With a sigh of satisfaction, I let my body sink into the softness of my new bed as I close my eyes to better enjoy the sensation. After so many days enduring the uncomfortable beds in the carriage, this is a real luxury. Not that I can complain too much, they were always better than lying on the floor or sleeping on the seats of a carriage, but they couldn't replace a real bed.

  I open my eyes again and meet the gaze of Lianhua, who is standing next to the bed, watching me revel in its comfort.

  "Lianhua”, I say calmly. "Could you go and help unload the carriage? I don't plan on moving from here for a while."

  Lianhua nods without saying a word, her expression as impassive as ever. I watch her turn and leave the room without comment. Her footsteps echo in the hallway as she walks away before fading away.

  Once alone, I let out another sigh as I remember my mother's last words before entering the Palace and how they were almost prophetic, although fortunately her threat of a purge did not come to pass, though it still frightens me how close it came.

  I close my eyes again, remembering the confrontation between him and my mother when we arrived at the Palace.

  As soon as he entered, he began a power play, having the guards stand in the courtyard to show his strength and welcoming us with a speech, but saying in a veiled way that he was in charge of the palace and that we had to obey all his orders.

  That made my mother frown, and she took out the decree that gave her full power over the place, which startled the Zǒngguǎn and made him turn pale.

  One might assume that this would have ended the discussion, but the guy started arguing with my mother about the lack of background on the matter and rattling off laws and regulations that were contrary to the decree and gave him authority over us while we were in what he called, I suppose in a slip of the tongue due to nerves, his Palace.

  I remember perfectly my mother's expression when she heard that and fed up with his incessant verbiage about laws and regulations, she coldly snapped that the Nei Wei were under her command and that, if necessary, she would not hesitate to use them since the decree allowed her to do so.

  That made him turn pale, and it looked like he was going to start arguing even that clear ultimatum, but I guess my mother's expression made him hesitate and decide not to risk it being just an empty threat.

  I vividly recall the scene in which the Zǒngguǎn finally gave up and left the Palace. Yes, he left, because it turns out that next to the Palace there is a building designated as the Zǒngguǎn residence, but he had been living in the Palace as if it were his own. I suppose that since it is uncommon for members of the imperial family to be in this city, he had decided that this gave him a perfect excuse to show off and enjoy the building.

  However, and I suppose out of revenge, he took all the guards and servants with him, claiming that they were his men and that he paid them. And my mother, to my surprise, did not stop him. Only when I asked her later did she tell me that she did not trust the servants of the Zǒngguǎn, as they would be loyal to him and would be more dedicated to carrying out his orders than ours.

  So now there are only the four of us, a small group for a palace of this size. And although the Nei Wei are efficient in security matters, they are not trained for domestic work, even if we could convince them to do it.

  I sigh again, feeling the weight of our situation. How are we going to manage without help? On top of that, the fact that the Zǒngguǎn only surrendered when we threatened to use violence to force him to comply with an emperor's decree tells me a lot about how things work so far from the imperial capital.

  I expected that in a world like this, where people have powers and soldiers are clearly superhuman, things would be somewhat different from how they were in the ancient days of my old world, but I suppose that great distances from the seat of central power work the same everywhere.

  I just hope the governor isn't some kind of warlord or something similar. The empire is supposed to be stable both because of the supervision of the imperial family and the threat of the Celestial Sun Sect, but I've already seen so many things that are the same as they were in ancient China that I wouldn't be surprised if the governor considered himself some kind of An Lushan.

  I open my eyes and stare at the ceiling, thinking about how to entertain myself while I wait for Lianhua to return, when I realize that with all the drama of the incident during my first cultivation session, the trial, and the trip, I haven't checked the Qi around me again.

  I consider it for a second and, finding nothing better to do, I close my eyes and concentrate, only to be greeted by the familiar sight of the specks of Qi moving along with the strange current.

  With a sudden flash of inspiration, I decide to focus on where the Qi is moving and later ask Lianhua to see which direction it is and thus know where it is moving, although from what I have read about Qi levels in this world, I imagine it will be towards the strange outer edge of this world.

  As I focus on the specks to memorize their direction, I realize that the distance at which I can see them clearly has increased. I try to remember how far I could see before, but without a familiar environment to measure distances, it's difficult, and I end up concluding that it's about thirty centimeters more.

  It's not much, but I haven't really done anything other than Skin Tempering, so I can only assume that it's an added effect of having completed that step. But if that simple step has increased my vision limit, it may also have increased my limit for handling specks of Qi.

  With growing excitement, I begin to grasp specks of Qi and reach my limit of five with unusual ease. I prepare myself mentally and try to grasp a sixth speck. Immediately, my head begins to hurt, but I manage to form my sixth mental hand and successfully grasp the sixth speck. However, I feel a sudden twinge in my head that causes me to lose concentration and end up dropping them all.

  I open my eyes to return to my normal vision and congratulate myself on this slight success, as before I was unable to even form my sixth hand. Given the intensity of my headache, it will be long and difficult to master that sixth hand, but I'll take it step by step. I have a whole year until my next tempering, and this is more of a marathon than a sprint, so I have plenty of time.

  Although the headache is really killing me. Even the first attempts weren't as bad as this, so I closed my eyes and decided to take a nap while Lianhua and the rest finished unloading our things from the cars.

  It's been a week since we arrived in the city, and we've finally been able to finish unpacking our things with the help of some Nei Wei.

  Fortunately, Nei Baihu has taken pity on us and assigned some Nei Wei to help us during these days, but on the condition that we hire staff as soon as possible. Although they have orders to obey my mother, serving as maids is not part of their duties.

  Although I'm glad I don't have to deal with that issue, I worry about my mother when I see her tired face as we wait for Lingxi and Lianhua to bring us breakfast, since for the moment we are still eating what the Nei Wei cooks prepare, just as we did during the trip.

  I've been wanting to ask my mother this question for a couple of days and have held back, but today I decide that now that Lianhua no longer has to help set things up, it's time to ask, so I finally say “Mother, could I go out with Lianhua for a while to see the city?"

  My mother looks at me and, after thinking for a moment, says “I have to think about it. I'll have to talk to Nei Baihu and ask her if it's safe, since she's sent some Nei Wei to check out the surroundings. I'll talk to her and let you know what we've decided later."

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  "Thank you for considering it”, I reply, knowing that this is the best answer I could have hoped for, since at least she hasn't refused outright.

  Soon breakfast arrives, which passes quietly while my mother and Lingxi talk about their schedule for the day. After breakfast, I ask Lianhua to take me out to the courtyard with the last book I have left to read, and I pray that they will give me permission to go out and take the opportunity to find a bookstore and go on a shopping spree.

  I've only been in the courtyard for a short while when I see my mother approaching, but I try to contain my expectations so I won't be disappointed if she doesn't let me go out.

  "Wen, I've spoken to Nei Baihu”, my mother says when she reaches me. "You can go out, but you have to stay in the neighborhood."

  I try to contain my excitement with little success and say to my mother “I wanted to go to a bookstore to buy some new books, since I've finished the ones I have. Can I?"

  My mother sighs as she looks at me, but finally says “Okay, but you can only go to stores on nearby streets. Do you understand?"

  "Yes, Mom, I'll do as you say”, I reply to reassure her.

  "As for you, Lianhua, I don't want another situation like the one with the Yao clan. If anyone tries to mess with you despite the escort, reveal who Wen is quickly”, my mother tells her as she looks at her. "That will put off all the troublemakers unless they are explicitly looking to cause trouble."

  "As you say, Guifei Xiang”, Lianhua replied with a nod.

  "That's all”, my mother continues. "Since you want to go shopping, have Lianhua ask Lingxi for some money, and then you can go. The escort will be waiting for you at the palace gate."

  "Thank you, Mother, you're the best”, I reply with a smile, which she returns before leaving to continue with her tasks.

  I give Lianhua the book I've been reading so she can leave it in my room when she goes to fetch Lingxi, and I wait for her to return while watching the Nei Wei come and go in the courtyard.

  I immediately noticed that a dozen of them are heading towards the palace entrance and waiting, because I suppose our escort is already prepared and ready for when Lianhua returns.

  I don't have to wait long, as Lianhua appears shortly after and, after pointing to the Nei Wei who are waiting, pushes my wheelchair towards them, where I ask if they are my escort, which they confirm. As we are all here now, I signal to Lianhua that we can leave, and we exit through the doors to the huge square on the other side.

  I tell Lianhua to take me to the center of the square so I can see it better, and she pushes me toward that area, followed by our escort, as we ignore the crowd that stands watching me.

  Fortunately, this city seems to be important enough that at least the main streets or the wealthiest areas are paved with slabs, although their size is yet another reminder that the weight of materials is not exactly one of the problems in this world.

  Once we reach the center of the square, I ask Lianhua to slowly turn me around so I can look around and get a better perspective of it. The square is square, as is often the case in Eastern architecture, and as I observe it, what stands out most is what I assume to be the governor's palace, while on the other side of the square is the Celestial Lotus Palace, where we reside. The other two sides of the square have buildings in a clear governmental style and exits to what appear to be the main streets of the city.

  Not knowing quite where to go, I tell Lianhua to take us to a group of guards who are patrolling the square to ask them, as no one is better than them to give us directions.

  When we approach, the first thing they do, like everyone else, is to stare at the strange sight of me sitting in a wheelchair being pushed along, but then they notice my Nei Wei escort and I notice them gripping their spears more tightly, as if preparing for something to happen.

  Fortunately, they seem to relax when I address them kindly to ask them about a nearby shopping area that also has some stores that sell books.

  The one who seems to be the leader of the patrol thinks for a moment and points to one of the main streets, not the one we came into town on, but the one opposite, and tells us that almost all the shops frequented by members of the city's great families are in that area, so that's where the shops I'm looking for are most likely to be.

  I thank them for the information and ask Lianhua to take me in that direction. It doesn't take us long to reach the street she mentioned. As soon as we arrive, it is clear that this is a commercial area. At first glance, it seems that the main street is reserved for more luxurious establishments, and from what little I can see of the side streets, they are more suited to more ordinary shops. I imagine that the further away from the main street, the more modest the goods in the shops will be.

  I tell Lianhua to take me to the shops, and we spend the morning entertaining ourselves in the area and window shopping, since the word accessibility in a society like this is unheard of.

  Fortunately, I am still small enough for Lianhua to carry me when I find a shop that interests me, and little by little I fill up what is the equivalent of an old backpack that I bought in the first shop and have hooked onto my chair, although unfortunately little of what I buy are books due to a serious lack of bookshops or their equivalent.

  As we approach noon, in one of the stores I enter, I ask the clerk if there is a restaurant nearby that has outdoor seating, and fortunately, he replies that there is a garden nearby with a restaurant with tables where you can enjoy the scenery while you eat.

  I ask for the address and, after thanking him for the information with a tip, I tell Lianhua to take us in that direction for lunch. We follow the directions as we leave the main street and head for the park with the restaurant.

  As we leave the main street, the Nei Wei seem to become a little more wary, but apart from the looks I attract as usual, the streets are quiet and nothing relevant happens beyond a couple of stops I make along the way at some shops that catch my attention and fill my backpack even more.

  In the end, we have to ask a couple more people, but we finally arrive at a well-kept garden with several tables where some people are drinking tea or eating while chatting and enjoying the surroundings.

  Without needing to say anything, Lianhua approaches the table area.

  "Ask if there's a free table where we can sit”, I say, watching several women serving the diners, who are obviously waitresses, while ignoring the curious glances that make me the new entertainment for those present.

  Lianhua approaches one of the waitresses, they exchange a few words, and I see Lianhua hand her some coins. The waitress heads to the farthest table, where a man is drinking tea. After saying something to him while pointing at us, the man seems to start to protest, but the waitress says something else to him. The man looks at us in surprise, sighs, and gets up to be guided to another table.

  I don't know whether to feel bad for the poor man and the blatant intimidation we used to take his table, but I'm hungry, and seeing the waitress approach us and guide us to the table erases any feelings of guilt.

  "Today's special is lacquered duck and rice noodles with vegetables, although we can also offer you stewed tofu and fish soup”, the waitress tells us somewhat nervously after seating us at the table.

  Lianhua nods and orders the food, while I try to convince the Nei Wei to eat something, but they politely refuse as their leader replies “We can't eat while we're on duty, but thank you for the thought, Zhāohuán."

  After ordering, the food is brought to us with unusual speed, and I see some of the other customers who were waiting for their food before us looking at us sideways, or rather looking at the Nei Wei on guard around us and clearly deciding not to complain just in case.

  This is a clear case of nepotism due to my status, but if it benefits me and doesn't really harm anyone beyond having to wait a little longer for their food, then I welcome it, as I am really hungry and not having to wait to eat is much appreciated.

  In the middle of the meal, the waitress approaches us again, bowing nervously before saying “Excuse me for disturbing you, but there is a member of the Han family who is interested in speaking with you."

  I narrow my eyes in annoyance as I think about the reasons why a person might try to talk to a little girl of my rank, and I really can't come up with any good ones, so I reply “Tell the lord of the Han family that my mother has forbidden me to talk to strangers."

  Lianhua, always more diplomatic than me, adds “Please tell him that any requests should be directed to the Celestial Lotus Pavilion in the name of Guifei Xiang."

  The waitress seems to become even more nervous after our refusal, so I clearly imagine that the waitress knows that this man is going to take our refusal out on her, so I ask her “Is the Han family very important?"

  "They are one of the four largest families in the city”, the waitress replies.

  I sigh and say to Lianhua “Go with a couple of Nei Wei and convey our instructions to him in person, as a gesture of respect to his family."

  Lianhua nods and, after asking two Nei Wei to accompany her, says to the waitress “Please guide us to where the member of the Han family is."

  I watch as they approach a table where two men are accompanied by four women. Lianhua nods to them and strikes up a conversation. Luckily, she seems to calm them down and returns to our table without any problems.

  "What did they want?" I ask her curiously when she returns.

  "They were just curious about the Zhāohuán and wanted to meet her”, she tells me before adding. “It's not unusual in non-noble families. Meeting someone from royalty gives them something to brag about later to their friends."

  I nod in understanding and we continue our meal without further interruption.

  When the waitress comes to clear the plates and take our payment, I take the opportunity to ask her “Do you know the area?"

  "Yes, Zhāohuán”, she replies with a nervous smile.

  "Are there any establishments that specialize in selling books around here?" I ask her.

  The waitress seems thoughtful for a moment before answering “A few streets away is the Golden Pearl Pavilion. It specializes in serving high-ranking people. I don't know if they have books, but given their clientele, it's likely."

  "Thank you”, I say, then ask Lianhua to give her a tip. With that, we get up and head for the Golden Pearl Pavilion with nothing else to keep us here.

  ? Overpowers: Magical Girl Crossover [Grimlight Psychological/Genre based Power System] ?

  by Moawar

  He, Life, had a simple job.

  His responsibility as an Overpower was to make sure that fiction stories and the characters in them follow their dictated path. He always did his job well enough, not more or less than was needed.

  His latest assignment, however, would, in retrospect, prove to be his most challenging one of all.

  He would find himself in a unfamiliar world. There he'll have to quickly adapt to guide Nozomi.

  The strongest magical girl with the potential to accidentally destroy those she seeks to protect in her fight against evil.

  What to Expect:

  -If you like the psychological aspects of Madoka Magica and the mixing of different genres a crossover story brings then this story is for you