Chapter One: Awakening of the Cosmos
The boy ran his fingers through his white hair as he glanced up at the towering gates of Masuki College. It was the school where the gifted gathered—students with powers beyond imagination. Some could command the elements, others could manipulate time, and then there were those who could tap into dimensions unknown. But not him. He was different.
Kai was a late bloomer. While everyone else had been showing off their powers since childhood, Kai's abilities hadn't surfaced. He didn't even know if he had any powers at all. He had been tested time and time again, but each time, the results came back the same: dormant. The term felt like a curse in a school where power meant everything. His light brown skin flushed with heat as his classmates flew or summoned fire, while he sat in the background, hoping for even the smallest flicker of power.
Today was no different. Another day at Masuki, another reminder that he didn't belong. Kai stared at the school crest, a roaring lion surrounded by constellations. It represented power, strength, and destiny. It mocked him.
He pulled his hoodie tighter around himself and began walking through the courtyard, hoping to blend into the crowds of students. A group passed by, talking about their upcoming duel in the Elemental Arena. Kai turned away, feeling the familiar sting of envy. He picked up his pace, eager to reach his first class—History of the Cosmic Orders—when something strange happened.
The air grew still. The lively chatter around him faded, replaced by a sudden, oppressive silence. Kai's heart began to race, his senses tingling. He stopped walking, glancing around in confusion. The sky above seemed darker, and he realized that the sun was no longer shining through the clouds.
Then, a sharp pain tore through his chest.
Kai gasped, clutching at his heart as a strange force took hold of him. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground. He could hear nothing but the pounding of his own heartbeat in his ears. Panic rose in his throat as his vision blurred. He looked down and saw something impossible—a glowing spear of light had pierced his chest, emanating from some invisible source.
No one around him seemed to notice. The world was fading. The courtyard, the students, the towering school—it was all dissolving into a swirl of vibrant colors and shifting shapes.
"Kai…," a voice whispered in his mind.
He tried to speak, to call for help, but no sound came out. His entire body felt weightless, as if he were floating. The pain in his chest intensified, but with it came an overwhelming sensation of warmth, like something was awakening deep inside him. His surroundings warped and twisted until he was no longer in the courtyard at Masuki.
He was somewhere else entirely.
Kai blinked, his vision clearing. He was standing in a vast, swirling expanse of stars, planets, and nebulas. The ground beneath his feet felt solid, but when he looked down, all he saw was the galaxy stretching out beneath him. It was as though he were standing on the very fabric of the universe itself.
"What is this place…?"
His voice echoed back at him, distant and hollow. Everything here felt surreal, dreamlike. Yet, it was real—he could feel the pulse of the stars around him, as though they were alive. The spear of light that had pierced his heart was gone, but in its place, a strange energy was coursing through his veins.
"Kai," the voice came again, clearer now.
He spun around, searching for the source. A figure materialized before him, shrouded in celestial light. It was humanoid but entirely otherworldly, its form composed of constellations and star dust, its eyes like twin galaxies swirling with ancient knowledge.
"Who… who are you?" Kai asked, his voice trembling.
"I am the Celestial Guide," the figure replied, its voice both male and female, echoing in his mind. "You have been chosen."
"Chosen? Chosen for what?" Kai's head was spinning, but the warmth in his chest continued to grow, soothing the pain. He felt power he had never known before begin to stir within him.
"For a long time, you have slumbered, unaware of your true potential. But now, your awakening has begun."
Kai shook his head, confusion clouding his thoughts. "I don't understand. I don't have any powers. I've been tested—"
"Your powers are not of this world," the Celestial Guide interrupted. "You are connected to something far greater, something beyond the bounds of the Earth."
As the guide spoke, the galaxy around them began to shift, and visions flashed before Kai's eyes. He saw himself standing amidst battles, wielding powers that bent the very fabric of space and time. He saw planets being formed, stars exploding into supernovas, and galaxies colliding—all of it felt familiar, as if it were a part of him.
"This… this can't be real," he whispered, but deep down, he knew it was.
"The power within you is tied to the stars themselves, Kai," the Celestial Guide said, stepping closer. "You are a star-born, a child of the cosmos. The spear that pierced your heart has unlocked this ancient lineage."
Kai's breath caught in his throat. The term "star-born" echoed in his mind, triggering memories he didn't know he had. His mother had told him stories when he was young, stories of ancient beings who could call upon the energy of the stars. But those were just myths, weren't they?
"How… how do I control it?" he asked, suddenly desperate. This power—it was his. He could feel it humming beneath his skin, begging to be released.
"That will come in time," the guide replied. "But first, you must understand. The universe is vast, and the forces at play are beyond comprehension. There are those who seek to harness this power for themselves—beings who would use it to dominate worlds. You must be ready to face them."
Kai's heart pounded. "Face them? How? I've never even… I don't even know how to use my powers!"
"You will learn," the guide said softly, placing a hand on Kai's chest, right over where the spear had pierced him. "The star that rests within you has already begun to shine. Trust in it. It will guide you."
Before Kai could respond, the galaxy around him began to dissolve again, the stars fading into darkness. The warmth in his chest remained, growing stronger with each passing moment. He felt as if the universe itself was now a part of him, a connection that couldn't be severed.
When the darkness lifted, Kai found himself back in the courtyard at Masuki College, lying on the ground. The students around him were moving again, oblivious to what had just happened. His heart was still racing, but there was no pain. The spear of light was gone, but the power it had awakened remained.
Kai slowly sat up, his mind reeling. Everything had changed in an instant. He was no longer the powerless boy he had once been. His star-born heritage had been unlocked, and with it came a responsibility he hadn't asked for but now couldn't ignore.
He got to his feet, glancing around at the other students. None of them knew. None of them had any idea what had just transpired. Kai clenched his fists, feeling the energy surge within him. He could feel the stars pulsing through his veins, a reminder of the galaxy that now lived inside him.
For the first time in his life, he wasn't afraid.
He was ready.
---
That night, Kai lay in his bed, staring up at the ceiling. His mind was still spinning with everything the Celestial Guide had told him. Star-born. A child of the cosmos. He could hardly believe it, yet the power inside him was undeniable. His thoughts drifted to the visions he had seen—visions of battles and cosmic forces beyond anything he had ever imagined.
He had always felt different, but now he knew why. The universe had been waiting for him, waiting for the moment his powers would awaken. But what did it mean for his future? How was he supposed to live a normal life at Masuki College now that he knew the truth?
As he drifted off to sleep, Kai's dreams were filled with stars. He saw the Celestial Guide again, standing at the edge of a nebula, watching over him. The universe was vast, and his journey was just beginning.
But one thing was certain—Kai's life would never be the same again.