The moment I fell into the freezing waters of Heaven's Lake, I expected the worst. Ice. A deadly, cold embrace, as my body collided with what was supposed to be a solid sheet of frozen water. But instead of feeling my body shatter against the icy surface, I felt something far stranger. It was a deep hum, as if the lake itself had woken up, responding to my presence in ways I could not understand. My body was pulled in, sucked deeper, until the cold turned into a strange, warm, electric sensation that coursed through my veins.
I had heard of Heaven's Lake, of course—the mysterious, ancient lake that was said to always remain frozen, hidden from the world. No one knew exactly where it was, as it seemed to shift locations with every passing season. Legends whispered that it was a cursed place, dangerous and forbidden, its waters believed to be able to freeze even the most powerful of cultivators. But I wasn't a cultivator. I was just a girl—a "dud," in the eyes of my family. So why was I falling into this lake? What was happening to me?
I tried to scream, but the water swallowed my voice. My body was weightless, as if gravity itself had disappeared. My lungs screamed for air, but my mind… my mind was more focused on the strange pull I felt inside. The water's hum resonated through me, vibrating with power, with energy, a power that felt familiar in some distant way. And then, as suddenly as it began, the water vanished. I was standing—not in the lake anymore—but on solid ground, in a place unlike anything I had ever seen.
I blinked, disoriented. The world around me was vast, expansive. My feet were on stone, smooth and ancient, and as I looked around, I found myself standing in a massive courtyard, its stone floors intricately carved with forgotten symbols. The entire place seemed to glow with a strange, ethereal light, and I realized that the air here was different—heavier, but not oppressive. It was as if the atmosphere itself was infused with energy, thick with life force. It was a place meant for cultivation, a place where the very air could nourish a cultivator's soul.
I walked forward cautiously, every step echoing in the emptiness of the palace. Columns rose high into the sky, adorned with glimmering jewels that caught the faint light from above. But there was no sun, no sky, no horizon. It felt as though time and space themselves had been altered. And then, I saw her.
The statue, towering above me, seemed to shimmer in the dim light, made of a white stone that reflected the soft glow of the surroundings. The figure was a woman—beautiful, serene, yet imposing. Her robes were flowing as if caught in an invisible breeze, and her expression was calm, her gaze eternally soft. But there was something about her presence, something that felt powerful, almost godlike. Her eyes seemed to bore into me, as if recognizing me, as if she had known me all along.
I approached cautiously, drawn by a strange instinct, my heart pounding in my chest. The air felt thick around the statue, and a faint whisper tickled my ears. I couldn't make out the words, but the voice was… familiar.
"Master, you have arrived."
I spun around at the sound of the soft voice. Standing before me was a small figure, barely reaching my shoulder. A young woman, or at least, she appeared to be one. Her hair shimmered like spun silver, her wings delicate and translucent, glowing faintly with an iridescent light. Her face was cherubic, almost childlike, with wide, innocent eyes. Despite her delicate appearance, there was an undeniable aura of power surrounding her.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice hoarse, unsure of what was happening.
"I am Iris, the guardian of this place," she said, her voice soft yet unwavering. "And you, Master, are the one who has awakened it. The place binds to you now. You are its new master, and you may come and go as you please."
Her words sent a jolt through me. Master? What did she mean by that? I looked around again, taking in the grandeur of the palace, the strange energy that pulsed around me. It was overwhelming. I felt small, insignificant in the face of all this power, but at the same time, there was something stirring inside me—a longing to understand it, to control it.
"I don't understand," I whispered. "What is this place?"
"This is the Palace of Selene, the goddess of the moon," Iris explained. Her eyes gleamed with a deep, secret knowledge. "This place is a repository of the ancient, the lost. All who once resided here were powerful, but their time has passed. This place has waited for you, Master, for one with both soul and power strong enough to awaken it."
Selene? The name echoed in my mind. I had heard it before, in vague myths and legends—goddess of the moon, creator of the beasts that shaped the powers of the people in this world. But I had no time to dwell on that now. There was so much more to learn.
I nodded slowly, still overwhelmed. "What do I do now?"
Iris smiled, though it was a smile tinged with sadness. "You must explore. Learn. The knowledge of this palace is yours to claim, Master. It holds the secrets of ancient warriors, alchemists, array masters, spirit beast tamers, and more. But be warned—this place is both a blessing and a test. The deeper you go, the more you will uncover, and the more you will be bound to it."
I spent the following days exploring the palace, feeling the energy of the space seep into my very bones. I found chambers filled with scrolls, tomes of forgotten knowledge. Weapons forged by ancient masters, each one whispering of battles long past. Alchemical vials, still intact, and strange arrays etched into the walls—each one a relic of a bygone era. This place was a treasure trove of power, and I could feel the energy feeding into me, awakening something deep within.
But despite the allure of all these wonders, there was a constant sense of unease. It was as if the palace itself was watching me, waiting. And Iris was always there, guiding me, but she never shared more than the bare minimum. I began to wonder what she wasn't telling me. What was hidden beneath the surface?
After what felt like an eternity, I knew it was time to leave. The pull of the world I had left behind—the world of my family and their expectations—was strong. But as I walked through the corridors one last time, I felt a sense of regret, a desire to learn more. I could sense the untapped potential here, but I had no choice but to return. My life, as strange and difficult as it was, still awaited me.
But when I stepped out of the palace and into the real world, everything felt different. I could feel the power within me, pulsing, thrumming, as though it had been awakened permanently. And though I was afraid, I knew that I was no longer the same.
The next morning, I returned to the familiar sights of the Marquis' estate. As I walked through the courtyard, I saw my mother, Elaine, speaking with Song Mei, the second wife. I had never liked Song Mei. She was a cruel woman, always belittling my mother, her words sharp and venomous. I didn't want to eavesdrop, but I couldn't help but overhear the raised voices.
"Your daughter is a disgrace," Song Mei spat. "You can't even control her. How could you allow such a failure to exist in this house?"
My mother's voice was calm, but there was a quiet strength in it. "She is still my daughter, Song Mei. And you will respect her."
The words were barely out of her mouth when I saw it—a flash of fire, an attack meant for my mother. Without thinking, I moved. My body reacted on instinct, my mind struggling to keep up. I raised my hand, and with a surge of power, I pushed. A shockwave of energy shot out, knocking Song Mei back with such force that she was sent crashing into the doors behind her. The fireball she had thrown detonated, but not in the way she had expected. It dissipated in mid-air, and before she could even react, the blast sent her flying.
Her body slammed into the grand doors, breaking them open, and she crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
The chaos that followed was immediate. Song Mei's servants rushed to her side, their shrill screams filling the courtyard. But I stood frozen, watching as the world around me spiraled into panic. My mother's gaze met mine, and for a moment, everything stilled. We both understood. What had just happened wasn't an accident. It wasn't an outburst. Something inside me had awakened.
I had powers. Real powers.
Time seemed to stop in that moment. And in my heart, I knew: my life would never be the same again.