After Rebirth: The Awakening of The Seven Starlight Essence

No, no, stop—don’t hurt them. Get your hands off my parents!” Avaan screamed from her sleep as her hands clutched her duvet and sweat dripped down her forehead on a very cold winter night. Ten years felt like yesterday, when she was just a free-spirited and innocent teenager who never lacked love from her parents and was shielded from the upside-down side of the world. Not until that cruel night—just like this cold winter—when she watched her parents’ blood spill on the snow, turning it crimson red. She watched her best friend emerge from the shadows, thinking she should feel relieved seeing her. But who knew she would hand the people who murdered her parents a small horn flask filled with a dark liquid, instructing them to coat their blade with it before killing her? The knife pierced through her heart, and she muttered, “Selene, why? Why did you do this? Did you forget our promise to protect each other?” But the murderer dug the knife deeper into her heart and whispered to her in a humorous tone, “Hahahaha, you can’t blame her. Blame your pitiful fate for being a direct descendant of Grandmaster Rowan. We have to destroy you before you awaken your Seven Starlight Essence. Our boss wouldn’t want that,” he said with a smirk, then pushed her to the ground. Just as the world was becoming dim to her, as she was filled with pain and regret for being the cause of her parents’ death, a tall, sturdy figure approached her. He went on his knees and picked her up. “Lyra, Lyra, can you hear me? Please remain strong. I just called the ambulance. Please stay with me.” She looked up with her blurry vision and used the last strength left in her to stroke his cheek and apologize. “I’m sorry. I hope we will be married in our next life.” Then her hand slipped away from him as she took her last breath. ******* A faint smell of primrose swept through the room, and she couldn’t understand why she was perceiving it. She slowly opened her eyes and saw that she was in a different environment. Then she took a glance to see the date. Suddenly, she had a shocked expression on her face when she saw the calendar. “I have been reborn ten years later.” She clutched her fist, came down from the bed, and slowly walked to the mirror in her dim room. “What?! What’s happening?” She had a baffled look on her face as she saw the reflection in the mirror—a girl who looked just like her: similar face, hair, just a more mature and hotter figure. She kept staring at herself, not understanding the situation, until she was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. An elderly man in his 60s, with delight in his eyes, strode towards her and took her hand. “Avaan, you’re finally awake. I knew this day would come.” So her name is Avaan. What an interesting name. Then he pulled her to sit on the bed. “Child, you don’t remember me again? Can you say something to me? You’re making me worried.” “Grandpa?” “Yes, I’m your grandpa—Grandpa Rowan.” Her eyes lit up for a second when she heard the name Rowan. She remembered the Seven Starlight Essence her parents’ murderer mentioned. She said, “I must fight to awaken them all.” Her stomach rumbled loudly in the room. She heard the echo and felt slightly embarrassed. “Oh, child, let me call the doctor to check on you and ask what you can eat at the moment. But I’m sure it would just be broth and oat porridge.” Grandpa Rowan stepped out of the room, leaving her all alone. “Really? Why did I just act like a starving ghost? I ate so little previously.” “No, I disagree. I know I would have little appetite when they bring the food.” She nervously stared at Grandpa Rowan with an awkward smile on her face after she gulped down the bowl of porridge, smoked salmon, and buttered bannocks in less than five minutes. “Haha, I guess I had a long sleep, which made me hungry,” he laughed. “Don’t look at me. If you want to blame anyone, blame this body. I knew it—I’m so sophisticated. It must be her body.” Then she sat up properly. “Grandpa Rowan, I have a request. Can you tell me about my childhood till now?” His face turned serious as he stared at her. “Child, it’s absolutely normal if you forgot about me and everything. You got lost as a child, and when I finally found you, you fell into a coma. You have been asleep for more than ten years. “But don’t worry about anything. You are the young miss of the Rowan clan—one of the top four clans in Edinburgh. No one dares to bully my granddaughter. “We are almost on par with the head of the MacLaren clan. Yes, that reminds me—” A smile beamed on his face when he spoke. “Oh my… why does this smile look like a warning that something big is about to happen?” Her thoughts were interrupted when he said, “You have a marriage alliance with the MacLaren clan. Child, I won’t trade you for profit. “Your bloodline markings and ancestral omens align perfectly with the MacLaren heir’s. This decision is bound by ancient covenant and fate.” “Are you kidding me? What do you mean I have to get married soon after my rebirth? Fate, are you messing up my plans for revenge?” “Grandpa Rowan, don’t you think it’s a bit hasty? Don’t you want me to spend more time with you?” “Hahaha,” he laughed wholeheartedly. “Marriage won’t stop us from bonding well. Then I guess it’s settled.” “Okay, Grandpa Rowan. It shouldn’t be a bad idea after all. He is the head of the MacLaren clan. I will use him for my revenge plans.” “Yes, that reminds me. I got a personal assistant for you. She has been by your side since the coma. “She could be your confidant. Come in.” A fair-skinned, petite young lady with dark silky hair stepped in, dressed in corporate trousers. She had an innocent look that carried subtle seriousness. “Young Madam,” she greeted with a bow. “My name is Olivia.” ******* A week passed quickly. Avaan was happy that her Highland combat training and blade techniques were still with her, so she spent the whole week practicing to rebuild her defense skills. After practicing the whole morning, she went to her room and took a shower. She picked up her phone to call Olivia and told her to get ready because she wanted to eat out today. When they got down from the car and stepped into the Seven Star Hotel, she went straight to the dining area to place an order because she was starving. She ordered venison stew, haggis with neeps and tatties, oatcakes, and grilled lobster. After eating till she was full, she stood up, but a waiter tripped and spilled red wine on her dress. He apologized while kneeling, but she didn’t even bother with him. “This guy is trying hard to ruin my day.” Then she had a new dress sent to one of the rooms in the hotel. When she got there, she saw him—the man who stood by her in her last moments. His familiar scent was something she couldn’t bring herself to forget. When she stared into his eyes, she fe lt her five senses heighten, and a primrose-shaped mark appeared on her wrist. She looked at it closely. Then she felt dizzy and fell to the ground.