Chapter One: The Orphan's Entry
TWO HUNDRED YEARS LATER
The morning sun rose on a village somewhere valleys and cliffs, a place where people lived in harmony—at least before the gods came.
"Good morning gran gran, how was your night, I hope you slept well?" uttered a tall, skinny but muscular boy who was just seventeen years of age.
"Oh my son, I slept well," replied the old lady nearly in her eighties.
"You always take care of me but you don't take care of yourself, why my son?" she further asked lying on her bed like she wouldn't stand again.
"What do you mean gran gran? I do take care of myself," he replied
"Then why are you all skinny?" she asked making him to choke a little on the water he was drinking.
"You might be muscular but still, you look like a starving chicken whose legs are about to give out,"
"Come on gran gran, I am alright. Okay, I'll eat more to have more boy structure instead of looking like a—?"
"A starving chicken," she replied.
"Do you know why I'm so happy today gran gran?" he asked bouncing here and there in the room.
"Why? Is it another girl again?" she teasingly asked
"What? No, I am going to the Land of the Lotuses to become a lotus master and protect mankind from the evil gods,"
The room fell silent to the big reveal, his gran Gran's face was suddenly filled with sadness and grief.
"What's wrong gran gran? Was it something I said? Why do you look sad?"
"Oh it's nothing," she replied trying to hold back her tears and pain.
"No gran gran, you look upset, what's wrong. Tell me. If you don't want me to go then I will not go,"
"No my son, go and fulfill your destiny. I was just sad because I'll miss you. That's all,"
"No need to be sad gran gran, I'll make sure I visit frequently okay?"
"Okay my son. Now, go prepare, you have a journey ahead of you, go take a shower," she rushed him so as not to see the tears drop from her eyes.
Minutes later, he was ready,
"Bye gran gran, I'm looking forward to seeing you soon," he said as hepacked his sack bag and entered a carriage leading all the way to the mountains.
"Bye son, fulfill your destiny no matter the circumstances okay?" she yelled back from the door post she stood from as tears swelled in her eyes as she forgot to give him a good bye hug.
It was a three hours journey which made him rethink of going there. He sat on top of the carriage because it was full with some stuffs.
Finally, he was there. The carriage passed through a wide golden gate which opened and made way for the best view in all of history—at least that was what he thought.
"A forest? I thought the land of lotus would look heavenly but it's just filled with dum old trees," he complained.
"Welcome to the Land of the lotuses," the man riding the carriage said on his horse.
"Woah, it is beautiful,"
The sky was like no other. It was like four beautiful elements meeting at a point with each part honing its own beauty. He wandered in awe at the sight.
"What's your name boy? I'll drop you at the Lotus Academy, that's where you're going right?" the carriage man asked
"Yeah, thanks, thanks alot, my name is Takashi Watanabe," he replied
"By the way, what kind of lotus are you?" the man asked
"Huhn, you see—," Takashi hesitated a little.
"Spill it kid, no point in hiding it here,"
"You're right, I've made it all the way here.
How do I say this, I...….am not a lotus…..wielder,"
Suddenly, the carriage stopped as the man froze in place for a minute.
"Uh sir? Sir what's wrong?" asked Takashi
"Come down," the man replied
"Huhn?"
"ARE YOU DEAF? I SAID COME DOWN BEFORE YOU RUIN ME," he yelled with great might
"Ruin you? How?" asked Takashi in confusion
"IF IM SEEN TO BRING A NON LOTUS WIELDER UP HERE, ILL LOSE MY JOB AND I CANT AFFORD THAT RISK," the man replied running off with his carriage
"Rude? Leaving me here all on my own, I don't even know this place, where do I go?"
"Come with me," said a woman her early fourties
Her face was a beautiful as the morning light, hair red like a shining ruby, dressed in white as if it was her day of bethrodal (wedding).
Takashi followed her admiring her beauty.
"Is she a goddess or some kind of magical being. She's so beautiful, if every girl here is like har, I might as well get married to all of them," he thought to himself.
"That's a big thing to say don't you think?" she asked
"Huhn?"
"Getting married to all the girls here, that will take a lot of responsibilities to handle, don't you think?" she asked again
"How did she hear my thoughts, oh man, she really is a goddess," Takashi thought to himself again
"Thanks for your kind words and complements but I am not a goddess,"
"Not a goddess?, then what are you….mam?"
"I am the second in command to the lotus king. My name is Sakura Tanaka, a thirty four years old mentor to people lotus cultivators who need guidance. You can call me Ms. Sakura. What's your name?" she replied
"My name is Takashi Watanabe, I'm seventeen years old and I am willing to be a lotus master so as to protect mankind from the evil rule of the gods but I have to say, you look way too beautiful for a thirty four year old woman," Takashi replied.
"I only asked for your name, but that's okay. You have a big ambition for someone who's not even a lotus cultivator,"
Takashi was struck back by those words of hers and stopped abruptly.
"H-h-how did you know...Ms. Sakura,"
She also stopped and spoke without turning to him.
"I am a lotus wielder with experience. I can sense your energy and it's not the same with the lotus wielders around here. I can also connect with your mind and hear whatever is in your mind. Only white lotuses know how to do this,"
"That's….. impressive," Takashi replied with sweat dripping down his face.
"Is she gonna leave me here like that carriage man? Or is she going to send me a way?" thought again forgetting she could hear him
"Of course not my boy," she answered audibly, I'm taking you to the lotus academy. Where you will train to be a lotus master like you wished for. But be warned, it might not be easy and this place might mess you up being a normal human,"
"Oh, shoot, I forgot she could hear my thoughts," Takashi muttered to himself
"Ok Ms. Sakura
They both headed through a rather long and wide path that led to the lotus academy.
It was huge and beautiful. It has white along with red roses, violet and sunflowers there. It was like a big island because it was huge and it was surrounded by water.
They both entered and headed to the registeration office to register Takashi.
Nervousness grew cold unto Takashi 's back as those piercing eyes of the others were on him.
IN THE REGISTRATION OFFICE
"Why good morning Ms. Sakura, who do you have for us today?" An old timer that was in his nineties said bowing in respect to her.
"Good morning to you too Jay Jay, this is Takashi Watanabe, a human with zero possession of lotus cultivation," Ms. Sakura replied giving a respectful princess bow in return.
"Ooh, what is a non lotus boy doing here in the land of the lotus, strange huhn?" the old timer (Jay Jay) asked
"And what is an old timer doing here instead of lying in his old man bed? You're supposed to be lying in bed instead of bowing like a princess from the early 80s,"
Takashi thought to himself
TAP!
Ms. Sakura tapped him at the back of his head and telepathically spoke to him.
"This man you're calling an old timer was one of the ones that saves us from the earlier war between mankind and gods. Show some respect," she said giving him a stern glance.
"Huh, sorry mam, my bad," he replied
"Alright, since it was you Ms. Sakura, I'll enroll him. If not, i would have sent him out of here with his two arms and his two legs," the old man teased
"What!" asked Takashi shocked to his core
"Oh I'm just kidding boy, you kids of nowadays take things the wrong way,"
"Oh Jay Jay, you never stop with this your jokes, do you?" asked Ms. Sakura rhetorically.
Suddenly, a flash of light flashed on Takashi's face and his ID card was handed to him.
"How did you? It was so fast, you got my picture taken and ID card done so fast?"
"Boy, things here are way different from your world, don't be surprised, you are in the land of the Lotuses," Jay Jay (the old timer) replied laughing
"Well that makes sense," muttered Takashi
He looked at the ID card and what was written on it.
NAME: Takashi Watanabe
AGE: 17
HEIGHT: 6 ft 9 inch
LOTUS TYPE: Lotusesless
"How did —" Takashi stuttered but was interrupted by Jay Jay
"Like I said, don't be surprised,"
Takashi followed Ms. Sakura out to wherever she was going.
On getting to the door, it opened from the outside and he was met with the most beautiful face ever seen in his life time.
He saw a girl that looked his age, beautiful white silky hair flowing down her shoulders, skin as radiant as the sun, mesmerizing blue eyes that seemed to glow like the sunshine on the ocean. Her clothes were white also but hers was like that of a princess.
"Huh, hello? Anyone home?" she inquired
Takashi coming back to his senses replied.
"Huh, sorry, I was lost, that's all, sorry,"
"No, don't worry, I get that alot," she replied to him smiling.
"Oh heavens, her smile is even better, she's really beautiful, even her voice is sweet and pleasing to hear, I wish she was my girlfriend," he thought to himself being lost again.
"Welcome princess Yuna Nagai of the WHITE LOTUS KINGDOM," said Ms. Sakura giving a respectful bow while emphasizing on the white lotus name.
"Oh, she's from the white lotus kingdom, that means she can hear my thoughts too?" Takashi hopefully asked himself
"Don't worry, it's okay, you made me smile, I like that, I just came to enroll here for the academy," Yuna said smiling a little.
"Yes, Your Highness, as you wish," Ms. Sakura still bowing, replied.
Yuna took her ID card and headed out glancing at Takashi one last time.
"Looking forward to seeing you in class...Takashi,"
His heart skipped a beat at those words that he almost fainted.
"Control yourself Takashi, let's go, I'll take you to our room all the way at the back of the Academy,"
"Yes Ms. Sakura,"
They headed out of the registerar's office to the back of the Academy but before they could reach the last stair, an old lady who looked strikingly old that even her wrinkles had wrinkles, bumped into them.
"Sorry mam," Takashi apologized.
She didn't seem angry, she just looked into his red eyes and saw four black bubbles swirling around them and glowing faintly.
"Interesting, the heavens do things in mysterious ways," she muttered
"Any….problem mam?," Takashi asked.
"This is Annie, the sage of the Lotus kingdom, she's Three hundred and fours years, and so is the age of her wisdom," Ms. Sakura explained.
"Three what? Sorry, why am I even surprised, Jay Jay told me not to be surprised. I am in the Land of the Lotuses after all,"
"What Lotus type are you my child, either red lotus, or white lotus, or blue lotus or golden lotus? Or even…..the black lotus huhn?"
"Sorry Annie but I'm not a lotus cultivator, I'm a normal human," he said
"Even more interesting, I see bl—" Annie uttered but was interrupted by Ms. Sakura
"Annie, you need to o and rest, Takashi and I are busy now, maybe you can talk to him later,"
"I'm Three hundred and four years old and I haven't been resting since two hundred years ago, what makes you think I'll rest now? Mphmn," said the old lady walking away with her crooked walking stick.
"Annie, still as grumpy as ever," Ms. Sakura muttered smiling
"Ok, without further ado, let me show you to your room,"
She led him to his room at the back of the academy.
They entered an elevator that went down into the earth, it was like a world inside a world. There was a sky inside the building, Takashi was greatly marveled by the sight of this. Phoenix fire birds flew around like swallows that fly at even.
Four birds flew in unison, one made of fire, the other water, the third golden light and the fourth made of the purest light. Lightning up the dorm beautifully.
"This is your room Takashi," pointed out Ms. Sakura as she opened a door.
It was a room as big as one's living room with two separate beds beside each other.
"Woah, this place is even bigger than my whole house, I must tell gran gran about this place but, why are there two beds?" asked Takashi
"Because you are not the only one here, your roommate will be on her way soon, but as for now, your room number is 3c. Copy?" she answered
"Copy,"
"If you have any questions, come meet me or ask your roommate,"
"Ok Ms. Sakura,"
She went out closing the door behind her.
Suddenly, the door opened again as Takashi was on his side of the bed admiring the room, Yuna stepped in still dressed in her princess attire.
"This is her room too? Looks like I'm gonna die happy," Takashi muttered.
"Hi again Takashi," she called out this time more sweet than before.
"H-h-h-h-hi Yuna, what a coincidence huhn? We're in the same room," Takashi stuttered
"Yeah, and it's surprisingly nice to be in a room with someone like you," she replied
"Why? I mean why is it nice to be in a room with someone like…..me? What made it nice?" asked Takashi
"Well, as a white lotus cultivator, I can hear your thoughts as you know and I can see your true intentions and abilities. You don't look like any normal human my dad used to talk to me about. You seem....nice," she replied.
"Yeah, I hope it's alright for me to be here even as I'm not a cultivator?"
"Of course, some humans awaken late or don't awaken at all but, you have a high chance of awakening,"
"You think so?" Takashi asked
"Of course, I'm a lotus cultivator remember?"
"Oh, yeah,"
She then stood up and unzipped her gown in front of him.
"W-w-w-what are you doing, you should have told me beforehand that you were going to unzip," said Takashi as he covered his eyes.
"Oh, it's alright, I wore something beneath it," she replied
Takashi removed his hands and saw her dressed in blue shorts and crop top.
"What do you think?" she asked
"It's…..good, really good,"
"Father always say I shouldn't wear something like this since I'm a princess but I don't see anything wrong in them,"
Takashi turned to look at his side of his bed where he placed his stuff and turned back only to find her sleeping already.
"How did you? Ah right, Land of the Lotuses," he said smirking a little.
"Sleep tight princess," he muttered.