Darian woke up the next day, refreshed and excited. After reaching Mt. Wind Dance yesterday, and recovering from his impromptu flight lesson, Darian had shared dinner with his friends. It was a pleasant evening overall, and he had gone to bed eager for tomorrow to arrive. Now that he could cultivate, Darian wanted to begin training as soon as possible. While he hadn’t memorized the entirety of The Nines Gates of Destruction’s section on the Foundation Establishment stage, he had memorized enough to get started. After he had gone through his next breakthrough and opened his Eye Aperture, he would go back to Immortal Nova’s secret realm and seek Astra for guidance. He would also take that opportunity to study The Nine Gates of Destruction technique some more.
There were two problems, however, standing in Darian’s way. The first was that he wanted to keep his newfound cultivation a secret from the rest of the clan. If he started practicing the stances of the Fists of Destruction at his home, they would all find out about it sooner rather than later. While most of his kin ignored him, not all of them did. A bigger threat to his secrecy were the servants. They gossiped about everything, and it spread faster than wildfire.
The second problem was the lack of spirit energy. Mt. Wind Dance was a natural treasure. Specifically, it was the kind of natural treasure that gathered spirit energy in and around itself. At the top of the mountain, near the peak, the spirit energy was quite dense. However, at the foot of the mountain, where Darian lived, it was much thinner. While he could still use it to cultivate, he knew that it would take longer than Darian wanted.
Thankfully, he had a solution that solved both problems. It was time he visited his father, Darren Wind Dance. He was the only person in the clan who Darian would reveal the truth to. His father would be able to help. In addition to that, Darian hoped his father would guide him and give him advice on The Nine Gates of Destruction. He hadn’t noticed it before, but thinking back on it, there was something odd about the technique’s progression. He would have to ask his father about it, without breaking his promise to Astra. The last thing he wanted to do was offend her.
At dawn, Darian dressed in his customary tunic and trousers, before searching for Stella, his housekeeper and sole servant. The home the clan had assigned to him wasn’t large. It was a single story house with a few rooms, so it didn’t take long for Darian to find Stella. He found her in the kitchen, preparing to make breakfast.
Stella was a short, middle-aged woman with dark curly hair and a skin tone that matched Darian’s. Her eyes were hazel, though in the right light they looked golden. She wore the customary uniform for Clan Wind Dance’s female servants, which consisted of a dress made from a coarse, but durable, material.
Darian had stopped thinking of Stella as a mere servant a long time ago. She had a kind and caring disposition, and had been a part of his life for as long as he could remember. She was the closest thing he had to a mother. For a long time, thanks to their similar looks, he had even believed she was his mother. He grew out of that when he realized that she was too old to have given birth to him. Still, he always suspected she had some sort of connection to his mother. However, whenever he brought the subject up, she remained close mouthed. This frustrated him to no end.
“Good morning, Young Master,” Stella said when she heard him enter, not bothering to turn around.”
Darian grinned at her.
“Good morning, Stella,” he said. “I’m going to see my father. It’s been too long and I've neglected my duties as a son. Since I’m heading out, you don’t have to worry about cooking breakfast for me.”
At that, Stella did turn around.
“Young Master, you shouldn’t skip meals,” she said in a chiding tone. “It’s important to keep up your strength.”
“I’ll be fine. You don’t have to worry about me. I can miss a breakfast or two.”
Stella let out a soft laugh, while shaking her head.
“Very well, Young Master. Enjoy your time with Master Darren.”
Darian turned to leave, but stopped when Stella called out to him.
“By the way, Young Master,” she said. “That is a beautiful necklace. Where did you get it?”
Most of Darian’s kin would’ve considered the question impertinent coming from a servant, but Darian didn’t mind. Besides, he was closer to Stella than he was with most of them anyway.
He looked down at the necklace that hid his cultivation. Hmm, maybe he needed to give it a name?
“Oh, this?” Darian asked. “I just found it in the woods yesterday.”
The corners of Stella’s lips rose in a quick smile.
“I see,” she said. “You enjoy your time with Master Darren, Young Master. I’ll prepare a special treat in celebration of your return from yesterday’s adventure.”
At that, she turned to her work while Darian left the house. It occupied a plot of land near the foot of the mountain, a short journey away from the town of Valeheart. A light fog blanketed the ground this morning, accompanied by a slight chill. The sun, which had just crossed the horizon, could barely be seen. Darian noticed that neither the fog nor the chill bothered him as much as they would have before he had opened his Heart Aperture. With his sharpened vision and increased temperature tolerance, the weather would have a lesser effect on him. When he grew stronger, and walked further along the path towards immortality, would he stop noticing these sorts of things altogether? Only time would tell.
Darian started heading up the paved stone road that led to the higher areas of Mt. Wind Dance. The road didn’t head straight to the top of the mountain, but rather it took a twisting and winding path. This was because Clan Wind Dance had wanted to preserve the mountain’s natural features as much as possible when they had settled here. This was to minimize their impact on Mt. Wind Dance’s ability to gather spirit energy. Wanton destruction would have ruined this, negating the reason they had settled here in the first place. Whenever they built a new structure, or made any kind of significant change, they always kept this in mind. As such, many buildings could be found in the oddest of places.
As Darian traveled along the road, he reached out with his ability to sense spirit energy and auras. The spirit energy around him was thin, but the higher he went, the denser it grew. Thanks to the abundance of spirit energy, life flourished on Mt. Wind Dance. Plants of all shapes and sizes grew here, carefully managed since many of them were also valuable resources for cultivation. The clan had gardens and farms, but since the mountain provided them with wild plants, why not take advantage? Small animals were also plentiful, providing a steady source of meat for the clan. Any larger animals had been tamed or killed a long time ago. Clan Wind Dance had truly made the mountain their domain.
Darian also felt several powerful auras within the range of this sense of his, though he didn’t see the people these auras belonged to with his actual eyes. He guessed it was because they were all at home, either training or in meditation. From the oppressive feel of their auras, they were all stronger than him by one degree or another. That wasn’t surprising, he had just started cultivating. The only ones he would be considered equal to were the adolescents of the clan, those just taking their first steps on the path of cultivation.
There were also auras that felt different, though Darian didn’t know why until he felt one in the air just above him. He looked and saw a hawk flying towards the top of the mountain. Holden, his grandmother’s spirit beast familiar. Sometimes, when a cultivator and a spirit beast had a strong relationship, they could form a familiar bond, though Darian didn’t know the specifics of how that worked. Darian guessed that these strange auras were the spirit beasts his clan had tamed. That left him puzzled when it came to Astra and the snake twins. Why couldn’t he sense their auras yesterday?
Other than Holden, Darian didn’t see anyone else with an aura. That wasn’t to say that he was alone. Several servants walked along the stone road, carrying out various tasks. When they saw him, they all gave him brief bows before hurrying along their way. While Darian had the lowest status in the clan, he was still a member of Clan Wind Dance. That afforded him the barest amount of respect. As he passed by the servants, Darian frowned and wondered why he couldn’t feel their auras. Did they not have any? Could he only sense cultivators? Or was this sense of his too weak? He would need to find the answers to these questions.
Darian was halfway to his destination when he sensed another cultivator approaching, heading in the opposite direction as him. When he saw who it was, his heart sank. The fog had thinned out at this height, so Darian had a clear view of Zayne as the latter walked down the mountain. Zayne looked like a typical member of Clan Wind Dance: tall and lean, with blonde hair and blue eyes. However, his features were rather plain, especially when compared to Lucius. Still, he would’ve looked fine, if it weren’t for the perpetual sneer that marred his face. For as long as Darian had known him, Zayne had always looked like this, even as a child. It was as if everything and everyone in the world had offended him somehow, and he had to let his displeasure known.
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His aura felt stronger than Darian’s, but much weaker than Lucius and Vera. That was because he was only halfway through the Foundation Establishment stage even though he had started at the same time as Lucius. That put him below average in terms of talent by Clan Wind Dance’s standards. Darian wasn’t sure how that compared to the rest of the world.
The sneer turned into a smirk when Zayne saw Darian. The latter sighed in resignation, doing his best to ignore the former. That had been his strategy in these recent years, and he felt no need to stop now. Later on, when he grew stronger, that would change. For now, he would keep his head down and bide his time. If there was one thing Darian’s years of training and putting up with his clan’s attitude had taught him, it was patience.
Alas, it didn’t work this time. Zayne moved to block Darian’s path. This gave Darian a sense of déjà vu. It reminded him of their encounter in Valeheart. Darian fists clenched at this thought. The only difference this time, aside from the location, was that Zayne was alone rather than accompanied by his cronies.
“Where are you going, Darian?” Zayne said, his tone mocking. He looked Darian up and down. “I’m surprised you’re able to walk after what happened the last time we met.” His smirk grew wider. “Did you run over to the River Heart girl and have her heal you up?”
Since Vera and her sister had come from a different clan, they practiced a different cultivation technique than the rest of Clan Wind Dance. Theirs was a water-type technique that focused using spirit energy to heal. It was one of the reasons why Clan Wind Dance had accepted Vera into the clan, even though her sister was the one who had married into it.
“Move out of the way, Zayne,” Darian said, keeping his tone and expression neutral. While he would have loved to punch Zayne for daring to speak of Vera like that, now was not the time. “I’m not in the mood to deal with you right now.”
Zayne’s expression turned ugly. Servants who had been walking nearby lowered their heads and hurried off. They knew better than to get involved.
“I see that you still haven’t learned your lesson.” He smiled, though it looked more like a grimace to Darian. “Good. It just gives me another opportunity to teach you your place. I’ll be generous this time around and use words rather than my fists. Small words, so even an idiot like you can’t misunderstand their meaning.”
Darian’s jaw tightened. He had learned to endure Zayne’s taunts and insults. Fighting back never worked. It just made things worse. That didn’t mean Darian had given in, but that he would rather save his energy on more important endeavors. Still, that didn’t mean it was easy.
“You are nothing,” Zayne said, leaning forward. “You don’t matter. Why do you think the elders don’t say a word about what I do to you? No, you’re worse than nothing. You’re trash, an embarrassment. Your existence is a stain on Clan Wind Dance’s name. When you die, that stain will be removed and no one will remember you ever existed. Until then, I need to keep reminding you of your place, so you never forget it. You are nothing.”
Zayne’s words were nothing new to Darian. He had heard variations of them many times over the years, and not just from Zayne either. At this point, he was used to it, but they still stung a little bit. It wasn’t easy to keep himself from reacting to them, but he managed. This must’ve angered Zayne, because the smile twisted into an actual grimace.
“Do you understand me, you simpleton? You come from nothing, born to a crippled father and a dark-skinned whore. Are you even a Wind Dance?”
Fury ignited in Darian’s heart. Insulting him was one thing, but insulting his parents was another. Zayne wasn’t even worthy to utter their names, let alone speaking about them like this.
“You shut your mouth, Zayne” Darian snarled. “My father is a greater man than you’ll ever be. What level are you at? In the middle of Foundation Establishment? Isn’t that a bit slow, given how long you’ve been training? I can’t cultivate. What’s your excuse?”
“You little wretch!” Zayne roared. He grabbed Darian by the tunic and lifted him off his feet. “I’ll make you regret saying that.”
Darian opened his mouth to reply. He had already dug his grave. At this point, he might as well dig himself deeper. It didn’t matter now. Before he could speak, however, he felt a familiar aura approaching their location. Based on the speed, Darian guessed they were flying. He grinned at Zayne.
“Good morning, Lucius,” he said, looking up.
Just as he said those words, Lucius flew in on his flying sword, stopping in the air above them. As he appeared, Zayne let go of Darian.
“Se-Senior Brother Lucius,” Zayne stuttered.
When it came to forms of address within Clan Wind Dance, they followed the example set by the many sects and schools of the cultivation world. Those of the same generation or power level called each other “Brother” or “Sister”, despite what their actual relationship might be. Those who were older or more powerful were called “Senior Brother” or “Senior Sister”, while those who were younger or weaker were called “Junior Brother” or “Junior Sister”. Due to Darian’s age and lack of cultivation, he was usually considered a member of the younger generation, despite being technically a generation above Lucius and Zayne.
Those from an older generation were called “Uncle” or “Aunt”, while those from a younger generation were called “Nephew” or “Niece”. The oldest and most powerful members of the clan were called “Elder”, and they formed the clan council that governed the clan as a whole, with the Clan Head in charge overall. In the end, however, while age was a factor, strength mattered the most. A young, but powerful, clan member was afforded more respect than an older but weaker one.
Exceptions were made for close family members, such as parents and their children. For example, no parent wanted their child to call them “Uncle” or “Aunt”. When it came to Lucius and Vera, Darian didn’t bother with these honorifics. They were his friends, after all. Informality was to be expected. When it came to Zayne, he did it as an insult and a show of disrespect.
“Junior Brother Zayne,” Lucius said. “Is there a problem here?”
Zayne let go of Darian, dropping him to the ground, before taking a few steps back.
“No, Senior Brother,” Zayne said. “Da-…Junior Brother Darian and I were just having a talk.”
“I see.” Lucius narrowed his eyes. “See that you go on your way.”
“Yes, Senior Brother.”
With that, Zayne hurried off, but not before he shot a dirty look at Darian. His eyes said that this wasn’t over.
“Oh, before you go,” Lucius called out, his tone casual. “Be sure to return Darian’s money to him before the end of the day. Otherwise you and I will have our own talk.”
Zayne paused, and Darian could almost hear him grinding his teeth.
“Yes, Senior Brother,” Zayne said, before continuing on his way.
Once he was gone, Lucius lowered his flying sword and hopped off. Darian looked at his friend with mixed feelings. While he was grateful for the assistance, he hated that it had been necessary. If he had been stronger, he could’ve handled Zayne himself. He was also angry at himself for losing control like that. He needed to learn how to keep his anger in check better.
“Thank you,” Darian said.
Lucius shrugged, before smiling.
“I was already on my way to see you. Reminding Zayne that you have friends as well was just a bonus. Give us a call if he bothers you again.”
When Darian heard this, he made a silent vow to himself. He would become stronger so that his friends could rely on him as much as he relied on them.
“What did you want to see me for?” he asked aloud.
“We missed our training session together yesterday, so I thought we’d make up for it today.”
Darian hesitated before answering. He had always looked forward to his training sessions with Lucius. While it hadn’t helped him with his cultivation, his friend had helped him in perfecting the movements of the Dancing Wind. However, if he wanted to keep his cultivation a secret, those training sessions would have to stop. Darian mourned that loss.
When he noticed Darian’s hesitation, Lucius frowned.
“Are you busy with something else? Sorry, I hadn’t considered that you might be.”
Darian shook his head.
“I’m just going to visit my father. It has been too long.” He paused. “Lucius, I think it’s time we stopped with the training sessions. It’s clear that they’re not working. It’s been four years, and I have made no progress in cultivating.”
Lucius blinked at him, looking taken aback.
“You’re giving up?” he asked in disbelief. “I can’t believe I’m hearing this. After trying so hard for so long, you’re just going to give up now? Yes, there’s a chance that you will never cultivate if you continue training, but if you quit, then that chance becomes a certainty.”
Darian hated lying to his friend, and almost confessed everything right then and there. He held back. Telling Lucius the truth at this point would only cause more trouble. It was better for them both if he-…No. If he was going to lie to his friend, then he would at least be honest with himself about why. He was lying to his friend, both of his friends, for selfish reasons. He could not, and would not, pretend that he was doing it for their sakes.
“I’m facing reality, Lucius,” Darian said. He put his hand on Lucius’ shoulder. “I appreciate all the help you’ve given me. Believe, I am grateful for everything you and Vera have done, but it’s time I put my efforts towards doing something more productive.”
Lucius shrugged off Darian’s hand and scoffed.
“I can’t believe this,” he said. “You’re really going to give up, just like that. I thought…” He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter what I thought.”
“I’m sorry.” Darian didn’t know what else to say.
“I am too, Darian.” He let out a laugh. “I’ll see you later then.”
With that, Lucius hopped back onto his flying sword and flew away before Darian could respond. As he watched his friend disappear, Darian questioned his reasons for keeping it secret. Lucius and Vera were the people he loved the most, aside from Stella and his father. If he told them the truth, they would be overjoyed. Yet, he wanted to keep it secret. No, that wasn’t quite right. He wanted to keep it to himself. That was it. That was why he wanted to keep it secret. He wanted to keep the inheritance he received from Immortal Nova all to himself, even the knowledge of its very existence. It was his, something he could call his own. He didn’t want to share it.
At that, Darian scoffed and looked up at the sky. Knowing the reason why he lied to his friends, and continued to lie to them, didn’t make him feel better. Still, self awareness was an important part of cultivation. Learning more about himself helped in that regard at least.
Not wanting to delay further, Darian continued up the mountain towards his father’s house.