Shinju's fingertips were trembling.
He brought his palms closer together, steadying his breath.
He reached for that fragile intention — "to create."
But…
Nothing happened.
It was as if the universe simply ignored him.
Shinju clenched his teeth and tried again.
A spark… the tiniest light… even a single mote…
The darkness between his hands merely quivered, then faded out.
Again.
This time the darkness dispersed like mist.
Again.
This time his fingers numbed, and a thin pain spread across his chest.
And still… nothing.
Shinju's voice dropped to a whisper:
> "Ugh… still nothing."
He lowered his head.
Opened his fingers.
There was nothing but a heavy, silent darkness.
The quiet stretched.
> "Maybe…" he muttered, his voice cracked,
"maybe I'm not human anymore."
His breath stopped for a moment.
> "Maybe I… turned into some kind of void creature."
Koharu stepped forward the instant she heard that.
Her clear, water-like eyes locked onto Shinju's.
> "Shinju,"
"you know I can see the essence of a heart."
She took one more step.
> "And your heart… has the brightest white sigil I've ever seen."
"You're the farthest thing from a monster.
You're the most human person I've ever met."
Shinju stayed silent.
Her words quieted the storm inside him, even if just a little.
At that moment Swen stepped forward, hands in her pockets, shaking her head in disbelief.
> "Yeah… now everything makes sense."
Shinju raised a brow.
Swen continued, her tone purely analytical:
> "To materialize Yin at that level… normal cultivation isn't enough."
"If a simple technique could do it, everyone would."
Her gaze sharpened.
> "But what you did… no living being would dare."
"You actually tried to erase yourself."
Her voice dropped, serious:
> "No creature — human, dragon, beast, anyone — chooses to cease existing by their own will.
That's heavier than surrendering to the void."
She drew a slow breath.
> "That's why the Yin core merged with your mind."
"When the void tried to consume you, you didn't submit — you tried to remove yourself."
"And that paradox made the void synchronize with you."
A faint smirk touched her lips.
> "In short, Shinju… the void didn't corrupt you."
"It accepted you."
Shinju closed his eyes for a moment.
A quiet thought passed through him:
So the only thing that accepted me… was that?
But he said nothing.
Aurelia stepped forward then, her presence calm — almost warm.
> "That's enough for today."
Shinju lifted his gaze.
Aurelia smiled lightly.
> "Yang energy isn't something you learn by forcing it."
"Creation requires a steady heart."
Shinju narrowed his eyes slightly.
Aurelia continued:
> "If you push too hard, you'll only smother the flame."
"Even a spark… will appear when the time is right."
Swen groaned dramatically:
> "Yeah, Shinju. Give it a rest.
If your brain heats up any more, we're all going to explode with you."
Koharu bit her lip to keep from laughing.
Shinju said nothing, simply staring at his own hands.
His fingers trembled again.
But there was no light.
Still no light.
Yet his inner voice whispered softly:
Come on… just become fire.
One spark.
Even a single flicker… is enough.
The darkness stirred.
For a heartbeat…
It felt like a warm breath brushed against his palms from somewhere far away.
But no spark formed.
Only a faint burn in his chest…
And when Shinju noticed it, he muttered:
> "Maybe… it really isn't the time."
Aurelia nodded gently.
> "When the moment comes, you won't even realize it."
"The light will simply appear."
Koharu smiled softly:
> "And when that day comes… I'll be right there."
Swen flung her arms out dramatically:
> "Me too!
And maybe we'll discover a whole new type of fire — we'll call it 'Shinju's Ridiculous Little Spark.'"
Koharu jabbed her elbow into Swen's side.
Aurelia sighed.
> "Come. We need a place to camp before night falls.
Tomorrow… a true journey begins.
We should gather our strength."
Shinju lowered his head slightly; the tremor in his fingertips hadn't faded.
He closed his palms into a fist with quiet resolve.
I must become stronger — whatever it takes.