For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Xaidon felt a spark of emotion, and he slowly turned his head toward the source. A black serpent perched on his shoulder, its presence both startling and unnerving. Xaidon's gaze darted between the snake and the darkness around him, unsure how to react. The voice spoke again, its tone laced with disdain. "How unfortunate. I was meant for one of the princes, but that fool gave me to you. He has no idea I'm not bound to serve him forever."
As Xaidon's eyes locked onto the serpent, he realized it was the source of the voice. Yet, his interest was short-lived, and he looked away, his gaze drifting back to the floor. The voice grew irritated. "Are you ignoring me?" It then taunted Xaidon, its words cutting deep. "You bastard. No wonder you'd ignore reason if you're responsible for your mother's death."
Xaidon's head snapped back toward the snake, but it had shifted positions, now on his other side. The voice continued its verbal assault. "That's better. Now wake up and get out of here. Think about what your father must be feeling, knowing his favorite child is trapped in this filth, covered in wounds, and subjected to an old man's twisted desires. Stop being a disappointment."
The voice faded away, and the serpent vanished into the shadows, leaving Xaidon in the same darkness, but with a glimmer of awareness that something within him might be stirring.
Xaidon stared into the darkness for a long time before he closed his eyes. This time he was thinking, remembering an old memory. He tried his hardest, but every time, the same haunting images of the old man's torture resurfaced. He kept trying until finally, a memory from the past emerged.
In a vast land with green, soft grass, a boy sat cross-legged, and in front of him, his father, the emperor, sat as well. "Now, son, today I will teach you what makes us Worroris different from regular humans," he said, instructing his son to close his eyes. "Feel the ground, feel the air, feel everything—not with your body but with your soul. Try to understand the ground under you. Once you've figured it out, try to pull it toward you."
The emperor watched his son in silence for a while before sighing. "Don't force yourself; it takes time to manipulate matter..." Before he could finish, the air changed, being attracted to one place. The emperor felt the shift in Qi—a pure, concentrated energy moving toward his son Xaidon. Suddenly, it stopped and dispersed.
Xaidon opened his eyes slowly and jumped toward his father with excitement. "I did it, Father!" His voice was filled with enthusiasm. The emperor laughed, carrying his son on his shoulders. "Come, let's hunt a beast for a feast!"
Xaidon sat cross-legged, tears streaming down his face as he yearned for his past life. Focusing on the present, he attempted to harness his Qi, just as he had in childhood. However, his energy surged only to be abruptly suppressed, causing him to cough up blood and feel a searing pain in his chest. The needle embedded in his body seemed to be controlling his Qi, thwarting his efforts.
Undeterred, Xaidon persisted, driven by determination. Despite repeated failures, he refused to give up, slowly gaining control over his Qi.
Xaidon's breakthrough in controlling his Qi was overshadowed by the approaching footsteps. He devised a plan and feigned stillness, eyes closed. The old man entered, his voice dripping with malice.
"Good morning, my dearest." He lifted Xaidon's head, their eyes meeting briefly. The old man's smile suggested he saw what he wanted to – Xaidon's apparent submission. "I see you've missed me. I brought a new toy for us to play with today." The old man's words hung in the air, filled with sinister intent.
Months went by and Xaidon continued his daily routine, cultivating his Qi and training his body in secret. He observed the guards and noted the layout of his underground cell, realizing it was likely the only one on his floor but suspecting there were more above him. Alexander's periodic visits provided a crucial pattern for Xaidon to track, as he would often leave for months before returning. Xaidon planned to wait for Alexander's departure and then make his move, aware that he wasn't yet strong enough to defeat him but determined to seize the opportunity when the time was right. Despite the scarcity of food, Xaidon's Qi helped sustain him as he prepared for his chance to escape and exact revenge.
Today, Xaidon sat cross-legged, focusing on building his Qi, when he heard heavy footsteps. He positioned himself well and looked down. Alexander walked out, clad in bronze armor. Despite being nearly two years older, Alexander hadn't aged at all. He gazed at Xaidon with a cold expression for a while, then departed without a word. After a few moments, Xaidon raised his head, his face etched with a cold look. He seethed with hatred for the man. With a sigh, he continued training his Qi, aware that his moment could arrive at any time. He decided to wait a few days to ensure that, if Alexander was called back, it would take some time before he arrived. Days passed, and now Xaidon lay on the ground, his body covered in wounds, though they weren't as deep as before. This was because the old man was growing too weak to continue. A smile spread across Xaidon's face, for he knew it was almost time to put his plan into action.
As Xaidon sat on the chilly floor, the sound of approaching footsteps caught his attention. He composed himself as a young man entered the cell, his face alight with excitement. "The master won't be able to visit you again, so I'll be taking over from here." the young man announced, turning to face the table.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure we have plenty of fun. You won't even miss the old man. What do you think we should start with? I think we should try the sh—" The young man's words were abruptly cut short as a needle pierced the back of his neck, damaging his vocal cords. Confusion clouded his eyes as he slumped to the floor, lifeless. Xaidon stood over the corpse, his gaze cold and unyielding. "You talk too much."