Chapter 7: Flickers in the Archives
The clan library wasn't built like the rest of District 7.
Its stone walls were real — not synthetic alloys or self-healing metals like the outer buildings. Carvings lined every pillar, each one a memory etched from Zhao clan history. Great wars, forgotten oaths, and names no longer spoken outside these walls.
Zhao Yuchen stepped inside.
The air felt colder here. Not from lack of heat, but from the weight of so many voices trapped in silence.
He walked past the outer halls where digital scrolls floated lazily in scanning orbs. His steps took him deeper — into the Manual Vault. A place rarely visited by younger generations. Not flashy. Not modern.
But filled with truth.
Elder Mo sat there, as always, cross-legged in front of a circular platform.
"You're not supposed to be here alone," the old man said without opening his eyes.
"I carry the seal," Yuchen replied, raising his palm slightly. The faint flame symbol shimmered.
Elder Mo opened one eye — then sighed. "Of course. The Root awakens and chooses the quiet one." He gestured. "Come. Ask your questions."
Yuchen stepped forward, kneeling respectfully. "The map seal showed me Earth," he said. "But there's more. The mark… it reacted when I was attacked. It protected me."
Elder Mo's expression changed slightly. "As it should. The Root Flame is no ordinary brand. It's a piece of Earth's original will — fractured and cast into bloodlines during the Great Departure."
Yuchen's eyes narrowed. "So Earth… wasn't just left behind?"
Mo nodded slowly. "It chose to be forgotten."
That line hung in the air.
"Why?" Yuchen asked quietly.
"Because Earth was never just a planet," Elder Mo said. "It was a living node in the cosmic cycle. When alien seeds arrived… it closed itself off. We call it a Forbidden World now, but in truth, it is sleeping. Waiting."
A pause.
"And the seal… is part of its call."
Yuchen felt his breath catch. "So, the path it shows me—"
"Is both a guide and a test," Elder Mo said, leaning closer. "It will bring you to Earth. But only if you survive those who want it locked away forever."
Yuchen stood, his heart pounding — not from fear, but purpose.
"Then I'll follow it."
He turned to leave, but the elder called out again.
"One last thing," Mo said, voice lower now. "Once you reach the final gate… you'll need more than strength."
Yuchen paused.
"You'll need to remember who you are — not what they trained you to be."