I had a dream.

My eyes opened, and before me was a vast green plain. It was strange, an extensive expanse of green without a touch of color otherwise.

There was no muscle-bulging Beast King. No cultivators or mages, nor battles or beasts. Only an all-encompassing green plain.

The ground started shaking, but all there was to shake was swaying green grass. When the shaking stopped, I turned around and discovered a sharply pointed mountain. It was white from its base, connected to the plain to its top, which poked through a cloudless gray sky. Strange whispers drew me toward it.

I walked toward the mountain at a steady pace. There was something odd about the mysterious appearing mountain. It was so white and so perfectly shaped that it looked like it was carved from ice rather than made of stone. Compelled, I walked until I reached the base of the mountain. It ripped open revealing a staircase leading to a massive cave near the peak.

There was enough space inside the icy cavern to build the entire City of Renee. Whispers drew me further until I heard a powerful, robust voice from within the darkness.

The gravelly voice said, "Who enters my realm?"

I felt something surrounding my entire person, forcing me to speak, "Darius."

An icy mist blew over me with a snort, "Darius... Why is it you enter my grotto?"

"I don't know."

A face revealed itself from the depths of the darkness towering above Darius like the peak of the mountain itself. Fangs the size of Herals and a snout large enough to fit a person; evaded Darius's awareness. Only its sharp sapphire eyes that could peer into the soul, drew his absolute attention.

Dragon.

"How fascinating... Soul and body separate. Balance broken. They vie for control... An internal battle."

Darius' mind was too foggy and slow to be concerned with what the dragon said, his attention stolen by its mesmerizing sapphire eyes. Endlessly they spiraled, the circular motion bewitching his soul. His soul felt a clear unsettling tug, as though it would get pulled into that endless spiral. The dragon's voice broke him from his stupor.

"Darius... Come... find me... I'll be waiting."

There was only pain when I woke. My chest felt like it was tearing apart, healing, and then ripping all over again. Feeling for my Qi, I desperately tried to soothe the pain, but it was much weaker than before. When I finally managed to move my Qi to the center of my chest, my suffering multiplied. "Arghhh! Aw! Arrg! It hurts!"

Before I could lose myself in the pain, a gentle hand found itself on my chest. It was soothing, warm, and familiar. "Son, your soul is damaged. The pain will be great, but you'll live." Her voice was shaky, but at the same time, it was comforting, "Mom is here, I will watch you, and your... I'll be by your sides until you're both well."

I finally cracked my eyes open and saw her. My mother was pale. Paler than I've ever seen her. She looked weak. Behind my mother, I noticed another bed. Father... His hair was still white, and he appeared so sickly he looked like death itself, but... he was alive...

Melissa, our family's healer, stood over him while force-feeding him some medicine from a small white bottle. Later she would come to my side and start healing my chest with a cool golden light flickering at her fingertips. It soothed the pain for a few minutes before it would inevitably return in earnest. I was no stranger to pain, but I was no masochist either. I'd avoid this misery by any means if I could. "Stay still! The more you move, the more discomfort you'll have!"

It took everything out of me just to remain conscious. Melissa fed me some bitter medicine, probably the same green goop she used on my father, before saying, "Settle down! My goodness, you're just like your mother!" Getting better was a slow process.

A week passed before I could sit up in my bed, and a month until I could leave it. Dull aches remained but were getting manageable while my father remained unconscious.

Mother kept to her word. She only left the room to use the bathroom, spending every waking second looking after us. Her pale face and purple lips came into view every time I woke up. She would comfort me and talk with me for hours, and with father, she went further, cleaning him and feeding him herself rather than leaving it all to Rhea. She took care of us without any concern for her well-being. Concern and love were evident with every action she took.

A warmth, unlike anything I'd ever experienced washed over me. Gritting my teeth and focusing internally, I tried everything I could to achieve a quick recovery. My mother's face was the only motivation I needed.

I was unable to use magic or cultivate during my recovery. Melissa told me the reason why. She said I'd damaged my soul badly, and it would take approximately six months to fully heal. It would take even longer for my cultivation realm, possibly a year or longer. I'd fallen back to the beginning stages of Qi gathering, but I had no right to complain. Losing ten years of progress would be fine as long as my father lived. He had to live.

This life will be different.

"If you'd been any older than you are now, I'm afraid the damage would have been permanent. Thankfully, the younger we are, the better we can heal. I, unfortunately, can't see your soul, but I can see the veins around your mana heart. When those heal, your soul is just behind them. You've already started healing."

After two months, my chest pain receded, allowing me to cultivate once again and cast some spells of the 1st Circle as long as I was willing to deal with soreness afterward. My mother recovered by my side, growing healthier by the day, but something became evident after a few months had passed. My mother's stomach... It grew.

Melissa entered the room and started talking with my mother in a corner, "Lady Elaine, about the..."

"Let me cast a spell."

A wind wall formed in front of them, blocking all sound from entering or leaving the ward around them.

My range of hearing had dropped significantly with my lower cultivation realm, but they were still in the same room as me. As long as they were close enough my hearing could bypass a wind wall. Melissa walked up to my mother with glowing fingertips and toucher her stomach.

"Lady Elaine, the baby has survived. Its life force is like a small candle wick placed by an open window sill. It will only take the smallest of winds to put it out. It's a miracle the child has lived this long. Keep that in mind when casting spells and moving." My mother growled, "I know."

She gave my mother a raised eyebrow before continuing, "I have strong hope that the child shall live, but I'd day the chances are still sim. Keep in my that if the child does live, they will have many difficulties. Under the stress of your body and soul collapsing, that child was there; and bore it with you."

My mother solemnly looked at Melissa and said, "Is there a method to give them a higher chance? Some medicine? Another healer? Anything?"

"The child has lived so far from a mother's love alone. No healer in the Capital will be any better than I, and an elixir that could save your child isn't something easily gained even for a Tower Master. You know this... My lady... Their fate is in God's hands now."

Mother nodded before looking at my father, "What of my husband? Has his condition improved?"

"It has. He's no longer in danger of dying, but... Comas are unpredictable. He could wake up in an hour from now awake and alert, or he could live in a coma forever. I know of no medicine that can be used on the mind. Maybe one lies elsewhere, but not in Elion, but Elaine, just like with your child, I won't sugarcoat things for you... if he does wake up... he won't be able to walk again. His mana heart is fractured. It's recovering slowly, but his legs... Injuries due to lightning have unique consequences, and Lord Darien's legs are crippled."

My heart stung. I could have a possible sibling if they were lucky enough to stay alive, and my father was crippled? He might live out the rest of his days in a coma? As if I'd ever let that happen!

I had two new goals after recovery. I'd kill the Emperor, and I'd heal my father. Another vow I'd take with me to the grave.

Jamie woke up in the forest, his body wracked with pain. A few minutes after the Emperor's lightning spell struck his chest, he was able to stand. "Shit!" Jamie wobbled through the tree line until he could see the city. He wasn't sure how long he'd been out, but it seemed like Elion was already preparing to leave. The Aye's nobles were taking care of the aftermath as Elion was rushing to leave. He wasn't able to see if The Red Tower master was alive, but Aye's had reclaimed their independence after a bloody battle.

Jamie knew he could probably go to the city and get the information he wanted. He'd probably be treated as a hero and given a warm welcome. Warm food, warm clothes, and even treasures waited for him.

He looked down at his compass, gray. He didn't have enough mana to activate it. Sighing, he said, "It's too risky to do anymore in my condition. I need to rest before gathering anymore."

He smiled while looking South, where he knew the merchant republic to be. "This war will change soon. This battle leaves an opening. Even if the Salamander is dead, this battle proved Lucius isn't a god. He bleeds like any other man. I can't imagine the Emperor wishing to charge back into a battle by himself when he knows his life is at risk just like everyone else."

Jamie pulled out some jerky from his pack and ate it. It would be a long walk to reach the Merchant's Republic. He looked at Alicia bustling with activity and turned his back to it without any regrets. He'd come back, and when he did, he would take what was owed to him with interest.

At the bottom of the sea, a human woman sat cross-legged on a rock. She only moved to catch fish that wandered too close or kill predators that thought had gone too far. It was the longest she had ever been in the water. She had recovered, and her magic had even improved during her time in the deep, but she remained stuck at the barrier between levels. The 6th Circle was as illusive as it had ever been. She sighed.

Lyla was almost ready to return to the surface, but something stopped her.

A mermaid. Creature a mix of both fish and man swam around her with child-like curiosity. Blue scales covered her bottom half while blossoming out of a fish's bottom half was a beautiful blue-haired woman. Her hair color had a striking resemblance to Lyla's own. Her face looked human with the exception of sharp shark-like teeth that lined her mouth when she smiled. The mermaid swam around Lyla, curiosity beaming from her expression. It was evident that the mermaid was interested in Lyla.

Smiling, Lyla spoke to the mermaid, "Hello? Do you understand the human tongue?"

The mermaid's eyes looked confused as she glanced at Lyla's legs, wondering where her tail went.

Lyla heard something garbled in her mind. It took a few seconds before the sounds began to form words, "Sto si ti? Sto ti se dogodilo les repom?"

Lyla frowned. She didn't like someone speaking to her directly through into her mind, "I can't understand you. But I can show you."

The water around the Blue Tower Master came to life, dancing around her. The mermaid grew even more curious as she moved closer to Lyla to watch the playful water show.

Images of fish, whales, and magical creatures came to life before swimming away. The water changed showing humans and the land above the sea. A woman was running, fleeing for her life until a demon caught up to her. The angry demon threw down spear after spear trying to kill the woman until finally, the woman could defend herself no more. She was struck, falling deep to the bottom of the ocean where she recovered eating fish to survive. Eventually, the woman recovered, looking toward the top of the sea. A lifelike watery mermaid suddenly came to life and started swimming around the woman.

The real mermaid grew excited as she saw herself enter the story pointing at it and swimming in circles. The water mermaid hugged the woman, and they became friends.

The images made with water fell away like smoke, and Lyla smiled at the mermaid. More words entered her mind, "Ruzna jedna. Dodi samnom."

The mermaid held out her palm, and an image of a mermaid leaving with the woman and going to an underwater city came into view.

She was being invited.

Before Lyla could respond the mermaid swam toward her at an inhuman speed. She couldn't even react when the Mermaid hugged her. In less than a second, the Mermaid was already dragging her through the water. All she could think was, "Fast." Lyla had to stop herself from breaking the mermaid's grip on her arm. She thought for a few seconds before making a decision, "I can use this."

Chief Fang of the wolf tribe arrived in the Southern oasis with a decent understanding of the current political climate of the Northern Lands. He bowed, facing a throne alone, with King Vain scratching at one of his large furry ears in front of him. "Chief Fang, you suggest striking the Lightning Skunk's domain?"

The wolf chief nodded, "I do. The Skunk's kingdom has always been our mortal enemy. They have spread their forces thin and are attacking all of the powers of the Northern Lands. If we were ever to find a time to strike, I can think of no other time but now."

"The spirits are on our side. Chief Fang, you've done well. We must prepare for the blood festival! Wonderful! We will leave in three days. The weak ones will never forget our people again. I'm looking forward to making a new coat. Skunk fur will be a nice addition to my collection!"

The King rose off his throne tower over the wolf chief like an adult standing over a child.

The wolf chief gulped down his saliva when he saw the King of the Beastlands stand tall, "Yes, King Vain. May the spirits be with us."

Darius recovered. His mother recovered before he did, but she spent most of her time by his father's side. He had no one to spar with. Tobias was busy working at the Red Tower, and Joseph had been running the whole Tower by himself even while injured. Not having a lot of choices, Darius would sit and practice alone.

He'd cultivate alone.

He'd eat alone.

When he would sleep, he'd cultivate until the moment he fell asleep. He might be able to help his mother or father if he reached the Foundation Establishment realm, and the faster he could accomplish that the better. He trained his mana using a brute force method. Expending every bit of mana in his body so that it could recover and grow just as one would train muscles while he spent every other second cultivating.

When his mother was seven months pregnant he made a breakthrough.

Rhea found him in the training ground unconscious, covered in black goo that smelled like poop. "Young Master, Darius!" She ran and held him in her arms and ran into the house to the healer's room which was across Darien's. "Lady Melissa! The Young Master!" Elaine ran out of Darien's room and yelled, "What happened!"

Melissa came out of the room and frowned at the noise, particularly at the horrendous smell. She placed a glowing hand on Darius' head while everyone held their breaths, "He's fine better than fine. His life force is extraordinary, but it looks like he hasn't eaten. He probably trained without eating and lost consciousness. Foolish boy. His mana heart isn't overstrained, and his body is strong, lacking any injury. Just a lack of nutrients. Make sure he has plenty of food and water in front of him when he wakes."

Elaine nodded heavily. She looked at Darius with a face full of guilt. Her heart ached when looking back and forth from her husband to Darius. "Lady Elaine, this is a very important time. For that weak child, you'll need to rest and eat as much as you can! She's lost even more life force from the last time I checked on her!"

Elaine nodded with an expression of grief and longing. She looked at Rhea and asked, "Please wash my son. When he's clean bring him to lie down next to me while I sleep. Make sure there's plenty of food and water next to our bed."

Rhea nodded heavily.

Fear, uncertainty, grief, and pain, were all but a few negative emotions facing the Northwood family. Darius intended to change that.

When he awoke he placed his hand on his mother's stomach. A tiny thread of Qi left the tip of his finger and entered her stomach. The baby moved. He turned his attention to his father.

Father, I'll save you. Even if I have to dig up the whole earth to do so.

His father seemed to smile at him in the dark. Though it might've been a hallucination.