The faint, greenish-gold light from the Yuan Stone in his hand flickered softly. In the once dim and musty wooden room, it was now a testament to a faith that had given birth to power. Xu Yianzi stared at it for a long time, as if afraid that if he looked away for even a second, the light would vanish like a dream. The tears he had shed had dried, leaving only a warmth spreading through his chest and a determination that now burned brightly in his eyes.
"This is… the real beginning…" he whispered to himself. The hand that once trembled now held the stone with a new, quiet steadiness.
On the other side of the dream, Zen watched with a swelling heart. He saw the years of accumulated exhaustion being washed away from the young man by that tiny, shimmering light. It wasn't just Xu Yianzi's success; it was a confirmation that his "voice," his existence, and his belief could truly reach across the void and change something.
(Zen's thoughts: "Excellent... He finally did it. The next steps are crucial. He can't stop here.")
"Well done, Xu Yianzi," Zen's voice whispered into the young man's consciousness, gentle but clear. "You truly did it. The path forward from here will be the true test... You cannot stop now."
Xu Yianzi gave a slight nod in acknowledgment. He took a deep breath. The musty smell of the room that had once suffocated him with despair no longer bothered his mind. He placed the Yuan Stone beside him with reverence and turned his gaze to the pile of books on runes scattered around him. His eyes scanned the ancient characters with a deeper understanding than before.
"ᚠ (Fehu) is life force and creation…" he traced the symbol on the wooden plank with his finger. "And Ƨ (Solen) is vision and faith… When these two are combined, a tangible energy is born…"
He paused, thinking. This success was merely awakening the energy within the Yuan Stone, but he himself was still weak, his body still frail from the past. If he wanted to stand firm on this path, he needed to become stronger—both in body and in spirit.
"You're thinking correctly, Xu Yianzi," Zen's voice affirmed his thoughts. "Having energy is not enough. You must learn how to use it, and how to protect yourself. Look to the other runes. Perhaps you will find what you are looking for."
As if guided by the words, Xu Yianzi picked up another book and began to read intently. His eyes scanned each rune until they stopped on one symbol, shaped like the horns of an animal pointing to the sky.
"ᚢ (Uruz)... The raw power of physical strength, healing, and endurance…" He read the description slowly, his heart beginning to beat faster once more. (Zen's thoughts: "Uruz... A good choice. He's starting to understand what he truly needs.")
He chose another Yuan Stone. Though slightly larger than the first, it was still of low quality. He carefully drew the ᚢ (Uruz) symbol on the wooden floor with a piece of charcoal, then placed the stone in the center. He sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and entered a state of meditation.
This time, he didn't expect to see a light from the stone. He wanted to "feel" its power flowing into his body. His mind focused on the meaning of Uruz—unyielding strength, the power of restoration. And at the same time, he held onto the concept of Ƨ (Solen), imagining he could "see" that power mending his body, strengthening it, piece by piece.
Time passed slowly…
A deep silence fell, broken only by the boy's faint breathing. No light came from the stone. Sweat began to bead on Xu Yianzi's forehead as doubt crept into his mind. Had he misunderstood?
"Do not falter, Xu Yianzi!" Zen's voice rang out, firm and strong, when he saw the boy begin to waver. "Strengthening the body is different from awakening energy in a stone. It requires more time, more patience. Trust in what you are doing. Trust in Uruz and Solen!"
Xu Yianzi gritted his teeth. He focused his mind once more, casting aside the doubt as he listened to the voice. His mind recalled the pain of the past, the weakness that had brought him to this state, and the burning desire to change it all.
"I will not give up…" he voiced, his words a soft whisper, but heavy with will.
He remained perfectly still, his mind fixed on the runes ᚢ and Ƨ, oblivious to the passage of time. Until… he felt something.
It wasn't heat. It wasn't light. It was a feeling of "solidity," a deep-seated grounding that slowly began to form within his body. The muscles that had been limp and weary seemed to tense slightly. His once-shallow breathing became deep and steady. The chronic pain in his joints seemed to recede, however slightly.
It wasn't a great, sweeping change. But it was a small, distinct feeling he could clearly perceive.
Xu Yianzi slowly opened his eyes. He clenched and unclenched his fist, feeling a small surge of strength he had never known before. A faint smile appeared on his face again. It was not the smile of excitement like the first time, but a smile of understanding and resolve.
"That's it... That is the power of Uruz," Zen's voice was laced with pleasure. "Though it is small, it is a good start. Remember this feeling well, Xu Yianzi. This is another crucial step on your path."(Zen's thoughts: "He's truly growing. It's not just his power, but his unbreakable spirit that's so amazing.")
He rose slowly to his feet, testing his arms and legs. He felt a little more agile. Though his body was still thin, the sense of weakness that had once gripped his mind had begun to fade.
"I… I am stronger… truly…"
For the rest of that day, Xu Yianzi didn't experiment with any other runes. He spent his time understanding the small changes in his body, documenting his feelings and observations from using the runes ᚠ and ᚢ in tandem with Ƨ in the old journal he had always kept.
The world outside his small wooden room continued to turn, indifferent. The whispers and jeers may not have faded away, but for Xu Yianzi, his own world had begun to light up with the spark of a new dawn—one that he had created with his own hands, and with the voice from the other side of the dream that stayed by his side.