In a secluded realm unknown to mortals, a gigantic island floated behind thick, dark clouds that acted as its walls. The land was covered in lush greenery. Every plant thrived here, and the island itself contained an enormous amount of energy. While it was an ideal place for those wanting to gain power quickly, it came with a heavy price. The souls of those who challenged the island had to be strong, or their spirit cores—and even their lives—would be at stake.
Uruja sat cross-legged on a large flat stone facing the river pool. Her eyes were closed and her palms rested open on her knees. She murmured inaudible words while trying to reach a specific energy. It was clear she was struggling, but she maintained her composure.
Then...
SPLAAAAAAASH!
Something fell into the water, crashing into the landscape and drenching the startled Uruja. She almost jumped to her feet. Baffled by what happened, she immediately checked the river. She even checked herself to see if she had caused it.
She noticed something rising from the bottom of the pool. It was white and shiny. She became extra attentive in case it was a wild animal from the island. Once the object floated to the surface, she blinked many times.
"Am I seeing this right?" she asked herself.
She looked up, confused by what she was seeing. It was not an animal or a beast. It was a mortal—a female. Her skin had a porcelain glow that slowly turned a soft pink.
Uruja was in a trance at the sight. Fortunately, the instinct to save an unconscious mortal kicked in. She rushed into the river and swam like a frog, totally forgetting she could actually use her powers to move the body. She only realized her mistake after she finished hauling the heavy, drenched girl onto the dry land.
She checked her pulse and breathing. Both were steady. She had not drunk any water, so the girl was fine.
But her curiosity intensified as she kept staring at the beauty still lying on the ground. This was her second time seeing such grace and extraordinary beauty. She was confused by the girl's complexion. The skin shifted from porcelain to soft pink, eventually becoming ordinary, flawless skin that reminded her of someone she knew.
Or was she just seeing things due to her long meditation?
Uruja brought the girl to her small house built under the roots of a large tree. It was just a shabby hut, but it had everything needed for living alone. There was a kitchen, a dining area, a bedroom, and a bathroom. There was also a small living room that could fit at least five people of average size.
She burned some herbal plants to soothe the sleeping girl. The herbs she selected could greatly enhance an immune system. Though she didn't feel the girl's body deteriorating from the island's energy, she still wanted to make sure she was okay.
Uruja wondered if the girl she rescued from the river was like her. She was here to cultivate and wake her true power. But after many years of trying, she couldn't even catch a glimpse of the power her ancestors passed down to her.
She felt the heavy burden she had been carrying while looking with empathy at the girl who slept peacefully.
A day after the Knighthood trial ended...
Erus stared blankly at the stone house in front of him. He had been knocking for an hour, but no one opened the door. He was getting irritated until he noticed a tiny note hidden behind the padlock. I am not home.
"The hell?" He cursed under his breath. "Why leave such a tiny note?" He scratched his head in irritation. "And where could that woman go?"
Aside from that note, there was no more information about her whereabouts.
Erus, growing bored, groaned and then teleported inside the house. He scanned the rooms to see if she had left a message. They had agreed on something he would receive if he passed the trial.
"Did she change her mind and flee?" He was thinking about this when he heard a knock on the glass window.
He checked and found a little yellow bird. He recognized it as one of the owner's familiars. He opened the window, but the bird didn't come inside. It flapped its wings and flew in circles outside. Erus could not communicate with animals, so he scratched his neck. The bird lost patience and instantly transformed into a large bird, though its wings were short and out of proportion to its body.
Only then did Erus understand what the bird meant. It wanted him to go outside. He was sure it was instructed by its master, so he went along with it.
The familiar let him ride on its back, but it flew slowly. He wished he had brought a rope to steer the creature. Plus, he could have been told about the place so he could easily go there without relying on such unrealiable familiar.
As hours passed, Erus could feel his body heating up and by the time he arrived on that place he might be burned to ash already. Aside from the slow flying bird, was the skin torching heat of the sun. He wondered if he was about to be sent on hell. He just got out from the Abyss and now this.
I'm gonna grill and eat you after this! He cursed the familiar in his head.
Three hours under the scorching sun...
Erus was already trying to manipulate the wind to cover his path with clouds. This way, he could block the sun from searing his skin.
Then he noticed the familiar changed its pace.
In the far distance, he saw a gathering of dark clouds. It looked like a storm. There was lightning, but he could not hear any thunder. He looked at the head of the familiar just to ensure it was certain of the direction. There was no fear or any hint of hesitation. It was definitely heading toward the dark clouds.
Were they going to commit suicide now? After that long journey of being cooked under the sun, would they only end in death? Why did it take so long?
The familiar closed its wings without warning and charged toward the dark clouds. Luckily, Erus was trained for such movements and saved his ass from falling. He was expecting to meet death after this long travel, but he was also afraid to die. He had not yet fulfilled his purpose in this second life.
The way the familiar charged in was as fast as a meteor falling from the sky, but Erus was not impressed. He knew now that this bird could fly this fast, yet it had allowed him to suffer for hours.
They passed through the hellish storm inside those dark clouds. The lightning was no joke, but he was fascinated by how it seemed to avoid them. Instead, the lightning and the dark clouds cleared a path for them to pass through without much trouble.
Erus thought it was because the bird was a familiar of someone who lived here.
Below them was an island covered in greenery. This amazed Erus. He never thought this island truly existed. It had only been part of his mother's bedtime stories when he was a kid.
The bird flew naturally until it landed on the grassland with a loud chirping sound. Erus' first steps scorched some of the grass, but he didn't mind. He continued marveling at the beauty of the place. This was his first time visiting, but he resonated with it as if it weren't his first. He liked how tall and green the trees were. Even the flowers showed their abundance through their colors, and their fragrance filled the air.
"Hey, kid! Welcome to my paradise!" A woman came running, smiling from ear to ear. She looked happy and excited to see him.
Erus gave a look of dismay, though she couldn't see it through his dragon mask.
"Wow! I almost burnt my ass getting here," he told her in a sarcastic tone.
"Oh? You know, I just finished some new products, and I think they're effective for any wounds, bruises, and burns."
"How about I grill this familiar of yours?"
The bird suddenly shrank into its smaller form and with a snap it vanished into Uruja's shadow.
"Without you I'm the loneliest mother in this world. It's my only companion so spare it," she said trying to act dramatic though her eyes gave her away.
Erus rolled his eyes.
"Don't worry you're a fire user. Being under the heat of the sun was basically a power up. Plus tanned skin is what girls are always after anyway."
He scratched his head instead of answering. He really couldn't match his mother's level of cheerfulness. In spite of it he was happy to see her this lively again even if it was irritating.
Erus was surprised to see a shabby hut existed in this place. He almost believed Uruja had built it herself but she told him it was built long ago by their ancestors. His heart ached thinking his mother lived alone in this place without him.
But wasn't this the safest domain his mother could live in?
She offered food and drinks and he didn't hesitate to finish them all. He missed his mother's cooking so much. It was him all along cooking and doing the chores for himself after he chose the path he wanted—the wrong path.
Uruja sat across the table giving him a gentle look. It was visible in her eyes how she missed her son but she chose not to be showy of her feelings. She didn't want her son thinking she was weak.
"You can stay here as long as you want. I haven't finished my cultivation yet," she said even though she was not sure why Erus suddenly came home.
Erus put down the fork and spoon without making a sound.
"I won the Knighthood Trial," he said hesitant. He didn't know how Uruja would react to this.
Uruja looked at him as if she misheard.
"Again?"
"I conquered the 100th floor."
Her eyes went wide.
"Say what?"
Erus scoffed.
"Mom pretending to be deaf will make you one!"
"I just—I mean I wasn't surprised. Knowing you're my son conquering that trial should be basic for you." She tried to laugh but Erus remained quiet just watching her.
She cleared her throat. This was the time she had been praying would never come. She would wish he failed the trial rather than winning and serving the kingdom of Northland. But she could not get in the way of her son's dream. She knew Erus was strong enough to handle himself but she was not sure if his heart could stand the storms to come.
"You have decided..."
"Yes. And remember you promised to pass down the witches' heirloom once I cleared the 100th floor?"
"Yes but no. You just can't. If you want to serve the kingdom you can't be a witch at the same time."
The Northland kingdom despised witches and had decided on their total annihilation.
"Serving the kingdom? I promised to serve only myself."
Uruja blinked to make sure she heard him right.
"You really mean it?" Her heart skipped a beat with pure joy.
Erus nodded. He promised himself that in this life he would protect his mom. That meant he would go after the kingdom that never stopped hunting them.
Uruja smiled while a tear escaped her eye. She did not expect the day would come that Erus would choose her lineage over his worthless scumbag father. This way Erus would be safe from the dangerous taunts of his own father.
She had not realized her son was planning to turn the tables. Claiming the witches' heirloom was just his first step.
While Erus had no idea about the changes coming to his daily life of suffering.