Chapter 11: New Beginning

There was no answer, only the wind became stronger.

Xin sat down. Better to think it out: his every next step, his future, and so one.

First, what is his objective? To survive. And what he has to do for it?

Cure his sickness, obviously. For a time being it wasn't bothering him anymore, but he didn't believe it has just gone away. He still needed to find a cure. But how? Inner Death was known to be incurable, it has troubled many and that many weren't just waiting for their deaths.

That many, perhaps, were better than he is. So, what he has that they didn't?

Wei Zu. His father…

Was he really an unfeeling monster? Was Xin just some kind of experiment for him? Or maybe simply a "thing" left from his mother? The boy made a bitter smile. He knows nothing about that person, it's better not to put any trust in him.

There wasn't even guarantee that he could help him now.

Then what? Should he become a doctor himself? For that, he should head to the mainland.

Well, at least that was a plan. He couldn't stay here either way, getting eaten by beasts wasn't what he was striving for, after all.

And so the boy started his slow descent from the mountain…

Then he ran back. He should at least prepare, right?

First Xin found a big bag, almost half his size, and started gathering food and medicine. Looks like Shan has also searched the place: many drawers were empty.

However, all he could find he was bringing with him. He felt a slight pity pulling the vegetables, but a man has to be a man. Survival first.

Then he looked at the sky. Next step was a bit scary.

He found and ignited a candle, then entered his room. He looked over the place and felt a bit relieved. Right, he doesn't have a key so it is impossible.

Just in case he tried to open the unseen formation, however, it was sealed tight. Even his new strength wasn't of much use. Well, that's…

Wait, there was still one more passage in Shan's room. But Xin didn't worry, it was obvious that it was also closed. With a carefree expression, he walked there, extended his hand and…

"Ch."

The floor vanished, a hole full of darkness revealed itself.

Wei Xin shivered, but sadly, no choice. He supposed to be a man now, and man can't be afraid of darkness.

Good thing there was a ladder, bad thing he had to somehow bring a candle with him. The boy started to think.

…No, that would be… Just…

Xin, no one will see, it's okay.

He said to himself and tied the candle to his head. He was glad that he couldn't see himself now. It was slightly hot even with a layer of bronze blocking the dripping wax. He should hurry or else his head will get burned.

Down the hole, a large corridor spanning forward appeared before him. Steps were silent there, the ground felt like moist earth.

Each step was like the previous; his head was getting hot. At least the shadows were burning fast under the light of the candle. Gladly the walk didn't last long.

He entered a room. There he saw a chest and besides it…

An Urn. Probably that Urn. But his mind was clear, there was no time for that. Let the urn be an urn, the boy lowered his eyes and opened the chest.

"That's..?"

Inside he found a short sabre, very short as if made for a kid. It looked kind of fat, its length was only about eighty cm while the width was just a little less than Violet Dawn's.

Xin looked closer, it was made of steel, its edges were black while overall it was shiny-silver with golden patterns engraved on the blade's surface. And it was light, Xin could lift it with ease.

He brandished it few times, and with satisfied expression strapped to his waist.

Then once again he looked into the chest, hoping that his previous impression was wrong. Sadly, it wasn't. His smile froze. It was empty, nothing else. Only some clothes with more clothes underneath. Where's the gold?

Xin knew that the underground was connected to the cave under the cliff where they were keeping money.

Shan was usually using the cliff path because it was faster; well, looks like he made some sort of mistake. Has Shan already taken the money away?

The boy once again looked over the place making sure to avoid the urn with his gaze. Then he disappointedly sighed and started heading back.

At least he found a weapon.

Once he got to the surface he blew out the candle. The room was still dark, but a pale grey light was flowing from the door. The earliest shine of the day. Time to go.

He placed the bag on his shoulder, strapped the loose sabre tighter, and strode to the road descending the mountain.

Before departing he took one last look at his home. How many memories he had there, he thought, and they were even happy until he remembered that he had been playing a hero on a graveyard while exploiting a slave. The nostalgia quickly extinguished. The morning mist tightened, the place was becoming more and more blurry.

"I need a change of pace." Thought the young boy and started the descent.

…

After several hours of walking, interrupted by several breaks, Xin found an interesting place. The road ended in a rock, now he was standing atop of a slope, overlooking the world.

He saw the distance, the horizon, and large trees on grass and stone ridden surface of the mountain. Everything was so vast, but the sky was vaster it all. The earth was a shadow; the sky was the light.

Wei Xin felt small before the immeasurable, this breathtaking scenery overwhelmed him; he unconsciously relied on a tree, his face and the trunk in the yellow light of the dawn.

Zi!

The boy lifted his foot; there was a gold coin underneath. What a luck! He searched the place and found several more circular shadows lying on the ground. After some time the shadows were stripped, the coins were gold.

He found a saber, wealth… Maybe he was really lucky. The boy, full of joy, once again looked at the scenery. It was still vast, but so what?

He boldly stepped forward.

His path was still dark of shadows, but at least he could see the bright sky beyond.