~???: ???~
"This boy really holds the power of fate?"
In some kind of celestial space, a beyond-graceful and feminine voice spoke. The owner of the voice stood alone in the glowing space, with luminescent clouds swirling around the expanse. The elegant figure was shielded by a golden umbrella, encrusted with a flying dragon. A veil covered the woman's face above her youthful lips, but could not hold back the mesmerizing aura exuding from her being.
In front of her lay a pale and sickly youth, with long white hair floating through the air. His eyes remained shut as golden strands of energy twirled around him.
Behind them both, the air itself trembled as a majestic voice rumbled through the atmosphere.
"He wouldn't be here if he didn't…"
"Well, I suppose we're quite lucky he traipsed through the gate himself. I never would have thought to search that far down."
"Young miss, I've told you again and again you need not search for the fate holder. Unlike the other elements, destiny itself leads us to where we must venture."
"Whatever… So he won't remember a thing from his life up until now?"
"No… besides it is for the best. A fresh start for the boy will give him the most potential to grow. He'll inevitably learn of his past eventually, anyway."
The woman silently looked at the boy, as if appraising his worth. Behind her a ten-foot snout poked its way out from the clouds, followed by the massive golden head of a fierce dragon. Its whiskers swayed through the air, unaffected by gravity. Frightening shining eyes peered over the woman at the boy, holding nothing but simple curiosity.
"He may very well become your future husband if the prophecy holds true."
"Tsk- If anyone is expected to break the rules of destiny, it is the fate holder himself. We shall see if he even survives the lower realms. And I won't be tied down to some nobody, no matter their appearance." The woman held a frown as she poked the unconscious boy's cheek with her foot.
The mystical dragon chuckled, as more of its enormous body came into view. Heavy golden scales shone elegantly as its long body swayed side to side, finally rising to the air above the boy.
"Are you ready to begin the cycle yet again, old lizard?"
The dragon snorted at the comment.
"Don't forget to give the boy a name, little girl."
Reaching a delicate hand to the youth's forehead, a light flashed at her fingertips as a smile came upon the woman's face. A nostalgic look fell upon the woman's face as she spoke to the boy.
"When I was a girl, I always loved reading stories of remarkable myths and legends. Your name shall be that of my favorite… the ancient wildhearted warrior… Zi Xin!"
"I must admit I expected a worse name coming from you. Zi Xin it is."
"Hmph-"
The dragon turned to look directly at Zi Xin and bowed his head as he spoke his next words.
"I pray you shall be the one to ascend us to the throne. But even I cannot foretell how you may intertwine with fate…"
The dragon gave a final side eye to the woman.
"It will be quite some time before I see your Yuan family again… I hope your mischievous side will have worn off by the next time we meet."
"You wish, you ancient reptile." Despite her words, the woman gave a warm final glance to the beast above her before stepping back and retreating out of sight into the clouds.
"To think I'll be reduced to such a pitiful existence in just a few moments…" A loud sigh reverberated through the space. At the same time, the strands of energy circulating around Zi Xin's body began to pull him effortlessly up into the air.
The golden dragon began to weave itself around him forming a sphere as its long body lit up with golden sparks. The air itself around them began to glow brighter and brighter as their two bodies began to merge and shrink into a single glowing orb. It spun vigorously in the air, constantly condensing until it was the size of a pea.
Before the orb could get any smaller, an intense heavenly aura whipped through the air. The surrounding clouds spun at frightening speeds, creating a chorus of howls. Time seemed to freeze before the golden orb exploded, bursting into a million tiny particles of glowing essence. The space was soon left empty, hanging in a blissful silence.
At the same time, unbeknownst to all but nine entities, the universe itself quivered for a single moment.