Volume One: The Old Chapter

Chapter 001: The Old Land

The train sped away, its rumbling over the tracks stirring up swathes of withered yellow leaves, carrying with it the bleakness of autumn.

David Miller watched until the train gradually disappeared before withdrawing his gaze, having just seen off a few more classmates.

From this farewell, they would be scattered to the ends of the earth, not knowing how many years would pass before they met again—some, perhaps, would never reunite.

Around him, some people were still slowly waving, hands lingering in the air, while others stood in silence, visibly saddened.

Four years of university, walking together, had forged bonds not easily severed.

The setting sun slanted through the falling yellow leaves, dappled light and shadow weaving a sense of time slipping by.

A delicate-looking girl turned away, quietly wiping tears from behind her glasses.

In this special era, after graduation, they would each return to their own paths, perhaps never to meet again in this life.

The autumn wind blew, yellow leaves in disarray, swirling and drifting.

In this season, some were disappointed, others triumphant.

It had been four months since graduation. Some stayed in this city, their futures bright; others waited anxiously, holding on; but most left with regret, returning to their hometowns.

David Miller walked the road home, wondering where his own path would lead.

The streets were old, the plane trees on either side shedding leaves in great numbers, carpeting the ground.

Someone walked beside him, voicing his indignation: “Why weren’t you chosen, when those who stayed aren’t as good as you? How could they pass you over!”

As a classmate and friend, Brian Carter believed that if there were any spots, David Miller would surely be selected.

When the results came out, many felt conflicted—David Miller had actually been left out.

“Enough about me. What about you? Any news?” David Miller asked him.

Brian Carter whispered that his family had pulled some strings, and he might be going to New Moon.

“New Moon, across the deep space… I wonder if we’ll ever meet again.” David Miller stopped walking; all his friends were about to leave for distant places.

He was tall and well-built, not thin, with a balanced, powerful frame. In the evening glow, a faint golden light seemed to envelop him, his eyes clear and spirited.

“I’ll come back. We’ll definitely meet again.” Brian Carter was sentimental, reluctant to leave his homeland—especially knowing it would be hard to see his friend again, his heart ached.

“Call me when you return!” David Miller gave his shoulder a firm hug.

A choked sob drifted on the wind. David Miller and Brian Carter turned to see a male classmate overcome with emotion.

His face was pale, and he cried out loud, shouting, “I really want to stay in this city, to wait for the last chance. I don’t want to go back home like this!”

He had lived and studied here for four years, working hard, striving, planning his future, hoping to find his place—but in the end, he couldn’t stay.

He broke down in tears.

The autumn wind carried a chill, and some classmates grew despondent.

Elsewhere, a couple stopped, looking at each other in silence, tears streaming down their faces.

They were about to part—not just separated by thousands of miles, but by a whole starry sky, perhaps never to meet again in this life.

Tears covered their faces as they embraced for the last time, then fell into silence.

This city was large, but somewhat old, retaining traces of a bygone era. Many ancient trees lined the streets, some a hundred or two hundred years old.

By comparison, the whole city had preserved the style of the past, surviving through the years.

Elsewhere, some cities left from the old era had been abandoned, deserted for ages, overgrown with vines and thorns, gradually swallowed by nature.

Back on campus, Brian Carter was still indignant for David Miller, urging him to find out why he’d been passed over, to demand an explanation.

Even after graduation, they were allowed to stay in the dorms until the final list of candidates was confirmed.

This was a rare opportunity. Those selected would remain in the city, soon to depart for the New Star, where some extraordinary discovery seemed to have been made.

Brian Carter hadn’t been chosen either; his family’s efforts had only secured him a chance to enter deep space.

He would go to New Moon, the moon orbiting the New Star—the most important base outside the New Star itself.

Brian Carter said quietly, “You know, even though there are only scraps of rumors from over there, those who got the inside scoop are already fired up. No matter what, you have to get a spot!”

Under the moonlight, tree shadows danced. David Miller stretched on the lawn, practicing an old-era “scattering technique”—highly practical in combat—sending piles of yellow leaves swirling into the air.

He didn’t stop, his movements quick but his breathing steady. “I’m waiting for the final result,” he said.

Deep space is boundless, the universe vast, but it is cold and lifeless. Aside from the Old Land, humanity had found only one other new life-bearing star.