In the dining room of the family house, Sullivan's mother, Shiva, was relaxing by the table alone, with her eyes closed, seemingly in contemplation.
Her jade-like finger was tapping on the fine wood, slowing down and speeding up at different intervals, representing her chaotic thoughts. Then, suddenly, her eyes snapped open, revealing her beautiful icy pupils that glowed in the darkness of the unlit home.
"So, did everything went as fine as expected?" She questioned out loud, seemingly talking to herself.
She was cold, calm and domineering. Completely different to her bubbly and cheerful self that was seen with her family - as if she was a completely different person. Everything surrounding her changed, from her demeanor to the sheer aura she releases. Which would make one question...
Which one was her real self?
However, none of that mattered as Shiva lazily turned her sharp gaze to the dark corner of the room, spotting a creepily large and shrouded figure kneeling on the ground. When he had gotten there and how long remained a mystery.
"Yes! The boy reacted as we had thought, still kind and forgiving as always... I wonder if anything would actually anger him..." In reply to her question, a weird quizzical voice that was masculine, yet feminine, was heard drowning the room. If someone listened closely, however, they would be able to detect a hint of respect and happiness in between his words.
"Hahaha, I know this son of mine. If he would even forgive his tormentors, then why wouldn't he forgive his own father?" Shiva laughed heroically.
For a moment, Shiva smiled with care. Her endless love for her child radiated throughout the room, making all who saw her feel comforted and warm; akin to a Goddess of Beauty that had descended onto the world. The large figure watched the scene in a daze, mesmerized and... jealous? However, as if everything was an illusion, she reverted back into a cold and calculative persona, throwing the figure off a bit since it felt like he was pushed into a frigid icy pit after strolling under the warm summer rays.
Her thoughts wandered as she mumbled, "Though his father was not the one to be blamed... He insisted to be the one to do it. So It can be counted as my own way of repenting and apologizing, right? Or..."
"...am I running away from my responsibilities...?"
She sighed in defeat, looking at the ceiling of the room with a blank expression.
"Y-you had no choice, Your Maj-" The figure tried to refute only to suddenly feel a murderous gaze land on his person, making him shake in fear. He knew he was walking on thin ice, "Uhh... Ahem... Miss... If you hadn't done that then-"
"Enough! We won't talk about this, not here, not now!" Her expression started to change into something terrifying, frightening the shrouded figure even more so than he already was.
"...Anyway... About Sullivan's tormentors...was everything set up according to plan?" After mentioning Sullivan, her gaze slightly softened as her voice slightly toned down... Her demeanor was a lot more gentler compared to before.
"Yes, we had sent Eva danger signals via a [Flickering Spirit Mage] in regards to Sullivan's location, as we always had done before. After so, my team and I would wait until the boy was beaten to a certain extent, as you had instructed, and escort them in the shadows. Only saving then when absolutely necessary - without their knowledge of course..." The figure said, calming down slightly from Shiva's outburst.
He quickly paused and gathered his thoughts before continuing, "...This time, however, you ordered us to leave the boy to be beaten a little more than usual, also employing a [Fifth-Star Desirer] to heighten the tormentors emotions..."
"I see, yes, that is what I ordered right?" She said, cutting the figure from continuing further.
The figure, despite being shrouded completely, had an air of confusion surrounding him. He suddenly had a terrible feeling about this. He warily said, "Uhh...Y-Yes, that is what we believe we were o-o-ordered to do.."
"Hmm... A 'little' more than usual... Funny..." Shiva said with a small smile, staring not at the figure but at the empty air flowing from the wooden window. "Who knew a 'little' meant he would come back half-dead and all of his limbs broken..."
Her expression did not change, still looking at the rickety window allowing cold air in with a gentle yet cold gaze. If anyone else saw her they would think that she was a kind young lady having a pleasant conversation. To the figure, however, she was a Demon-spawn that came to drag him into hell. He started to shake with an intensity incomparable from before.
"Don't do it again~" She spoke with a cheerful tone. The figure, terrified beyond comprehension, took it as a queue to esca-
-To leave respectfully...
"Understood!" He vanished quickly, leaving one word behind.
Shiva watched the shrouded figure disappear from the dark corner. No traces of him was left, as if he was never there to begin with.
'Right...I should start making dinner...' With that thought in mind, she stood up and began walking to the kitchen. Thinking about what meals would rejuvenate and energize the battered children. Suddenly, her milky feet stop in place as she shifted her gaze towards the direction of the field. Quickly becoming lost in her own thoughts again...
After Sullivan and his father calmed down, he could finally officially start his classes. After all, there was a reason his father brought him out on the field, otherwise why talk to the frail boy in the freezing cold?
"If you can't get stronger, get smarter and sturdier. There are as many and more masters as there are snow falling onto the land. All with unique abilities and temperaments that had been forged since the beginning of their path." Durivan said, locking his gaze onto the mask-less boy. "Just because one cannot cultivate, does not mean their path has been entirely severed. In fact, you could argue that the path your about to take, in essence, is the truest and most fitting path -"
" - In other words, [Fate], if you will it."
Durivan's temperament was almost sagely. Explaining his insight and knowledge slowly and not forgetting to mention the key points. Making the boy fall into a dreamlike daze, listening and absorbing his fathers teachings intently. Seeing his son's expression, Durivan smiled and continued his lecture. "Billions of people have a numerous paths set within their person, within their hearts. And many follow the one path that they believe is most fitting."
"However, there are some who decided to tread in a completely different path. A path of 'evil' that would make people would fall into a pit of degeneracy and madness, committing crimes against humanity. 'Demons' as they are commonly known."
"Thought that isn't the case most of the time." He mumbled under his breath.
"Now listen to me closely. No matter the circumstances, follow your own heart and don't forget the roots of your humanity. Or else you will become a monster that not even your own family will recognize." He spoke with a stern tone, staring at the boy intensely to try and emphasize the severity of his words. "...Understand?"
Sullivan nodded vigorously, showing his understanding.
"Good. Now, what do you remember about [Marks]?" He asked.
Sullivan fell into thought. He didn't need to think too hard about this subject, he knew it very well due it's importance. Then, like rushing water bursting through a dam, everything came back to him.
Despite there being so many masters with unique powers and abilities. All agree that there are different levels of power that separate the strengths of individuals between one another. A source where they fuel their abilities.
Therefore, masters would be able to recognize the strength of other masters as long as their not many times stronger than themselves.
The way they can accurately determine their power, however, is by sensing the [Mark] of their soul. Every single living being in the universe has a [Mark]. It represents and houses our soul, our power, our very existences.
And for some reason, if an individual was to begin cultivating and tread on the very first steps of their path they would be able to sense the [Mark], whether it is their own or other people who are similar or weaker in power. After sensing a [Mark] from an individual, cultivators are given an idea of what level of power the individual is in; as if they had already known before hand.
Though even [Marks] have differences between one individual to the next.
Every time a master enters a new level of power, or a 'major realm', their [Mark] goes through a qualitative change. Fundamentally changing their entire being as if they had been reborn. Their energy, soul and body go through a process akin to metamorphosis, becoming a higher being capable of overpowering beings under him or her with ease. The following 'minor realms', however, only seek to enhance the quality and quantity of your [Mark], becoming more powerful in the process.
Therefore the [Marks] have a different name...
'The Brand of the Gods'
For it is rumored that if you develop your [Mark] into a supreme state, destroying and creating life will be as easy as breathing.
Akin to a God!
Sullivan took a short breathe after going through his thoughts, looking at his father with confirmation after getting his bearings. He saw the expressionless man watching him with the same scary face he had before.
"Judging by your gaze, I'll take it as a yes."
He turned his gaze calmly towards the field of snow where the sound of a wailing female voice and springing traps was heard. He continued the lesson with his eyes fixed on the distance.
Not breaking his gaze from the field, Durivan spoke out, "I haven't told you this before, but I guess this is the best time as any to do so."
"Let me recap our old lesson first. The [Mark] is a spiritual container located in the heart. It is the main source of power that allows energy to flow throughout the body via the blood. Thus, it holds your soul and energy together. Thus, it is the reason for our existence."
"This you already know."
Durivan retracted his gaze from the field to look at the boy, giving him the same stern look whenever he was about to teach something important. Sullivan perked up his ears in anticipation.
Seeing his will to learn, Durivan nodded and continued, "Though, today, what I want to mainly talk about is the energy. Every person has a unique energy housed in the [Mark] that can actually influence your soul to a certain extent. Making people cultivate and tread on a path subconsciously as if it was meant for them in the beginning. Hence, why I said to 'follow your heart' not long ago."
"As an individual gets more powerful, the energy will also get vaster and denser. Further influencing your choices and temperament based on the energy that was cultivated. For example, Zeruvan is a powerful warrior that called a... '[Berzerker]'. The energy he uses, or 'qi', will therefore be more animalistic, wild and murderous once he channels his energy. Affecting his personality similarly so. However, even if he doesn't channel it, he still will retain some of those effects in his speech and body language."
"That was why people called him a beast when he fought! That's why when he got into trouble with your mother, his first basic instinct was to run! He is like an animal in temperament and behaviour!"
At this moment, Sullivan's father looked very imposing with his stoic, rough face and sword-like green eyes. Staring at his son as if he was looking at his soul. However, Sullivan wasn't paying any attention to him.
He was so shocked at his father's revelation his eyes quickly dilated and lost focus. He started to think back on all the actions of his eldest brother and begin connecting the dots, finding that everything his father said was true. Then, what path did his father tread to be so damn impressive? What path did his sister walk to be so heroic and daring? With those examples, his thoughts rapidly wandered somewhere else.
What was his path?