Darian traveled along the main road, heading in the direction of Mt. Wind Dance. The day was young, with the sun having just barely passed the horizon. It had been cooler than expected earlier that day, with mist and dew coating the land, but the sun’s heat had burned it all away. He could already tell that today was going to be a hot one.
There wasn’t even a breeze to help keep the temperature cool. The air was still and silent, broken only by the occasional rustling as some animal or another moved through the underbrush that bordered the road.
It was a week and some days after his decision to return to Mt. Wind Dance. It had taken that long for him to advance his cultivation and open his Ear Aperture. It had been a painful week, since Darian and Astra had resumed his previously punishing training regimen. Despite the pain, Darian had been in high spirits. His cultivation progress resumed its previous speed, and he looked forward to seeing how fast it would go once they added Ellen’s skills into the mix.
Darian paused to think about that. Maybe he was a masochist. He shook his head. No, he wasn’t. While he didn’t enjoy the pain itself, he enjoyed the benefits it brought to his cultivation.
Opening his Ear Aperture had been anticlimactic, at least compared to when he had refined his meridians. Like with his Heart Aperture and his Eye Aperture, a fire had swept through him, with most of the heat focused on his ears. Compared to the fire that had swept through him while refining his meridians, however, this fire had been mild. Hell, with all the painful training he had been going through, it was routine for him.
Cleaning out the black gunk in his ears had been annoying. He did enjoy his newly enhanced hearing, and looked forward to listening to music. He wondered if he would gain a new appreciation for it. Some of his kin sang or played instruments. Perhaps he could listen in while visiting Lucius and Vera.
Assuming he arrived at Mt. Wind Dance any time today. Given his traveling companion, Darian doubted that. He glanced to the side. The young hunter who had helped him before, Gregory Ryley, walked alongside him. Gregory seemed almost friendly towards him now, especially compared to how he had been before, though he was still a bit standoffish. That didn’t stop Darian from noticing his companions cheer. He assumed it had something to do with the green fur vest Gregory now sported over his hunter’s garb.
It looked like the enterprising young hunter had found someone to turn the dire monster’s pelt he had received from Darian into a vest. Darian had to admit, it looked good on Gregory. More than that, the vest retained some of the dire monster’s ability to become invisible. While the effect wasn’t as dramatic, Darian had a hard time focusing on the young hunter. It was as if his eyes wanted to slide past Gregory’s form. In fact, all his senses had a hard time pinning the hunter down. If Gregory made an effort to hide, Darian wasn’t sure if he would be able to find him, not without resorting to his mind sense at least. That worked just fine.
Darian had initially planned to travel to Mt. Wind Dance alone, but Astra suggested he bring Elliot.
“Just in case trouble comes along,” she had said.
Darian shrugged and relented. While he didn’t need a babysitter, he figured it would be a good opportunity to ask Elliot some questions. There was just so much he didn’t know about the snake twins, including their past, and Ellen’s revelation had left him unsettled.
It also gave him a chance to negotiate with Elliot for one of his bottles of immortal wine. Apologies worked best if one brought a gift. In the end he had to borrow from his father’s merits in order to get a rare resource that Elliot needed for his own cultivation. It was some kind of elemental stone the snake man needed, one which Clan Wind Dance’s repository should still have. It was an earth elemental stone, and none of their clan practiced any earth techniques. Darian made a mental note to repay his father for this.
It would have been a pain to explain Elliot’s presence to Clan Wind Dance’s sentries, but Elliot had a solution for that. He turned into a small snake, wrapped himself around Darian’s right wrist, and turned to white stone. Darian wasn’t sure it was real or an illusion. Regardless, the snake spirit beast now just looked like a snake-shaped stone bracelet. Elliot could still communicate through his mind sense, an ability called telepathy, which Darian found convenient.
Darian had reached Hunter’s Rest a little after dawn, where he had run into Gregory. The young hunter had business in Valeheart and had asked Darian if he wanted to travel together. It would have been faster to go on ahead himself, since he could move at speeds no mortal could match, but Darian decided not to.
It had been some time since he had spoken to anyone besides Astra, the snake twins, and his father. While he would never admit it out loud, Darian felt a little lonely and wanted some company the same age as him. The others were all older than him, and it affected their interactions with him.
That said, after leaving Hunter’s Rest, neither Darian nor Gregory had said a word to each other. Elliot remained quiet as well.
“So,” Darian said, breaking the silence. “What business do you have in Valeheart?”
“A rich merchant wants a few bodyguards so he can play hunter in the Silverwood,” Gregory said. “My village received word of it last night, and I figured it would be a good opportunity to make some extra silver.”
Darian grinned.
“Careful,” he joked. “You might get a reputation for babysitting the rich and clueless as they run around in the woods. I mean, you already helped one spoiled Young Master already. Helping another will only further seal your fate.”
At that Gregory snorted, but Darian noticed the corners of the young hunter’s lips turn up. Success!
“I wouldn’t mind,” Gregory said in all seriousness. “If they’re willing to spend the silver, or other goods..” He gestured to his new vest. “…then I don’t care how many fools I have to deal with. As long as I can help support my family, and start one of my own, it doesn’t matter.”
Darian raised an eyebrow at that.
“You’re looking to get married?” he asked.
Gregory nodded.
“It’s about that time, yes.”
“Aren’t you too young to be thinking about that sort of thing?”
It was Gregory’s turn to raise an eyebrow.
“No. Marrying at my age is normal. Death can come at any time. If I wait too long, I might die before I get married. Not everyone has the luxury of living for centuries at a time.” He shook his head. “In fact, I’m a little late. I wanted to have a house of my own first before I married and started a family. I’m just lucky that my sweetheart was willing to wait for me.”
Gregory’s expression shifted into what Darian could only describe as lovestruck. His eyes stared off into the distance, and he wore a goofy smile on his lips. Darian resisted the urge to snicker. However, Gregory’s words caused him to think about marriage.
There was a time when he had entertained the idea of marrying Vera, but it never went past that. He never thought about what the reality of being married would be like. What would it be like to be married? Did he want to marry? Darian wasn’t sure. At the moment all his attention and energy was focused on his cultivation.
That said, the idea of marriage did appeal to him. No one said he had to walk the road to immortality alone. That just sounded depressing, now that he thought about it.
Maybe he should follow Gregory’s example and marry sooner rather than later. Cultivators were just as prone to dying as mortals, maybe more so given the dangers they often faced. His father was an example of that. Darren had almost died not too long ago, and had sired Darian afterwards. If he had died, Darian would have never been born.
Darian shook his head. That was something to think about later.
“How is your sister?” he asked Gregory, more to distract himself than anything.
Gregory snapped out of his daze.
“She’s doing well.” He smirked. “She keeps bragging to her friends that she met a nice ‘magic man’ and that her big brother gave her some magic crystals.”
Darian chuckled at that, before a thought occurred to him.
“Elliot, is it safe to leave a geode of low level spirit crystals with a young mortal girl?” Darian asked in a voice too quiet for Gregory’s ears. “They won’t harm her in any way, will they?”
“No, they will not,” Elliot replied in Darian’s mind. “Low level spirit crystals are too weak to be an issue. Unless she has astronomically bad luck and is one of the few mortals who suffers from spirit energy intolerance, it should be fine.”
Darian relaxed at that. While he hadn’t thought about it before, when mortals came into contact with the world of cultivation, it tended to end poorly for the mortals. He was glad that wasn’t the case here.
As they traveled along the main road, Darian and Gregory talked a bit about their lives. While they kept away from anything too personal, they shared some amusing anecdotes with each other. Darian told the story of the time he managed to prank Lucius into kissing a chicken. Somehow he managed to pull that off without getting caught. Meanwhile, Gregory told him about an incident involving a merchant, a basket of eggs, and a donkey.
Along the way, they passed by other travelers heading in the opposite direction. Gregory knew some of them, and greeted them, but didn’t stop to chat. Darian didn’t meet with anyone he recognized, for which he was grateful. The last thing that he wanted to deal with were his kin. While he no longer wanted to hide his cultivation, neither did he plan to announce it to the rest of the world. It was a hassle he would rather do without for as long as possible.
The hours went by as they walked towards Valeheart, and with each mile, Darian grew more and more impatient with their slow pace. He didn’t want to leave Gregory behind, but he wanted to reach Mt. Wind Dance that day. At the speed they were going, they would arrive at Valeheart the next day. That meant they would either have to camp near the road, or stop at one of the villages along the way and stay at one of the way stations Clan Wind Dance maintained.
When noon arrived, Darian reached the end of his patience.
“Gregory, do you want to reach Valeheart by today?” Darian asked.
“There’s little chance of that,” Gregory said, scoffing. “At the earliest, we’ll arrive there by tomorrow morning.” He then gave Darian a sidelong glance. “Unless you have some faster means of getting us there?”
“Yes, I do.” He stopped and crouched down. “Get on. I’ll carry you and run there.”
Gregory gaped at him, while still walking, and almost tripped over his own feet.
“What are you waiting for?” Darian asked. “Hurry up. Otherwise, I’m leaving you behind.”
Gregory blinked at him.
“When I asked if you had a faster means of transportation, I assumed you had some kind of magic item. I didn’t think you would carry me.” He raised an eyebrow. “Doesn’t it bother you to act like some kind of beast of burden? Especially for a mortal.”
“Not really, not in this case.” Darian pointed to Gregory. “Last chance to let me carry you. Choose.”
Darian watched as Gregory’s expression shifted many times, before it settled on amusement.
“Well, if you’re offering, I won’t refuse.”
With that, Darian hoisted Gregory onto his back. It had taken some adjustment at first, since Gregory had his usual gear on him, while Darian had a leather bag hanging from his belt. Once they shifted things around to make it more comfortable, Darian took off running at a sustainable pace.
In a word, it was exhilarating. Darian knew he was much stronger and faster than before, back when he was still mortal, but running along the main road highlighted to him just how much he had changed. The miles flew by as Darian ran, the wind in his face. His footsteps echoed like thunder. No mortal creature could match his speed. He left the other travelers in his dust, which he felt bad about, but not enough to stop. The trees and underbrush bordering the road became nothing more than green and brown blurs. Gregory had been tense at first, but relaxed as time went on. He even whooped a few times.
By the time they arrived, it was late afternoon. The mortal guards who protected Valeheart from mundane threats, and maintained law and order, gaped when Darian and Gregory stopped at the outskirts of town. They weren’t the only ones. Darian and Gregory had attracted a lot of attention, which was unsurprising given the noise they had made.
The young hunter touched the ground again with shaky legs, before saying his goodbyes to Darian. Gregory’s business took him nowhere near Mt. Wind Dance, so they went their separate ways. Darian walked towards Mt. Wind Dance at mortal speed. While he could go faster, normal walking speed for him was still fast by mortal standards, and Valeheart was pretty crowded. He didn’t want to accidentally bump into someone and hurt them. Besides, now that he had arrived at Valeheart, he wasn’t as impatient as before.
As he walked to Mt. Wind Dance, a voice called out to Darian, one he hadn’t expected to hear.
“Young Master Darian!”
He turned to find Shopkeeper Arabella’s granddaughter, Elena Goodwin, heading in his direction. She had a wide smile on her face. In her hands she carried a small bag. Today she wore a green dress that accentuated her beauty.
“Elena!” Darian said, returning her smile. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Elena stopped in front of him.
“My grandmother asked me to pick up a package from one of her friends,” she explained, holding up the small bag. “I was on my way back home when I saw you and decided to say hello.”
“Well, I’m glad you did.” Darian frowned. “You aren’t alone, are you?”
It was typical for members of rich and influential families to travel with an entourage of servants and retainers whenever they went out in public, especially young women. They did this for protection, as well as to show off their wealth and status. Even cultivators did this. While Elena’s family wasn’t the richest, Darian knew they could afford more than enough servants to suit their needs. Elena herself had told him as much during one of their previous conversations.
“Oh, yes,” Elena said, looking embarrassed. “In my excitement to greet you, I may have left my maid behind.”
As if summoned by the mere mention of her, a young woman called out to Elena.
“My lady!” the young woman said. “Please do not run ahead like that! I almost lost sight of you.”
Elena’s embarrassment deepened.
“I’m sorry, Meredith,” she said. “It won’t happen again.”
The maid, Meredith, reached the two of them. She put her hand on Elena’s arm and eyed Darian with suspicion. She needn’t have worried. Darian wasn’t interested in accosting her mistress. Not that he mentioned that to her, since he thought that would just make her more suspicious of him.
“We should go, my lady,” Meredith said, giving Elena a pointed look. “Your grandmother will be worried. We’ve been gone longer than expected.”
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Elena eyed her maid for a few moments, before turning towards Darian.
“Are you heading to Mt. Wind Dance, Young Master Darian Wind Dance?” she asked, giving her maid a pointed look of her own as she said the last part.
Meredith blanched at this and let go of Elena’s arm, before taking a step back. Darian gave them both a confused look.
“Yes, I am. Why?”
“May we accompany you? I am just heading back to my family’s shop, but I’m sure they won’t mind if I am a little late in returning. We haven’t seen each other in some time, and I find myself missing your company, Young Master Darian. Unless you wish to be left alone. I wouldn’t want to impose.”
Despite her words, Elena leaned forward, getting closer to Darian.
“I don’t mind,” Darian said slowly. He glanced at the maid, Meredith. “But I also wouldn’t like to make your family worry. Would you like me to escort you back home? My business can wait until after.”
“Yes!” Elena all but shouted, before clearing her throat and speaking in a softer voice. “I mean, yes, I would like that, Young Master Darian.”
The two of them headed towards the Goodwins’ shop. Meredith walked behind them, close enough to keep them both in sight, but far enough away to avoid eavesdropping. Darian and Elena didn’t say a word to each other for the first several minutes, though that didn’t mean they remained silent. Elena hummed to herself as they walked, joy oozing through her every pore. It was infectious, and Darian found himself smiling along.
“How have you been since we last saw each other, Elena?” Darian asked. “Any news to share?”
“Yes, actually,” Elena said with enthusiasm. “I have received word from Crescent Moon City. You are looking at the newest disciple of the Golden Weaver Sect.”
Darian’s smile widened.
“Congratulations!” he said.
Elena cupped the side of her cheeks and squealed.
“Thank you, Young Master Darian.”
“What kind of sect is the Golden Weaver Sect? I haven’t heard much about them, or anything at all really. My knowledge of the clan, sects, and schools in the Myriad Rivers region is lacking. I only know about the major powers.”
“The Golden Weaver Sect is a small sect that specializes in weaving. They create magical clothing for cultivators and Immortals. They normally don’t accept mortals into their ranks, but one of my distant relatives is the personal disciple of one of the Golden Weaver Sect’s elders. Of course, familial connections weren’t enough for me to get in. If my work hadn’t been up to their standards, they would have never accepted me.”
It made Darian curious to see a sample of her work. Perhaps he would be able to see one some time soon, after he had dealt with everything else that currently demanded his attention.
“Again, congratulations,” he said. “Though, I am surprised. I didn’t know that you wanted to become a cultivator.”
Elena stopped and looked up at the sky. The setting sun had set it aglow, painting it in shades of red, orange, yellow, and pink. Darian stopped as well and studied Elena. She had a determined look on her face.
“If I am to accomplish my dreams, I need to become more than I currently am. My skill with a needle and thread is good, for a mortal, but I don’t want to settle for merely good. I want to create clothing that cultivators and Immortals will wear throughout the ages. Hundreds of years from now, I want my name to be associated with the peak of fashion and style.” She gave Darian a sidelong glance. “I have one other goal as well, though I’ll keep that one a secret for now.” Her lips stretched into a cheeky grin. “After I become famous and known across the land, maybe I’ll make something just for you. Free of charge, of course, since we know each other.”
Darian chuckled.
“I’ll be sure to remember that.” He gazed wistfully at the sky as well. “It’s good to have goals. I don’t have any, outside of becoming stronger. In that regard, I envy you.”
A soft hand touched his arm. Darian looked down to find Elena gazing at him with a warm look in her eyes.
“There’s nothing wrong with wanting to become strong,” she said in a quiet voice. “Strength is necessary in this world of ours. Without strength, Clan Wind Dance wouldn’t be able to make Silverwood Vale as peaceful as it is. I’ve heard stories about what happens to those who are weak. They make me realize just how blessed I am to have been born here, under Clan Wind Dance’s protection.”
Darian nodded. Become strong enough to protect those he cared for. Stella, Lucius, Vera, his father, Astra, the snake twins, Master Nova, even Elena to an extent. Now that was a goal he could strive towards.
“Thank you, Elena,” he said. “Your words mean a lot to me, more than you can know.” He smiled. “Shall we continue on?”
Elena opened her mouth to say something, but changed her mind and nodded instead. They spent the rest of the trip to the Goodwin Family shop in companionable silence. After they reached the shop, Darian said his goodbyes to Elena and headed towards Mt. Wind Dance.
***
Elena watched as Darian walked away from her, a familiar and depressing sight. Not for long, however. Soon, she would become a cultivator herself and he would walk towards her instead of away. She would make sure of it. The thought filled her with warmth and joy.
Their walk together had been nothing short of blissful. While she had enjoyed their conversation, she had also enjoyed the silence. It was as if they didn’t need words to be in each other's company. They could simply be. Elena had never found that with another person before.
“I can see why you like him, my lady,” Meredith said, interrupting Elena’s thoughts. “He is rather…delectable. I wouldn’t mind sampling those muscles of his.” She licked her lips. “Do you think you could share him with me every now and again after you two marry?”
“Meredith!” Elena exclaimed, the tips of her ears burning.
While her maid played the part of a demure servant well, deep down Meredith was a vixen of a woman. Elena looked around, to make sure no one else had heard her words. She kept an eye out for any of her family members, since the two of them were right in front of her family’s shop. Thankfully, there was no one else around.
“What?” Meredith said, her eyes wide with faux innocence. “Did I say something wrong?”
Elena wanted to strangle her maid, but resisted the urge. Meredith was one of her closest friends, despite the maid’s antics, and they loved each other. That said, Elena needed to remind herself of this fact whenever Meredith said or did something like this.
“My feelings for Young Master Darian are none of your business,” Elena said in her most pious tone. “But for your information, I would still love him even if he were ugly.”
Meredith snorted.
“If you say so.” She shook her head. “You’ll have to tell me the story behind that one of these days. I know there is one, so don’t bother denying it.”
Elena didn’t respond. She hadn’t shared the story of how she had met Darian with anyone before, and she didn’t plan to start now. It was the story of a demon, a vicious animal, and a little girl’s first glimpse into the world of cultivation.
***
“Welcome home, Young Master!” Stella greeted Darian when he showed up at…his own doorstep
It was a little weird to think about. Darian had lived in this house for years, but the estate in his secret realm felt more like home than this place ever had. It probably helped that it was an estate, with all the luxuries that entailed. Still, the estate didn’t have Stella, who was the closest thing he had to a mother. That counted for a lot.
“I’m back, Stella,” Darian said, pulling the woman into a hug.
They embraced each other for several long seconds before pulling apart.
“You’re just in time,” Stella said, stepping back into the house. “I was just about to make dinner. It looks like I’ll have to make two plates instead of just one.”
Darian followed her inside and shut the door behind him. Given how late it was, Darian decided to head back to his house for the night, and continue with his tasks the next day. Despite the impatience he had felt earlier, he was now reluctant to do what he came here for. Gathering the needed supplies would be easy, but dealing with his friends was another matter altogether. So he decided to put it off for one more night.
As Darian took off the leather bag hanging from his belt, which held the bottle of immortal wine as well as the dire monster’s bones, he paused. A presence approached his house. It belonged to the most powerful person Darian had ever sensed in his life, second only to Astra. While he had never sensed this person’s aura up close, while they were face to face, it didn’t take much to figure out who it was.
“Make that three plates, Stella,” Darian said. “My grandfather is coming to visit.”
Stella paused for a moment, before nodding. His grandfather’s presence reached the door. A moment later, Darian heard a knock. He opened the door to greet his grandfather. Darin Wind Dance looked a lot like an older version of his son, Darren. Tall, blonde, and pale-skinned. While they looked the same age physically, Darin Wind Dance had lived for much longer and the weight of those years almost emanated from him. Darian’s father also was more relaxed, looser somehow. On the other hand, his grandfather had a sterner, more dignified bearing.
Darin Wind Dance wore the standard outfit for members of Clan Wind Dance, pale blue tunic and trousers. There was no outward indication that he was the head of the clan, yet one knew it just by looking at him. It was the look in his eyes. They said that they would brook no disobedience.
“Greetings, Grandfather Darin,” Darian said, bowing.
While he kept a calm facade, inside he was nervous. Darian and his father had left Mt. Wind Dance in the middle of the night, like a pair of thieves. While they had left behind notes, he was sure that many members of the clan council would be unhappy with them. After all, while his father was still in recovery, he was one of the few members of the clan in the Element Collection stage. This put him on par with most of the elders.
A part of Darian wondered why his father wasn’t an elder himself. The injury, perhaps?
Darian’s grandfather bowed in return, pulling him back to the present.
“Greetings to you as well, Darian,” his grandfather said. “May I come in?”
“Of course, Grandfather.”
Darian led his grandfather inside. Since he didn’t have a proper sitting room, the only place he had for hosting guests was his living room. It was a spartan space, with a feeling of disuse.
As they passed by the kitchen, Darian heard the sounds of Stella cooking, accompanied by her humming. The smell of something delicious reached his nose.
“Would you care for something to eat or drink, Grandfather?” Darian asked. “Stella is preparing dinner now. I can have her prepare a plate for you.”
His grandfather shook his head.
“That won’t be necessary,” he said. “The sentries told me of your return, and I thought to drop by in order to check in on you. Have you and your father been well, Darian?”
Ah, so that’s why Grandfather Darin was here. He wanted news of his son. Darian couldn’t help but feel a little bitter at that.
“We have, Grandfather,” Darian said despite his inner feelings. “Father’s recovery is progressing well, and I have fared well myself.”
“Good.” Darian’s grandfather then gave him a flat look. “You and your father left without saying goodbye to anyone. Your grandmother and I are upset with the both of you. That isn’t even taking into consideration the rest of the clan.”
Darian flushed with embarrassment and shame. It had been a cowardly act, and he could have gone about it a different way. He didn’t regret the results, though. His training had benefited greatly, and so had his father’s recovery. He couldn’t tell his grandfather that, however.
Or could he?
“I apologize for making everyone worry, Grandfather,” Darian said. “It was my idea.”
“It may have been your idea, but Darren went along with it.” He shook his head. “Why did you sneak away the way you did? You’re not a child any longer, Darian, neither are you a prisoner. You’re free to make your own choices. You didn’t need to leave in the middle of the night without saying anything to us.” He paused. “Darren, on the other hand, probably did. I doubt your grandmother, or the clan council, would have let him leave Mt. Wind Dance without a fight.”
Despite his grandfather’s words, Darian felt like a child being chastised. No. That wouldn’t do. Darian took a deep breath, looked his grandfather in the eyes, and steeled himself.
“I left the way I did because I needed to leave Mt. Wind Dance, and I didn’t want anyone to interfere,” he said. “While the rest of the clan wouldn’t have cared, Lucius and Vera would have. They would have tried to stop me, by force if necessary, and I couldn’t afford to let that happen. I…” He paused to articulate his thoughts and feelings on the matter. “…I needed to walk my own path, and staying here would have hindered me.”
Grandfather Darin didn’t respond for a long while.
“You’re wrong in one regard, Darian,” he said. “Your words imply that Astoria and I don’t care about you or your well-being. We do. Unlike your friends, however, she and I have an idea of where you went and why you left. We wouldn’t have stopped you. Not even your grandmother, despite her dislike of Immortal Nova.”
It took Darian a moment to fully comprehend his grandfather’s words. When he did, a shock ran through him and he took a step back.
“You know about Master Nova?” he asked with a whisper.
“Yes,” Grandfather Darin replied. “We also know that you are a cultivator now. We have known for a while. There are so-…” He paused mid-word and turned. It seemed like he was looking at something outside of Darian’s house. “I am needed elsewhere.”
At that moment, Stella walked into the living room.
“Patriarch Darin,” she said with a bow. “Young Master Darian. Dinner is ready.”
Darian, still shocked by his grandfather’s words, didn’t reply. Grandfather Darin shook his head.
“I’m sorry to leave like this, but I have to go,” he said. “There is a dispute between Elder Bryce and Elder Fletcher. If I don’t intervene, they may end up destroying the main hall.” He gave Darian a look. “Come see me and your grandmother at our residence tomorrow evening. There are things we need to discuss, certain truths we can now finally reveal to you.”
Without another word, Grandfather Darin left. Darian watched him go, still unable to say a word or muster a reply. As he stood there, Darian had a creeping sense of dread. Just how much of his life had Master Nova influenced? And just how much did his family know?
***
Dominic Wind Dance sipped his tea, letting the flavorful brew wash over his tongue. Sitting on the table next to him was a plate of honeyed almond treats. It was evening now, with the sun dipping below the horizon. As a cultivator in the Element Collection stage, he didn’t need to eat or drink, but he still enjoyed at least one cup of tea every day. It was one of his few vices. Another was his weakness for sweets. They complimented each other well.
Dominic sat in the veranda had built when he first moved into his current residence. It looked over Silverwood Vale, which he always found beautiful to behold. He liked to take his daily treat while enjoying the view. It was a habit he had developed and never sought to break. It helped him relax after dealing with the daily stresses and problems of life.
Lately, however, he had been dealing with one problem that was thornier than most. That problem took on the form of his son, Lucius. Dominic frowned as he thought about how he would deal with his son’s current rebellion.
Lucius had always been an obedient and dutiful son, so it had come as a surprise when he had disobeyed Dominic’s wishes and refused to marry Willow Stone Pillar. Dominic sighed. Where had he gone wrong with the boy? Marrying the granddaughter of Clan Stone Pillar’s Matriarch would propel their family’s status within their own clan higher than ever. With two elders on the clan council, this marriage would all but guarantee Lucius’ appointment as the next head of Clan Wind Dance.
Dominic had long given up trying to become Clan Head himself, with his average at best talent, so he had pinned all his hopes on Lucius. All he needed now was for his son to forget this foolishness with the River Heart girl, and do what was best for their family. It wasn’t as if he was asking for his son to toss Vera River Heart to the side. There were plenty of cultivators who took second, sometimes even third, spouses.
This alliance with Clan Stone Pillar had been a stroke of good fortune, and Dominic didn’t intend to let it go to waste. Otherwise, the other candidate Astoria Hawk Feather had mentioned would become Willow Stone Pillar’s husband. Dominic wasn’t worried. His son was the young genius of their clan. As long as he made the effort, it would be child’s play for Lucius to prove himself worthy to Clan Stone Pillar.
Unfortunately, his attempts to rein in his son hadn’t worked so far. He thought to be lenient, and give Lucius a little taste of where he would be without his father’s influence. He had reduced Lucius’ duties, thereby depriving his son of opportunities to ingratiate himself with other members of their clan, and he had also curbed Lucius’ influence. However, it didn’t seem to have worked. In fact, it looked like it had backfired. The boy now spent more time than ever with Vera River Heart.
It looked like more forceful methods were needed. Dominic sighed. While he preferred to gain Lucius’ cooperation with minimal fuss and effort. It resulted in less resentment that way. Still, he would do what he must in order to secure their family’s future. Thankfully, he had several options available to him. The question was, which one would he take?
“Lucille, how I wish you were still here,” Dominic muttered. “I could use your help right now.”
Lucille Wind Dance was Lucius’ mother, and Dominic’s wife. However, she had died while out on a mission for the clan when Lucius had been a child. Ever since then, Dominic had raised Lucius on his own. Well, he’d had servants and an entire clan to help, but even so, it hadn’t been easy.
Beside that, Dominic had missed his wife. While they hadn’t been in love, they had been fond of each other. During their years of marriage, the two of them had become best friends. Lucille’s mind had been sharper than his, and more cunning. The two of them had worked well as a team. She would have found a way to change their son’s mind.
Life without her had been lonely.
“Elder Dominic,” one of Dominic’s subordinates said to him through telepathy, interrupting his musings. “I have something to report.”
“What is it?” Dominic replied in the same manner, taking a sip of his tea.
This particular subordinate of his was one of the sentries that watched the entrance to Mt. Wind Dance. The man had been tasked with keeping track of the comings and goings of certain individuals.
“Darian Wind Dance has returned to Mt. Wind Dance.”
“Thank you for letting me know. Return to your duties.”
“Yes, Elder Dominic.”
When he heard Darian’s name, Dominic sneered in his heart. Really now, he didn’t understand what his son saw in the boy. Darian had no cultivation, no influence, and no status within the clan. He was useless, as far as Dominic was concerned, and therefore not worth thinking about.
It would be different if Darian had connections that the clan could leverage, but the boy didn’t even have that much going for him. His own grandparents barely acknowledged his existence, and no one knew anything about his mother. The current rumor going around was that Darian’s mother was some whore Darren had slept with during his travels.
While Dominic didn’t normally put much stock in such rumors, he gave this one more credence. Otherwise, why would Darren keep silent about her identity, even after all these years? Not even the elders knew who she was. At least, if they did, they had never said a word about her to anyone.
Dominic would know. He had his subordinates look into Darian’s background, back when he thought the boy might be useful, before it became known that he couldn’t cultivate. Dominic had even encouraged his son’s friendship with Darian back then, a decision he now regretted. Lucius had wasted far too much time on Darian, and continued to do so to this day.
Dominic paused, his cup halfway to his lips, as a thought occurred to him. Perhaps his son’s friendship with Darian could be useful after all. Lucius cared for the boy. The question was, how much did he care?
The beginnings of a plan formed in Dominic’s mind. It would take some maneuvering on his part, and the timing would be tricky, but he knew he could manage it. Yes, this would work. One way or another, Lucius would do his duty for their family.
Dominic smiled as he ate one of the honeyed almond treats. It tasted even sweeter than usual.