Gold Star Circle

"Yeeess! Finally!" Ranav almost leaped with joy. In his spiritual universe, a shining golden star circle radiated a dazzling light, commanding attention. The other star circles… white, black, red, and silver… still floated in their positions, but none possessed the same imposing presence, even though they were one level higher than the golden circle.

However, his excitement was short-lived. His eyes fell upon several purple stars… one that had been with him from the very beginning but had yet to form a circle. They stood as silent reminders of his failures, grounding him just as he was about to bask in the light of success.

With a sigh, he ended his meditation and exited from the ring.

For the past six days, he had been relentlessly meditating, striving to form a star circle with his Blessing element. His master had warned him to keep this element a secret, but he knew that to awaken his next element, he needed at least a level-1 star circle. The process had taken far longer than his previous elements, and as the days dragged on, his frustration had only grown.

His routine for the past few days had been almost mechanical… morning training, supervising Midnight's air magic, eating, and the occasional nap. The rest of his time was spent deep in meditation. But his persistence had finally paid off. The golden star circle was now complete.

Jessica's voice chimed in his mind. "Congratulations! I was starting to get worried. You were practically radiating frustration every single day. If negative emotions had a god, you'd be their chosen champion… 'The God of Negativity.'" She laughed heartily.

Despite her teasing tone, Ranav felt a pang of guilt. Jessica had been the one constantly by his side, the only one to endure the full force of his frustrations.

"I'm sorry, Jessica," he said sincerely. "You've always had to suffer because of my selfishness."

Jessica waved it off. "What? Why are you suddenly being polite? Are you sick?"

She sighed before continuing. "Listen, Ranav. You're the only person I can talk to, the only one who even knows I exist. I understand why you push yourself so hard, why you're so desperate to grow stronger. Even though I lost my own memories, I received all of yours from your past life. I even know things you don't remember anymore." She paused, her voice softening. "I understand your distrust. Human stupidity knows no bounds… I totally agree with you on that. But… I still wish you would enjoy your childhood, even if just a little."

She hesitated, then added, "You have a loving family, Ranav. I know you cherish them, but you don't let yourself enjoy their love because you're afraid of losing them. Just promise me something, spend more time with them. Train with your sisters, help your parents with their daily work… You don't have to carry everything alone."

A heavy silence stretched between them.

Finally, Ranav broke it. "You're right… in a way." He exhaled, rubbing his temples. "I already lived my childhood once, in another life. So I thought I didn't need to experience it again. But my family in this life is different. My parents need their son. My sister needs her younger brother. I forgot my role in this world."

Jessica smirked. "Well, at least you got the point. Even if you took the most twisted route to get there."

Ranav narrowed his eyes. "Who's twisted? What twisted thought process did I follow?"

Jessica quickly changed the subject. "Speaking of family, Paramita was upset with you. You ignored her for the last few days. Try to spend some time with her. At least talk about magic or something. According to your plan, this household is your first real ally, right? Don't create unnecessary distance."

Before Ranav could reply, a knock sounded at the door.

Jessica whispered, "It's the maid. She usually comes to call you."

Ranav blinked. "What time is it?"

"She's probably here to call you for lunch."

Ranav sighed. "I always lose track of time while meditating."

Jessica chuckled. "That's normal. Time flows differently in the ring, especially on the meditation platform."

Ranav stood up, stretched his stiff limbs, and opened the door. The maid bowed slightly.

"Young Master, it's time for—"

Ranav cut her off with a smile. "I know. You may go now. I'll come for lunch in a minute."

The maid blinked in confusion. "But I didn't tell you anything yet…"

"You came to call me for lunch, right?"

"…Yes."

"Then it's fine." With that, he gently closed the door, leaving behind a flabbergasted maid standing outside. After a few moments, she turned and left.

After freshening up and changing into clean clothes, Ranav headed downstairs. The countess and Paramita were already at the dining table, halfway through their meal.

Seeing him enter, the countess smiled warmly. "Ranav, come sit beside me. We started without you, thinking you'd be late again."

Ranav sat down and offered a small smile. "Sorry about the past few days. I was meditating to stabilize my star circles. I just finished the process earlier today, so I'll be free for a while." He turned to Paramita. "I know you wanted to discuss something with me, but I couldn't afford any distractions. If I had lost my focus, all my progress could've been undone."

Paramita waved her hand dismissively. "I understand. Without that kind of dedication, you wouldn't have progressed this fast. But I appreciate the thought."

As he began selecting food for his plate, Ranav said, "If you're free this afternoon, let's visit Usha. She asked me to drop by this week, and today's the last day."

Paramita brightened. "Sure! I'll be free. Mom, we'll have our evening snacks outside, then."

The countess nodded. "That's fine. Just don't be too late. Make sure you return before your father."

They continued their meal, chatting casually about minor things. Afterward, they each went to their rooms to rest.

A few hours later, as the sun tilted toward the west, Ranav prepared to head into the city. He informed Paramita, who quickly got ready, and within half an hour, they had hired a carriage and were on their way.

During the journey, Paramita enthusiastically pointed out various landmarks, important shops, and popular spots she was familiar with. Ranav listened attentively, making mental notes of places he might find useful in the future.

Upon arriving at Usha's house, they learned she wasn't home but at their shop. Fortunately, the carriage driver knew the location of her family's shop, so they boarded the carriage once more and soon reached their new destination.

Ranav noticed an ancient-style calligraphy sign on a wooden board outside the shop. It read:

"Dhanvika" in bold, then "In Dhanvantari's Grace, Health and Life Embrace" in smaller font.

Dhanvantari was an ancient goddess of potions and herbs. Although practicing religion was nearly nonexistent in the surrounding kingdoms, people still named businesses and children after old gods and goddesses.

Stepping inside, they found Usha assisting her grandfather behind the counter. The shop was spacious, large enough to accommodate at least fifty customers in the lobby. Behind the counter, rows of glass containers and bottles lined the walls, each filled with herbs and potions. Several attendants were busy helping customers while others waited patiently for their turn.

As they approached the counter, Usha looked up and immediately spotted them.

"Ranav! When did you get here?" she asked, her face lighting up.

"Just now. You looked busy," Ranav replied.

Usha then noticed Paramita and curtsied politely. "Miss Rawat. This is the first time you've visited our shop. Welcome."

She turned to her grandfather and introduced Paramita before saying, "Let's go upstairs. It's too crowded down here."