'Ugh, that sudden burst of light wasn't as simple as it seemed.' Elaraion mumbled, his translucent wisp form noticeably shrinking. 'My soul, that is supposedly eternal and indestructible somehow sustained a damage when I entered the wormhole.' Whether it was good or bad that he could still assess the situation after that ordeal was unknown.
Looking around, he found nothing familiar in the swirling, color-streaked void. These streaks of light were beautiful, and yet, his instincts are telling him that they were dangerous. He seemed to be traveling at the speed of light and not moving at the same time—a truly mind-boggling paradox.
While drifting in what felt like an eternity, Elaraion decided to review his short, sixteen-year life instead. He couldn't control his ring or his soul in this state. 'But even if I could exert some control,' Elaraion thought, 'I should just stay still. And let things flow naturally, let fate guide my soul wherever it's meant to be.' Gambling now would mean gambling the only hope and chance the researchers had given him.
'Forget Heaven or Hell, I don't even know where my soul is now. If my soul perishes here, my family heirloom will be lost forever in this void, and I will truly cease to exist, both in body and soul!' He grimly reminded himself to avoid any foolish thoughts while in this state.
With nothing else to do but recall his past life's history, Elaraion unwittingly entered a state akin to meditation. Unnoticed by him, his soul began to stabilize, slowly becoming sturdier.
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Xianzhou Continent - Year 2987 of Cycle of Qi (CQ)
In a small tribe on the outskirts of the South-Eastern Great Forest, a mother was about to give birth to Rajah Bayani's youngest son. "Dayang Iskra, the full moon is now at its peak. This is the prime moment to start the ritual and give birth; are you ready?" asked an old woman with white pupils and white braided hair that fell down to her knees.
She held a wooden staff patterned like ash-colored scales. The staff appeared weak and brittle, seemingly like its holder, but those who knew this old woman would dismiss such a thought as utter foolishness.
Elder Shardani is stern and formidable, yet held a deep well of quiet compassion. Intensely focused on her duties as midwife and protector of new life, she often appeared aloof due to her immense power and the weight of her responsibilities. She spoke sparingly, but when she did, her words carried the gravity of ages and potent spiritual energy. She held the tribe's traditions and the balance of nature in the highest regard.
Dayang Iskra took a few deep breaths, bracing herself for the pain to come. "We can begin, Elder."
The small room was part of a larger, complex cave system built by the tribe within the mountain's belly. However, when Elder Shardani closed her eyes, the entire room—no, the entire cave complex—trembled as she focused the moon essence and qi from the air towards Dayang Iskra's belly.
"Ugh," Dayang Iskra gritted her teeth, bearing through the pain as increasingly concentrated moon essence and qi poured into her. 'I need to hold on,' she thought, digging her nails deeper into her palms, forcing out every last bit of strength and willpower she had. 'Ensure the talent and bloodline activation is successful for our tribe's future survival!'
"Dayang Iskra," Elder Shardani murmured, eyes closed, brows knitted in concentration and astonishment. "Your youngest son appears far from sated, showing extraordinary talent and bloodline potential unseen in generations!" A fine tremor ran through her ancient hands. "I promise to persist for as long as this body can handle!"
"Rajah, it seems Elder Shardani alone may struggle to maintain this ritual," a royal guard said. "Should we summon the other Elders?"
Rajah Bayani considered for a moment. "Have every Elder assist Elder Shardani in completing the ritual and ceremony for my son. Keep all warriors on standby. This is unprecedented in our tribe's history, and we should not take it lightly."
"As you command, Rajah," the royal guard replied, bowing before dashing away.
'Our tribe's power and population have slowly dwindled over the years due to constant threats and wars,' Rajah Bayani thought to himself. 'This might be the gods and ancestors' way of helping us. You have all of our hopes and best wishes, my son.'
The Moon Ritual, a tradition passed down from ancestors, was said to originate from Goddess Mayari's Prophecy to the first Rajah. It was both a gift and a mission. Every unborn child underwent this ritual, blessing them with a unique constitution found only within their tribe. If lucky, they would also activate one to three common talents, while tribal geniuses could even manifest one unique talent from Goddess Mayari.
The same royal guard returned with the rest of the Elders. "Elders," Rajah Bayani said humbly, "As you can see, Elder Shardani is struggling to channel the energy required by the Prince's unprecedented potential. I need everyone's help to ensure the ritual and ceremony are not broken until completion."
"Rest assured, Rajah," a loyal Elder replied. "The prince's talent and potential are the tribe's hope for a better future. We will do everything we can with these old bones."
They respectfully bowed before slowly walking beside Elder Shardani to share the burden of controlling the Moon Essence and Qi. "Thank you, Elders," Dayang Iskra expressed, a great burden lifting from her as they joined, allowing her a sigh of relief. She had almost feared they would fail the ritual, bringing great disappointment to the Rajah and the tribesmen.
The ritual lasted the entire night, and even all the warriors were needed to help, leaving everyone in a state of exhaustion. Just as they began to doubt if they could persist until the Prince was satisfied, the first rays of the morning sun peeked over the horizon. It was then that the unborn prince stopped absorbing any more Moon Essence and Qi.
The prince floated out from Dayang Iskra's womb, passing effortlessly through her abdominal tissue. Her entire womb and abdomen were transformed into a night sky, transparent, dark, and dotted with starlight. While mystical and shocking to outsiders, those within the tribe saw it as Goddess Mayari's favor, reducing the pain of childbirth.
"Uwaaaa! waaa!" The tense, silent atmosphere was broken by the newborn's cry, accompanied by the rays of morning sun—signs of a new beginning for this child and the entire tribe.