Chapter 44: Before the Celebration
The sun rose gently over Sujin Village, casting a soft golden hue across the tiled rooftops and green fields. In the heart of the village, preparations for the grand Nest Festival had already begun. It was the first time in five years the celebration would be held again, and the entire village buzzed with anticipation.
Colorful ribbons fluttered in the breeze, tied to every wooden post and tree branch. Handmade lanterns hung from ropes crisscrossing the village square, their paper shells decorated by the village children with drawings of legendary heroines, magical beasts, and scenes from ancient myths. There was joy in the air—laughter, excitement, and a hint of chaos.
The men and boys, though still physically weaker and not yet awakened, did their best to help. They hauled decorations with all the strength they could muster, often stumbling or dropping things, only to get chuckled at by the watching women. One man accidentally dropped a stack of colorful cloths into a muddy patch, earning a playful scolding from his wife who kissed his forehead and handed him a clean one.
The girls, especially Yue's gang, had taken over the organization with energetic flair. Tao Lin and Shu Fen led the charge in setting up the challenge stations. Riko was in charge of the snack booths—but her role mostly involved sampling every item. She ended up with frosting on her cheeks and a guilty grin.
Chika and Jia couldn't resist their mischievous urges. They switched around the signs on the elders' food booths, causing hilarious confusion. Elder Chun's herbal tea booth was labeled as spicy dumplings, and Elder Li's smoked fish stall suddenly advertised "Magical Sweets for Lovers."
"CHIKA!" yelled Elder Chun as a group of giggling girls ran past. "Come back here and fix this!"
"I can't hear you over the joy of festival spirit!" Chika yelled back with a grin.
Meanwhile, Zhao Xun, now four years old, zipped past the crowd, flying just a few inches above the ground. Her long hair fluttered behind her as she soared joyfully through the square. Not far behind, her twin brother Li Wei floated gently, using his charm magic to convince an old baker to give him another piece of sticky rice cake.
"You already had three!" the baker said with a chuckle.
"But I'm still a growing boy!" Li Wei argued with sparkling eyes, his charm already working its magic.
Behind them, the other gifted children of Sujin Village—those born in the last four years—ran about using minor powers like enhanced speed, stealth, and short bursts of wind. One disappeared completely and reappeared behind a booth, making the older villagers gasp and shake their heads with amused exasperation.
Despite the mischief and mess, the preparations were going smoothly. The village glowed with warmth, colors, and energy. This wasn't just a festival. It was a symbol of hope, a moment of joy shared before the unknown future would come calling.
Yue stood at a distance, watching everyone from a hill that overlooked the village. The wind blew gently through her long sky-blue hair. Her eyes scanned the horizon, the sunset painting the sky in shades of amber and violet.
She felt something strange deep inside. Everyone around her was growing, discovering powers, finding their path. Yet she remained unawakened. She hadn't told anyone—not even her friends—that she sometimes wondered if she would ever awaken. She wasn't sad, exactly. Just... unsure.
Soft footsteps approached behind her.
"I thought I'd find you here," her mother said gently, settling beside her.
Yue glanced at her mother—strong, confident, and calm. "Just needed to clear my head."
Her mother placed a hand on her shoulder. "You don't need powers to be strong, Yue. You already carry the strength of heart, and that's what matters the most."
"But what if I never awaken?" Yue asked quietly.
"Then you'll still be my daughter. Still be Yue. And if the Goddess wills it, your moment will come. Maybe not when you expect it, but when you truly need it."
Yue nodded slowly. Her mother always knew how to calm the storm in her heart.
They sat together in silence for a while, watching the sky change.
Then, without warning, a streak of light shot across the darkening sky.
It was bright—too bright for a normal shooting star. As they watched, it split into five glowing strands, each a different color, before vanishing in a burst of white light.
Back in the village, everyone had seen it too. The villagers gathered, murmuring and pointing toward the heavens.
Elder Henae stepped into the center of the crowd, eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "It's a sign," she said. "A blessing before the festival. Or perhaps a warning. The Goddess speaks in subtle ways."
The villagers nodded slowly, feeling both awe and unease.
The rest of the evening settled into calm once more. The girls gathered near the old tree by the lake, sharing snacks and teasing Riko about frosting still stuck to her ear.
"Tomorrow, we finish the stage and paint the arena!" Tao Lin declared.
"And I'm not eating any more test samples!" Riko lied.
Chika grinned. "Let's just hope we don't prank someone too important this time."
Laughter echoed into the night. Yue smiled softly, still thinking about the sky and her mother's words.
She didn't have powers yet, but something deep inside told her that her time would come.
And when it did, she would be ready.
The festival was just around the corner.
And with it, a new beginning.