The figure in the shadows stepped forward with an almost eerie calm, its movements fluid and unnaturally silent. Yunshi's breath caught in his throat, and every instinct screamed at him to run. But his feet were rooted to the ground, as if the force of the Starborn legacy itself was anchoring him to the spot.
The mysterious figure paused just a few paces away, its dark cloak billowing like a shadow in the wind. The figure's face remained obscured by a hood, but there was something about the way it carried itself—something cold and deliberate—that made Yunshi's blood run cold.
"Who are you?" Yunshi demanded, his voice shaky but firm. He wanted to retreat, to flee back to the safety of his village, but he couldn't move. The strange power inside him pulsed with each beat of his heart, and it urged him to stay, to face whatever danger this visitor brought.
The figure did not answer immediately. Instead, it stood still, studying Yunshi with an air of quiet deliberation. The silence stretched, thick and oppressive, before the figure spoke, its voice low and smooth, like velvet wrapped around a blade.
"Powerful. Yet unrefined," the voice said. "I can sense it. The Starborn legacy. The raw potential that surges within you."
Yunshi clenched his fists, trying to steady himself. "How do you know about the Starborn? Who are you?"
A soft chuckle emanated from the figure, as if amused by Yunshi's question. "I know much about you, Yunshi. About your legacy. About your power. About what you've awakened."
Yunshi felt a shiver run down his spine. "What do you want with me?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The figure tilted its head slightly, and Yunshi swore he could feel the weight of its gaze, despite not being able to see the figure's eyes. "I am no threat to you, at least, not in the way you think," it said. "But you are far too naïve to control the Starborn power alone. And those who wield it… those who are chosen by it… are often sought by others."
Yunshi's heart skipped a beat. "Sought by others? What do you mean?"
The figure took a step forward, the air around it shimmering with a faint, otherworldly energy. "There are those who seek to claim the Starborn power for themselves. There are also those who wish to see its bearers destroyed. Either way, the Starborn legacy is a burden you cannot bear alone."
Yunshi felt his pulse quicken, the words sinking into him like lead. He had known, deep down, that his newfound power would attract attention—but hearing it spoken aloud made it feel all the more real. The weight of the universe, which had already begun to press down on him, seemed to grow heavier with each passing moment.
"I don't need anyone," Yunshi said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "I'll learn to control this power on my own."
The figure smiled beneath its hood, and for the briefest moment, Yunshi thought he saw the glint of eyes—sharp, calculating, and ancient. "You may think that," it said, its voice no longer smooth but now tinged with a trace of something darker. "But the path you walk is fraught with danger. There are forces that even the Starborn cannot predict. And they will not wait for you to be ready."
Yunshi's fists tightened further, and he felt the power inside him surge in response, a deep, cosmic energy that both terrified and exhilarated him. "So, what do you want from me?" he asked, his tone defiant.
The figure's smile widened, though there was no warmth in it. "I seek to offer you guidance, Yunshi," it said, its voice suddenly softer, more tempting. "A mentor, if you will. To help you master the power that stirs within you. To teach you what the elders cannot."
Yunshi felt his body tense. He wasn't sure he could trust this stranger—this shadowy figure who knew far too much about him. But the idea of a mentor, someone who could help him understand the Starborn legacy, was undeniably alluring. Still, caution held him back.
"You want to teach me?" Yunshi repeated skeptically. "Why would you want to help me?"
The figure tilted its head again, as if considering the question for the first time. "Because, Yunshi," it began, its voice suddenly deadly serious, "I do not see you as an ordinary cultivator. I see you as someone with the potential to change the very fabric of reality. You are not merely a vessel for the Starborn power. You are destined for something far greater. And those who are destined for greatness… are always sought after."
Yunshi felt the weight of the words sink into his chest like a leaden anchor. Destined for something greater—those words echoed in his mind, fueling a surge of both hope and dread. Was he truly destined for greatness? Or was he simply a pawn in a much larger game?
"Who are you?" Yunshi demanded again, more urgently this time. "Tell me your name. What do you really want?"
The figure did not immediately answer. Instead, it reached up and slowly removed its hood. Yunshi's eyes widened as the face beneath it came into view. It was a woman, though her features were sharp, almost otherworldly. Her skin was pale, as if she had never seen the sun, and her hair was long and silver, cascading down her back like a river of moonlight. Her eyes—those eyes—glowed with a faint, ethereal blue light, like twin stars in the night sky.
"I am Ashera," the woman said, her voice calm and composed. "And I am neither friend nor foe, but a guide for those who seek to master their power. I offer you my help, Yunshi, because I see potential in you. But be warned—this path will not be easy. The Starborn legacy is not a simple gift; it is a trial. And you will need more than raw power to survive the trials ahead."
Yunshi stared at her, unable to tear his gaze away from her glowing eyes. Ashera—the name sounded ancient, as if it belonged to another age. Her presence felt both soothing and terrifying, as though she was part of something much larger than he could comprehend.
"Why should I trust you?" Yunshi finally asked, his voice filled with uncertainty.
Ashera's lips curled into a slight smile, though it was neither warm nor reassuring. "Trust is a luxury for the weak, Yunshi. You will not survive this journey without allies—or enemies. It is up to you to decide who I am."
Her words were like a slap to Yunshi's face. Trust was a luxury? He had never felt more alone, more exposed, than he did in that moment. He could sense that her offer, whatever it was, came at a price. There was always a price, wasn't there?
"I need time to think," Yunshi said, his voice hoarse, suddenly feeling small under the weight of the moment.
Ashera regarded him for a long moment, her eyes unreadable. Finally, she spoke again, her voice softer this time, almost gentle. "You will not have much time. The forces that are watching you are already moving. The sooner you accept your fate, the sooner you will understand the true extent of your power."
With that, she turned and began to walk away, her cloak flowing behind her like a dark shadow, her figure slowly blending into the night.
Yunshi stood there, his mind reeling. Her words haunted him—forces that are watching you are already moving. What did that mean? Who were these forces? And what role did he play in their game?
He reached for his palm, where the mark of the Starborn still glowed faintly beneath his skin. The power of the stars, the forces of the universe—they were within him. But so too was the danger. And it was closer than he had ever imagined.