The hologram in the shape of a beautiful blonde woman glowed for a moment, as if she had advanced to a new level, before she kneeled down next to Vicente dressed as a maid.

"Master, Prisiche is at your disposal to do whatever you wish," she said, perfectly imitating the Lamia's voice and even some manners of such a creature from the Polaris Realm.

Vicente looked at the woman kneeling next to him, wondering if she was imitating the seductive and attentive part of the Lamia's personality, or if they programmed this artificial intelligence that way.

But he wouldn't feel provoked by an artificial being, especially after everything he had experienced before coming to Anicane.

"What can you do for me? By the way, why does this sect use artificial intelligences like you?" Vicente asked while looking at the books in the library area of the house.

Prisiche replied. "I can do many things for you, master. I can keep the house organized, dispose of garbage, buy supplies, materials of all kinds, books, plan things for you, in short, there are so many things that I couldn't possibly tell you in a single conversation. You can try to give me an order and I'll tell you if I can do it for you.

As for your second question, the sect doesn't have enough members to advise newcomers like you, so that job is usually left to artificial intelligences.

Not only that, but the Light Cay is a very advanced realm compared to the Polaris Realm. I may seem special to you, but every resident of the Light Cay is accompanied by some kind of AI. The best placed on our great island even have advanced versions in their own brains. Some call it a system."

"Interesting." Vicente murmured as he looked at Prisiche, unable to shake the feeling that this hologram was as real as the Lamia who had stayed behind to advise Nina and Lauren.

"I'm flattered." Prisiche blushed, even imitating the breathing of a living being, while her tone seemed genuinely moved.

This made him fall silent, seeing many differences in this artificial intelligence compared to the artificial life he had created in his artifacts in the Polaris Realm.

As much as Vicente had created life in Polaris Realm, these armors and weapons had fake intellectual levels. They could talk, make decisions, plan things, but basically they were just mimicking what he had taught them. Prisiche, on the other hand, seemed much more complex, almost as if she were perfect.

With that in mind, he asked. "Can you tell me how the Nine Paths..."

Even before Vicente had finished formulating his question, Prisiche stood up from where she was kneeling and advised him. "No, I can't. That's something my master should not try to know until he is stronger than my creator. This is sensitive information that could lead to problems for you, me, and everyone in the Light Cay."

Even though it wasn't what he wanted, Vicente got something more than he had ever gotten from Primrose.

Prisiche hadn't given him any new information, but she had given him a goal, a mission, before he got any closer to this important issue.

"And what level would that be?" He asked with an interested smile on his face.

"My creator is the current master of the sect, a 9-Star Grand Magus. Become a Sorcerer and you'll surpass him," she said with the corners of her lips raised in a slight smile, almost as if she were challenging him.

Vicente opened his mouth in surprise, not expecting to have to become a 9th stage magician just to ask that question.

'That gives me a bad feeling...' He became more serious, but he knew that thinking about it wouldn't do much good.

"I see... All right. I'll get to that level before I ask questions."

"That's best for all of us, my master."

"But tell me about the cultivation realms above my current one. For example, how is the Magus stage divided?"

In the Polaris Realm, there could be no beings at the 7th stage, so there was nothing to talk about above the 6th stage.

Prisiche answered as a glowing table formed in front of her, making it easier for Vicente to understand her words.

"All levels or realms of cultivation in Anicane are divided in the same way. I know you experienced something different in the Polaris Realm, something that was meaningful to you. But the foundation of magical cultivation here is different. Maybe that's one reason why newcomers to Anicane get into that strange state of mana absorption like the one you are in now.

Anyway, all the magical realms are divided into nine stars. So a Magus starts their journey at 1-Star and goes up to 9-Star. As they progress, they become 1-Star Grand Magus, and so on.

Right now, my master, you are a 3-Star Archmage and should become a 4-Star in a few days, I suppose."

Vicente was a little surprised, but he suppose it made sense. As his body absorbed mana beyond his control, he could tell that parts of himself were changing to adapt to this reality.

It wasn't anything particularly impressive, but it was happening fast enough for him to notice.

"Speaking of newcomers, many like me arrive in Anicane every day? Why is that? Are all these magicians from similar places? Are they more like me or like the natives of Anicane?"

She sat down next to Vicente and started, "some of them are like you. Others are like the beasts in your plane, Master. But there are those who are very different.

The strangest of all are microscopic creatures that resemble bacteria. It's extremely difficult to deal with them, communicate with them, or even understand how their power works. So I advise you to stay away when you see a kind of shapeless mass that can transform itself as if it were a living liquid. They are dangerous and troublesome.

But these microscopic entities are in the minority. Most of the newcomers have physical bodies, humanoid forms, can think, and cultivate some kind of special energy. Some, like you, are lucky enough to come from planes where mana exists. Others come from worlds where they have a different form of energy, which they call ether, among other variations of spiritual energy.

Those who aren't used to mana usually have a hard time adjusting, and are often forced to start their cultivations over when they get here. The good news is that they can do this in a fraction of the time it took them to reach their level, and many are even stronger afterwards.

Anyway, given the wide variety of origins of the creatures that arrive in Anicane, there are many half-breeds of different races, half-breeds of half-breeds, and so on. The diversity in Anicane is really great, so I wouldn't be surprised if I were you."

"And all these beings cannot return to their planes?" He asked.

"Yes, that's the case. There are no exceptions... I'm sorry."

She saw the regret in his eyes, but continued to answer him. "There are over 10,000 planes associated with Anicane. Some even say there are 10,000 times that number. Others simply think that there is a time difference between our plane and the others, which would explain why we always receive newcomers from different places."

This worried Vicente because he didn't want there to be something that would make him live for a few days while his companions in the Polaris Realm would live for decades or centuries. Such a thing would end his mission completely!

Prisiche said, understanding what he had in mind, "But don't think too much about it. These are just rumors without proof. If there was a time distortion, it wouldn't have taken the sect a million years to get their first native of the Polaris Realm. There must be another explanation for the constant arrival of new beings in Anicane."

"I see. Thank you for your concern." He sighed and sat down with a set of books he wanted to read.

Prisiche probably knew everything in the books of this house. But he wanted to read some things for himself. Besides, all the talking had stressed him out, and he wanted some silence.

'My mission here seems to be much more complicated than I thought. Not being able to travel outside the city, being part of a sect, not being able to ask questions, and cultivation ranks that are bigger than I imagined are just problems with no sign of answers.

Lauren and Nina are in trouble, but I have to stay here, in a room, reading...'

He felt terrible in this situation, preferring to be tortured than to endure it without being able to act.

But he was experienced enough to know that studying this place and learning about the area while his body stopped absorbing mana beyond his control was the best he could do.

Unfortunately, he had to slow down his frantic war pace and take things one step at a time again.

It was difficult. But he had one great goal in mind!

To see his family again!

'It'll take a while, Annie, but I'll make it,' he thought before he opened the first book he would read in this place.