Chapter 15: future plans.

Everyone around the table was shocked.

"The ancestral world beads!!! Your family must have great expectations for you then.”

Suki was happy.

Not only does it mean Dez is the future of the Selklor family, but that his first integration will be extremely powerful.

There are 2 ways to get those world beads. One is killing another human emperor. Which is extremely hard. Winning and killing are 2 totally different concepts.

After killing the Soul Emperor inside his body you will find a bead. Those are called world beads.

The other way is when you know your time is coming. Most if not all the Emperors will find it extremely hard to progress any further to their next rank.

As a powerful Emperor, you can personally condense your soul world into a soul bead. Those are more valuable and are called ancestral world beads.

If you want to kill an emperor most of the time you will be killing his companions first to get to him. Which means a big loss in skills, arts, and essence.

But by condensing the world bead yourself you will pass down all your power to the next generation. Hoping that what you left behind can give birth to a being of origin, an unmatched, unstoppable Existence in this world. Not only is it valuable but you can nurture it into a soul armament or a soul companion either humanoid, beast, or plant.

Basically, whatever you wish, the power is yours.

“Yes, the whole family seems to want me to use it and all the elders agreed. My mom is nagging all day about it."

"I’m not sure if it's because of my talent or because of my father but even so, they all believe I will become 'The' emperor of the Selklor family one day.” said Dez in a tone that seems to mock himself a little.

“And why are you not happy with that?” Ethan was confused, wasn’t that a good thing?

World beads are very important heirlooms for a family. The more companions inside the better. During its creation, the ancestor's world bead will integrate all the beings into one unstoppable companion.

It's the best possible material to make your first integration with having a 100% chance to get a legendary grade with a very good chance of getting an eternal grade.

even the highest grade, the origin grade is a possibility. These beads are extremely important and you will never be able to buy them. They all have powerful skills and abilities passed from generation to generation.

“It's because the ancestral world bead will bind me with this city, to this land, and this continent. I don’t want that."

"I do not want to take care of this city my whole life, I don’t want to live all my life here."

"It may sound selfish, I probably am."

At this point, Dez felt a little emotional.

"That is how I feel."

"this Leven city, it’s great and beautiful and all. I will have the power of my family. I can have everything I want here, but that is not the life I want to live…"

Dez felt his heart pour out.

"I want freedom."

"I want to be like my father used to be, exploring different continents, going places, and meeting new people of new races."

"Those are my dreams."

This was the first time Dez felt free to speak about his dreams.

"I don’t want to refuse the bead and the responsibility and be seen as ungrateful. Or accept it and disappoint my family.” Dez felt really conflicted inside.

Only those who are considered the pillars of a family, who will carry the family to glory for years to come can use the ancestral world beads.

He felt he wasn't that person.

An ancestral world bead is a guaranteed ticket to the Emperor ranking. But all those who use one must leave one.

Both of his friends were surprised. But also felt powerless in their ability to help him.

“But isn’t this a problem because you are your family heir? Can't there be another heir? Maybe your sister?” Asked Ethan.

"The reason I am the heir is that my sister isn't suitable for the position. You know my sister is younger but also way stronger than I am. She could knock the shit out of us 3 combined in mere seconds. But she is just not suitable."

"Dez do you really want to leave everything we have behind?"

"Just to leave like that? to places, no one knows where?"

"To get yourself killed out there."

"What are you thinking?"

Suki felt Dez was making a very bad decision here.

"When you leave don't you lose all your family has built for you? its support and all you can gain from the Empire are all gone!" Suki has never even thought of leaving everything behind. And having her family propose marriage, Dez's decision also influenced her own life."

"I was thinking I don't have to take the position right away. right?"

"I mean my mother is fairly young still she is only 60 years old and she hasn't even reached 100. And she can govern this empire for at least 600 more years."

"And with dad here, why do I have to worry?"

"I can come back after a few hundred years. Right ?”

“That's not what’s important here Dez. Don’t you need the power to stay alive out there?"

Suki felt that Dez was clearly missing the point.

"Don’t you know how dangerous the world is? Here we have our family to protect us at this moment. But even then no city is safe forever. Don’t you value your life?”

In Suki's mind, this was still an impetuous decision.

“I do, and I do think about it every day."

"Every time."

"Do you believe me to be ignorant? Or reckless?"

"I have thought about it and to survive out there. I'm counting on either becoming a chosen one or integrating at least an Eternal grade inside my soul world.”

"And what if neither of those things happens?"

…

“I do think what if things go wrong, but that isn't me. I can't live my life thinking that it will go wrong and turtle my life away in a small corner of the world. You need to understand that this empire is nothing Suki, our empires are just small. My father told me stories you would never believe. Places so magical they seem unreal. Beings that own and rule over 10 whole continents like ours. And he told me he didn't even come close to exploring 1/3 of this world. I want to see that.”

"The ancestral world bead will be the solution to all my surviving problems. But will I be able to leave if I use it?"

“And I never said I'll go alone. I want to build my crew. I hope that after we awaken we could make a crew together."

"What do you guys say?”

This was the moment Dez was anticipating the whole day.

“Brother from my heart, if I could I would have done it… such a manly dream."

Ethan too was captivated by Dez's dreams.

"But I don't have the freedom you have to choose my own path. It has already been established for me, my whole future is set in stone."

"It will be fun to escape with you buddy but that would bring trouble and misunderstanding between our families.”

“I know and I will never judge you buddy. I know how imperial families work. But everything is negotiable."

"The only thing I want to know is do you want to join me? Trust me if you wish to join me I will make it happen.”

“I promise if you can make it happen I'll be there, count me in.” Dez felt very happy with Ethan's promise.

"Hahaha, I'm happy to hear that."

With high expectations, he looked at Suki.

"And you, Suki?"

"I…"

…

Seeing the joy and expectation in Dez's eyes, she just couldn't look Dez directly anymore.

"It's ok you don't need to say it I understand. I know I'm asking too much right now but you don’t have to say it right now. Later when we awaken we can talk again and see if you can join my crew." Dez knew Suki was harder to convince but he believed that after he awakened she would follow him.

"Sorry Dez, my father wants to send me to the holy Academy on the holy continent. The union of governance seems to be interested in our Loong family and approached our family wanting us to join them. Last week my father told me that I will have to go to the holy academy for 5 years after awakening. Going there is very important for our family. I hope you can understand that, It’s just 5 years.” Suki was feeling guilty for disappointing him but it was her father's plan.

The Holy Academy…

Dez knew of the holy Academy, it was the same Academy his father went to. And also the same he told him he won't let him attend either.

Why?

Dez didn't know he didn't ask because at that time he honestly didn't care. He never planned to join any Academy, to begin with.

But at this moment he wished he knew more of the Holy academy.

At that moment the table became silent again. Everyone had their own thoughts.

Dez was having a complex feeling. First, he wanted his friends to accompany him on his journey. But he also knows how imperial families work. And that his particular case is actually a rarity.

He had peace.

He lived a calm life.

No betrayal and no conflict of siblings scheming against each other for the throne. No uncles or cousins trying to take the throne.

The Selklor family has been ruthlessly cleansed by Emperor Kaihen before Dez was even born.

The whole family was investigated to the last root and every rotten member was taken care of. Some were killed and some were punished.

It was not easy to accept at first and there are sure some members that deep down hide their pain. but they will have to hide them for a very long time because they know they have absolutely no chance. Not a single person who saw what Emperor Kaihen did back then will ever even consider in their dream about challenging his authority and power.

But other empires?

Other families?

Well, the bigger the family, the bigger the empire's internal Struggles. And they had their own “game” to play. Dez was not sure his father could influence the decision of another Emperor if the negotiations ran that deep.

“Well, it's ok guys why don't we leave this for after we awaken like you said? And have this conversation then? Even if we can't be together. that doesn’t mean we won't ever be.”

Ethan, seeing how bad the mood got, tried to say something.

“Indeed as long as I have the opportunity I'll absolutely join you Dez,” said Suki.

Dez just kept silent…

No one knew what he was thinking.

What he was feeling.

….

Suki had her own plans for her life. After the awakening ceremony at age 15, she will go study and come back at the age of 20. In her mind, Suki will be perfectly on time for marriage and be together forever with Dez as his wife. Maybe unite the empires, have beautiful kids. Live a good life. That was her plan but it seems Dez had his own spin and ideas on his life.