“No wonder you were quiet.” Sanik laughed, stepping out of the way of a stab and slapping at Edan’s head.
Edan ducked and tried for another stab, aiming at his father's thigh. Sanik avoided it and pushed down on Edan’s shoulder, forcing his son to squat and almost lose his balance.
It was the morning after Tali’s offer and the sun had yet to kiss the sky. Father and son had started training early before Edan needed to head off to Reverb Academy for the day. Scribe lights provided a soft orange glow to the backyard.
“Was I that obvious?” Edan grunted, pushing back against his father.
“At one stage a bit of food fell out of your mouth and you didn’t even notice.” Sanik teased.
Changing the pace, Sanik went on the offense. He struck out at Edan with an open palm. He was sure to keep it slow enough for Edan to react, but not so slow that it was easy. Edan dodged around the blow and deflected the next. He slapped aside the following fist and stepped forward, a kick aimed at the side of Saniks knee.
“I don’t blame you though. It’s a lot to take in.” Sanik effortlessly absorbed the kick and retaliated with a shove that sent Edan stumbling back. “I don't think Reema or I reacted much better. I’m proud of you for telling her you needed time to decide. It sounded a lot like Tali was trying to take you on as an apprentice. Most would jump at the chance.”
“That's what made me pause,” Edan admitted between gasps. He took a deep breath. “It’s too good of an offer. I kept thinking ‘Why me?’ you know?”
Sanik scratched his neck, feeling the stubble under his finger. He’d need to shave soon. Reema and Edan had no idea the pains he went through to keep his beard looking so presentable.
“Son, I may be biased but I see no reason why it shouldn’t be you…but…she did seem rather tight-lipped about the details, didn't she?”
Edan raised his hands, his punch daggers glinting in the scribe light. Moving forward cautiously to reengage he said. “I thought it might have something to do with cultural secrets. She did mention making me Va to her people and she made Va sound important earlier. I just figured it was one of those 'we can only tell you if you join' kinda things.”
“Which makes the decision that much heavier.” Sanik agreed.
If it involved cultivation methods and faction secrets, it would be no easy feat to end the agreement once made. Edan’s mind flashed back to the man in town with the brand on his face.
To drive the thoughts away Edan surged forward, hoping to catch his father off guard. At the last second, he turned his run into a dive and tackled Sanik around the legs, hoping to topple the larger man.
Sanik allowed himself to fall, turning the awkward tumble into a graceful roll that ended with him on top. Using his weight to pin Edan down he mimed slaps to his head. Edan blocked as best he could.
“Still can’t believe your mum invited her to your birthday.” Sanik laughed, increasing the speed of his blows.
“My mum, your wife!” Edan retorted from behind his arms as he tried to ward off the slaps. “I think she did it because everyone was so awkward.”
“Everyone?” Sanik switched position, rolling Edan so he could sneak an arm around his neck. Edan dipped his chin. “I know you were awkward. All silent and brooding. Tali looks the type to be silent so I won't hold that against her. I was my usual charming self. If you ask me, I carried the conversation last night. You’re welcome!”
Edan rolled his eyes, still trying to keep his father from choking him out.
Sanik, realizing that this could go on all morning, let Edan go and stood up. He hadn’t called an end to the sparring so Edan rose cautiously. Sanik moved back, giving his son space.
“Are you considering it?” Sanik asked.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t,” Edan admitted. “The whole reason I’m at that dumb academy is so I can get a sponsorship, and even that isn’t a sure thing. It’ll depend on how good I do at the Proving Tournament.”
Edan wiped the sweat from his face using his shirt.
“Dad, she’s a Titan! Can you think of a more amazing opportunity?”
Sanik smiled and held up his hand in a T shape. His way of calling an end to the sparring. He walked over to the picnic bench and sat down, patting the wood next to him for Edan. Overhead the first traces of light dyed the sky red and Edan could hear birds chirping.
“Reema and I have always given you space when it comes to the life you want to lead. That’s never going to change. It may not be what your dad wanted or your mum,” Sanik shrugged and ruffled Edans hair when the boy looked angry. “Don’t be too rough on your parents. You don’t know the whole story.”
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“And you do?” Edan challenged.
“No,” Sanik replied calmly, letting his hand rest on Edan’s sweaty head a moment longer before it dropped. “But I know Tyrian and I know Lillian and if they had to leave you, they did it for reasons that had nothing to do with you.”
“I used to think it was because I was weak. You remember how small and sickly I was as a child?” Edan admitted with a weak laugh. “I thought if I got stronger they’d come get me and we'd go off adventuring together. Except I never really grew and they never really came back.”
“That’s just dumb,” Sanik said bluntly before waving his hand. “But all of that is beside the point I’m trying to make. I think you need to give your parents the benefit of the doubt. But what I was trying to say originally is that Reema and I will always support you. I don’t believe in the Sects, and Reema turned her back on the Guild life years ago, but neither one of us objected to you seeking sponsorship. We won’t stop you if you think this is the right choice for you.”
Sanik watched the sky lighten. Red stretched like fingers across the entire sky, bits of blue streaked between them. The clouds looked dark and heavy.
“I think it's going to rain later.” Sanik muttered quietly before saying louder “I wish I had enough experience to teach you myself. Or that my style suited you. I’d have shared everything I know with you. But I can’t and if Tali can…”
Sanik trailed off, his eyes going distant and he scratched his nose and coughed.
“You love cultivating, son, it's easy to see, but it's dangerous. Especially the closer you get to the top. Everyone will be looking to drag you down. If Tali can prepare you for that…Reema and I would be very grateful to her.”
Edan eyed his father and poked him in the ribs. “Dad! Are you crying?” He teased.
“No! Shut up!” Sanik snapped back, getting to his feet and ignoring Edan. He coughed again and growled. “It’s just…you’re growing up and soon you won’t need us to protect you.”
Edan smiled and stood up. He patted Sanik on the back.
“I might not need you and mum to protect me, but I’m always going to need you two. Besides, if I’m going to be a big brother I need to be around. Can’t be brothering from a distance.”
“You know, I really think we did it,” Sanik said, stroking his beard and looking wise. “Last night. Make a baby I mean.”
“Dad! No!” Edan shoved the laughing Sanik toward the house. “Just no!”
-
The day wore on slowly once Edan got to class. Each day was allocated to a certain ‘practice’ which was the preferred term for lessons. They were all old enough that the word made it seem more independent and mature.
The first day of the week was meditation. Theoretical in the morning and practical in the afternoon. This took place in the highest classroom of the central tower. The hard stone floors were covered in a deep purple carpet with golden stitching along the edges. Edan once again found himself horrified at the decor, but he couldn’t fault the comfort. They had to sit cross-legged and the thick carpet made it so much more comfortable.
There wasn’t a teacher for the class. Rather, Mrs. Cinnaburn would check in on them occasionally, her face pinched as she stared around the class. She took great pleasure in waking those who had fallen asleep and giving them a dressing down in front of the rest of the students.
Usually, Edan would be one of those students. Not only because she took great pleasure in calling him out, but also because he preferred sleeping than trying to meditate when surrounded by so many people.
Today was different. Edan was happy with the normalcy provided by the class. It was comfortable. The sound of waves crashing in the distance was a dull roar that was as familiar to him as his own breathing. The caws and squawks of the gulls were his white noise. It helped center him.
Edan may have played it cool with Sanik this morning but the offer from the Titan had shaken him. She was offering him what he always wanted, and now that it all looked real and obtainable, Edan struggled with the fear of stepping forward.
Sanik had been right. He was growing up.
Edan breathed deeply. He allowed himself to fall into the darkness within him. He didn’t allow himself to fall into his SoulScape, that would have been too far. Instead, he settled his consciousness in the darkness between waking and that place within him. He floated there and let everything fall away.
Finding your Path was said to be the easiest and hardest thing any cultivator could do. It was the very essence of who you were. The route to power that was at the center of every person.
The problem was, how many teenagers actually knew who they really were?
There were some cultivators that followed the Path of Flame and it influenced everything from their temper to their skills. Others followed obscure Paths like the Path of Resistance and it affected their cultivation and growth where they needed constant pushback to advance.
Harvey had mentioned the Four Star Heavenly Sect encouraged the Path of Stars or the Path of Space. Apparently one of the Four divinities of the Sect had evolved their Path to the stage where he acted as a black hole for Vitalis.
Apparently.
Edan turned his thoughts away from such silliness and focused on himself. Who was he? How did he see himself? How did he see his future?
For the first time in a long time, Edan thought something new about himself. He no longer thought he needed to hope to grow. Now he knew he would. Knew he could. He had the chance, thanks to Tali, and that thought turned into a fire that lit the darkness around him.
What would he give to grow strong enough that he could protect his new family? Strong enough to find and confront his old one? Strong enough that he didn’t need to worry about people like Aser and Mrs. Cinnaburn? Strong enough that he was free?
Edan drifted in the darkness, warmed by determination.
He would do anything. Endure anything. Become anything.
Those thoughts sunk deep into his consciousness. It drifted down into his SoulScape and settled on the spark at the very center of his being. Within the jade green core of his SoulScape, the spark of Vitals that would grow to become Edan’s system grew brighter as it fed.
[Soul lvl 26 -> Soul lvl 27]
[+2 stat points, +1 Willpower]