Primordial Heir: Nine Stars

How often do people see the dawn and take the sun for granted? They watch as the darkness transforms into a vista—the world they love, their home. Yet afterward, do they think about the light and how it brings the world to life? Do they consider how it reveals color instead of only gray, warming them from their skin to their core, igniting their thoughts with beauty, inviting that light and warmth to enter their hearts as well, before respectfully giving them time to dream and accept it as part of themselves if they wish? And yet, it always gifts them the moon and stars. So, this dawn, as the blackish-greens took on their vibrant and verdant hues, he let it soak in a little deeper. As the sky shifted from charcoal to soft dove gray, he already cherished the blue that was to come. For dawn was the invitation to the day, a gift that was the present if one had the courage to see it fully and to love it with all that they were.

”Well, time to start working and work harder than yesterday,” he mumbled as he left his bed to prepare for his daily routine. He packed his bags with medicine and left the house.

Today, he trained harder than ever, increasing the difficulty. He immersed himself in medicinal herbs, cooked his meals, and read books. He repeated this routine for three weeks. His physique improved, his bones grew harder, and his skin became tougher. He could break bricks with his fists, and his regenerative ability increased as well. His other skills improved too.

Another week had begun—the last week of the month—and he didn’t change his routine.

In that welcome amber glow, the time for slower thoughts arrived, those moments when, with open eyes, his mind became a perfect empty horizon, seeing yet content to simply sit. He felt the soothing breeze and became absorbed in the music of crickets, letting the gentle energy of nature wash over him.

As he enjoyed the evening, he began to contemplate his next course of action. In the past three weeks, while focusing on intensive training to reach his current state, he also engaged in other activities, such as sneaking out to do odd jobs to accumulate money for traveling and the admissions fee. Currently, he had around two hundred thousand Zeniths (Ẕ); Zeniths were the universal currency, a form of paper money. The entrance fee for Glory Academy was 120,000 Ẕ, and the remaining 80,000 Ẕ would be used for transport and other mischievous endeavors.

”Sigh! I must go see the family head and do what must be done.” He heaved a long sigh, knowing that he didn’t want to go there, but what had to be done must be done. He had already sent a formal request to the family head and needed to meet him before leaving this place, a place he would probably never set foot in again.

What he was about to do could be considered a necessary formality to continue on his path. He received a response saying he could meet the family head tomorrow during breakfast.

Although others would be present, it didn’t matter; in fact, it was perfect because they would all hear what he had to say.

That night, he decided to indulge. He cooked rice accompanied by a spicy sauce and steak. He prepared the rice by rinsing it under cold water until the water ran clear, then boiling it in salted water. While it cooked, he seasoned the steak with salt, pepper, and a touch of garlic powder before searing it in a hot pan until it developed a beautiful crust. Once the rice was fluffy and the steak rested, he plated them together, drizzling the spicy sauce over the top. He enjoyed his dinner with a cheap bottle of wine. He emptied the bottle, and since it was his first time drinking, he felt dizzy afterward. To cool down, he took a cold bath, but he was still feeling lightheaded. He decided to do fifty push-ups, and only then did he start to feel a little better.

As the night deepened, he found himself unable to sleep, so he stepped outside to enjoy the stars.

The cool night air wrapped around him like a comforting blanket, and he breathed deeply, allowing the serenity of the moment to envelop his senses. In every direction, there was a star; if he were to fly into the universe, any path would feel like the right one. He tilted his head back, gazing upward, his eyes wide open, more so than they could ever be in the brightness of day. He wasn’t focusing on any single star; instead, he felt as if he could see them all at once. The vastness of the sky sparked a sense of wonder within him, each twinkling star a reminder of the infinite possibilities that lay beyond. He let his thoughts drift, imagining the stories each star could tell, the worlds they might illuminate, and the dreams they inspired.

He stood there in silence, absorbing the beauty of the cosmos, feeling a connection to something much larger than himself. The stars shimmered like distant jewels, their light a soft whisper in the darkness, a truly beautiful sight to behold.

In that tranquil moment, surrounded by the vast expanse of the universe, he felt a profound sense of peace and inspiration, as if the stars were encouraging him to reach for his own dreams, no matter how far away they seemed.

Finally, he began to feel sleepy, and so he decided to head back and sleep.