Shadowblade:Rise of the Outcast

8:

Aria did not immediately answer. He turned to the more thick fog. His eyes seemed to dream far, to the past he had not revealed. 

"I can't promise to always be with you. But as long as you choose the right path, I will stand by your side."

__

Tap ... tap ... tap. 

Morning fog has not really raised when the sound of footsteps echoed gently in between the wet trees. Aria has been on standby since the first voice was heard. His hands held the sword handle, and his body was half hidden behind a dry branch. 

Kael sat still near the campfire that was almost extinguished, his eyes closed but his breathing regularly. The wound on his arm is still imprinted, but he did not show the slightest pain. 

One figure appeared from behind the fog. Black robes with silvery cloud motifs in the chest. The movements are smooth, like not touching the ground. 

"Calm down, I came with a message, not a threat," said the figure. His voice is low, contains deceptive calm. 

Aria did not lower her sword. "Who are you?"

"My name is Shen Ruyen. The messenger from the dark sky sect."

Kael opened his eyes. Instantly the cold air from the night before it felt back enveloped his bones. 

"Dark sky sect?" he muttered. 

Ruyen looked at Kael, as if he didn't see anyone besides him. "You're Kael, right? The exile of the Helian Clan who rose from the abyss of death."

Kael's gaze hardened. "You know about me?"

"I know quite a lot. About the purification of energy, about your cores that are not formed, about your disposal ... and of course, about shadowblade."

The name made the fire that was almost dead suddenly issued a small explosion. As if reacting. 

Aria stepped forward, standing in front of Kael. "You can't take him to your place of arbitrarily."

Shen Ruyen smiled faintly. "I'm not forcing. I only offer ... options."

He raised his hand slowly. A small roll floats out of the arm of his robe, stopping in the air and then opening alone. It is written a smooth calligraphy that shines faintly in blackish purple. 

"This is an official invitation from our master. Kael was offered a status as a student outside the dark sky sect. He did not need to leave anyone. No need to swear blood. No need to let go of identity. We only ... open the door."

Kael looked at the roll, then looked at Shen Ruyen's face. 

"What do you want from me?" he asked quietly. 

"We want to understand the power of Shadow Essence in your body. And if you are willing, we will guide you to master it. Out of there, everyone will hunt for you for fear. On the dark sky sect, they will submit to you ... because of your potential."

"And if I refuse?" Kael asked again. 

Ruyen nodded politely. "So I will leave. But this choice does not come twice, Kael. Imagine ... a world that does not judge you as a monster, but as a prospective leader."

Kael was silent. His eyes were fixed on the scroll. At first glance, he heard a whisper from inside the shadowblade. A sound of sound that resembles ... excitement? 

Aria touched her shoulders. "Kael. Don't be lulled. Such sects never give without asking for more."

Kael turned his head, staring at Aria's deep and sharp eyes. 

"I know," he answered softly. "But I also know ... This world is never fair to someone like me."

He stood slowly, then walked closer to Ruyen. He did not touch the roll, but stared straight at the face of the messenger. 

"Give me time. Three days. After that ... I will give an answer."

Ruyen seemed to think, then nodded. "Fine. Three days. We will wait at the foot of Mount Siwang. But be careful, Kael. The world will not stop chasing you just because the morning fog closes your tracks."

With one movement of his robe, Ruyen's body disappeared, as if reunited with fog. 

Kael stood still, staring at the place where the messenger was standing. Silent, before finally saying quietly, "They are not afraid of me ... that's what scared me."

Aria approached. "Because maybe ... they see a mirror from themselves."

They look at each other. There is no definite answer. 

___

The morning air in the valley of the dark sky sect exercise was so thin and stinging. A thin black fog covered the peeling ground, as if it indicated that this place was not for those who were weak. 

Kael stood between dozens of other external students. His body was still tired, scars from escape and fighting with monsters still felt sore. But his eyes, staring straight ahead, cold and full of determination. 

Someone stepped into the middle of the field. He wore a dark robe with a silver pattern crossing from the shoulder to the waist. His face was filled with scars, and one eye was covered in a black cloth. 

"Welcome to your hell," he said in a deep voice. "I am Master Varun, supervisor of outside student selection. Here, you are nobody. There is no name. There is no status. Only blood and intention to survive."

Some students seemed to gulp. The others try to look calm. Kael himself said nothing. His breathing slowly, stable. He knows, this is not a place to show fear. 

Varun raised his hand, and from behind the fog, fourteen giant wooden dolls with blunt weapons appeared. Their faces did not express, but the wooden body was coated with a bright red rune. 

"The first test: body defense," Varun said. "You will survive the punch of these dolls for ten minutes. Without essence, without the help of weapons."

Surprisingly shocked from the crowd. Even low-level cultivators can be dying if beaten continuously by such an exercise doll. 

"If you fall, you fail," Varun added coldly. 

The first doll moves. His voice is like a broken old wood. When the palm hit the ground, dust flying. A participant did not have time to avoid and immediately bounce, lying down and did not wake up. 

Kael straightened his body. "This is a mental power test too," he murmured. 

When the doll swung the Gada at him, Kael turned his body, letting the impact on his left shoulder. His body bounced, but he rubbed his shoes to the ground, refraining from falling. 

The pain spreads. But that's normal. 

It's better to feel pain ... than to go back weak.