Three weeks have passed since we left the Heaven Revealing Cave, after the initial commotion caused by more people coming out than going in, we discovered that all around the Empire there were monsters spawning, corrupting those who underwent the provation. The Souless had found a way to invade the Provation Sites.
Therefore, the Preachers or other capable warriors started to go inside with the group, to serve as insurance in the worst-case- scenario. Thankfully, very few people lost their lives after the first wave. On the other hand, rumours started to roam the lands, that this batch of Provation brought up hundreds of people with special constitution, such as General, Warrior, King, and even Hero. Although the names are fancy, they don't mean you actually receive that status, but it means your body has a special affinity for cultivation and you are bound to reach greater highs or learn different techniques.
By the way, the party that ventured with me were all specials, maybe not-so-specials now, Alexandros awakened as a strength enhanced Warrior, Iury, the archer that lost his hand awakened as an agile Assassin, You Xia, as a purifying Hero, Liz and the other two turned out to be all rounded Scouts.
I, on the other hand, did not receive any special constitution. Nor has Darkness manifested itself during this time. I tried to talk to Preacher Yan about it, but I sensed it would be useless as he told me, when I asked about facing a dark version of oneself, that such a thing only happens on later breakthroughs inside one owns mind, he called it Inner Demons.
During these three weeks, my mind wandered, I felt as an empty husk, tormented by nightmares, almost forgetting what is a peaceful night. Yet, I wandered, trying to put up a facade to not burden my parents more than they already were.
A conscription order was issued by the Empire, calling for capable warriors to reinforce the garrison and ordering military supplies, thus even our humble workshop was working overtime to keep up with the orders. Mother's hammer sung non-stop day in and out, as Father's hoe and needle danced to provide food and clothing.
I did my best to keep up with them, to lighten the burden even if by slightest I could. My travels to Thousand Swords City were more frequent, pulling a wooden cart with supplies along a delivery order. After delivering the herbs to Madam Chai days ago, I hadn't seen her again, probably she is holed up in her workshop concocting pills and potions or trying to haggle the best price for her herbs.
That is how I survived those twenty one days, merely by mechanical work. Haunted by the almost-death experience I had passed. The night brought me fright, afraid that a formless lump of meat would turn into a monster again. My parents didn't pry much into the theme, slowly healing me with the little time they now had, but I could only ask for so much, they are my most precious hope.
Once again, the day came to an end, as the night already painted the sky, I arrived home to the metallic sound of Mother's hammer over the anvil as Father happily whistled over the oven, preparing chicken-rice on the pot, welcoming me with a broad smile and the warmth only home can give.
"Welcome back my son, did everything go well?"
"Yes, Father, but the city feels restless, as if a storm is brewing up"
Father looked up, as if his eyes could look through the ceiling and beyond the stars, before coming back to land and turning to me with a broad smile
"Go fetch your mother for me, my son, dinner is ready and I bet both of you could eat a lion given the chance"
"Right away"
I walked through the house, to the increasing sound of the hammer, to find my my mother, face darkened by soot, her eyes shining brighter under the light of the forge, her arms swinging as if they could split the lands and her steps could flatten the mountains, without wasting a single breath or movement, I stood there, mesmerized by her work, only to feel a weight on my shoulder suddenly.
"Sweetheart, the food is waiting"
Father's voice sounded clear even amidst the hammering, freezing Mother's movement instantly. She turned her face to the side, with lovingly eyes and stern face
"Alright my love. But first, come here, you forgot our gift to our son"
Her voice was strict but lovely, mocking my own confused eyes
"Gift?"
Father walked up to mom, carrying a blue package, as mother picked up a red wooden box. They both turned to me, holding hands.
"Happy birthday, dear"
My eyes felt watery, my vision blurred.
I had forgotten my own birthday.
I ran up to my parents, hugging them tightly as the tears ran down my face, dampening their shoulders. I could only repeat in their ears "I love you" while trying not to sob. I have been blessed with them for nineteen years now.
My father patted my back as mother was keeping me close with her strong arm.
"Here, my child, we have prepared something special for you..." Mother's voice sounded gently.
I took a step back to open the packages.
Mother's red wooden box contained two metallic gauntlets, with knuckles glistening in silvery shine, those were guaranteed to pack a punch. The interior was couched, and fit perfectly, extending to cover two thirds of my forearm, without blocking my movements. Heavy, cold on the outside, warm on the inside, just like mother.
The gauntlets had a tinge of copper, with details in silver, intricate stripped drawings branded the gauntlet, as the rivers bleeding from the top of a mountain.
I felt a knot forming over my neck, I couldn't find words to speak and she could clearly see it in my face
"I am glad you liked"
I could only hug her, as thigh as I had the strength to.
"It is perfect" I said.
Father joked, lightening the mood "Hey, I am getting jealous!"
We all laughed as I unwrapped the blue package, revealing a brand new blue robe, with a silver crab drawn on the back, reminiscing the animal amidst the deep-blue ocean.
"Try it!"
The robe fitted perfectly, embracing me with the same warmth father always had. But I could tell the cloth was sturdier than your usual armor, each string reinforced with spiritual energy, warding off the elements.
"Amazing...."
"I am, ain't I?" Father looked proud of this. He ough to be, it was a masterwork, just as Mother's gauntlets.
"We prepared it so that we can take care of you no matter where you are. We know that these days have been hard on you, but there will always be a brighter day"
I fell on my knees, bending myself with uther respect
"I do not deserve you both! I have been hiding from the monsters inside my heart instead of facing them!" Each word felt as a knife slicing my heart, each word felt as a weight being taken away, clarifying my mind "I thank you for giving me power to run no more"
They both picked me up, as Mother followed
"We are your parents, my son. It is our job to support you when you can't stand on your own"
Truly, I have been blessed with them.
We had our dinner, a happy dinner in family. My mind felt clear, my heart now hardened itself to what was to come.
In my room, I sat on the floor, projecting my mind back in introspection. When I finally saw a familiar glistening.
My meridian was spinning, my own little galaxy with a marked belt of stars. But I couldn't see the black hole that one menaced it no more.
'I know you are there. We have to talk'
Nothing happened.
'We fought together, you said yourself we were now bound to each other'
Yet no response.
'You said you knew everything about me, and I guess you must have been watching me as well'
This time, I felt a tingling sensation over my skin, as if the morning dew caressed me and lauched wisps of mist to the air
'I am ready to face you earnestly, what about you?'
As I watched my meridian revolve, I could occasionally catch glimpses of colours coming from the main star, sometimes a red flash, blue, brown, green...
But that was something to be seen later
'What, are you afraid of me now?'
I felt the restlessness increasing, when a low voice sounded from distance
'Call my name and face me earnestly, if you are truly ready'
The distorted voice sent shivers down my spine, but I couldn't back down now. I can't back down never again.
'Then rise and face me, Darkness'
A stinging pain struck my chest, diffusing over my body, feeling as if I was being. split into halves. But I locked my jaw and didn't flinch, didn't back down from the mental world.
I could see a black hole emerging from my meridian, gaining stability to hover above it, as a predator waiting its prey.
When my eyes turned back to the front, I saw a mirrored figure of me, donning the gauntlets and robe I had received just earlier, except it was all in darker shades of gray, and red molten dots replaced the eyes.
The figure said first 'Good to see you again'
'Good to see you again' I said in response
'Oh, happy birthday to us, by the way. How are you feeling today?' it said with a macabre smile
'Cut the jokes, Darkness, we need to have a serious talk'
Darkness face immediately erupted in a laugh 'Why so serious, my boy? Feeling brave now that mama and papa gave you a hug and some back pats? You are baring your fangs to the wrong side'
The irony clearly permeated those words.
I had to keep pressing on
'Where were you? Why couldn't I summon your power again? Why everyone but me had a special constitution?'
'Boy, oh, boy. Feeling left over, aren't we? Don't tell me you really missed me?' Darkness said while opening his arms 'I was here all the time, you just didn't have the courage to call me'
He kept going, transmitting his words through the mind world
'You do have a special constitution, I am the biggest proof of it. Not many would be able to resist having their souls split or house two separate meridians'
The figure wandered around, pointing to the black hole and my little sun.
'Next, as you said. It is because that power is mine, and mine alone, and if you want to use it, you better be ready to make me submit to your will'
Darkness took a step up, shaking my meridian with the pressure
'But you better be ready, because I will try to make you submit to me'
Those words were drenched in bloodthirsty intention, but this is my space, I won't allow Darkness to rule over my mind.
As this thought crossed my mind, I could hear the sound of an explosion, originated in the star of my meridian, that now was shining in a bright red colour, encircled by a bright red burning fire.
I felt a tingling in the palm of my hands.
When I opened my hands, the fire manifested itself in form of a talisman.
Darkness looked at me with eyes wide open, composing a surprised face
'Alright, that's new, isn't it?'
I smiled, now brimming with confidence and my talisman pointing at him.
'Ready to be beaten into submission?'