The tiniest ray of light entered my miniature unexposed world.
Blinding slivers of light combined into a spear that reaped my vision. My eyes were faint, I could barely see a single thing despite the gathering light.
They were the eyes of a newborn. The same hazy vision that a child would have, that's what I was reduced to in my captivity, a small infantile being incapable of doing anything by itself. Even if water or food was provided to me, I doubt I had the strength to even partake in them.
I struggled to move my arm, to crawl, no matter how pathetic I looked... towards the light. But it didn't matter, my body wouldn't listen to me. All I could feel was the surrounding sweat and liquids which had pooled around me as I lay in the same spot for an eternity.
"~###!"
Noises were entering my solitude, but I couldn't understand a single thing. I should be scared, afraid, bewildered. Who knows what has come across me in this desolate space, they might want to cause harm to me, it could be animals for all I know. I might have just emerged from this solace to be killed and eaten on the spot...
Thank the stars...
Anything is better than that dreadful silence for even a moment more. Come hell or high water, it could be a hungry wolf or the Baron himself, whoever appeared at this moment. No matter what happened to me, even if it was my death, I would be eternally grateful.
Those thoughts pouring over the surface led to my awareness fully dissolving, adrift in the sea of consciousness.
---
"Two weeks... all to ingratiate and harbor that pathetic element." The instructor spat derisively.
I could feel my blood boiling beneath the surface, my hand had clenched the cane I used for support even more roughly than I was accustomed to.
Leave it be.
Just like that, I shown a sunny smile on my face and walked towards the cave entrance, where my Grandson was awaiting.
I'm sorry, Yu.
This is the fate of us cultivators; suffering for power. The pathway ahead will be even more treacherous. This. This is only the beginning of your journey.
As young as you are, this is the path you have chosen. The same as your father before you. I admired his and your courage, to pick an element that was laughed at simply because it agreed with your heart. In my eyes that was where true strength lay.
However, this world is not so accommodating.
Strength of conviction... it was important, I couldn't disagree with that. But to survive, combat skills and the ability to protect yourself are absolutely essential. If you can't protect yourself, then how are you supposed to protect others?
Both of their faces appeared in mind...
I will not allow the same to happen a second time. Absolutely not.
The large boulder covering the cave entrance rolled away at a grievously slow pace. It was all I could do to prevent myself from moving it myself.
If my grandson is beyond help because of this...
The weight on my own back seemed to double. The hunch I had developed over the years led me to sink forward, ever closer to the ground.
I really need to get my thoughts in order.
Calm down.
Yu, is fine. These caves are centuries old, made with the sole purpose of first stage cultivators in mind. These eggs are incubated and developed, the chances of death are much lower than in the past, besides I would have been notified beforehand if that was the case. He'll be alive...
Then comes the recovery phase.
Everything was already prepared with this in mind, not that the instructor or any of those useless townsfolk have been any help in that endeavor.
A huge scratching noise, the abrasive sound of two surfaces gliding atop each other. The cave was fully open now. Even with the open mouth, light didn't reach all the way to the back of the dim cavern. Just out of reach of the light was a small sunken body, more akin to a corpse than anything alive. A huge puddle surrounding the body, the stench was inhuman.
...
"...Yu?" Was this him? I couldn't believe it.
His skin was losing colour, eyes were sunk into his skull, rapidly losing the pressure they held due to the excessive loss of liquid. His body didn't twitch in the slightest upon my arrival, nor did any of my words reach him.
"Yu? Yu, please answer me..." The immense weight of my guilt caused me to double over, sunk ever closer the floor... That's fine. My grandson's there. He'll be fine. I just need to check his pulse. He's alive, I'm sure of it.
...
...I'm scared.
I don't want to reach my hand out.
I don't want to reach towards him.
I don't want to be disappointed.
What would I say to those two? I promised them I would protect Yu...
This is my fault.
I could've stopped this at any time. I could've moved that boulder and rescued him from this cave, from this almost eternal suffering. No human was meant to be deprived of the light of the world, from water and food, or from its people. That wasn't human nature. My own selfishness caused this.
I though it would be better for him, eventually I will pass.
Yu will have no more family. No friends he can call upon and depend on as a non-cultivator.
I allowed him this suffering, saying it was for his own good.
I'm beyond saving.
...
I'm sorry, Yu.
Please, even if it's the faintest heartbeat. Just let there be something!
With an air of trepidation, I reached towards the boy still lay in the fetal position, slicked with fluid as if he had just been birthed. My fingers rested on his neck for a moment. The lack of any movement had me almost break down on the spot. Then there was...
I wasn't sure if it was my own mind playing tricks on me. Did I just want it to happen?
My fingers stayed on that place, awaiting with bated breath the next smallest sign of life.
...B-ump...
Yes! Thank the heavens...
Faint, incredibly faint. But they were there, the last embers of life.
Mark my words, Yu. I'll never let anything like this happen to you again.
This is my personal vendetta.
The only way to prevent these heartbreaks, these bitter farewells. Was to stand atop the summit.
I will make you the strongest in these lands. So when I can no longer protect you, you will be able to protect yourself.
That is my only reason to continue living. The last promise of a decrepit old man.