Valerian opened his eyes slowly. It only took a second to determine that there was still at least an hour before dawn. He stood up, stiffly extricating himself from his cross-legged pose. Over the last two weeks he found it increasingly easier to slip into that special meditative state and maintain it for hours at a time. He even went without sleep sometimes, only to arise rested and refreshed. His body wasn't used to staying in the pose for long though.

Awake he went up to his armour rack and began to put the pieces on. He had long since gotten acclimated to training in the morning and no longer needed to be prodded into action. Now he made sure to be ready and warmed up even before his uncle Richard came through the door.

His training was coming along great. At that very least he received only praise for his progress. Unfortunately, it came at a price. His schedule was completely packed. His day started with strength, endurance and combat training followed by a shower, breakfast and a short break. Then lessons with Jonas before lunch and studies in the study with his grandfather till supper. After this was evening training and private cultivation in his room.

He couldn't complain though. He vividly remembered all his complaints about grammar school and his wish to truly be occupied instead of wasting time with things that took a few seconds and no effort. He sighed though when he thought of those carefree days. Hopefully, when he became capable of creating hurricanes with a flick of the wrist and crushing mountains with a fist he would look back to these moments as well with nostalgia.

He remained lost in thought as he went about his morning exercises until he heard his uncle's heavy tread coming towards his door. The man was early. He shrugged and went to open the door. His busy day was about to begin.

Soon Valerian was sitting in the study listening to his grandfather stress the importance of applying strategies in battle.

"Remember! You've been blessed with heaven-defying talent. Don't let it go to waste!"

Valerian's heart clenched. He thought back to the last few weeks and began to feel the pressure. With an unusually meek voice, he asked.

"Grandfather! Is it really necessary to cultivate?"

Valan was taken aback. The question stunned him. "Is it necessary to cultivate? Where is this coming from?"

Valerian frantically defended himself. "It's just that not everyone can do it. There aren't even many cultivators. I was wondering why it is so important."

Valan gazed intently at him not sure where what was going on. A second later he sighed. "Maybe Clara and Richard are right. I have caused you to be too sheltered if you cannot tell what makes cultivators so important".

"It's not that grandfather. I understand that cultivators are powerful and can do so many incredible things but power aside I don't see why they are so much more highly regarded than other professionals like physicians and soldiers" Valerian explained. Then a thought struck him.

"You're not a cultivator grandfather. You hold an important public office, have influence and live quite well and you didn't need to be a cultivator to do it. Why do so many people pursue cultivation, something so dangerous and which most can never practise in the first place instead of other professions?"

Even as he spoke he knew he had spoken too rashly. His grandfather's lack of cultivation was a yet another taboo topic in their household. He watched as the man somewhat deflated before him, his face falling. However, he did not take back his words. This was something important to him as well.

The magistrate turned away slightly and for a moment Valerian thought he would leave but he didn't. He just sighed. It was a long sigh filled with reluctance and sadness.

"Now I remember why I worked so hard to keep you so sheltered. Why you know so little about cultivation? I knew this day would come but I worked to postpone it just that much longer. Truth is, ever since you were placed in my arms you've looked at me like I was the greatest in the world. I never wanted you to realise that I wasn't worth your admiration".

"Grandfather..." Valerian called softly. He hadn't expected that this would be such a painful subject for the man. Seeing him so morose immediately made him think that his own misgivings weren't important after all.

"You must understand Valerian that you are right. Besides power, there is little that separates cultivation from other professions. In fact, cultivation is not a profession at all it is merely a way of life that opens doors to the true professions. But power is all it needs because power is all that matters. Power is the most important thing in the world of Verre!

"If you have power, you can do anything and be anyone. On other hand, those who have no power are forever destined to be beneath the heels of those with power. Our very empire is so large and wealthy because we have power. Our clan is able to dominate the entire viscounty because we are the most powerful force in the land. If we weren't another group would have done away with us and taken our place in a flash and there would have been nothing we could have done or said about it.

"Verre is a dangerous, callous place my child and the only way to survive is to have power of your own that you can fall back on. It is at constant war with itself and the entities that dwell in it. These entities are themselves at war with each other. That is nature. People fight all the time. Against each other, against the beasts, against the elements, all so that they can survive and thrive. That is why power is so important. To have power is to have a better chance of survival. No one begrudges the tiger for killing and eating the deer. For the sole reason that the tiger is powerful.

"That is the ugly truth I have tried so hard to hide from you. Why? Because I have no power of my own. You see people cultivate because it grants them power. You might think that the benefits of cultivation are limited to physical and mystical power but there is a lot more to it. There are political aspects, and the authority and influence from it are just as important. That is why people cultivate.

"You say many are incapable of cultivation. That's true. But what's also true is that despite that they learn some form of martial skill for self-defence or master some trade or art that allows them to fit under some power so as to gain benefits such as shelter and protection. Everyone with even the slightest chance of cultivating seizes it, Valerian.

"Most are like me doomed to never even become true disciples or practitioners but they still give it their all and on average they are much, much more powerful than someone who cannot progress beyond the energy-gathering stage like your grandfather".