019 Midnight Storm

“When are we going to get there?” After a long escape, Somo simply couldn’t hold on any longer. “Zhi bro, Lord Zhi, Great Lord Zhi, please, would you hurry up and find us somewhere to rest?”

“Zhi zhi zhi!” Zhi Zhi showed no sign of stopping, squeaked out a command to keep up, and dashed forward.

“Wait... wait for me.” Somo was about to collapse.

She had no idea how long she’d been running, nor even where she was. Her legs grew heavier with every step, her eyelids drooped, and Liang Yin, who she carried on her back, suddenly felt twice as heavy as her usual slender self. Somo thought of her old eight-hundred-meter exam: the first two hundred meters, she tried to sprint; the next two hundred, fatigue set in; after that, she just hoped to pass; and the final stretch, she only wished to reach the finish line.

Now, she didn’t even care about the finish line. The lazy devil inside her was throwing a wild party—just let me fall asleep like this, oh Lord!

“Zhi zhi!” Zhi Zhi’s joyful squeal snapped Somo from her daze. She followed the direction of his tiny paw and looked up—to her amazement, a little cottage appeared in the woods ahead.

With a sense of reverence, Somo approached the cottage. Timing truly was everything; she couldn’t have arrived at a better moment.

“Zhi zhi...” Zhi Zhi’s timid squeak sounded from behind. Somo turned in puzzlement, “Come on, hurry up! If I have any strength left, I’m going inside. Otherwise, I can’t promise I won’t toss this little guy off my back to feed the beasts if I run out of stamina.”

“Zhi zhi...” Still, Zhi Zhi huddled there, trembling, refusing to move.

“What are you...” Somo took a few steps back, grabbed Zhi Zhi, and suddenly felt something odd underfoot. She looked down. “What’s this?”

Encircling the cottage was a ring of powdery white substance, scattered so densely it almost blended with the earth, unmoved even by the wind.

“Could it be...?” Mischief ever the wellspring of her spirit, Somo perked up instantly. With a sly grin, she lifted one of Zhi Zhi’s tiny paws, pinched a bit of the powder, and brought it to his face.

“Zhi zhi! Zhi...” Panic, fear, and then, in moments, awe and adoration flashed across Zhi Zhi’s expression. Somo smiled knowingly at the white powder as if sharing a secret. No wonder she’d heard no sign of magical beasts near this house—the powder was the reason. Satisfied, Somo thought: as long as they stayed inside, they’d be safe.

“Zhiya—” After knocking thrice without response, Somo took the liberty of opening the door. She entered, half-dragging the dazed Zhi Zhi, with the still-unconscious Liang Yin on her back, and made sure to inspect the cottage’s interior. Though small, it was fully equipped: bed, table, even a little bookshelf and a compact kitchen.

She laid Liang Yin and Zhi Zhi on the bed, ran a finger over the table—spotless. Clearly, someone cleaned here regularly. The little kitchen was simple: a wood-burning stove, a pot, spatula, and a firewood basket.

Lifting the lid, she found cooked food neatly arranged inside the pot. She touched it—the food was still warm.

So it wasn’t just cleaned; someone actually lived here.

With a conscience, Somo left the delicious-looking meal untouched and sat on a stool to finish her own dry rations. She mixed some with water to feed Liang Yin and Zhi Zhi, then sat by the bed, exhausted, and fell asleep.

Night fell without her noticing. Somo was startled awake by a gust of cold wind; the door was open, and the wind swept in so fiercely that goosebumps rose on her skin. In the darkness, she couldn’t make out the newcomer’s face, only the gleam of a sword at his right hip and the thick scent of blood that entered with the wind.

“Who are you?!” Instinctively, Somo moved to shield the unconscious pair, staring tensely at the figure. He paid her no mind, lazily produced something like a throwing weapon from his cloak, and tossed it in her direction.

In a panic, Somo grabbed her magic wand, attempting to conjure a shield—but the energy she’d spent during the day was not easily restored. She strained with all her might, barely producing a flimsy “water veil”—thin, short, and slack, useful for nothing but keeping dust off or perhaps as a makeshift mask.

Was this the legendary “close your eyes and never open them again, and your whole life is over”? With a mix of frustration and resignation, Somo shut her eyes tight.

Whoosh—bang! The weapon struck something. Suddenly, the darkness gave way to a dim yellow glow. Footsteps approached, but after a few paces, they receded.

Huh? Somo opened her eyes. After a moment’s adjustment, she finally saw her visitor clearly.

Seated at the table, silently eating, was a young woman with a delicate, doll-like face. Her long purple hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail, parted bangs accentuating her well-defined features. She had sharp violet eyes to match her hair, a straight nose, and pale skin. She was undeniably a beauty, and yet she stood a full head taller than the 165-centimeter Somo. An aura of death clung to her, and the bloodstains beneath her cloak sent chills through the air.

“Are you the owner of this house?” Far from frightened, Somo was instantly smitten by the adorable girl and, heedless of consequences, stepped forward to strike up a conversation. “We were attacked by magical beasts in the forest. My friend’s been hurt. Could we rest here for a while?”

The purple-haired girl ignored Somo, quietly picking up a mouthful of food.

“My name’s Somo. What’s yours?” She flashed what she thought was her brightest smile. “Can you tell me?”

The girl silently took a big bite of rice.

“...Can you at least say something?”

The girl finally finished eating. Somo kept up her hopeful grin, but the girl didn’t spare her a glance, walking straight over to wash the dishes.

Somo’s smiling mask cracked, her unappreciated expression stiffening awkwardly. Defeated, she closed her eyes. Unable to sleep in the light, she decided to do something she hadn’t done in ages—cultivate.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Somo sat cross-legged, closed her eyes, and focused on the magic energy within. She gathered all her magical power together—golden energy swirling playfully with her mental strength. She followed its rhythm, but her mental energy diminished rapidly, while the magic energy barely grew at all. By the time she was nearly spent, her magical power had increased only the tiniest bit.

Somo woke from her training, exhausted, to find Liang Yin, Zhi Zhi, and the purple-haired girl—now done with the dishes and sitting calmly nearby—all staring at her with curiosity.

“Liang Yin, you’re awake?” Somo asked excitedly.

“Uh, more importantly, what were you just doing?” Liang Yin looked puzzled.

“Cultivating...” The words came out hesitantly, her confidence wilted by the sheer confusion around her. Somo had no idea what had happened, so she just wore the same look of bafflement as the others.

“Feeding your magical energy with your mind? I’ve never seen anyone do that,” Liang Yin said bluntly. “Shouldn’t you be channeling your magic outside your body, fusing with the elemental forces to nourish and grow it? What kind of teacher did you have—did you just pick up some third-rate tutor off the street?”

“I know that’s how it’s supposed to be, but it just doesn’t work for me.” Somo didn’t know how to explain—should she say she was an alien unsuited to Earth’s cultivation methods? She decided to demonstrate for Liang Yin instead. With determination, Somo guided her energy from within; surprisingly, the energy, so familiar with her mental force, cooperated and flowed out smoothly.

Watching Somo draw out her energy so effortlessly, Liang Yin widened her eyes in surprise. Even the purple-haired girl seemed to react, however subtly.

A minute passed, then two. The magical energy, now outside Somo’s body, just floated there, as if out for some fresh air—completely inert. While she cautiously maintained its stability, Somo proudly declared, “See? I told you it’s useless!”

Liang Yin pressed a hand to her forehead in exasperation, looking as if she didn’t know this idiot at all. The purple-haired girl was more direct—she punched Somo.

Bang! The blow, gentle as it looked, left Somo dizzy. The moment she lost control, her magic energy scattered in all directions—her hard-earned magical power, gone in an instant. No! All that effort wasted... huh?

For some reason, instead of dissipating, the scattered energy now obediently returned to her side, circling around her. When she focused her mind, the energy immediately clung to her, spontaneously attracting magical elements to strengthen itself.

In that instant, Somo realized why she had always failed before. She scratched her head in embarrassment, grinning sheepishly.

“You...” Liang Yin began, then fell silent, stunned by the sight before her.

Normally, every mage could only absorb one type of magical element suited to their own constitution: water’s blue, fire’s red, lightning’s gold, wind’s white—all strikingly different colors, each beautiful and distinct as they merged.

But Somo’s body clearly gathered all four at once. Though the golden lightning was less pronounced, the other three colors were vividly entwined in her magic. Gradually, through constant collision and fusion, they all turned gold, merging seamlessly with her own magical energy.

“Zhi zhi...” Zhi Zhi stared, wide-eyed, never having seen such a marvel.

Somo snapped out of her own miraculous state and nervously glanced at the purple-haired girl. To her surprise—whether by design or not—the girl sat at the table, eyes closed, as if fast asleep.

“Are you... sleeping?”

Soft, even breaths filled the little house.

Stardust Chronicles 019_019: Midnight Tempest—update complete!