"She is so slow and weak. Why did Master Shu take her as his personal maid anyway?" The fairies in the courtyard whispered among themselves, glaring daggers at An'er.
Being brought to the Dragon Realm by the respected Master Shu as his personal maid had caused an uproar. The fact that he brought a lowly human into his palace angered them even more.
An'er dragged the sack down the stairs with a pleasant smile, ignoring their hateful stares. Today, she planned to mend a fancy dress for Master Shu. It wasn't obvious, but she had a tiny, shameful crush on him.
Back in Xian, she had lived as a slave....used, toyed with, starved, beaten for no reason. She had lost hope completely… until Master Shu held her hand and took her away.
Here, even though many still looked down on her, she was fed, clothed, and treated with basic dignity. Master Shu even warned the others to stop bullying her.
Who wouldn't fall for such a man?
"An'er, there's really no need to do all this," Xin Xin her little companion beast mind-linked softly. She was a small white cat with beautiful orange-blossom eyes.
"If I don't do it, someone else will get his attention," An'er mumbled stubbornly.
With an irritated huff, Xin Xin transformed into her human form....orange hair brushing her shoulders, doe eyes, sharp claws, and a naturally seductive cat-like gaze.
"There are many fairies in this realm," she said flatly. "What makes you think Master Shu would ever choose you? Don't be delusional. Let's go back. I'm tired and hungry."
An'er scoffed, pulling the heavy item along.
"No."
But as she stepped outside, she accidentally bumped into Princess Duaxin, who looked down at her with pure disgust.
An'er's eyes widened. She quickly dropped to her knees and bowed deeply. Duaxin stared with cold irritation, she had come to visit Master Shu, since rumors....that he brought a human girl had already spread like wildfire.
A Master living with a mortal girl? And An'er's beauty didn't help. Duaxin, his arranged bride—was furious.
"Is this how humans greet royalty? Do you have no manners?" she snapped.
An'er froze. She had greeted exactly how Master Shu taught her.
"But I… only greeted you in the way Master Shu instructed," An'er said timidly. "Is there a problem?"
Duaxin scoffed. An'er was beautiful, long raven hair held in expensive pins, soft light makeup, a delicate doll-like face that could make any man fall. It irritated Duaxin even more.
"Where is my fiancé?" she demanded.
An'er blinked. "Fiancé? Who?"
"Master Shu, of course. He brought you here without informing me. I am his suited bride," Duaxin said proudly.
An'er forced a polite smile. "Ah… forgive me, Princess Duaxin. I didn't know you were engaged to Master Shu."
Duaxin smiled victoriously, until Master Shu himself arrived.
He walked toward them in his royal attire...dragon-embroidered robe, Xian boots, hair neatly tied back with jade pins. His thick brows, thin lips, and those cold black eyes could draw anyone in.
"Aah, Master Shu," Duaxin purred softly.
But Master Shu ignored her completely.
His gaze landed on An'er.
"Stand," he ordered.
An'er rose immediately, dusting her dress. She bowed respectfully, and he returned her greeting before turning his attention to Duaxin.
"Bullying the weak?" his voice was cold. "That is beneath you."
Duaxin's lips parted, but she swallowed her words instantly. She had only wanted to put the little servant in her place… but now she stood here corrected.
She pouted her lips and walked closer to Master Shu, rubbing her hands on his.
"Sorry…" she murmured softly.
Master Shu heaved a sigh and gave her a gentle smile, one that An'er noticed… and scoffed at innocently.
"Aah, my father sent me here," Duaxin added sweetly, pointing at the gifts her servants held behind her.
"Hm. Come in," Master Shu said and Duaxin walked in, but not before giving An'er a look that clearly said: "I'm the mistress of his heart."
The moment they disappeared inside, An'er folded her arms, pouting dramatically and grumbling.
"How can Master Shu be engaged? I'm sure she's delusional. Throwing herself at Master," she muttered, glaring at the door.
Xin Xin stared at her… then rolled her eyes so hard they nearly fell out.
"An'er, you are the delusional one. You stand no chance against Princess Duaxin. Everyone knows Master Shu loves her," Xin Xin replied.
An'er hissed at her.
"Well, Master Shu will surely love my handmade present more than her expensive bought gifts. I read in romance novels that when someone gives a gift from the heart to their love… they always end up together. Master Shu is no different," An'er said dreamily, staring up at the sky.
Xin Xin's lips twitched in disbelief.
"Well, I'm not helping," Xin Xin declared, turning away, until An'er grabbed her dress.
"Even if I treat you to canned fish?"
Xin Xin froze instantly. She stared at An'er for a long moment, her eyes shining with hunger.
"…Fine. The gift first," she said softly, walking toward her to snatch the can, but An'er hid it in her dress.
An'er flashed her a bright smile. "You get this when you finish the work."
"That's not fair!"
"Well, that's how it's done in my realm. How is that not fair?" An'er muttered, thinking of her life in the human realm.
"An'er, Master Shu calls!" a servant shouted.
An'er's eyes lit up instantly. She turned to Xin Xin with a triumphant smile.
"See? He still calls for me even when she's here," she squealed.
"I'm coming!" she replied loudly, lifting her dress and running toward the chamber.
"Master Shu, I'm here..." she said, kneeling down.
But instead of Master Shu's voice, a mocking chuckle echoed.
An'er froze.
"Wow. You must really admire Master Shu. The way you ran here is truly funny," Duaxin mocked, placing her hand on her lips as she smirked.
"I dare not do such… Master Shu is yours," An'er said gently, coaxing her.
Duaxin smiled, flipping her hair gracefully behind her shoulder.
She gestured to her maid, who stepped forward and closed the door.
"Well… Master Shu likes orchid tea. I was wondering if you know where one can be found," Duaxin asked.
An'er gasped. She never knew Master Shu liked such tea.
"Fang Lin Mountain. The orchid tree is at the edge of the cliff. Its leaves shimmer with warmth and ease the taste buds… It is known to have a magical ability to nourish the body," An'er explained quickly, innocent and sincere.
Duaxin's smile deepened. "An'er, you sure know a lot about this realm," she said.
"I read a lot back in the Xian Realm," An'er replied proudly.
Duaxin laughed softly and gracefully.
"Too bad… I couldn't get the orchid leaves when I came," she sighed.
An'er immediately stood and bowed deeply. "Please entrust me with getting the orchid leaves!" she shouted.
Duaxin's smile widened into something dangerous.
"Sure, sure."
As An'er left, Duaxin's eyes gleamed coldly.
Let's see if you return alive, she thought.
An'er hurried out, carrying the items she had wrapped in cloth.
"Xin Xin!" she called, and the cat appeared in his cat form, walking like she was on a runway.
"Let's go to Fang Lin Mountain!" she yelled excitedly, running off before Xin Xin could even protest.
FANG LIN MOUNTAIN!
An'er held onto the rope with shaking arms, dragging herself up the cliff like a dying caterpillar. Her lungs burned, her arms trembled, but she still shouted:
"Xin Xin! I'm almost there....Master Shu will love me more than the princess after this!"
"Miss, PLEASE be careful!" Xin Xin cried from below, her tiny cat voice filled with panic.
An'er flashed a tired smile and waved and that was exactly when her foot slipped.
"AaaaAAAHHH!" She dropped like a stone, wind slapping her face, her hair whipping wildly.
"MISS!!" Xin Xin screamed, bursting into a swirl of orange pixel-light, trying to reach her.
But gravity hated An'er today, even Xin Xin couldn't get a grasp of her!
She kept falling...past sharp rocks, past hanging vines, until her body hit a jutting stone.
The force threw her forward, straight toward the mountain's solid surface.
She braced for her skull to explode, But then—
She didn't hit it. She passed THROUGH it.
"Uh…???"
An'er blinked as she suddenly floated inside a place that was nothing like the outside world.
She was falling, but slowly, as if invisible hands were lowering her deeper and deeper.
Darkness surrounded her, but it was a beautiful darkness, glittering with tiny ancient symbols that drifted like tiny stars. They hummed softly, like whispers from a forgotten world.
"Where am I…?"
Her voice echoed strangely, swallowed by the glowing void.
A wind brushed her cheek but it wasn't cold. It felt… alive. Like it was watching her.
And then...
THUMP!
She hit ground again....soft ground, like ancient dust and forgotten magic.
Before she could breathe, the floor beneath her rippled like a living thing.
"Ahhhh...NOT AGAIN!" She yelled as the ground opened and swallowed her whole.
Xin Xin tried to follow, but the opening snapped shut, trapping the cat outside.
An'er crashed onto another floor, hard this time. Her head smacked the stone and everything went blurry.
A few drops of her blood lifted into the air, glowing faintly, drifting like red fireflies.
The air trembled.
Somewhere in the darkness…Two golden eyes snapped open.