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A new day rose in the Eternal Star region, a renowned place in the Continent of Azarath. As the sun shone through the window with full might, indicating the start of summer, a pair of sleepy eyes slowly opened, giving the impression of 'I don`t care' to the world.
Just then, a motherly voice entered through the door, "Rath, wake up! You'll be late for class on the first day!"
Rath, "Okay Mom! I`ll be out in a breath!" He slowly got up and made his way to deal with his morning ritual and whispered under his tongue, 'Not like anything really matters…' He sighed.
He had his breakfast with his mother asking about the necessities for the new class and instructing him to be on good behavior,
"Rath you are ready to go but remember your father's words 'Those with ill intentions are nothing but passing dust', and ignore those people." she advised.
Rath, "Yeah Mom, I know I'll think of them as mere dust on my path, It`s just that sometimes dust comes in the way and I have to kick it away."
Right after that sentence, a smack landed on Rath's head.
"Okay! I know, I won`t kick the dust just because it`s an eyesore." He said while rubbing his slightly swollen head.
"Much better, you better remember these words, young man." His mother smiled, "Now march on to your new big day."
Rath left as his mother sent a million prayers for him, standing at the gate. He looked back at the house which was more like a thatched cottage.
Although the city was Second grade, it was quite prosperous. It was a hangout for mercenaries and a place for Disciples to carry out their training routine. However, it did not give any stable work to a widow and an orphan.
Rath walked to the academy with melancholy in his eyes. After all, he also used to live the life of a prodigy. That was before his father passed away.
"Why did you have to leave me and Mom alone… Just for those scum who don't even appreciate you." He whispered to himself as he gazed around at the sight of his fellow students entering the academy, wearing joyous smiles and braying out laughter like no tomorrow.
That was before when his father had yet to sacrifice his life to defend these unfilial people, and occupied the high position of the city defense general and was the strongest cultivator in the city being at the 4th cultivation realm of spirit warrior.
As he walked through campus making his way to the classroom, the random chatter from the students having fun struck his head like a set of Iron bars.
'I sometimes don`t understand how they all can be so carefree in this cultivation dog-eat-dog world.' He despised the students for their ignorance and sighed in frustration, 'Tch, I guess I can't criticize them either… I was also like them some time ago, but now I can't act like them. They are so carefree that I suspect they have yet to even see a rooster's blood.'
The more chattering he heard the more blood vessels popped in his head, "No matter… Their ignorance might be bliss but I know the reality of this world and must protect my Mother!" He whispered as he dug his face into his notebook.
Rath eventually reached a door with the words disciple 2-B written on top.
Entering through it he saw an empty stage and counted 20 students chatting nonstop with 30 seats in the room. 'So it's a class of ignorant fools… nothing new' He sighed inwardly while his face expressed a blank and empty gesture.
As he took a seat at the back, a slightly chubby boy wearing set clothes came to his side and patted his shoulder,
"Hey there Rath! How you've been?" He said with a big smile and sparkling eyes, "I told you to visit me during vacation, I couldn`t even find you in your house, someone told me you`ve sold it."
"Yeah Garfield, I'm fine."
"Then what about the house?"
"Well we sold it; we had to pay debt and all."
"Again with the debt?" Garfield showed annoyance but continued in a compassionate tone, "How many times do I have to tell you that I can help you with the money?" He sighed and continued, "If your pride doesn't allow then you can work at my father's place."
"I'm grateful, thanks. But you know it, my father used to say to never be under the debt of friends, it deteriorates friendship." Rath said contently, remembering valuable advice from his late father.
"Yeah, I know you and your philosophy. But you can think of it as a favor so that you'll help me in time of need." Garfield insisted.
Not finding a way out, Rath could only shake it off saying, "Okay fine! The teacher will be coming any minute now."
A middle-aged man with a short beard entered the classroom and immediately everyone seated themselves in a blink.
That man looked like someone who would give anything just not to be here, he started after giving everyone a scrutinizing glare as he walked to his table, "Now everyone, there is a lot to learn and not enough time to waste on introductions. I`ll be teaching everyone basic cultivation techniques as well as basic combat moves so that you people at least know to throw a punch."
A boy, wearing expensive clothes for a classroom full of middle-class students, raised the question of whether he could learn his own cultivation technique.
"Yeah, you can learn your own technique or not at all." The teacher glared, "You people will only have a test of combat at the end of this semester, and I'd worry about the academics if I were you."
After that, the teacher tortured his students with a boring lecture and wavy motions of the techniques and basic combat moves. The classroom was dazed and silence of boredom took over. But then finally, with the ringing bell, the reign of boredom came to an end.
While the rest of his classmates dilly-dallied their gaze out of the window or snoozed through the lecture, Rath forced the knowledge into his brain.
"I have a feeling that it's going to be like this whole year." He mumbled to himself while walking out of the classroom.
On his way out of the academy, he came across two siblings, a boy, and a girl, wearing embroidered silk and identical faces.
Rath showed a hint of disgust at their luxury and careless behaviour as he would give anything to have that. The boy noticed the envious look in Rath's eyes and decided to cut off his path.
"Well, well, well… If it isn`t the orphan young master without any background." The boy said to Rath in a haughty tone.
"What do you want Jape?" Rath asked with a tilted gaze, showing no emotion.
A smirk grew on the haughty boy's face as he continued his mockery, "Nothing much just wanted to give my condolences on your father's death…" His smirk intensified, "A trashy father who left behind a trashy son."
Rath's emotionless gesture shattered and his brows furrowed in anger, "How dare you?!" he yelled.
"Oh please!" he said pointedly, "I dare enough to say that the useless general being the father of trash might as well have a hollow cultivation."
Rath seething with anger didn't care for his surroundings and took hold of Jape's pointed finger. With a vigorous jerk, he snapped the finger and kicked him in the gut.
Jape, being all bark and no bite, fell to the ground, screaming in agony, still cursing at Rath.
"YOU BASTARD YOU BROKE MY FINGER!! WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?" Jape's sister yelled, terrified at the consequences of her brother's actions.
Seeing the arrogant face turn into a sobbing and agonized expression, Rath's anger subsided.
"Everything has its consequences and the weak do not have such rights to overcome these consequences" Rath stated with pity toward the two siblings. He then turned around and continued walking on his way.
However, it was not over. Jape's sister intervened and struck Rath with a golden whip so hard that he rolled several meters away.
She stood over him domineeringly, "Who gave you the right to put your hands on the member of the Junpo family."
Struck with no ordinary whip, Rath lost consciousness as he looked at the treasure with only the thought echoing in his mind:
'Today is your day. My day will also come.'
She snorted when he lost consciousness, "You're right. The weak have no rights! Yet you dare to be presumptuous."
She turned as their entourage surrounded Jape, who was still holding his gut in pain, "Get Jape treated and throw this trash on the outskirts."
Those followers frantically nodded their heads at her glare.
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After some time when the sun had already set and the moon was high and bright, Rath was aroused by the chilling breeze. He slowly opened his eyes and groaned after trying to move but could not. He gave up after trying for some time.
He took hold of a pendant that hung on his neck and remembered his father. "The last thing he gave me before he died."
Tears welled up in his eyes when he thought of his time with his father. At that time no one ever dared to talk back to him much less beat him up.
"Father, why did you leave us?" He whispered and suddenly yelled out, "WHY???"
"Why did you sacrifice your life for these people when we could live our happy life?!"
At that time a mist gradually prevailed in his surroundings without him realizing it. He eventually gritted his teeth and said with conviction,
"Since you have already left us, so I'll rise myself. I will take back all of the respect and our family treasures stolen after your fall. I, Rath Azaber, will rise to give these people a dose of their own medicine."
Right after that visage of the moon showed peculiarity, it was clear and yet unclear at the same time,
'What in heaven's name?' he exclaimed in surprise.
At that moment a brilliant light shone from the pendant which blinded Rath and his vision went blank.....