left in a basket, covered with a simple cloth. There had been nothing but her name and birthday written down. No clues to her family, no explanation for her arrival.

‘Not surprising,’ Astrid thought bitterly. ‘I never belonged anywhere. Not in my past life, and not in this one.’

She watched as Lys and the supervisor finished their arrangements. The money exchanged hands, and the promise of ten years’ worth of security was sealed. Astrid’s chest tightened as she thought about leaving this place for now.

‘I don’t even know what I’m aiming for yet,’ she realized. ‘But one thing’s clear—I need to live for myself this time. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll find something worth living for.’

The supervisor vanished into thin air after leaving the orphanage, and Lys began walking toward Astrid. Astrid still couldn’t fully comprehend the woman in front of her. Lys seemed kind and helpful on the surface, but Astrid’s instincts told her otherwise. There was something dangerous about her, something she couldn’t shake.

When Lys reached her, Astrid asked, “How much should you trust your instincts?”

Lys raised an eyebrow and chuckled. “Of all the questions, you ask this one. How sharp. I’ll tell you—trust them implicitly, even if they end up being wrong.”

Astrid hesitated but decided to say it. “My instincts are telling me to run away from you. As far as I can. They tell me I’m standing in front of a beast I can’t beat or escape from.”

Lys burst into hearty laughter, clearly amused. “When you’re with me, you better be careful then.”

Astrid stared at her, unsure if Lys was joking or serious. There was something about her that was hard to grasp, but one thing was clear—this woman was far from ordinary. Lys seemed to enjoy Astrid’s sharpness, though, as if it only made her more interesting. Astrid didn’t know if that was a good thing or not.

“Let’s get you something to eat first,” Lys said suddenly. “But be ready to puke your guts out.”

Before Astrid could even process the strange comment, Lys scooped her up and took to the sky. Astrid felt her stomach lurch as they soared upward, but she was protected by Lys’s Ki, so there was no discomfort from the speed or height. As she looked down, her eyes widened in shock. The land below stretched out endlessly, far beyond what she could ever have imagined. Even from this height, the world seemed too vast, too far-reaching. She realized then that this world was far bigger than the one she came from. It felt overwhelming.

At some point, Lys summoned a massive sword, and they began riding it through the sky. The movement was fast, but Astrid felt no wind or pressure. She had no idea how much time had passed, but after three hours, they started descending. In the distance, she could see a massive city, far larger than Violet Blossom City—one of the bigger cities under the Silver Star Sect’s control.

They approached the city gates, a towering structure that loomed ahead. There were smaller gates for common travelers and merchants, with long lines forming as people waited to enter. Merchants guided their large carriages through, and the guards checked everyone thoroughly. But the main gate, the largest of them all, was wide open yet completely empty. No one dared approach it.

Lys walked straight toward it.

A man dressed in Heavy Armor carrying a large sword on his back appeared as they neared, and Lys pulled out a badge from her robes. The man immediately bowed and spoke, “Esteemed Elder of the Silver Star Sect, welcome to Direstone City.”

Astrid watched in awe. But seeing this city, this power, she realized how small her past life had been compared to what lay ahead.