Liam, panting slightly less now that Fae Willow had adjusted her pace, finally reached the
entrance of his dormitory building. The journey, though short, had been unexpectedly taxing. He
swiped his student ID to unlock the main door, and they entered the echoing hallway.
"This is my residence," Liam announced, leading Fae Willow towards his room.
Fae Willow: "Ah." Fae Willow looked around, her eyes wide with curiosity. It was a common
mortal dwelling, yet for her, it held a strange novelty. She quietly observed the passing students,
a few of whom cast curious glances at the elegant woman with the huge suitcase accompanying
Liam. Fae Willow, however, remained oblivious, her mind already consumed by the mystery of
the 'Whispering Lantern Abbey'.
Upon reaching Liam's room, he unlocked the door and stepped aside, gesturing for her to enter.
Fae Willow, still holding her suitcase, paused at the threshold. "Is it permissible to enter, Elder
Liam?" she asked, her voice a soft murmur.
Liam rubbed his face again. That "Elder Liam" was becoming a persistent echo. "Just Liam,
please. And yes, come in. My roommates aren't here for the weekend."
Fae Willow: "Thank you, Liam." Fae Willow smiled, her relief palpable. She was indeed
exhausted from her long journey and the endless search for the abbey. Gently, she pulled her
massive suitcase inside and set it down by the door.
Liam gestured towards his desk. "You can use my computer. Your phone charger is right here
too." He pointed to a charger plugged into the wall. "Feel free to charge your phone first."
Fae Willow: "Many thanks, Liam." Fae Willow was truly grateful. She had been quite anxious
about being lost. She quickly plugged in her phone, watching the charging indicator light up with
a sigh of relief. Then, she turned to Liam's computer.
Liam, meanwhile, went to the small pantry corner of his room, pulled out a few bags of chips
and some canned drinks, and placed them on his desk. "Make yourself at home. Just ignore the
mess; my roommates and I aren't exactly tidy." The room was indeed a typical student dorm, a
bit cluttered with books, clothes, and various gadgets.
Fae Willow: "Liam, is this your place of solitary cultivation?" she asked, her eyes scanning the
room.
Liam nearly choked on air. "Solitary cultivation? No, this is my dorm room. I live here with my
roommates." He quickly corrected, hoping to dispel her fantastical notions.
Fae Willow: "Oh," Fae Willow replied softly, her expression unreadable. She assumed he was
simply being humble, maintaining a low profile. Many powerful Elders preferred to conceal their
true might, living among mortals as ordinary individuals. This 'Elder Liam' must be one such
figure. He was indeed quite similar to her father in that regard.
Liam, sensing her continued misunderstanding, decided not to press the issue. He'd tried to
explain; if she chose to believe otherwise, it was her prerogative. He turned on his computer.
"You can look up the directions to your abbey. Which one was it again? Whispering Lantern
Abbey?"
Fae Willow: "Yes, Whispering Lantern Abbey. It's in Haven's End District, Port City," she
confirmed, then quickly added, "And Liam, could you help me check something else? How can
one return to the 'Spirit Isles'?" Fae Willow asked, her voice tinged with a hint of longing.
Liam raised an eyebrow. "Spirit Isles? Is that a place near Port City or something?" He typed
"Spirit Isles" into the search bar, but the results were filled with travel brochures for various
island resorts and spiritual retreats. Nothing that seemed to fit Fae Willow's context.
Fae Willow: "Ah, that's not it. It's a land of arcane power, accessible only through specificconduits. There are very few remaining conduits that connect to the Spirit Isles from the mortal
realm. Even father needs to use a conduit every time he leaves or returns." Fae Willow
explained patiently.
Liam's face twitched. "Conduits? You mean like… airports?" he ventured, trying to find a
mundane explanation.
Fae Willow: "No, not like airports. More like ancient gateways, infused with mystical energies,"
she clarified, her tone earnest.
Liam decided to move on. "Alright, let's focus on Whispering Lantern Abbey first. There's no
information about it online here either. Are you sure you have the name correct?"
Fae Willow: "I am certain. It is an ancient abbey, shrouded in the mist of time. Perhaps it is not
widely known to mortals," she mused.
Liam sighed. "Well, if it's not online, then it'll be difficult to find without a local guide. Are you
absolutely sure there aren't any other identifying features or references for this abbey?"
Fae Willow thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up. "Ah, there's also the 'Sacred Flame of
Eternal Vigil.' It's said to burn eternally within the abbey. Perhaps that might help identify it?"
Liam typed "Sacred Flame of Eternal Vigil" into the search bar. This time, the search results
were slightly more promising. There were articles about a historical landmark, an ancient
lighthouse in Port City that used to house an "eternal flame" as a navigational aid, though it had
long since been extinguished. It was now a museum.
"Is it a lighthouse? There's a 'Sacred Flame of Eternal Vigil' that's now a museum," Liam offered.
Fae Willow: "A lighthouse? Hmm, that does not sound like an abbey. Perhaps it is a different
place. The Sacred Flame I speak of is a source of mystical energy, not a navigational aid." She
shook her head.
Liam felt a headache coming on. "Alright, how about this? Since you're not in a hurry, why don't
you rest here for a bit? When my roommates return, perhaps they can help you with directions
to Port City, or offer some suggestions." He hoped his roommates, being more geographically
inclined, might have some ideas.
Fae Willow: "That would be most kind, Liam. Thank you." Fae Willow smiled, truly relieved. She
settled into a chair, her eyes still curiously observing Liam's ordinary belongings.
Liam left her to explore the internet on his computer, hoping she'd find some clarity. He himself
needed a break from the surreal turn his weekend had taken. He glanced at his phone, still
charging.
A few hours passed. Liam was casually browsing some news articles on his own phone, which
had recharged a bit. Fae Willow, meanwhile, had found nothing about her abbey.
Fae Willow: "Liam," she said, her voice a little deflated, "I still cannot find any information about
Whispering Lantern Abbey, nor the Sacred Flame. Perhaps it is truly a hidden place, known only
to those of our path."
Liam sighed. "It's possible. But Port City is a large place. Without a more precise location, it's
like searching for a needle in a haystack. Maybe you should try to contact your father for more
specific instructions?"
Fae Willow's face clouded slightly. "I'd rather not bother him, unless absolutely necessary. He's
quite busy." She clearly preferred to manage this herself.
Just then, Liam's phone chimed. It was a message from Anya.
Anya Reed: "Hey Liam! I checked those ingredients you sent. Most of them are common tonics,
no issues there. But some of those combinations, especially in large quantities, could cause
severe indigestion and bowel issues. Definitely not lethal, but you'd be spending a lot of time in
the bathroom! And what in the world are 'Mystical Morning Dew Herb' and 'Solar Blaze
Bamboo'? Are you reading some weird fantasy novel again?"Liam read the message, a wave of relief washing over him. Not lethal! A bit of indigestion was
certainly preferable to an untimely demise. He quickly typed back: "Thanks, Anya! Just a weird
recipe I stumbled upon. You know me, always curious."
He then looked at Fae Willow. "Good news. The ingredients in that elixir recipe aren't lethal. At
most, they might cause some… digestive issues." He decided to omit the part about the
fantastical ingredients; no need to reinforce her delusions.
Fae Willow: "Of course it's not lethal! It's a Physique-Refining Elixir, meant to strengthen the
body!" Fae Willow looked at him with an expression of mild bewilderment, as if he'd just stated
the obvious. "But digestive issues? That's peculiar. Could it be a side effect of the common
ingredients?" She then picked up her fully charged phone, tapped a few times, and typed a
message into the Conclave of Arcane Lore.
Fae Willow of the Spirit Isles: "Elder Apothecary, I have heard from a fellow cultivator that your
new Physique-Refining Elixir may cause digestive issues. Is this an intended side effect, or a
flaw in the recipe?"
Liam watched, speechless. She was actually messaging them about his mundane medical
advice! This was far beyond what he had anticipated.
A few moments later, Apothecary replied, with a speed that suggested he was already online:
"Impossible. No side effects. Who told you?"
Fae Willow of the Spirit Isles: "Elder Liam Stone."
Liam felt a sudden jolt. She actually named him! And worse, she called him "Elder Liam Stone"!
He imagined the entire group, especially the gossipmonger River North Wanderer, now buzzing
with curiosity about this new 'Elder Liam Stone'. He was officially exposed!
Apothecary's reply came swiftly, a string of ellipsis: "..."
Then, River North Wanderer chimed in: "Elder Liam Stone? Who is this new Elder? Fae Willow,
could you introduce us?"
Blade of the Madman followed suit: "Elder Liam Stone? Are they male or female? Is there a
portrait? Are they handsome? Do they possess a charming demeanor?"
Liam groaned. His peaceful, anonymous life as a silent observer was officially over. He was now
an 'Elder Liam Stone' in a group of self-proclaimed mystics, linked by a peculiar divination, and
apparently, known for giving advice on the side effects of fantastical elixirs. This was going to be
a long day.