Chapter 69 – Departure (V)

“I like your currents eyes more, boy.” Said the old man. “They are the eyes of a warrior.”

Aiden kept silent when the old man appeared and spoke. Even when the old man stood beside him, Aiden didn’t speak.

The old man though, didn’t care about it. He simply continued speaking.

“Do you know what is the reason because I taught you back then, boy?” Pausing slightly, the old man looked towards Aiden. When he noticed that him didn’t have the intention to answer, he continued. “It was because of your eyes.”

The old man looked upwards, as if reminiscing about times long passed. The crescent moon, in a beautiful blue hue, seemed understand his feelings.

“When you came back then, your eyes were wild, filled with a wish to find hope amidst desperation. They were the eyes of someone who is not going to give up.” Said the old man with a nostalgic tone. “They were the eyes I had in my youth.”

“But you see.” Continued the old man. “When the years passed, your eyes changed.

“Your eyes began to carry doubt, hesitation, fear. Although you continued forward, you were losing the motivation which brought you to me.”

Aiden didn’t refute the old smith. No, he could not refute him. Looking back to his actions, the old man was right.

When Aiden left his old home, he was determined to find hope. Though his thoughts were naïve, his determination was real.

However, when he met Lia, something changed.

Though many of the changes were good, some bad things also appeared. And one of them was fear.

The most he fell in love with Lia, the most he feared being left behind by her.

The insecurity of not possessing a spirit, of being unable to cultivate, began to take root inside his heart.

Looking back to the events in the room, perhaps Lia had noticed the feelings inside him.

“You see boy, the most important thing in the road to be a powerhouse is not only talent. It’s also determination

“A talented person will advance quickly in his path, but without enough determination, they only need a setback to destroy completely his path.

“I hope you can maintain your feelings tonight always in your heart, boy. When the time comes, and you find yourself lost, I hope that your determination helps you to find the right answer.”

Aiden didn’t interrupt the old man words. Instead, he heard carefully and thought about them.

Is his determination enough? Aiden doesn’t know. But he knows that he wants to be with Lia forever. And he also knows, if he wants to be with Lia, he must become strong enough to follow her footsteps.

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Lia have an incredible talent inside her, pushing her to a greater cultivation realm. If she doesn’t die, she is almost guaranteed to become a spirit king; and with a bit of luck, a spirit emperor.

And when that say comes, Aiden hopes to be beside her, looking together the world from the top.

It certainly will be difficult, but as the old man said, it wasn’t enough with talent, determination was equally necessary.

Aiden already have the talent. Now he must act with determination.

Looking towards the old man whose sight was fixed in the moon, Aiden lowered his head and spoke after a lot of thought.

“You know old man, when I learned than you used us to warn the influences in the town, I was very angry. I even felt a bit betrayed.

“But you see, after thinking about it, I finally realized something.”

With his gaze towards the ground, Aiden bowed his body respectfully. Then, before the astonished gaze of the old man, he spoke.

“Old man, I’m grateful by the help that me and Lia received through the years we spent in this town. I thank you for teaching me blacksmithing and for helping us when we were injured.

“Perhaps, I will be unable to repay you soon, but I will always keep your kindness in my heart, teacher.”

For a moment, the place remained silent.

The old man, surprised from Aiden’s words, looked aside. Then, taking something from his clothes, he threw it towards Aiden.

“Take it, boy. I hope that my teachings are able to help you in your path.”

Looking to the object throw by the old man, Aiden noticed it was a small handbook, but when he tried to open it, the old man stopped him.

“Not yet. Wait until after leaving the town, then open it.”

Looking towards the night sky, the old man waved his hand.

“Boy, perhaps you will not use my techniques again in your life. However, I hope you never forget about the things I taught you. And if you have the opportunity, pass my knowledge to someone else. It’s the only thing you have to do if you want to repay me.

“Now go.” Said the old man with a smile in his face. “It’s not good if you are away when the girl wakes up.”

Bowing once else towards the old man, Aiden guarded the handbook in his spatial ring. Then, with a “Goodbye, teacher.” He left the place.

Only the lonely figure of an old man stayed behind.

…

At the next morning, Aiden and an excessively clingy Lia were together before the doors of the town.

Carrying almost nothing with them besides Aiden’s saber, a pouch and two rings, the pair of lovers crossed the door, leaving behind the town where they spend two years of their lives.

Feeling a bit nostalgic, both Aiden and Lia looked back towards the town constantly. Deep in their hearts, they knew that in a long time, they would not be able to see this town again.

But though they knew it, they never stopped their footsteps.

Looking from the town walls to the pair of figures departing, two old men were standing silently, not speaking by a long time.

With a wry smile in his face, Felm Birntem looked towards the back of his old friend, then with a sigh, he asked.

“Are you sure about it, old man? He is your only disciple alive.”

“… It’s fine. He doesn’t need to know about it, and I hope he never does…” With an expression of sadness in his face, Brake Hillheart sighed slowly “Hey old Felm, I hope you can help the boy a little. You don’t need to maintain an eye on him. But if you know that he is in problems, I hope that you assist him a bit.”

“… Don’t worry, I will do it.”

“Mmm, I’m relieved hearing about it.”

Looking towards the scenery beyond the wall, the two old men reminisced about the past. Back then, they were hotblooded and ignorant youths; filled with dreams about the future and traveling around the continent together.

But fate is a cruel thing. Today, many years later, their beloved was dead, one of them was exiled after trying to take revenge, and the other, despite his powerful strength and influence, was unable to do something to help them.

And even now, he is unable to make his friend forget about the ones who kill his beloved.

… Even if he knows that they will not spare Brake’s life once more if he tries to take revenge again.

While thinking about the past, the two old men looked behind them. A youth had appeared suddenly, walking strangely out from the shadows.

With a serious expression, the youth, Han Birntem looked to the two powerful figures standing in the wall and spoke in a respectful tone.

“Masters, someone localized the supreme emptiness flame.”

Hearing it, the two old men looked each other, and sighed simultaneously.

“It looks like things will become very chaotic soon…”