The air was filled with sounds. The sounds that would make your heart pound, and make your will waver.
A large wave cruiser skidded along the vast sea, causing huge splashes of water.
The scent of the water was intoxicating, but the lack of presence was stifling.
In the cruiser stood a boy, staring into the expanse of the water.
This was his first time leaving the city and traveling this way, but he still felt peace.
"If you weren't with me, Urek, I'd probably never leave. I wonder how Reith is doing," Isho spoke to the bird on his shoulder.
It was because of his cultivation path that he had the courage to leave the city.
The bird chirped in response, and Isho simply smiled.
The footsteps of a man alerted the boy, and he turned around.
"Hello, Master Isho. The Regional Insignia would have my head if you get swallowed by a bleashark," the man said with a slight bow.
Isho felt uncomfortable.
He had never been treated this way before.
If Reith knew he had these kinds of benefits, his head would be green with jealousy, and the thought made Isho smile.
"You don't have to be so formal with me, Mr. Hardy. I'm not used to this, neither do I want to be."
Isho rubbed the back of his neck.
Going to the Regional Apex was never what he had planned.
Hardy let out a grin, ignoring how the movement of the boat made him nauseous.
"You deserve it, Mr. Isho. Having such a path with massive potential is worth praising. I saw its strength after stopping the clash between you and the other guy. Impressive, and I want to see you grow."
Hardy widened his grin.
A sense of excitement filled Isho.
He was also excited about his growth.
"I'll do my best in the Regional Apex and make the Insignia proud," Isho declared, his grey hair moving wildly in the wind.
After their little conversation, Hardy turned around, waving his hand in the air.
"I'll be back to call you down for dinner. We should be at the Apex by next morning. Please do get prepared," he called out, leaving Isho on the deck.
Isho kept a smile on his face, until Hardy's presence was no longer felt.
The bird on his shoulder chirped, and he nodded.
"I sensed the dark presence too. Hardy isn't to be trusted. Please, guard me in the night, Urek," Isho muttered.
He had never felt any killing intent from Bandar while being bullied, but something about Hardy made his skin crawl.
Every part of his body was telling him to get killed by a bleashark than to stay on the cruiser with such a guy.
Back in the city's academy, Reith stood his ground against the so-called stranger.
"I didn't touch her," he said coolly, not caring about proving his innocence as long as his conscience was clear.
The man scoffed.
"I know, but it can't be proved, so you can only take the blame. I'll make sure to inform the Regional Insignia of your type of person."
Reith frowned, turning his gaze to the culprits, and his hand went into his coat.
At the Initiate Stage of the Core Realm, he'd be able to beat them to a pulp.
"Let it be."
Ruach's voice floated to his ears, and Reith sighed.
Maybe it wasn't worth it after all.
Even if he proved his innocence, these people would never accept him.
"What does the Regional Insignia want with me?" Reith asked with caution.
He had heard of the Insignia from the library, and it was frightening to think that the head of a Region asked for him.
The man turned around, heading to the front.
"Don't flatter yourself. There were other chosen ones apart from you. I can't even sense energy from you, so the Insignia probably needs your path for his experiments," his voice held a hint of a smile.
"What?"
Reith was dumbfounded.
At first, going to the Region's city headquarters was exhilarating.
But now, he was having second thoughts.
He was going to be an experiment?
"I don't want to go."
He said it out loud, secretly hoping the man wouldn't hear him.
However, he was wrong.
The man's voice echoed in his ears as if he was right behind him.
"You don't have a choice, lowlife."
Then he ended with a chuckle.
Reith clenched his fists hard.
He hated being called a low-life.
This was the chance he had been praying for, to get a podium.
But why did it seem that it would be the end of his journey?
After the man had disappeared, everyone turned back to Reith with looks of curiosity.
"Isn't that Jeran?" someone whispered in the crowd.
"Who are you talking about?" his friend frowned.
"Shut up and listen first. That's the Regional Insignia's younger brother. The first guy to reach the Spirit Refinement Realm in his forties. If you think it's easy, then you do it."
"I… I didn't say it was easy."
The other guy felt wronged.
"Shut up!"
While these two squabbled and drew the attention of others, Reith had already moved away from the crowd.
Going to the Regional Insignia meant that he would have to be at the Region's Central City, and he heard that it was a dangerous place.
There were a lot of rumours surrounding the Regional Insignia, and Reith wasn't excited to get involved.
However, this meant he would have a better chance at getting a great education.
"I have to go home."
Reith muttered and, due to his lack of concentration, he stumbled into someone, causing a bunch of paper to crash to the ground.
He bent down immediately.
"Castel? I'm so sorry about that. I'd help you up now."
Without a word, Castel bent to the ground and pushed his hands away.
"Let it be, Reith. I'd do it myself."
"No. It's my fault. Let me do it."
Reith stretched his hands again.
"I said leave it. Don't you get it? I can't be seen with you, just leave me alone."
With a restrained voice, Castel slapped his hand away.
She lowered her head instantly, not wanting him to see the pain in her eyes.
She had been threatened not to talk to him.
If she did what they wanted, then she would be able to graduate and get a good job to feed her family.
As long as she made no contact with this boy.
"Don't you get it, Reith! You are no longer an SSS-grade talent genius. You are simply a nobody and a traitor to the city."
Castel bit her lips to prevent it from trembling.
Reith felt like he had been punched to the gut, but he straightened up.
"Do you know where Isho is?"
His tone was bland.
Castel paused for a moment before speaking.
"Yesterday, he mentioned the Regional Insignia's younger brother has personally met him after the selection. He had left immediately, because there was no time to waste."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she turned around and ran away, leaving Reith dazed.
If he had just met the Regional Insignia's younger brother, who did Isho go with?