Where did everything go wrong?

No one knew why the Heavens chose to forsake the world of Oseo, but when they made their decision, it signaled to many that the beginning of the end had arrived...

Not that Laude gave a damn about the end of the world.

As far as he was concerned, world-ending prophecies were the type of foolish drivel that only imbeciles and madmen believed in.

Had Laude not felt so indebted to White Dew Society for sheltering him during his time of need, he would've laughed his heart out when Fraxinus, the Head Elder of Ash-Tree Mountain, had lectured him about the ominous end that awaited the world.

The old sack of bones had not been the friendliest fellow in the Society to Laude. After all, Fraxinus regarded Laude as the harbinger of the end times, which he frequently reminded Laude of whenever he got on the old man's nerves.

It unnerved Laude a bit in the beginning, but he didn't mind that much once he realized that Fraxinus was all bark and no bite. The old man had an attitude problem, but not once had he ever laid so much as a finger on Laude. He had assigned him an unnaturally large amount of homework compared to the other disciples, though — something that had given Laude quite a bit of grief.

It was always the same routine every day whenever he had a lecture to attend at Ash-Tree Mountain, much to the amusement of the disciples at White Dew Society.

The moment Laude entered Fraxinus's lecture hall, the old gargoyle said, "Well, look at what the gravedigger brought in! My favorite disciple!"

Laude smiled politely and said, "Don't stress yourself, Head Elder. It's not good for your body, especially at your age. We wouldn't want you to drop dead anytime soon, right?. After all, what would White Dew Society be without its one and only madman?"

The other disciples grinned as they watched both of them childishly bicker. By now, it would've been weirder for both of them to actually greet each other like sensible adults at this point. Still, everyone in White Dew Society knew that Fraxinus was actually a softie at heart, despite his irritable outer shell.

One only had to bribe the old coot with his favorite treat, candied apples, to gain his favor.

Petty at heart, prone to harboring immature grudges, and owner of a sharp tongue... Laude had difficulty accepting that this man was a sage cultivator in charge of teaching disciples mystic theory, the foundation for all Immortal Arts.

"Hmph... Hurry up and take a seat, boy," said Fraxinus, turning his attention toward getting his lecture started.

"Today, we'll be reviewing the general characteristics of malignant spirits and the methods to properly deal with them."

When Fraxinus pulled a black scroll out of his robe and unfurled it across his desk, a ghastly phantom formed of Spiritual Qi popped right out of of the scroll — an artificial, illusory wraith created by Immortal Magic. It was a frightening, life-like reproduction of a middle-aged man who had a terrible laceration from his stomach up to his neck, indicating he had been murdered quite brutally...

All in all, it was a terrifying thing to behold, but... no one in the room seemed to care about it.

Hell, Laude even heard someone yawn behind him (very quietly, of course). It was nothing to be shocked about to the other disciples, but Laude still felt goosebumps form whenever he saw Fraxinus's magical illusions.

Although Laude and the common masses knew a little bit about Immortal Arts, given that many people owned enchanted items that had some kind of Immortal Magic within them, they were usually only simplistic objects.

The types of enchanted items mortals owned were usually household items. Things like cooking stoves that used Spirit Stones as fuel, simple talismans that protected people from weak spirits and demons, and enchanted water wells that used Spiritual Qi to gather moisture out of the air...

Those were the types of enchanted items that mortals usually owned, not high-class items like the illusory scroll that Fraxinus had used. Needless to say, Laude had been stunned when he first saw what cultivators were really capable of with their Immortal Arts.

"...And that is why you must resolve the main issue that is preventing them from departing to the afterlife," said Fraxinus, as he surveyed his disciples with a hawkish gaze for any sleeping pupils.

"Are you paying attention, you brats? What, you think that helping ghosts move on is too boring? Just when did the youths of this generation become so uncaring? You know, back in my day, we cared abou—"

"Yes, yes, your generation was filled with extraordinary cultivators that always saved the day. We can't compare to the older generations, so please forgive us for our incompetence in advance, Gramps," said Vateria Ingel jokingly.

Vateria was Shorea Ingel's so-called "little brother" and the one who had brought Laude to White Dew Society the day that mysterious heavenly tribulation had almost struck him dead. Still, no one else dared call her by that nickname aside from her brother, lest they incur her terrible wrath. This particular tomboy was not be trifled with...

Laude thought it a shame. He thought Vateria was cute as a button, but her bossy personality was a turn-off. Regardless, she was still quite pleasant to the eye — her wavy chestnut-colored hair, bright emerald eyes, and adorable face gave one the impression she was a cute little imp or fairy.

Alas... she had the temperament of a damn bull. Even jokingly teasing her was enough to get her horns...

Fraxinus clicked his tongue in displeasure and said, "Watch your mouth, young lady! That's no way for a maiden of White Dew Society to speak! Don't think I won't give you a proper spanking just because the Patriarch adopted you! Honestly, kids these days... So disrespectful and rebellious you'd think we were raising wild beasts to be cultivators! Ahhh, this generation is doomed..."

Laude chuckled and said, "The world's going to end any day now anyway, right? Shouldn't it be 'this world is doomed,' Head Elder? And if that's the case, I don't think there's any harm with a little frivolity."

"Ohh? Full of zest today, aren't we, you brats? Well, I hope you both enjoy mopping and sweeping the floors of Windell Temple today! Go forth and put that zest to work... because you won't be eating today until that temple is absolutely spotless!" said Fraxinus with a toothy grin.

Oh, for the love of...! Not that goddamned temple! thought Laude. Today was going to be a long day...

Purposefully diverting Fraxinus's ire onto himself was not something Laude was fond of, but he felt somewhat obligated to look out for the person who had saved his life. Regrettably, though, Laude had failed spectacularly this time around and gotten himself assigned with cleaning duty for nothing since Vateria also got punished as well in the end.

Out of all the punishments one could receive, cleaning at Windell Temple ranked amongst the worst punishments one could get by a country mile.

It was an old, semi-abandoned temple situated in a mountain separate from the five mountains that each Head Elder and the Patriarch lived on, respectively. It was the residence of the late sixth Head Elder of White Dew Society.

Nowadays, it was nothing more than an unoccupied temple that no one visited except for disciples who were assigned cleaning duty at the place. That, and when the Head Elders paid their yearly respects to the former Head Elder at Windell Temple.

Laude let out a sigh and said, "Why'd you have to rile him up? Nothing good has ever come of getting on that skeleton's bad side. Or do you have some sort of cleaning hobby that you've been hiding from everyone?"

Vateria silently stared at Laude for a moment before she swung her broom and struck him right over the head, causing him to tumble over into the pile of leaves he had been sweeping. They'd been sweeping the courtyard of Windell Temple since noon and had barely finished cleaning the outer section of the temple. At the rate they were progressing, it'd likely be another hour or two before they'd finish...

"I don't appreciate it, you know," said Vateria as she continued sweeping, "I don't appreciate you sticking your nose to help me whenever I get in trouble. Quit patronizing me. I don't want or need your help."

Laude softly chuckled as he stood up and said, "You don't have the right to say that, you know. Tell me again, which one of us saved the other person from death? Oh wait, that was you. So don't talk to me about 'sticking your nose where it doesn't belong,' because you're the expert at that between the two of us, not me."

The girl snorted and said, "Bah, it's hopeless trying to talk to you. I already told you that I don't like persistent guys. It's sad when guys refuse to accept reality... Look, I get that you might've developed certain feelings because of my actions, but I already have my heart set on someone else. Please just give up already..."

Laude smiled politely and said, "Look, you're cute, Vateria, but you're not that cute." He deftly glanced at Vateria's budding bosom and continued with, "You're welcome to act as haughtily as you are now when you've, well, grown something of value, oka—"

Another, even harsher, broom swing struck Laude in the back of the head, causing him to fall onto the pile of leaves he was gathering yet again...

After their first meeting, Laude immediately figured out that Vateria was a piece of work. She was what some would call a "young rebel," so to speak. Having lived her entire life in the secluded mountain-sanctuaries of White Dew Society, Vateria had longed to see the broader world of Oseo.

Truth be told, Vateria had not even been permitted to leave White Dew Society the day that she had rescued Laude. She actually snuck her out of the protective barrier that kept anyone from entering or leaving the Society on a little "fact-finding expedition," according to her words...

It wasn't always like that, though. In the past, disciples used to freely enter and leave the Society whenever they pleased. But with the continued disappearance of Spiritual Qi, new rules had come into play.

Every strand of Spiritual Qi had now become a precious resource to be protected. And as per ancient custom, every Society in the world was either built on a Spiritual leyline — a natural well of Spiritual Qi — or less commonly, upon a Spirit Stone mine, which contained condensed Spiritual Qi in extraordinary crystals.

In these troubling times, nothing was sacred. These days, many desperate groups would gladly invade a Society and kill its inhabitants to claim the Spiritual leyline or Spirit Stone mine that it was founded on.

Rogue cultivation Societies, Beastfolk organizations like the Deep Forest Alliance, even other supposedly "righteous" orthodox cultivation Societies — if desperate enough — would target White Dew Society if they ever got an opportunity to do so.

Laude sighed. At the rate he was progressing, it'd be half a year before he finished his studies. And even after that, he would still not be allowed to leave the confines of the Society. Only disciples who had earned the title of "Elder Disciple" were allowed to leave the Society by themselves.

If Laude wanted to leave the Society, he would have to be accompanied by an Elder Disciple like every other "Junior disciple". In essence, Laude and all other Junior disciples were required to have a glorified nanny around to supervise them and keep them out of trouble.

And the only reason Junior disciples like Laude were allowed to leave the Society was strictly for training missions.

Nothing more.

More than anything, Laude desired to visit Haalo. He wanted to see his family and friends, the sights and sounds of his village. He missed his mother's cooking and the taste of the apples from his family's apple orchard. He was homesick beyond belief...

White Dew Society had been very kind to him, and Laude knew it was a good place, but... it wasn't his true home.

When Vateria noticed that Laude had not gotten up, she walked over to him and poked him with her broom a couple of times before she said, "Did you finally drop dead or something? Hello...? Come on, get up... We're still not finished yet. Hey... Stop ignoring me already, goddamnit!"

It wasn't until when Vateria forcibly dragged Laude up that she saw his gloomy, spiritless face. She scowled at him and said, "Don't be a baby. I didn't even hit you that hard. Look, I'm sorry for hitting you, okay? ...What the devil is the matter with you?"

Laude wordlessly shook his head and brushed her off, which naturally irritated Vateria, but she kept her calm.

"It's... nothing, said Laude quietly. "Let's just get this done as quickly as possible. The faster we're done, the better..."

Vateria pouted, but in the end, she did not pry any further. It wasn't as if she was that interested in knowing what was eating up Laude anyway. Or at least, that was what she told herself as she focused on sweeping her side of the inner courtyard.

Windell Temple was a beautiful place to visit when one wasn't cleaning it for what it was worth. Unlike the other five mountain-sanctuaries that faced westward toward the continent of Ibeum, Windell Temple faced eastward toward the sea.

The temple was situated atop a tall mountain covered in trees that oversaw a lush, verdant valley called the Cradle of Noel. It was a pocket of mostly untouched land that eventually led towards the beautiful Emerald Sea.

Midday eventually passed, and the sky turned a warm amber as the sun began to dip across the horizon.

It'd taken them a little bit longer than expected, but Laude and Vateria finally finished their duty. Tired out of their damn minds, they sat on the chiseled stone steps of the Windell Temple and took in the majestic view of the Cradle of Noel and the Emerald Sea as a prize for their hard work.

Windell Temple was still beautiful as ever, despite being deserted for decades. Laude presumed that some type of Immortal Art kept the building in pristine condition. Even something an Immortal Art as mundane as that still amazed Laude. In all honesty, Laude found the world of cultivation incredible beyond belief...

"This place is like a wonderland, you know. It's brimming with all kinds of amazing things," said Laude as he watched the dipping sunset and the sky grow dim. "Every day, I witness and learn amazing things in this Society that leave me wondering about this... strange world that you people live in. This other, hidden half of the world."

"And every day... I am reminded that this is not the world I belong in. This fantastic world where ghosts, demons, monsters, Beastfolk, and even the afterlife intersect. I mean, for Heaven's sake, I'm a bloody farmer! Where the hell does someone like a farmer even come into the grand scheme of things?! It makes no sense why the Heavens chose me...!"

Vateria looked at Laude blankly and said, "...And? I was a dirty street rat up until I was seven years old. The same goes for my brother, too. And every other disciple in White Dew Society. Though I'm sure you must've already had some idea about our origins, right? It's not that hard to notice the glaring signs."

Laude kept his gaze away from her and said, "Well... yeah. I had an inkling. Felt it was pretty weird that whenever I spoke with other disciples about their pasts, they never mentioned any memories that didn't take place within the Society. So, yeah, I had my suspicions. Not that I ever broached the topic, though. Didn't want to dig up something best left buried, you know..."

"That's how it is in every Society, not just White Dew Society. We're all orphans that were adopted by the Head Elders when we were kids. Kids that can't make it into an orphanage get picked up by Societies. My parents died when I was little, and after that, my older brother and I lived on the streets of Usala until... the Patriarch found us and took us in," said Vateria.

"He clothed us, fed us, taught us, and loved us as if we really were his grandchildren. And every day, I thank the Heavens that he found us because I know that if he didn't... I'd be dead."

Vateria stretched her legs and stood up before she said, "The point I'm trying to get across is that I'm grateful. Grateful that fortune, fate, luck, the Heavens, whatever it was — saved my life and gave me a second chance to live. So... your moping act is pissing me off quite a bit right now."

She grabbed the collar of Laude's robe and viciously dragged him toward a precarious edge of the temple that led to a dizzying fall onto a valley below. A single step was all that stood between them and a three-thousand-foot descent onto the ground below...

"It was the Heavens that gave both of us a second chance. It was providence that I met you when I did, which I rescued you... but it seems that I might've been wrong all along. If you really are that soft, ungrateful, and pathetic, then let me fix my mistake. I'll throw you off this ledge right now," said Vateria, unflinchingly.

"Given your unique constitution, I'm pretty sure you'll survive the fall. It's the quickest way of escaping, by far. Terrified of the world of cultivation? You want to go home and endanger your family? Go ahead. Give me the word, and I'll send you off on your merry way this very second. White Dew Society is my home, and it has been extremely benevolent enough to you — if you don't want to stay, you're welcome to leave. So what's it going to be? Shall I help you leave, or... are you going to man up and stay?"

Laude did not reply, but the cold, determined glimmer in his eyes told Vateria his answer. She unhanded Laude near the precarious ledge, and she said, "Don't forget that the decision you made today," before she left him.

That he did. For better or worse, Vateria had lit a feverish flame in Laude's heart, one that not even she could not have guessed would end up stirring the entire world of cultivation into madness...

And it all started right in Windell Temple as Laude kept his fearsome gaze fixed on the setting sun until it finally vanished beneath the Emerald Sea...