Darkness... Aught felt like it was an eternity since his encounter in the white expanse, he couldn't feel his body or tell how long he spent in the darkness, maybe years? months? perhaps minutes? he didn't know!
"Hm?" Aught was startled then delighted, because he can feel his body again. He could hear water splashing around him, and feel water drops hitting his face and body.
As soon as Aught opened his eyes, an influx of memories entered his mind.
It was the memories of a young man named Clearwind, his joys, his sorrows, his hopes and regrets. all of it was there for Aught to see.
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Evergreen continent, east of the continent, Radiance city.
Inside the hallway of an estate belonging to the Clearsword clan, a cheerful little boy was running around with a wooden sword chasing an honest looking servant.
"Bahaha! I the great Clearwind shall become the greatest swordsman in the lands!" as the little boy declared loudly, he swung his wooden sword hitting the servant's thigh.
The servant playfully collapsed to the ground while saying "Ah! great Clearwind your sword techniques are unfathomable as always, i concede!"
The sound of footsteps can suddenly be heard, the little boy and the servant turned to look towards the source only to see a well-built young man approaching.
"Big brother!" the little boy beamed as he threw the wooden sword aside and ran towards the young man cheerfully.
"Young master." the servant also stood up and said respectfully.
"Hahaha.." the young man laughed as he held up the little boy and hugged him, he glanced at the servant while smiling "Bluecloud i hope my younger brother didn't cause you too much trouble."
"Not at all! it is Bluecloud's fortune to be able to entertain the youngest master." the servant smiled in-gratingly.
"Big brother you have been gone for so long! i was sooo bored!" the little boy nagged.
the young man lowered the little boy to the ground while laughing "Clearwind you know i cant skip father's training, plus i have only been gone for two weeks this time" he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue fang.
"Here, this is the fang of a lower stage Arch Assimilation Thunderwolf, i was going to keep it as trophy, but you can have it. take good care of it" the young man opened the little boy's hand and put the fang on it.
"Whaaat! big brother does that mean you made a breakthrough?!" the little boy's eyes sparkled as he looked at the blue fang in his hands.
The young man lifted up his head proudly "I your big brother Clearwater have indeed broke-through to the Arch Assimilation realm!"
"You are amazing brother! father says i can also begin training in a year, i cant wait!" the little boy was excited.
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Dawn, a young boy about 7-8 years of age was sparring against an older boy within a courtyard. The young boy seemed exhausted, bruised and bleeding at several areas while the older one seemed a bit tired but fine.
At the side of the courtyard, a stern looking middle-aged man was observing quietly.
"Father" a well-built young man approached him.
"Clearwater" the middle-aged man turned towards him with a slight smile than looked towards the boys "you two stop." the man gestured for the boys to stop and come closer.
Clearwater looked towards the two boys, his gaze lingering on Clearwind and sighed "Father is this really necessary?"
"Cleargrass you can leave" the middle-aged man looked at the older boy. "Yes uncle" the boy gestured respectfully before leaving the courtyard immediately.
The middle-aged man turned brows furrowed "Clearwater, you know that your brother's body is underdeveloped. The fact that your mother was still able to give birth to him despite her illness is a miracle itself, reaching the spirit harnessing realm? impossible! all i hope is for your brother to reach the Arch Assimilation realm and have some power and say in the clan. If he does not train hard, then it will be doubtful whether he can even reach the peak Body Tempering realm."
"Mm." Clearwater couldn't help but nod.
Clearwind listening nearby couldn't help but dig his finger-nails into his palm whilst looking at the ground. learning that his body was underdeveloped a year ago, and that it would be difficult for him to even reach the peak of the body tempering realm, was to say the least heartbreaking to him.
For someone like him who has grown up watching his brother train and listening to the heroic tales of incredible warriors and aspiring to be a strong swordsman like them and helping his family and clan, the news hit harder than ever. But when there is a will there is a way, even though no amount of medicine can help his body regain its inner qualities, his father has pointed out a path for him to be able to reach the peak Body Tempering realm then the Arch Assimilation realm. Although this path required harsh training to temper the body, and he will still be slower by 10 times compared to others, it was better than his original chances.
and when he reached the Arch Assimilation realm... that will be it, not only will his foundations be shaky, he will forever be stuck at the lower stage due to his body not being able to resonate with and absorb the world's energy effectively. Becoming an Arch Assimilation realm expert, albeit a very weak one, is still very fortunate for him. Constructing the arch inside his body at the peak Body tempering realm is bound to take at least 10 years from what his father told him.
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2 years later, within a training field inside of Radiance city.
"i did it! hahaha!" Clearwind now around 10 years of age, was laughing with joy.
"i can do it, as long as i follow father's plans i can reach the Arch Assimilation realm!"
After undergoing harsh training for the last 3 years, Clearwind has finally taken a step towards becoming a strong warrior, he has reached the middle stages of Body Tempering. Although Clearwind's speed seemed slow, only his father, mother and brother knew how hard he trained.
What seemed like an empty hopeless path to Clearwind at first, became a path filled with vibrant colors and hope.