It was midnight, just after Ame fell asleep.

Kiel stood up from their shared bed. He stepped out of his room and passed his parents. His steps were so quiet, not even Noah or Ava felt his presence.

It may have also been because he had no worldly energy around him, but what mattered was that he managed to exit the room.

He reached the dining area and stood before the storage he had not dared open.

'Father told me not to come there no matter what, but I saw him store Soul Beasts here multiple times in the past. If I can take one from here, maybe... Ame wouldn't have to leave so soon.'

Kiel failed to understand why he would go as far as disobeying his parents' words to keep Ame here, but he acted before he could explain. He touched the door and tried opening it. There was resistance, but as he drew out the energy from the undying mastered intent, the door mysteriously opened.

Before Kiel was a well-lit storage room.

He had yet to enter, but he had already gotten a good look at what was inside.

On the three walls of the room were items and weapons that were hung meticulously. It was a black sword that radiated a dark aura, a golden furnace that housed that cerulean flame serpent, a crimson spear that hummed with thousands of writhing souls, a vermillion bow that felt cold to the touch, and so much more…

Kiel felt like he stood before a new world…

He looked ahead and saw an open chest that housed many glowing spheres about the size of an infant's fist.

He looked at the spheres and saw the tiny sealed beings inside; these spheres were souls of dead beasts.

It takes only a single step forward to get what he came for. If he does and presents it to Ame, he will stay longer, be with him for an extended time.

All he had to do was enter the room; Kiel could get one of those Soul-Beasts, but he chose to close the door.

He sighed and stepped outside for him to take a breath of fresh air.

As he inhaled and exhaled, Kiel looked up to the gleaming stars far beyond the heavens, 'Living… means letting others live.'

Kiel tried to get a Soul Beast because he didn't want to give Ame a reason to leave. If he could get her what she wanted, then why else would she go out?

In the end, the only thing he wanted was to protect the haven that was this home of his… however, if he actually does that… then, he would be keeping Ame from truly living the life she wanted to pursue.

'I will help her, but I shall not hinder the path she will take. This is her life. I cannot dictate what kind of life she should live… I have no right.' He decided to do what Ame wanted to go to the town.

The next morning arrived — the time for their little adventure.

Kiel left with Ame and their mother; with him, he brought three ordinary sticks.

While Ava drove the Oxcart, two tiny passengers enjoyed the ride.

"Mother, why are you and father so against us going to the town in the first place?" Ame asked.

"Because it is dangerous in the town, we are safer in our home, and we don't want our babies to be in danger. You are our treasures, after all," Ava answered.

"We have been attacked by a Lightning Qilin and a Raging Black Demon… if not for Father, we would have been in danger. Those two beasts are beyond… what was it again…?"

[Ascension Realm.] Kiel said while quietly waving around the clothed sticks he brought from home.

[I knew that.]

[No, you genuinely forgot. You're too excited, Ame.]

[...]

Ame continued, "… Ascension Realm beasts, that's right, and we are still safer in our home?"

"My daughter, it is not only beasts that are dangerous, but also humans and other races. There are devious people in town, and they could hurt you very badly."

"Can't father just protect us then?" Ame argued, to which Ava failed to respond with anything.

Kiel was the one to come to his mother's rescue. "We can't go because our parents say so. Just be good and happy that mother supported you to go with her."

"That's right, good save my son!" Ava celebrated as she found solace in Kiel's words, "Now, Ame, stop questioning this great mother of yours, or I'll be turning the Ox to our home."

"…Okay."

Ame pouted, [Why did you stop me from digging deeper? We could have learned their secrets right then and there!]

[If you had continued, we would have only been shouted at. Besides, we know enough that it has something to do with Father's family. If we connect the dots with last night's slip-up, we can assume that they were exiled because of something. It may be because the main family did not agree with their relationship or thought we would be safer not living with the family.

[We can also place the fact that they are adamant not to make us cultivate to form the conclusion that if we try cultivating and gain mystical powers, it will only implicate us. Overall, it has something to do with Father's so-called Family Contract. Whatever it is, it is not something we should delve into without reason.]

Ame kept her silence at Kiel's words. She had nothing to say but the thought, 'Pitiful…', was kept to herself.

Her thoughts weren't directed to their parents' situation. No, it was more to Kiel.

She had lived a life of thievery, but at least she managed to smile and cry, and even simmering hatred on the back of her heart was proof of her life. Yet Kiel, this brother of hers, had nothing.

'He's supposed to be from the peak, and yet he has nothing… was he born with nothing to live for? Or is he someone who managed to live through life and arrived at nothing?' The only thing she knew about Kiel was that he was an empty man with empty goals and an empty soul.

This life was the only thing that he had; thus, he was pitiful.

They reached Lily Town and joined Ava in selling the weavings she had made to her usual store to have enough money and buy bags of rice, salt, and some more necessities.

Ame was fidgeting as she looked around the area. Kiel also noticed the surroundings and finally noticed that many people were gathering towards the central area. He was out of the loop of the situation. Then, he heard it, cheers coming from the middle of town.

"What's happening over there, I wonder?" Kiel asked himself.

"Oh, you don't know, boy? Today is the Ten-Year Youth Competition. Anyone below the age of 20 and have the cultivation Realm of Martial Master and below can join. The price is a Soul Beast." said the old lady in the General Store where Ava went to buy salt.

Kiel looked over at Ame; she was looking towards the direction of the center of town.

He now understood.

Her eyes had a peculiar glint — she wanted to go there no matter what.

"Mama… please." Ame looked at Ava with pleading eyes.

Ame wanted nothing more than to go there and start her life as a True Cultivator once more.

Ava didn't even think about it and nodded, "Go on, just make sure not to hurt them too much. But, I still have many things to buy, so, Kiel, go watch over Ame. Tell me if anything goes wrong or if she starts anything, okay?"

"Mama, thank you!" Ame hugged Ava's legs as she quickly headed for the center of town to register for the competition. She didn't even wait for Kiel.

"Your sister is really energetic about this, isn't she?" a laugh lacking energy echoed. It was then that Ava handed Kiel a talisman she hid in the hems of her clothes.

The talisman was yellow, and the ink was red. It radiated with power, "Rip that if anything happens, and I will head to your location… tell her good luck."

Ava turned away, her eyes holding back tears. She was still against the idea of letting Ame walk the path of cultivation. But forcing someone away from taking what they decided upon was something Ava knew all too well. She didn't want to deny one of her dreams.

'...' Kiel did not say anything.

Soon, he was walking calmly towards the direction where Ame left to. While walking away, he felt a faint presence of people traveling in the shadows, 'Why are they hiding? Is something going on in the shadows of this town?'

He thought it would be interesting to know but disregarded the thoughts altogether. His steps resumed, and he reached the registration area for the Ten-Year Competition. Ame had already finished her registration and ran towards Kiel's direction when she suddenly bumped into someone dressed in inexpensive clothing.

"Ah, sorr-"

"Hey, bitch! Watch where you're going!"