After closing the interface, Shiv's mind raced with thoughts and emotions. He knew that to reach his full potential, he had to venture to the nearby mountain range and immerse himself in rigorous training. The mountain, whispered to be Quingum Mountain, loomed large in his thoughts—a place where strength was forged and where the mighty Flood Dragon reigned as the ultimate challenge he is known as a late core-formation stage monster. But amidst his determination, another event tugged at Shiv's heart, casting a shadow over his departure.
In nine months' time, the envoy from the esteemed Spirit Sword Sect would grace their humble town. It was an opportunity of a lifetime, a chance to become an apprentice and gain access to invaluable resources and the coveted sword technique known only to the sect's core disciples. This prospect ignited a flicker of hope within Shiv, a glimmer of a future beyond his current limitations.
Before setting foot on the arduous path ahead, Shiv's heart grew heavy with the weight of an agonizing decision. He knew he had to face his mother, the one person who had loved and supported him through thick and thin. As he approached her, his hands trembled with a mix of apprehension and yearning.
In the dimly lit room, Shiv's mother sat, her eyes weary from the hardships life had dealt her. He took a deep breath, mustering the courage to share his intentions. With quivering lips, he uttered the words that would forever change their relationship. "Mother, I... I must leave for some time. I need to find answers, to grow stronger. This journey is my only chance to break free from the shackles that bind me."
His mother's eyes widened, disbelief and sorrow mingling within them. Her voice, choked with emotion, pleaded, "No, Shiv, you can't go. You are my only hope, my reason to carry on. What if something happens to you? What if you never return?"
Tears welled up in Shiv's eyes as he tried to explain, his voice trembling with a mix of determination and pain. "Mother, I understand your fears, but if I stay, I will forever remain a prisoner of my circumstances. I have to take this chance, even if it means risking everything. I promise you, I will return stronger, worthy of your love and pride."
As Shiv's words hung in the air, a heavy silence engulfed the room, accentuating the heart-wrenching nature of their exchange. A battle raged within his mother's eyes—an eternal struggle between a mother's love and a son's pursuit of his destiny. In that poignant moment, Shiv could sense the immense sacrifice his departure would impose upon her.
In the end, their unspoken understanding prevailed. With a trembling hand, his mother reached out and touched his face, her touch a bittersweet mixture of tenderness and resignation. "Go, my son," she whispered, her voice laced with both sorrow and pride. "May the heavens guide and protect you. Return to me, whole and victorious."
As Shiv turned to leave, the weight of his mother's love and the pain of their parting clung to him like a heavy cloak. With each step away from home, his determination burned brighter, fueled by the memory of her tear-stained face and the hope that one day he would return, not only to fulfill his promise but also to heal the wounds of their separation.
And so, Shiv embarked on his solitary journey, carrying the echoes of his mother's love and the whispered encouragement of his own beating heart. The path ahead was treacherous, but he was resolved to conquer it, for within him burned the fire of a son's unyielding love and a warrior's unbreakable