- The Library of Infinite Beginnings, Floor 1 -

(Xuan Kai's Perspective)

After a while of browsing on our own, we regrouped back near the main entrance of the building.

"So? Did you guys find anything useful?" I asked.

They all shook their heads dejectedly.

"All of these books on the first floor only explain the basics of magic, stuff like history of the world and all that. But it doesn't even teach any actual spells," Feng Mian said with a sigh.

"Yeah, same for me. None of the books I came across were useful at all," Yu An Yan added.

"Looks like it's the same for everyone else as well then," I concluded. "All I found were some children's...counting books? Some didn't even have anything to do with magic..."

"I'm sure what we're looking for is on the higher floors," Qing Yue said hopefully. "There's just the matter of getting past the Gatekeeper..."

"Do you guys want to give it a shot?" I asked. "Old Man Leng said that we could actually die if we aren't sufficiently prepared, but...I think we can do it."

"Oh? The confidence! What makes you say so?" Xiang Peng tilted her head.

"Well...I'm thinking of this place like a dungeon. 100 floors total, with a boss at the end of each one. When designing a video game, you've gotta make it beatable with the resources given within the game, correct? So in this case, the books on each floor...should allow us to defeat the gatekeeper there," I explained.

"Nya, syo, in nyother words, the Gatekyeeper of this floor shouldn't be too bad?" Amane wondered aloud. "I mean...if it kyan be beaten with children's kyounting books."

I nodded. "That's my guess. But if you all don't want to risk it, that's fine by me too."

"No....Master, if we can't even handle this level of danger, we don't deserve to be travelling by your side," Mei Gui said determinedly. "There will only be stronger enemies and greater dangers in the future. This is good practice for when that time comes...unless some of you want to back out now?"

She turned to glare at each of the girls, as if asking 'are you going to abandon Master just because the journey ahead is dangerous?'

Feng Mian shook her head. "Calm down, Mei Gui. We've all been with Xuan Kai for quite some time now, and came across quite a few dangers. If we were the type to just back out the moment things went south, we would've left a long time ago."

"Honestly...I can't even imagine you'd suggest something like that," Yu An Yan sighed. "Really, Mei Gui? Are we that low in your mind?"

"Heehee, I don't know about danger or anything like that, but as long as Big Brother Xuan Kai is with me, nothing is scary!" Qing Yue exclaimed, before hugging me tightly. The other girls all agreed.

I caught her in my arms, and took a deep breath. "Okay then. Let's give the Gatekeeper a shot."

*****

The ten of us headed up the glass spiral staircase in the middle of the room. It wasn't too long, but it felt like it due to the nervousness we were all feeling right now. We had logically concluded that the Gatekeeper of Floor 1 should be pretty easy, but...who knows, really? There are too many things in this world that defy logic, after all.

Once we reached the top of the staircase, a door stood in our way. It looked like a normal - albeit exquisitely designed with masterful craftsmanship - door at first glance, but when I tried pushing it open, it wouldn't budge.

"U-Um...there's a card scanner down here. Maybe we have to use our library cards?" Lan Xiao Su spoke up, pointing at a machine attached to the beige wall, to the right of the door.

I did as she suggested, pulling out the library card I had just been issued a little earlier, and swiped it downwards, since that appeared to be how you were supposed to use the device.

After a while, the monitor of the device beeped twice, and showed the following word:

VERIFIED.

And then, without any warning, the door before us swung open...to reveal what seemed like a portal.

"What is this...?" I muttered aloud.

"What is what?" Feng Mian asked, clearly confused.

"Huh? Wait, you guys don't see this portal in front of me?"

"Nope," Yu An Yan and the other girls responded, shaking their heads. "What portal? All I see is the door."

"..." I turned back to the portal, and narrowed my gaze.

Does it...only become visible for whoever swiped their card on that machine?

Then, spinning back to face the girls, I continued. "There's a portal in front of me right now, but you all probably can't see it because I was the only one who swiped my card on that card-reading machine. It's probably set up this way so that people can only take on the Gatekeeper on their own, with no outside help. I'm guessing even if you swipe your card on this machine and a portal pops up, it'll bring you into a different place to fight your Gatekeeper, separate from mine."

"Huh...how complicated," Xiang Peng noted. "Guess they really value individual strength, huh?"

"Is it not like this within Fragment?" Obsidia scoffed.

"Oh yeah. Don't get me wrong. The people inside Fragment are all extreme elitists. I'm honestly sick of it. They're all 'get strong or get out'. It's dumb as hell," Xiang Peng replied. "So, I'm journeying along with you guys as a break, kinda. And it's been pretty enjoyable so far!"

I sighed. "Whatever the case...if individual strength is what they want, then so be it. I'll go first - you guys wait out here."

"Okay - stay safe," Feng Mian said with a warm smile.

"Mm...we'll be right here when you return," Yu An Xue added, practically the first time she's spoken all day.

"Big Brother Xuan Kai doesn't lose! I'm sure of it!" Qing Yue exclaimed happily.

I nodded in confirmation, then took a deep breath. And with that, I stepped through the portal.

*****

- Within the Portal -

The moment I stepped through, I found myself in a black space. All around me, there were different planets - one with a huge red dot, another with a beautiful ring around it, and a hazy blue one that was smaller than the others. Along with these were various rocks - asteroids, floating about. I looked below me, and saw no solid ground. And yet, I could feel that I was standing on some kind of floor. I wasn't falling, after all.

Despite my surroundings clearly depicting I was in space, I could still feel the force of gravity. I still had full control over my body, and breathing wasn't a problem either.

Just...where am I?

And then, suddenly, a man materialized about 50 meters in front of me. I immediately got into battle position, assuming this person was the Gatekeeper I had to defeat. But instead, the man showed no sign of hostility. He wore a black and yellow mask that covered only his eyes, and a long white robe plus two white wings that made him almost seem like some kind of angel.

"Welcome to the Library of Infinite Beginnings," the man said. His voice echoed throughout whatever place I was in, and it was gentle and soothing.

"Who are you?" I asked in return, narrowing my gaze.

"Before that...I wish to ask you a question."

I raised an eyebrow, getting out of battle stance. "A question? Aren't I supposed to be in here fighting a Gatekeeper?"

The man smiled. "Yes...but I sensed something different within you, dear disciple. You have a mysterious energy inside you, and I wish to know what it is."

"Hate to break it to you, but...I'm nothing special. Just your average 14 year old, trying to get stronger," I replied nonchalantly.

If he can sense my Chaos power...he's gotta be extremely strong. Normal people of this world shouldn't be able to detect that I'm unusual until they see me use magic.

The man merely laughed softly and flew up into the air with his two wings. "...Tell me, boy...why is it do you think that birds fly?"

"Huh?"

What the hell...? That's so random.

"It's a genuine question. Why is it do you think...that birds fly?"

I frowned. I didn't know why I was taking so long to answer this question, but for some reason, I felt compelled to really think about it and give the answer that resides within my soul.

Birds fly because they have wings? No...their wings gives them the ability to fly, but that's not why they choose to fly...

Perhaps...they fly because they have to in order to get food? No, but...they can do that on the ground too, just slower...

After a good few minutes of thinking, the man patiently waiting all the while, I looked up at him and stared him straight in the eye.

"Birds fly...because they want to."