Sadelmite City

Jin Province

Red Cross Empire

It was a busy day. People flocked in groups towards the markets. Traders opening up their stalls as it was the beginning of another day of good business. Everyone were in high spirits as the weather was pleasant, bars of sunshine fell on the ground through the gaps between the clouds. Birds sang in the mature trees and there was a country smell of spring.

Today was the day when Son of the Wind, Lord Hanu was born. It is stated that he was born a few million years ago but even today this day was celebrated. Lord Hanu was one the gods worshiped in the Red Cross Empire but it was not a religion. He was a symbol of strength for everyone. The citizens of the Red Cross would come together to celebrate this day as it was a tradition passed down by their ancestors. As for how they knew it was his birthday, not a single person could give an explanation.

      However, there was another person who was born today, just a few years ago. He belonged to the most influential family of the Sadelmite City. The Denholm family was the both wealthiest and most powerful. This was all due to influence of the current head of the family, Larc Denholm. He was both powerful and had connections with other influential families. The Denholm family was a very small family compared to the clans present in the Jin Province but was still at such a position. This was again because of Larc Denholm, he had the backing of the most important people and always held a neutral stance when it came to politics. Other powers had a good impression of the family and couldn't stop their rise to power even if they wanted to as one of the wives of Larc Denholm was related to the imperial family of the Red Cross.

                        Today though it was an important day for Denholm family, there was a strange silence. Every year they would celebrate the birth of Aryan Denholm, the youngest of the family. Larc Denholm and his three wives were seated in the dining hall in silence. Their expression wasn't quite good to behold. 

"Why Aryan? Why should it be him?" 

"Abelia, it's not him that you should blame. The one at fault is me! It's all because I had complications at birth. It is all because of me!"

"Livia, please don't say any more. We all know you weren't at fault. It is all just a coincidence that this has happened. If you are not destined, then nothing can be..." Larc replied in a rather depressing manner as he was interrupted by Abelia.

"Destined? I will never forgive anyone who says anything against Aryan! I could never give birth to my own but I have considered Aryan above everyone. He is the child I could never have. For him to have such a future, it will kill me to see him suffer. It's not his fault.....not his fault"

"Sister, our husband didn't mean it the wrong way. So what he is destined for, doesn't he have us? Doesn't he have his siblings? As long as we are all alive, he will live a good life that any other person would dream of!" said Flavia as she tried to console Abelia.

"Please, don't make it difficult for me. It is I who must tell him the truth. If you all act this way, where must I find courage to face him" Larc told his wives as though he had lost a part of him.

"Dear, is there no cure for this illness?"

"Livia, our doctor said that Aryan has Clarkson veins. As he progresses through his training, he will reach a point where he will not be able to move forward. If he tries to force through to the next stage of his cultivation, his veins will rupture. This can make him a cripple or he can lose his life"

"I will go tell him myself"

"Abelia, please leave it to me. I don't want you hurt yourself more" Larc said as he knew Abelia was the one who most depressed of all.

Abelia got up from her seat and quickly left the dining hall. 

"Abelia...."

"Dear, let me also go. If I'm with her then it will be much better"

"No! Livia don't go. You know how Abelia is, if it's anything about Aryan then she's too protective. Please don't make it difficult for her.......and even me" Larc told Livia as he knew how depressed Abelia was.

Abelia was teary eyed as she walked along the hallway towards Aryan's room. Today was his birthday, instead of celebrating she would deliver him bad news. She would tell him something that would break him. She would tell the most important person in her life that he would never reach the peak of martial prowess. As she reached his room, she was rather hesitant on knocking the door but she did what had to be done.

*Knock* *Knock*

Inside the room was a boy who had just turned thirteen. He was in his meditative posture as he continued to train in a rather peaceful mind. As he opened his eyes, he was in very confused state of mind.

"W-Where am I?"

"Aryan open the door!"

"One minute!" Aryan exclaimed in a reflex. He didn't really know where he was.

"This place looks familiar. Just where am I?" Aryan thought to himself as he stood up and went up to a big mirror next to him.

"T-This.....how can this be? This is my house! I-I thought I was dead but h-how can I be at my house?"

"Aryan! Please open the door!"

"It's open! Come in!" Aryan replied as he saw himself in the mirror. He remembered today was his thirteenth birthday. It was the day that had changed his life forever. It was this day that had changed him.

"Aryan"

"Mother"

Aryan always addressed Abelia as his mother. He felt he had a deeper emotional connection with her, more than his own mother. She was one person who would side with him no matter what the situation was.

"Aryan, there is something I have to tell you"

"Mother, I never thought you of all people would forget what today is. I'm sad that even you didn't come wish me today"

"A-Aryan!" Abelia rushed towards him and hugged him tightly as she could. Aryan felt really uncomfortable as she had begun to cry.

"I'm sorry Aryan. Happy birthday my child"

"Mother, what happened? Why are you crying? Did something happen?"

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"Aryan, there is something I must tell you"

"Please speak mother. What is it that you want to tell me?"

"Aryan, y-you have Clarkson veins. It is a condition where..."

"Where my veins might rupture right?"

"W-What? You know about.."

"Yes mother. I know everything about Clarkson veins. So I have this condition, looks like I won't have much of a future" Aryan replied with an indifferent expression.

"Aryan it's not that..."

"Mother, it's okay. I don't really care much about it. Come let's meet father"

Aryan didn't give time for Abelia to respond as he quickly moved out of the room. Abelia couldn't believe what had just happened and just followed Aryan. Abelia was really worried what this would do it Aryan and couldn't figure out why Aryan was so calm. This made her even more worried.

Aryan and Abelia walked along the hallway to the dining hall. Aryan was really calm at the moment as he had already experienced it once. 

"Yes! Yes! Yes! I'm back! I can't believe all this is real. Have the gods finally heard my cry?! Hahahahahahahahahahahaha " Aryan thought to himself as his mind was erupting with questions.

"Hmm. This really is strange. I can feel the presence of the mysterious bead in my dantian. I guess I'll look more into the situation later. Now I must first gather herbs and look for an alchemist. Clarkson veins may be a curse but if one were to really understand it, then it is a blessing from the gods. Last time I was late in curing it but this time the same will not happen. If in this life I ever meet that hermit, I must thank him once again." as Aryan was lost in thought Abelia interrupted him.

"Aryan, this way to the dining hall"

"Yes, mother"  

The family were seated at the long table in the dining hall. The dining was decorated with exquisite paintings and some small statues. Even a noble would envy such a place as the items present were really hard to obtain, even if you had an immense amount of money. Aryan and Abelia reached the hall as they saw the family seated. All the members had a gloomy expression and the food on the table was not touched at all. As Aryan reached the hall, all the past memories flashed through his mind. He felt truly blessed by the gods for having given this second chance.

"Aryan" Larc said as he signaled him to sit down.

"It's okay father. I have heard everything from mother"

"Aryan, it's really nothing. We can..."

"Mother, it's okay. I know what Clarkson veins is. You don't have to...."

"Aryan, please sit down. Let's all calm down and talk"

"Father, I'm really calm. I have already come in terms with this illness"

"Then you know that it's not curable"

"Whether it's curable or not is not the question at the moment. There is something else which is at the matter of importance right now"

"What? What are you saying?"

"I'm leaving the empire"

"Aryan!" Livia shouted as she got up from her seat. 

"Don't take hasty decisions! I will never let you leave the empire! You can forget it!"

"Aryan, what are you saying? Why do you want to leave the empire?" Abelia who was next to Aryan held his shoulders and had almost begun to cry.

"Where will you go?" Larc's voice echoed the dining hall as everyone eyes were fixed onto him.

After what Larc asked, now everyone awaited Aryan's answer.

"Ji Yan School"

"What? To the distant grasslands?! It takes almost a year to go there!"

Larc looked at Aryan and saw his son's eyes had a determined look. He sighed and said

"Aryan, please think about this. You can go to Royal Academy just like your siblings"

"But Royal Academy isn't the best"

"It is the best in the Red Cross. I'm sure there is not much gap between the two"

"Father, I have already made up my mind"

"Then the arrangements shall be done"

"Dear! What are you saying?!"

"Dear!"

"Dear! He's just a boy! Please reconsider!"

"Silence!"

"My son has already decided and as his father I shall fulfill it!"

"And father, I want you to call the best alchemist in the city. I have something to ask for"

"Fine. I shall call him"

"Then I shall take my leave. I really don't have the appetite today"

As Aryan began walking out of the room there was a lot of commotion from his three mothers but in midst of all that Larc sat questioning himself in the mind.

"How has is become so calm? Why can I see so much change in him? He was always so short tempered? Did something happen? Why does he need an alchemist?"

As Aryan reached the entrance he stopped for a moment and looked back at his family. Those seated at the table didn't quite understand why he stopped. As Aryan looked back, he said

"By the way, you guys can at least wish me on my next birthday"