CHAPTER THREE

Denom can go die. Actually, don’t think of that trash. Just run. Just run. More scratches. Not a problem. Just run. These are the thoughts flowing through my head, rinsing and repeating until it becomes almost a mantra for me. It’s the only thing that gives me comfort.

Tree after tree passes. I trip up and fall, my knee slamming against a rock and my foot being caught up at a tree’s thick roots. My face slides onto the muddy ground, dirt, and green covering half of my face making me look like a pig splashing in the mud. But I don’t mind, I just need to continue running. The greater distance between me and Denom the better. I get back up, the skin peeled on my knee but I don’t even hesitate and continue running.

I never learned when I stopped running. When I collapsed. Must have been when the exhaustion surpassed the desire to run. I’ll never understand how I appeared in that cave. The cave that changed my life. The cave that brought me against my father’s wishes.

My groggy eyes struggle to open up, I’m sore all over. I can feel the wounds on my back re-opening, I can’t even get up. I try to move my leg and is instantly met with the stinging pain of the exposed wound on my knee rubbing against some hard surface. I realize I’m laying on the ground of a dark cave, and I open my eyes. What I saw in front of me I will never forget, that experience is simply irreplaceable.

A man and woman. But they were unlike any couple I’ve ever met in my life. The woman was absolutely stunning, with features so delicate and a rosy expression that said it all. I’m sure she must have been a beauty unforeseen in the entire Algos Continent, her appearance was absolutely indescribable.

And the robes she was wearing! Purple flowing robes with odd but magnificent symbols the filigree embedded within each of piece of silk such care and effort it was simply too much for my poor mortal heart to understand or take in. Her beautiful face turned to me, a kind smile that seemed to suffuse the entire room with a warmth and bliss that was like a tsunami of love crashing over and over, never enough. I could only gape in my amazement, my eyes shifting to the man beside her.

And the man! The man had glorious, magnificent, majestic, breathtaking golden robes that exuded such a heavy sense of royalty that I was kneeling before him before I even knew when I moved. The charisma attached to his presence was so heavy I wanted nothing to be close to him and kowtow day and night. Yet there was a deep sense of repulsion that kept me from approaching as if he was a separate part of space untouched or tainted from this world.

My eyes naturally moved up to his face, which had such a heroic spirit within his eyes that seemed to control me and lose me in a dimension of themselves. On his head was a golden crown that light up the entire room, jewels of various colors and presences exuding from them that just kept me there gaping, knees on the ground in deep worship.

“Aww honey, this mortal is the first to visit us. Look how cute he looks, it’s been hundreds of thousands of years since I’ve seen such a mortal.” The lady opened her delicate mouth, her cherry red lips mouthing off the words to her royal husband.

“Yes, but most importantly, his birthday is the same as I. We are both fourth sons, born on the fourth day of the fourth month. Therefore, unlike the many cultivators who have come before us, he is a proper inheritor.” The Regal Husband’s eyes flashed with a piercing light. In that single second of light, the entire of Anmos’ history, memories, and genetics were under his speculative eyes.

“He’s the inheritor we seek? Who knew that coming to such a rural island would produce our son.” The Royal Wife’s expression softened, the warmth in her eyes becoming several times deeper. Her delicate lips opened up in a smile, the smile of a mother looking at her son.

“Interesting, our son isn’t one personality but two. One-half an early demonic presence, if cultivated can cause him to become a devil among cultivators. The other half calm and kind, the perfect bearing for a future Buddha. What a fascinating inheritor.”

“A demonic presence? Shall we remove it from him?” The beatific Wife raised her slender fingers, in an instant of her will the entirety of Anmos Archer could have been absolutely erased from existence.

“No. This kind of challenge is perfect for our son.” The Regal Husband refused, turning his eyes toward Anmos Archer. Anmos felt those warm brown eyes looking at him.

“Son, the path you choose is up to you. If you want to embrace your heroic side, fine. If you want to embrace your demonic side, fine. If you want to attempt to balance the two, which I suggest against, fine. Just now, any path can bring you to supreme power. The one thing you cannot do is become confused and lost within yourself. If you stumble, make sure you don’t fall. If you fall, make sure you get back up. If not, you are simply not worthy to be our son.” The Regal Husband once again spoke, his words not just words, but physical entities that engraved themselves within Anmos’ soul itself.

Anmos’ mind started working once more. He quickly realized what this meant, the couple are accepting him as their son, an inheritor. Why? He didn’t know but didn’t care. It was simply his good fortune.

“You’ve heard your royal father. We shall be observing you, for you are now the third member of this family. Momma wishes you the best.” The Royal Wife’s slender hand raised up into the sky, words coming out of her mouth so fast that Anmos could not register them. Even if he could hear, he wouldn’t recognize the language at all. Anmos’ new father did the same.

In almost no time, a midnight black substance appeared within her hands, forming some kind of Ancient Symbol. The Regal Father’s symbol was condensed of a holy, milky white substance that seemed to infuse within the lady’s own seal. Strangely, the Ancient Seal remained black.

“Now, go my son.” The Royal Father’s palm flew forward, the seal flying forward with his movements, infusing within Anmos, sending him flying into the wall of the cave. Little did he know, a spatial opening appeared behind him, sending him out of the royal couple's presence.