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Prologue: The Wish upon The Star
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Light.
Bright light.
Suddenly appearing in the night sky, the eastern land was filled with light.
For a second, it encompassed everything, alerting villagers, city dwellers, noble families, those in palaces and even those old people residing within their hole.
As if craving fresh air, they all came out.
When it happened, a teen living alone was reading a book, accompanied by his loyal candle fire. The light penetrated his wooden house. Wide eyed, he rushed, opening his bamboo window.
He saw it in the night sky, blinding him of stars around, moving.
Woah…
A gasp came out.
“There’s never a falling star like this!”
He jumped out from the window, stepping on a sandy ground.
Barefooted, he ran towards the shore.
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The teen was in a village by the seaside, with trembling waves came and went, accompanied by shy, caressing wind. Fresh air invaded his lungs, he could see palm trees waved around idly. Blue light filled his surroundings.
Soon, it was replaced by the white light coming in.
The light even overshadowed the full moon.
Outside, other villagers also ran out, eyes lit by the sight.
Old people, men and women, youngsters, teenagers and young children, all came out of their homes.
The almost blinding light mesmerized them.
Within such a short moment, it was as if the whole village had woken up for a night party, celebrating joyous encounter. It was as if the whole village had organized a get-together.
“Elder, what happened? Is it the Divines?”
“Yes, yes… It must be the Divines, or one of them?”
“Mommy, what happened? I’m scared…”
“It’s nothing to be scared of, honey.”
“Uncle, this, is this not a good omen?!”
“Maybe, but it could also be the opposite, you think?”
Murmurs started.
Some of them had confused look, some expectation, while most, anxiety.
Being silent, the teenage boy clasped his hands together, as if praying.
Seeing this, young children quietly followed suit.
His action calmed them down.
The much older ones however, did not.
“Oi Shen ’er, don’t tell me you’re wishing something to the gods?”
They burst out laughing.
“No, I’m not. Don’t be silly.”
“Ha, then, what’re you doing?”
“I’m wishing good things to the God, of course!”
“Haa? Why are you talking in circles? You should just admit it, no need to be shy.”
“Like I said, I’m not wishing to the Gods! You guys are so silly.”
“Eh, then?”
“Aiya, use your head. The Ultimate, can only be one! God, can only be one!”
“Ha? The Ultimate… God, can only be one?”
They were dumbfounded.
It was an idea which did not register into the minds of these youngsters. They had always heard tales of Gods fighting each other, scheming against each other, even falling in love with each other.
Thus, it was normal for them to assume that Gods, were plenty.
His statement shut them up. Mind buzzing, they could only continue witnessing the rare phenomenon.
As time went, the light became bigger.
Soon, even bigger.
“Oi, doesn’t that look like?”
“Right, it’s coming…”
“It’s coming right toward us! Run!”
The others started to scamper.
Shouts of children and youngsters filled the beach, and some had fallen.
All the while, the teenage boy, did not move.
It was as if he was fully entranced by it.
The light filled his eyes, as if taking control of him.
He could see lightning sparks circling the moving light, coming ever closer.
“O’ God, the Owner of The Way, I beg of you, show me the way...”
He smiled, as if his wish all these years, was about to reach him.
“Your Way, the Way of Ascent.”
The light engulfed the entire village.
…
==== Prologue End ====