The sky over Liang Village remained opaque, as if reflecting the weight that bore down on Castian's shoulders. Since the moment Lord Feng's letter had arrived, every second felt heavier. The usually bustling streets of the village were deserted; people stayed in their homes, fearful of what was to come. At the center of it all, Castian carried a burden that seemed to grow heavier by the moment.
Inside the house, the atmosphere was equally tense. Mei, his mother, silently busied herself in the kitchen, her hands moving mechanically as she prepared a meal no one had the appetite to eat. Cheng, seated at the table, stared fixedly at a corner of the room, lost in thought. Castian leaned against the wall, holding the Celestial Pearl inside his pouch, as though the mere contact with it could grant him clarity on what to do.
"Are you all right, son?" Cheng asked, his voice calm yet laden with concern.
Castian shifted his gaze to his father, unable to hide the turmoil in his mind.
"No," he replied, the honesty escaping before he could hold it back. "No, I'm not all right."
Cheng leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. His eyes, though aged, held the steadiness of a man who had faced many hardships.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, knowing his son needed to speak, even if it was difficult.
Castian let out a deep sigh, pulling a chair to sit beside his father. He stared at his hands, as if the answers were etched into them.
"I feel... trapped. I don’t know what to do." He paused, gripping the pouch that held the Pearl. "Part of me wants to run away. Protect you all, take the Pearl far from here, and end this threat before it destroys everything. But another part... knows I can’t abandon the village."
Cheng nodded, waiting patiently for Castian to continue.
"If I give up the Pearl, Feng will have the power he wants. But if I don’t, he’ll come with his army, and the village will be destroyed." Castian looked up at his father, his voice trembling. "How can I choose?"
Cheng observed him for a moment, the weight of his son’s words visible on his face. He took a deep breath before speaking.
"Castian, I can’t tell you what the right decision is. But I can tell you this: sometimes, there are no easy choices. We can’t control what others do, but we can control how we respond."
"And what if my response is wrong?" Castian asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Cheng smiled faintly, placing a hand on his son’s shoulder.
"Then we learn, get up, and try again. That’s life. But I believe in you, my son. Whatever choice you make, I know you’ll do the best you can."
Cheng’s words brought brief relief to Castian’s heart, but doubt still gnawed at him. He glanced at Mei, who remained silent but was clearly listening to every word.
"Mother, aren’t you going to say anything?" Castian asked, a hint of desperation in his voice.
Mei turned to him, wiping her hands on her apron. Her eyes were full of emotion, but her voice was serene.
"I don’t need to say anything, Castian. You already know what you need to do. I just want you to know that we’re with you, no matter what you decide."
Mei’s words hit Castian with force. He knew his family would support him, but it didn’t make his choice any easier. The Pearl felt like a stone tied to his spirit, pulling him in opposite directions.
After a few minutes of silence, Castian rose abruptly.
"I need some air," he said, leaving before anyone could respond.
Outside, the wind was cold and biting, but Castian barely felt it. He walked toward the barricades at the village entrance, where a few local guards were still reinforcing the defenses. They greeted him with short nods, but he was lost in thought.
He looked at the forest beyond the barricades, a chill running down his spine. The feeling of being watched wouldn’t leave him. He knew Feng was out there somewhere, waiting, planning.
"You feel it, don’t you?" The entity’s voice echoed in his mind, low and dark.
Castian squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block the presence, but it persisted.
"What do you want from me?" he murmured, low enough that no one around him could hear.
"I want you to see. To understand. The Pearl you carry is more than just an artifact. It is the key to something much greater. Something Feng must never possess."
"And what if I can’t stop him?" Castian asked, his voice filled with doubt.
"Then you must be prepared to sacrifice everything."
The entity’s words hung in the air like a shadow, and Castian felt their weight in his heart. He knew he was being guided by something ancient and powerful, but that didn’t make his task any clearer or less terrifying.
When night fell, Castian returned home, where Cheng waited in the living room. Mei had gone to bed, but Cheng seemed determined to speak to his son one more time.
"Sit down, Castian," he said, motioning to the chair beside him.
Castian obeyed, exhausted both physically and emotionally. Cheng looked at him for a long moment before speaking.
"Do you remember when you were little and kept falling while trying to climb that tree in the backyard?" Cheng asked, a nostalgic smile on his face.
Castian frowned, confused by the change in subject.
"Yes... I could never climb very high."
"But you never gave up," Cheng continued. "Even when you got hurt, you stood up and tried again. You had a determination I always admired."
Castian shook his head.
"It’s not the same, Father. This... this is different."
Cheng placed a hand on his son’s shoulder, his gaze serious.
"No, it’s not different. The principle is the same. No matter how hard or impossible something seems, you can’t let fear stop you. You’re stronger than you think, Castian. And I know that, whatever your decision, you’ll do what’s right."
Cheng’s words resonated deeply with Castian. He didn’t know if he was ready to face Feng, but he knew he couldn’t leave his village, his family, his friends, at the mercy of such a cruel man.
When he finally retreated to his room, holding the Celestial Pearl in his hands, he felt a wave of calm wash over him. For the first time, the doubt began to fade, replaced by a quiet determination.
He knew he couldn’t fail. And even if he didn’t have all the answers, he was ready to fight for what he loved.
In the darkness of his room, the entity’s voice echoed one last time before he fell asleep.
"Choose well, Castian. The battle is just beginning."
And with that, Castian closed his eyes, ready for whatever the future held.