The halls of the Immortal Arena had never held this kind of energy before.
After the Trial of Echoes, whispers followed Yueli, Di Yan, and their baby wherever they went— murmurs of awe, fear, prophecy, and something even more ancient: recognition.
But Yueli didn't care much for the stares. She cared more about the fact that her daughter had levitated herself upside down again and was giggling while her curls dangled like tiny lightning vines.
" She's doing it again," Yueli said dryly, nudging Di Yan.
He looked up from inspecting his blade.
"Oh no. Gravity's given up."
" Should we…?"
" I vote no. Let her enjoy her anti- gravity toddler chaos."
Their baby spun in the air once, twice, then suddenly— CRACK!
A bolt of golden lightning snapped from her little fingers and struck a ceremonial pillar.
The crowd screamed. The pillar exploded into dandelions.
Yueli's eyes twitched. " How… how did she even—"
" I don't know," Di Yan said, entirely too calm. " But she gets it from you."
" She bit you last week!"
" And it was terrifying. I still see it in my dreams."
Their daughter floated down and landed in Yueli's arms with the grace of a deity and the innocence of a squirrel.
" She's going to be one soon," Yueli muttered, brushing her cheek. " And something tells me birthday cake isn't the only thing that'll explode."
Di Yan's silver eyes turned serious for a moment. " The Oracle said her first year would awaken truths no realm is ready for."
" I know," Yueli murmured. " And I think she's already hearing things we can't."
Just then, a group of cloaked figures stepped forward from the edge of the crowd. Each one radiated power— heavy, old, the kind that made the air hum and flowers wilt slightly at their passing.
The tallest among them bowed. " Lady Shen. Lord Di Yan. We are the keepers of Chrona. The child has been summoned to the Pool of Memories."
Di Yan's hand moved subtly to his blade.
" You want her to bathe in ancient waters. Why?"
" Because," the keeper said, eyes glowing with time- drenched knowledge,
" she already remembers too much for one so small. And if she is to bear the title the stars have written, the past must speak to her."
Yueli held her baby closer, then met Di Yan's gaze. He gave a faint nod.
" Lead the way," she said.
The Pool of Memories lay deep within the arena's inner sanctum. A crystal lake that didn't reflect appearances, only truths.
It shimmered with images that flickered like forgotten dreams— past lives, lost legacies, unspoken promises.
They approached the water's edge. The baby squirmed in Yueli's arms, then— without warning— leapt in.
" SHE WHAT?!" Yueli shrieked, diving after her.
The water didn't feel like water.
It felt like falling through stars.
Meanwhile…
Outside the sanctum, Di Yan stood guard. He could feel it— the pulse of ancient things waking up. He didn't like it.
A shadow moved behind him.
" I wouldn't do that," he said without turning.
" Do what?" came a smooth voice.
Female. Dangerous.
" Try to touch her while I'm still breathing."
The woman stepped into view, her robes embroidered with the sigils of the Void Court. " Oh, darling, I'm not here for your precious child. Yet."
She smiled. " But the realms are shifting.
And when she turns one…"
" I will burn the sky," Di Yan said calmly.
She laughed like glass shattering. " Then let's see how bright your fire burns."
Within the Pool…
Yueli and her baby floated together in golden nothingness. Around them,
visions bloomed.
A battlefield— familiar. A woman with flame in her eyes. Yueli realized it was her— but older, stronger.
Then— another vision.
A baby in a temple. Wrapped in clouds.
Stars bleeding from her forehead.
And a voice.
" She is not just born of starlight. She is the keeper's key. The Memory Bound.
The Flame That Remembers."
Yueli clutched her daughter tightly.
" What does it mean?"
Her baby opened her glowing eyes and whispered— her first real word:
" Home."
The pool trembled. The visions shattered.
And Yueli knew— they weren't just raising a powerful child.
They were raising the force that would rewrite everything.
Back on the surface, mother and daughter emerged from the pool. The baby's star-mark now pulsed softly, like a lullaby that remembered every war ever fought.
Di Yan ran to them, catching both in his arms.
" Are you okay?"
Yueli nodded. " She… she spoke."
He blinked. " She spoke."
" She said home."
Their daughter yawned, curls glowing faintly, then stuck her tiny hand to Di Yan's nose. Zap. Tiny lightning bolt.
" She's still herself," Yueli added, smiling faintly. " With a few memory upgrades."
From across the arena, the Oracle's voice echoed faintly on the wind:
" When the Memory Flame speaks her first word… the end begins to bend."
Di Yan raised an eyebrow. " Did she just rhyme?"
Yueli looked to the east, where storm clouds were already gathering.
" No," she said softly. " She just told the truth."
As they walked back across the arena's glowing bridge, the wind carried not just petals, but names— names Yueli didn't remember learning, but now understood. Names of things lost. Of wars paused. Of thrones broken.
Her daughter pointed toward the horizon again.
The sky cracked— just slightly. As if something was watching from the other side.
And far, far away, a mountain began to bleed golden light.
The countdown to her first birthday had begun.