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Star Sand Paradox: The Dual Life of the Time-Space Priestess
墨書 Inktalez
In the morning at the Genius Children's Training Camp, the air was always filled with Teacher Lin's booming voice and the sleepy faces of the children.
"One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! Seven! Eight! Wake up, everyone! Today is the day we announce the winners of the Genius Children Programming Contest! Whoever wins a Freedom Voucher gets to enjoy a week off in this beautiful sunshine!"
Teacher Lin shouted with enthusiasm, but the Little Radish Heads in front of him seemed utterly uninterested.
For this group of children deprived of their childhood, the allure of a "week off" was less enticing than a piece of chocolate.
Xiao Meng stood at the end of the line, yawning repeatedly. Her big, watery eyes were fixed on the window, where fluffy white clouds floated lazily in the sky, making her heart yearn for freedom.
"If only I could fly out there..." Xiao Meng murmured softly, her voice sweet and trailing off with her signature "ya."
Unfortunately, her lofty words did not escape the keen eyes of Black-hearted Grandpa.
"Xiao Meng! What are you mumbling about? Are you dissatisfied with the contest results?" Black-hearted Grandpa's voice was as cold as ice in winter, causing Xiao Meng to shiver instantly.
"N-no!" Xiao Meng quickly waved her hands, looking pitifully at Black-hearted Grandpa.
"No? Then go stand in the corner at the back! You can return when you realize your mistake!" Black-hearted Grandpa waved his hand mercilessly.
Xiao Meng pouted in grievance and slowly shuffled to the corner. The wall felt cold against her back, much like Black-hearted Grandpa's stone-cold heart.
"Sigh, when will this all end..." Xiao Meng sighed and continued to stare blankly at the clouds outside.
Suddenly!
"Thud!"
A hard object hit her on the back of the head.
"Ouch!" Xiao Meng cried out in pain, covering her head and turning around to see that the culprit was an ancient and exquisite hourglass.
Inside the glass bottle of the hourglass, golden sand flowed slowly, emanating a mysterious glow.
"What is this?" Curious, Xiao Meng picked up the hourglass and was about to examine it closely when an ethereal old man with a white beard suddenly appeared before her.
"Hey there, little girl, this is a treasure!" The old man wore a flowing long robe and smiled at Xiao Meng, speaking with a thick accent. "This hourglass can summon anything! Steam Mechs, Holographic Projections—whatever you desire, it can bring it to life! However, each time you use it, it will randomly switch your past life memories; what you'll become is not my responsibility!"
"Wow? That's amazing! Thank you, Grandpa!" Xiao Meng exclaimed with wide eyes. Before she could ask more questions, the old man vanished like smoke.
"That was so sudden..." Xiao Meng blinked rapidly and looked down at the hourglass in her hands; it felt warm against her palm.
"Hey! Xiao Meng! What are you still dawdling for? Hurry back to line!" Teacher Lin's urging voice rang out again.
"I'm coming!" Xiao Meng quickly tucked the hourglass into her pocket and jogged back to join her classmates.
Before long, the children were led into the auditorium of the training camp.
In the center of the auditorium, a massive stage had been set up, adorned with various computers and programming equipment.
"Students! After a month of fierce competition, the winners of the 'Genius Children Programming Contest' are about to be announced!" The Black-hearted Grandpa stood on stage, beaming as he made the announcement.
Xiao Meng stood in the audience, her mind wandering as she listened to Black-hearted Grandpa's speech. She knew she had no chance, as her thoughts were far from programming. All she wanted was...
"Next, please welcome the grand prize winner of this competition—Xiao Meng!"
Black-hearted Grandpa's voice suddenly rose in pitch, and the crowd erupted in excitement.
"Me?!" Xiao Meng pointed at herself in disbelief, questioning whether she had misheard.
"That's right, it's you! Xiao Meng! Come up to receive your award!" Black-hearted Grandpa grinned widely, as if he had just won the lottery.
Confused, Xiao Meng walked up to the stage and took the 'Freedom Voucher' that Black-hearted Grandpa handed her. She stared at the small card in her hand, feeling no joy at all.
She knew that behind this 'Freedom Voucher' lay a larger scheme orchestrated by Black-hearted Grandpa.
"I can't let him control me like this!" Xiao Meng silently resolved.
She secretly tightened her grip on the hourglass hidden in her pocket, preparing to give Black-hearted Grandpa a "surprise."
"Next, let's have our grand prize winner Xiao Meng showcase her award-winning work!" Black-hearted Grandpa looked at Xiao Meng with a smile, his eyes filled with anticipation.
"Showcase my work? What work do I even have..." Xiao Meng lamented internally. She had no programming skills; her only hope rested with the hourglass in her hand.
"Here goes nothing!" Xiao Meng took a deep breath and quietly activated the hourglass.
"Boom!"
A dazzling golden light erupted from the hourglass, instantly enveloping the entire auditorium.
"What is happening?!"
Everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events. Within the golden light, a gigantic Steam Mech slowly ascended, its metallic frame glinting coldly under the lights.
Immediately after, countless Holographic Projections emanated from the mech, filling the auditorium in an instant.
Children gasped in amazement while Black-hearted Grandpa's smile froze on his face; even Teacher Lin stood with her mouth agape, unable to believe what she was witnessing.
However, Xiao Meng's "surprise" was far from over. Due to overuse, the hourglass began to shake violently, and a powerful energy enveloped Xiao Meng.
“Not good! The time-space leap is happening!” Xiao Meng's heart sank as she realized what was about to occur. Before she could react, everything around her began to twist and distort.
In the next moment, she found herself in a completely unfamiliar world. Beneath her feet was a cobblestone path, uneven and rough, while the sound of horse-drawn carriages clattered in her ears. The buildings around her were ancient and charming, steeped in history.
Dressed in coarse linen clothes with two adorable buns atop her head, she ran frantically through the crowd, lost and disoriented. Behind her, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed, as if someone were chasing her.
“Stop! Don’t run!”
“Catch her! Don’t let her escape!”
The shouts of her pursuers grew closer, and Xiao Meng's heart raced faster. She had no idea how she ended up here or why she was being hunted. All she knew was that if they caught her, there would be no good outcome.
Suddenly, she slipped and fell hard to the ground.
“It’s over…” Xiao Meng closed her eyes in despair.
At that moment, a clear voice rang in her ear: “Star Shield!” Just as the rough hands of her pursuers were about to grasp her, a warm golden light enveloped her like a shield.
A figure appeared out of thin air—a young man with shimmering silver hair that seemed to capture the essence of moonlight. He held a uniquely designed compass that spun wildly, emitting a faint and ethereal hum.
This was Sunshine, though at that time she did not know it.
“Star Shield!” he called out, his voice steady and reassuring amidst the chaos of the marketplace.
The pursuers seemed to be struck by an invisible force, stumbling back amidst their cries of surprise and frustration. The young girl—Xiao Meng’s past self—was a powerful shaman in this forgotten era; bewildered and pained, she looked up at her savior with wide, confused eyes.
Suddenly, ancient words flowed from her lips as a forgotten incantation emerged from deep within her soul: “With Star Dance and Starlight Whisper, I bind myself to you… the Starry Marriage Contract is formed.”
Sunshine’s usually calm demeanor cracked. A faint blush crept up his neck, tinting his ears pink.
“How… how do you know that…?” he stammered, disbelief filling his eyes.
This ancient ritual was a sacred bond between two souls destined to intertwine across lifetimes, known only to a select few. But before he could ask for an explanation, the world around them transformed into a swirling vortex of colors and distorted sounds.
The cobblestone streets, the vendors calling out their wares, the scent of spices in the air—all of it faded away like a dream.
Xiao Meng jolted awake, gasping for breath. The hard, unyielding floor of the training camp pressed against her cheek. The warm golden light had vanished, replaced by the blinding fluorescent lights of the auditorium. The magical compass and the silver-haired youth—gone without a trace.
In her hand, she clutched the shattered remnants of an hourglass, golden sand spilling across the stage floor. A thin wisp of smoke curled up from the remains of her "programming project."
“Xiao Meng! What on earth are you doing?!” Teacher Lin's furious voice cut through the lingering haze of time distortion. She snatched the smoking assignment from Xiao Meng's hands, disbelief and anger etched across her face.
“You're always causing trouble! I told you to focus on programming, not to indulge in ridiculous daydreams!”
Through the window, a flash of silver hair caught Xiao Meng's eye. It was him! Sunshine! He stood outside the auditorium, his expression inscrutable before disappearing around the corner of the building.
Before she could fully process that fleeting glimpse, Black-hearted Grandpa's booming voice echoed down the hallway.
“Catch her! Lock her up in the Confinement Room!” he roared, his voice brimming with fury. “That little brat! She will pay for this!”
Two burly guards appeared, their expressions serious as they advanced on Xiao Meng. She stepped back, her heart racing in her chest.
This was bad. Really bad.
They roughly seized her arms and dragged her toward the dreaded Confinement Room. The thought of being locked inside sent chills down her spine. They pushed her into the dark, cold room, and with a heavy clang, the metal door slammed shut behind her.
A small barred window let in a sliver of night sky, a few defiant stars twinkling in the encroaching darkness.
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