"Hmmm..." Gideon struggled to open his eyes, his eyelids feeling as heavy as lead. The effort was taxing, but he persisted, his vision slowly adjusting to reveal blurry shapes around him.
"Rest, boy. You've been out for more than a week already. Another day won't make any difference at all," a woman's voice said gently, her tone soothing and calming. Gideon took a few moments to process her words, his mind sluggish from sleep. Panic seized him as the reality of his situation sank in.
"No!" he exclaimed, sitting up abruptly. His eyes flew open, and he found himself face-to-face with one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. She was clad in the Golden Lotus Sect's customary attire, her golden robes shimmering softly in the light. Her presence was captivating, her features perfect and serene, and her beauty seemed almost ethereal.
Gideon couldn't help but stare, awestruck by her appearance. In his young life, he had seen many beautiful women, particularly among his father's many wives. However, this woman stood out even among them. Her beauty was almost otherworldly, and for a moment, Gideon forgot his panic and fatigue.
Yet, even as he marveled at her, Gideon's thoughts drifted to his mother, Aria. She was the epitome of beauty in his eyes, the standard against which all others were measured. His mother's grace, strength, and love made her incomparable. Despite the woman's stunning appearance before him, Gideon remained steadfast in his belief that his mother was the most beautiful woman in the world. The thought brought him a sense of comfort and grounding in the unfamiliar surroundings.
Gideon struggled to find his voice, his throat parched and raw. "I can't." The words came out hoarse and barely audible. Despite his weakened state, he forced himself to sit up, then slowly swung his legs over the side of the bed. He winced as pain shot through his body, a stark reminder of the recent trials he had endured. Yet, he refused to stay down, stubbornly determined to stand.
The woman shook her head, a mixture of exasperation and concern in her eyes. "Foolish as ever. You climb the steps up the sect without stopping to eat or drink, and now you force yourself to move before complete recovery. Elder Benjamin is right. There's something wrong with your brain, or you may have a simple death wish this early in your life." She sighed deeply, her frustration palpable. Despite her words, she moved to his side, gently helping him as he struggled to stand.
Gideon's vision blurred and his head spun as he tried to find his balance.
"DING!" The room swayed around him, and he felt himself tipping forward. A firm hand caught him before he could fall, steadying him with surprising strength. It was obvious that his body was still far from recovered, weakened by the ordeal he had willingly subjected himself to.
The woman's grip tightened as she supported his weight. "This will be the last time I support you, child. No, Gideon Blackwood. If you still try to get up, you will fall." Her tone was stern, but there was an underlying warmth in her voice. Despite her patient's stubbornness, she couldn't help but be awed by his sheer determination, or perhaps it was his sheer stupidity. It was hard to tell. Either way, his resolve was something she had rarely seen, especially in someone so young.
She released him gently, ensuring he was back on the bed. "You need to rest," she insisted, her voice softening. "Pushing yourself like this will only make things worse. You've survived this far because of your willpower, but you also need to let your body heal."
Gideon lay back, his chest heaving with exertion. He closed his eyes, frustration mingling with exhaustion. "I can't just lie here," he murmured, more to himself than to her. "There's too much at stake. I can't be left behind by the others."
Gideon replied and tried to move once more. With a great effort, he stood for a precious second or two before his legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor. This time, he landed hard, the impact jarring every bone in his body. Pain radiated through him, but he gritted his teeth and pushed himself up with sheer stubbornness and a sense of urgency. He knew his talent was the lowest, and that was why he needed to work twice or thrice as hard as the others.
As he lay there, gasping for breath, memories of his struggles flooded his mind. He remembered the countless hours of training, the sleepless nights spent studying, and the endless criticism from those who doubted his abilities. He knew the odds were stacked against him, but he had always believed that hard work could overcome any obstacle. This belief was his driving force, propelling him forward even when his body screamed in protest.
The woman's voice cut through his thoughts, filled with a mix of frustration and concern. "Gideon, stop this madness! You're going to hurt yourself even more!" But her words fell on deaf ears. Gideon's resolve was unshakable. He knew this truth, and it was the reason why he would have to die before he wasted a single second of his life dawdling impotently on his bed.
He managed to push himself up onto his hands and knees, his vision swimming. He knew he had to keep moving, had to keep pushing forward. Every second counted, and he couldn't afford to lose any of them. The path he had chosen was harsh and unforgiving, but it was the only one available to him. He was determined to prove everyone wrong, to show that even someone with the lowest talent could achieve greatness through sheer willpower and determination.
Gideon dragged himself forward, inch by inch, his body trembling with effort. Sweat poured down his face, mixing with the dirt on the floor. He could feel the woman's eyes on him, filled with a mixture of pity and admiration. But he didn't care about her pity. He didn't need it. All he needed was to keep moving, to keep fighting.
As he crawled, he thought of his dreams and aspirations, the goals he had set for himself. He thought of the people he wanted to prove wrong and the legacy he wanted to leave behind. His mother. These thoughts fueled his determination, giving him the strength to push through the pain and exhaustion.
Finally, his weak body arrived at a closed door. All he needed to do was get up and open it, and that was exactly what he did. He crawled up, inch by inch, his muscles burning with the effort, and it took him several minutes just to stand. Ever so slowly, he pushed the double doors aside, revealing an almost unbelievable view of a sect situated in the vaults of the heavens itself. A magical beauty that transcended the imagination of mortals spread out before him, with ethereal landscapes, floating islands shimmering in the golden light, and majestic buildings rising into the sky, their spires piercing the clouds.
The sight took Gideon's breath away. He stood there, swaying slightly, his eyes wide with awe. The vibrant colors of the flowers that lined the paths, the crystal-clear streams that wound their way through the lush greenery, and the radiant glow that seemed to emanate from everything around him—it was like a scene from a dream. For a moment, he forgot his pain and exhaustion, lost in the sheer magnificence of it all.
"Tell me, Gideon Blackwood. What drives you to this madness? What fuels your dreams to seek self-destruction even at one so young?" The beautiful woman's voice broke through his reverie, her tone a melodic blend of curiosity and concern.
Gideon took a deep breath, still feeling the ache in his muscles and the rawness in his throat. He looked out at the breathtaking view, feeling a surge of determination wash over him. "It's not madness," he said quietly, his voice gaining strength with each word. "It's purpose. I may not be the most talented, but I have the will to push myself beyond my limits. I know that if I don't give it everything I have, I'll never be more than what others expect of me. I refuse to accept that."
He turned to face the woman, his eyes blazing with a fierce resolve. "Every second I spend resting is a second lost. I have to keep moving forward, no matter the cost. My dreams, my goals, they're all I have. They're what keep me alive, what give me strength. If I don't fight for them, then what's the point of any of this?"
The woman studied him for a moment, her expression softening. "You carry a heavy burden for someone so young, Gideon. But remember, strength isn't just about pushing yourself to the brink. It's also about knowing when to rest and let yourself heal. Even the strongest warriors need time to recover."
Gideon nodded slowly, understanding the wisdom in her words but still feeling the urgency that drove him. "I'll rest when I'm strong enough," he promised. "But right now, I need to prove to myself that I can do this. That I'm not just another failure waiting to happen."
The woman sighed softly, her eyes filled with a mixture of pride and sadness. "Very well, Gideon. Just remember, you're not alone in this journey. There are those who care about you, who want to see you succeed without destroying yourself in the process. Your parents perhaps? Or even a brother or a sister. They'll be sad surely if something bad were to happen to you."
Gideon turned back to the stunning view before him, feeling a renewed sense of determination. He would continue to fight, to push himself to his limits and beyond. He couldn't bear the thought of causing his mother sorrow. He resolved to be there for her, to defy the relentless march of time with his resilience.
"I know... but... I'd be even more devastated to live knowing that I'd disappointed them. I'll do what I must or die trying." With these resolute words, Gideon took his first steps towards the world of cultivation.