Chapter 75: Awakening

The morning sun bathed the village in a soft, warm glow, but to Abel, the world seemed off-kilter. He felt out of place, as if there was a fog around his memories that was slowly dispersing, and yet, deep within, something stirred. The more he thought about it, the clearer it became—he needed to find Gravedigger. He set out, walking through the peaceful streets of the village. Everywhere he looked, people went about their daily lives, blissfully unaware of any larger purpose beyond their perfect little world.

He passed Ronald near the lake which made him feel pity for Ronald, who was focused on building a boat. The sight was strange yet comforting. “Hey, Abel,” Ronald called, wiping sweat from his brow. “Good day for a build, don’t you think?”

Abel waved back. "Yeah, it’s... peaceful," he said, though the words felt hollow in his mouth. Peaceful wasn’t right—it was too peaceful.

Moving through the village, Abel noticed just how picturesque everything was. The villagers were dressed in simple, colorful garments, their clothes reflecting the joy they seemed to radiate. Yet the more he saw, the more unsettling it all became. The bright flowers blooming unnaturally, the harmony in their songs, the carefree laughter. It felt forced—manufactured. As if this wasn’t where he was meant to be.

Eventually, Abel found himself at the cemetery, an oddly quiet place compared to the rest of the village. The scent of fresh earth and flowers mixed in the air as he passed rows of gravestones. Gravedigger stood at the far end, his large frame hunched over a grave he was tending. His eyes were heavy with exhaustion, dark bags shadowing his usually sharp features.

Abel approached cautiously, testing the situation. “You know, I’ve really come to love that Holy Nectar... It’s, well, pretty incredible.” Abel's tone was light, probing for a reaction.

Gravedigger grunted, nodding slightly. “Mmm… yes, quite the drink.” His voice was neutral, but his expression lacked the zeal Abel had come to expect from those enthralled by the village’s charm.

Abel took another step. “Feels like this village has become home for us. Almost makes me forget about... the Tower, the expedition. Crazy, right?”

Gravedigger froze. His hand tightened on the shovel, and his tired eyes flickered with recognition. He turned to Abel, his voice low and urgent. “Not here. Follow me.”

They moved to the far corner of the cemetery, hidden behind an ancient stone wall. Gravedigger let out a long, weary sigh. “I’ve been awake for a while now... but I couldn’t act. The village head’s been watching me. Rejecting the nectar more than once drew his suspicion.”

Abel felt a wave of relief and excitement. “I snapped out of it too,” he admitted, his voice quickening. “I think it’s my connection to the stars—it helped me see through the illusion.”

Stolen novel; please report.

Gravedigger nodded, as if this was no surprise to him. “The stars...” he mused. “Before the nomads were corrupted, they were known for their devotion to the celestial bodies. They looked to the stars for guidance. It wasn’t until they abandoned them, until they turned to that dark god, that everything went wrong. Maybe the stars are still watching over us.”

Abel was stunned. He had always felt a pull toward the stars since his transformation, but this revelation felt like a missing piece to a puzzle. “We have to destroy that plant,” Abel said, determination growing. “It’s the source.”

Gravedigger nodded grimly. “I’ve been planning it. But we need to be careful. The village elder is no ordinary man... and that plant is no ordinary plant.”

They spoke in hushed tones, plotting their move. As they parted ways, Abel felt a renewed sense of purpose. The stars had guided him this far—he would trust them to help him see this through.

That night, Abel sat in the backyard of his small village house, staring up at the sky. The stars twinkled down at him, brighter and more alive than they ever had been. They seemed to pulse with an energy that called out to him, beckoning him to join them.

He raised his hand, fingers outstretched toward the heavens, and to his amazement, the stars above began to dance. Not just twinkling, but truly moving, as if they were communicating with him. The sky shimmered with their brilliance, and Abel felt the connection deepening. His fingertips began to glow, bright and ethereal, as tiny stars formed at the tips of his fingers.

A surge of emotion flooded him. Awe. Wonder. Gratitude. He was no longer just watching the stars—he was part of them. He stood, feeling the energy course through him as the stars above mirrored the ones now floating around his fingers. Ten bright, shining stars danced in a circle around him, their light soft yet powerful.

Abel moved instinctively, a dance of sorts, as the stars followed his every motion. With each movement, the stars pulsed, teaching him something new. He began to understand their language—the way they communicated through light and energy. He flicked his wrist, and the stars spun faster, creating a spiral of light around him. He manipulated them as if they were an extension of his body, with a thought a single star broke away from the cluster, and with his will, Abel made the star spin incredibly fast. Suddenly abel lowered his arm as if in a choreographed movement and the star shot a fast powerful beam of starlight at the ground, causing it to burn and char. The beam disappeared as fast as it came simultaneously, the star’s spin came to a pause slowly returning to its cluster like a duckling going back to its brood.

And then, with a single thought, he willed the stars to press down.

The air around him rippled, and suddenly, the gravity shifted. The grass at his feet flattened, the trees bent slightly, and the very earth seemed to bow to the force he had summoned. Abel’s eyes widened in amazement. He had done it—he had bent gravity itself. He had learned new techniques from the illusory stars themselves. An unbelievable feat even he was unable to grasp.

The stars above shone brighter for a moment, as if they were acknowledging his achievement. Then, slowly, the stars surrounding him dimmed and collapsed back into his fingertips, their light disappearing into the night sky. Abel stood there, breathless, staring at the now still stars, as if thanking them for their guidance. He knew this was an illusory world, but how could these stars feel so real?

His heart raced with excitement and clarity. He had unlocked something incredible, something that would help them all. But now, the next step was clear—he had to destroy the plant and free the others.

With a newfound sense of power and purpose, Abel returned to his house, his mind racing with thoughts of what was to come. He and Gravedigger had to act soon. The stars had given him the strength he needed, and now it was time to bring this illusory paradise crashing down.