The Oath for Better Future
**Owen's Encounter with the Mirror of the Soul**
Owen knelt before the shimmering pool, the cold air around him vanishing as the golden surface rippled under his touch. The head monk and the others stood silently behind him, their chants fading into a deep, expectant quiet.
The moment Owen closed his eyes, the visions began.
The First Vision: A Glorious Future
Owen found himself standing atop a battlefield, his body radiating strength and discipline. He was clad in armor of ancient yet advanced design, wielding weapons that seemed forged from both science and mysticism. Around him, armies moved with precision, following his commands as though he were the embodiment of war itself.
He saw himself defeating monstrous enemies, his martial arts honed to perfection, his movements fluid like water and unyielding like stone. His knowledge of war science allowed him to devise strategies that turned the tide of impossible battles. Cities cheered his name; kingdoms sought his wisdom.
"I can be this?" Owen asked aloud, awestruck by the sight of his future self.
A voice, deep and resonant, echoed from nowhere and everywhere.
"You can. But greatness demands sacrifice."
The Second Vision: The Struggles Ahead
The battlefield faded, replaced by a rugged mountain monastery. Owen watched himself training under grueling conditions.
- **The Physical Struggles:** He saw himself collapsing in exhaustion after countless hours of practice, bruises covering his body, his hands bloodied from striking stone slabs until his bones felt like they would shatter.
- **The Mental Struggles:** He saw himself grappling with his past—memories of Yvette, Randall, and the life he left behind. The guilt and anger gnawed at him, making him question his path.
- **Isolation:** Days spent alone in icy caves, meditating and searching for inner balance while the biting cold tried to break his spirit.
- **Failures:** He witnessed himself failing repeatedly—failing to master techniques, failing to understand war science, and failing to push past his own limitations.
The Turning Point: A Choice
The vision shifted again. Owen stood at a crossroads.
On one side, he saw a simpler path—returning to his old life. He'd have comfort but remain plagued by his condition, dependent on Yvette's pity or disdain. A hollow existence.
On the other side, he saw a fiery road of discipline, sacrifice, and struggle. Every step was painful, but with each hardship, he grew stronger, wiser, and more formidable.
The voice returned, deeper and more commanding this time.
"This is the life of martial arts and war science. Will you endure the pain, or will you retreat into mediocrity?"
Owen clenched his fists as he watched his future self standing triumphant once again, his journey of struggle culminating in unparalleled strength and clarity.
"I'll endure it," he whispered, then louder, "I'll endure it!"
The Final Vision: The Consequences of Acceptance
The pool's surface rippled violently, and Owen saw fleeting images of what his decision would mean:
- The respect of those who once doubted him.
- A destiny intertwined with protecting the world.
- Becoming a beacon of hope for others in despair.
- And... the loneliness of power. The weight of responsibility.
The vision ended abruptly, and Owen was thrown back from the pool, gasping for air. He blinked rapidly, his body trembling as the golden glow receded.
Back in the Monastery
The head monk stepped forward, helping Owen to his feet. "You have seen what lies ahead," the monk said softly. "The path is not easy, but it is worthy of a soul seeking purpose."
Owen, still catching his breath, nodded resolutely. "I'm ready. Whatever it takes, I'll do it."
The monk smiled faintly. "Then your journey begins now."
The chants resumed, filling the monastery as Owen stood tall, his heart racing not with fear but with determination. For the first time in his life, he felt truly alive, ready to face the trials ahead.
Owen's Commitment to the Path
The head monk's serene voice broke the silence, his gaze steady yet filled with a gravity that Owen couldn't ignore.
"Embracing this path, Owen, means renouncing all attachments that tether you to your past. Your married life, your bonds with the world of comfort and familiarity—they must be left behind."
Owen froze for a moment, his hand instinctively brushing against the ring on his finger. Yvette's face flashed in his mind—her laughter, her tears, her reluctance to let go of their bond despite the turmoil. But then came the memory of her longing for Randall, her hesitation to choose him fully, and the future he had just witnessed.
He clenched his jaw, his decision already made.
"Then I'll sever it all," he said firmly, his voice resolute.
The monks watched silently as Owen drew a ceremonial dagger from the altar. Its blade gleamed in the dim light, sharp and unforgiving. He extended his left hand, his wedding ring gleaming faintly on his finger—a symbol of a life that no longer fit who he was becoming.
Owen's Oath to the Future
"This ring was a promise," Owen said, his voice steady despite the weight of his words. "A promise to a life I thought I wanted. But now I see... I've been holding on to a lie."
Without hesitation, he placed the blade against the base of his ring finger. "I'll make a new promise—one to myself and my future."
The monks exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable, as Owen pressed down. Pain seared through his hand, blood pooling as he severed the finger that bore the ring. He didn't flinch, his gaze locked onto the severed finger that now lay on the cold stone floor. The ring shimmered faintly before it rolled away, forgotten.
He wrapped his hand tightly with a strip of cloth offered by one of the monks, the crimson staining it like a badge of his commitment.
The Monk's Response
The head monk stepped forward, his expression solemn. "You have shown great resolve, Owen. Pain is the first teacher on this path. Every wound, every sacrifice, will forge you into the warrior you are destined to become."
Owen looked down at his bloodied hand and then back at the monks. His voice was quiet but filled with an unshakable determination.
"This pain... is nothing compared to the emptiness I felt before. I'll endure whatever comes next."
The head monk nodded. "Then the first lesson begins now. Leave your past here. Step forward and embrace the future you have chosen."
The Ring's Final Rest
As Owen walked away, the severed finger and ring remained on the ground, a stark reminder of the life he had just abandoned. A gust of wind blew through the monastery, scattering the dust over the ring as if burying it with the past.
Owen didn't look back. With every step, he felt the weight of his old life lifting, replaced by the fiery determination to forge a new one, no matter how painful the journey ahead might be.