"Yes," Ethan replied without a second thought. His voice was steady, clear. The certainty in his answer surprised some and quietly amused others, especially Jake, who looked at him as if trying to measure how seriously one simple word could be spoken.
Library!
In cultures across time and countless worlds, a library is often revered as a temple of knowledge—a sanctum reserved for the pursuit of wisdom, learning, and perhaps glimpses into the larger mysteries of the universe.
Yet, here at the Sacred Wind Academy, that ideal had faded. What once was a bustling hub for brilliant, studious disciples now gathered dust and shadows.
After generations of decline, its shelves had become little more than a myth whispered by the few who remembered better days.
Jake sighed, scratching at a spot on his chin as if searching his beard for answers. "Think it over, brother. I'm not hiding anything; you'll see for yourself soon enough. Our academy… it used to stand at the pinnacle alongside the greatest in the world. Geniuses fought just for the chance to train here, and every disciple was filled with hunger for knowledge. But…"
He spread his arms, eyes sweeping across empty courtyards and tattered banners, "That golden age is long gone. Few ever step inside the library now. The only thing you'll do there is clean the dust off ancient shelves. The contribution points aren't much, either. Are you sure this is what you want?"
Ethan listened, but the words barely budged his intent.
"But back there, weren't you shouting about our academy's greatness? That we could sweep the earth and heavens?" Ethan quipped, tone innocently blunt. "Was all that advertising just talk?"
The guards and Jake's followers almost choked. Even Jake, usually quick with a joke or easy deflection, was left silent for a second, his cheeks coloring. The two guards glared at Jake, unimpressed with his earlier enthusiasm in "salesmanship." They all knew the bitter truth:
Sacred Wind was a shadow of its former self, its reputation propped up by memories and bravado alone.
Jake stammered, "Ah, well… let's just say times have changed, little brother. The spirit of ambition remains, but we must start rebuilding from the basics. Foundation is everything in cultivation. Even dust-covered learning matters."
Though Jake wore a grin, it clearly didn't come from joy.
Ethan didn't press the matter. In his old life, he'd made every excuse to avoid responsibility for his failures. He knew self-deception better than most. But now—now he was determined to live differently. Even if the odds were long, and the future bleak, he would make the best of his opportunity. And with the system's promise glowing in the back of his mind, hope slowly found its place inside him.
"Well, it doesn't matter," Ethan said sincerely, lowering his eyes for a moment. "Maybe my talent is ordinary, and maybe Sacred Wind's best years are behind it. Even so, not everyone gets another shot at a new life—let alone a chance at cultivation. I can't be picky or greedy, not after that. I'm grateful you all didn't turn me away for being so… below average."
Jake regarded him for a long beat, eyes narrowing as if weighing everything Ethan had said. In that moment, something like respect formed—a small, solid core at the center of Jake's otherwise pragmatic heart.
"Thanks for your understanding," Jake finally said, giving Ethan a rare, genuine nod. The moment was brief, but Ethan sensed it was real.
Afterward, practical business resumed. Jake handed Ethan a goatskin parchment with his assigned details, written in the magical, softly glowing green ink. "Little brother, you're at E-Block, dormitory number 96. I'll show you. Let's get you settled before nightfall."
Ethan nodded. Before setting off, one of the guards approached, holding out an armful of simple but finely-made clothes.
"Take these. It's your academy uniform. You'll fit in better—those odd clothes of yours draw too much attention." The guard surveyed Ethan's jeans and red t-shirt with open bemusement, as if he'd never seen such strange fashion outside an illustrated scroll.
Ethan smiled sheepishly, taking the uniform. On top was a token, polished and etched with the words "Sacred Wind." There was an odd sense of ceremony to receiving it—a physical marker that this new life really was his.
Together, they passed through the main gates into the heart of the academy. Ethan stared in awe and dismay: many buildings were surprisingly shabby, their walls cracked and battered. Walkways sagged. Banners hung limp and faded on the wind. Weed-choked gardens and empty plazas spoke of faded glory and abandonment, places left to memory and slow decay. Yet, here and there, the sunlight fell in beautiful patterns through dust motes, and a faint echo of grandeur whispered from the stone.
Jake saw his surprised expression and offered a sad half-smile. "Our academy used to be the jewel of the sect, the greatest hope of this region. Then the disaster happened. It was about two centuries ago—a time of sudden violence. Dark forces, strangers no one ever identified, came out of nowhere and nearly destroyed us. No one knows who they were, or what they wanted. If we'd had any clues, maybe… maybe things would've been different."
Ethan's mind reeled, unable to fully picture what such a calamity must've looked like—a proud pillar of knowledge and strength, brought to its knees by unknown enemies.
Before Ethan could reflect further, a sharp chime flickered in his mind. The now-familiar screen of the system surged into view, lines of radiant text hanging in front of his eyes:
A Major Quest Has Been Triggered
Quest Name: Mystery Of The Sacred Wind
Quest Rank: SSS
Description: 200 Years Ago, Sacred Wind Academy Was Attacked By A Group Of Powerful And Mysterious People. There Is More To The Story Than What You Heard
Mission: Solve The Entire Mystery Behind The Attack On The Sacred Wind Academy
Quest Completion Rate: 0%
Ethan's heart pounded. A system quest—his first real mission since arriving in this strange world! Not only that, but the mission was SSS rank—the highest level of challenge.
In the game Ascension, quest difficulties ranged from F to VVV, scaling from laughable to impossible. For a newcomer to receive an SSS task? It was like being thrown into a whirlpool of fate without even a paddle.
Still, he knew from gaming that high risk came with high reward. But Ethan was no fool: he hadn't even started a cultivation regimen, knew nothing of the academy's hidden politics, and couldn't defend himself from even a beginner disciple if things went wrong.
'Best to take it slow,' he decided, wise for once. 'No sense dying before I learn how to use spirit power. I'll gather clues and make progress step by step.'
For now, he kept quiet about the notification, following Jake in silence as he scrolled mentally through the quest's details and objectives. The system screen faded with a hum as Jake pointed out various buildings—dining halls, training fields, bath houses, and most importantly, the gilded but lonely doors to the now-forgotten library.
Jake was still explaining the network of tunnels behind the main dormitory when, suddenly, a mocking, arrogant voice echoed across the yard.
"Oh? If it isn't our great Jake!"
Ethan's gut tightened involuntarily. The tone was unmistakable—the same grating, sneering edge he remembered from certain campus bullies back on Earth. The sort of voice that delighted in belittling others, that relished power and sought status at anyone's expense.
Ethan didn't need a system notification to know: trouble was walking their way.