CHAPTER TWO

Y’know, maybe Denom isn’t that bad. I flip a page of the old-fashioned book I’m reading, a short story about tales and adventures of various heroes. Adventure books, along with poetry, are my favorite books to read.

“And..I’m done. Who would have thought he would choose to jump over the cliff in the end?” I set the book down on the wooden table. Getting up from the wooden chair, I stretch out my body - trying my best not to open up any wounds.

“Ah? Already? Perfect, you can go have fun.” Denom was currently buttoning his plaid shirt, preparing himself to go to the market. Sun Village has a small marketplace where commoners can go to get necessary items - it isn’t too big and doesn’t have many competitors.

“Alright. Have a good day at work.” I walk to the wooden door, opening it up and stepping outside. I take a deep breath, enjoying the fresh morning air. I walk down our stone steps to the thin dust road. A few carriages here and there, I walk toward the general “meeting” place of my peers.

I eventually take a turn off the dirt road, reaching a grass clearing at the edge of the forest. I can see a group of boys, thirteen years of age, talking and playing games. A chubby boy just above five feet walks over to me, munching on corn on the cob. A smile on his face, he calls out to me.

“Hey, Hawod!” A grin on my face, I walk over to my best friend.

“So, did you hear about how Mean Merchant raised his price on corn? My father has been complaining about it for a long time, even I’m mad.” Hawod had a clear look of anger as he expressed his opinion on the recent raise in price.

“I mean, you still buy it though!” I laugh casually - I mean I would raise the prices too, the way Hawod’s addicted to corn. Also, Hawod’s father’s pockets are deep enough that a little raise in corn won’t impact them.

“Of course! Corns a necessity, without having corn a spice of life is removed. It’s something way better than your useless poetry.” He teases me again, we often have silly debates on which is more important - cuisines or literature.

“Hun, you're finally right about something Hawod.” I hear a group of snickers behind Hawod, belonging to the athletic Radul. He’s so annoying though, always yapping about how he’s going to be some great cultivator. Ever since he learned that my father was once a cultivator he immediately placed me as some kind of rival.

“Hey! Don’t talk to Anmos like that.” Hawod turned fiercely, his wide smile quickly turning into a frown as he looked at the red-haired Radul.

“Hawod, why do you always support him? He’s just the son of some fallen cultivator, you're the son of a rich merchant. Your father is probably about to send you to Sunrise City or the Azure Melody Sect.” This was true. Hawod’s father is quite rich, he can definitely afford for Hawod to have a better future. In either the cultivation sect or the large Sunrise City, his future will be countless times better than the rural Sun Village.

“Why? Because he’s my friend. Who gave you the right to butt into who I choose to be my friends? Are you my mom?” Hawod fiercely remarked, reminding me that he has quite a tongue for those who annoy him. I’m lucky to be his friend, though I can tell it won’t last long. Hawod is destined for better things - probably why Radul wanted to be friends with him early on.

“Hun. Fine! Just know, it won’t be long before I join the Azure Melody Sect. And at that time, you’ll want to be my friend no matter what.” Radul went on blabbering about joining the Azure Melody Sect, the local cultivation behemoth. He, like so many other mortals, aspires to be a cultivator that can shake mountains and soar in the sky.

Radul eventually left with his group of friends - confidence attracts followers. Other boys began to surround me and Hawod, talking to me with flattery and such words. One good example is Decud, a skinny boy even for thirteen-year-old standards. He’s followed me around for a long time, but I know what he really wants - to get close to me and get a cultivation manual.

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It isn’t bad thinking, after all. I mean, being the son of a lofty cultivator I should have inherited some kind of cultivation manual. Too bad for both me and Decud, it isn’t like that at all.

I eventually began to head home after a long group talk. Hawod walked with me before he stopped to get some extra corn and head home before dark. I went directly home, passing all the exact same stone houses until I came to mine. Opening the wooden door, I was welcomed into an empty home with a stone floor and wooden tables.

I walk over to the corner of the room, my fingers lightly grasping a book as I sit down on the bed and await Denom’s return. Time slowly passes and the sun hangs lower and lower from the sky.

“Creeakk. I’m home son, I’ve got grub.” The door opens, revealing Denom holding a bag. He sets it down on a table and then plops himself on a chair. We both sit down and eat the chicken the bag contained. It was pretty good.

We engage in some small talk. The entire time I was thinking, thinking about whether I should ask the question. It’s a very important question, its answer is the only way I can ever possibly get revenge. So, after a period of silence, I hesitantly raise my voice to ask the oh so heavy question.

“Uh, Dad. I was thinking. Mayb-maybe, you could pass down the cultivation manual you learned to me? Or maybe an extra one. I mean, c’mon, you can’t expect me to be a farmer right?” The moment these words slipped past my mouth, the moment I regretted even thinking about uttering them. Denom turned to me, his identical amber eyes locking on mine like an eagle and a snake. I can almost hear the sound for myself

“Click”

The switch has been flicked, the fatherly Denom has begun his transformation into punishment Denom. With that deep look, I know the answer, I know the reason why he won’t let me cultivate. Actually, what am I saying, I always knew. Always knew he’s afraid of me. Terrified actually, he’s worried. He’s worried that my talent will be decent, allowing me to surpass him in cultivation and come down and utterly annihilate him. And that’s what I’ll do once I get the power - get my revenge and finish him once and for all. As a great poet once said, “Every debt has a debtor”. He’s scared because he doesn’t want to pay his debt.

“What? Give you a cultivation manual and give you the opportunity to surpass me? No way in hell. Understand one thing and one thing only: I’ll never let you surpass me.” Denom’s face came close to me, inches off it. He looks simi-no no. He is a monster, a demon. I can feel the tears running down my face, and that’s when I lose it.

I don’t even say anything. I can’t - I’m physically unable to. My rage fills me to the point I can’t even express it emotionally or physically. I throw my chair to the side and make a mad dash to the door. I fling the door back, nearly taking it off its iron hinges, a resounding boom echoing off the stone walls. Denom sits there and watches, reaching for a bottle of liquor.

I run out into the darkening sky. I don’t need him. I don’t need the house. I’ll run away today, get away from this nightmare as soon as possible.

I run past the boys meeting area, running into the forest. The night is beginning to descend, I pass and bump into all kinds of trees and bushes extending their long and thin fingers to scratch my knees and arms up. I hate the trees. Why do they always have to be extending their twigs to harm someone? I hate the world. Whose job was it to give me Denom as a father? They need to be fired and take my place instead.

I keep running and running until I can’t even remember when I stopped. And fair so, it seems I can run away from all my problems.