In a cozy, beautifully lit Breakfast and Bar, located further down the snowy mountain village, three individuals sat at a wooden table. Kanan held a wooden cup in his hands, taking slow sips of a dark drink, his cheeks slightly red. Across from him sat Baren, his usual calm demeanor unwavering, eyes closed as he sipped from his own cup. Between them sat Emicia, she a soft smile on her face and she gently cradled a similar wooden cup in her hands.
Like Baren, Emicia wore a pristine blue robe adorned with the emblem of the Fallow Deer Sect, the fabric hugging her form gracefully. She had dark brown hair that was neatly tied behind her and emerald-green eyes that seemed to glow in the shining lights of the bar. Her skin was a rich, alabaster white, her posture composed yet welcoming. “Thanks for coming, Kanan,” Emicia said, her voice gentle yet filled with warmth. “I thought you’d find some excuse not to show.”
While her features might not stand out among the other women at the bustling bar, the moment her voice entered the room, it was as if Mother Earth herself had kissed your ear. Her voice was like a soothing lullaby, cradling your soul and pulling you into a sense of calm that no one else could offer.
Kanan shifted slightly, trying to hide the fact that his face was becoming a darker shade of red. In his mind he wasn’t the type to be easily flustered, but Emicia had that effect. She always did. He cleared his throat, glancing briefly at Baren, who sat quietly, eyes still closed, clearly amused by the whole scene.
“Yeah, well,” Kanan muttered, looking into his drink, “I figured it was better than being at home.”
Baren cracked a smile, but said nothing, letting Kanan squirm under Emicia’s gentle gaze.
“Well, in any case,” Emicia said, her soft smile radiant. “I truly am happy you came.” She took another delicate sip from her cup, her emerald eyes glancing briefly at Baren, who still had his eyes closed in his usual calm demeanor. She looked back at Kanan, her smile shifting into something more knowing. “I’m willing to bet everything I own, that Baren didn’t tell you the real reason I asked us to meet, did he?”
Kanan raised an eyebrow, intrigued but not entirely surprised.
"Why would I?."
Baren, without opening his eyes, chimed in, his voice composed and steady. “I thought it would be best if he heard it directly from the camel’s mouth.”
Emicia sighed, rolling her eyes in playful exasperation. “Some things never change.” She leaned forward slightly, her tone shifting as she focused on Kanan. “Look, Kanan, I won't beat around the bush. The Fallow Deer Sect is about to open the gates to the Glacier Pillars soon.”
Kanan’s casual demeanor shifted as his interest piqued. He had heard about the Glacier Pillars before—who hadn’t? It was a legendary place, a restricted area controlled by the Fallow Deer Sect and located just beyond Blue City. Normally sealed off from everyone, but ever so often, the sect allowed a select few to enter its frozen, dangerous expanse to gain opportunities for growth and valuable life experiences.
However, when has there ever been opportunity without risk? The Glacier Pillars was no simple place. The area was teeming with peril. Deadly beasts roamed freely, hidden natural arrays could trap or kill the ignorant, and the cold—Kanan had heard stories about the cold. It wasn’t just physical; it was said to be so intense that it gnawed at your very soul. Those who ventured there risked everything, and not all of them returned.
Emicia’s voice softened, pulling Kanan back from his thoughts. “I wanted to tell you this myself because… I think you should come with us.”
Kanan blinked, taken aback. “Me? Are you serious?”
Her gaze was steady, unyielding. “Yes, Kanan. I know it’s dangerous. But I also know that you’re stronger than you think. This could be your chance to break through, to prove yourself, to everyone.”
Baren opened his eyes, locking them onto Kanan. “This is your shot. If you want to stop being underestimated, this is it. This is the kind of risk that can change your fate.”
“It wasn’t easy getting a token for you, Kanan,” Emicia said, her soft smile widening as she gave him a light tap on the shoulder, placing a palm size golden brown token on the table in front of him. “We had to pay a small price, but it’ll be worth it. I just know it.”
She expected to see relief, maybe even excitement, reflected in Kanan’s face. Instead, she was met with a somber, almost defeated expression. His brows were drawn together, and his lips pressed into a tight line. “What’s the matter, Kanan?” she asked softly, her emerald eyes clouding with concern.
Kanan shook his head slowly, as if fighting some internal battle. “I’m sorry, Emicia. It’s just… why go through all of this? You say it was a small price, but I know better. Tokens like these don’t come cheap, especially not for someone like me.” His gaze dropped to his lap, where his hands rested, clenched. “You and Baren are already in the Fallow Deer Sect, have already broken into the Foundation Stage, and yet here you are—stifling your own progress, all for me? As a man, how could I accept that?”
His voice, usually lighthearted, was now weighed down with frustration, with doubt. “I’m weak. I know this. I’m mortal, I know this too. While you two will live for hundreds of years, I’ll be lucky to see even a fraction of that.” His voice cracked slightly, betraying the vulnerability he was trying so hard to suppress.
Emicia’s smile vanished, replaced by a deep frown as her hand instinctively reached out to comfort him. “Kanan, we—”
“Please.” His voice was quiet, but resolute. Lifting his head, Kanan met her gaze, locking onto her emerald eyes with a determined intensity. “Please, let me be strong in my own way.”
For a moment, Emicia said nothing, her heart heavy. She had known Kanan and Baren since they were all children. Back then, things were simple. Baren had always been serious and disciplined, sometimes even mischievous when the mood struck, but always with a purpose. Kanan, though—Kanan had always been a fighter. Not in the traditional sense, but someone who carved his own path, no matter how difficult. Even when the odds were against him, he never gave up. He was stubborn, unyielding. And now, that same stubbornness was showing itself again, but in a way that pained her to see.
The memories flooded back—how they used to spend hours together, dreaming of the day they’d all join the Fallow Deer Sect. But when the time finally came and Kanan was rejected, everything changed. Baren and Emicia had advanced, breaking through the Mana Manipulation Stage into the Fountain Stage, and their days were now filled with cultivation and training. They had become promising members of the sect, while Kanan remained on the outside, struggling at the edge of the very world they now belonged to.
Though they weren’t considered prodigies, Baren and Emicia were still rising stars in their own right. But no matter how far they advanced, Kanan was always there in their thoughts, lingering on the outskirts. They didn’t want to leave him behind. And yet, it seemed that Kanan, with all his pride, was determined not to be a burden.
Baren, who had been silent throughout the exchange, opened his eyes, his sapphire gaze softening as he watched his friend. “Kanan, none of this is about you being weak. We do this because you’re one of us. You’ve always been.”
Kanan glanced between them, his heart torn between gratitude and frustration. He wanted to say something, anything to convey how much their friendship meant to him, but the words caught in his throat. Instead, he simply nodded, trying to push away the doubts that clung to him like shadows.
“Let’s not dwell on it,” Emicia said gently, her hand resting on his arm. “You’re coming with us, no matter what. And when we get to the Glacier Pillars, you’ll show them just how strong you really are.”
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Hearing Emicia’s words, Kanan couldn’t help but let out a laugh, the tension in his shoulders easing as he leaned back. “I guess this ‘Master’ needs to step up his training, huh?” His laughter filled the bar, echoing through the small space.
Baren shook his head, smirking. “You’re still calling yourself that? Kanan. I’ll have you know, joking about being a ‘Master’ here may not mean a thing, but inside the Fallow Deer Sect, they take titles very seriously. You might want to tone that down before someone gets the wrong idea.”
Kanan furrowed his brow, his lips twisting in confusion. “Is it really that big of a deal?” he muttered to himself. How could anyone be so petty? He was about to brush it off when a shadow loomed over their table.
A large young man wearing the same blue robe as Baren and Emicia stepped forward, flanked by two others. One had short, smooth brown hair, the other was a lean figure with a completely bald head, both donning the Fallow Deer Sect emblem on their robes.
“‘Master,’ huh?” The large one spoke, his voice deep and mocking. His fiery red hair, wild and unkempt, almost matching the intensity of the disdain in his eyes as he looked Kanan up and down. “I don’t see any ‘Master’ here.”
His massive muscles rippled beneath the fabric of his robe as he crossed his arms, his presence a stark contrast to Kanan’s slimmer frame. There was an arrogance in the way he stood, as if he already knew the weight his words carried, and his two companions shared the same smug look, like vultures circling their prey.
Kanan’s smile wavered, his posture stiffening as he glanced at Baren, who remained calm, eyes still closed as if completely unfazed by the sudden intrusion. Emicia, on the other hand, tensed slightly, her emerald eyes flicking between Kanan and the newcomers.
“I’m sorry, were you talking to me?” Kanan asked, trying to keep his tone casual, though he could feel his heart start to race.
The large young man sneered. “Yeah, I’m talking to you. What’s this nonsense about being a ‘Master’? You don’t look like much more than a servant boy, let alone a cultivator. Where’d you crawl out from, the mines?” He chuckled, and the two behind him joined in, their laughter low and condescending.
Kanan clenched his jaw, the urge to respond sharp on his tongue, but Baren spoke before he could.
“Enough,” Baren said, his voice calm but authoritative as he finally opened his eyes, the cool blue of his gaze locking onto the fiery-haired man. “Goron, don’t you have something better to do than to harass a junior?”
Goron’s laughter died in his throat as Baren’s words hit him, and for a moment, he seemed unsure of how to respond. He looked at Baren, then at Emicia, who hadn’t said a word but was watching him with an icy expression. For all his bravado, even Goron knew better than to push too far with Baren. He wasn’t just anyone in the sect—he was a rising star, and Emicia was no different.
“I’m not harassing anyone,” Goron grumbled, trying to save face. “Just making sure this ‘Master’ knows his place.”
Baren’s eyes narrowed, his voice soft but with an edge of steel. “He knows his place. Do you?”
For a moment, the air in the bar felt thick, the tension palpable. Goron’s fists clenched at his sides, but after a long, heated stare, he backed down, muttering something under his breath. With a sharp nod to his companions, he turned and walked away, though not without casting one last disdainful look at Kanan.
As they left, Kanan let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, his fists still balled tightly on the table. “Thanks for that,” he muttered, feeling the sting of Goron’s words even as they disappeared from view.
Baren leaned back in his chair, his calm demeanor returning as if nothing had happened. “You’ve got to be careful, Kanan. Guys like him aren’t worth your time, but you don’t want to give them an excuse to come after you, either. This is the sect we’re talking about. Titles and strength aren’t just words—they’re everything.”
Kanan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah… I guess I’m still getting used to that.”
Emicia reached over, giving Kanan a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of it soon enough.”
Kanan gave her a weak smile, but inside, he couldn’t shake the feeling of inadequacy. No matter how much his friends tried to shield him, the world of cultivation was unforgiving. And every moment reminded him just how far he still had to go.
“Okay!” Emicia suddenly clapped her hands together, snapping Kanan out of his spiraling thoughts. Her voice was bright but carried an undertone of seriousness. “The gates open in three months, got it? During that time, we need you to get as strong as possible, Kanan. Yes, we’ll be there to protect you, but you’re still going to need a way to defend yourself when we aren’t around.”
Her soft smile remained, but for the first time, her tone held an edge of authority that left no room for argument. Reaching to her waist, she pulled out two thin books, their covers worn but clearly well-kept. The title on one read ‘Isolate,’ and the other ‘Winter’s Dash.’
Emicia handed the books over to Kanan, her eyes locking onto his as she did. “These techniques are for you. Take the next few weeks to learn them well.”
Kanan hesitated as he took the books, his brow furrowed in confusion. “Techniques? For me?” He glanced down at the titles again, the weight of their significance settling on him. He knew how rare it was for someone like him, stuck at the lowest level of cultivation, to even have access to such techniques, let alone be trusted with them.
Emicia leaned in, her expression softer now but still serious. “Isolate is a technique that will help you absorb World Energy. If I were you, I'd try to learn this one first. It’s especially effective in areas where it snows or rich in Ice Will. Considering where we live and where we're going, it’s perfect for you.”
She tapped the second book lightly. “Winter’s Dash is a movement technique. With this, you’ll be able to dodge and move quickly, almost like gliding through the snow. It’ll allow you to blend in with your surroundings, your footsteps disappearing in the frost. It’s not just about escaping; it’s about survival.”
Kanan stared at the books in his hands, feeling the weight of responsibility. “these are way too valuable, shouldn’t you be focusing on your own progress? I don’t want to be a burden—”
“You’re not a burden,” Emicia interrupted, her voice firm. “We wouldn’t be doing this if we didn’t believe in you. You’re stronger than you think, Kanan. You just need the right tools to prove it and besides, both of us already know those techniques. So don't worry about it."
Baren, who had been silently observing with his usual calm demeanor glanced at Kanan. “She’s right. These are only common grade techniques, so they won’t turn you into a powerhouse overnight, but they’ll give you an edge—a way to survive, adapt, and maybe even thrive. That’s what matters.”
Kanan swallowed hard, nodding slowly. “I… I’ll do my best,” he said, his voice low but filled with determination.
Emicia’s smile returned, warmer now, as she placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “We’re not asking for miracles, Kanan. Just take it one step at a time. Learn the techniques, strengthen yourself, and when the gates open, you’ll be ready.”
Baren stood up, stretching his arms lazily as if shaking off the heavy atmosphere. “Well, if we’re done with the serious stuff, how about we grab another drink? It’s on you this time right Emicia?
Emicia chuckled, rolling her eyes at Baren's playful jab, "Sure, I'll cover the next three rounds. Just know," Emicia said with a sinister smile "I won't be rolling any of your sorry asses home again after you pass out."
The group could only laugh as Baren left, ordering the next round of drinks.