章 1: A Nerd's Innermost Dream
The sun was setting over Hoover Crest High School, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange. The campus was alive with the sounds of students having fun, laughing, and engaging in club activities.
But for Jackson Ryder, it was just another typical day. He was still in his classroom, buried deep in his Advanced Physics textbook. His pen scratched against the paper at an incredible speed as equations and theories swirled in his mind.
Finally, Jackson closed his textbook with a sigh and packed his bag. The classroom was empty, the only sound being the distant chatter from the sports fields. He left the room and meandered towards the football field, pretending it was only a casual stroll, but only he knew better.
From the sidelines, he watched some of the football players training, his heart pounding in rhythm with the thudding of footballs against the ground and the boisterous yells of the team, the watching fans, and their coach.
His eyes naturally followed the team's fast-rising star quarterback, Mike Larson, as he executed a perfect pass that found the wide receiver on the other side of the field with the accuracy of a guided surface-to-surface missile. Jackson's blood boiled as he saw the sequence of play, his mind filling with fantasies of he himself being on the field, celebrated and admired.
"Hey, nerd! What are you staring at?" An annoying voice suddenly cut through his daydream. Trent McGee, a burly linebacker, was laughing at him. "Would you like to join and go through some drills with us?"
Jackson's face burned with embarrassment. "No, thank you," he muttered, quickly looking away.
Not wishing for trouble, he walked away from the football field with his head down, wondering if he would ever change his life and break free from the academic prison that held him.
Despite his straight A's and praises from his teachers, Jackson had always felt an emptiness inside his core, a void that academic success could not fill. He longed for something more, something that textbooks and equations could never provide, and football seemed like it could be the key.
The football players were everything he wasn't—strong, confident, and, most of all, united in a common goal. He dreamed of being out there, a hero on the field, celebrated by everyone. Instead, he was just Jackson Ryder, the nerdy guy who could solve any math problem but couldn't do even one push-up without wheezing.
As he left the school gate, he saw the usual spectacle of parents and chauffeurs arriving to pick up their kids and the children of their bosses. Jackson kept his head lowered as he had no such privilege.
He came from a single-parent family, and his mom worked late as a nurse in a public hospital. She didn't even have a car, let alone the time to pick him up from school. Jackson bowed his head and continued on his way.
But soon, he came across a sight that caused his heart to shudder. Byron Fowler, Gideon Lopez, and Reese Hanson, the three school bullies who had always made his life difficult, were walking ahead on the road. Not wanting to deal with them, Jackson took a detour and used a route on the outskirts of town.
Like always, the remote road was flanked by twisted trees, with branches stretching out like skeletal arms. But this time, there was something different about it, and despite the warm August weather, an unsettling feeling crept over Jackson as he walked on.
Then, out of nowhere, he stumbled upon an old, abandoned building that didn't seem to belong to this world. He could swear that the structure wasn't there the other week when he used the route, but now it stood at the edge of the school property, shrouded in mystery.
This was something that Jackson couldn't understand, and no equation or proven physics theory could explain its sudden appearance.
Intrigued, he briefly looked around to ensure no one was watching and slipped through a gap in the rusted fence. He approached the building and pushed the door.
Unsurprisingly, the door creaked open, revealing a dim interior filled with dusty relics of the past. Old scrolls that didn't belong to this era and broken furniture were scattered across the old marble floor. But what caught Jackson's eye was a faint glow emanating from a corner of the room.
As he approached, he identified the source: a small, intricately carved stone pulsating with a warm, golden light. It seemed to call to him, beckoning him closer.
Jackson's curiosity, always his strongest suit, got the better of him. He reached out and touched the stone. But the moment his fingers made contact, a surge of energy shot through him, knocking him off his feet and flooding his mind with visions of ancient warriors and blazing suns.
Images and knowledge continued flooding his mind, including a cultivation technique known as the Eternal Radiance Scripture, a method to harness and cultivate Sun Qi.
As for the stone, he learned that it was the Solar Heartstone, a legendary artifact from an ancient cultivation world revered for its unparalleled ability to harness and impart the power of Sun Qi. And what was even more surprising was that it had chosen him as its bearer.
When the visions finally ended, Jackson felt different. His body tingled with a strange warmth, and he felt an inexplicable sense of vigor coursing through his entire being.
He sat up and noticed his spectacles on the floor beside him, their glasses broken. But when he looked around, he realized he could see perfectly without them.
"Well, that's one way to fix my eyesight," he muttered, still in shock. He had sometimes read about mystical artifacts in his fantasy novels. But he never imagined he'd stumble upon one in real life.
He looked around but didn't see the stone that was the source of the abnormality of his body. It must have been absorbed into his body after he became its bearer.
Not wanting to catch any attention, he picked up his broken spectacles and quietly left the old, abandoned building. He then slipped through the gap in the fence and broke into a jog, eager to get home.
The humid August air of Hoover, Alabama, clung to his skin, making each step feel like wading through molasses. But surprisingly, the distance seemed shorter, his steps lighter, and his energy levels higher than ever.
The Solar Heartstone had begun its work, and Jackson's mind raced with possibilities. Maybe, just maybe, he could finally acquire the strong body he needed to join the football team.
Finally, after turning the familiar corner, he saw his home come into view. It was a modest single-story house at the end of a quiet lane that exuded simple charm and warmth.
The soft blue exterior, slightly faded from years of weathering the Alabama sun, still stood proudly. A small, neatly kept front yard boasted a patch of green grass, and there was also a flower bed bursting with colorful marigolds and daisies, lovingly tended by Jackson's mother during her free time.
Jackson walked up the cracked concrete pathway, where the occasional weed poked through, resilient and stubborn like the family that lived there. His mom was still at work, so he picked the key from its usual spot under the old flower pot and approached the front door, painted a cheery cream. He unlocked it, and it squeaked as he pushed it open, welcoming him home.
Inside, the house was a cozy web of lived-in spaces, each corner telling a story of quiet resilience and everyday love.
The living room, the heart of their home, was filled with soft, mismatched furniture, giving it a welcoming and comfy feel. A well-worn sofa, covered with a patchwork quilt made by Jackson's grandmother, sat in front of a second-hand coffee table cluttered with school papers, magazines, and a couple of well-thumbed novels.
Family photos lined the walls, chronicling their journey through the years—Jackson's middle school graduation, his mom's radiant smile on the day, and other candid moments of laughter and togetherness.
With a rare smile, Jackson dropped his backpack by the door and kicked off his shoes. He then rushed to the kitchen for his customary after-school snack: a cookie freshly baked by his mother and a cup of milk.
As he savored the treat, his thoughts returned to the mysterious encounter with the Solar Heartstone. According to the inherited knowledge from the artifact, he could only cultivate the Eternal Radiance Scripture for 30 minutes a day under the first rays of the morning sun.
This meant he couldn't start today, with dusk already approaching. So, despite his anticipation, he decided to stick to his usual routine and focus on his studies, at least for now.
He didn't want to disappoint his mom, who had always worked hard to support him, just in case his dream of using the Eternal Radiance Scripture to become a football player didn't work out.
After finishing his snack, Jackson picked up his bag and returned to the kitchen table to start his homework. As usual, his mind quickly sank into the zone, and he tackled calculus formulas and equations at a blistering pace.
Time passed without him noticing, and after what seemed just like a short while, he heard the front door open. His mother was home.
"Jackson, honey, I'm home!" his mom called out, her voice carrying a mix of exhaustion and warmth.
"In here, Mom!" Jackson replied, setting down his pen and standing up to greet her.
Evelyn Ryder, his mother, walked into the kitchen wearing her nurse's uniform. Despite her weariness, she wore a warm, genuine smile, and her deep brown eyes held the wisdom earned through life's trials and triumphs. Her braided black hair cascaded around her face, with a few silvery strands hinting at the passage of time.
"How was your day, sweetheart?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with genuine interest.
"It was good," Jackson said enthusiastically, although he didn't wish to share the strange encounter with the Solar Heartstone. "I finished my extra study session, and I think I nailed that chemistry quiz."
His mom beamed with pride. "That's my boy. I knew you would." She then frowned and asked, "What happened to your specs?"
Jackson panicked as he didn't wish to tell his mom about the Solar Heartstone. "They are broken."
His mom inspected him closely, seemingly sensing something was amiss but choosing not to press further. "Well, we'll get them fixed tomorrow. Now, let's see what we have for dinner." With a comforting smile, she turned towards the kitchen counter, leaving Jackson to breathe a sigh of relief.
As they moved about the kitchen, preparing a simple meal, Jackson couldn't help but steal glances at his mom. She was his rock, working tirelessly to provide for him and always encouraging his academic pursuits.
He knew she might worry if she discovered his new ambitions and the strange artifact that had chosen him. But as long as he excelled at whatever he did, he was sure that she would support him no matter what.
After dinner, Jackson retreated to his room, his mind filled with anticipation for the coming morning. He set his alarm extra early, ensuring he would be up in time to catch the first rays of the sun.
He then lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking about the possibilities. If the Solar Heartstone really had the power to change his physique and make him stronger, then maybe—just maybe—he could join the football team and finally break free from the academic prison that held him.
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