WebNovels

Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Shadows and Secrets

Two weeks passed in careful routine.

By day, I was the picture of a reformed noble daughter. I visited the royal library, read scholarly texts about cultivation history, and asked harmless questions that made me seem like a curious academic rather than someone plotting their rise to power.

By night, I trained with Sharanga in secret.

The abandoned training ground I'd found was three miles outside the city, hidden in a dense forest that cultivators avoided because of "poor spiritual energy." Perfect for someone who didn't want witnesses.

"Again," Sharanga commanded as I loosed another arrow at a target tree.

The arrow flew wide, missing by two feet.

I groaned. "This is impossible. I've been practicing for two weeks and I still can't hit consistently."

"You've been cultivating for two weeks. Most people train for years before they're competent. Stop whining and adjust your breathing."

I nocked another arrow, focused on my breathing like Sharanga taught me, and released.

This one hit the tree. Not the center, but at least it hit.

"Better," Sharanga acknowledged. "Your energy flow is smoother now. Keep practicing that breathing pattern."

I was about to shoot again when I felt it – that same sensation from before. Someone was watching.

I immediately suppressed my cultivation aura, letting the energy fade until I appeared completely normal. Powerless. Just a girl with a bow.

"Someone's here," I murmured.

I know. Don't panic. Keep acting like you're just practicing archery as a hobby.

I continued shooting, deliberately missing most shots, making myself look incompetent. Just the Trash Princess playing with weapons because she had nothing better to do.

A figure materialized from the shadows between the trees.

He was tall, dressed in dark robes that seemed to absorb light. Silver eyes gleamed from under his hood. The aura radiating from him made my instincts scream danger – this person was powerful. Way beyond my level.

"Interesting place for practice," he said, his voice smooth and cold. "Most nobles prefer the family training grounds."

"Most nobles don't get mocked for trying to cultivate when they can't." I kept my tone slightly bitter, playing the part. "Out here, no one sees me fail."

He stepped closer, studying me. I forced myself not to back away, to act like I was just a harmless girl, not someone hiding a divine weapon.

"You're Princess Aanya. The one who broke her engagement two weeks ago."

"Former Princess Aanya," I corrected. "And yes, that's me. Did you come all the way out here to remind me I'm a social disgrace, or...?"

"I came because I was curious." He circled me slowly, like a predator. "You've been visiting the royal library frequently. Asking questions about ancient cultivation methods. Old weapons. Lost techniques."

My heart pounded, but I kept my expression annoyed rather than afraid. "So? I'm interested in history. It's not a crime."

"No. But it's unusual. The Trash Princess who couldn't cultivate suddenly developing scholarly interests right after visiting the royal vault." His eyes locked onto mine. "What are you really looking for?"

"A way to fix my meridians, obviously." I met his gaze steadily. "I know I'm supposedly hopeless, but I'm not ready to give up. If there's even a chance that ancient techniques could help me, I want to find it."

It was a believable lie. Desperate enough to be pitiful, determined enough to be admirable. The kind of thing that would make someone dismiss me as harmlessly optimistic.

He studied me for a long moment. "Your meridians aren't broken."

I froze. "What?"

"They're different. Configured for an alternative cultivation path." He tilted his head. "You know this already, don't you? That's why you're researching."

Shit. This guy was too perceptive.

"I... I have a theory," I admitted carefully. "But I don't have proof. And even if I'm right, I don't have access to the resources I'd need to test it."

"Weapon cultivation." He said it flatly, watching my reaction.

I tried to look surprised rather than terrified. "How do you...?"

"I've lived a long time. I recognize the meridian patterns." He stopped circling, facing me directly. "But weapon cultivation requires a divine weapon to bond with. Those don't exist anymore."

"I know," I said, letting frustration creep into my voice. "That's why I'm stuck practicing with a normal bow, hoping maybe if I train enough, something will work differently."

He glanced at the bow in my hands – just a regular training bow I'd borrowed from the estate. Not Sharanga. The divine weapon was hidden in bracelet form on my wrist, completely undetectable.

"Hmm." He seemed to accept my explanation. "You're either very determined or very foolish. Probably both."

"Definitely both," I agreed. "But what else am I supposed to do? Give up and accept being powerless forever?"

Something flickered in his expression. Respect? Interest? It was hard to tell.

"A word of advice, Princess. Be careful who you share your theories with. Weapon cultivation is considered a myth by most, but there are those who'd kill to revive lost arts. If anyone believed you actually had potential..." He let the threat hang.

"No one believes I have potential. That's kind of my whole thing."

"Good. Keep it that way." He turned to leave, then paused. "Also, you're holding that bow wrong. If you're going to practice, at least use proper form."

Before I could respond, he vanished into the shadows.

I stood there for a long moment, heart racing.

Well, Sharanga said dryly. That was concerning.

"Who the hell was that?"

Someone very dangerous. Domain Creation Realm at minimum. And he definitely suspects something.

"But he didn't expose me. Why?"

Either he doesn't care, or he's waiting to see what you do. Neither option is great.

I looked down at the bracelet on my wrist, Sharanga's disguised form. "I need to be more careful."

Agreed. And we need to accelerate your training. If powerful people are already watching you, you need to be strong enough to protect yourself when your secret eventually comes out.

"When, not if?"

Secrets this big never stay hidden forever. The question is whether you're strong enough when it's revealed.

I packed up my practice gear, paranoid about every shadow now. The encounter had rattled me more than I wanted to admit.

Back at the estate, I snuck into my room through the window – a skill I'd gotten worryingly good at – and nearly had a heart attack.

There was someone sitting at my desk.

I grabbed for Sharanga, ready to fight—

"Relax, Princess. I'm not here to hurt you."

The figure turned, and I saw a young woman about my age, dressed in elegant robes of pale blue. She was beautiful in an cold, refined way, with sharp eyes that assessed me like I was a puzzle to solve.

"Who are you and how did you get into my room?"

"My name is Priya Chandrasen." She stood gracefully. "And I got in because your security is embarrassingly bad. We need to talk."

The name clicked. Chandrasen – one of the rival noble families. What was she doing here?

"About what?"

"About the fact that you're not who you appear to be." She smiled, but it wasn't warm. "I've been watching you for two weeks. The scholarly visits, the midnight training sessions, the careful act you put on. You're hiding something."

My blood ran cold. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Please. I'm not an idiot." She walked closer. "You transmigrated, didn't you? Into Aanya's body. That's why you changed so dramatically."

I stared at her. How could she possibly...?

"Your expression just confirmed it." She laughed. "Don't worry, I'm not going to expose you. Because I transmigrated too."

"You... what?"

"Transmigrated. Two years ago. I was in a car accident in Korea, woke up in this world as Priya Chandrasen." She sat back down casually. "I've been playing the part of a perfect noble daughter while trying to figure out what the hell is going on. Then two weeks ago, I noticed you started acting completely different. I had to investigate."

I didn't know whether to be relieved or more terrified. Another transmigrator? Here?

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I'm going insane pretending to be someone I'm not, and I need someone to talk to who understands." She looked at me seriously. "Also, because whatever you're planning – and you're definitely planning something – I want in."

Interesting, Sharanga commented. Another otherworlder. This complicates things.

I studied Priya carefully. She could be lying. This could be a trap. But something about her felt genuine. The way she held herself, the modern expressions that occasionally slipped through, the sheer relief in her voice when she admitted to transmigrating.

"How do I know you're telling the truth?"

"What year did you die? Or transmigrate, I guess." She asked suddenly.

"2024. October."

"I died in 2022. December. So I've been here longer." She pulled out a small notebook. "I've been keeping notes. Things from our world that don't exist here. Pop culture references. Technology concepts. Want to quiz each other?"

We spent the next ten minutes throwing out references from Earth, and she got every single one right. Taylor Swift. Marvel movies. Smartphones. TikTok. Things no one in this world would know.

She really was a transmigrator.

"Okay," I said finally. "I believe you. But that doesn't mean I trust you."

"Fair. I don't fully trust you either." She grinned. "But we're both playing long games here, hiding our true selves. We could help each other."

"What makes you think I'm hiding anything besides being a transmigrator?"

"Because you broke your engagement strategically, got access to the royal vault, and have been secretly training at night. You found something in that vault, didn't you? Something that could help you cultivate?"

She was too smart for her own good.

"Maybe. Or maybe I'm just a desperate girl trying anything."

"Right. And I'm just a perfect noble daughter with no ambitions." She stood up. "Look, I'm not asking you to reveal your secrets. I'm asking if we can be allies. Watch each other's backs. Share information. Because this world is dangerous, and having someone who understands where we really came from? That's valuable."

She had a point. An ally who understood modern thinking, who wouldn't be shocked by my knowledge of Earth history and culture, who could help cover for me...

"What's your cultivation level?" I asked.

"Soul Manifestation Realm. I've been working on it for two years. Water element affinity." She looked at me curiously. "What about you? Have you figured out how to cultivate yet?"

I hesitated. Could I trust her?

Careful, Sharanga warned. Allies can become enemies.

But they could also become friends. And I was tired of being alone in this.

"I'm working on it," I said carefully. "I have some theories. But it's... complicated."

"Everything here is complicated." She moved toward the window. "I'll leave you alone for now. But think about my offer. We transmigrators should stick together."

She paused on the windowsill. "Oh, and Aanya? Be careful. There are dangerous people watching you. I'm not the only one who noticed your changed behavior."

Then she was gone, vanishing into the night with the ease of someone who'd done this many times.

I sat down heavily on my bed.

Well, Sharanga said. That was unexpected.

"I have a mysterious shadow stalker, a fellow transmigrator who knows my secret, and I'm still pretending to be powerless while training with a divine weapon. This is getting really complicated really fast."

Welcome to cultivation worlds. Where nothing is simple and everyone has secrets.

"Great. Just great."

I lay back, staring at the ceiling. Tomorrow I'd have to decide whether to trust Priya. Whether to reveal anything about Sharanga. Whether to continue hiding or start taking bigger risks.

But tonight, I was just exhausted.

"Sharanga?"

Yes?

"This is definitely the worst isekai ever."

You keep saying that. And yet you keep surviving. Give yourself some credit.

I smiled despite everything. "Thanks."

You're welcome. Now sleep. Tomorrow we're working on your arrow accuracy. It's still terrible.

"You're the worst divine weapon ever."

And yet you're stuck with me. Funny how that works.

Yeah. Funny.

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