The air inside was cool, still, filled with the faint scent of ink and parchment. Scrolls and books lined shelves that climbed toward the ceiling. But her gaze was drawn to the center of the hall, where a pedestal of smooth stone stood. Upon it lay a single book, its cover plain yet exuding an aura of reverence.
She approached with trembling hands.
The moment her fingers brushed its surface, golden script flared across the pages. Words carved themselves into existence as she watched.
Her lips moved as she read aloud, voice trembling.
"This space was born of love. Once, a god created it for his beloved, a sanctuary untouched by time. Here, herbs thrive eternal, waters cleanse all, and knowledge endures unbroken."
Her eyes widened.
"To the one who bears this necklace, the legacy is yours to claim. This space recognizes you as its master. Yet power is a weight, not a gift. Should you desire to bear this burden, seek the ring of inheritance. With it, all knowledge and authority shall pass to you."
Her throat went dry. She pressed her hand against her chest, feeling her heart race.
"A god... created this?" she whispered, her disbelief warring with awe.
As if in answer, a faint shimmer appeared upon the pedestal. Slowly, a small ornate box revealed itself, its surface carved with celestial patterns that seemed to shift beneath her gaze.
Her fingers trembled as she lifted the lid.
Inside lay a ring. Its band was silver, smooth and flawless, crowned with a gem that pulsed faintly the same light that shone within her necklace.
Erysimum hesitated. A wave of uncertainty swept over her.
If she placed this ring upon her hand, there would be no turning back.
But then she remembered the alley in her past life. The cold rain. The knife in her chest. The laughter of those who betrayed her. And the face of this body's former self, beaten and abandoned, mocked as trash until she lay dying.
Her fists clenched. Her jaw tightened.
No more weakness. No more helplessness.
She slid the ring onto her finger.
Light erupted, blinding and pure. Knowledge poured into her mind like a raging river, herbs she had never seen before, cultivation methods, medical techniques that surpassed all she had known. Images of this world flashed before her eyes: empires rising and falling, gods walking among mortals, the rules that governed strength and survival.
Her knees buckled, and she gasped, clutching her head as though it would split apart. But through the agony, a fire burned within her.
When the torrent of knowledge finally subsided, she collapsed to the ground, panting, her body slick with sweat.
Yet her eyes shone with a new light.
This space, this legacy... it was hers.
And through it, she would no longer be powerless.
She clenched her fists, feeling the cool weight of the ring against her skin. And right before her eye the ring merged with her finger leaving behind an intricate star that had taken its place, etched delicately as though the universe itself had carved it there.
No matter who calls me weak... no matter what this world throws at me... I will rise.
Although she was still unable to absorb spiritual energy, she could assimilate the spiritual energy in her space. When erysimum felt the spiritual energy enter and circulate in her body, she could feel her mind becoming energised, any remaining traces of tiredness disappearing.
She decided to explore the building, becoming excited, her heart beat wildly and incessantly.
Erysimum's steps echoed faintly as she explored the story building. Every room she entered seemed untouched by time, preserved in silence, waiting for her.
When she pushed open a heavy door, her breath caught.
Inside was a pill refining room. Shelves lined every wall, stacked with jars and boxes neatly labeled in an elegant script. Herbs, roots, dried petals, and powders shimmered faintly as though blessed by light. A long wooden table stood in the center, lined with gleaming furnaces and cauldrons, their surfaces smooth and spotless. The faint scent of medicine hung in the air calming, yet powerful.
Her eyes widened in wonder. "A place to refine pills..." She stepped inside, fingertips trailing along the shelves. Her knowledge of medicine stirred in her veins, and she couldn't wait to explore the knowledge she had received from the inheritance, excitement flooding her chest. With these ingredients, she could create remedies beyond imagination.
But then something else caught her eye.
At the very heart of the room, on a low pedestal, rested an egg. Its shell was pale as moonlight, traced with delicate golden veins. It pulsed faintly, as though something inside was breathing.
Drawn by an unseen force, Erysimum reached out. Her fingers brushed the smooth surface.
The egg shone.
A radiant glow burst forth, filling the room in waves of light. She staggered back, her heart leaping in panic. And then....
"Congratulations, Mistress. You have escaped death once again."
The voice was neither loud nor soft, but it carried a weight that pressed against her chest. Black smoke seeped suddenly from her heart, curling through the air like living shadows. It twisted, condensed, until it formed the shape of a small, sinuous creature.
"What was that?!"
Erysimum as often described as having lightning fast reflexes, so she managed to quickly grab the thing on her head and held it up in front of her eyes. When she was able to clearly see the thing in her hand, a surprised expression spread across her face.
Is this a snake? This tiny black thing that was no bigger than the thickness of her thumb...was a snake? No wait... since when did horns grow on the top of a snake? What actually is this thing?
Just then, the tiny snake in her hand slowly opened its eyes and revealed a pair of red irises.
It slithered gracefully, scales glinting with a faint obsidian sheen. Its eyes burned like twin embers, and as it raised its head, Erysimum felt her breath catch.
Erysimum as dumbfounded and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "What sort of thing are you?"
The tiny golden snake's eyes suddenly opened wide in a glare, and it angrily said, "Mistress, I'm the Guardian Beast of this secret territory; the Divine black Dragon." The serpent tilted its head, as though amused. "Do not be fooled by this form. I am no snake."
Its body shimmered and for an instant, the shadows around it flared, stretching into the phantom of vast wings, horns that pierced the sky, and an aura so ancient and powerful that her knees nearly buckled. And then, as quickly as it came, the image faded, leaving behind only the small snake again.
"I am Ravyn your dragon."
Her eyes widened in disbelief. "My dragon?"