Morning came quietly, without strange dreams or anything out of place.
Just sunlight slipping through the thin curtains and the soft sound of movement in the house.
Stella was already wide awake.
Normally, she would have been long gone by now, with cultivation robes decorating every part of her body,
But today was different.
The 5 foot 3 inches girl stood in the kitchen, tying her white hair back, as she glanced to the room farthest from the hallway every few seconds.
Omen's door was open, and that alone felt unreal.
He used to keep it shut, always. Like he was hiding from the world.
But now the room was bright, and clean.
The boy sat on the edge of his bed, pulling on boots slowly, not rushing or tired. His long white hair was tied back loosely, face looking calm, still thin, but not empty.
Stella leaned on the table edge and watched him for a second.
"You're slow," she said.
The 18 year old boy glanced up and smirked faintly.
"You're early," he said softly.
"I'm always early." The girl with hazel eyes grunted, puffing up her sharp but small face.
She walked in, crossed her arms.
"You're actually going?"
Omen nodded. "Yeah."
To the Seven Elemental Sect, a place he had joined years ago. The sect he almost never went to.
He was always mocked, ignored, and pushed aside there.
Omen was treated like a useless relic of a fallen genius.
He had enrolled there back when his talent still existed. Back when people still called him "prodigy" and his name actually meant something.
But after the attribute ceremony when he was 13?
His life had turned into hell.
Mockery, bullying, pity, and cruel laughter, nothing was left unbarred against him.
So he stopped going.
Not officially.
Just…stopped showing up.
The boy stayed home, wallowing in the loss of his parents and power both.
Stella never forced her brother.
She just carried everything alone.
But now that he was going back, it made the girl filled with joy.
Just because he chose to live again.
"You sure?" she asked quietly.
Omen stood up. "Yeah."
There was no hesitation or fear in his voice.
"I'm not in a rush," the boy added.
"I haven't even checked that reverse cultivation thing yet."
Stella frowned. "You're not curious?"
"I am," he said honestly.
"But I'm not desperate."
That surprised her more than anything.
The old Omen would've clung to any power like a lifeline.
And something was telling her that this one didn't?
"I just…fixed things with you," Omen continued calmly.
"I'm not trying to run into another hell blindly, you dumbo."
He grabbed his usual black robes and put it on slowly.
"I'll go step by step."
Stella stayed silent, looking up at her brother with her doe shaped eyes.
Then she walked to him and adjusted his collar, straightening his robe.
Like the 17-year old girl used to do when they were kids.
"You're going to Seven Elemental Sect," she said.
"So don't go looking like a ghost."
Omen huffed, laughing slightly. "Yes, mom."
She flicked his forehead as the moment slowed down inside her head.
A small, honest smile appeared on her face, which alone felt rare to Omen and made him proud of himself.
They walked outside together, the morning air was cool.
Birds flew between rooftops as spiritual currents flowed lightly through the streets.
People passed by the roads, some looked ordinary and using gadgets while other fully followed the cultivation era persona, having on them things like swords, beasts, and formations.
Life would move no matter what they wanted, but atleast Omen didn't feel heavy inside it anymore.
As they walked, Stella muttered lightly, "you don't have to prove anything." she said.
"To them. To the sect, or anyone."
"I know." Omen earnestly nodded.
"You don't have to fight anyone."
"I won't."
"You don't have to endure bullying again."
Omen stopped walking, a vein popping on his forehead. "I'm really not a small kid, you dumbass!"
They reached the road where they would split.
Stella would go to Hundred Flowers Valley while Omen had to leave for the Seven Elemental Sect.
Just when the boy was about to leave, Stella hesitated, running up to him as she hugged him from the behind.
"Come back on time," she said quietly, heat rising up from her cheeks.
"Make dinner for me again?"
"You bet I will-"
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
They separated, and as Stella walked away, she looked back at her brother one last time, her white robes fluttering.
Omen was still standing there, watching her as she leaved.
Exhaling slowly, he turned back, walking towards the sect road.
Seven Elemental Sect stood on a raised land platform surrounded by elemental pillars.
Fire, water, earth, wind, metal, wood, and finally lightning.
As Omen approached, some disciples started passing by him.
Some glanced, staring hard as they frowned. Unable to believe who was back.
While the others instantly started gossiping.
"…Isn't that Omen?"
"The fallen genius?"
"He still exists?"
"Why's he here though? Wasn't he threatened by Drake to stay away from the place?"
"He can't even cultivate properly."
Mockery hadn't changed, but Omen had.
His heart didn't react to most of the jabs.
As for this Drake? He was not afraid of that insecure bastard anymore.
Because true cultivation doesn't begin with power.
No.
It begins with a choice.
And Omen had finally made his.
***