Theo Star System, Theo-Luna Sector, Planet 23-L
The third planet of the solar system was bustling as always, with spacecraft zooming in and out of the planet, and trade hubs floating around the planet.
On the surface of the planet, on the fourth continent, in the middle-grade living area, a cozy two-story house could be seen. The house was teeming with life, with flowers planted in the backyard and grass on the lawn properly mowed.
A young man around the age of 18, wearing the area high school uniform, walked toward the house. Putting the bag containing vegetables and other items on the ground, he took out a key and opened the door.
Entering the house, he locked behind him as what greeted him was a silent house, sensing the deafening silence, a look of worry appeared on his face.
Tap! Tap!
Just as he was about to rush inside, the sound of footsteps was heard. He released a sigh of relief as he looked toward the source of the sound.
"Welcome home, Brother."
A sweet voice containing a hint of childishness spoke as a figure walked out. She was a young girl, perhaps 15 or 16. Her hair color was a mixture of black and white, and her blue eyes shone with liveliness.
Her body was rosy, showing that she grew up in a decent household; at least she never faced the problem of sleeping hungry.
She walked with a quick pace as she looked at her brother with a smile on her face. It can be seen that she was truly happy to see her brother.
"Alina, don't rush."
The boy said with a worried voice as he saw his sister rushing to give him a hug. Helpless, he could only step forward to make sure she didn't get herself hurt
"Brother, don't worry, Nothing wi.."
Just as she was about to give a cheerful reply to her worried brother, her body stopped, her bright eyes dimmed, and she appeared lifeless. The hand she had raised fell down as she started to fall down due to the momentum of her movement.
"ALINA!!!"
The boy shouted as he rushed forward, holding the body of his fallen sister. He gently held her as he allowed her lifeless body to lean on him. Feeling her still flowing breath, he relaxed a little as he gently caressed the silky hair of his little sister.
Looking at her lifeless eyes, he couldn't help but clench his fist, but he was powerless to do anything about it. Time started to tick by, and he stood still holding his sister. Every moment felt like an eternity as he never took his eyes off his sister.
"Brother, sorry to worry you again."
A low voice filled with sadness sounded as Alina hugged her brother tightly; hearing her voice, his body relaxed.
"Silly sister, as your brother, if I don't worry about you, who will?"
The boy said, trying to appear cheerful, but the powerlessness in his voice couldn't be hidden. Hearing her brother's words, she felt sad inside but didn't let it show on her face.
She has to be brave so as not to worry her brother, who had already given her so much. She couldn't allow her emotions to increase his worry.
"Hmm, Brother is the best."
She gave a cheerful reply as the body couldn't help but smile. He bent down a little and picked up his sister like a princess. Talking measured steps, he walked toward the kitchen and gently allowed her to rest on the soft chair.
Looking at the stemming food, he couldn't help but release a helpless sigh. He looked at the two robots to the side and sent them away to pick up the items he bought.
"You don't have to cook, you know. It can be dangerous; you should leave it to the robots."
He said with a worried voice as he said the same words he had said a thousand times, the reply given to him was also the same.
"I don't want my brother to eat that lifeless food after a hard day. At least, I want my brother to eat food filled with love."
Alina replied with a smile as she rested her head on the table. The body didn't say anything else, as he knew he couldn't convince his sister. If it were anything else, she would have listened to his words, but she is quite stubborn on this aspect.
"Haa, please take care of your safety."
The boy could only say such words as he started to put the food on the table, making sure nothing was missing, he sat next to his sister and picked up a spoon and fork.
"Here, eat up."
He said with a smile as he started to feed her, and Alina followed his words as she opened her mouth, allowing her brother to feed her. She chewed her food slowly as she also picked up the food to feed her brother.
"Don't move too much."
The boy said, but he still slowed her to feed him once, after which she remained there without moving as they enjoyed this tranquil time.
After eating the food, the boy commanded the robots to do the dishes as he picked up his sister and let her sit on the couch in the living room. He went to the bedroom and started to change into normal clothes.
Walking down the stairs, he entered the living room, and Alina was watching the show on the television without making unnecessary movements.
He walked toward her and sat next to her, feeling his presence. She allowed her body to rest on his as she turned her attention toward him.
"Isn't tomorrow the Path Creators test?"
Alina asked as she made herself comfortable in her brother's embrace. Although the path creators test was of utmost importance, he words didn't carry worry, not because she didn't care, but because she had complete trust in her brother.
"Yes, but don't worry, I won't fail."
"I know, I trus."
Before she could complete her words, she froze once again. Her body appeared lifeless as the boy once again felt helpless.
"I am not as good as you think my sister."
He spoke, his tone carrying deep sorrow as he looked at his sister. He really is a failure of a brother, although people call him a genius and so on, he has always felt that he was a failure.
He is someone who has lived two lives. With the knowledge of his last life, he was able to make himself seem like a genius in this, but what's the use of this title if he can't even help his sister?
Although the Human Alliance gives free medical treatment to all its citizens, her condition isn't something that can be fixed by the civilians at their level.
Although the cause of her condition is still unknown to him, he at least knows its effect. After Alina does a certain number of actions, her body will freeze, and she will appear lifeless. If not for the fact that her body heat remains and her breathing continues, she would have died long ago.
"I.."
"It's ok."
The boy said, seeing that his sister had recovered. He wouldn't allow her to fault herself. Alina, hearing her brother's words, didn't say anything, but her hug tightened.
Both of them stayed silent, enjoying one another's company; the only sound heard was their breathing and the television.
The Next day, the boy walked out of his house as Alina gave him her best regards. The boy nodded his head as he booked a taxi and sat in it. In a few minutes, he reached his school as he walked out.
Looking at the students walking around with their friends with smiles on their faces, he felt sad that his sister couldn't enjoy this.
He quickly rushed toward his class as he sat on his desk, taking out all the books from his bag he started to recheck their content.
"Yooo, Nexus, you are quite early today."
A booming voice spoke as a robust young man sat next to him, Ronan, his desk mate. Their relation can be said to be quite good, after all, he isn't a loner.
"Well, Today is an important day."
Nexus replied as he put down the book in his hands. The book was titled 'Body Cultivation Basics', the other six books' titles being 'Soul Cultivation Basics', 'Will Cultivation Basics', 'Energy Cultivation Basics', 'Life Extension Path', 'Soul Defense Tips', '100 Communication Types'.
The four basics are the compulsory courses taught in school and are the foundation on which an average citizen can form a future path. The other three books are something he bought as he felt that they would be helpful on his first trip.
"I guess, well, if you don't get a good talent, it's best to give up being a path creator."
"After all, how many can truly become a path creator?"
Ronan said as he rested his body on the desk, hearing his words, Nexus stopped. The words said by him aren't wrong, although the citizen of his level doesn't know the exact size of the territory of the human civilization, he knows it is measured in light-years.
Every year, trillions of people reach the necessary age, but among those trillions of people only fewer than a thousand are able to become a path creator.
Most others remain as normal citizens, or if their talent is good, become a Pathstrider. Although it's best if he becomes a Path Creator but even if he doesn't, it's not the end of all things.
"Well, if my talent is good, I will try to become a path creator; otherwise, becoming a Pathstrider isn't bad."
Nexus replied as he put down the book in his hands. He had memorized all the content by heart, so there is nothing more he could do now. If he were from a rich family, he would have been able to use greater resources, but he is just an orphan.
The only reason he can live in a middle-class neighborhood is that he is considered a genius. The value of talents in a civilization is the highest. If it were before the Modern era or the era called the Dark Ages, he might have had to hide his talent to remain safe from the clutches of nobility.
But in this Era, even if you are of noble birth, you may have higher resources, but you can't bully or suppress normal citizens.
After a while, the teacher appeared as he started to lecture about all the things that are important in the myriad words. Nexus was focused on the clock in the class as it was finally 12:00.
[Perfect Age Detected, Taking to the Myriad Word in 1 minute, please prepare.]
A magnificent and distant voice spoke as a counter appeared before the eyes of all the students.
"Good luck, Ronan."
"Same to you, Nexus."
With those last words, the counter ended as all the students in the class disappeared. The teacher also gave the students his last blessing as he walked out of the class.