The ornate dining room in Milan's historic Palazzo Brera was lit by candlelight that cast dancing shadows across ancient tapestries and carved wooden panels. Mei-Ling sat in the precise position her family had assigned her—third chair from the end of the long table, positioned where she could observe but not lead, hear but not speak unless directly addressed.
Around the table, figures in traditional robes moved with the fluid grace of those who had spent decades perfecting both physical discipline and spiritual cultivation. Their faces were weathered by age and wisdom, their eyes holding depths that spoke of knowledge preserved through generations of careful transmission.
At the head of the table, an elderly man whose presence seemed to command the very air around him raised his hand for silence. His hair was white as snow, his movements precise as calligraphy, and when he spoke, every person in the room leaned forward to catch each word.
"The gathering we have waited for has arrived," he said in Mandarin, his voice carrying the authority of someone who had guided sacred traditions through decades of suppression and hiding. "The children of the Documentation Coalition will compete openly for the first time since the new civilizational model was established."
Mei-Ling felt her heart racing as she realized the true scope of what she was witnessing. This wasn't just a family meeting—this was a coordination of the traditional preservation networks that had maintained sacred knowledge through the suppression period, now finally able to gather safely under the protection of the transparent accountability systems.
Li Yanyue sat two seats to the right of the elder, her posture radiating the same controlled intensity she brought to everything she did. But here, surrounded by her true family and lineage holders, she seemed different—more reverent, more connected to purposes that extended far beyond any individual achievement.
"Elder Chen," Li Yanyue said respectfully, "the competitors have gathered as foretold."
"And their readiness?" the elder asked quietly.
"They begin to understand their connections, but not yet the full scope of what awaits them," Li Yanyue replied. "The awakening proceeds according to your guidance."
The elder nodded approvingly, his eyes holding depths that seemed to span centuries. "What has been hidden will finally be revealed. What was preserved in secret will be demonstrated openly. The sacred arts will return to the world through those who have proven themselves competent."
"And the significance of this moment?" asked another robed figure.
"This marks the end of the hiding period and the beginning of the restoration," the elder replied, his voice carrying the weight of prophecy. "Knowledge that was nearly lost will flow again. Capabilities that were suppressed will be awakened. The next phase of human development begins with what these young ones will witness and inherit."
Mei-Ling felt chills running through her as she grasped the magnitude of what was being planned. This wasn't just about competition—this was about the restoration of sacred knowledge to the world.
The elder turned his attention to Mei-Ling, his eyes seeming to see through to her soul. "And you, child, have been observing from within their group. What can you tell us about their understanding of what they're inheriting?"
Mei-Ling felt her throat tighten. Speaking in this sacred gathering carried weight beyond casual conversation. "They understand that their families were connected through resistance work, but they don't yet comprehend the full scope of what was preserved. They think in terms of historical documentation and accountability systems, not yet grasping the sacred dimensions of their inheritance."
"As is appropriate for their current level of development," another elder observed from across the table. "Sacred knowledge must be received gradually, according to each practitioner's capacity and spiritual maturity."
"The revelation schedule has been carefully prepared," reported a woman whose advanced age couldn't hide the power in her bearing. "Each day will bring deeper understanding, greater responsibility, and preparation for what they must carry forward."
"And after the revelations?" Li Yanyue asked.
"Then we discover which among them have the spiritual foundation to receive the complete inheritance," the elder said, his gaze moving around the table to include every person present. "The Documentation Coalition's work transitions from preservation to transmission. The children become the guardians."
As the formal meeting concluded and the elders began to disperse, Mei-Ling found herself walking alongside Li Yanyue toward their accommodations.
"Tomorrow changes everything," Li Yanyue said quietly. "What they think they know about our craft will be revealed as just the beginning."
"Are you ready for what comes next?"
"I've been preparing my entire life for this moment," Li Yanyue replied, her expression carrying the weight of sacred responsibility. "The knowledge that was preserved through so much sacrifice can finally be shared safely. The restoration begins tomorrow."
As they reached their hotel, Mei-Ling understood that the competition she had been viewing as individual achievement was actually the beginning of something far more significant—the return of sacred arts to the world, guided by those who had proven themselves worthy through both skill and character.
The sacred gathering was complete. The restoration was about to begin.