Chapter Two – 13 years and an invisible pressure
A boy stood by a window in an enormous manor, it was exactly the same window from thirteen years before. The window his father stood when he was born. It was the day he was to become a man. ‘I must live up to the expectations that she has for me, I can’t let her down!’ he thought to himself. It was Alexander.
Although only young his aura was far above average, where children his age were just stepping into the third stage of skin forging realm, he was on the sixth step of musculoskeletal forging, there was no doubt he was a genius. This gave him a tall solid figure, chiseled muscles making him look much older. Even though he was so much further than his peers he never stopped his studies. In his hand were his notes with all the knowledge he was taught from birth. He studied his perfect calligraphy and spoke aloud to himself.
“There are five levels in the mortal realm.
Skin forging, Musculoskeletal forging, Circulatory forging, Viscera forging, and Brain forging. This is further separated into three small stages per level for a total of fifteen stages."
He continued
“Each forging is rated as low, medium, and high depending on the depth of forging, the better the forging the better the potential on the path. This is preparation to step into the rebirth realm. The leaders of this county are at this level including his father. Beyond this realm was the realm of knights and if this realm was achieved the lifespan was extended, with a chance at serving a lord and gaining the knowledge to advance further on the path” he said in one breath finally finishing his monologue.
As everyone knew he was a genius he had to tutor his younger siblings and the manor staff. It was one of his responsibilities.
Alexander carried on reviewing his notes as he walked down to the main hall where his father and mother were. As he reached the main hall he looked around to see all of his family were there eating breakfast, which was sumptuous and almost excessive.
Upon further scrutiny, he saw it wasn’t just his family but his father’s aides and his greatest warriors. His father had a high position in the kingdom due to his aura and realm and he already served a lord which was rare for the current age. The position came with thousands of acres of land, wealth, and power, being his son Alexander had the best of everything since he was young. Herbs, training manuals, teachers, and even rare training stones for practice. Adding on his own genius he was like a dragon amongst men.
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“Ah, Alexander my son! Sit, sit with us!” his father boomed. He looked almost the same as thirteen years prior except for a bit of grey that streaked each side of the hair on his head. His father had long completed viscera forging and was a high brain forging expert always looking for that moment to breakthrough. “You’re a man now, it felt like yesterday you were in my arms.”
Alexander looked at his father and felt his gaze. He felt the affection his father held for him, but his mother’s words always resounded in his mind he loves you, however, not as a son but as a tool, a weapon, one he will eventually wield against his enemies, the stronger you get the earlier he will use you. He will then use you to climb the ladder in this forsaken world. Alexander looked at his mother and the joy she felt before his birth was gone. For she was no longer his father’s main wife, but a concubine. Sat next to his father was another woman, younger and with a higher aura than his mother. He walked slowly to his chosen seat next to his father and mother-in-law.
“Father, mistress,” he greeted them with stern eyes. “Alexander, come now, there is no need to act on tradition with us, we are all family here,” his father boomed. “Yes, father,” Alexander replied. He took his place at the table and ate almost mechanically, occasionally glancing at his father’s new bride, her belly bulging almost ready to explode. A thought whizzed through his mind what if this child is more talented than me? Would I be discarded as well? No! I must work harder!
The latent aura in the air swirled towards him as if recognising his emotion and swarmed into his body as if to fill it. It entered through every part of his body, his pores, his orifices, and filtered into his muscles and bones unceasingly. He felt his body become stronger, thicker, and more flexible. He felt complete.
His aura exploded sending his meal and cutlery flying through the air. His eyes widened and then closed in an attempt to calm his flustered mind. He looked into himself as his teachers had taught and were so utterly shocked he spoke aloud “low level of circulatory forging?” It was only then he felt the looks around him and heard his father’s booming laughter once more “HAHAHA! Alexander, my son who has never let me down, breaking through to blood forging at breakfast, will you break through again at dinner?” he spoke obviously pleased, the hall also breaking into laughter.
Alexander's eyes squinted as he felt even more pressure than before. He looked at his mother to see the worried look on her face. He sighed and looked outside the window to see a boy in a tree, sleeping. Anger and envy flooded his body, how great would it be if he could be like this, completely without worry and absolutely carefree. His aura was so far ahead but he was miserable, stuck in a life he didn’t want but couldn’t leave. He stood up and bowed to his father “I must ask to be excused as I need to stabilise my cultivation,” his voice devoid of emotion.
“Of course, my son,” his father replied with a smile, one that after the conversation with his mother had begun to make Alexander sick. He turned from the source of his pressure and exited. He was going to find that boy and relieve some stress, on his face was a smile that almost resembled his father’s.