0008. Opening The Gift

After Nile calms down, Uncle James asked, "Why don't you ask your mother to teach you about cultivation?"

"You think I didn't ask? Mama says she's far too old to engage in a Master-disciple relationship now. How am I supposed to argue with that?" replied Nile, frustrated.

Yeah, more like too lazy to teach. That laziness of Veena never changes, thought Uncle James. Out loud, he said, "Well, I do have a candidate who can guide you, but you must promise me you won't back down when I've talked to him."

"Oh really, Uncle? You know someone in town who can teach me? Thanks a lot, Uncle James!" Nile exclaimed excitedly.

Saying this, he moved inside the wagon, seeing that the caravan had started moving. Uncle James took the reins, steering the wagon forward.

Nile, sitting in the back, watched his mother and Jessica laughing together. Seeing their joy made him smile too. As he sat there, a thought struck him. He reached into his bag and pulled out a gift packet Frost had left behind.

Frost must have left some clue in here if what Mama said is true about them leaving willingly, he thought.

Opening the packet, he found a simple bracelet—1 inch broad and 15 cm long. Examining it closely, he noticed Jessica wearing a similar bracelet. It was an ASD (Awakened Support Device), a tool given to students starting their cultivation journey.

Nile felt a surge of excitement. He had always been curious about the ASD but never got a chance to explore one since Jessica never let him touch hers. Strapping the bracelet around his wrist, he struggled to wear it properly. Seeing Uncle James busy, he decided to ask him later.

Suddenly, he felt a gaze on him. Looking up, he found Jessica staring at him. "Something on my face?" he asked.

"No, nothing," she replied, smirking. "Do you want some help with that?"

"No, no, I'll ask Uncle James later," Nile stammered.

"Come here, Nile," called Veena. "Let her help you."

Obeying his mother, Nile moved to sit beside her. Jessica took the bracelet from his wrist and said, "Let me warn you. The path of cultivation is difficult. Neither talent, ability, background, nor luck will take you far. Only iron will, endurance, and patience can."

"Why do you sound so much like my mother?" Nile asked, amused.

"Hehehe," giggled Veena.

Jessica gave him an annoyed look before replying, "Well, Aunt Veena has been teaching me. Much of my knowledge comes from her. Now shut up and focus."

Feeling the seriousness in her tone, Nile paid attention. Jessica continued, "This ASD is crucial for cultivators. Its primary function is to monitor your body 24/7 and warn you of improper practices. It's invaluable for beginners who cannot see inside their own bodies."

"At least not until someone achieves inner vision," added Veena.

"What's inner vision?" Nile asked, intrigued.

Jessica explained, "It's a state where one can visualize their entire body in a virtual space. Right now, if you meditate, you can't stabilize any image. But as you awaken and enhance your spirit, you'll eventually develop the ability to open your mind's eye and look within."

"That sounds complicated," said Nile, captivated. "Jessica, can you do it?"

"No, dummy," she replied, rolling her eyes. "But I have hope of achieving it in 9 to 10 months."

"Now let's move on to this device," she said. "To wear it, you need to bind it to yourself. Since you can't manipulate mana or your spirit, you'll need my help. Brace yourself; it might be painful."

Jessica placed her fingers on his wrist, closing her eyes. Nile mimicked her, closing his eyes too.

As Jessica began the binding process, a warm flow entered Nile's arm. It felt like liquid heat spreading through his body. The warmth moved to his chest, then spread out to his arms, legs, and finally his head, forming a web-like structure.

Just as Nile thought he could endure it, a sharp pain shot through him. Jessica's voice broke through the haze. "This is where it gets worse."

At that moment, a cold sensation began to emerge from Nile's forehead. The chill felt like ice piercing his mind, contrasting sharply with the fiery flow in his body. The cold flow moved down, threading through the web of heat until it reached its center in his chest.

The instant the cold flow merged with the web, a sharp spike of pain overwhelmed him. It felt as though his entire being was being reshaped. This must be spirit energy, Nile thought, his mind racing despite the pain. I have to endure. This is the path I chose.

The web contracted, pulling toward Jessica's fingers. She made a quick cut on his wrist. The bracelet absorbed his blood, sealing itself to him. The remaining cold flow settled into the bracelet, which glowed faintly before returning to normal.

Exhausted, Nile slumped back.

Nile observed the bracelet carefully, his fingers tracing the intricate design. The warmth of the "hot flow" still lingered in his chest, now mingled with the cold sensation left by the "cool flow" that had surged through him moments earlier. He felt an odd balance, though he couldn't fully comprehend it yet.

Jessica leaned against the wagon wall, her breath steadying after the exertion. "That should do it," she said, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "But remember, Nile, this is only the beginning. This bracelet won't magically make you strong. It's just a tool to guide you."

Nile, still feeling the faint hum of the bracelet on his wrist, looked at her. "You say that, but it felt like something... more," he said, his voice tinged with wonder. "When that cold flow came from my forehead and joined the hot flow, it felt like they were... fighting at first, but then they just clicked. Is that normal?"

Jessica hesitated, her expression softening. "It's not unusual, but what you felt might be unique to you. The 'cold flow' is... well, let's just say it's something you'll learn about later. For now, focus on what you can control—your determination and your willpower."

As she spoke, Nile noticed the faint tremor in her hands. "You look like that took a lot out of you," he said, a hint of guilt in his voice.

Jessica smirked, hiding her exhaustion. "Don't worry about me. This isn't the first time I've done this. Besides," she added with a teasing tone, "you're tougher than I expected. I thought you'd faint long before the process ended."

"I almost did," Nile admitted, managing a weak smile. "But I kept thinking about why I'm doing this—why I need to get stronger. That kept me going."

Jessica raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what reason is so important that you're willing to endure all this pain?"

He looked down at the bracelet, the weight of his determination evident in his voice. "I need to find Frost, Sister Reema, and Brother Shakti. I need to know why they left, why they didn't tell me the truth. And... I need to prove to myself that I can stand on my own."

Jessica studied him for a moment, her teasing demeanor replaced by something more solemn. "You're different from before, Nile. Yesterday, you were just an overeager kid who wanted to play hero. But today... you're starting to see the bigger picture."

Nile nodded slowly. "I've learned a lot in the last day—about my family, about myself. If I'm going to walk this path, I can't be the same person I was yesterday. I need to grow up."

Jessica smiled, a rare moment of genuine approval shining through. "Good. You're going to need that maturity if you want to survive the martial path."

At last unable to hold on to consciousness Nile passes out.

Veena gently laid him in her lap. Looking at Jessica, she said, "Dear child, thank you. Come here and rest. You've exhausted yourself too."

Jessica lay down beside Veena, who caressed both children's foreheads.

In the end, your son chose the path you never wanted for him. I hope you can control your emotions when you see him again, Veena thought.

The caravan continued its journey into the distance.