Liam''s Perspective


    "A boon?" I could barely contain my excitement as Mariana Valerius, the Pavilion Master herself, hinted at granting me something significant.


    She nodded slightly, her ageless face betraying the faintest hint of a smile. "For your service to the Guild, yes. But understand, Liam, I may require something of you in return... eventually."


    "Anything," I replied without hesitation.


    Whatever future task she had in mind, I trusted herpletely. She''d saved my life more times than I could count. My loyalty to her was absolute.


    I reached into my inner robe and carefully extracted the Three Pure Ancient Tree. Even reduced to this smaller size, it radiated power. Silver leaves shimmered in the dim chamber light.


    "This is what I found," I said, cing it gently on her desk.


    Mariana''s eyes widened—the most visible reaction I''d ever witnessed from her. Her hands hovered above the tree without touching it.


    "By the heavens," she whispered. "A genuine Three Pure Ancient Tree."


    "Is it truly that valuable?" I asked.


    She nced up sharply. "Value is an insufficient word, Liam. Do you understand what you''ve acquired?"


    I shook my head.


    "This tree is said to grow only at the convergence of three different realms. Its essence contains perfectly bnced energies from each. The medicinalpounds alone could..."


    Her voice trailed off as she continued examining the tree. The silver leaves rustled slightly though there was no breeze in the room.


    "This could revolutionize our alchemical research," she continued. "The restorative properties alone might solve the instability in your dantian."


    Hope surged through me. My dantian''s instability had been my greatest weakness. If this tree could fix that...


    "But there''s something else you must understand." Her voice turned deadly serious. "No one can know you have this. No one."


    "Why? Is it illegal to possess?"


    "No. Worse." She finally met my eyes. "This tree is the stuff of legends. If word spreads that the Celestial Apothecary Guild possesses a Three Pure Ancient Tree, every sect and power in the realm will descend upon us like vultures."


    I swallowed hard. "So I should tell no one?"


    "Not even your closest allies. Not Jackson, not the Man with the Mustache. No one." She leaned forward. "Secrecy is our only shield. With this tree, we could create medicines that would change the world. But first, we must protect it."


    I nodded slowly, feeling the weight of this secret settling onto my shoulders.


    "I''ll keep it quiet."


    "See that you do," she replied. "The consequences would be—"


    A sharp knock interrupted us. The door opened slightly, and a young disciple bowed.


    "Pavilion Master, forgive the interruption. Elder Foster of the Ascendant Saints Order has arrived and demands an audience."


    My blood ran cold. Foster had tracked me here faster than expected.


    Mariana''s expression didn''t change, but I caught the subtle tensing of her shoulders.


    "Tell him I will meet him shortly in the Great Hall," she instructed.


    The disciple bowed again and withdrew.


    "He''s here for me," I said grimly.


    "Yes."


    "I destroyed one of their Dharma Treasures during my escape."


    She raised an eyebrow. "Did you now?"


    "It was necessary."


    "I''m sure it was." She rose from her seat and touched a hidden panel on the wall. A smallpartment opened, and she carefully ced the Three Pure Ancient Tree inside.


    "Rest now," she said firmly. "Your injuries still need healing. I''ll handle Foster."


    "But—"


    "This is not open for discussion, Liam." Her tone brooked no argument. "The Guild protects its own. You are one of us now."


    Gratitude washed over me. How different my life had be since meeting her. From a despised live-in son-inw to a respected member of the Celestial Apothecary Guild.


    "Thank you," I said simply.


    She nodded once. "Stay here until I return."


    I watched her glide from the room, her posture perfect, her authority absolute. Despite the danger Foster represented, I couldn''t help but feel pity for him. He had no idea what he was walking into.


    ---


    I couldn''t sit still. Despite Mariana''s instructions to rest, anxiety drove me to the door. I cracked it open and listened. Voices echoed from the Great Hall below.


    Carefully, I slipped into the corridor. The Guild''s headquarters was abyrinth of passages and chambers, but I''d learned my way around during my time here.


    I found a hidden alcove overlooking the Great Hall—a spot where senior disciples sometimes observed important meetings without being seen.


    Below, Mariana Valerius stood in the center of the vast chamber, calm andposed. Across from her, Elder Foster paced like a caged beast, his face flushed with anger.


    "Where is he?" Foster demanded, his voice echoing off the high ceiling. "Where are you hiding Liam Knight?"


    "Elder Foster," Mariana replied evenly. "This is quite an unexpected visit."


    "Don''t y games with me, Pavilion Master." He spat the title like an insult. "Knight destroyed a priceless Dharma Treasure of our Order. He must answer for this crime."


    "And what evidence do you have of this allegation?"


    Foster''s face reddened further. "I witnessed it myself! He destroyed the Sealing Tower of the Three Realms!"


    "A unfortunate ident duringbat, perhaps?" Mariana suggested mildly.


    "It was deliberate sabotage!"


    I gripped the railing tighter. Foster wasn''t wrong. I had destroyed the tower on purpose—it was the only way to escape his ambush.


    Mariana circled slowly, her robes barely whispering against the marble floor. "The Sealing Tower was activated against him, was it not? Self-defense seems a reasonable exnation."


    "The Tower is Ascendant Saints property!" Foster''s voice rose higher. "Hand over Knight immediately!"


    "I''m afraid I can''t do that." Mariana''s voice remained steady, yet somehow grew colder. <kbd ss="phantom-imprint">Fir@s+t- s-e*en on *%.*</kbd>


    "Can''t or won''t?"


    "Both." She stopped pacing and faced him squarely. "Liam Knight is under the protection of the Celestial Apothecary Guild. We do not surrender our people."


    For a moment, Foster seemed taken aback by her directness. He quickly recovered, his hand moving to the sword at his waist.


    "You would risk war with the Ascendant Saints Order over one man?"


    Several Guild guards shifted their positions, hands moving subtly toward hidden weapons. The tension in the hall thickened.


    "War?" Mariana''sugh was like ice cracking. "How dramatic, Elder Foster. I''m simply declining to hand over a Guild member based on unproven usations."


    "Unproven?" He sputtered. "I told you I saw it myself!"


    "Your word against his."


    "The Ascendant Saints Order will not forget this insult," Foster hissed. "Our alliance with the Celestial Apothecary Guild ends today."


    "Was there ever truly an alliance?" Mariana raised a delicate eyebrow. "Or merely a convenient arrangement that benefited you more than us?"


    Foster''s face contorted with rage. "You will regret this, Valerius. The Sect Master himself will hear of your defiance!"


    Mariana''s posture remained rxed, almost bored. "You should let your sect master say those words to me; you''re not qualified."


    I nearly gasped aloud. The dismissal was soplete, so cutting, that even I felt its sting from my hiding ce.


    Foster stood frozen, humiliation and rage warring on his face. The Guild guards tensed, ready for violence.


    For one breathless moment, I thought Foster might actually attack. His hand tightened on his sword hilt, knuckles turning white.


    Then, without another word, he turned and stormed toward the exit, his footsteps thundering against the marble floor.


    "This isn''t over," he called back without turning. "Not by a long shot."


    The heavy doors crashed closed behind him. Only then did I release the breath I''d been holding.


    Below, Mariana remained motionless for several seconds. Then, without looking up, she spoke.


    "You cane down now, Liam. I know you''re there."


    I winced. Of course she''d known.


    I descended the stairs and approached her, ready for a reprimand about disobeying orders.


    Instead, she simply sighed. "I told you to rest."


    "I couldn''t," I admitted. "Not when you were facing him because of me."


    She studied me for a moment. "You''ve brought us a great gift with that tree, but also great danger. Foster is just the beginning."


    "I''m sorry—"


    She raised a hand, cutting me off. "Don''t apologize for sess. But understand the burden thates with it."


    I nodded slowly. "What happens now?"


    "Now?" A ghost of a smile touched her lips. "Now we prepare. Foster will return with reinforcements, perhaps his Sect Master. And we must be ready."


    "For war?"


    "Let us hope not." She turned toward the inner chambers. "But the Celestial Apothecary Guild has survived for ten thousand years because we prepare for the worst."


    I followed her, mind racing with implications. The Three Pure Ancient Tree was more valuable than I''d imagined—and more dangerous.


    But looking at Mariana''s straight back as she walked ahead of me, I felt a surge of confidence. With her as my ally, perhaps we stood a chance after all.


    Whatever storm wasing, we would face it together.