Though hard times feel long, hope will someday come.
That was what Hadrian's mother always told him. Though a simple sentence, it was what kept him going all this time. It was his drive, his motivation and what made him endure the myriad hardships of being an illegitimate child of the current Maxim Family Head
The Maxim family was one of the top three great families of the nine clouds domain.Being so, all Hadrian knew was hardship. From public ridicule from the academy, silent schemes,and even private scorns from his father's legitimate wife and son, what Hadrian endured these few years was unimaginable. And it even got worse as he turned twenty due to the upcoming Source awakening.
They were scared.
To the extent of even getting him expelled from the High arts academy where one builds foundation for future cultivation.
"Why am I expelled. Am i not top ten in my class? it can't be my scholarship is at risk, right? Cause that will be ludicrous! So why? I need an answer from you today! "
He recalled asking the dean. But the answer he got was so much what he expected that he almost vomited blood. He wished it was something else but...
"You know why. Don't blame me, blame your impure illegitimate blood."
At that time, Hadrian clenched his fists until his nails dug into his palms.
'Impure blood'.
The words echoed again and again, bouncing off the hollow walls of his heart.
How many times had he heard those words? A hundred? A thousand? It didn't matter anymore. Every time they said it, it only reminded him of the one truth the Maxim family wanted to bury. His existence was an inconvenience.
He turned from the dean's office, each step heavier than the last. The whispers followed him through the corridor like shadows.
"Did you hear? The bastard's finally gone."
"About time. A stain like that had no place here."
"Phew! Finally"
"Finally "
"What a dreg"
"About time!!"
"Finally cleaned house"
That day, Hadrian tried to ignore them. Like he always did, but..but he couldn't help but feel a scorching sensation.
It hurt.
It hurt so badly that tears couldnt help linger in-between his eyelids. Just waiting for a final push.
He was now packing up his belongings.
"Are you okay?"
There it was. That final nudge. Joy Bastille.
The number one beauty of the academy. The one person whom Hadrian ever liked in this shithole of a school.
And that was all because she was one of two people who were ever kind to him. The other was whom Hadrian could at least consider a friend. Ethan wavetide.
For Joy Bastille, Hadrian knew, he knew that it was not kindness or any kind of sentiment but,it was still enough. He knew it was just her aloofness from mortal affairs that made it seem like kindness but he was still grateful.
Well at least she never rebuked me right?. Hadrian always thought.
At this moment however, tears rolled down unobstructed. Not even a whimper could be heard. It was a heartbreaking scene of a grown man crying.
But what could make a grown man cry?
If not Injustice!
***
Presently it had been exactly one year since Hadrian got expelled from the academy. He stood at a window of an elixir shop in a daze.
Recalling that day, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
"I wonder how she's doing these days"
"She should be at the awakening ceremony tomorrow right!"
Just thinking of it made him blush with a tinge of red.
He shook his head to stop daydreaming. Looked inside the window to spot a jade elixir exhibited in a glass container. The look in his eyes showed determination. Even a bit of ambition could be seen.
"I must become a High Art practitioner!"
"I must save mother! I must get revenge!"
"I must sore to the clouds in a single leap!!"
He shouted outloud, alarming the busy victorian-themed like street.
Such bold words spured murmurs from the crowd, but after giving Hadrian a glance, all and sundry turned and busied themselves.
They all knew his identity. One could say it was not hard to recognize the cast out son of one of the strongest men in Nimbus City right?
Compare to before however, Hardrian had a well tonned physique. This was due to the manual labor at the forgery he has been doing ever since being expelled.
One of the consequences of not being an academy student, was no longer receiving the monthly remuneration. Making Hadrian have no choice but to work to cater for his mother's medication and their livelyhood.
It was hard at first. However situations don't have choosers. He took it on.
"It is, what it is. Wait until I awake my source energy, we will see who has the last laugh."
He walked towards his little run down house in the 8th Street. His black hair was tied with a red ribbon while his crimson eyes was gleaming with splendour as he passed through apartment houses and personal residences which were at the moment bathing with the sunset glow.
"Hadrian?" Someone suddenly called out.
Hadrian was taken aback. He knew this voice. It was familiar.
"Hadrian? " This time Hadrian looked back. A nobles carriage with groomed horsed was heading towards him. From inside the carriage, a head popped out the carriage window.
It was a youth will snow white wavy hair, blue eyes and a rosy face.
"Ethan?" Hadrian called out excitedly.
"Get in ! I'll give you a ride home." The carriage stopped and Hadrian got in without any courtesy.
"How have you been. How is the great cloud wall? Did you really see Cloud eaters? Did you? Did you?" Hadrian was like a curious cat, bombarding Ethan with myriad questions.
"He he he! " Ethan laughed.
"Hold your horses there Hadrian. Look I have a gift for you." Ethan held out a copper token. It was plain looking except for the conspicuous wave inscribed on its back. Seeing it, Hadrian's eyes glimmed red, hurriedly taking it into possession.
"Is this really what I think it is? " He asked, a bit unsured.
" Is it really?"
"He he!" Ethan nodded, a chuckle escaping his mouth. He couldn't help it,Hadrian's mood was so contagious.
"Thank you. Thank you very much"
"Come on now Hardrian, what's with the plesentries between us? Oh I have another gift for you." Saying so, Ethan took out a bunch of books from his side and handed them all to Hadrian who was sitting opposite him.
Hadrian took a look at the books. They were five in number, all with titles flashing on their covers.
"A basic introduction to domains"
"21 basic domain runes"
"Static and dynamic domains volume 3"
"Static and dynamic domains volume 4"
"Introduction to tier one and tier two Horrors: Cloud eater edition"
Hadrian couldn't help smiling ear to ear, " In the end, it's you who knows me best."
however, he pushed back three books and softly said. " I have already memorized these three"
Ethan was stunned. Then he smiled cheekely and spoke with a serious tone.
"Actually I came this time because I have a request for you,Hadrian."
"Say less, what can I do for you Ethan?."
"This lad, you don't even know what I need yet?"
"Carry on then."
" Well, you do know that I was at the great cloud wall these few months right?"
" Ohh Yes,yes!"
"Do you know about the tier 6 domain on the wall? It's called the Nine clouds stabilizing domain."
"Yes, yes, I know of it. It's a masterpiece of work that combines both static and dynamic domains. A thing of beauty."
"That's precisely it. At first I always thought that domains are just constraints to ones combat power since over reliance on them may cause negligence but..." Ethan paused.
"But what, don't keep me waiting "
"That was what I thought before seeing that it did to those cloud eaters.." He paused again, as if recalling that scene again. In his eyes was an obstruce fealing.
"Cough! Cough!"
"Ohh, anyway back to my request. I would like you, Hadrian to take me through the basics. I know you are the most familiar with domains, while I am most familiar with you."
Hadrian just looked at him,knowing that this guy was just looking for a reason to help him. He knew what Ethan was thinking and he knew that if Ethan wanted to learn, his family could even hire a tier 5 dormain master to tutor him.
This action made him feel warm inside. He knew his friend was looking after him and he was greatful. This favor,he would repay.
"Ohh, and how is dearest Aunt?" Ethan didn't even wait for Hadrian's answer before changing the topic. This gave Hadrian no leeway to not accept and Hadrian was naturally aware.
"Mother is just fine,her illness is getting better each day. She has never missed her dosage. Not even once." Hadrian couldn't hide his pride.
"That's good. That's good. We are there already, please say hello for me."
"Okay, thanks for today. I will remember!"
Hadrian waved goodbye, putting the copper token in his work stretcher garment and carried the books in his hand.
He approached his house, fealing like today was a good day. The sun had already set, darkness loomed over the city as cloud glowing lamps lit the city automatically from all over the city. Hadrian's house was no exception, although a bit run down, it was still passible.
"Mother, am home."
He walked in and his expression changed right then and there. He noticed that the simple manual domain didn't react to him entering.
Suddenly,the glowing cloud lamps in the house dimmed. Then they glowed with vigor. Two men appeared besides his mother, Cloud source guns pointed at his mother's head.
Behind him, another burly man closed the door, his hoarse voice sending chills down his spine.
"Blame it on your illegitimacy boy! You shouldn't even think about going to the awakening ceremony tomorrow!"
Hadrian twitched. However the men became vigilant and directly threatened.
"Move again and we'll blow her brains out !"