The next morning, Zion woke to the inviting aroma of freshly baked bread drifting in through the open window.
Before he even opened his eyes, his stomach growled.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"...At least my appetite survived."
The pain, however, had not.
It lingered throughout his body like a constant reminder of the Impossible Trial. Every breath sent a dull ache through his ribs, while his left shoulder remained tightly wrapped in fresh bandages. The medicinal herbs Old Man Dogo had brought the previous day had reduced the pain enough for him to move, but healing would still take time.
Outside, the village was already alive.
The rhythmic clang of hammers rang from nearby forges. Merchants arranged their goods while calling out to passing customers, and children darted through the narrow streets, laughing as though the world itself had never known hardship.
For sixteen years, Zion had always been the first to wake.
The first to light the forge.
The first to begin working beside Granny Iya.
Now...
No one was waiting for him.
The realization left an unfamiliar emptiness in his chest.
Taking a slow breath, he pushed himself upright and carefully swung his legs over the side of the bed.
His feet touched the floor.
He stood.
His knees trembled.
Pain shot through his ribs.
But unlike yesterday...
He remained standing.
A satisfied smile spread across his face.
"Progress."
"It may be slow..."
"...but it's progress."
After washing his face, Zion stepped outside.
The cool morning breeze brushed against his skin, carrying with it the comforting scents of fresh bread, burning charcoal, damp earth, and blooming flowers.
Home.
"Zion!"
Mrs. Sena spotted him almost immediately.
The elderly woman hurried over with surprising energy, a basket of vegetables resting in her arms.
"You're finally outside! We were beginning to think you planned on sleeping for another week."
Zion laughed softly and scratched the back of his head.
"I still feel like I lost a fight against a mountain."
A blacksmith working nearby overheard him and burst into laughter.
"From the look of you..."
"The mountain won."
The surrounding villagers chuckled.
Even Zion couldn't help laughing along.
As he continued walking through the village, more familiar faces greeted him.
"Morning, Zion!"
"Feeling better?"
"Don't push yourself too hard."
He greeted each of them with an easy smile.
Granny Iya had never raised him to be distant.
She simply believed words carried weight.
If you made a promise, you kept it.
If someone needed help and you were able to help them, you did so without expecting repayment.
Those lessons had quietly become part of who he was.
Just then, a little boy came running toward him, holding a wooden toy cart with both hands.
"Big Brother Zion!"
"The wheel broke again!"
Zion crouched slowly, ignoring the protest from his ribs.
"Let's have a look."
The wheel had split neatly down the middle.
For a brief moment, faint golden seams appeared across the toy.
The familiar pressure built behind his eyes.
He immediately dispersed Seam Sight.
"...Not worth it."
Using his talent on a child's toy would only waste precious mental energy.
Instead, he relied on the skills Granny Iya had spent years teaching him.
A tighter peg.
A smoother fit.
One careful twist.
"There."
The little boy eagerly pushed the cart across the ground.
Its wheels rolled perfectly.
"It works!"
His delighted laughter echoed through the street before he sprinted away to show his friends.
Watching him leave, Zion smiled.
Helping others had always felt natural.
Granny Iya rarely praised him for it.
She only said one thing.
"A blacksmith doesn't only forge iron."
"He forges trust."
As Zion approached the center of the village, he noticed an unusually large crowd gathered around the old notice board.
Hunters.
Blacksmiths.
Farmers.
Even elderly villagers had gathered together.
Everyone seemed to be discussing the same thing.
"The messenger finally arrived."
"So the rumors were true."
"The Academy is recruiting again."
"I heard only a handful of people from the entire planet are accepted."
"The Star System Academy..."
Zion's footsteps slowed.
His heartbeat quickened ever so slightly.
The Azure Star System Academy.
The only Star System-level Academy recognized by the Galactic Human Alliance within the Azure Star System.
Every few years, it opened its gates to recruit young Awakeners from countless worlds.
No one knew how the selection worked.
There were no written examinations.
No recommendations.
No public rules.
Only one fact was certain.
Anyone accepted would leave Blue Star behind...
...and step into a universe far larger than they had ever imagined.
Without realizing it, Zion's fingers brushed against the Veil hidden beneath his shirt.
His eyes settled on the crowded notice board.
A quiet smile appeared on his face.
"So..."
"It begins."
The closer Zion drew to the notice board, the louder the discussions became.
Children squeezed between adults, hoping to catch a glimpse of the announcement.
Hunters stood beside blacksmiths.
Merchants abandoned their stalls for a few moments.
Even the village chief had come personally.
As Zion approached, several people noticed him.
"Make way."
"It's Zion."
"Careful, he's still recovering."
The crowd naturally parted, leaving a clear path for him.
Zion blinked in surprise.
"...Thanks."
Old Man Dogo chuckled from the side.
"You've helped enough people around this village."
"It's only right we return the favor."
Mira, balancing a basket filled with warm loaves of bread, smiled mischievously.
"Besides..."
"You look like a strong breeze might knock you over."
Laughter rippled through the crowd.
Zion rubbed the back of his neck.
"I didn't know my condition had become entertainment."
"It has."
Several people answered at once.
The laughter grew even louder.
Shaking his head with a helpless smile, Zion finally stood before the notice board.
A silver-edged parchment had been nailed neatly to the center.
The silver-edged parchment wasn't ordinary paper. Tiny streams of light flowed beneath its surface, shifting gently whenever someone looked at it. To the villagers, it was simply an Academy Notice. None of them realized they were staring at a piece of technology far beyond anything Blue Star possessed.
At the top was an unfamiliar emblem.
A ring of countless stars surrounding an open gate.
The symbol radiated quiet authority.
Below it, elegant silver letters were written with flawless precision.
═══════════════════════
Official Notice
Issued by the Azure Star System Academy.
The next Admission Selection shall commence in Twenty-One Days.
Requirements:
• Candidates must be between 16 and 18 years old.
• No recommendation is required.
• No entrance fee shall be collected.
• Every candidate shall receive equal opportunity.
The method of selection remains confidential.
Only those acknowledged by the Academy may enter.
═══════════════════════
For a brief moment...
Silence.
Then the entire square exploded with excitement.
"No examination?"
"Then how do they decide?"
"My uncle said they use ancient relics!"
"I heard the examiners can see your talent with a single glance."
"Even nobles fail every year!"
"No one knows what really happens during the Selection."
Rumors flew in every direction.
Every person seemed certain they knew the truth.
Yet every story was different.
Zion quietly read the notice again.
Twenty-one days.
It wasn't much time.
Especially in his current state.
His body was still recovering.
His sword was broken.
He knew almost nothing about the universe beyond Blue Star.
"...First, I heal."
"...Then I prepare."
Just then...
Heavy footsteps echoed across the square.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
The noisy crowd gradually fell silent.
Captain Roran had arrived.
The leader of the village hunters wore simple leather armor scarred by countless battles.
A massive spear rested across his back.
His sharp eyes swept over the crowd before finally stopping on Zion.
"So."
"You're awake."
Zion nodded respectfully.
"I am."
"I heard you collapsed during training."
"...Something like that."
A few nearby villagers laughed.
Captain Roran studied him for several long seconds.
Then...
A faint smile appeared.
"I'd hate for Blue Star to lose another promising youngster."
The villagers looked at one another in surprise.
Praise.
Coming from Captain Roran.
That was rarer than finding spirit ore inside ordinary rock.
The captain turned toward the gathered youths.
His expression became serious.
"The Azure Star System Academy doesn't care about your family."
"They don't care about your wealth."
"They don't care about your status."
He paused.
"They care about only one thing."
His voice became heavier.
"Whether you have the potential to survive."
Silence descended over the square once more.
Even the children stopped whispering.
Captain Roran continued.
"Every Selection attracts thousands."
"Only a handful are accepted."
"And every single Selection..."
"...people die."
A chill swept through the crowd.
The excitement faded from many young faces.
The Academy had always sounded glorious.
Few ever spoke about its dangers.
Captain Roran rested a hand on the shaft of his spear.
The Academy exists to raise warriors capable of protecting humanity.
"Not to satisfy dreams."
"If you fear risking your life..."
"Don't go."
I've stood beneath skies with three suns."
"I've seen cities floating in space."
"Compared to the Academy... Blue Star is just a quiet corner of the universe."
His words lingered long after he finished speaking.
Zion remained silent.
Unlike many around him...
He wasn't discouraged.
If anything...
His curiosity burned even brighter.
An academy where survival itself was the first lesson.
Just what kind of world existed beyond Blue Star?
Captain Roran turned to leave.
As he passed Zion, he paused for only a heartbeat.
Without looking back, he spoke quietly.
"Recover."
"You'll need every one of those twenty-one days."
Then he walked away.
Zion watched him disappear into the crowd.
Slowly...
His hand rested over the Veil beneath his shirt.
Twenty-one days.
That was all the time he had before his life changed forever.
The crowd slowly dispersed after Captain Roran left.
Groups of villagers remained behind, discussing the Academy with growing excitement. Some spoke of fame. Others dreamed of bringing honor to their families. A few older hunters simply shook their heads, knowing better than to romanticize the path of an Awakener.
Zion quietly left the square.
Twenty-one days.
That number echoed repeatedly in his mind.
It wasn't just the time before the Selection.
It was the time he had to recover, prepare, and step into a world he knew almost nothing about.
As he walked through the village, a familiar voice called from behind.
"Zion!"
He turned to see Kellan jogging toward him with a wooden practice sword resting across his shoulder.
"So..."
Kellan grinned.
"You're really going?"
Zion smiled.
"I am."
"I knew it."
Kellan laughed.
"The village chief always said you'd leave Blue Star one day."
Zion raised an eyebrow.
"He said that?"
"More than once."
Kellan shrugged.
"He used to tell us that Granny Iya wasn't raising an ordinary blacksmith."
"He said she was preparing someone for a much bigger stage."
Zion fell silent.
Granny Iya...
Just how much had she known?
The two continued walking side by side through the village.
People greeted them warmly as they passed.
Shopkeepers waved.
Children shouted Zion's name.
An old hunter raised a hand in greeting before returning to sharpening his spear.
The village wasn't large.
But it had always felt alive.
Eventually, they arrived at the smithy.
Kellan leaned against the wooden fence.
"I won't keep you."
"You still look like you're one strong sneeze away from collapsing."
Zion laughed.
"I don't look that bad."
"You nearly fell asleep standing in the square."
"...You noticed?"
"I think everyone noticed."
Both of them burst into laughter.
After the laughter faded, Kellan's expression became unusually serious.
"Zion."
"If you make it into the Academy..."
He looked around at the quiet village.
The stone roads.
The old well.
The blacksmith shops.
The children chasing one another through the streets.
"...Don't forget this place."
Zion followed his gaze.
For sixteen years...
This village had been his entire world.
It was where he learned to swing a hammer.
Where he learned to help others.
Where Granny Iya had raised him.
A warm smile appeared on his face.
"I won't."
"No matter how far I travel..."
"This will always be home."
Kellan nodded with satisfaction.
"Good."
"Then I'll expect stories when you come back."
"I'll bring more than stories."
"Oh?"
Zion chuckled.
"I'll bring gifts."
Kellan laughed loudly.
"Now that's the Zion I know."
After Kellan left, silence returned to the smithy.
This time...
It didn't feel lonely.
Instead, it felt peaceful.
Zion's eyes wandered across the familiar workshop.
The cold forge.
The sturdy anvil.
The hidden compartment beneath it.
Finally...
His gaze settled on the cracked sword resting against the wall.
He slowly picked it up.
Tiny fractures stretched across the blade like a spider's web.
The sword had reached its limit.
Yet Zion couldn't bring himself to throw it away.
A blacksmith respected every weapon that had faithfully served its master.
Running a finger gently along the damaged blade, he smiled.
"You carried me through an Impossible Trial."
"You've earned your rest."
Carefully, he placed the sword back against the wall.
Then his gaze drifted toward the forge.
The fire had long since gone cold.
But in twenty-one days...
He intended to light it again.
Not to forge ordinary farming tools.
Not to repair kitchen knives.
But to reforge the very blade that had survived the Impossible Trial.
His eyes shone with quiet determination.
My body will recover.
My sword will be reforged.
And when the gates of the Academy open...
I'll walk through them with my own strength.
Outside, the afternoon sun slowly dipped toward the horizon.
Golden light bathed the quiet village.
To everyone else...
It was simply another peaceful day on Blue Star.
No one knew...
That a young blacksmith had just taken the first step toward a stage that spanned an entire star system.
And beyond that...
An even greater universe awaited him.