Chapter 2. Spirit

Shawn looked at his feet with tears falling out of his eyes. The old man told him to put all the money into their savings. It was a mason jar well hidden; it was hidden in a carefully covered hole before the lackluster shelf. Shawn opened it up reluctantly, putting all of it inside. "But grandfather, what will we use to buy medicine for your wound?" The old man just shook his head and said, "we do not have nearly enough money to buy medicine needed to heal this. It is better being spent towards feeding you this coming winter and thereafter."

Shawn's little hands clenched hard. He was taught by his grandpa to listen carefully to what people say and he noticed that when talking about his wound the old man would always direct the conversation to surviving the winter. Unfortunately, he also noticed that he would not include himself in their coming days, like he had given up on himself. "I can ask Ms. Tabitha- "You will do no such thing!" said the old man in a stern voice." "Do you remember our lessons?!" Shawn was quiet before answering slowly, "Yes."

He could hear all of the old man's previous lessons in his head. Owe no one, and if you do settle it quick. Trust no one, because it is a harsh world and many will sacrifice those close to them for little gain. Shawn became slightly dazed as he thought of the many lessons taught to him. The old man beckoned the boy, when the boy was in front of him, he rubbed his head and told him, "I do not have much time, if I die then you must live on. What do you want to do with your life Shawn?"

The boy immediately answered, "Become an adventurer." The old man smiled and said, "Then you must awaken your spirit, when you become 10 years old, you'll be able to awaken the spirit that is yours. Everyone has a spirit so they must awaken it in order to truly practice cultivation." Shawn was confused and asked his grandfather why he had never seen anybody's spirit. "Because boy, to manifest it requires people to reach a certain level, and no one will casually show their spirit.

All who awaken their spirit are granted abilities as well. Don't you wonder in the stories you've read, how people have such powerful abilities? A swing of the hand can unleash tornadoes or a swipe of the finger can create valleys." His grandfather's eyes had a gleam in them that he had never seen before. After saying that much, his grandfather quieted down and decided that both of them should go to bed.