"This is where you all will be staying."
Lucius heard the inner disciple speak as he pointed toward a large building ahead of them. The structure rose several stories high, with long rows of windows stretching across its stone walls. A large sign at the entrance read Outer Disciple Living Quarters. Judging by its size, it seemed that hundreds of disciples would be living here.
"Your identification badge, along with the number on it, will be your assigned room," the inner disciple said.
He did not stay any longer and soon walked away. Lucius shifted his gaze back to the building in front of him.
Since they had already received their identification badges earlier, finding their rooms would be easy. Each badge glowed faintly, the engraved number clear and bright, almost as if it guided its owner toward their room.
Lucius turned slightly to his side. Damian and Raveena stood beside him, quietly taking in their surroundings.
"What room numbers are you?" Lucius asked.
Raveena looked down at her badge. "Four," she said softly.
Damian let out a short laugh and raised his own badge. "Three."
Lucius nodded and then checked his own badge.
"One."
Raveena lifted her head, her eyes widening slightly. "One?" she repeated in surprise. "It seems we'll all be close to each other."
Before Lucius could reply, Damian frowned as he thought about it. A moment later, understanding appeared on his face.
"I get it now," Damian said. "Our room numbers are based on our rankings from the entrance exam."
Lucius thought about it briefly, then nodded. "It seems so."
"Well then," Damian said, smiling, "let's head inside."
The three of them entered the building along with the other disciples. Since the entrance exam had ended, Lucius had already introduced Raveena to Damian. Although Raveena was shy, Damian's open and friendly personality quickly helped her relax.
Lucius never expected that in less than twenty-four hours after arriving in this world, his life would change so much. After a brutal battle, he had made new friends and stepped into a completely new way of living.
Since childhood, he had lived within the church walls. As Goddess Celestia's apostle, he held a high position. Now, in this new world, he was nobody. Still, it did not discourage him. He would never allow but continue try his best for the loss of Selene and his fallen companions to break him.
Lucius said goodbye to Raveena and Damian as they headed to their rooms, which were on the same floor. He noticed that each level had fewer rooms than the one below. Their floor only had five rooms in total.
He guessed that the higher the rank, the better the living quarters. But he also realized something else, this would invite challenges. Disciples would likely compete for better rooms.
There was clearly a hierarchy within this building.
As Lucius walked toward his door, he noticed a white-haired girl watching him quietly. She, too, lived on the same floor.
She gave a small nod and entered her own room. Lucius felt a smile crept up on this face. Maybe I should introduce myself to her, Lucius thought. We'll be living right next to each other. Being acquaintances wouldn't be a bad thing.
He had a feeling that Raveena would feel awkward talking to that girl if they ever met. Both of them kept to themselves—one was too shy to speak, and the other seemed too stiff to start a conversation. If left alone, their first meeting would likely turn into an uncomfortable silence.
It felt like a small disaster waiting to happen.
Lucius entered his room and paused. It was spacious and clean. While it could not compare to the house he once owned in his old world—the one he shared with Selene—it was more than enough.
He could adapt.
After all, he had spent a large part of his life staying in inns or sleeping outdoors while traveling.
The room held a large bed, a desk placed neatly in the corner, drawers for robes he would likely add over time, and a wide window that overlooked the Clear Sky Sect. There was also another door, most likely leading to the bathroom.
Lucius let out a slow breath.
He was finally alone in this world.
He lay down on the bed, and the soft mattress welcomed him, sinking slightly under his weight. The comfort surprised him.
Despite the calm front he showed others, and despite how he refused to let discouragement show, the truth finally caught up to him.
He was alone.
Lucius raised one hand and clenched his fist toward the ceiling.
"O Goddess Celestia," he whispered, his voice low, "I really wish Selene and the others were here with me."
A warm feeling spread through his body, gentle and familiar. It was the same warmth he felt whenever he prayed or spoke to Goddess Celestia.
The warmth comforted him. It eased his heart.
Yet, there was still loneliness in his eyes.
Lucius knew he was friendly. He knew he liked meeting new people and making connections. But friendships took time, and right now, he barely knew Raveena and Damian.
Still, deep down, he felt that they would become important to him in this new life.
Perhaps they would become his anchors in this unfamiliar world.
"HUH?" Lucius suddenly exclaimed.
He jumped up from his bed. He felt it, something he had felt ever since he became Goddess Celestia's apostle.
He looked around his room, a little paranoid because he had just yelled. Soon, he relaxed. There was most likely a silence formation in the room.
Since Lucius had started cultivating, he had felt a familiar sensation. It was not mana, but something deeper within him.
It was a feeling he sensed in his soul, especially when he was fighting the Demon King in his final battle.
"Do I really still have it?" Lucius muttered softly. He was asking himself, but also speaking directly to Goddess Celestia.
Before he could react, a soft glow enveloped his right arm, and he heard a gentle whisper.
"It will always be with you. No matter where you are, my child."
Tears began to fall down Lucius's face. His goddess had answered him directly and given him a beautiful surprise.