Another month had passed.
Ever since Lily's breakthrough, Alex had grown more focused than ever. Day after day, he rose early, meditated longer, pushed himself harder. He watched his little sister grow more attuned to her energy—moonlight dancing around her during meditation, a calm serenity filling her presence. That quiet strength inspired him. If Lily could do it, he had no excuse.
He spent hours sitting in stillness, listening, reaching for something beyond the physical. He studied the diagrams Harvy had given him, traced the meridians on his body, cross-referenced notes with Lily, and when doubt crept in, he crushed it with discipline. Every moment of peace or frustration became fuel.
Lily, meanwhile, had blossomed in her own way. She no longer just sensed the energy—she felt its rhythm, its flow. The moon's phases influenced her mood, her power, and her insight. She learned how the full moon gave her bursts of energy and clarity, while the crescent moon refined her control. Liz, having taken a liking to the girl, often helped her with focus training during moonrise, while Harvy watched from afar, a satisfied smirk often playing on his lips.
Harvy and Liz stuck to their routine—Liz managing their meals, chores, and cultivation breaks in between. Harvy meditated or went on hunts, but all the while, he kept a careful eye on the two siblings. He rarely praised, but never missed their progress.
Now, two full months since that fateful lecture, the stillness of the night was about to shatter.
It was late.
A silver moon floated high above the treetops, its soft light spilling through the cracks in the forest canopy. The group had gathered in their usual clearing. Lily sat cross-legged, calmly drawing in energy, the pale shimmer of lunar essence softly radiating from her skin. Harvy and Liz sat nearby, silent observers under the stars.
Suddenly, the air shifted.
A pulse. Faint at first, like a heartbeat beneath the surface.
Then—
A surge of energy burst outward from Alex's position. The ground trembled faintly. Nearby leaves lifted as though caught in a silent wind. A quiet hum filled the air.
Harvy's eyes widened slightly. "It's happening."
Lily opened her eyes, startled, but then quickly stood and turned toward her brother. A radiant aura enveloped him. His body trembled—not in pain, but in revelation. Something inside him had broken free.
Alex opened his eyes, his breath catching in his throat. "I… I did it!"
He laughed and raised both fists into the air, eyes sparkling with pride and disbelief. He spun around once and looked at everyone. "I finally did it!"
Lily rushed to his side, hugging him tight. "I knew you would! I'm so proud of you!"
But then, just as quickly, his joy faltered. His brows furrowed, and his body stiffened. He looked down at his hands, his breathing uneven.
Harvy stood slowly, his expression no longer calm—but surprised.
Liz raised a brow. "What's wrong with him?"
Alex looked up, confused. "Something's… off. It's not like what Lily described. I'm not feeling a pull to one element. It's like…"
He trailed off, searching for the words.
Harvy stepped forward. "Like you're seeing constellations? Galaxies?"
Alex blinked. "Yes!"
Harvy exhaled, the realization dawning on him. "Stars. You're not aligned with a simple element. You're attuned to celestial energy."
Lily blinked. "Celestial? Like... space?"
Harvy nodded, now pacing slowly around Alex, as if studying him under a new light. "Celestial affinity is rare. Very rare. It's not tied to just one source—it draws from the cosmos. Stars, planets, nebulas, black holes... The very forces that shape the universe."
Alex tilted his head. "Wait, so... what does that mean? Am I supposed to shoot comets from my hands?"
Harvy laughed, but it was a laugh of astonishment, not mockery. "No. But in time, maybe. Celestial energy is vast. It doesn't grant you one type of power—it offers domains. Depending on your resonance, you might control gravitational forces, gain knowledge hidden in starlight, or channel solar or lunar aspects."
Lily's eyes widened. "That's insane…"
"Celestial cultivators are rare because the energy is difficult to perceive," Harvy continued. "It's ancient. Distant. But once attuned, its power is immense. You'll need to train your body and mind to handle it. Even sensing it requires a strong spirit."
Alex chuckled nervously. "So I'm lucky?"
Harvy smirked. "Lucky… or destined."
Alex looked up toward the sky. The stars above twinkled back at him, as though acknowledging his awakening.
"But remember," Harvy said, his tone shifting. "The path you walk will not be easy. Celestial cultivators tend to draw attention. Their energy disrupts natural flows. There will be those who fear or covet it."
Alex swallowed. "So… I've got a target on my back now?"
Liz answered before Harvy could. "You always had one. Now it's just glowing."
Lily laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, good thing you've got me!"
Alex grinned. "Wouldn't want anyone else by my side."
Harvy stepped back. "Take tonight to rest. Tomorrow, you start your next phase—understanding what type of celestial body resonates with you the most. Each star, each planet, offers a different path. Choose wisely."
Alex nodded slowly. "Understood."
The stars above shimmered brighter for a moment—perhaps in celebration, or perhaps in warning.
Under that cosmic sky, the siblings sat side by side, their energy now intertwined with the heavens above. One born under the moon, the other under the stars. And as their paths began to diverge and evolve, a new chapter of their journey quietly unfolded.
The world was vast, and so was the sky.
But now, they both had a place in it.