A lonely road snakes through a mountain range painted in green and blue, stretching into the distance. Illuminated by the rising sun, the isolated path is bathed in orange and gold light. A young boy's silver hair waves in the wind as he follows the path forward, accompanied by an old man, who matches his slow, deliberate pace. Walking onward, the two partake in a comfortable silence, looking forward into the steadily ascending, radiant sun.
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Many hours later, the pair exits the mountain range, the sun now setting. The boy's clothes in tatters and his body exhausted, the old man continues conversing with the young boy,"...And that is why you never try to eat a broccoli spear, Astraoth." Astraoth, in response, merely sighs and turns to Oromius, frowning. Oromius smiles wryly and continues,"Anyway, we will have to make camp today; there are no inns on our way."
Astraoth grumpily responds,"Fine." Closing his tired eyes, Astraoth speaks to Oromius, walking forward with coordination despite his lack of vision, asking,"How long exactly is the trip? You've never told me the details of this journey."
Oromius glances at Astraoth silently and answers,"You know how you finished weapons training half a year early?" Astraoth nods in response, his eyes still closed. Recapitulating,"Well, because we have over one-hundred and eighty days left before you can cultivate, I decided that taking you on a half-year long excursion for practical experience would be helpful.
Opening his eyes, Astraoth resumes his questioning,"But where are we going? What is our destination?" Oromius suddenly halts in place and looks toward the setting sun and the great azure sky, expanding out endlessly above, remaining silent, his eyes reflecting a soft blue sadness.
Astraoth looks to Oromius but doesn't say a word, only stopping in place, waiting for Oromius. Oromius removes his gaze from the depressing blue sky and fixing it on Astraoth, finally answers his question, putting his hand on Astraoth's shoulder,"We will be traveling together to a certain place, but only you will enter. The destination is for you. As for what it is, it is the place where you shall gain your cultivation technique, the place where your future will be decided." Astraoth doesn't respond; he just steps forward, purpose in his stride.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
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Coming to a small grove of trees, Astraoth and Oromius begin to set up camp, moonlight streaming through the thicket, casting pale white light upon the tiny tent used by Astraoth. A fire burns a fierce orange as Astraoth feeds it with streams of multicolored energy. Astraoth looks to the deep black night sky, a full moon hanging overhead, and a crescent moon peeking out over the horizon.
Astraoth points to the crescent moon,"Hey, you can see two of the moons at once here!"
Oromius chuckles to himself, responding,"Yes Astraoth, here, in this part of Fendrel, you can see more than just one of the moons."
Astraoth's eyes turn wide, and suddenly, he turns directly toward Oromius, and asks,"Dad, couldn't you just have teleported us to our destination?"
Oromius smiles and replies happily,"Yes. Yes, I easily could have teleported us."
Astraoth, beginning to be annoyed, asks,"Then why did you not? If it is easy, we could save so much time."
Oromius, still happily smiling, raises his eyebrow, then laughs and answers,"Because it's much more fun this way." Astraoth looks down, frowning. Oromius looks to Astraoth, putting his hand on Astraoth's shoulder, asking gently," Still not recovered from the broccoli spears?"
Astraoth turns to Oromius and buries his head in Oromius' breast, as Oromius wraps his hands around his son.
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Oromius and Astraoth awaken, the crescent moon beginning to set. Oromius cleans up the equipment and tent while Astraoth sleeps on the small wooden table usually reserved for dining. Rousing Astraoth from sleep, Oromius tosses Astraoth a chain-whip, arming himself with a wooden great axe. Astraoth, catching the chain-whip, looks around, confused.
Oromius explains,"I wanted to test your ability with the whip, specifically a chain-whip, a type of weapon you have not yet used. Because you have mastered the basics of one-thousand weapons, you should be able to understand a weapon's basic functions just from its design. Now, get ready."
With a smirk of slight confidence, Astraoth leaps off the table and lands on the grove floor, readying his weapon...