The morning sun crept over the horizon, spilling pale golden light into the room where Elian lay in silence. It was an odd feeling, waking up to an unfamiliar energy coursing through his veins. His body felt different, as though it was no longer his own. The cool morning air felt sharp against his skin, but there was warmth inside him, an undeniable force that radiated through every fiber of his being.
He sat up slowly, his fingers trembling as they brushed against the soft fabric of his tunic. His body was alive in a way it had never been before. For years, he had been the "spiritless" boy, someone without any cultivation or spiritual power. He had always been invisible, unnoticed, and often ignored. But now... now something had changed.
A strange sensation, like a flicker of flame, sparked inside him. He instinctively clenched his fist and, to his astonishment, felt a faint warmth spread from his palm. The glow was so subtle, so weak, yet it was undeniable. It was spirit energy—his spirit energy.
But it was different.
The light pulsed faintly within him, not the normal glow of a budding cultivator, but something deeper, older, more intense. Elian stared at his hand, as though willing it to reveal its secrets. The power, dormant for so long, had suddenly awakened—unnaturally so. A part of him wondered if this was real, or if it was merely a dream, an illusion brought on by years of hopelessness.
He stood up abruptly, his movements more fluid than ever before. His body felt light, as though it no longer carried the weight of years of being powerless. Every step seemed to have purpose, every movement was sharp, calculated, and somehow, far faster than it should have been.
As Elian glanced at the small wooden table beside his bed, his eyes fell on the spirit crystal, a simple stone that he had long since written off as useless. It was used by every child in the village to test their spirit energy, and Elian's had always remained dull, unresponsive. But today, today felt different.
He walked over to the crystal, his breath steady, and placed his hand over it. The instant his fingers touched the stone, a flash of golden light erupted, filling the room with an overwhelming brilliance. The crystal pulsed with energy, and Elian felt the spirit power inside him surge like an unstoppable tide.
The veins in his arms glowed faintly, threads of golden light weaving through his skin, like intricate webs. His heart raced as he watched the crystal continue to shine, brighter and brighter, until the light seemed to engulf everything around him.
For a moment, he thought he might be consumed by it.
But then the light subsided, leaving him standing in stunned silence, breathless and disoriented. His body felt charged, his spirit awakened in a way he had never imagined. He could feel it now—the power coursing through him, alive, vibrant, and... ancient.
He glanced down at his hand. The veins in his wrist glowed, faint but unmistakable, like threads of starlight winding beneath his skin. His breath caught in his throat as realization dawned. This wasn't just any spirit energy. It was something more.
Elian staggered back, his mind racing. What is this?
A voice in his mind whispered, almost like a distant memory. Power forgotten... shall return.
The words echoed in his mind, sending chills down his spine. What did it mean? Was this power his? Or had it been waiting all this time, locked away inside him, only to be awakened now, at the most unexpected of times?
The door creaked open, and Mira stepped inside. She paused, her eyes immediately widening as she took in the sight of the glowing crystal and Elian's radiant form. Her gaze flickered to his hand, where the faint golden veins were now clearly visible.
"Elian?" she whispered, her voice trembling with shock. "What's happening to you?"
Elian didn't respond immediately. He was still trying to make sense of what was happening to him. He was no longer the powerless boy he had once been, the one everyone had forgotten. Something had changed—something monumental. But he couldn't explain it.
"I... I don't know," he said finally, his voice quiet but firm. "I don't understand."
Mira took a hesitant step forward, her expression a mixture of awe and concern. "This... this isn't possible. You didn't have any power before. How is this happening?"
Elian clenched his fist, watching as the golden light flickered within him. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion. How indeed? He couldn't explain it. He didn't know if he should be afraid or elated. All he knew was that he was no longer the boy who had been ignored and cast aside. He had something now—something extraordinary.
Before he could say anything else, Mira spoke again, her voice full of wonder. "This power... it's beyond anything I've ever seen. The crystal—it never reacted like this before, not for anyone. You're... you're different."
Elian turned to face her, his gaze steady. "It's not just the crystal," he murmured. "It's me."
Mira blinked, her brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"
Elian took a deep breath, his hand still glowing faintly. "My veins... they're not like anyone else's. They're... different. Stronger. Older." He paused, trying to find the right words. "I feel like something's awakened inside me—something that's been dormant for a long time."
Mira's eyes widened in realization. "Are you saying you've been hiding this power all this time?"
"I didn't have it," Elian said, shaking his head. "Not until now."
The silence that followed was thick with tension. Mira seemed to be struggling to comprehend what Elian had just told her. But Elian, for his part, felt something he hadn't felt in a long time—hope. A flicker of it, anyway. Could this really be happening?
"Maybe... maybe this is what you were meant for," Mira said softly, almost to herself. "Perhaps you were never meant to be powerless."
Elian didn't reply. Instead, he turned his attention back to the crystal, which had now gone dark. He could feel the energy inside him, though—power pulsing through his body, stronger than before.
"Do you think it's safe?" Mira asked cautiously. "To... to test it further?"
Elian hesitated. "I don't know. But I have to try."
He stepped away from the table and made his way toward the small training area outside the orphanage. Mira followed closely, her eyes still wide with awe. Elian knew that once he stepped outside, everything would change. People would notice the difference in him—the power he couldn't hide. The village wouldn't remain silent for long.
As Elian raised his hand, a small gust of wind stirred, carrying with it a sense of anticipation. His focus sharpened, and he slowly began to channel the energy within him. The ground beneath him trembled as the power surged through his body, and for the first time in his life, Elian knew what it was like to truly be alive.
His cultivation speed was beyond comprehension, an acceleration of growth that left him breathless and invigorated. He could feel his body adapting faster than any normal person could, his mind racing to keep up with the newfound power.
He clenched his fist tightly and let out a deep breath. "I don't know where this will take me," he whispered to himself. "But I'm going to find out."