The cold wind whistled through the snowy trees.
Lina walked slowly through the endless white forest, her boots crunching softly in the snow. Her breath came out like mist, and her fingers were nearly frozen, but she didn't stop.
Her grandmother had told her, "Go north. Find the mountain that touches the sky."
She didn't know what she was looking for exactly—but something inside her chest guided her. The star fragment pulsed faintly like a compass, lighting her path.
Sometimes it glowed brighter when she walked in the right direction. Other times, it dimmed when she took the wrong path.
It was her only guide.
A World Full of Secrets
Lina had never left the village before.
She had never seen the endless forests, the deep rivers, or the strange beasts that hid in the mist. Every step she took was a step into the unknown.
She had no sword, no armor, no spells. Just her courage and the mysterious power inside her.
On the second day, she met a talking bird.
It was bright red, with feathers that shimmered like fire.
"You carry starlight in your chest, girl. That's dangerous."
Lina blinked.
"You… can talk?"
"I'm a Firefeather Bird. I've lived a thousand years. And I can smell divine energy from far away. Yours smells... ancient."
Lina hesitated.
"Do you know where the mountain that touches the sky is?"
"Hmph. You mean Skyreach Peak? It's real. But it's not a place for little girls."
"Please. I need to go there."
The bird studied her.
"You're brave. That'll help. But you'll need more than that."
It flew onto her shoulder.
"I'll show you the path. But don't blame me if you die."
And just like that, Lina gained her first companion.
Trials of the Forest
The journey became harder.
Every step toward Skyreach Peak brought new dangers.
On the third night, black wolves with glowing eyes attacked her while she rested.
The Firefeather Bird burned one with a blast of flame, but the others circled her fast.
Lina panicked.
Suddenly, her chest glowed.
BOOM!
A beam of starlight burst from her palm and blasted the wolves away.
The ground cracked. The snow melted.
She fell to her knees, gasping.
The Firefeather Bird landed beside her.
"So the fragment responds to danger. Good to know."
Lina looked at her hand, still glowing faintly.
"What… am I becoming?"
"You're becoming a Star Chosen. That's what."
Skyreach Peak
On the fifth day, Lina finally saw it.
In the distance, rising far above the clouds, a black mountain pierced the heavens.
It looked impossible—too tall to be real, too dark to be natural.
Even the clouds seemed afraid to touch it.
That was Skyreach Peak.
"That… is where the Star Sovereign once meditated," the Firefeather Bird whispered. "Many seekers climb it, hoping to find power. Most never return."
Lina tightened her scarf and stepped forward.
Her chest glowed, brighter than ever before.
The mountain was calling her.
Climbing the Sky
The climb was brutal.
The air thinned with every step.
Her legs screamed in pain, her fingers turned numb, and icy winds tried to push her down.
But Lina didn't stop.
She climbed using ropes made from vines, pulling herself over sharp rocks and frozen ledges. She had no gear, no tools—only her will and her glowing heart.
Hours passed.
Then a day.
Then two.
Finally, she reached a high ledge—and found something strange.
A glowing stone door, carved into the side of the mountain.
On its surface were nine glowing stars arranged in a circle.
Her chest pulsed.
The stars on the door responded—flashing brightly.
Crrrrrk…
The door opened.
The Ancient Temple
Inside was a silent temple made of crystal and light.
It floated in a vast cavern, untouched by time.
The walls were covered in murals—images of a man standing above galaxies, his arms holding stars, his eyes closed in calm power.
"Is that… the Star Sovereign?" Lina whispered.
The Firefeather Bird nodded.
"Zayn. The one who divided his power into fragments and vanished."
"Why?"
"To protect the universe. To prepare for the darkness that even gods feared."
Lina stepped forward.
In the center of the temple was a glowing platform.
She stepped onto it.
WHOOSH!
The whole temple shimmered.
The murals glowed.
And a voice echoed in her mind.
A Message from the Past
"Inheritor of the stars… You have been chosen."
"The fragment within you is one of nine. Each carries a piece of the Eternal Will."
"Your path will be filled with trials, enemies, and doubt. But fear not. You are not alone."
"Seek the other inheritors. Find the fragments. When the Nine Stars shine again as one, the Eternal God shall awaken."
"Only then can the Outer Darkness be stopped."
The voice faded.
Lina stood silently.
Her heart beat faster.
So… she wasn't the only one?
There were others—just like her?
And they had to come together?
"I… I won't fail," she whispered.
The First Step of Destiny
Lina stepped out of the temple.
The winds blew gently, as if the mountain itself was proud of her.
She looked up.
The stars above twinkled.
Somewhere out there… others were watching the sky just like her.
Others who carried fragments.
She now had a purpose.
She was not just a strange girl from a frozen village anymore.
She was a Star Inheritor.
And the journey of the stars had only just begun.