Alessandra's life was both difficult and effortless; she frequently clashed with Zhao Li, while her relationships with other races oscillated between peaceful, tense, and hostile.
In a forest known as the "Forest of Hope," Alessandra sat on a chair inside a hut she had built five months earlier. She was documenting the knowledge she had acquired in this world. Although what she recorded represented less than 0.0000001% of the vast knowledge she possessed, she tailored the content to the limits of human comprehension—fully aware that her own lineage would possess a finite capacity for thought, rather than omniscience.
Once she finished writing, she leaned back in her chair and stretched out her arms. "The sea of knowledge is endless; no matter how far you sail, you will never reach its edge, and no matter how deep you dive into its mysteries, you will never touch its bottom. Such is life: some beginnings have no endings, and some endings have no beginnings."
She decided to retire for the night—not because she needed sleep to restore her energy, but to detach herself from the world and experience what it felt like for the members of her lineage, who would require sleep to rest.
Centuries passed since Alessandra began her journey in this world and various other ordinary realms—a journey that spanned over 865 years. Much like Zhao Li—yet in a manner entirely distinct from him—Alessandra forged numerous relationships with a wide array of races and peoples, drawn to her by the aura of authority and vitality that surrounded her throughout those centuries. In one of the huts where Alessandra was temporarily residing—a two-story structure comprising three bedrooms, a guest room, two restrooms, and a kitchen—she sat at a table. Adorning the table were a tray of sweets, a white teapot, and cups crafted from lunar jade glass. Seated directly across from her was Yuzmira, the leader of the Angel tribe.
"So, what will you do now, Alessandra—Saintess of Creation?" Yuzmira asked in a calm tone, sipping her tea with the curiosity of a long-time friend.
Leaning back in her chair, Alessandra gazed toward the sky, her expression inscrutable. "I think I shall head to 'Versalkin,' the Palace of Knowledge, to relax and deposit the books I have authored."
Her voice remained serene, imbued with both a sense of gravitas and a touch of indifference. Yet, as she contemplated the heavens, a faint smile graced her features. "Life is truly strange. My lifespan has extended by a thousand years, without me ever having sought to prolong it. Zao Li—what were you thinking when you chose to extend your own life?"
When Zao Li had increased his lifespan by a thousand years, Alessandra's own lifespan had expanded by the same duration; their lives were bound together by both spirit and destiny. Should Zao Li perish, she would die as well—and vice versa—though both would ultimately be resurrected, thanks to the spirit of Ji Yao Li, which remained hidden and protected in an undisclosed location. Yuzmira placed her teacup on the table and looked toward Alessandra with a mocking smile: "Tom, how long are you going to stay like this? Come on, wake up!"
Alessandra cast a glance toward Yuzmira with the corner of her violet eyes, then turned her gaze back to the sky, ignoring the words entirely. She knew for certain that the voice did not belong to Yuzmira, but rather to that strange entity—the one that kept urging her to wake up, repeating the same name over and over again.
"It seems life harbors secrets no one knows... Life is truly strange; it brings forth the weak from the loins of the strong, and from the weak, the strong are born. Such will be my lineage: they shall be born weak, yet from these weak ones, a strong progeny will emerge—destined to become rulers of fantasy realms, forging their own worlds, separate and free from this one."
Her tone was filled with absolute certainty—and indeed, that is precisely what came to pass millions of years later. Her descendants grew weaker, losing the ability to wield the Sacred Aether; their reserves of *mana* or *kono* became limited, and even when they could harness the Aether, it was merely ordinary—lacking the sacred quality she possessed. Beginnings are not always true beginnings; though Alessandra stood at the dawn of humanity, it was not the true start of evolution, for her lineage grew more diminished with each passing generation. Yet, among her descendants, there were those who attained a terrifying power—surpassing the 'Boundless' tier—setting off to become rulers of fantasy realms or intrepid explorers of the vast, boundless world. For this reason, she felt neither sadness nor anxiety regarding her descendants, who would spread throughout the various realms contained within this fantasy world long after she was gone.
Three days later, Alessandra set off toward "Versalkin," the Palace of Knowledge. It was a long journey that spanned several months, during which she passed through various villages and tribes, forging strong bonds of friendship along the way.
Seven months of travel brought her back to the Palace of Knowledge—which was also her home—where she intended to deposit her accumulated knowledge. The Palace had been established as a central hub for human learning; though she did not simply hand over all knowledge, she allowed her descendants the opportunity to conduct their own research and evolve independently.
Branches of the Palace of Knowledge were established across all the ordinary realms within this fantasy world—an infinite number of iterations, each housing a unique collection of books tailored to the specific power systems of its respective realm. These primary power systems included mental, physical, and spiritual energy, as well as Mana, Ki/Aura, and Chi—each with its own distinct tiers and paths of progression. (For instance, in one such realm, the fundamental power system was known as "Kono," while in others, it was "Mana," and so on.)
The Palace of Knowledge was a colossal structure, comparable in size to the city of Chicago. It contained a vast array of libraries and chambers of every conceivable type, all protected by Zao Li's absolute power: anyone who dared to attempt the destruction of the Palace—or any of its branches—would be erased from existence and condemned to eternal torment in an infinite hell.
Alessandra entered the Palace and transported herself instantly to its core, where the library—the place where she and Zao Li kept their collection of books—was located. After setting down the 45 books—which covered the subjects of magic, the use of mana, and the aether—she headed toward one of the available rooms.
There, she found a six-year-old girl with gray hair and lead-colored eyes. "Beatrice, how are you? It seems you've missed me quite a bit," Alessandra said, her voice soft and overflowing with genuine affection.
The little girl dashed toward Alessandra; she looked absolutely adorable, especially Her silver dress made running difficult, yet it gave her an angelic appearance. She leaped toward Alessandra, a sincere and gentle smile gracing her face: "I've missed you, Lady Alessandra! You were gone for two whole years this time!" There was a hint of mild annoyance in Beatrice's tone.
Alessandra let out a soft laugh as she looked down at Beatrice, who had buried her head against her chest: "You're right—it was quite a long absence, my dear."
Alessandra loved Beatrice dearly, even though she was not her biological daughter; she had discovered her in the space between ordinary worlds, cradled within a womb-like chrysalis. Beatrice's power was immense—on par with that of Ji Yao Li (surpassing the "Beyond-Existence" rank and capable of erasing entities of that level with effortless ease). For this reason, Alessandra had sealed her abilities, bringing them down to her own rank to protect her from potential attacks by the Guardians of the Tree of Existence or similar entities. This seal also granted Beatrice the ability to reincarnate each time she died.
A quarter of an hour later, Alessandra and Beatrice were strolling through the inner garden of the Palace of Knowledge, "Versalkin." "Life is truly beautiful, isn't it, Beatrice?" Alessandra asked, her tone as cheerful and joyful as ever.
Beatrice looked up to meet Alessandra's gaze: "Yes—life is beautiful, with all its sweetness and bitterness, don't you think?" Her tone was childlike and guileless; her responses sprang from a world she perceived as joyful and bright—a world whose bitterness and squalor she had yet to experience. That was why she remained, always, so happy and cheerful.
After only a few steps, Beatrice stopped abruptly, forcing Alessandra to halt as well. "Tom, aren't you going to wake up? You've been asleep for so long... wake up!" Beatrice said, her voice calm as she gazed at Alessandra.
Alessandra's expression turned cold and inscrutable. She let out a deep sigh. "It is time to bring this phase to an end."
Then, turning with a smile, she said, "Come along, Beatrice—it seems it's time for lunch." Her tone was gentle and pleasant, yet firm—leaving no room for argument. "Very well, let us return to the palace." Beatrice's voice carried a hint of irritation; she had wanted to continue wandering through the garden with Alessandra, but her companion had cut that short.
The Long-Awaited Encounter
In the dead of night, Alessandra sat upon the roof of the Palace of Knowledge, "Versalkin," her gaze fixed toward her intended destination. Her expression was a complex blend of anxiety and relief. "The appointed day has arrived. I never imagined I would meet him again—more than 800 years have passed since we parted ways. Though our paths have crossed a few times, we always managed to avoid a direct confrontation." Her voice was quiet, tinged with a faint, lingering unease.
Zao Li stood as her equal—matched to her in every aspect of power. Afterward, she decided to head toward the place where they were born, sensing that she would meet him there to put an end to this farce and move forward.
She went straight to the site of their origin.
Upon her arrival, her expression shifted to one of mild shock; the hall—once simple in design—now contained two thrones adorned with mana stones that bathed the space in a faint, golden glow.
From the white throne emanated a complex golden aura, radiating an overwhelming sense of power and authority. From the charcoal-black throne flowed a dark, violet-tinged aura, likewise exuding an overwhelming sense of power and authority.
She sat upon the white throne in complete silence, not uttering a single word, for she already knew exactly what she had to do.