The voice that echoed in Meiying's mind was as mysterious as the cavernous depths she found herself in. "Begin, she said.
As she moved forward, the luminescent fungi on the walls cast eerie shadows, making it seem like the cave itself was alive. Meiying's mind was a whirlwind of questions, but above all, she felt a profound sense of dislocation. This place, these events, they were alien to the tranquil and free life she felt in the Jade Flower Village.
"Embroidery Tutorial Beginning... Welcome to the Tapestry of Tenets."
Around Meiying, the air shimmered, and Threads of light began to weave before her eyes, forming intricate patterns. What she was seeing was the very fabric of the Tapestry of Tenets.
As she watched, the Threads twisted and turned, creating images that flickered like mirages. Scenes of other worlds, other beings, battles, and beauties beyond imagination. Meiying was transfixed, her fear only momentarily forgotten until she forced herself out of the daze.
"What is the Tapestry...?" Meiying asked herself almost unconsciously, obviously stunned by the dazzling display that manifested.
And almost as if the voice was responding to her:
"The Tapestry of Tenets is the foundation of all existence here. The Tapestry is a collection of all the abstract concepts, elements, emotions, and states of being. The Threads are the basic units of power under the Tapestry. What the Tapestry controls is infinite: Creation, Entropy, Time, Dreams, Fears, etc."
Meiying couldn't believe it. But why her? Why pick her? She was just a villager, a daydreamer, not someone meant to wield power that formed the universe itself.
"The Tapestry has sewn together eight worlds. Your world, the Cultivation world, is defined by its innate atmosphere of energy called "Qi" that the inhabitants pull from." The voice stated, its tone clinical and detached.
Meiying listened as she walked. She stuck low to the ground and avoided areas where echoes of creatures originated. She used to explore caverns all the time back in the valley around the village, though none as monstrous as this, so she was somewhat comfortable navigating in the dark, provided the dim help of embers from her new weapon.
"In this time of need, the Tapestry has connected the eight worlds. Individuals from each world will awaken randomly each revolution on this world and be transported like you have."
Meiying took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. She wonders, "Why did it have to be me? And what time of need?".
"Infinity: The tutorial has reached its limits of questions. It will now begin to introduce how to interact with the Tapestry."
The Threads shifted again, showing her the basics of Thread manipulation—how to sense them, how to touch them without causing a fray, and how to weave them into simple patterns.
Her index finger traveled to the air before her and twisted the essence of Threads into a circle. The Threads once materialized, this time into a piece of parchment, floating there in front of Meiying.
[Meiying]
[World] Qi Xian Realm
[Rank] Neophyte
[Pathway] None
[Innate] Black Jade Heart (Locked)
[Threads 1/3] Cogstaff of Vapors (Fine Thread)
Meiying glanced at the strange symbols on the parchment that slowly began to penetrate her brain by turning into a vocabulary understandable to her. It gave a very rudimentary description of Meiying's status... which she understood all but the [Pathway] and [Innate] section.
"If the weaver wishes to ask more questions, they must obtain the 'Tapestry Codex'. This is an item thread that will allow the weaver to ask three questions"
Meiying now thought her situation to be even more absurd. She sighed,
"What use is it to stress about this now? I need to get out of here first."
With cautious steps, she continued through the cave, each movement stirring the air. The Threads whispered secrets she was only beginning to understand.
The voice's mention of the 'Tapestry Codex' lingered in her thoughts. "Three questions," she mused aloud, yet still quiet. What would she even ask? The nature of her destiny? The reason for her selection? or Perhaps the path to return home?
Her contemplations were interrupted by the soft rustle of wings. Ant-like creatures with translucent wings buzzed past her, their bodies shimmering in the dim light. Meiying held her breath, staying motionless until they passed. Her heart pounded in her chest, not just from fear, but from the realization that this world was alive with creatures and mysteries beyond her understanding.
She began walking in the opposite direction of where the ant creatures had come from. She suspected that they were likely scouting for their colony outside. She wondered if the creatures were also transported into this world.
As she continued her journey, Meiying's thoughts turned to her village, to the simple life she had led. She remembered the gentle hum of the wind through the bamboo, the laughter of children playing int he fields, the warmth of the sun on her skin. A pang of longing hit her, a deep yearning for the familiarity and safety of home.
But the night sky that greeted her upon exiting the cave brought a different kind of comfort. The stars, a constant in her life, were there, twinkling in the vast expanse above. They reminded her that even amid the chaos, some things remained the same.
Standing at the mouth of the cave, Meiying took a deep breath of the fresh, cool air. She had survived her first trial, had discovered a strength she didn't know she possessed, and had glimpsed a daunting destiny.
In the distance, the silhouette of a forest loomed, its trees swaying gently in the night breeze. It was as good a direction as any, Meiying thought. With each step, she felt her resolve strengthening. She would find answers, she would discover her purpose, and perhaps, in time, she would find her way back home.
For now, she looked at her newly obtained staff, caressing it as it was the only thing offering safety in this dangerous situation.
As she stared deeply at the staff, the azure thread, that she had tugged on earlier in the cave that manifested the weapon, appeared once more. The staff disappeared and the thread was only some inches long, resting on Meiying's palm.
A sudden sense of familiarity filled her consciousness as she once again drew a circle with the threads provided by the Tapestry, threads once again formed from thin air and followed Meiying's index. The azure thread then turned into a piece of parchment.
Item Name: Cogstaff of Vapors
Item Rank: Fine Thread
Origin: Unknown - Cogterra, Etherea. Staff's design suggests a blend of mystical and steampunk engineering, possibly a result of the blending of worlds.
Description: This staff is a marvel of engineering, featuring an elaborate system of gears, rods, and pistons, all forged from a dark, lustrous metal. The top is adorned with a gear-shaped head encasing a glowing ember. When activated, the staff can emit a powerful jet of steam, making it a formidable weapon in combat.
Abilities:
1. Vapor Burst: Unleashes a concentrated burst of steam from the staff's head, capable of scalding and disorienting opponents. Useful for both offense and defense.
2. Steam Veil: Scatters steam, creating a dense cloud of steam, providing cover for stealth or escape. The cloud can obscure vision and hinder enemy movements.
3. Kinetic Thrust: The staff's pistons can generate a forceful thrust, augmenting the wielder's physical strikes with enhanced power.
Note: The Cogstaff of Vapors seems to be responsive to the wielder's emotional state and intent, suggesting a deeper, perhaps sentient connection to its user. It may possess additional abilities that have yet to be unlocked or understood.