Chapter 3: The Heart’s True Desire

The air was heavy with the aroma of dirt and pine, and the night was calm. The quiet crackling of the campfire cast a warm, dancing glow into the darkness. Derek was sitting across from Lila, his head spinning with ideas. His body hurt from the constant training and skirmishes, but his mind would not calm after the events of the day.

Lila had always been a mystery to them, her piercing stare and enigmatic demeanor. By the way she moved and fought, it was obvious that she was a very skilled cultivator. She was different from the rest, though, because of something deeper about her. Though Derek wasn't sure where to start, he knew she had answers—answers to questions he hadn't yet asked—and even acknowledged his request.

Lila spoke out, breaking the stillness with a steady, calm voice as the firelight glistened in her eyes. "Derek, what do you really want?"

He paused, the words beginning to form on his lips before he could process them completely. "Power," he automatically responded. "I want to be the best, to dominate the others. My goal is to leave my imprint on the world.

Lila looked at him for a considerable amount of time, her face inscrutable. "Power is a tool, not a goal. With such power, what goals do you intend to accomplish? What is the one thing you really want?

Derek frowned, her question arousing something inside of him. He had always believed that he understood what he wanted: to be the greatest, to surpass the ordinary, to establish his position in this new global society of culture. However, uncertainty started to set in as he sat there with the flames casting shadows across his face.

He turned his head away from her and gazed as if the answers were contained in the flames. "I... I'm not sure," he said, hardly raising his voice above a whisper.

Lila bent forward, her eyes never taking off from his. Although you've been pursuing power, have you ever given it any thought as to why? Why do you do what you do? Is there something deeper—the excitement of the battle or the yearning for approval?

Derek's thoughts raced back to those early moments, when everything was different and the golden light first emerged. He recalled the thrill, the rush of realizing his potential, the exhilaration of being unique. However, dread had also arrived along with that excitement: the fear of being forgotten, of being just another face in the crowd, and of being left behind.

When he said, "Maybe I just want to prove that I am not worthless," even he was taken aback. "I've always been the one nobody saw coming in, the underdog. I reasoned that if I gained influence, perhaps others would eventually notice me.

Lila's face softened as she extended her hand to touch his arm. "Derek, it takes more than just strength to get noticed. It results from staying loyal to who you are, from identifying your top priorities and giving it your best. Purposeless power is meaningless.

Her words hit him like a flash of lightning. Strength without intention. Derek had forgotten his original motivation for wanting to be the strongest since he had been so consumed with achieving it. He had been running, not really knowing what he was rushing toward but nonetheless pursuing after something.

"What happens if I'm not sure what my goal is?" Derek questioned, a hint of doubt in his voice.

Lila said softly, "That's something you have to find out for yourself. But I can assure you that finding your mission takes time. It is an internal process that is shaped by the people you encounter, the experiences you have, and the things you go through. It's not just about the power. It is about friendship, love, and the things that give life meaning.

Derek's mind strayed to Kai, Emma, and the

others he had encountered traveling. He came to the realization that his thirst for power had been driving people away and keeping him from seeing the relationships he was building. He had lost sight of the importance of those around him—their love and support—in his pursuit of being unique.

Is it too late for me to make a change? With a scarcely discernible voice, he questioned.

With a warm and comforting grin, Lila managed to drive out the gloom in his heart. Derek, it's never too late. The fact that you are asking these questions indicates that you have already begun to evolve. It takes more than simply brute force to become truly strong. Knowing who you are and what you stand for is important.

Initially, it felt like Derek experienced what seemed like eternal clarity. Driven by fear and uncertainty, he had been aiming for the wrong goal. But now, as he and Lila were sitting by the fire, he realized that what he really wanted was to fit in, be liked, and feel like he belonged, not to be the strongest person.

Derek silently vowed to himself as the fire subsided and the night grew longer. He would get stronger further, but not for the purpose of dominance alone. In order to defend people he loved, assist those unable to help themselves, and create a future in which strength was determined by one's influence rather than their amount of power, he would become stronger in other people's lives.

Derek felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders with this newfound resolution. For the first time, he felt prepared to tackle the long and difficult journey ahead—not as someone after power, but as someone who had discovered his mission.

Thus, knowing that his voyage had only just begun, Derek closed his eyes and grinned as the first rays of morning started to peek over the horizon.

Author's Note

With Lila's guidance, Derek makes a significant revelation in this chapter that advances his quest for self-awareness. A pivotal moment in his character growth occurs when he realizes that power is a tool, not an end in itself, to achieve a larger goal. Derek starts to let go of his anxieties and insecurities as he learns the value of friendship, love, and purpose. This paves the way for his development into a real leader and hero. The chapter serves as a reminder that, in a world when everyone is endowed with tremendous ability, what really defines us are the relationships we build and the decisions we make.