Chapter 1 - Gravis (1/2)

”Why do you want to become strong?”

The last light of dusk was shining through the open window into an enormous bedroom. A young boy, no older than 12, was sitting on the ground while looking at his father. His father also sat on the ground facing his son. The boy's usually curious black eyes seemed unsure.

The boy wore a white shirt and black cloth pants, and his build was average for a child. One could not see anything out of the ordinary, except for one thing. He wore a dark black ring on his right ring finger. The ring had a design that made it look like obsidian, which had not completely hardened yet. Other than the ring, the boy seemed incredibly plain.

His father, on the other hand, was the total opposite. His chiseled and imposing face could make anyone cower in fear and respect. He had the same black eyes as his son, but the feeling they gave was entirely different. In front of those eyes, it felt as if all secrets were laid bare. He wore imposing black and gold robes and an identical-looking ring to his son's. He looked into the boy's eyes.

After a while, the boy looked away from his father, his eyes drifting to one of the windows. ”To protect the people close to me.” The boy hoped that this time, the answer was good enough for his father. He looked back to his father, now, with hope in his eyes.

There was no change in the man's expression. ”Is there someone that can threaten your close ones?”

”No.” The boy sighed after a while.

”Then, why do you need strength?”

The boy looked uncomfortable. ”I don't need strength. I want strength.” The boy shook his head. ”Why would you not allow me to cultivate, father? Everyone else my age is already at least two major realms higher than me. Every time I walk around the city, I feel useless. I just want to become stronger. Is that wrong?”

The man's expression slightly changed to boredom. ”Instead of telling you, why don't I just show you? Go to the weapon store near the Broken Heaven Plaza. Stay in there for 30 minutes and come back. Then we can continue our conversation.” With that, the door opened on its own.

The boy, Gravis, looked at the door. He sighed and walked out. Why did his dad not just explain things? He always had to send him on these journeys to discover the answer for himself.

Leaving the majestic palace with spires that pierce the sky, he walked to the Broken Heaven Plaza. The city reached over the horizon. There were so many people flying around in the sky that it reminded Gravis of an aggressive beehive. They were either shooting from A to B or just selling some wares in their flying stalls. Not everyone could afford to buy a shop in this city.

Stalls, wares, mounts, slave-beasts, buildings, and even palaces filled the sky. This scenery stretched as far as the eye could see. The Buildings and palaces in the air alone were over ten times the number of buildings on the ground. Though all these flying buildings did not officially belong to the city, they still created a congregation that stretched higher into the sky than the city was long.

Even though the community in the sky, aptly named Sky Community, was only an unimportant part of the city, Gravis always wanted to fly up there with the others.

The Broken Heaven Plaza was not very far from his father's palace. After just a couple of minutes, Gravis arrived. The buildings around the plaza looked very lavish as if all the owners wanted to compete with their money. One building stood out, not for looking especially extravagant, but for looking like a cheap two-floored stone house.

The owner had enough money to build a more prominent building. Just the fact that they owned property in the core of the city proved as much. The building simply didn't need to impress people. Every single person in the city knew it. When his father said, ”Go to the weapon store near Broken Heaven Plaza.” he could only have meant this building. It was the most well-known weapon store in existence, the Divine Weapon House.

Gravis walked into the Divine Weapon House and looked around. It was barren, as not everyone had the right to see the wares. The only thing worthy of interest was a simple-looking old man talking to two other people. Compared to the old man, the luxuriously clothed youngster and the well-armed guard behind him, looked like they oozed money. Gravis walked to a corner of the store and waited.

”Master Linus, please show me your bows,” the youngster practically demanded from the old man in a rather direct manner. Acting like an arrogant young master in front of the best weapon's craftsman in existence seemed inappropriate, but the old man didn't seem to mind.

”Certainly, please come to the second floor.” The old man beckoned politely to the stairs.

The young man and his guard walked up the stairs without waiting for the old man, who quickly followed. Was this what Gravis' father wanted him to see? He was not sure.

”Well, father said I should only come back in 30 minutes, so I might as well wait.” Gravis sighed and stood to the corner of the shop.

After a while, the people from upstairs came back. Without even saying goodbye, the youngster walked to the exit, but immediately stopped when he spotted Gravis.

”Prince, please forgive this little one for not noticing you.” The youngster seemed panicked and quickly bowed deeply in front of Gravis. He seemed very nervous. The guard behind him even kneeled on one knee.

Gravis was used to this scene as it happened all the time. Instead of feeling great or powerful by the subservient attitude, he only felt annoyed. Gravis waved his hand slightly. ”It's okay, don't mind me. You may continue.”

”Thank you, prince.” The youngster rose and quickly walked out of the store with his guard.

The old man saw the commotion and noticed Gravis. He immediately paled upon seeing him. He teleported in front of Gravis, nothing unusual in this city, and bowed. ”Please forgive me, prince! I did not see you entering the store. If I knew, I would've immediately welcomed you.”

Gravis sighed. ”You don't have to apologize. I didn't announce myself or anything. It's okay.”

The old man seemed relieved and finally dared to look at Gravis. ”Thank you, prince. How can this humble self help you?”

Gravis looked around the store. ”Father told me to come and stay here for a while. Though, I am not sure why.”

The owner immediately paled as if he heard that his family died. ”H-his exalted grace?” Why would that person take note of him? Did that person want to hint at something by sending his son here? Did he intend for his son to choose a weapon? That was unlikely. The boy couldn't even lift the lightest needle the old man forged.

Gravis casually shook his hand. ”Forget it. It's nothing to worry about.” Gravis looked at the exit. ”My father probably wanted me to see the exchange earlier.”

The old man was not sure how to answer, but he felt relieved, knowing that that person was not taking note of his shop.

”Well, it doesn't matter. I'll leave. I wish you a good day, master Linus.” Gravis walked out of the store.

”Thank you, prince. I wish you a good day.” The old man bowed once more.

Gravis quickly returned to the royal palace and walked to his father's bedroom, the doors all opening by themselves. His father had not moved at all. Gravis walked to his front and sat down. ”It's been about 30 minutes, father. Can we continue now?”

The expression on his father did not seem to change. He simply narrated, ”The young man in the shop was one of the more useless sons of the head of the Heavenly Divine Sect. The old man was the best weapon smith in the world. In your eyes, whose status is higher?” His father looked at him, waiting for his answer.