1 Prologue: Memoirs of The Immortal's Maid

"I was taken from society at an early age, but now as my master takes his last breath in my arms, the curtains of time once again open for me… 1,969 years later" - Layla Amiri, the Immortal's maid

"My name is Layla Amiri, and the year was 51 AD when I was taken as a prisoner of war. I was 16, forcefully taken from the warm embrace of my mother. Perhaps, now that I am older, I consider it for the best. As for how warm the embrace of my mother was… my father did the same.

They took me to a ship, and I remembered the journey being harsh and cold. Months, I was on the ship for months, along with other women, some even younger than I was. We were clothed like pigs, we were wearing almost none at all. We were slaves.

And for months, we had to endure that. Every month, a woman from our group would disappear. The slavers said they got sick, and they had to throw them to the seas. But every woman there, including me, knew of their true fate.

But none of us could talk, as we knew that our voices could only lead us to our death.

We endured. We endured sitting on our own filth, we endured. Until finally, we made our final stop.

They made us strip and violently poured water on us. They forcefully opened our mouths and placed numerous fragrant leaves in them. Even now, if I try to click my tongue, I can still somewhat taste it.

They then proceeded to dress us in these beautiful colorful garments. The silly thing was, the first thing I thought about when I felt it on my skin was that it was probably more expensive than my house.

But our happiness did not last long, as the final accessory they placed on our body was a collar made of steel. It was probably the heaviest thing I have ever tried to carry in my life, even now.

I can still remember the tugging on my neck as they pulled us out of the ship, our first sunlight in months. I thought it was going to be a wonderful feeling seeing the sun again, but all it did was just blind me.

And as soon as my eyes recovered, what welcomed me was a world unfamiliar and different from my own. A land, seemingly unknown but more advanced than my own. But today, as I write this, the land has long since become a country, a country known as Qin.

It truly was different, there were flying beasts that I have not seen before. I remember myself almost shouting when I saw that the men too, could fly in the air.

It was no wonder we lost the war, I thought back then.

But the place really was beautiful compared to my home. It was vivid and filled with color. If not for the fact that I was a slave, I would have truly appreciated the sight. The sounds of the seagulls as they howled in the air, the rustling of the leaves, it was truly wonderful.

I am getting sidetracked.

I remember walking for almost an hour before they took us to this huge plaza. It was filled with all kinds of people, but most were men.

We were being sold off. An hour after we tasted the fresh air, we were already being sold off.

...And I was sold to an old man.

I dreaded my fate back then. I imagined the things that will be done to me. I imagined the things that have been done to those women that have been lost in the sea.

The way the men's hands violated and forced themselves on the women.

I thought that was going to happen to me.

But I was wrong. Like out of a fairytale, the old man turned into a dazzling prince as soon as we were alone.

His wrinkled skin became like that of porcelain. And his face, which was previously that of a dying man, became as dazzling as the auroras.

The hand that I thought would defile me, ended up to be the one to complete me.

I was 16… and I easily fell in love.

He taught me the ways of the world, and in turn, the only thing he asked of me was to cook for him.

And so I did. I cooked for him, I washed his clothes, I cleaned every house that we lived in.

And in return, he taught me the ways of the dao, cultivation, culture, and language.

We repeated this day and day. It became a routine, it became my life. No... he became my life.

And without me even knowing, more than a thousand years have passed. But for me, it fleeted like the embers of a fire… and as embers would, they extinguished. After 1,969 years, he was taken from me.

His smile, his gentleness, the way he moved, the things that he taught me. I cherish them even now, and I probably always would.

My only regret was that I never got to say the words I have been wanting to tell him for all these years.

And so, with this letter that I will throw to the confines of the endless sea, I hope my words will finally reach him.

Thank you, my master…

...And I love you"

Layla Amiri took a deep breath as she rolled the papers on her hand. It might be because of the strong winds of the shore, or the trembling of her hands, but the paper that held her feelings did not seem to want to go inside the bottle she was holding.

And so, with a sigh, she tried to calm herself down. Only then did she finally put the paper inside the bottle and close it.

And with another heavy breath, she whispered,

"Farewell, my master"

A loud thunder then echoed throughout the shore and the sands in front of her parted as she threw the bottle towards the endless sea.

"W-what the!?"

"Kya!"

"What is happening!? Is there a rogue cultivator!?"

The people, who were relaxing and casually bathing in the sun all shouted in surprise as the loud explosion reached their ears.

Layla, however, was so engrossed in reminiscing and shedding her tears to even notice that she caused a public disturbance. She just turned her back from the sea, with the sun behind her as she slowly walked away, completely ignoring the panic and chaos she made.

This is the end of the story of the Immortal Cultivator, and the start of the story of the strongest maid, the Immortal's maid.