Chapter 3 - Reading Fate
Appearing in front of a Grand Tower that seemed to pierce the skies above, Takashi and Lysa directly opened the grand doors. All while hundreds of youths watched with their mouths agape. Seeing the Patriarch and Matriarch in public was an especially rare occasion. This pair usually kept to themselves and only appeared in public when important events were held, and their presence was needed. Otherwise, they would never appear in front of so many youths of the younger generation.
Ryu is apart of this younger generation, he was born on the exact day of the new generation. As each generation last about 2 million years. And obviously with the 2 million years having passed for the previous generation, those born within the last 10 are apart of this new generation.
Long explanation short, Ryu is technically 10 years behind the true start of this generation. Even though his birthday marks the new generation. Not that this will mean too much, considering he already has a head start in building his foundation. Something not started until after your awakening ceremony at the age of 10.
Entering the grand tower they were greeted by the Head Elder himself.
"Master, Mistress, how may I be of service to you today?" The old man covered in a grey robe asked.
"Don't play dumb with me old man. I'm not in the mood." Lysa told him directly while releasing a suppressive force, making the 30 people on the bottom floor kneel.
"Let us go to the top of the tower and have a chat. Today will be a very big day for you." Takashi said while walking up the stairs with Lysa in arm, leaving the Elder kneeling.
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In a decent sized room furnished with ancient chairs and a desk, Lysa was sitting down with Ryu in her arms stroking his soft white hair. The Elder was behind his desk holding his palms to his head in worry and Takashi was glaring at him. A strong aura growing from Takashi's eyes as he was losing his patience.
"You will read Ryu's Fate, you don't get a choice in this matter. At the very least we need to know how long he has to live."
"But-"
"NO BUTS! YOU WILL DO IT, OR YOU WILL DIE!" Lysa roared in anger, "IS THIS NOT YOUR JOB?! ARE YOU NOT DUTY BOUND TO FOLLOW THE PATRIARCHS ORDERS?!"
The Elder looked down in shame, clearly understanding his fault. However, he knows better than anyone that doing this is almost the same as forfeiting his own life. A life that has lasted for millions of years due to his deep cultivation. Clearly he did not love this profession of his at the moment.
"I understand Patriarch. I will do what I have been asked. This is will be my final thank you to the Clan." He said in a somber tone.
"Good, your family will be rewarded well for this. They will not fall to the wayside if you were to die doing this." Takashi replied straightforwardly.
"Hmmph, old bat finally doing your job." Lysa sneered, clearly still not very happy.
"Can I see the Young Master?" He asked while stretching a hand out to Ryu.
Though Lysa had a pensive look on her face she eventually wrapped Ryu in a beautiful Starlight Energy. Then let go of him and controlled the energy to send him to the Elder.
The Elder, Jack, carefully picked Ryu up and cradled him in his arms. Ryu's once sleepy eyes snapped open, peering into Jack's grey eyes. Jack was taken aback by the beautiful Gold that seemed to shine withing Ryu's eyes. Intelligence flashed within Ryu's eyes, before disappearing and turning to confusion.
"Young Master Ryu, I will be reading your Fate. No need to worry about anything."
Placing his palm to Ryu's head Jack closed his eyes. Circulating all the Fate energy within his body Jack concentrated it within his palm. Leaving a single strand linking his palm to his brain.
BOOM! Lightning struck the tower, clouds rolled in covering billions of miles with the tower as its center. A golden light seemed to pierce through the clouds, right through the tower before landing on Ryu.
Jack's eyes snapped open, now a blinding gold that bathed the room in light. Then, the gold light seemed to concentrate into a single screen like formation.
Sounds of weapons clashing and people yelling filled the room. Earth shattering cacophonic booms shattered the towers windows. Within the formation a young man, not much older than 20 seemed to be obliterating waves of enemies on his own. A a pure black sword in hand he charged forward, each slash he took reaped hundreds of lives. Blood flying everywhere he seemed almost out of place with his shiny white hair not having a single splash of red.
His golden eyes scanned the battle field at speeds that should not be possible. So as he charged forward it seemed he left 2 thin trails of gold at eye level. As the picture zoomed out a sword was seen sticking through his body. Pierced from his stomach through to his back. Though it clearly did not slow his lightning fast speed. As by the second hundreds died without ever seeing the sword energy cut them down.
The young man, clearly Ryu, seemed to be charging towards another young man who was slumped over with a spear though him, holding his body up.
"DAMNIT OPEN YOUR EYES! YOU CANNOT DIE ON ME!" Ryu roared, shaking the battlefield.
CRACK! The screen shattered and the clouds vanished.
Jack coughed a mouthful of blood, making sure to lean over so as not to get any on Ryu. Lysa and Takashi were in a trance, clearly they had not seen what they hoped to.
"He has 20 years, 3 months, and 2 days to live. It is unknown how he will be made to appear on this battlefield, but it seems he will appear by his own volition. Cause of death is not known. Outcome of this Fate reading: Unknown, the outcome was too Heaven Shattering causing the Fate Reading to end before the conclusion." Jack said in a monotonous voice.
"I'm sorry Patriarch, that was all I could see."
"I understand, thank you, we have the information we came for. And you survived. Your family will rise." Takashi responded solemnly before disappearing with Lysa and Ryu.
With the reading of Ryu's Fate Takashi and Lysa came up with their plans. They would raise Ryu to be the strongest warrior possible. This however, is not much different than what they would have originally done even without his Fate. Simply because, that is the best way for him to have a good life anyway. And as the Hoshinomori Successor, it is his duty to take up the mantle as Patriarch and lead his Empire into the future.
In this world of Cultivation it was the survival of the fittest. If you could not back up your words, it was best to stay quite and allow yourself to be walked over. However, if you are a living being with intelligence, can you really live that way? No, so you will grasp power for yourself, hoping to bring yourself and your family if you have one, a better future.
Thus, on the outside, nothing is really changing for Lysa, Takashi, and Ryu. However, Takashi and Lysa know about the massive changes they will bring to the Clan.
From the outside looking in, the Hoshinomori Clan seem to be a perfectly unified Clan. However in reality, the Clan is split into 3 "factions". Those following the Clan's Ancient Laws and submitting to the Patriarch. Those who believe the Clan owes them for their contributions, and thus do not submit to the Patriarch and only keep an amiable front. And those who remain "neutral" neither completely disregarding the Patriarch, but not completely following his orders either.
The Hoshinomori Clan was quite fractured. Mainly because the Clan no longer consists of just those with Hoshinomori blood, but also consisting of people the Clan took in and raised.
But now, a lot was going to change. Takashi and Lysa were no pushovers. And Takashi of course has the backing of his Ancestors, as they all follow the true Ancient Laws of the Clan as Hoshinomori blood runs through their veins. And their pride for their clan is bone deep, and with the current structure, to say they are disappointed is an understatement. And now that a Patriarch with backbone has appeared, they are ready to force some changes.