Yunshi's hands trembled as he took a step back from the altar. The temple's air hung heavy, thick with the aftershocks of the voice that had reverberated through his very soul. His heart beat in a slow, steady rhythm, but his mind raced, unable to catch up to the weight of what had just transpired.
"The Starborn legacy is a test. You will be judged."
The words repeated in his mind like a drumbeat, and for the first time since awakening with the Starborn power, Yunshi felt a gnawing sense of dread—a realization that he wasn't just carrying a burden; he was on the precipice of something much larger than himself, something he wasn't yet ready for.
Wei had stepped back, watching him carefully. His face was unreadable, but there was an unmistakable tension in his posture. "What did you hear?" he asked softly, his voice cautious.
Yunshi swallowed hard. He wanted to answer, to explain, but the words felt foreign on his tongue. How could he describe something so profound, so incomprehensible? How could he explain that the very fabric of his existence felt as if it were being tested, stretched to its limits?
"I… I don't know." Yunshi finally managed to say. His voice was raw. "There was a voice. It spoke to me. It said that the legacy I bear is a test. That I'm not just carrying power—I'm carrying a weapon. A weapon that could destroy or save the worlds."
Wei's brow furrowed. "A weapon? But the Starborn legacy is… it's said to be a gift of unimaginable power, not something that can destroy."
"I thought so too," Yunshi replied, his voice a low whisper. "But now… I'm not so sure."
The silence in the chamber grew heavy, thick with the gravity of the moment. The carvings on the stone tablet glowed faintly in the dim light, as though reacting to Yunshi's words. The air felt charged, as if the temple itself was alive, watching, waiting.
"You'll need to train," Wei said after a long pause, his tone firm. "Whatever's coming, whatever trials await you—it's clear now that the legacy isn't just something you can use at will. You'll need to learn how to control it, or it will control you."
Yunshi nodded, though the weight of the responsibility felt unbearable. He wasn't ready. Not yet. The power inside him was a storm, wild and untamed, and every time he reached for it, he feared it would break free and tear him apart. But Wei was right. If he didn't learn how to wield it, it would destroy him—and everything he loved.
"We'll leave in the morning," Yunshi said, his voice steadying. "The temple's teachings might offer more answers, but I need to be ready. I need to understand what this legacy truly is and what it means for me."
The journey back down the mountain was long and quiet. The day was drawing to a close, and the mist had thickened again, wrapping around the narrow mountain paths like a living thing. Yunshi could feel the weight of the stone tablet's words on his mind with every step, his thoughts consumed by the mysteries that surrounded him.
But it wasn't just the legacy that haunted him. The mysterious figure from the night before, the one who had attacked them—its presence lingered in his mind as well. It had known about the legacy, had recognized it with unsettling certainty. And its words, those cryptic warnings, were enough to make Yunshi's skin crawl.
"You think you have a choice in this?" The figure had said. "You will be judged."
He had no answers. Only questions. And the longer he went without answers, the more he felt like a pawn in a game he didn't understand. His only solace was Wei—his companion, his friend—who had been by his side through all of this.
When they finally reached the base of the mountain and the village came into view, Yunshi felt a slight relief. At least, here, there was some semblance of normalcy—of safety. But that was an illusion, wasn't it? Nothing in his life could be normal anymore. The towers, the legacies, the strange forces pulling at the fabric of reality—everything had changed the moment he stepped into that first tower.
They returned to their small home in the village, and Wei immediately began preparing a campfire, the light flickering in the dusk. Yunshi sat on a nearby rock, staring into the flames. He wasn't hungry. His thoughts were too consumed with everything that had happened and everything that was to come.
Finally, Wei broke the silence. "Tomorrow, I'll go with you to the village elder. There might be something in the old texts that could help us understand the legacy, or at least prepare you for what's to come."
Yunshi didn't answer immediately. He wasn't sure he wanted to involve anyone else in this. The more people who knew, the more enemies he'd make. But the elder was wise, with knowledge passed down through generations. He had to admit, they might need the elder's insight, especially if the trials ahead were as dangerous as the voice had suggested.
"Alright," Yunshi finally said. "We'll go tomorrow."
Later that night, as the stars blinked into existence above the village, Yunshi lay awake, staring at the ceiling of his small room. The Starborn power within him hummed with quiet energy, a constant reminder of the chaos that was always just beneath the surface.
He had to control it. He had to. But how? How could he master something so vast, so beyond his comprehension?
Sleep eluded him, and by the time the first light of dawn filtered through the cracks in his room, he had made up his mind.
He would train. He would push himself to the limits. And, if necessary, beyond them. He didn't know what the trials would be, or what fate had in store for him, but he wasn't going to face them unprepared. He couldn't.
The next morning, after a brief breakfast, Yunshi and Wei made their way to the elder's home. The elder, an elderly woman named Talia, was the keeper of ancient knowledge in the village. She had lived through countless generations, and though her body was frail, her mind was sharp as a tack. If there were any answers, she would have them.
When they arrived, Elder Talia was sitting outside her small wooden house, watching the morning sun rise over the horizon. Her eyes were closed, and she appeared lost in deep thought. As they approached, she opened her eyes and smiled warmly.
"You've returned," she said, her voice a gentle rasp. "I take it the journey to the temple was not without its challenges?"
Yunshi nodded, but didn't speak at first. Talia had known of the temple's significance long before they had gone. It was no surprise that she had anticipated their return. What surprised him was the feeling that she already knew exactly what was happening to him.
"Elder Talia," Wei began, his voice respectful. "We need your help. Yunshi has been marked by the Starborn legacy. The powers it gives him are… too great to control. We need to understand how to master it before it consumes him."
Talia studied Yunshi for a moment, her gaze sharp despite her age. "The Starborn legacy, you say?" She closed her eyes again, as though searching her memories for something. "It's not a gift. Nor is it a curse, as some believe. It is a test—a trial of the heart, the mind, and the spirit. Only those who are worthy can harness its full potential."
Her words were like a bolt of lightning. Yunshi's mind raced, trying to make sense of what she was saying. "A test?" he repeated. "A trial?"
"Yes," Talia confirmed, her voice heavy with meaning. "It is said that the Starborn legacy chooses its bearer, but it does not end there. The bearer must prove themselves—prove their worthiness through trials that test not only their strength, but their character. Only when they succeed can they fully wield its power. But failure…" She paused, her gaze darkening. "Failure leads to ruin."
Yunshi swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her words pressing down on him. This wasn't just about gaining power—it was about surviving it. And if the trials were anything like the encounter with the figure in the temple, then Yunshi had only just begun to scrape the surface of what lay ahead.
Talia gave him a long, measuring look. "You must prepare, Yunshi. The path ahead will be fraught with danger. But it is also a chance to become more than you are. To master the legacy—not let it master you."
Yunshi nodded, his resolve hardening. He had no choice but to face whatever came next. The trials would come, and when they did, he would be ready.