B1C1: The Rebirth Ceremony (I)

A boy of about seven or eight years old was running over the icy mountains in the far-off town of Arundel, which was governed by Free city. His slender, slightly wiry build is a sign of his developing athletic prowess. His short, unruly brown hair almost blends in with his sun-kissed complexion. He donned custom-made warm brown fur clothing and wore a bag on his back. His blue lips arched into a cheery smile, showing off his sparkling white teeth, despite the chill. Snow fell softly from the rustling trees as he pursued a startled wild deer while tightly gripping a short spear made of black wood in his right hand.

"Alright!" he exclaimed.

Lifting the short spear, the boy leaned back, channelling strength from his waist to his arm. With a powerful throw, the spear soared through the air, whistling as it narrowly missed the deer's hindquarters, leaving behind a tiny speck of blood. The deer vanished into the snowy distance, sprinting towards the depths of the mountains.

"I guess there won't be any meat for dinner tonight," the young boy sighed.

Instinctively, he took off his warm jacket to get ready for his training. The majority of his disciples were still asleep at this early hour, as were several of his family's servants. This boy, Caleb, wasn't particularly attractive, but he had a certain appeal. His golden iris, which set him apart from other clan members and exuded clarity, resolve, and ambition, was his most noticeable characteristic.

Caleb murmured to himself, "Just a little longer, and I can attain the first level of the Mortal Rank, Skin Toughness." If those disciples come searching for trouble, maybe I won't get wounded.

Caleb was a member of the Levi Clan's branch family, which was treated less favourably than the main family as a whole. Children from branch families were never given preference; instead, their parents were forced to perform menial labour in order to assure their children's upbringing within the clan. Knowing there would be no repercussions, the children of the main family developed a habit of bullying the younger children of the branch families. Most branch offspring were required to swear allegiance to the main family for protection and resources.

After completing his three hours of training, Caleb started his journey home. People began to emerge from their homes at this hour of the morning as the clan awoke and prepared for the day. Caleb made a swift trip back, doing his best to stay clear of most of the clan members. As he approached his front door, Caleb shouted, "Mother, I'm back!"

"Caleb, did you go mountain hunting again? The mountains are not a safe place for a seven-year-old boy to wander, I thought I made that clear yesterday!. His mother chastised him, "There are terrible creatures and who knows what else lurks in those freezing mountains. Her face revealed worry and underlying love despite her irritation at his early morning training. Knowing that he experienced bullying inside the clan, she was impressed by his diligence. She raised him on her own as a widow, her little contribution to the clan only amounted to enough grain to keep them both alive. She could only hope for Caleb's protection because they lacked the means to properly raise him by sending him to the main clan.

After several months, Caleb kept up his early-morning mountain regimen. He occasionally had the opportunity to hunt game, but other times he came across the henchmen of the main clan, who would alternately test his martial-arts prowess on him. Caleb's days as a punching bag were made a little easier to bear, though, because of his unshakable determination, he was able to reach the Mortal Rank's Skin Toughness level.

"Mother, the clan's rebirth ceremony takes place tomorrow. I'm going to find out if I have what it takes to be a martial artist now that I'm eight years old," Caleb exclaimed eagerly. He had anxiously looked forward to this day, expecting to find out if he had a gift that would enable him to transform from a simple carp into a powerful dragon.

In the meantime, Caleb's mother was worried because she knew that if he was found to be untalented as a male child, he would be banished from the tribe and forced to fend for himself without any aid from the clan. Additionally, there was no guarantee that the clan would support him even if he possessed extraordinary qualities as this would draw unwanted attention and envy from the main family. "Oh mighty one who created all things, please watch over my dear," she pleaded as she bowed down her head to pray.