Kailash had barely slept the night before. Excitement, nerves, and a steady stream of "what-ifs" kept him tossing and turning until dawn.
Now, as he stood at the edge of Kalith Village with Ravi by his side, he started thinking about what will happen.
"Got everything?" Ravi asked, his tone halfway between stern and amused as he checked Kailash's bag for the third time.
Kailash nodded, patting the bag slung over his shoulder. "Got my sword, got my gloves… and my dignity."
Ravi grunted. "You're gonna need all three. Especially the last one."
With a quick nod to the villagers who had gathered to see him off, Kailash adjusted his bag, took a deep breath, and started down the dusty path that led out of Kalith.
The plan was simple: walk two days to Tethar Town, where the tournament would be held.
But Kailash was soon learning that "simple" didn't mean "easy."
The first few hours passed with Ravi setting a brisk pace, occasionally barking out instructions to watch his footing or stay alert.
As they moved further from the village, the path turned rocky, with stretches of barren land dotted with thorny bushes.
"I didn't think the road would be this rough," Kailash muttered, hopping over a particularly large root.
Ravi chuckled. "This isn't exactly a sightseeing tour, kid. Most people who travel these roads are cultivators looking for glory… or folks trying to get home after finding out glory isn't all it's cracked up to be."
It wasn't long before they came across their first set of graves.
Kailash's eyes widened as he took in the sight a line of simple stone markers, each one weathered and cracked.
There must've been at least a dozen, set haphazardly along the side of the path.
"What… what happened to them?" Kailash asked, lowering his voice instinctively.
"Failed cultivators," Ravi replied, his tone somber. "People who set out to make a name for themselves but found out the hard way that cultivation isn't for everyone. Some managed to limp back home, but they didn't make it."
Kailash shivered, a strange mix of respect and fear settling in his chest. "So this… this is what happens if you fail?"
Ravi nodded. "Most people don't realize how hard it is until it's too late. Cultivation takes everything from you, time, energy, sanity. And if you're not careful, it'll take your life too."
They continued on in silence, passing grave after grave.
Some had names scratched into the stones, while others were marked only by a worn piece of cloth or a discarded weapon.
Kailash couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness for these unknown people, each one with dreams probably similar to his.
As noon approached, they reached a small village nestled between two hills.
The villagers eyed them warily at first but relaxed when they saw Ravi.
An old woman waved them over. "You boys look like you could use some water."
"Thank you," Kailash replied, gratefully accepting a ladle of cool water from the woman. "Is it always this… hot out here?"
The old woman chuckled, her eyes twinkling. "City boy, are you? This is nothing. Wait until the afternoon, when the sun really starts to cook you. It's why most folks here don't bother with fancy cultivation takes too much energy just to survive as it is."
Kailash glanced around, taking in the rugged faces of the villagers.
They weren't cultivators; their hands were calloused from farming, their clothes worn from years of hard work.
Yet, there was a quiet strength about them, a kind of resilience he hadn't seen even in the toughest fighters back home.
"Thank you for the water," Kailash said, bowing slightly. "I'll remember this."
The old woman smiled, patting his shoulder. "Be careful out there, boy. You're heading toward Tethar, aren't you?"
He nodded, feeling a mix of pride and nervousness.
"Well, good luck," she said, her voice softening. "Just remember, not every battle's worth fighting, and not every dream's worth chasing."
As they continued on their journey, Ravi seemed to grow quieter, glancing at the distant hills as if he were seeing something Kailash couldn't.
"You've traveled this path a lot, haven't you?" Kailash asked, sensing there was more to Ravi's silence than he was letting on.
Ravi nodded, still gazing ahead. "Yeah. More times than I care to remember. It's a hard road, but it teaches you things."
"Like what?"
"That every choice you make matters. That every step you take brings you closer to something… or further away from something else." He turned to look at Kailash, a faint smile on his face. "And that sometimes, it's okay to stop and turn around."
Kailash frowned, unsure what to make of that. "You ever think about turning around?"
Ravi chuckled, clapping Kailash on the back. "Not anymore. But there was a time. You'll understand when you're older."
By the time they stopped for lunch, Kailash's legs felt like lead, and he was beginning to wonder if he'd make it to Tethar in one piece.
They settled down under a lone tree, and Kailash gratefully dug into the dried rations he'd packed, though he couldn't stop glancing down the road.
"You keep looking at the path like it's about to bite you," Ravi remarked, raising an eyebrow.
"It's just… all those graves, and the people we've seen. I didn't realize how many tried and failed." Kailash took a bite of his food, chewing thoughtfully. "It's a little terrifying."
Ravi nodded. "It should be. Cultivation is no joke, Kailash. For every person who reaches the top, there are a hundred who fall on the way up."
Kailash looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers.
"Makes me wonder if I'm doing the right thing."
Ravi studied him for a moment before responding. "That's something only you can answer, kid. But here's the thing, doubt's a good thing. It means you're taking this seriously. You know the risks, but you're still here. That counts for something."
Kailash nodded slowly, feeling a bit steadier. "Thanks, Ravi. I think I needed to hear that."
Ravi smirked. "Of course you did. Now, stop brooding and eat. We've still got a ways to go, and I don't want to have to carry you the rest of the way."
Kailash rolled his eyes but chuckled, feeling his spirits lift a bit.
As they neared Tethar Town on the second day, the landscape changed, and Kailash started seeing more people on the road fellow travelers, farmers, and even a few young cultivators who seemed to be heading in the same direction.
One group of boys about his age caught his eye.
They looked confident, strutting down the road with matching robes and polished weapons strapped to their backs.
"Think they're heading to the tournament too?" Kailash asked, eyeing the boys with a mix of curiosity and envy.
Ravi followed his gaze and nodded. "Probably. They look like they're from a nearby sect. Remember what I told you, don't let appearances fool you. Fancy robes don't mean much if there's no skill to back them up."
Kailash smirked, feeling a surge of determination. "Good to know. Maybe I'll get to teach them that lesson myself."
"That's the spirit," Ravi said, clapping him on the back. "Just don't go picking fights before the tournament even starts."
By the time they finally reached Tethar Town, Kailash was exhausted but filled with a strange mix of excitement and dread.
The town was larger and more bustling than he'd imagined, with vendors lining the streets, each calling out to passersby to buy their wares.
Young cultivators milled about, each one looking eager for the tournament.
But even here, he noticed the signs of hardship.
There were people huddled in corners, faces worn with worry, some of them clutching weapons that looked more like relics than functional tools.
Kailash felt a pang of empathy for them.
The graves along the road, the weary faces in the village, and now this… it all painted a picture of a world where cultivation was both a hope and a burden.
As they made their way toward the tournament grounds, Ravi looked down at Kailash, a serious expression on his face.
"Remember what you've seen on this journey," he said quietly. "Remember those graves and the people who struggled. Cultivation isn't just about power. It's about purpose. Find your purpose, and hold on to it."
Kailash nodded, feeling the weight of Ravi's words settle in his chest.
He knew this was just the beginning of something much larger, and he wasn't about to forget the journey that had brought him here.
As they finally reached the tournament grounds, Kailash took in the sight: a grand arena bustling with people competitors, spectators, and vendors hawking everything from weapons to food.
The energy in the air was electric, a mixture of excitement and tension that made his heart race.
"This is it," he murmured, glancing at Ravi, who gave him a firm nod.
"You're ready, Kailash," Ravi said, clapping a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Remember everything you've trained for. Stay focused, don't get distracted by the show, and fight your best."
Kailash nodded, swallowing his nerves as he adjusted his gloves and took one last deep breath.
The faces of everyone he'd met along the journey villagers, fellow travelers, and even the graves by the road flashed through his mind.
"I'm ready," he said, more to himself than to Ravi.