"So...that still doesn't answer my question - what do you want from me?" I asked, keeping my guard up at all times.

"I'm sure Sigil has told you this already, but he sensed a special power within you. A power so strong and unfathomable, even for him," Aluna explained. "I didn't believe him at first. But after seeing you with my own two eyes...I understand now. You are quite the special boy indeed."

"Power? What power?" I raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance.

"You can play dumb all you like, but unfortunately, your mind is not guarded well enough," Aluna replied with a gentle smile, with genuinely no hostility behind it.

...Psychic Magic, huh?

Aluna must've read that thought too, since her expression didn't change and she continued to beam at me with a happy expression, as if she was thoroughly enjoying our meeting.

"...Are you going to try and obtain my power for yourself?" I asked, getting to the heart of my worries.

Aluna seemed surprised at first, then unexpectedly giggled out loud. "Hehehe~you're an interesting one, Xuan Kai. We have no intention of stealing what is rightfully yours."

"Xu- Wait, how do you know my name?"

Aluna smirked. "I believe you already know this, but...I am one of the sixteen founders of the Library of Infinite Beginnings. I have eyes and ears everywhere within the Library. Getting your name wasn't too difficult."

"Hold on...is it alright if I ask a question?"

I didn't know why I was being so polite and timid in front of this woman - perhaps it was just the gentle aura she gave off that made people want to treat her nicely in return as well.

"Sure. I will answer to the best of my abilities."

"You said there are sixteen founders, right? But...what about the Monster and Magic Beast races?"

Aluna sighed. "Not all Monsters and Magic Beasts are evil, Xuan Kai. For instance...all Rank 8 Magic Beasts have formed an alliance with the IMF, no?"

"Then that means..."

She nodded. "Correct. The Magic Beast representative, my dear friend and fellow founder of the Library of Infinite Beginnings, is a Rank 8 Magic Beast."

"So, in other words, he or she possess strength equivalent to that of a Divine God?"

"It's a she. And yes, she does."

"Hold on. I'm still confused. If you're 'friends' with this Rank 8 Magic Beast..."

Then, reading my mind, she answered. "Yes. I am a Divine God. And so are all the other founders, including Sigil, the Celesticus you have already met."

My eyes widened, and it took me a good second to process all this information. "But...I hadn't sensed a powerful aura emitting from this Sigil person when I met him, and nor do I sense one from you right now."

"Your ability to sense powerful presences and gauge their strength based on what you feel is extremely fascinating," Aluna remarked. "However, that skill is unfortunately only useful on those who still do not have the power to hide their true strength. This is not meant to be an insult, but...if I were to release my full aura right now, you would faint if not straight up killed."

Was this...the power of a Divine God?

Aluna didn't seem to be lying, nor did she have any reason to lie to me. Then she looked up.

"In any case...I think our time here is up for today, quite regrettably. If you stay any longer, your friends outside will get suspicious," Aluna said, sighing, slightly disappointed. "Goodbye for now, Xuan Kai. We'll meet again - I'll make sure of it."

With that, she turned around, and vanished into the forest. But then, she paused, for a brief moment.

"Oh, one more thing. Don't tell anyone else of our existence - me, or any of the other fifteen founders," she said gently.

"...Are you threatening me?" I asked, wondering what the implied 'or else' was.

"This is not a threat, I assure you," Aluna said in response, as calm and mature as ever. "I will not force you to do anything - hehe, I'm just not that kind of person. If you do wish to tell the whole world about what happened here, then so be it. I won't inflict any sort of punishment on you, nor will any of the other founders. I am merely asking you this as a favor...in other words, I treat you as an equal - as a friend."

Well, I wouldn't go so far as to call us 'friends' after one meeting, but...

After a deep sigh, I replied. "I understand. We never met."

Upon hearing my response, even though I couldn't see her gorgeous face, I knew that, without a doubt, she was smiling happily. She began to walk away once more.

It was then that I realized my question all along still has not been answered clearly.

In a hurry, I tried to call out to her. "W-Wait, you still haven't told me what you want me fo-"

But alas, she didn't respond, and the only thing I could do was watch her graceful back slowly get smaller, smaller, and eventually, disappear from sight.

*****

The world around me flashed a brilliant white, and in an instant, I was brought to a seemingly endless white room, with a single door placed in front of me.

Okay...I get the gist by now.

Pushing open the door, I stepped through - and found myself on the other side of the staircase - in other words, the third floor. There were about just as many people here as there were on the second floor. Translation: not much. I took a deep breath, and collected myself. I needed to calm down after all the information I just got, and the whole conversation with Aluna Elven.

Divine Gods...they really do exist. But...why do they not come out and reveal themselves? They are already standing at the peak of the world, so why are they choosing to hide their own very existence instead of enjoying the fame and wealth of being among the strongest mages there ever was?

I sighed. These were questions I would never find the answers to unless I spoke to Aluna or Sigil again. Or, perhaps...another founder would work too, depending on his or her personality, and whether the liked me or not. Then again, I had never been a very 'likeable' person, so...

There's just one thing I can't wrap my head around. When Aluna was leaving, she had said she considered me her equal - a friend, just like any of the other fifteen founders. Why? Our strength gap right now was large enough to the point where it was simply laughable. And I don't think we've ever met each other before...ugh, the more I think about this, the more questions I have.

Shaking all these thoughts away and saving them for the next time I had a chance to meet one of the sixteen founders of the Library, I pulled open the door and slipped through. On the other side, Xiang Peng and Mei Gui were waiting for me.

"Welcome back, Master," Mei Gui said with a smile. It was faint, but that meant a lot for Mei Gui, who was usually completely emotionless and stoic. So, to sum it up, she was genuinely happy I was back.

Meanwhile, Xiang Peng had quite the different reaction.

"Ugh, I will never get used to just seeing someone's head pop out of a portal like that," she grumbled in disgust.

"Too bad," I replied ruthlessly.

"So? How was the Gatekeeper?" Xiang Peng asked, completely ignoring the coldness in my response.

"You'll see for yourself," I said, feigning ignorance. I wasn't going to tell her about the existence of the founders.

"Huh? Then what was the point of you going first?!" Xiang Peng cried in desperation. "Ugh, fine, whatever. My turn!"

With that, she determinedly swiped her card on the scanner, and pushed open the door, disappearing into thin air (at least, that's what I saw, since I already completed the Gatekeeper test for this floor).

"Master...you did not fight anyone at all," Mei Gui said once Xiang Peng was gone. She was extremely observant and perceptive.

"How did you know?" I asked quietly.

"There are no signs of intense movement on your cloak, Master," Mei Gui explained. "In fact, I cannot see any wrinkles, which should be impossible unless you have only been walking slowly. Obviously, there are no stains either. Of course, it is possible you just hid these signs, but I find that unlikely."

"..."

Telling her should be fine, right? She's probably going to be talked to by Aluna either way.

"Well, you're right. I didn't fight the Gatekeeper - instead, I met this woman," I said. "She was an elf...but well, you'll find out the rest when you go in for yourself. She'll probably want to talk to you as well."

Mei Gui nodded. "Understood, Master."