Age of Heroes

'You returned.' 

Arial said, after sensing Xiyun has entered the house. Arial is still sipping the tea, and the firewood in the fireplace has been changed to a new one. 

He is still thinking about that matter. He did not know how to approach the subject. By now, he has heard from Silas. 

Actually he heard from Silas after he gave the name to her daughter. 

The subject in which Silas relayed to him was a sensitive matter, spoken silently that deals with the reputation of three great houses.

'Hmm' he sighed. Either way, the Meet is used as a way for him to clear his mind. To soothe his anger. 

Helia. Kyle. What should he do about both of them? One is the woman she loves. Another, a bosom friend. 

It is…a betrayal, he knows. 

But is he completely faultless in this? After all, the rift that happens is because of him, partly because of his secret and lies. 

Secrets of his second life. Lies of his heart problem. He could have died during his expedition and leave his wife a widow.

Arial even admit it. He is not the sharing type. He burdens it all alone. The pain. The grief. The suffering. 

All of this on his shoulder. In a way, he is arrogant. Believing himself to be the savior of the world. 

Believing he is the only person that could have stopped the Invasion. 

He believes that he could do it all alone. To Arial, he believes it is his responsibility. Because he had a second chance of life. 

It was like the Light Above is giving him a second chance to do it all again.

To him, the Light Above had given him a holy quest to save the lives of people that have suffered because of the Invasion.

To others, he is arrogant, trying to take all the burden, never sharing. 

Silas offer to punish Kyle, a mild punishment exiling him to some far remote area of Arrandy, to let the both of them never see each other. 

Arial on the other hand believes that it will only exacerbate the condition. After all their longing will only be more intense if they are in love with each other.

But for some reason Arial could not--- did not want to give any punishment. He knew leaving her wife now, is not a wise move. 

But in the end, Arial will have to trust Helia. And respect her decision. Helia still doesn't know that he knows. 

In a way Arial too is guilty of the same charge. Maybe that is why he is trying to think about this matter more calmly.

Either way, when he returns he will have to face both of them. Worst case scenario, they will divorce. 

Many said divorce is in the hand of man but Arial do not believe this. At least not in the matter of his marriage. 

He always believes the decision to end, or begin this, has always been Helia choice. Her choice. Her decision. 

It has bene that way in the past. Since she started it, she also need to decide how to end it. It is ironic Arial thought.,

Of all the woman that said they love him, they always leave him behind. It is the same for Helia and it is the same for Velamina.

What is more ironic, is that he could not use his power to make them stay. 

He could make the body stay. But as for their hearts? How could he guaranteed that their hearts won't leave?

Velamina leave him but she did not leave her heart. Her heart still beats for him, at least that is what he believes. And as for Helia, he does not know. 

Does her heart still beat for him? Or, does it beat for another now? 

He could only decide after he returns.

The fire in the fireplace is crackling, marking the passage of time as he wakes himself from his thoughts.

Arial changed the firewood when Xiyun went to get her belongings. He could not let his disciples to sleep in the cold. 

He on the other hand has no problem with the cold but he doubts normal humans share his blessing.

He looks at his disciple looing ragged and with grass beneath her boots

'Get all of your belonging, Xiyun?'

'Yes, teacher.' 

Xiyun said, smiling, on both of her arms is a package of clothes and some needles, necklace and a few pills.

Pills huh, what pill he mused. 

Arial did not ask Xiyun to show her the content of her belonging after all such act is unfitting behavior asking a woman to show her belonging to another man. 

They maybe teacher and disciple but their age is not that far off.

'There is a room on the upper level. You may sleep there. Since I'm, the only one in this house if you felt a dreadful presence, don't worry. It is me, training.' 

'Yes, teacher.' She bows 

Xiyun climb the stairs and put her belongings in one of the rooms. It is a big room. At least she didn't have to share with anyone else.

No bullying or ridicule anymore. Well considering she is the only one in the All-Conquering Sect of course no one could bully her.

'Xiyun!' suddenly Arial called out to her. 

Quickly Xiyun who has already begin putting her body on the bed, jumped down. She quickly rushed to her teacher.

'Yes, teacher.' The door is open and the cold wind enters. Xiyun shivers a little. Thankfully Arial is sitting around the fireplace. 

The warmth seeps into Xiyun body and the cold dissipate a little.

'Sit' her teacher order. 

She sits. Arial look at the open door. 

'This is private' he said his eyes looking at the door and she understand. She was about to get up and close all the doors and windows but Arial said. 

'Don't.' 

He makes a circular motion with his hand and all the doors and windows in the house suddenly like wind from outside came and all the doors and windows is shut tight. 

Truly he is an expert Xiyun thought. I did not choose wrong. 

'Teacher, why the secrecy?' 

'I want to teach you. And I don't want any uninvited guest comes eavesdropping or looking' 

'Now? Right now?' 

'Yes. Why? You have a problem?' 

'No. But where will I train? Outside with the wind breeze?' Then Xiyun almost slapped her head. 

Since her teacher close all the windows in the house of course the training will be done inside

'No. No external skill. Internal skill. More accurately, cultivation technique.' 

'Cultivation technique?' And Xiyun become more excited

'Yes. I said before that your internal energy compared to others is weak. So in order for you to surpass all of this people, what is it you need to do?' 

'Understanding the concept?' 

'Yes. But that isn't enough. These people have been training for years.' Xiyun nodded, understanding her disadvantage positions.

'My technique, I daresay is stronger and unique among all the internal energy technique. I will impart my wisdom to you but it depends on you to train it. Hard work beat genius every time. Remember my words.' 

'Yes teacher.' 

That night Arial teach her the intricacies of the cultivation technique of Levitia. Of course Arial did not call it the Cultivation technique of Levitia. 

If he called it that, they are a lot of question he has to answer. After teaching her, instead of allowing her to go to sleep Arial then force her to quickly show him what she have learned. 

But it is not so bad for Xiyun. The moment she practices it; she could feel like her body is swelling with energy. 

It was easier than the Ermeishan inner skill cultivation. It was...unrestricted. Free. Maybe what teacher said to me rings truth. Three years huh she said to herself.

She didn't even realize that it was morning. 

Instead of feeling tired, she felt energized. Arial on the other hand after watching Xiyun lost in her training, smile and went to sleep. 

After all, Arial training is high level and Imposing Presence used a lot of internal energy. Especially when one hour is equivalent to ten hours. 

Training for four hours would be like he is practicing for two days.

*************************************************************************