CH.3 The PATH

I had been ready for peace. I had been ready to relax and stay in that comfortable place... no worries... no burden... Yet I had been ripped off from that place. The option was stolen, and I was forced into this. This pit of struggle and despair.

Every day, EVERY SINGLE DAY I had been worried if a disaster would befall upon me. Being wiped out suddenly by a force I can't fathom, just training and training. I had to struggle every day just to survive.-I haven't been here for months. I had to hole myself and train harder and harder just to survive.

I was here alone... been betrayed... broken and couldn't trust anyone.

Then there was the training, I need to work my ass off just to reach that inch that mile to have the strength to survive

But why did I even bother trying? If in the end, the result would be the same. Why not just give up? Having to hide in a hole let the history repeats itself. Forget everything?

No, no I couldn't. I wasn't that type of person.

I was born here. Given a second chance, there's must be a reason for me to have this chance. I hated it here... HATED to be reborn in such a cruel world. But could I deny the chance to change these people fate? That I just turn my back and let the world suffer from my ignorance?

Could I be so... selfish... can... I?

I just couldn't... I could. But I wouldn't. It wasn't who I'm before, not who I am now.

I reached out my hand, rested in on his knees and rest my head on top of it. I closed my eyes and let out a very long tired sigh.

"That's a very heavy sigh for a young one, Shiro," Rayleigh observed.

Suddenly I felt despair. I had the happiness, blissfulness, I'm ready to go and sleep in that peaceful place. I was happy! I had a great life before. I didn't want to be reborn... I didn't want this second chance. I want to reunite with my family. I didn't want this power. I didn't want any of it. Yet I was given the chance, did I somehow screw up in my past life?

In the end... does it even matter?

Could I change the past? No.

Could I change the future? Maybe.

But it would be painful and a very long journey... But I was already so tired.

"Do not assume that I'm young," I whispered, "I've been through a lot."

He didn't react right away, he was too tired to care. Yet I could see sparks in his eyes, it's full of curiosity. He asked, "How old are you then?" It wasn't demanding by all means yet it needs to be answered.

I giggled, "You wouldn't even believe me if I told you."

He responded, "I have seen many things, Little that could surprise me."

I nodded, "Let's see..." I looked straight into his eyes, "Do you believe in reincarnation?"

He raised his eyebrows but nodded nonetheless, "If you had told me about reincarnation several years ago, I would've dismissed you, but..."

"I see that you believe in it, so in short I'm a reincarnator. Who was forced to do so." I shrugged.

But I could see it in his eyes, utter disgust. It's not directed at me, I'm sure. But why does he have such hate towards a forced reincarnator like me?

There's pin-drop silence in the cave when I wanted to talk, he suddenly locked his eyes onto mine.

"Would you like to defy destiny, Shiro?" He asked in a stern tone.

I was confused and didn't know how to respond, yet he kept on pressing for my response.

"I ask you once more Shiro, the Beast of Winter. WOULD. YOU. LIKE. TO. DEFY. DESTINY?" This time a huge pressure befell me. It made my breathing erratic, I could feel my body trembling at the mere pressure which I'm sure is just a drop of a bucket. I was sweating profusely, I can't or my instinct told me to not respond and keep low or I'm sure to be dead.

I know that this is his test. But I just couldn't, I'm too powerless... I started to have a flashback about my family. The happiness I had, the bright future. It's stolen from me, I'm too weak... too scared. This shadow in my heart.

It's blocking me from advancing in my strength. I need to be strong. Stronger than anyone else, to make sure that I and my close ones wouldn't be harmed again.

NOT AGAIN, I WILL NOT BE WEAK AGAIN. NEVER AGAIN I WILL BE HELPLESS.

I defy my instinct and gritted my teeth. I raised my head towards Rayleigh, and yelled, "YES."

"I can't hear you," The pressure got heavier, I could feel my blood flowing from my mouth it's accumulating. I wanted to puke it out, but I wouldn't.

I raised one onto my feet, "YES."

"I still can't hear you,"

I stood up and stare at him straight in his eyes," YES, I do. I want to defy my destiny breakthrough my limit and become stronger."

He smiled warmly at me and extended his hand, "Till the day that you could pull the sword from that stone is the day you're worthy to be able to do so,"

He unsheathed his sword and planted it deep inside the stone. His sword was simple, it didn't have any extravagant carving. Just a plain two-handed longsword. But from it, I could feel the darkness, and the blood it had absorbed from all those killings.

It was enormous.

I looked at his hand.

The moment I took his hand I just know... that my fate would change forever, that I would change the course of history.

This is the path that I choose, a man who follows a sinner. A disciple like no other.

The Path of A Fate Defier. Someone who would change the world and the course of its history.