Chapter 42: The Decision Before the Festival
The golden sun bathed Sujin Village in a warm glow as roosters crowed and villagers rose to begin their day. Four months had passed since Yue and her friends had returned from the ancestral temple, and while life had returned to normal, a lingering sense of purpose simmered just beneath the surface.
The central square buzzed with chatter. News from the outside world had arrived again—this time with official letters. Awakening academies were being built all over the world. Children who had awakened were invited to join them for elite training, with promises of safe dorms, powerful teachers, and secure government jobs upon graduation. Adults who had awakened were encouraged to register and join various guilds.
As villagers huddled around the newly installed announcement board, the excitement was mixed with something else—envy. Most of Sujin's adults had not awakened, and even the most hopeful were starting to accept that their fate might be different.
Back at the Yue household, the mood was more relaxed. Yue, now nearing fifteen, sat cross-legged beside her father, who was still meditating diligently, eyes closed and lips muttering affirmations.
"You're still at it?" she teased.
He opened one eye. "Hey, don't laugh. I swear I felt a tingle yesterday."
Her mother entered the room carrying a basket of clean clothes. "He's been saying that for a week now," she said with a chuckle. "Yue, go get your friends. Breakfast will be ready soon."
After breakfast, Yue met her gang under the large tree behind the training field. Mei Qui was stretching, Tao Lin was nibbling on a sweet bun, and Chika was already plotting mischief. Despite everything, their bond remained tight, mischievous and full of inside jokes.
"So… are we really going to the big city?" Jia asked as she leaned against the tree.
"Do we even want to?" Shu Fen replied. "It's not like we've awakened."
"Yeah, but those academy dorms look amazing," Minna added wistfully.
"Still… it feels like running away," Lian muttered. "This village, the temple, the prophecy—we're part of it. Should we just leave that behind?"
Before the debate could spiral further, a bell rang from the village square. The elders were gathering.
As they arrived, one of the older women—Grandma Suen, who was always knitting something—raised her hand. "I have something to say," she said. "This village is alive because we've never forgotten what matters. Next month is the Sujin Festival. It comes only once every five years. Let the children stay. Let them celebrate their roots before they go chasing stars."
A murmur of agreement spread.
Yue's mother, standing beside the other leaders, nodded thoughtfully. "She's right. And besides… Yue's birthday is just before the festival."
Yue's face flushed slightly. "Mom…"
"But it's true," her father chimed in. "Let her have her cake before destiny comes knocking."
Laughter bubbled through the crowd, softening the heavy atmosphere.
The decision was made that day. The children would not leave yet. The festival was only weeks away, and it would be the first real celebration for the children born after the prophecy. It was to be a grand moment—a village remembering its past while preparing for the future.
That night, under the soft glow of oil lanterns, Yue and her gang lay on their backs by the training field, staring at the stars.
"Think the festival will be big?" Riko asked.
"I hope they have the carrying contest again," Tao Lin grinned. "I want to carry a guy on my back this year."
"Only if he's cute," Chika teased.
Yue smiled, her heart warm. For the first time in a while, everything felt just right. But deep within her, something stirred—a knowing, a pull. Her system hadn't spoken in months, but it whispered now.
"The time is near. The threads are gathering."
She didn't know what it meant, but she knew one thing: this festival would change everything.