Chapter 4: SHO
In the soft light of dawn, Winston handed Arashi a simple but hearty meal: a single egg, a cooked chicken leg, and a piece of heated bread. For the cat, a sleek and silver sardine was offered. They ate quietly, the air thick with unspoken words. After breakfast, Winston's voice broke the silence.
"Prepare for a long journey," he said, his tone heavy with unspoken secrets.
They walked for hours through dense forests and across open fields. By noon, they reached a towering mountain, its peak lost in the clouds. At the mountain's base was a massive door, ancient and imposing, carved with strange symbols.
Winston stepped forward and, with a voice that seemed to echo from deep within him, he commanded, "Open up."
The door groaned and creaked, as if waking from a long slumber, and slowly swung open to reveal a hidden village. Inside, people floated in the air, moved objects with their minds, and performed other incredible feats. The village thrummed with a sense of mystery and wonder.
Winston guided Arashi through the bustling streets to a small, humble hut. "This is your new home," he said, a hint of pride in his voice. "You are a star holder, Arashi. I will explain everything soon."
The hut was simple, with a single room, a tiny cooking area, a place for clothes, a drawer, a bed, a lone fan and a washroom. Despite its modesty, Arashi felt an immediate sense of belonging. Winston brought over a glass of lemonade and sat beside him on the bed.
"Listen carefully," Winston began. "Some stars in the sky hold great powers and choose their hosts. When your mother gave birth to you, a star chose you. We don't know which star it is, and that's why I brought you here."
Arashi's mind whirled with questions. "Why now? Why didn't you bring me here when I was born?"
Winston sighed, the weight of his words heavy in the air. "Humans with star powers don't manifest their abilities until they reach a certain age, usually around 14 or 15. You are at that age now, Arashi."
Arashi's thoughts drifted to his old home, filled with familiar things. "Can I bring my furniture and belongings here?"
"Of course," Winston replied. "We'll have everything brought over."
As Arashi settled in, Winston explained the village's unique economy. "Inside here, we don't use normal money. We have our own currency called S gems."
Arashi furrowed his brow. "What will happen to my normal money?"
Winston smiled. "It will be converted to S gems. Currently, one yen is worth three S gems. So you have 45,000 S gems in your star holder bank."
Arashi's new life was to be one of learning and responsibility. He would master his ability, help prevent stars from falling to Earth, and find others who had stars within them. It was a daunting task, but the village hummed with a quiet reassurance that he was where he was meant to be.
Scene changes, Far from the hidden village, in the scorching sands of an ancient Egyptian site, archaeologists toiled under the relentless sun. Among the diggers was a man who had dedicated his life to uncovering the past. Today, his spade struck something hard and cold.
With trembling hands, he unearthed a glowing orb, its surface shimmering like an eye. It pulsed with a strange, inner light, casting eerie shadows in the afternoon sun. The digger's breath caught in his throat. What could this ancient, mysterious object be?
Back in the village, Arashi's journey was just beginning, but the world outside was stirring with its own secrets. Unbeknownst to him, the glowing orb in the sands of Egypt would soon intertwine with his fate, setting off a chain of events that would challenge everything he thought he knew about the stars and their powers.
Winston sensed a shift in the air, a distant tremor of unease. He knew the discovery in Egypt was significant, though its true nature remained shrouded in mystery. For now, he focused on preparing Arashi, for the boy's journey was about to become far more perilous and extraordinary than either of them could have imagined.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone