Ascension of the last Celestial

Light and fast footsteps could be heard running on an old, wooden floor, echoing sharply against the high, vaulted ceilings of the ancient corridor. Closely followed behind was a mismatched rhythm of more clumsy, heavy footsteps, accompanied by the ragged breathing of several determined pursuers. The person getting chased seemed to always be one step ahead of the ones following him, effortlessly sprinting and weaving through the winding halls of the old-looking building, treating the sharp corners and narrow doorways like a personal obstacle course.

Soon, a bright, welcoming light at the end of the long, dim hallway could be seen, cutting through the shadows and illuminating the countless dust motes dancing in the air. Seeing the exit, the person getting chased sped up even more, his small legs moving in a blur. Once he crossed the threshold and lined himself up into the open, sun-drenched air, he didn’t bother slowing down for the obstacle ahead. Instead, he boldly jumped the few stone stairs that waited at the end of the hallway, launching himself into midair.

The person that was revealed by the bright afternoon sun was a young boy looking to be around five years old. He possessed an appearance so striking it seemed almost out of place in such a rustic setting. Pure white hair that looked like fresh, fallen snow reached down to his shoulders, catching the sunlight with every movement. His vibrant purple eyes, which carried a mysterious and ancient feeling far beyond his years, shone with pure, unadulterated mischief. He had a face so innocent and flawless that it could melt even the coldest of hearts, and looking at his delicate features, everyone knew without a doubt that he would grow up into a beautiful young man.

After jumping down the stairs, he landed effortlessly on the soft, dew-kissed grass, absorbing the impact with a nimble bend of his knees. He immediately turned to look back at the dark hallway of the old building, a confident, playful grin plastered across his face as he waited patiently for the others to finally stumble out.

After a few agonizing seconds, the ones chasing him were revealed to also be children, bursting out of the doorway in a messy, disorganized heap. Some looked to be the exact same age as him, while others were a year or two older and younger, their faces flushed bright red from the exertion. The child at the front leading the others was a boy with short, messy auburn hair and wide brown eyes. Leaning heavily with his hands resting on his scraped knees, he tried desperately to catch his breath, his chest heaving up and down. Between short, ragged breaths, Oliver raised a hand and said with pure exasperation: "It’s not fair to use mana when playing tag! We can’t even perceive it yet!"

The other children around him, still panting and wiping sweat from their brows, began to eagerly nod their heads in passionate agreement, murmuring their shared frustration.

The white-haired kid, Valerian, simply shrugged his small shoulders, completely unfazed by the complaints, and said with a smug grin: "Not my fault that you can’t use it yet. You just need to run faster."

After finishing his playful taunt, he didn’t wait for a response. He turned on his heel and began to run again, moving with a fluid grace and speed that far exceeded what any normal child his age should be able to muster. In a matter of a few silent seconds, he reached the colossal, ancient tree standing proudly in the center of the backyard and began to climb it.

His hands and feet found holds in the rough bark with practiced ease. It didn’t even take five seconds for him to scale the massive trunk and reach one of the thickest, sturdiest branches near the very top, nestled safely within the dense canopy. He rested his back comfortably against the cool trunk, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes to enjoy the breeze.

The other children, watching from below as he easily climbed the tree and immediately pretended to sleep, sighed in collective defeat and turned away.

One of the older children shook his head and said: "Let’s go play somewhere else, it’s no fun playing with him when he just cheats."

"Yeah, there is absolutely no fun in always losing before the game even starts," another chimed in, kicking a loose pebble in frustration as the group slowly drifted away toward the front of the estate.

After the muffled voices of the children finally faded into the distance, Valerian slowly opened his deep purple eyes, staring out from the sanctuary of the large tree to look over his familiar surroundings. Below him, the grand but old building of weathered stone and dark wood stood tall, surrounded by a vast, vibrant grass field that stretched out until it eventually bordered a large, looming forest, a woodland so immense and dense that he couldn’t see the end of it, no matter how hard he stared toward the horizon. Scattered around the immediate perimeter of the building were various climbing frames made out of sturdy wood, balance beams, and other simple ways for the children to pass the time.

This peaceful sanctuary was the Wayford Orphanage.

It was led and funded by a somewhat high-ranked mage who, after making a massive fortune hunting dangerous magical beasts and participating in brutal continental wars, had decided to leave the crowded cities, political wars, and endless bloodshed far behind. Seeking a quiet retirement, he had opened this orphanage to provide a safe haven for children without families, tucking it away in the quiet, outer parts of the Solaria Kingdom.

As Valerian quietly gazed at the scenic expanse, appreciating the rare moment of absolute silence, someone else stepped out from the side door and into the backyard.

It was an old woman looking to be around seventy years old, with a neat head of silver-gray hair and a wrinkled face etched with the lines of a long, storied life. However, Valerian knew better than to trust appearances; he knew that she was anything but just a helpless seventy-year-old woman. As the elderly caretaker of the children saw the distant group playing in the far yard, she couldn’t help but let a warm, grandmotherly smile touch her gentle face, her eyes softening.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, her gaze shifted. Without a moment of hesitation, she turned her head and locked her eyes directly with Valerian, who was still perched high up on the top branches of the tree, completely covered and hidden by a thick layer of green leaves. She didn’t call out. Instead, she lightly flicked her head to the side, indicating for him to come down at once.

Valerian, knowing exactly what that silent gesture meant, sighed softly and began to climb down the tree, but of course, true to his nature, not in the normal, tedious way.

Grounded in his innate control, he focused his thoughts and casually conjured a translucent blue, softly glowing platform made from pure, condensed mana right beneath the branch. He stepped out into the open air and placed his feet firmly onto it. The magical construct effortlessly held his weight without a single tremor and began to smoothly fly down toward the grass, descending like a gentle leaf. Once he was about half a meter away from the solid ground, he casually dismissed the platform into sparkling dust motes and jumped the remaining distance.

After landing lightly on his feet without making a sound, he straightened his posture and turned to face the elderly caretaker, Aurelia Thorne. As he looked up at her expression, his small frame suddenly stiffened, because he knew the sharp, unblinking look she gave him now meant nothing but imminent trouble.