“Nothing.” 

I stared at the orb, unable to comprehend. It couldn't be. 

No…no…

I wanted to shout out in frustration. The orb was blank, translucent mists swirling inside. I wanted to reach forward and grab it, shake it so that something would show. It couldn't be. 

My breathing almost stopped and my heart threatened to burst out of its cage. I was sweating, felt it trickle down my face. My mouth was dry as dust. 

I looked up from the orb into the eyes of Elder Takesh. There was nothing there except pity. Pity that pierced me like a thousand daggers. 

“Nothing, again?”, said a voice from behind me and I did not fail to catch the smug satisfaction it carried. 

“Tst, tst, tst”, continued Elder Rama as he now stood next to Elder Takesh. He rubbed his bald head and there was a glint in those dark eyes. 

I wanted to drop to my knees and cry. But I just stood there, numb. I had failed, again. My father… fear made its way up my spine like spikes. 

“Thrice now”, the rasping voice continued. “You have failed. You have no core, nothing.” Elder Rama sneered. “To have the privilege of being Awakened thrice and failing thrice, laughable. The son of the great Magnus, pity really.” 

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There was no pity in those eyes, only satisfaction. Elder Rama was from the Kerit branch of the sect, enemies and I had embarrassed my blood here, again. 

I wanted to crawl inside of my own body, die. Shame filled me to the core and my head dropped. Turn and walk away I told myself but my feet were rooted to the spot.

“Your father is waiting, I suppose.” 

The nudge I needed, I turned, forgetting to bow and made my way down the steps. I could see my father, his figure dominated the pavement. My father wasn't the largest man but he had a presence that made people take not. He was a Gold, the most powerful cultivator of The Golden Wing sect and I? I was his worthless son. 

Tears threatened to burst through my eyes but I wouldn't shame my father, not again. The humiliation I had brought upon my family stood as spikes on each step and they pierced through my sandals. 

Even at dawn, there was a small crowd and it felt like they were all laughing at me. I couldn't face their eyes. I did not know when or how but I finally stood facing my father, my eyes staring at my toes. Weak, oh so weak. 

“You have failed,” he said. “Again.” 

I wished nothing more than the heavens to unleash a bolt of lightning then for I could not take the disappointment in my fathers voice. My knees became weak and I almost fell.

No! Not again! 

I steeled myself and forced my eyes to meet his. They were like the tips of a snow covered mountain, like my own. And they were devoid of feelings, I was not worth his consideration, not anymore. 

But I did not speak, I stood there and felt all eyes on me, burning me. But I did not speak nor did I drop my eyes. I would deal with whatever came next. My mind started racing at the possibilities of the future. My fathers influence would probably get me work as a sect guard and I was decent, more than decent with a sword. So not all was lost. 

“You will leave the sect”, announced my father. 

I stood shocked, mouth hanging open. 

What? What could he have possibly meant? There were gasps from the crowd as well. Reeling, I felt dizzy. The Awakening had not impacted me as much as my fathers words and I stared at him. What did he mean? 

My father read the question in my eyes for he said: “Banished. An hour from now, you will leave the Golden Wing sect.” 

Lines of purple etched their way around his eyes. 

This time, my knees gave up and I fell to the ground. 

“No”, I cried out. 

He gave me a disgusted look, turned and started walking away. I was left staring at the Golden Wing on the back of his robe, drowning in the pity of the crowd. I cared not for all that. 

My father had rejected me, banished me. I was nothing now.