January 25th, 2030
In a two-story house nestled in the heart of Ha Thanh City, the night breeze slipped softly through the open window, carrying with it the lingering chill of late winter. A full moon hung high in the sky, its silver glow casting a gentle light into the warm little room at exactly seven in the evening.
"Happy birthday, Hao Thien."
The voices of his father and mother rang out together—tender, full of love. Today marked his eighteenth birthday—the age poised on the thin line between dreams and adulthood.
"This is your present."
His father smiled as he handed over a large gift box, neatly wrapped in blue paper and tied with a careful bow. Under the warm golden light, the box seemed to glow—reflecting the quiet joy of a simple family moment.
"Wow… I'm already this old and still getting presents from Mom and Dad?"
Hao Thien beamed, taking the box with both hands. His face lit up with surprise and emotion, his eyes shimmering with happiness—the kind of feeling people often don't realize they're living in… until it's gone.
"Hurry and open it, then come sit down to eat. Don't let the food get cold."
His mother spoke gently, still picking food and placing it into his bowl—just as she had always done, year after year, never once changing.
That evening, their small home was filled with laughter.
Just a simple dinner, a small cake, and a few warm wishes…
But for Trần Hạo Thiên, it was perhaps the happiest moment of his life.
After the cozy dinner with his parents, Hao Thien returned to his room on the second floor.
It was a spacious and tidy room, with a large window that faced the night sky, where a full moon hung silently in the stillness of the evening.
Moonlight spilled through the glass, casting a soft silver glow across his desk, where his phone lay quietly.
"Tinggg…"
A message notification broke the silence of the room.
On the screen was a familiar name: "Seven Deadly Sins" — the group chat he shared with his six closest friends.
Six voice messages popped up one after another, each carrying a birthday wish in their own unique way.
"Happy birthday!"
"Yo, happy birthday, old man!"
"Don't forget to make a strong wish today!"
"Told you we wouldn't forget!"
As their familiar voices echoed through the stillness, the corners of Hao Thien's lips lifted into a warm, contented smile.
"Thanks a lot,"
he quickly typed back, adding a laughing emoji at the end.
"Ah, right—there's still the gift from Mom and Dad… Let's see what it is!"
Hao Thien chuckled softly and carefully unwrapped the box, peeling away each layer of wrapping paper as gently as if he were afraid to damage the love folded inside.
"Huh… This is…"
Inside the neatly placed plastic casing was a brand-new, high-end drone, still sparkling under the desk lamp.
"If this were me a few years ago, I probably would've jumped up and down with excitement… Still, this is such a great gift."
He smiled warmly, placing it on his desk with the kind of care reserved not for things—but for the feelings they carried.
Then, he gently pushed open the window.
The night breeze drifted in, cool and crisp, carrying the last chill of late winter.
Above, the full moon hung bright and bold, casting silver light across a sky full of stars.
"The moon's… really bright tonight,"
he murmured to himself.
For some reason, an odd feeling stirred in his chest— as if the moon itself was watching him, as if… something was quietly drawing near.
Suddenly, a blinding streak of light tore across the night sky, shooting past right in front of Hao Thien's eyes.
It plunged straight down toward the mountain behind his school—a brilliant blue trail cutting across the star-filled sky, leaving behind a glowing halo that slowly faded.
"What the heck…? It crashed into the mountain!"
He shot to his feet, scrambling to grab a flashlight from his drawer. His movements were rushed, but his eyes sparkled with unmistakable curiosity.
Just as he was about to rush out of his room, his gaze fell on the birthday gift still sitting on the desk—a brand-new drone.
"Perfect timing… Let's put this gift to use."
He stuffed the box into his backpack, dashed out of the house, and jumped on his bicycle, pedaling furiously through the quiet streets.
"Seriously? A red light now?!"
He frowned, staring impatiently at the glowing traffic signal.
Right then, a familiar voice called out from across the street.
"Hao Thien? What are you doing out here this late?"
A boy about his age—straw in his mouth, casually chewing gum—looked over with mild surprise.
It was Tran Quang, one of his closest friends.
"Tran Quang—huh?!"
The light turned green.
"Hop on! I'll explain on the way—hurry!"
Though still clueless about what was going on, Tran Quang leapt onto the back seat without hesitation.
The bike took off, speeding into the night—leaving behind the soft glow of the moon and the quiet hum of rolling tires.
At the base of the mountain, Hao Thien and Tran Quang were getting their flashlights ready and checking their backpacks before beginning their nighttime trek.
"Are you serious about this?"
Tran Quang gave him a doubtful look as he swept his flashlight across the trail ahead.
"If I'm dragging you up a mountain this late at night, there's definitely a good reason."
Hao Thien replied calmly, though his eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Alright then… let's go."
The two teenagers walked side by side, each holding a flashlight, their backpacks swinging lightly with each step.
The beams of light danced through the thick trees, casting long, twisting shadows on the forest floor like they were alive.
"You're sure it crashed somewhere near here?"
Tran Quang asked, eyes scanning the surroundings as he moved the flashlight around with a mix of anticipation and caution.
"Time to put this to use."
Hao Thien gave a slight grin and pulled a familiar box from his backpack.
"What's that?"
Tran Quang asked curiously.
"A birthday gift from my parents—a drone."
Hao Thien quickly opened the box, connected the device to his phone, and launched it into the sky.
The rotors spun rapidly, creating a soft whir that pierced the quiet of the night.
"Whoa… that's pretty awesome."
Tran Quang looked up, clearly impressed, as the drone glided above the treetops—its small red light blinking like an eye cutting through the dark.
"From up there, we can search a lot more efficiently."
The phone screen displayed aerial footage sweeping over the shadowy forest below—still and mysterious.
"There! Look closely—something's smoking over there."
Tran Quang pointed to the screen, where a faint column of smoke was rising through the trees.
"Let's go!"
Without hesitation, they moved toward the source.
A few minutes later, they arrived—facing a scorched clearing littered with strange white fragments.
It didn't look like a meteorite. The debris resembled synthetic material—too smooth, too structured.
"What the heck is this?"
Tran Quang muttered, crouching to examine one of the shards—each one no bigger than a hand, covered in unfamiliar patterns.
"Wait… something over there is glowing."
Hao Thien stepped forward, his flashlight landing on a small object nestled in the center of the wreckage.
It was a crimson crystal—vibrant, gleaming like a heartbeat frozen in time, radiating a faint but captivating light.
Returning home, Hao Thien dropped his backpack onto the desk and sat down heavily, his gaze fixed on the crimson crystal resting quietly in the palm of his hand.
"Is this thing from outer space… or just some prank someone shot into the sky that ended up on the mountain?"
He folded his arms, tilting his head thoughtfully. Doubt lingered on his face as he stared at the gem. It remained still—silent and dull, like a red pebble that had lost its way into this world.
His eyes began to droop from exhaustion. He yawned, covered his mouth, and collapsed onto his bed without a second thought.
"It's late… Time to sleep…"
Moonlight slipped through the thin curtain by the window, casting a soft silver glow across the room. A gentle beam fell upon his face—like the faintest touch from a distant realm.
⸻
The world shifted.
⸻
Hao Thien opened his eyes.
He was standing in a nameless expanse of sky.
All around him stretched an eternal night, boundless and deep. Countless planets drifted silently in spiral orbits, each one like a giant gemstone, glowing softly with its own unique hue.
Ribbons of galaxies coiled like silver dragons, stretching from horizon to horizon. Streaks of blue and crimson light raced across the cosmos, leaving behind fading trails like whispered secrets.
"Where… am I?"
His voice echoed into the void, distant and dreamlike—like speaking to the universe itself.
Looking around, awe and wonder shimmered in his eyes. There was no ground beneath him, no direction above or below—only him, floating in a sea of stars.
"Am I… dreaming?"
He questioned, but deep down, something in his heart didn't quite believe it. No dream had ever felt so vivid… so strange.
"It's beautiful… I hope I don't wake up too soon."
He began to walk—weightless, his steps gliding like whispers through the air. Around him, the universe unfolded like a book yet to be read.
"That planet…"
Ahead floated a pale blue-white world, its light calm and serene. Beneath layers of soft clouds lay a breathtaking meadow—fields of frost flowers blooming in full glory.
A rosy moon from another celestial body bathed the landscape in a magical pink hue, painting the entire scene like something from a forgotten fairytale.
"So beautiful… I can't look away…"
Hao Thien quietly moved closer, his heart strangely soothed by the silence around him.
Something… was waiting for him there.
He walked through the snowflower field, each step as light as if gliding through a nameless dream. The pure white blossoms gently swayed in an invisible breeze, emitting a soft glow—mist-like, ethereal.
Hao Thien kept walking. No direction. No sense of time. Only the surreal beauty, so serene it quieted his very soul.
Suddenly, one flower ahead shimmered more brightly than all the rest.
It wasn't larger. It wasn't more colorful. But the light it gave off… was unlike anything he had ever seen—
As if it had a soul. As if it was looking back at him.
He stepped closer, knelt softly, and reached out to touch one of its petals.
The sensation… was like touching the very first dream humanity ever had.
"This flower… has no stamen?"
He tilted his head, puzzled. Amid a sea of blossoms in full bloom, only this one was missing something—its heart.
At that very moment…
The red crystal he had retrieved from the mountain—long forgotten until now—suddenly drifted out from his chest, hovering weightlessly in the air before slowly descending toward the center of the flower.
It settled gently into the empty space—perfectly, as if it had always belonged there.
And the flower bloomed a second time.
But this time…
its light was no longer silver-white. It burned crimson—like fire, like blood, like a heart that had just awakened.