28 Argenti (1/2)

REALM 1, DEITY REALM, RANKED 1st, Nickname ONE

A meadow of silver flowers shimmered with the fine stardust that coated their petals.

Their shape was similar to a lotus yet also similar to a rose.

This meadow of silver star flowers sat in the wide expanse of space.

A waterfall made of liquid metal fell down from the chromosphere of a blue star, it sparked like magnesium as it landed near the meadow of silver star flowers and flowed around it.

In the middle of this surreal scene, a woman with hair as white as moonlight, lay in the meadow. Her white robes floated and rippled due to the zero gravity, her dainty brown hand slowly caressed one of the flowers.

\”I hear a key was used recently.\” Her voice was clear and gentle.

A man appeared next to her, in a deep contrast to her white robes, silver hair, and brown skin he wore black clothes, had black hair, and white skin. His eyes were like bottomless black pits.

\”You've heard correctly. After so long a key has resurfaced.\” His voice was deep and coarse.

\”Have we found out who used it, where they got it from, and if they have more?\” she inquired as she continued to lay in the meadow of flowers, her eyes still closed.

\”We have discovered that the key was used in the Celestial Realm 348, the Star realm, and the user was transported to the Offal ream, Mortal realm 145. We got an alert from the Gates belonging to the Gatekeeper of realm 145, that contact had been made with the user of the key. The Gates informed us that it's Gatekeeper has the user in his custody for the moment.\”

\”The Gates of realm 145 told you this and not the Gatekeeper himself?\”

\”The Gatekeeper was training when the Gates decided to alert us. The Gatekeeper of realm 145 is new. Only recently appointed, so his Gates took the role of informing us for him.\”

\”I see.\”

\”It is also interesting to note that this newly appointed Gatekeeper is on the path of Time just like you, I and the other three.\” The man's deep sonorous voice had a hint of interest and excitement as he said this. \”I'm sure soon he will be paying the association a visit to update us on the Key situation, aren't you excited to be meeting a new Gatekeeper on the path of time, Argenti?\”

\”I am. As a Gatekeeper of time his fate won't be mediocre. It seems that realm 145 will see a change in fortune. However I can't be excited when this key has popped up. Who knows what this could mean.\”

Argenti sighed wearily. \”I guess I must clean up after my predecessors mistakes. It was his daughter that made the keys, he was the one that violated the rules, and yet as his successor I must clean up the mess. It's hard having to bear the mistakes of the past, it's hard keeping those Others at bay, it's hard waiting for One to return. But I guess that is life, hard and unavoidable. Do you agree Obsidian?\”

Sighing again, Argenti opened her eyes, In them were burning hot white stars, that glowed iridescently.

\”Gates dress me.\” She muttered as she stretched out her dainty hands. A silver earing that was shaped like a book, flew from her ear, expanding and wrapping around her.

Soon she was dressed in white billowing robes, much like a long dashiki, that had time essences flying across the fabric.

She was Gatekeeper Argenti, Gatekeeper of Realm 1, ranked 1st.

_________________

CHAOYANG MAO LU'S HOME

Chàng Bo had planned on getting closer to Mao Lu from the beginning, since getting close to a Gatekeeper had many advantages. But the fact that the Sovereign System had now given him this once in a lifetime deal, he felt 1,000 times more motivated.

A lifetime supply of fate points could allow him to buy an unlimited amount of skills, and upgrade them/ transform them as much as he liked.

This wasn't an opportunity he could pass up on. He must get closer to Mao Lu.

\”Since he's so gentle and likes to ignore the barrier between our social statuses then I should allow that. I'll act comfortable around him, I'll ignore our social statuses and I'll make sure we become the best of friends, no sworn brothers that are inseparable. With Mao Lu, I might really become peerless and unbeatable throughout the realms!\”

Chàng Bo thought of this with glee as he smiled back at Mao Lu even brighter then he had before.

Mao Lu felt his heart annoyingly beat faster again but this time, he didn't know why, but he felt slightly uncomfortable with Chàng Bo's smile.

...

Chàng Bo helped Mao Lu wash the dishes. He wore arm length rubber gloves as he scrubbed the pots, pans, and bowls. Every dish he scrubbed he'd hand to Mao Lu and Mao Lu would rinse it, dry it, and put it away in its correct cupboard.

\”Why do you do something so menial, why not use essence to clean the dishes for you, or use water essence to cleans these things. Isn't there a spell for this? There are so many faster and more advanced ways to do this then physically scrubbing these dishes. This is such a mortal method.\” Chàng Bo complained.

He'd never been made to wash dishes before and he found the task menial, repetitive and boring. He couldn't help but complain to Mao Lu. He was also inwardly surprised that Mao Lu did such tasks as cleaning and cooking.

Any Gatekeeper had trillions of practitioners that would swear loyalty to them. Shouldn't he have his own servants or something else that could complete such tasks. Why didn't he?

Mao Lu simply smiled at Chàng Bo and didn't reply to his moaning.

\”Even though he complains he's still diligently washing the dishes.\” Mao Lu liked that Chàng Bo was the type to still do a job even if he didn't like it, and he was also pleased with Chàng Bo speaking his mind around him. Chàng Bo wasn't holding back like he had done before, and wasn't being too conscious of Mao Lu's status as a Gatekeeper. Mao Lu liked sincere people and he liked people that didn't change to meet society's standards or social norms.

When they finished washing up, Mao Lu showed Chàng Bo how to heat food in the microwave.

\”So if you're hungry just read the back of the package and it tells you how long you should set the timer. You then switch it on like this...and turn the knob like this…If the food doesn't have a package, like food I've cooked that's gone cold, then setting the timer to two or three minutes is fine….Remember don't put any metals or plastics in the microwave, that can cause a fire.\”

Chàng Bo couldn't help but audibly say \”ohhh\” and \”ahhh\”.

To think this devilish machine was so simple and easy to use. When he thought of what he did last time….he didn't even want to remember, just the thought made him flush in embarrassment.

\”But if you're hungry for something else then you can also order some things to eat.\” Mao Lu picked up some local food pamphlets and showed them to Chàng Bo. \”You call the number on the pamphlets and tell them the food you want, and then a delivery person will come with the food, and when they come you can pay them.\”

Mao Lu took the house phone and dialed the number on the pamphlet.

\”Hello this is Wang's eatery, how can I help you today?\”

\”I'd like your special set of spicy wings and fried squid...yes for delivery...the address is… yep Thank you.\”

Fifteen minutes later Chàng Bo watched as a delivery boy on a motorbike handed Mao Lu a package. As Mao Lu paid the delivery boy, the boy looked at Chàng Bo curiously, \”Bro, is your friend participating in some sort of event? His outfit is awesome!\”