A shattering sound echoed out over the valley, but just as young master Providence’s mind realized that the sound was more along the lines of an ephemeral mirror cracking rather than the sundering of the earth and stone, it was too late.  Through the remnants of the spectacular special attack strode his opponent. Before the fog lifted from his mind, the trash- “His name was Kite something” -had stepped up to him, grabbed the voluminous front of his robe and struck his face with a gauntleted fist. Once-twice-thrice in quick succession. As the world blurred, he felt himself falling as his dazed mind wandered idly where the halberd had disappeared to. In the far reaches of the Autumn Lands, a young man named Kite takes his first steps on a journey into a wider world. Riding the winds of freedom, he searches for a path to call his own and the strength to take it to the heavens and beyond. Growing through the bonds he forge and tempered by the trials he endure, it will be up to him to find his place in a world where individual power is the ultimate measure of a person. Because there are monsters lurking the frontier lands, many even bearing the masks of men.  The story takes place on Pallimustus, the alternate world from He Who Fights With Monsters, an original story written by Shirtaloon. While the characters, most of the locations and cultural aspects are fan-created along with the story, there are many references to the parts of the world and phenomena presented in the original work. What to expect from this story: - An original story within an established setting, from the perspective of a native of Pallimustus - A xianxia-inspired setting and local culture (With emphasis on inspired, as it still takes place in the setting of He Who Fights With Monsters) - A coming-of-age story - More essences and powers. (Some liberties have been taken in inventing or adding new ones, but I have tried keeping them in lines with the resources of the official Discord server) What to not expect from this story: - The wider cosmos - A loner MC only focusing on personal power - Harems (given the inspiration for the setting, I felt that this should be specified.) - Appearances of the cast of the original story (Details from the setting are referenced, but the story is imagined to take place a few decades before book one) Cover art is generated at hotpot.ai by me.