Wild Kamote Roots generally grow deep within the astral soil, some stretching over a yard in length. Typically, older Kamote roots are riddled with small void-insect burrows and are often hollow inside. However, the one Seris Velan was unearthing was remarkably sturdy and solid, free of any such imperfections.
At first, the root was only the width of his wrist, but as he dug deeper, it grew larger. By now, Seris had excavated more than two feet into the soil, and the root had thickened to the size of his leg. His excitement mounted with each shovelful of dirt removed, his face flushed with effort, sweat beading on his brow and dripping from his chin unnoticed.
After nearly two full cycles of tireless digging, the Kamote root's true form emerged. It stretched nearly a yard in length, with the thickest part as wide as Seris's waist, weighing an impressive sixty to seventy starshards.
Bringing this Kamote back would ensure that he and his brother Siro could make it through the harsh astral winter without fear of starvation.
But just as Seris was about to lift the root and secure it in his pack, something caught his eye—a small, gleaming object buried beside the Kamote. His heart skipped a beat as he brushed the dirt away, revealing a fist-sized orb that pulsed faintly with energy.
The sphere was smooth as polished glass, glowing softly with a pale green hue that contrasted sharply with the blood-red streaks running through it, which shimmered under the astral light. It felt warm in Seris's hand, soothing the exhaustion in his muscles, its surface unblemished even after accidentally scraping it against the spade. No mark was left behind.
"This must be some kind of celestial gem," Seris muttered to himself. Though he was no expert, he had traveled to the larger astral cities with his father once and had seen the radiant gemstones worn by the noble class. None had looked quite as remarkable as this one.
As thoughts of the potential wealth swirled in his mind, Seris's excitement grew. Selling this gem could provide for him and Siro for a long time, perhaps even changing their fortunes for good. But he quickly realized the need for caution. The astral world was full of dangers—not only from the beasts that roamed the wilderness but also from thieves and bandits who would kill for far less than this treasure.
He knew he had to keep this discovery a secret, hidden from prying eyes.
Two cycles ago, in the village of Tahlra, a man named Corvin found a rare Tri-Spire Celestial Fungus deep within the Astral Ridge. Word of his discovery spread quickly, and by nightfall, his entire family had been wiped out—six lives extinguished in a brutal raid. No trace of the culprits was ever found.
Seris Velan couldn't help but remember that tragedy as he stared at the gemstone in his hand. His dreams of selling it and buying land grew stronger. In the astral world, owning land wasn't just a means of survival—it was a path to security and building a legacy for future generations.
"If I had my own land, I could raise sky-chickens. Maybe have a fresh star-egg every now and then," Seris mused to himself, licking his lips as the memory of last night's stardrop soup came to mind. Even though it was thin and barely flavored, it had felt like a luxury.
"Then, there's real stardust rice, those plump white star-buns, and slow-roasted quasha meat..." He trailed off, realizing that his mouth had started to water at the thought.
Shaking his head to clear the daydream, Seris continued packing the massive Kamote root into his satchel. As he did, a sudden chill ran down his spine, and an overwhelming sense of danger flooded his senses. He froze, eyes darting around the glowing astral forest.
Without hesitation, he grabbed the makeshift cudgel he'd been using to clear the path, quickly sharpening its tip with his hunting knife. The knife was then secured at his waist, just in case.
Gripping the cudgel tightly with both hands, Seris scanned the area. His heart raced as he noticed movement—the grasses to his right parted rapidly, as if something large was pushing through them. Before he could react, a dark blur launched itself toward him.
In a split second, Seris spun to his right, driving the sharpened cudgel toward the shadow. But the creature was fast—unnaturally fast. It shifted just enough to avoid a direct hit, and the strike only grazed its side. The force of the impact sent Seris stumbling backward, nearly knocking him off his feet.
Now, with a few feet of distance between them, Seris could see what had attacked him: a wolf, its fur a mix of dark grays and silvery-white. This wasn't just any wolf; its eyes burned with an ancient, malevolent intelligence. Blood dripped from the wound on its left leg where Seris's cudgel had struck it, but it was far from defeated.
The wolf bared its fangs, a low growl rumbling from its throat as its fur bristled and its back arched, preparing for another lunge.
Seris's heart pounded wildly in his chest, his hands trembling as he tightened his grip on the cudgel. His legs felt like they might give out beneath him at any moment.
"By the stars," Seris thought in panic, "This wolf is almost as large as I am. How in the void am I supposed to survive this?"
Am I, Seris Velan, going to perish here in this vast astral realm? I'm only twelve years old! What will happen to my little brother if I'm lost to the stars? I still dream of exploring new worlds and living a life filled with adventure. I don't want to fade away!"
The fierce will to survive surged within him, bringing clarity to his thoughts. He assessed the situation with a keen eye, recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of his opponent. The astral beast before him, a shadowy wolf with glimmering eyes, was far stronger and faster than he could ever hope to be. It had survived countless cosmic battles, emerging victorious time and again. Yet, Seris had his own advantages: a shimmering knife forged from stardust and a long cudgel imbued with celestial energy. The wolf could only strike with its claws and teeth, but Seris had the means to defend himself.
With determination, Seris formulated a plan. He would engage the wolf from a distance, using the cudgel to keep it at bay. Close combat would be a dangerous gamble, so he resolved to protect his vital areas and use his knife only when absolutely necessary, testing who could endure the battle longer.
In moments of peril, the mind sharpens, and Seris felt his thoughts racing. "Beast of the astral void, today we shall see if you feast upon my essence or if I claim your power for myself! Come forth!" With his plan set, he shouted defiantly at the wolf, his voice echoing through the starlit expanse. "Come on! Bite me!"
He igned a thrust with the cudgel, and the wolf, sensing an opening, lunged at him. Seris thrust the cudgel into its chest, but the impact was less than he hoped; the weapon merely grazed the surface. The wolf retaliated, sinking its teeth into his leg, but Seris managed to slice its chest in return, igniting its fury.
As the wolf lunged again, aiming for his legs, Seris swung the cudgel with all his might. The weapon struck the wolf's back with a resounding crack, splintering into two pieces. The wolf snarled, undeterred, and charged for his abdomen. Seris quickly raised the remaining half of the cudgel to shield himself while drawing his knife with his other hand.
The wolf bit into his left arm, pain radiating through him like a supernova. Ignoring the agony, Seris aimed for the wolf's neck, striking down with precision. Blood sprayed into the astral air, and he recalled the words of an ancient sage: a strike to this spot could end the life of any creature, be it human or beast.
Now, the wolf lay defeated, whimpering in the silence of the cosmos. Seris collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, utterly drained from the fierce encounter. His left arm throbbed painfully, and he felt stings from the wolf's claws across his body.
"That was too close! I nearly became a memory in this astral void. Thankfully, it's just a piece of my flesh that's gone." He chuckled weakly, reflecting on the strange balance of fortune and misfortune. Just when he thought he had found a treasure in this realm, he had come perilously close to losing everything.
Surviving the harrowing battle, Seris's thoughts turned to the gemstone he had discovered earlier. He reached into his pocket and pulled it out, examining its radiant glow.
A sense of relief washed over him as he realized he was still alive, ready to continue his journey through the stars. As Seris Velan gazed at the gemstone cradled in his palm, he felt an unsettling energy emanating from it.
The vibrant hues of the stone seemed to pulse with life, and he was taken aback when he noticed that the blood seeping from his wounds was being drawn into the gemstone as if it were a living entity. The crimson liquid flowed eagerly into the intricate red patterns etched upon its surface, creating a mesmerizing dance of color.
Curiosity piqued, Seris shifted the gemstone, and once again, the blood was absorbed, causing the stone to shimmer even more brilliantly. A gentle warmth radiated from it, wrapping around him like a comforting embrace.
This phenomenon was unlike anything he had ever encountered in the astral realms; gemstones were known for their beauty and power, but never had he heard of one that could consume blood.
After a moment of hesitation, Seris pressed the gemstone against the gash on his left arm. Instantly, he felt the blood surge toward the stone, as if it were a magnet drawing in its prey.
The sensation intensified, and the gemstone grew unbearably hot, almost searing against his skin. Just as he contemplated pulling it away, a brilliant flash of multicolored light erupted from the stone, piercing through the wound and vanishing into the ether.
In that instant, a wave of heat surged through his arm, racing up to his shoulder and neck, and then cascading toward his head with alarming speed. Panic gripped Seris as he realized he could not halt the torrent of energy.
The heat surged into his mind, and with a thunderous "boom," his consciousness was engulfed in a profound darkness, as if he had been thrust into the depths of the astral void.
In that moment, Seris Velan was no longer just a seeker of knowledge; he was on the precipice of an extraordinary transformation, one that would intertwine his fate with the very essence of the astral world itself