A soft breeze carried the scent of stardust and ancient time. As Ryuxian opened his eyes, he found himself standing atop a floating platform of woven threads, stretching infinitely in all directions. The celestial trial had ended, yet his body still pulsed with the remnants of cosmic power.
His fingers traced the gemstone at his neck—Fate's Starstone, a crystallized fragment of destiny itself. It was the same shade as his eyes now, a deep, shifting stardust hue. The moment it touched his skin, warmth spread through him, his core stabilizing. He could feel the hum of fate within, as if countless unseen possibilities whispered at his fingertips.
A chuckle echoed from above.
"You've done well, little serpent."
The God of Fate hovered in the air, her presence like an unshakable force in the universe. Her gaze was unreadable, yet amusement curled at the edge of her lips.
Ryuxian exhaled. "You keep calling me that."
"And you keep proving it true."
His fingers twitched, the sensation of power unfamiliar yet intoxicating. His new form—his humanoid self—felt strangely natural. The long silver-white hair that cascaded over his shoulders shimmered under the cosmic light, and the celestial robes embroidered in red and white fit him like they were woven for him alone.
He clenched his fists, feeling the pulse of his newfound abilities. Thread Perception, Fate Manipulation, Probability Shift—all these powers were now his. Yet, there was still one question lingering in his mind.
"You called this a successor's trial," Ryuxian said. "Does that mean—"
The god smirked.
"Yes. You are now a Fate Weaver, my chosen successor."
A shift in reality. The Loom of Fate behind her began to dim, its work complete. Threads that once shimmered with infinite possibilities settled, acknowledging his presence as their new master.
"But don't misunderstand."
Her voice dropped to something deeper, something absolute.
"This is not a gift."
The very air around them trembled as her divine pressure bore down upon him. Ryuxian felt his knees weaken, but he gritted his teeth and stood firm.
"Fate is not kind. Nor is it forgiving."
A single snap of her fingers, and suddenly—
A new thread unraveled before him.
Ryuxian's breath caught. This thread was unlike any other he had seen before. Dark crimson, nearly black, pulsating with chaotic energy. Unlike the ones in the Loom, this one felt… incomplete. Fractured. Dangerous.
"Your fate has changed, but it is still uncertain."
"This thread represents what lies ahead for you."
The thread pulsed—
And suddenly—
A vision tore through his mind.
A Glimpse of the Future
He saw a battlefield drenched in blood, mountains of bodies littering the ground.
He saw a kingdom consumed in flames, a shadowed figure standing atop the ruins.
He saw himself, standing before a throne, but unable to see who sat upon it.
And worst of all—
He saw his own reflection, his face twisted in rage, his eyes burning with a power that wasn't his own.
Then—
A blade through his heart.
The vision shattered. Ryuxian staggered back, his breath heavy. The God of Fate remained impassive, watching him with unreadable eyes.
"That is but one possibility."
Her words echoed, firm yet distant.
"A Weaver's fate is never set in stone, but every choice you make will pull you closer to one path or another."
Ryuxian clenched his fists. His heart was still racing. The vision—was it real? Was that his fate?
He refused to accept that.
"Then I'll just weave a new future," he growled.
The God of Fate smiled.
"Good."
With a flick of her wrist, the crimson thread faded.
"Then let's see how well you wield your new power, baby snake."
A familiar pulse surged through him—
And suddenly, the celestial world collapsed into light.
---
A New Beginning
Ryuxian gasped as he found himself standing on solid ground. The celestial realm had vanished, replaced by the vast Forest of Evernight—the same place where he had first awakened in this world as a serpent.
Except now—
He was human.
The air was different here, crisp with the scent of earth and rain. Towering trees stretched toward the sky, their leaves glowing faintly under the eternal twilight.
Ryuxian flexed his hands, feeling the weight of his new form. He could still sense the power within him, the ability to see the threads of fate, but unlike in the celestial realm, everything felt… heavier.
"So this is the real world, huh?"
He exhaled and looked down at himself. His long silver-white hair fell past his shoulders, and the celestial robes still adorned his frame, though they now seemed more tangible—real. The gemstone at his neck pulsed faintly, the Fate's Starstone now fully part of him.
"No more slithering around," he muttered. "That's a damn relief."
A rustling sound made him freeze.
Ryuxian turned sharply—his senses heightened in an instant.
From the underbrush, something—or someone—was approaching.
A thread of fate flickered into his vision.
Not hostile. But… unfamiliar.
His fingers twitched. His instincts as a former snake demon were still there. He could strike if needed.
But instead—
He smirked.
"Well then… let's see what this world has in store for me now."
The man's eyes widened in shock. His grip on the axe tightened as he took a cautious step back.
"A boy…?" he muttered under his breath.
Ryuxian chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Uh… yeah. I guess."
The man narrowed his eyes. "What are you doing in this field? This place isn't safe for wandering kids."
Ryuxian shrugged. "Honestly? I have no idea how I got here." He stretched his arms lazily, then smirked. "One moment I was in the cave, and the next thing I knew—I was standing right here."
The man studied him carefully, as if deciding whether to believe him. Then, with a sigh, he ran a hand through his messy hair.
They both were silent for a moment, then the big man..
"Haa… whatever. No use leaving you here. Follow me. My place isn't far from the cave."
Ryuxian raised an eyebrow but didn't refuse. He had nowhere else to go, and he was curious about this man.
As they walked, Ryuxian glanced at the heavy axe in the man's hand. Its edge gleamed under the dim light of the Evernight Forest.
"That axe of yours looks sturdy. You a lumberjack?"
The man let out a short laugh. "Hah! Not even close. I'm a blacksmith."
"A blacksmith, huh? No wonder you look strong."
"You don't look like you belong here, kid. What's your name?"
"Ryuxian. And you?"
The man glanced at him before replying, "Zain."
---
The Blacksmith's Hut
The hut wasn't far from the cave—just beyond a narrow dirt path lined with glowing blue flowers. It was small but sturdy, made of dark wood reinforced with stone. Smoke curled from the chimney, filling the air with the scent of burning coal and molten metal.
The moment they arrived, Ryuxian spotted an old man working near the forge, hammering away at a glowing blade. Sparks flew as he struck the metal, his expression focused.
The old man barely spared Ryuxian a glance before muttering, "Another stray, Zain?"
"Found him near the cave," Zain replied.
The old man sighed but didn't argue.
Ryuxian took in the surroundings. The hut was cluttered with weapons—swords, daggers, axes, and even armor. Some were unfinished, others gleamed under the soft lantern light.
"You two are blacksmiths?" Ryuxian asked, settling himself on a nearby wooden stool.
Zain leaned his axe against the wall and smirked. "That obvious?"
The old man finally turned to look at Ryuxian. His sharp eyes studied him intensely, as if trying to see through him. Then he went back to hammering the sword.
"You're not really welcome here, but if you don't cause trouble, we won't throw you out."
Ryuxian chuckled. "Fair enough."
---
After a simple meal, Ryuxian leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
He casually begin a conversation, I don't know why I was there, he sighed slightly let his head down I think I'm lost !! Then okay !
"So, why were you at the cave anyway?"
Zain crossed his arms. "We usually come there for obsidian stones. They're rare and perfect for crafting weapons."
"Obsidian, huh?" Ryuxian thought back to the dark stones within his former home.
But then—
"What about the snake in the cave?" the grandpa asked without a warning
The room fell silent.
The old man stopped hammering. Zain tensed, his expression darkening slightly.
"You saw the snake?"
—The old blacksmith, suddenly serious
Ryuxian hesitated. "…Yeah."
Zain let out a deep breath. "We don't want it to get hurt."
That response shocked Ryuxian. He had expected them to be afraid of the serpent—or worse, to want to kill it.
"Why?" he asked carefully.
The old man finally turned to face him, his eyes serious.
"Because it's white."
Ryuxian's mind raced. Because of its color? What did that mean?
"Where we come from," Zain explained, "we worship the Celestial Serpent. A white-scaled serpent is a divine omen—sacred."
The old man nodded. "It's rare to see one in these lands. We thought it was just a myth. But when we saw it with our own eyes…"
Ryuxian didn't know what to say. He thought about if it's about a colour didn't they being modern racists but he felt somehow felt lucky atleast born as white serpent still it will not change his preference of being a serpent.
Their expression softened with reverence,as if they had witnessed a miracle
These men… had unknowingly worshipped him.
He had assumed humans would fear him, hunt him, or try to drive him away. But these men wanted to protect him.
For the first time since waking up in this world—
Ryuxian felt something strange.
of them, eating their food and casually making conversation.
Ryuxian leaned back, tapping his fingers against the table. This was unexpected. He had always been the predator, the lurking presence in the dark. Now, these people saw him as something sacred. Respected.
"Huh," he muttered. "That's... interesting."
Zain raised an eyebrow. "You say that like you don't believe it."
Ryuxian smirked, hiding his amusement. "Oh, I believe it. I just didn't expect people to care so much about a snake."
The old man set his hammer down, his expression firm. "You should. The white serpent is said to be a messenger of fate itself. If it truly resides in that cave, then it's there for a reason."
A messenger of fate? How ironic. Ryuxian resisted the urge to laugh.
Instead, he simply nodded. "Guess that means I should stick around and see what fate has in store, huh?"
The old blacksmith gave him a long, unreadable look before returning to his work. Zain, however, crossed his arms and tilted his head.
"You're a strange one, Ryuxian."
Ryuxian grinned.
"You have no idea." His lips curled slightly
"They had no idea the snake they revered was sitting right in front of them."
(He felt warmness in his heart and it feels that he wanted to run far away from this energy and people. He felt the discomfort and it's different)