The first morning in the Azure Sky Outer Court arrived gently, as if the mountains themselves had whispered a blessing over the young disciples. Pale sunlight spilled over the peaks, glinting against rivers of flowing spiritual energy. The scent of dew-washed grass mixed with faint traces of incense and herbs—earthy, alive, and serene.
Su Yan stood at the doorway of House 37, her small hands clasped over the crescent moon pendant hidden beneath her robe. Xin Yue had already begun unpacking a stack of neatly folded cloths, humming softly to herself, while the sun's rays highlighted the auburn tones of her hair.
So this is… home? Su Yan thought, inhaling the crisp mountain air. Warm. Safe. But also… strange. Different from any world I've lived in. No chaos, no screaming parents, just… calm. That's new.
Her silver-tinted hair glinted in the morning light as she stepped outside. The courtyard stretched wide, bordered by low stone walls and rows of spirit herb gardens. Several other children scurried past, chatting excitedly, carrying training scrolls or small pouches of gear. Their laughter sounded almost like music—carefree, unaware of the world's cruel twists.
Xin Yue followed her, a mischievous grin tugging at her lips. "Come on, Su Yan. Everyone's gathering for the first lesson. Don't be late—you don't want to get the scary 'outer court introduction' from Elder Han, trust me."
"Scary?" Su Yan asked, raising an eyebrow. Elder Han, the Azure Sky Sect elder? Scary? This should be interesting.
"Yep," Xin Yue said solemnly, whispering as they walked. "He once stared at a boy for an entire hour without blinking… and the boy cried. No joke."
Su Yan smirked. Sounds like my kind of guy.
The outer court's training square was vast, a wide platform of polished stone with concentric rings carved along its surface. At its center, a low pedestal supported a pool of shimmering spiritual energy that reflected the morning sun like liquid crystal. Elder instructors stood around, their robes fluttering faintly in the wind, eyes observing each new disciple like gardeners tending delicate seedlings.
"Good morning, disciples," a senior instructor called, voice carrying over the square. "Today marks your first lesson in spirit cultivation basics. Focus, observe, and… do not be distracted."
Do not be distracted. Su Yan internally laughed. Funny, that's exactly what always happens.
As the children lined up, Su Yan noticed a small cluster off to the side—just past the tallest pine at the square's edge. A boy stood there, silent, almost blending into the morning mist. He wasn't waving, wasn't chatting, didn't seem even remotely like he belonged among children. But the way he stood… the way he watched her…
Her breath caught. Why does that feel… familiar?
The boy's black hair was cropped short, but it didn't hide the unnatural sharpness in his eyes. They were too old, too precise—eyes that had seen more than their size should allow. He didn't move as the children filed past. He simply waited. Watching.
Su Yan frowned. Great. Someone's already making my first day interesting.
She shook her head and focused on the instructor. "Focus, not distraction. Got it."
First Lesson: Basics of Spirit Energy
The first class began with a simple exercise: connecting one's spirit energy to the surrounding environment. Each child was instructed to kneel, close their eyes, and attempt to feel the flow of qi in the air, the sun, the earth beneath them.
Su Yan lowered herself to the stone ground, crossing her legs carefully. She exhaled, letting her mind clear.
Alright, let's see… sky, mountain, stone, herbs…
Her fingertips tingled almost immediately, the faintest silver glow pulsing at her pulse points. Oh, hello, she thought with a faint smirk. This is easier than I expected.
Several children grunted or whimpered, their small brows furrowing as their qi refused to flow. One boy beside her, a fiery-haired child with a stubborn frown, kept accidentally blasting tiny sparks from his palms, causing Mei Lin to yelp and dodge.
Su Yan rolled her eyes, a tiny smile tugging at her lips. Kids. Pathetic, but cute.
Even Xin Yue struggled slightly, her fire-wood dual root flaring irregularly. Su Yan reached out instinctively, pressing a hand near Xin Yue's wrist. "Relax. Qi flows like water, not firecrackers."
Xin Yue blinked. "Oh! That… actually worked. How—?"
"Beginners' luck," Su Yan said with a teasing wink. Or maybe centuries of reincarnated practice.
Observations That Aren't Normal
As the lesson progressed, Su Yan couldn't shake the feeling that someone—or something—was observing her. Every time she glanced toward the misty edge of the training square, the same black-haired boy was there. Still. Silent. Immovable.
I must be imagining it, she told herself. This place is full of spectators. Maybe he's just… an odd prodigy.
But her pendant tingled faintly against her chest. A soft warmth, like someone brushing a finger along her skin.
Okay… that's new.
The boy tilted his head ever so slightly, and she swore she saw a faint silver shimmer flicker across his figure—like moonlight caught in water.
…Right. Definitely not imagining it.
She frowned, intrigued and slightly annoyed. Do I go over? Do I ignore him? Or do I throw a pebble? No, that's not going to help.
Instead, she focused back on the exercise. But even as she meditated, she couldn't help thinking about him.
Who are you, mysterious boy? And why do I feel like I've known you my whole life?
Afternoon: Exploration and More Curiosity
After the morning exercises, the children were given free time to explore the outer court and its gardens. Su Yan walked slowly along a cobblestone path, Xin Yue chattering behind her about which herbs were easiest to cultivate.
Su Yan's eyes, however, kept darting to the misty edges of the outer court. The boy had disappeared from the training square, but now she sensed him nearby—just beyond the rows of spirit herbs, half-hidden among the taller plants.
Fantastic, she muttered under her breath. First day. I'm supposed to be invisible, blending in, and he's making that impossible.
She approached cautiously. "Hello?" she called softly.
The boy didn't answer. Only his eyes—so piercing, so knowing—met hers.
Then, without a word, he lifted one hand and pointed at her pendant.
…Oh no. Su Yan's fingers flew to her chest. The Destiny Thread beneath her collar pulsed faintly. A warmth spread along her chest, comforting and strange all at once.
He spoke, and his voice was calm, almost bored. "It is yours. But it is not yet stable."
Su Yan blinked. "…Stable?"
"Yes. And you must not lose it. Or you will lose more than yourself."
The words sent a shiver down her spine. Of course. First day. Mysterious boy with cryptic warnings. Just what every five-year-old wants.
Evening: Returning to courtyard
As twilight draped over the peaks, the children were guided back to their houses. Su Yan's mind raced—every leaf, every shadow, every shimmer of light reminded her of the boy.
Xin Yue chattered endlessly about evening rituals and meditation, but Su Yan only half-listened. Her thoughts returned, compulsively, to the mysterious figure who watched her so intently.
I don't even know his name… or if he's even a child. And yet… I can't shake the feeling that he's important. That he… matters.
The sky above the outer court deepened into violet, and the first stars glimmered faintly. Silver light from the rising moon caught Su Yan's hair and the crescent pendant at her throat.
This path… it's mine. But something else is waiting for me. I can feel it.
And somewhere beyond the outer court, in the quiet shadows between the gardens, the boy silently watched, eyes reflecting the moonlight like fragments of the future yet to come.
The game has begun, he thought. And I will be there when it changes.
Su Yan didn't know it yet, but the presence of this strange boy would mark the beginning of challenges, revelations, and encounters that would shape her entire life.
For now, though, she smiled faintly, touching the pendant beneath her collar. A quiet warmth seeped into her heart.