A petite figure walked through the corridor made out of marble and the finest wood one can get their hands on. The floating sun-shaped Origami that was glowing and illuminating the corridor shed some light on the person who was walking. Long deep red hair falls like a waterfall of blood. A young girl clad in an icy blue dress with the sash tied around her waist ends up in a big ribbon and long, feather-like 'tails'. The well-placed snowflake and flower embroidery seem to be moving at her every movement, even the slightest one. The dress not only seems to glow, reflecting the light but highlighting the girl's pale skin and making her hair stands out even more. Her face was covered in a white bird-shaped mask that covers half of her face. Hiding away her identity.
At the end of the corridor, she encounters a plain, wooden door. Without much difficulty, she pushed the door open.
What lies beyond the door was a library. A great library that easily the size of a huge mansion. Shaped in a circular room, the walls were covered by rows upon rows of shelves, stacked one after. Filled with books, tomes, scrolls, even stone slates. A pair of spiraling staircase stretched out to give easy access to higher-level rows. The ceiling was in the shape of a dome, painted to reflecting a starry night sky, complete with stars and constellations dotted it. The library was tended by flocks of origami. The servant of the palace. Spirits who inhabit folded paper. Taking shape of birds, bats, cats, mice, rabbits, dogs, and so on.
The girl heeds no attention to her surrounding. She instead approaches one of the flying origami. A lifelike bird paper.
"Please take me to your Master."
The paper bird bobbed up and down, before turning around and fly ahead. The girl followed the paper bird until she reached the center of the library, where a giant snakelike Dragon made out from countless golden papers was sleeping.
Not for long, as it opens its 'eyes' when the girl approaches.
The girl dropped her arrogance and haughtiness, as she kneels before the dragon, fist cupped in greeting. "The Moon Flower Witch greets the Wise One." She speaks in a soft voice.
One of the Dragon scales dislodged itself, flying and dancing in the air, writing a series of words.
I accept thy presence and welcome thyself. It writes. What is it that you seek?
"I come bearing a request." The witch raised her head and said her request.
The Dragon froze. The air became still in accordance with the Dragon's feelings. It was as if someone replaces the air with cement. Took it some time to regain its bearing.
I can't grant you that. It answers.
"I did not ask you to outright grant me that. That was not under your jurisdiction. All that I ask is who should I meet and where can I meet them. Nothing more nothing less."
Witch. Even if it's the information you seek, the price is too great. You can't possibly pay it.
"I can and I already have the payment." Behind her mask, the Witch's eyes narrowed. "The Dragon of Knowledge, you earn your [Name] due to your thirst for information. Forsaking power and wealth for all kinds of knowledge. Your price is information, knowledge, preferably one that never heard before. Let's strike a deal. In exchange for the Information I ask, I shall tell you the Story of My Journey."
The Dragon cocked its head. Cheap. It replied. Where did your store landed, that you think's enough?
The Paper Scale turned completely white and fell to the ground, floating for a moment as it falls. Signaling that its 'ink' had run out and now it was no more than ordinary folded paper.
"Oh no. You're mistaken. Not that story, the Other one."
The Dragon took time to process it, and when it did, its eyes widened as its scales standing on their end. Shocked beyond belief, more so than when the Witch uttered her request. Shakingly, one of the scales flying and writing. The shock was very clear in the way how stiff the writing is.
You don't mean that story...
"I am and I do. This request of mine is very important and I'll do anything to achieve it, with the exception being crossing one line I vowed to never cross."
The Dragon stared at her before it threw its head backward. The whole body shaking in silent laughter. Slowly, its body comes undone. The papers loosen from their place and unfolded, scattered around like a tornado. Covering every inch of surface. The witch didn't even phase. She simply snapped her finger and a transparent barrier protecting her entire body.
The paper then spiraled to a center, where they formed a shape. Some were turned into dust to accommodate the transformation. A masculine voice could be heard as the body formed. Legs, thighs, waist, abdomen, hands, chest, arms, shoulders, neck, face, and hair.
What was once a Dragon made out of countless papers, now was a man with long golden hair wearing a scholar attire. He was laughing as if hearing the most amusing joke in the universe.
"Hahahahahaha... to think I would have gained such a Story... " He wipes a stray tear from his corner of eyes. "Although I suppose I should not be surprised. You Witches are well known for your recklessness and impulsiveness."
"Good stuff." The Witch replied, "Do you accept?"
"I would be The Fool of fools if I don't." The man smiled. His eyes glinted in hunger at the prospect of obtaining such a story. "Very well, Witch, I accept your proposal."
He led the Witch to a hidden room. One that can only be approached by stepping to a certain shelf using Floating Tile, and pouring the right energy to the right pattern on the shelf to reveal a hidden room. A small room decorated with only a pair of long chairs, each padded with pillows, with the chairs separated by a long table. At the walls, was a pair of shelves.
The Dragon and the Witch sat on the opposite chair.
With a handwave, a book floats from the shelf and open by itself, revealing it to be a blank book. The Dragon loosen a piece of his skin, which turned back to paper before folded into a quill.
"You may start at your convenience."
"Very well." The witch stated. The quill writes down her every word by itself. Its golden color turns paler and paler per each character written. "The date is the Second Day of Liùyuè month. In exchange for information, I shall tell a story unlike any other." She raised her hand and removed the mask. Exposing her youthful face with small baby fat on her cheek. Certainly, a young teenager. "My True Name is [Huang Beiyue], a Princess from Nanyi Country. This is the story about how I become [The Moonflower Witch]."
TBC