The next morning, Altria and her friends woke up late.
There was nothing urgent to do, and there never really was any. So they often slept a lot. When they finally woke up, they went out together for a light morning walk. They bathed in the sunlight, chatted casually, and most of the time simply enjoyed the calm of the morning.
After that, they went back inside the house and decided to play some games.
There was a new game they had brought about a hundred years ago, sent by a member of Roxy's family. Roxy was one of Altria's friends and also the owner of this island. This was already the fiftieth time they were playing it within a single year.
They got bored quickly.
There was nothing new to talk about either.
So, one by one, they quietly said their goodbyes and returned to their own islands to occupy themselves however they could.
Altria took out her sword and flew back toward her island.
It was already noon.
And she was already feeling empty again.
The voices of her friends, their laughter, their presence, still lingered around her like echoes that refused to fade. Without even realizing it, she was already close to home.
Her island was fifty thousand kilometers in diameter.
Before long, her small house came into view.
It was a one-square-kilometer residence, far larger than anyone would ever need. She landed in front of the front gate.
The gate was decorated with carved dragon heads and intricate patterns. The house itself was three stories tall, with many rooms meant for guests that never came.
As she approached, the gate opened on its own. Lights turned on automatically. The house was bright. But it felt hollow.
Only emptiness greeted her. Standing there, she wondered what she should do next.
'I could do that!'
Then she suddenly remembered something. She could paint!
So she went back outside, summoned her sword again, and flew off to find a suitable place to use as a model.
That was when she remembered the waterfall.
She had once asked Sister Linxian to create it using formations. Altria didn't know how it worked exactly, but it looked and behaved like a real waterfall.
Water flowed endlessly, falling with constant force. Even if one tried to trace it back to its source, they would only end up going in circles to preserve the illusion.
She didn't mind.
She quickly arrived at the waterfall.
Water thundered down like an unstoppable force, crashing into the rocks below. The sound filled the entire area. Animals from the island gathered there, some to drink, others to hunt for fish.
Eltria flew to the top of the waterfall.
It was three kilometers tall.
She landed gently, stored her sword inside her special ring, and quietly looked around for a good place to paint. After some thought, she decided to paint the distant scenery, with her house included in the view.
She put down her canvas. She fixing the angle for most optimal view so she could draw better.
'???'
Then, suddenly, she wobbled and fell backward on her butt. Confused, she instinctively touched her temple. The center of her temple felt warm.
It was glowing brightly.
She then noticed that her entire body was suddenly covered in a golden protective layer, shaped like delicate coral patterns.
'!!!'
Startled, she lifted her head to look around. Her eyes widened in shock when she looked at the sky!
The sky was cracking!!
But then she realized it wasn't the sky itself. It was the massive formation surrounding the estate that was cracking as it struggled to hold together.
She didn't understand what was happening.
Then she remembered the feeling when she fell.
It felt like… a snort? She couldn't understand it. She couldn't even tell if she heard it or felt it. But something happened that had pushed her.
She quickly realized it wasn't wind or an earthquake that had pushed her. Space itself had wobbled. That's why she fell.
Her heart began to pound against her chest, fast and heavy, without her understanding why. She felt infinitely small, crushed by an invisible presence.
She didn't want to understand. But understanding forced itself upon her anyway. All of this had happened because of a single snort. Altria lowered her head and looked around.
Red stains dotted the greenery.
The wildlife nearby had not survived. Their bodies had exploded under the pressure, and the formation had already begun resurrecting them. There was no environmental damage what so ever. Just the poor animals that died. And she also realised the mark that had sealed herself and her fate is the thing that saved her...
She sat there for a long time.
Eventually, her body relaxed enough for her to move again.
She sighed.
Then she stood up shaking her head, pulled out a small bench, sat down, and began to paint. There was nothing else she could do...as always.
As she painted, the scenery in front of her became lively again. Animals moved, birds chirped, distant growls echoed faintly. Everything returned to peace, as if nothing had ever happened.
Mid-stroke, Altria's gaze drifted upward again.
Her heart was still beating faster than usual.
A heart that had been steady for hundreds of years now followed a strange, unfamiliar rhythm. One she absolutely did not like.
Deep within her heart, a fragile hope began to bloom.
She hated it.
Her hopes had been raised and crushed too many times before. She feared hoping, feared the pain that always followed. Yet no matter how much she tried, she couldn't suppress the feeling that this time might be different.
That the endless loneliness might finally end.
That the suffocating stillness might finally break.
Maybe she could regain her identity.
As a cultivator.
As a human.
As an individual.
Not a vessel.
Not an unnamed offering to a god.
After staying there for a long time, she finished her painting. She packed everything away, stepped onto her sword, and returned home.
She collapsed onto her bed and fell asleep almost instantly. She was exhausted.
And for the first time in a very long while, she wanted nothing more than to sleep for days… maybe even weeks.