Hope! Crushed Or Not?

In a dark room...

A young man is holding a ring with a complicated expression on his face. He is a handsome man with fair skin. His body is thin but not weak.His bright purple eyes are gleaming in darkness. He is tall about 180 cm with dark black hairs which are not so organized. If you see his face you might feel that he is not naive and has a lot of life experience.

His name is Mark. He has reached the age of 18 a week ago. 'I wonder if it will work.' He thought to himself while staring the ring.

The ring is his family heirloom. He was told that it is passed generation by generation for hundreds of years. It is a supreme treasure which is their family secret. When a descendant turns 18, he has to perform blood connection ritual with it to try to gain it's recognition. Till now no one has managed to form a connection with it.

They believed that it is just a rubbish. But remembering their ancestors words they kept trying.

Mark has turned 18 so his sister told him to perform the ritual. He has some hope that it will change their miserable life.

..........

If you don't know then let me tell you.

Their parents went missing since he was 10 years old. Now only he is left with his elder sister who is everything for him. The brother and sister are only relative of each other. His sister was working for a beast selling shop to manage their lives. She will go to hunt magical beasts everyday and come late at night. His happiest moments in his tough life is when both siblings sat together to eat and chat. They both know how difficult their life but they try to make each other happy.

Sometimes his sister will return injured and he feel powerless that he can't help her. Mark is unable to cultivate so he can only look after the house. His sister had tried everything she can do to help her brother cultivate but nothing worked.

.... ....

"Mark let help you with the ritual" from his back came a sweet voice. He turned around and found a tall girl with slender figure. Her oval face and shining purple eyes make her look beautiful. She has long brown hairs which come to her waist. She has a gentle motherly smile on her face.

She is Erona, elder sister of Mark. She is 23 years old and around 170 cm tall. She always took care of Mark like a mother.

"Ok sister" replied Mark.

Erona took a knife and gave it to Mark and said "cut your finger and drop a blood on the ring".

" Sis I hope this work. I feel ashamed that I can't help you. You are sacrificing so much for me but I am a useless brother who can't cultivate" said Mark dejectedly.

"You are not useless. You are my precious brother. Now hurry up and try to form the blood contract" said Erona gently.

"Yes sis"

"I hope you succeed. All the best"

"Thanks sis"

Mark took the knife and with trembling hands he cut his index finger of left hand. He brought his finger closer to the ring. Blood started dripping on the ring. However nothing happened. Drop by drop the blood keep falling on the ring for a whole minute. But to Mark's disappointment the ring showed no reaction.

Erona took a bandage from her spatial ring and wrapped it arround Mark's finger. She placed her hand on his head and said "Don't be disappointed. This is just a small failure."

"So our hope is shattered once again. I guess our parents were saying the truth when they said that this is just an ordinary ring" Mark muttered as his expression was like an old man who lost his last pillar of support.

"Yes you are right. I also tried back then but nothing happened. You have to confident in yourself. One day you will also be able to cultivate. Just don't lose hope" Erona said while patting his head.

"Hope! Hope! Hope! I always hoped for happy family and good future but see what we are now. Why is that my hopes are shattered every time" Mark said with slight angry and slightly disappointed tone.

Erona consoled him and said " Don't worry. We will work harder and live happily. Keep faith in yourself you are my bravest brother how can you easily be defeated."

"Thanks sis for consoling me. I know that I am not strong now but one day I will surely share your burden..... "

~RUMBLE~

Just then an eye binding light shone from the ring which was in hands of Mark. The ring transformed into sparks of light and shot towards the area between Mark's eyebrows. Mark felt a head splitting pain in his head as if someone has tore his brain half.

"Argggh"

"What happened Mark" Erona asked worridly and place Mark's head on her lap. But Mark keep shouting which holding his head with both is hands.

"Arrgghh"

Mark was covered in sweat as his paid did not subdued. Erona kept staring at Mark with pained expression. Tears keep rolling down on her cheeks from her eyes.

After about 10 minutes which felt like eternity for Mark. He opened his eyes and saw his sister's tears stained face. He has to say that she looked even more beautiful with tears on her face.

When Erona saw that Mark has opened his eyes she hurriedly asked in a tone full of concern"What happened to you why were you shouting as someone has spilt your head".

"I don't know sister. After the binding light came from that ring I felt like someone has attacked my brain and I know nothing why that hapenned" Mark explained in a helpless voice.

"Wait, where is that ring" Erona said as she did not find that ring in Mark's hand.

"I think I have dropped it when I was in pain. It should be around here on the floor. Sis let's search that ring we can't lose it"Mark said in an annoyed voice. It was clear he was annoyed at that waste ring of which he didn't get anything.

Just then Mark heard a voice in his head.

[Master! Master! I am here.... ]