章節 14: 14. Destroying his Dreams

The maidens watched as the twins leave. Ame turned to them one last time and bowed, and as for the brother, he simply nodded without so much as a hint of respect. His eyes showed how much he cared — none, that's how much he cared.

The one in the Qipao grew at this sight. She was a disciple of the Celestial Phoenix Mountain, no one disrespects her like that. The Pride that had been cultivated throughout her years reared its ugly head, "I'm going to teach that young brat how great our Celestial Phoenix Mountain is!" she roared.

However, before she could do anything, the one with the robes stopped her, "Mirh, that is enough. No matter how he seems, junior sister, Ame is still his brother. If we do anything to him, we might lose a genius of her caliber." She argued with words.

Mirh, who was the one in the Qipao, clicked her tongue, her apparent dislike about the situation showed, "Okay, Sister Ris."

Ris looked at Mirh pouting before turning back to Kiel, who, she found giving them a quick glance. For a moment, her heart hastened as she felt threatened, but in the next, she saw Kiel not even sparing her a glance.

'What just happened?' she asked as she felt as though her heart was ripped apart by a monster.

Ris failed to understand, 'How weird this is… I may have been acting too paranoid.' Her words intend to counsel her fear.

The sun reached the west, and dusk was beginning to settle. Ame and Kiel left for an alleyway as the sister went to change while the brother looked out for any pervert.

The next thing they did was meet their mother in the Town Gate. Ava waved her hand as she stood beside the Oxcart.

"Mama!" Ame ran up to Ava with a smile, she then hugged her mother to earn some points.

Ava raised her brows as she turned to Kiel for answers.

"She was begged to join the Celestial Phoenix Mountain… I shall drive the Oxcart mother." Kiel said as he took the reigns and had the mother and daughter get on the back.

"Are you sure, Kiel? This Ox is a rather feisty one to control, do you really wish to drive it back home?" Ava asked with a smile… Ame was still hanging by her neck.

"It is manageable, mother. Ame, stop trying to earn points, mother already saw through you, now, try and convince them. Fair warning, I will not help you, this time."

"What!?" Ame turned her head in shock, her mouth was shaped like an "o" because of this betrayal.

Kiel didn't really care about her opinion, "Stop arguing, it is not me who wants to go out and cultivate, but you. My words hold little weight, and your dedication is not mine… please try to understand." Said Kiel, a seven-year-old boy.

Ame wanted to pout, but, in the end, she could only sigh, "I supposed you are right, now, mother, please get onto the platform/Oxcart of conversation so I can convince you about this."

Ava made a hopeless smile, she already knew she would not be able to stop this daughter of hers, but she decided to sit with her, nonetheless.

The travel was not long, neither was it onerous. It was calm, steady, and no bumps were hit. The stars carpeted the night, as the cloudless skies showed the beauty of stars.

Kiel raised his head as he listened to Ame's words. He looked at glowing bright red star, 'As the True Spirit comes to life, it will devour a star… until the Night Sky is devoid of a star, only then would Cultivation would end, but as a Star is birthed as every soul passes the Wheel of Reincarnation, the Stars would not disappear, and so, Cultivation will last forever — To End Cultivation is to end Existence itself.'

A simple passage, Kiel created in this life. It only meant one thing, Cultivation would not end until something exists to be devoured… which in this case is the star or Spirit Energy.

The Oxcart continued on its way, and soon, he saw the house built atop a hill. The barn next to it was as striking as always with its color of red.

Ava and Ame went to tidy the back of the Oxcart while Kiel went keep the Ox and the Oxcart away. Ame's brows were creased as she began thinking about the words, she would use to convince her father — the last boss was about to come.

[I'll get you for this betrayal, Kiel!] she said with the least bit threatening voice she could do.

Kiel laughed at her words and went to finish the task he was assigned. From the harness to the cart itself, all were placed aside with ease.

Then, he placed grains and grass in two separate mangers, and he even prepared it water to drink. Kiel did a fantastic job, perfect without faults. Just like how he lived, it was something systematical to ensure nothing crumbles and creates distortion in this satisfying life.

His steps were the same, full of energy but without sounds. He then heard loud voices coming from inside their house…

"Please, First Master Zarta, help the Family fight against the Kingson Family, we —"

Quickly, Kiel entered their home, his face different from its normal calm.

His steps, loud and without restraint, his movement disoriented and without purpose.

His smile turned to a frown as he entered and saw there were three people inside all of which wearing black robes and some, even tight-fitting suits meant to be worn by assassins.

These three all had their heads buried on the floor as they all begged for help, "Please, we implore you to help the Head! We c—"

Their words stopped as Noah spoke, "The Main Family have disowned me and ensured that I cannot leave this place State with my Family. Why should I go and help them? I am not a part of your family. Harold, go back."

The one with the black robe raised his head, his veins popping as he shouted, "You were the one who abandoned us! I, your closest confidant trusted you, that you will become the next head! But you! You abandoned us, announced to your Father, that you will marry the daughter of his Brother's Killer!"

Noah's eyes turned red from anger as he grabbed hold of Harold's collar, "He asked me to choose, abandon everything for the family I dreamt of, or live as a slave for people who know nothing but scheme and throw their weight around!

"I left because I followed my heart, not my greed, nor my blood. Look me in the eye and tell me that my life would be better sitting in that throne, with the eyes of wolves pointed at me and their fangs waiting to tear my flesh… if ever, you, who claimed to be my trusted confidant, did nothing to help me!"

The hill trembled from Noah's anger, and only Ava's touch managed to calm his fury, "You are scaring the children, Noah." She said with a calm tone.

Gathering himself once more, Noah spoke, "Get out of my sight, Harold."

"...." The ground of men stood up, and as they felt conflicted in their hearts, Harold still left the words, "I'll be back."

He passed Kiel by the door. He looked at the child's eye, and for a moment, saw a pit of darkness… he inadvertently averted his gaze.

Kiel entered the house, and he looked at his father and mother who was supporting each other. He failed to respond in any manner, and so did Ame.

Noah noticed Kiel's shadow, and as he did, he forced out a smile as he said, "I'm sorry for scaring you, Kiel."

Noah held onto his son's hands; he was trembling as if he was afraid, he would lose him… no, it was not only Kiel he feared losing, but everything he had built.

A great warrior like him was afraid, not of a sword but of losing his family.

The night passed, the talk about Ame joining the Celestial Phoenix Mountain was forgotten, and the family went to sleep early. Or so they would have, but Kiel and Ame failed to even close their eyes as they heard Noah's and Ava's words from beyond the wooden doors of their room.

Ouroboros' words echoed within his mind, 'So knowledgeable yet still so pitifully unknowing… just like there is no such thing as destiny, and how prophecies are nothing but coincidences and predictions, life is uncontrollable.' Were its words pertaining to this?

Kiel's mind began to race, at this moment, the only thing he could do was think, so think he did. He remembered the starry skies, and thought to himself, 'Like how the starry skies represent cultivator, it is also the life of a person.

'Constellations can only be formed when stars from different places line up with the others… and life cannot be made with one star but many. To see the fullness of life, I cannot just look at the straight path as that is only the path I take. For a true life to be realized, an interwoven path must appear, and that can only appear if, I let the ones who travel with me, go and deviate from my path.'

[Where are you going?] Ame asked.

Kiel chose to stand up and then felt his steps become heavier as he approached the room of his parents. Kiel raised his hand and touched the door; a simple push will result in the destruction of the life he had been trying so hard to protect.

He took in a deep breath, as his heart began to beat faster than ever before, 'I am not the only one living…'

Pushing open the door, his parents saw him and exit their room, "Is something the matter, Kiel?" Noah asked, worried about his son.

Kiel looked at his father's eyes, they were full of anxiety and fear, far from its usual purity. A feeling of tearing appeared in his heart and with the best of his ability, Kiel opened his mouth, "Father… please, go and help your family with mother."

"What?" Noah and Ava failed to understand his words.

"Father is hesitant to leave, because he is worried about us, and he shouted at those people as if you hate them, yet the moment they left your hands trembled as it clutched mine…"

None spoke, and by this time, Ame peeked from inside their room.

Kiel continued his words, "…I am not knowledgeable about the happenings of the past, but I know that Father wishes to go and help your parents. It is okay, Father, do not hesitate, leave with mother, and complete your desire… because I know… Father will not be the same unless you go. Please, go… so I can have… the Father that smile back."

Another emotion surfaced in his heart.

It was a different kind of emotion from before when he was a child, it was not embarrassment; neither was it shame. It was sadness, and nothing more. Kiel cried out of sorrow for the first time.

Kiel failed to understand it, but tears escaped his eyes.