Chapter 1
 Once upon a time, in a small village nestled among mist-covered hills,
there lived a boy named Zhifei. He was forteen years old, with curly black hair and curious eyes that sparkled
like raindrops.
 
November had arrived, and the air was unusually
chilly, even for this time of year. Rain poured down relentlessly, turning the
narrow streets of the village into rivers.
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~chapter 1~
 
On one crisp November morning, the sun finally broke through the clouds,
painting the world with its warm rays.
  Zhifei, buzzing with excitement,
noticed the rain had finally let up. Peering outside, he saw the streets
were dry. "great," he muttered to himself, "I can ride my bike to school today."
 
Rushing to his dad, Zhifei couldn't contain his enthusiasm.
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~chapter 1~
"Dad, it's stopped raining and the streets are dry! I can ride my bike
to school!"
His dad, Tompo, checked outside and gave a nod of approval.
But then, with a knowing look, he warned Zhifei that the weather might
turn later, especially when it's time for the journey back home.
"Don't worry, Dad, I'll be alright. And I'll bring my raincoat just in
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~chapter 1~
case it starts pouring again," Zhifei reassured.
Tompo rose from the kitchen table and walked over to his son, giving him a pat on the head.
"Stay safe, alright? And no reckless stunts on your bike with your friends, understood?"
"Yes, Father," Zhifei declared emphatically.
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Chapter 2
 
Zhifei's father, Tompo, was a man of few words, his hands bruised by years of
labor at the steel mill. Despite his silent demeanor, his eyes reflected a
warmth and kindness that belied his rugged exterior.
 
Tompo labored tirelessly at the mill, driven by the desire to provide his only son with a brighter future than his own.
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~chapter 2~
  Their home was a modest one, nestled on the outskirts of town,
where the aroma of pine from the nearby forest mixed with the metallic tang of smoldering iron ore.
Zhifei never had the chance to truly know his mother. She passed away from an illness when he was very young.
All he holds onto are fleeting memories of her soothing
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~chapter 2~
voice, singing him sweet lullabies and wrapping him
in warmth during his infancy.
 
Tompo chose not to remarry, dedicating his life entirely to raising Zhifei on his own.
From a young age, Zhifei had to learn to be independent and fend for himself in his father's absence.
It was a tough road for Tompo, but they managed to make it work.
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Chapter 3
 
After finishing his breakfast in a hurry, Zhifei grabbed his backpack and dashed out the door.
Making his way to the back of the house where his bike was parked, he swiftly mounted it and
sped off towards school in a flash. "Bye Dad!" he yeld out.
 
The ride to school was Zhifei's time to dream. He would often times imagined his mother as a
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~chapter 3~
beautiful
woman with a smile that
could light up the darkest room.
In his
mind, she was a painter, her art filled with the colors of the sunrise that
accompanied him each morning.
 
He also indulged in imagining grand adventures, where he would
confront monsters and villains.
One thing remained clear: Zhifei possessed a remarkably vivid
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~chapter 3~
imagination.
"Finally, a pleasant day," Zhifei thought to himself as he pedaled his bicycle.
Riding alongside the river, he noticed its unusually calm waters despite days of heavy rain.
"The Aanshaa bridge should be fine to cross today, cutting my travel time in half," he pondered.
With a decisive nod, he affirmed, "Yes, I'll take the bridge."
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~chapter 3~
Zhifei reached the bridge and began to cross it when he caught sight of something at the far end.
~chapter 3~
"What was that? It was there one moment, then suddenly gone!" he pondered aloud.
~chapter 3~
He mused, "Whatever it was, it has disappeared. I need to head to school. " Zhifei quickly dismissed the thought, hopped on his bicycle, and sped off towards school.
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Chapter 4
  At school Zhifei was known to be cheerful as a sunbeam on a
spring morning. His classmates adored him for his infectious laughter and mischievous
antics. Zhifei was the mastermind behind countless pranks that kept everyone giggling.
 
Teachers knew him too, as the mischievous kid at the back of the class, always up to some sort
of
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~chapter 4~
trouble. But they also saw another side of him β Zhifei was incredibly helpful and respectful to the
school staff. So while he may have been a troublemaker, he was also a genuinely good-hearted soul.
 
The school day proceeded as usual, with Zhifei exhibiting
his typical behavior, engaging in
his usual antics, joking around with friends, and occasionally causing a
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~chapter 4~
slight
nuisance
for the teachers, who often opted to overlook his antics. However,
there was one teacher who didn't tolerate Zhifei's behavior: Ms. Barima.
 
Ms. Barima embodied the old-school teaching style. She was stern
and didn't tolerate any nonsense in her classroom. She insisted
that Zhifei sit at the front where she could closely monitor the troublemaker.
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Chapter 5
 
As the school day drew to a close, a foreboding darkness crept in from the east,
casting a shadow over the school grounds. The wind began to howl,
rustling the leaves of the trees. Zhifei peered out the window, a sense of dread
creeping over him as he murmured to himself, "Oh no, it looks like it's
about to rain... just my luck!"
 
When the final bell tolled,
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~chapter 5~
signaling the end of the school day, the rain had yet to begin.
  However, the sky loomed ominously, shrouded in an eerie
darkness. Without a moment to spare, Zhifei dashed from his classroom, hastening
to retrieve his bicycle from the rack. He exchanged hurried farewells with his
friends, eager to make his escape before the coming storm
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~chapter 5~
unleashed its fury
upon him.
 
The clouds churned with ominous purpose, rippling akin to the angry ocean.
Zhifei refrained
from raising his gaze, wary that it might discourage him from returning home.
A question lingered in his mind:
"Should I pause and find shelter, or should I continue onward?"
Just then, he glanced skyward, and a sudden flash caught his eye.
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~chapter 5~
"Lightning! Oh, this is the
worst scenario,"
he exclaimed. Ahead, he could see the old bridge.
 
Spotting the old bridge infused him with the determination to press onward towards home.
"Pedal, pedal!" he urged himself, spurred by newfound resolve.
DROP! π§ DROP! π§
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~chapter 5~
βthe rain began, its heavy droplets resembling small glass beeds colliding against the pavement.
 
As Zhifei sped onto the bridge, racing as swiftly as he could, a movement caught his peripheral
vision.
Glancing over, he spotted a small fox ensnared beneath a fallen branch near the
riverbank. "A fox... in trouble... I must assist," he pondered. Never one to ignore a
call
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~chapter 5~
for help, Zhifei hastily dismounted his bike and dashed down to the riverbank to free the trapped fox.
 
Approaching the distressed creature with caution, Zhifei noticed it intensifying its struggles
upon seeing him. "Easy, easy, I'm here to help you," Zhifei spoke softly, his words seemingly
calming the animal's agitation. He lifted the heavy branch, releasing the fox,
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~chapter 5~
which wasted no time darting off into the forest.
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Chapter 6
 
The door to the house creaked open, then slammed shut. Tompo had
returned home early from work because the factory had sent all the workers
home early due to the unfavorable weather forecast. "Zhifei, is that you?" Tompo called out.
 
Zhifei responded, "Yes, Father, it's me," as he ascended the stairs with
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~chapter 6~
heavy steps. "I'll join
you shortly after I change out of these wet clothes."
 
Tompo burst into laughter. "Did you get caught in the rain?" Zhifei
paused on the stairs, rolling his eyes as his father chuckled at him.
"Anyway, dinner will be ready soon," Tompo added.
  That evening, Zhifei
sat at the kitchen table with his father,
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~chapter 6~
relaying the events of his encounter at the bridge during his rush home. His father listened intently, his expression filled with astonishment upon hearing about the fox. "I haven't laid eyes on a fox in these parts for decades," he remarked to Zhifei. Continuing, he added, "And you mentioned it was a young fox? That implies there's a whole fox family nearby."
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~chapter 6~
That night, Zhifei and his father shared an unusually extended conversation during dinner, filled with happiness and laughter. Tompo fondly recalled memories of Zhifei's mother, praising her beauty and warmth as a mother and wife. He remarked on how Zhifei inherited his mother's eyes and her charming personality. "I wish you could have spent more time with your mother,
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~chapter 6~
"Tompo reflected. "You both would have shared a wonderful connection."
 
Tompo expressed, "Your mother would have acted just as you did when
you assisted that unfortunate fox,
in a storm no less! I'm so proud of you, son." Zhifei could just smile at his fathers comment.
"Wow, would you look at the time? It's nearly bedtime! Oh, by the way,
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~chapter 6~
have you finished your homework?" Tompo quipped.
"I'm all caught up on my schoolwork, Dad," Zhifei replied.
"Son, there's always something to do for school," Tompo chuckled.
"Yeah, I get it, Dad," Zhifei replied with a knowing smile.
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Chapter 7
Before retiring for the night, Zhifei conducted some online research. His curiosity
piqued about the local fox population, but he found little information available.
"There's not much data on foxes in this area. I should call it a night," he muttered
to himself before powering down his computer and preparing for bed.
 
That evening, Zheifi swiftly drifted
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~chapter 7~
into slumber. He found himself immersed in a dream about the fox he had rescued.
 
In this dream, as he approached the fox to release it, the creature turned towards him with
remarkable serenity. When Zhifei removed the tree limb and tossed it aside, the fox didn't bolt.
Instead, it stood calmly, gazing at Zhifei, who was drenched in the dream's rain. As the dream
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~chapter 7~
continued, the fox approached him, circling his feet and playfully rubbing against his legs. Zhifei leaned down, extending his hand to pet the fox. As soon as his fingers touched the creature, Zhifei was instantly transported to another place. In this new dimension, he realized he was dreaming. "This must be a dream," he thought. He glanced around for the fox. "Where
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~chapter 7~
did it go?"
 
Shifting his attention to his surroundings, he found himself standing on a beach.
The sky was clear, and the sun shone brightly, yet he didn't feel hot; the temperature was just right.
 
The ocean water was calm and as clear as window glass, revealing mysterious, unfamiliar creatures moving beneath the surface.
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~chapter 7~
On the other side of the beach stood a forest of palm trees. "Wow, it's so beautiful and serene here," he marveled.
 
Out of the corner of his eye, Zhifei noticed a figure appearing. He turned to get a clearer view and saw a blurry
apparition forming about 100 feet away. As the figure moved closer, its shape began to take form.
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~chapter 7~
First, he saw long, slender features, followed by the emergence of legs and arms. As it approached, a face and long black hair became discernible. Finally, the figure came fully into view, revealing a human woman.
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Chapter 8
"Hello, Zhifei!" called the voice of the stranger standing before him. Zhifei's eyes widened, his heart raced, and he momentarily lost his breath. "You have grown up," the voice continued. He was stunned by the angelic tone and found himself speechless. Then it suddenly clicked. "Mother?" he managed to squeak out, his voice cracking.
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~chapter 8~
"Mom, is that you?" he asked again.
"Yes, it's me, my son," she replied.
Before any other
words were spoken, Zhifei ran to her and hugged her tightly, tears streaming down
his face as he cried like a child. "There, there, my son, you've grown up to be so handsome,
" she comforted him with her soothing voice. "How...how is this possible?" Zhifei tearfully inquired.
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~chapter 8~
She explained, "Well, it's a bit hard to explain quickly."
"Quickly? What do you mean by "Quickly" ?" he asked with concerned eyes.
She clarified that this initial visit would be brief, but each subsequent
visit would be longer, allowing him to gradually get used to the experience.
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~chapter 8~
She continued, "This isn't a regular dream. Everything you experience here will affect your body."
"So my body isn't actually here?" Zhifei asked, puzzled.
"That's correct! Your body is still asleep at home, but your mind is here in this meeting
place with me." Zhifei sighed, holding his head.
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~chapter 8~
She placed her hand on his chin and
gently lifted his head.
"Zhifei, I know it's confusing. Don't think about it too much
right now; in time, you will understand."
"How is your father doing?" she asked.
"He's doing fine, but he still misses you after all these years...he still loves you mom." Zhifei answered.
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~chapter 8~
"Did your father ever tell you my name?" she asked.
"Alia, right?" he replied.
"Yes, yes, that's my earth name."
Zhifei looked at his mother with a puzzled expression. "Earth name?" he inquired.
"Zhifei, I don't have much time with you, and I know you must have endless questions. I promise we will have more time
together, and all
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~chapter 8~
your questions will be answered," Alia said as she began to fade away. Zhifei could no longer touch or feel her. "Mother, what's happening?" he exclaimed. "In time, my son... all in due time," Alia's fading voice echoed. Then, in an instant, Zhifei was whisked up past the clouds, soon finding himself looking down at a planet he had never seen before. It resembled Earth but had a single
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~chapter 8~
giant continent. All the landmasses were connected, surrounded by a vast sea.
 
The planet began to spin faster and faster until it suddenly stopped. To Zhifei's amazement,
the planet now looked like Earth. Then he started falling toward it, passing through the clouds
and heading toward the ground. As he fell, he saw green lands, then houses came into view,
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~chapter 8~
followed by the old town community center, and finally his own house, which he was about
to crash into. In a flash, Zhifei was back in his body.
 
Now fully awake, he sprang from
his bed and ran to his father's room. "DAD, WAKE UP!" he shouted.
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