It was another beautiful morning—or at least as beautiful as a morning could get in a snowy mountain village. The skies were a pale, wintry gray, thick with clouds, though a few strands of sunlight managed to slip through, casting a faint glow across the snow-laden rooftops of Azure Peak.

A crisp breeze wound through the village streets, the air fresh with the scent of frost.

"What do you mean it’s a bad deal? These are legit Crystal Dragon Tears!" Kanan’s voice rang out, his tone thick with disbelief as he waved a handful of glittering blue stones. His expression was a mix of shock and indignation, as though he couldn’t fathom being doubted.

"Kanan! If you don’t get out of my shop this instant, I’ll call the guards and have you kicked out again!" snapped a middle-aged woman from behind the counter, her eyes narrowing in irritation. With a sharp swipe, she slapped the blue pebbles from his hand, sending them clattering to the floor.

"If you try to sell me fake stones one more time," she growled, her voice low and dangerous, "I’ll carve that lying tongue right out of your mouth!"

Kanan, ever unfazed, threw his head back with an exaggerated laugh, his black spiky hair bouncing with the motion. "Hahaha! This young master will forgive your rudeness today!" he declared grandly, his grin wide. "Hahaha—"

"Get out!" she shrieked, and before Kanan could react, her palm slammed into his chest.

The impact knocked the wind from his lungs. His face twisted in pain, and a gasp of spit flew from his mouth as he was hurled backward, crashing through the shop door and landing in a heap on the snowy street outside.

Groaning, Kanan curled up slightly, clutching his stomach as the cold seeped into the black winter cloak he was wearing. "These women are so violent," he muttered under his breath, wincing as he slowly pushed himself up. "Sheesh..."

"Ha ha ha, there's never a dull moment with Kanan around, is there?" a voice rang out, filled with amusement. Baren approached casually, his sharp blue eyes flicking between Kanan and the broken door he had just barreled through, a playful grin on his face.

Kanan groaned, rolling his eyes as he dusted the snow from his clothes. "Well, if it isn’t the mighty Baren," he replied with heavy sarcasm, standing up straight despite the mess he had made.

Baren was a young man, not much older than Kanan, but the contrast between them was striking. Where Kanan’s wild energy seemed untamed, Baren exuded confidence, his presence calm but commanding. His long blue hair, tied in a neat ponytail, reached down his back, every strand in place despite the cold wind biting through the village. His sapphire eyes, sharp and piercing.

Baren wore a pristine blue robe, the emblem of the Fallow Deer Sect emblazoned on his back, gleaming in the sunlight. Unlike Kanan, bundled up in thick winter gear, Baren seemed completely at ease in his light robe, standing tall, his back straight as an arrow. A truly attractive man, if one were to say the least.

"Always making a scene" Baren said with a smirk. "But I guess that’s why you’re never boring.

Baren’s eyes shifted from Kanan to the shop owner, her face flushed with anger as she stomped over to the wrecked door. The fury in her eyes was unmistakable, and for a brief moment, the tension thickened in the cold air. But Baren, slowly and without hurry, stepped forward with a calm, collected demeanor, his every movement measured and graceful.

As he approached her, his voice was smooth, respectful, and disarming. "I sincerely apologize on behalf of my friend here," he began, his tone steady. His eyes flicked back to Kanan, who was still brushing off the last bits of snow clinging to his clothes. "He can be... well, a bit reckless."

With a subtle sigh, Baren reached down to his waist, pulling out a small, ornate pouch. His fingers moved with practiced ease as he retrieved a gleaming silver coin. The shopkeeper’s eyes immediately flashed with greed, her anger faltering as she focused on the shimmering payment.

"Here," Baren said softly, extending the coin toward her. "Consider this an apology for the door… and a little extra for my friend's behavior." His every word soothing to the ear.

The shopkeeper hesitated for a brief second, but the promise of silver was too enticing to resist. She snatched the coin quickly, her previous anger replaced by a begrudging acceptance. Baren gave her a nod, as if to say the matter was settled.

Turning back to Kanan, Baren’s expression softened into something more playful. "Hey, Kanan," he called out, his voice filled with that familiar tone of teasing, "don’t you have something to say to the nice shop lady?"

Kanan, who had by now rolled his eyes so many times he was in danger of them actually rolling out, sighed heavily. It was typical Baren—always playing the role of the smooth-talker, fixing the messes Kanan found himself in.

With another exaggerated eye roll, Kanan crossed his arms tightly over his chest, his expression one of pure defiance. "What’s there to apologize for?" he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "I was selling perfectly good Crystal Dragon Tears, and she has the nerve to accuse me of selling fakes? Honestly, if anyone should be angry here, it’s me! And yet, here I am, suffering this grave injustice. Absolutely incredible."

Baren’s lips twitched in amusement as he knelt down, picking up one of the supposed "Crystal Dragon Tears" from the snow-covered ground. He held it up to the light, inspecting it closely, his sharp sapphire-blue eyes narrowing as he studied the object. "These are the Crystal Dragon Tears, huh?" he asked, his voice taking on a more serious tone.

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Kanan raised an eyebrow slightly, still indignant. "Yeah. Those." He wasn’t backing down. Not yet.

Baren turned the "tear" over in his hand, his expression growing more intense. "I see," he said slowly, before glancing back at Kanan with a look that made the younger boy shift slightly. "And tell me, where exactly did you get them?"

Kanan’s indignant stance wavered for a moment, but he puffed out his chest, still defiant. "Oh!" he said, almost too casually, "I got them from a powerful cultivator after I helped him wash a few Magical Beasts."

For a split second, there was silence. Then Baren’s face cracked into a wide grin, and before he could stop himself, he burst into laughter. "Pahahahaha!" he doubled over, his laughter filling the chilly air. "You… you got scammed, bro! Crystal Dragon Tears? From a guy washing Magical Beasts?" He could barely catch his breath between bouts of laughter, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

Kanan’s face reddened, his earlier defiance quickly turning to embarrassment. "What?! No way…" he muttered under his breath, realizing how ridiculous the story sounded now that Baren was pointing it out.

Baren wiped a tear from his eye, his laughter subsiding but his grin still wide. He patted Kanan on the back, shaking his head. "Come on, let’s get out of here. I’ll treat you to dinner," he said, his voice warm with amusement.

Kanan, though clearly annoyed, couldn’t help but sucking his teeth. "Fooled me again! Shit!" Kanan shouted, kicking a pile of snow.

“It’s not your fault you couldn’t tell, Kanan,” Baren said, his voice trying to soften the blow, his usual confident air giving way to a more consoling tone. “To a m—”

“To a what? A Mortal?” Kanan interrupted sharply, his eyes narrowing. The words hung heavy between them.

Baren let out a deep sigh, closing his eyes for a brief moment. When he opened them again, his expression had shifted—no longer playful, but cold and serious. “Yes,” he said firmly. “You need to face the facts, Kanan. You’ve been stuck at the lowest level of the Mana Manipulation Stage for four years now. Four years!” He let the words linger, their weight undeniable. “People your age have already moved on—some are in the Lower Foundation Stage, and a few have even reached the Middle Foundation Stage. I've heard there's a monster my age who's even gotten to the Higher Foundation Stage. You can’t compete with those geniuses!"

Kanan’s face fell, his hands clenching into fists, but he said nothing.

Baren pressed on, his voice cool but tinged with frustration. “Why don’t you start a farm, or work in the mines, or something practical? I'll even pitch in! The life of a cultivator... it’s not for you. The sooner you get that through your thick skull, the sooner you’ll stop chasing something that’ll never happen, and things will finally start to go your way.”

Kanan stood in silence, his gaze now fixed on the white ground. His heart pounded in his chest, but his face remained expressionless. No retort. No snappy comeback. Just overwhelming quiet.

Seeing the effect his words had, Baren’s cold demeanor softened a little. He frowned, taking a step forward. “Look, I didn’t mean—”

“Thanks a lot, Baren,” Kanan cut him off, his voice flat and emotionless. He didn’t look up, didn’t meet Baren’s eyes. His tone carried none of the sarcasm he usually used—just a cold, distant 'Thanks'.

Baren’s mouth opened, but no words came out. The playful banter, the lightheartedness between them, seemed to vanish like smoke. In its place, an uncomfortable silence lingered.

“Now if you’ll excuse me,” Kanan continued, his voice still eerily calm, “I’ve got things to do.” He reached out and took the fake Crystal Dragon Tears from Baren’s hand, the gesture sharp and mechanical. Without another word, Kanan turned on his heel and walked away, his footsteps crunching against the snow-covered ground, carrying him farther and farther from Baren.

Baren stood, hands tucked into his robe, watching Kanan’s figure shrink as he walked away. His lips curled into a smirk. “Such an idiot,” he muttered, shaking his head. After a pause, he raised his voice, pretending to be casual. “Alright then, I guess I’ll have to tell Emicia you won’t be able to make it.”

The name hit Kanan like a thunderbolt. He froze mid-step, a jolt of panic flashing across his face. “E-Emicia’s gonna be there?”

Baren’s smirk grew into an almost wicked grin, his sharp blue eyes gleaming with amusement. “Oh yeah, she told me personally to make sure you came. Wouldn’t want to disappoint her, would you?” His tone was teasing, filled with mock concern.

Kanan slowly turned around, eyes wide with disbelief, as if he needed to confirm what he just heard. Taking in a deep breath, he straightened up, his whole demeanor shifting in an instant. “My brother! Big brother Baren!” Kanan’s voice boomed with sudden enthusiasm, his grin wide as he spread his arms as if he had just been reunited with a long-lost family member. “It’s always such a pleasure seeing you! Of course, I’ll come. You said it was on you, right?” His laugh was loud, exaggerated, and filled with excitement. “Ha ha ha ha!”

Baren chuckled softly, clearly pleased with how quickly Kanan’s attitude had flipped. He gave a slight nod, amused by his friend’s antics, as Kanan’s laughter echoed through the streets. Meanwhile, the shopkeeper, too occupied with the silver coin still in her hand, barely noticed a thing, content now that the broken door had been compensated for.