The moonlight filtered through the dense canopy of trees, casting long, jagged shadows across the forest floor. Yunshi's breath was steady, his body poised in a defensive stance, his focus razor-sharp. He could feel the pulse of the Starborn legacy inside him, the energy that surged with the rhythm of the universe itself, waiting, watching, as though it, too, were attuned to something deeper. The forest was quiet now, too quiet. He could hear his heart beating, loud in his ears, almost as if it was trying to warn him of something he couldn't yet see.
Beside him, Wei's hand rested on the hilt of his sword, his eyes scanning the darkened woods with the same wariness. Despite his usual calm, even Wei's posture was more alert tonight.
"You feel it, don't you?" Wei asked, his voice a low murmur, barely audible in the stillness.
Yunshi nodded, his senses stretching into the darkness. "Something's here. Something… wrong." He could feel it—an unnatural presence, like the air itself had thickened and become charged with static. It was a feeling he had only ever encountered when his powers surged out of his control, but this time, it was different. It felt external. A subtle shift, like a shadow just beyond his reach, moving with deliberate purpose.
"Stay on guard," Wei said, drawing his sword. The blade gleamed faintly in the moonlight, but there was no sense of comfort in its familiar presence. Something deeper stirred here, and Wei could sense it too.
Suddenly, a cold wind swept through the trees, rustling the leaves and carrying with it a faint scent of something metallic. Yunshi's muscles tensed. There was something more than wind in the air—a presence.
Without warning, a figure appeared from the mist, moving with terrifying speed. The world seemed to slow for a moment as the figure's outline materialized, its cloak billowing like a shadow under the pale light of the moon. It was humanoid, but the way it moved—fluid, almost unnatural—sent a chill running down Yunshi's spine.
"Get ready," Wei hissed, stepping in front of Yunshi in an instant, his sword raised defensively.
The figure stopped a few feet away from them, its presence towering even without its form being fully visible. Its face was obscured, hidden beneath a hood, but Yunshi could feel its eyes on him. The air between them hummed with an almost palpable tension, like a string pulled taut, ready to snap at any moment.
"You are the one," the figure said, its voice deep and resonant, like the growl of distant thunder. "The one who bears the Starborn legacy."
Yunshi's stomach dropped. The voice was cold, without emotion, yet there was a deep sense of recognition in it. This wasn't just some random encounter—this figure knew him. Knew about the Starborn.
"I'm not interested in whatever you want," Yunshi replied, his voice steady despite the rising panic within him. He could feel the power within himself, raw and untamed, swirling just beneath the surface of his skin, waiting to be called upon. But he held it back. He wasn't sure who—or what—this was, and he didn't want to risk losing control.
The figure's lips parted in what might have been a smile, but there was no warmth to it. "You misunderstand, boy. It is not what I want that matters. It is what you need."
Before Yunshi could react, the figure raised one hand, and the air around them seemed to ripple. Time itself seemed to bend for a moment as the wind turned from a soft breeze to a forceful gust, knocking Yunshi and Wei backward. Wei's feet slid against the ground, but he quickly regained his stance, his sword still ready.
Yunshi, however, felt something else—a tug on his very being, like the world was trying to pull him in a different direction. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he thought he saw the stars themselves shifting, flickering, as if they were a part of some vast cosmic puzzle that he couldn't understand. His heart thudded in his chest, and the power of the Starborn legacy surged within him, instinctively trying to fight back against the strange force.
"Control yourself," Wei snapped, his voice harsh with urgency. "Don't let it overwhelm you."
Yunshi gritted his teeth, forcing his mind to focus. The power within him was too vast, too wild. It clawed at his senses, urging him to unleash it, to break free of whatever this force was. But he knew that doing so could be dangerous, not just for him, but for Wei and anyone else caught in its path.
"You've been marked," the figure said, its voice like ice. "You carry the weight of the legacy, but you are not ready to face what is coming. The Starborn legacy is not a gift—it is a curse. And those who possess it are doomed to face the darkness that follows."
Yunshi's throat went dry. The words cut through him like a blade, their cold certainty making the air feel even more oppressive. Was this what Ashera had meant? Was this the trial she had warned him about? The weight of his power was growing, and it was pulling him in directions he didn't understand. But now, he had to fight, because the alternative was something worse.
"I don't need your pity," Yunshi said, taking a deep breath. "I'll decide my own fate."
The figure didn't respond immediately. It simply tilted its head, as if amused by Yunshi's defiance. "You think you have a choice in this?" it asked, its tone dripping with disdain. "There are others who will make sure you never get the chance to choose. You'll come to understand the truth in time."
Suddenly, with a movement so swift it was almost imperceptible, the figure raised its hand, and the air around them rippled again. Yunshi barely had time to react as a wave of force struck him in the chest, sending him crashing into the ground with bone-jarring impact.
"Yunshi!" Wei shouted, rushing to his side.
Yunshi shook his head, dazed but determined. His body hurt, but he pushed the pain aside. The Starborn power had flared in response to the attack, and although it was still raw and unrefined, he could feel it swirling inside him, ready to act on his command.
The figure was still standing there, watching them both, its form shifting in the mist like some kind of specter. It didn't seem to be in any hurry, but Yunshi could feel that it wasn't finished yet.
"Enough of this," Wei snapped, his voice filled with authority. "Who are you?"
The figure did not answer. Instead, it lifted its hand once again, this time with purpose. A dark, oppressive energy began to gather in the air, swirling around it like a storm cloud, and Yunshi could feel the temperature drop. It was as though the very essence of the forest was being suffocated by the energy this figure wielded.
But this time, Yunshi was ready.
He called upon the Starborn legacy within him, reaching for it with every ounce of strength he had. The power surged in his chest, breaking free of its restraints, and for the first time, he felt a connection to it—not as something wild and uncontrollable, but as something his.
He focused, pulling the energy into his body, molding it into a shield around himself. His skin began to glow faintly, like stardust, as the energy wrapped around him, a brilliant, shining barrier that pulsed with the power of the cosmos. The force from the figure's hand struck the barrier, and Yunshi felt the impact, but the energy shield held strong, protecting him.
The figure's eyes—Yunshi could almost feel them on him—narrowed in disdain, but it did not press further. Instead, the figure turned, disappearing into the mist with a swirl of dark energy.
Yunshi exhaled sharply, the glow from his body fading as the energy settled back into him. He dropped to one knee, exhausted but alive. The world felt heavy, like the weight of the stars themselves had pressed down on him, and for the first time, he realized the true cost of the Starborn legacy. It wasn't just power—it was a target on his back.
Wei knelt beside him, his face etched with concern. "What was that?"
Yunshi shook his head, still trying to catch his breath. "I don't know. But it's clear now. There are more forces at play than I could have imagined. And they're coming for me."