"Wisp, wake up... WAKE UP DAMMIT! Now's no time to be sleeping..." Orien walked home alone.

  Today, it seemed like everyone went straight home after the evaluation.

  There were no classes today. They would resume tomorrow, but they were not mandatory for the remainder of the month, only for those who wanted to revise what they had learned this year.

  Sighhh.

  Orien envied those who would make their families proud and celebrate all throughout the night. He dreaded going home and bearing the news but understood he couldn't escape from it.

  He dragged his feet, eventually going home. His mother was sitting at their table, not eating but just in thought. His father wasn’t home yet, he was still working.

  "How was it, Orien?" She had a hopeful look on her face. ‘I’m not surprised that she came to know about today’s evaluation, but I would have liked some time to think about how I'd say this...’ Orien couldn’t make eye contact. He felt that his face was telling enough but he choked out, "I... didn't make the cut. I have a month to prove myself... otherwise I-"

  "Say no more, my son, come here.” She said, motioning to hug him.

  Orien's vision turned wavy and his nose stung as tears finally fell from his face.

  "I'm sorry, Mom."

  "What is there to be sorry for? Tell me what happened. No matter what happened today, you're still my son and I still love you."

  After a few minutes of shedding silent tears of shame, aggrievance, and even a bit of despair and fear for the future, Orien started to recompose himself.

  "I didn't pass, Mom. I don't even know how to raise my affinity for body refinement. At this age, my muscles are less than even yours. What am I supposed to do? I resonated with another element or concept but there wasn't a clear explanation, the symbol just said 'other'."

  "Don't fret, I'm sure you know that although you have ways to go in terms of body refinement, there's another aspect you're completely missing. Think. What is it?”

  Orien turned his head towards the ceiling in thought, and after a few moments said, "Will? My willpower?"

  "That's correct. It must be lacking, or you must be very unfocused, hmm?" His mother gave him an investigative look, "Are you worried about your father and I? You shouldn't fit yourself into an adult's business!" She gave a gentle smile and tousled his hair.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  "I'm not a kid, how can I not understand that we're struggling, Mom? Ever since my big brother left, you two have fallen back onto your bad habits."

  She fell silent for a moment, thinking of how to respond.

  "Your big brother, like you, had to prove himself six years ago. You remember, don't you? He passed with flying colors... but I'm afraid that may have led to him being arrogant. Of my two children, you have the favorable temperament. I have confidence that you'll exceed our expectations, but that is not meant to place a burden on you. We support you and your brother no matter what."

  ‘My brother... he was accepted into the sect six years ago, but four years ago he stopped writing back. We weren't suspicious, all qualified sect members are sent out into the world to gain experience. My big brother was no different. He was truly a star in the sky, and I genuinely looked up to my big brother.’

  But then a messenger came by and informed them.

  "Your son, Volan, has not written to us or reported to the sect this month."

  ‘This was unusual because he wouldn't forget something important like that. Months and months went by, and my parents got worse with it. The drinking started and the rest followed. I felt neglected for some time, but it got worse by the time they remembered they still had another child. They became overprotective for a time. Eventually... things just maintained itself in a broken way,’ Orien thought to himself.

  The flood of memories started to dissipate.

  "Thank you for talking to me, Mom. I'll be in my room. Please let me know when Dad arrives,” Orien said before he made his way to his room and fell flat into his bed.

  He felt tired after everything today, so he closed his eyes and hoped to fall asleep until he heard a voice.

  "Crybaby brat, I'm aware of everything that's happened while I was sorting out my thoughts. Including your yelling. I have several things to say and maybe you'll feel better by the end of this conversation. Firstly... the stone to check your affinity, I felt strongly that it would have checked my affinity as well but here's no need, as you have no way of getting to that stone for the time being. Secondly, I can assist you with your body refinement this month if you listen to exactly what I tell you to do. If you disobey me, this old grandfather will not raise a finger to help you. Lastly... you've really got the hots for that lass Mila, don't you? Boy! You sure are passionate!"

  Orien's face turned red from both embarrassment and anger.

  "That's none of your business, old freak! How can you help me? You're basically a ghost. Plus, I don't have enough money to afford anything to assist with tempering my body."

  "Well, you do reside in a place where even birds don't shit, so I can't exactly help you find any shortcuts. However, you're forgetting again. Willpower... This is built up through confidence in the actions that you take and the achievements that you build for yourself. It can have a direct impact on your performance whether it’s exerting your full power or something as simple as a test. I’m sure you’re aware your affinity won’t disappear, it just won’t be at the maximum. "

  Orien nodded, fully invested in the conversation he was having with Wisp.

  Wisp continued, “Also, while I can’t say there are any remarkable resources on this little, tiny shit of an island, there are always going to be spirit stones or spiritual grass, the real low-grade stuff that can pop up anywhere. Without a doubt, the sect that is controlling this island probably has a monopoly, but I may have a plan.”

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