One by one, children of the Lian Clan left the Sacred Monolith Hall and returned to their parents, who patiently waited outside. 

Night autumn sky was clear of clouds, and two bright moons illuminated the area well enough even with Crystal Lamps being turned off. It was an important night - the fate of dozens of the Clan's children was decided. 

After many millennia of research by wise scholars, it was concluded that the best time to find out one's potential Paths was within a year after a person's twelve birthday. Too early, and a child wouldn't be able to comprehend the true mysteries of this experience. Too late, and a teen would lose a part of their natural perception. 

One twelve-year-old after another rushed to their parents. Most wore happy expressions - those were whose Paths were practiced by the Clan. Some were obviously disappointed, or even straight-up cried - those children were compatible with other Paths, and so they would need to learn from outsiders. 

After half an hour, all parents reunited with their offspring—the sole exception was a woman in blue kimono who waited for her single son with a worried expression. It shouldn't have taken so long for him, no matter what results he got... unless... She shook her head to ward off dark thoughts, her emerald hair danced under the light of the two moons. 

Much later, when the conversations between parents and their children completely halted, a sound of the commotion was heard from inside the Hall. 

"How much more of my time you want to waste, you useless little shit?!" a deep and angry voice roared. 

Almost everyone in the waiting area recognized this as the voice of the Elder who observed the test from inside the Hall. Just what could a child do to make this esteemed gentleman so angry? 

With a loud bang, the gates of the Hall opened, and a robust man threw away a boy as if disposing of trash. 

"Son!" the emerald-haired woman exclaimed. With extreme speed, she rushed to her son and barely managed to catch him before he could land on the hard ground, saving him from a terrible injury. All eyes in the surroundings were locked on the mother and son duo. While most of them didn't recognize the boy, everyone knew the identity of this woman. Her extraordinary speed - she was moved fifty meters from her position in just a few moments - didn't left any doubts. 

With unhidden fury, she glared at the Elder, who seemed to be in his early fifties while she was twenty years his junior. Still, his position in hierarchy was plain to see, considering how the man's expression changed the moment he met her eyes.

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"What is the meaning of this, Elder Kelan?" she hissed venomously. 

"S-sorry!" Kelan said as he lowered his head in submission. "I didn't know that he's your son, Lady Lina!" 

She wasn't sure if he told the truth, and, honestly, she couldn't care less.

"Tell me a reason why I shouldn't break your bones right here right now?" She watched him as a venomous snake would watch its helpless prey. Her words weren't just a weightless threat. 

The Elder hardly swallowed and was ready to give his excuse, but another voice intervened. 

The boy recovered from the shock of being heavily tossed and quietly said, almost whispered, "Wait, mom! Please, not here." 

He looked at his mother with pleading hidden in his large azure eyes. Unfortunately, there was a person who didn't care about the boy's desire to hide the truth.

Thinking that upon learning the truth Lady would forgive him, Kelan declared loud enough for everyone to hear him, "This boy didn't enter the Trance like others! Even when I allowed him to touch the Sacred Monolith with his filthy hands, he only pretended to see the Origin World! He was rejected by the Monolith!" 

Hearing his words, the audience showed doubt and disbelief. 

"Please, no..." the boy murmured.

With wicked glee, the Elder confirmed that others thought but were afraid to say aloud, "Yes, he is Pathless! A cursed existence that shouldn't have been born in this world!" 

Many in the audience glared at the boy with unhidden contempt and disgust. Some of them regretted that they felt sorry when the Elder was rough with this brat. Why was he so gentle with someone like this? The minority felt sorry for the boy and his mother - no matter how high was her status in the Clan, having a child like this...

He watched the parent and child duo, expecting that Lady Lina would push the dirty pup away, telling him that he isn't her son. That maybe she would even thank him for punishing the brat in her stead. Maybe he'd even catch the interest of this beautiful widow... 

The only skinship he got from Lina was her fist's meeting with his ugly face. 

In a move that the Elder couldn't even perceive, she punched him hard enough for him to fly more than ten meters away before being smashed in the ground. 

Lying on his fat ass, Kelan looked at her incredulously. "W-why did you punch me?!" he asked as he spitted out a couple of his broken teeth.

"I told you to give me a reason," she said cooly. "You failed." 

"But he is a Pathless!" the Elder shrieked with tears in his eyes. "A waste who could never Advance in any Path! He's cursed by the Origin World and would only bring misfortune to everyone around him!"

"As if I would care about this nonsense," Lina stated firmly as she gently stroked her child's golden blonde hair. 

She deeply looked into the boy's eyes and gently said, "Zed, you are my son, my precious cute son. No matter what, I'll be on your side. Please wait a bit until I dispose of this pig, and then we'll return home together. Okay?" 

The boy nodded, trying his best to hold back the bitter tears that were about to burst. 

With unhurried steps, Lina approached the frightened Elder while cracking her knuckles. 

After that day, Kelan would spend a whole week in the infirmary. It would take him a few more months to fully recover, even with all those remedies given by the Clan.

This was also the day when Zed Lian Ren swore to become a man strong enough to protect his mother instead of being protected by her. He swore to achieve this dream - no matter what it takes.