-2 Divergence of Paths (1/2)

Author thoughts: This chapter is a necessary read for the story to make sense, but chapter -1 is not necessary.

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At the precipice of a snowy mountain, was a bygone cottage. The old wooden planks stood securely as it was held together by foliage. If one were not looking closely, they would suspect that it was nothing more than a tree.

Sitting at the porch of the cabin was a beautiful woman dressed in a frilly white dress. She had serenely calm blue eyes and white, luscious hair that reached down to her waist. In front of her were two cups and next to them was a teapot and a bowl of sugar.

She sat silently for a while as the tea cooled when suddenly a sanguine wind passed by the cottage. The wind left a chilling feeling as it flashed across the mountain and then suddenly a few feet in the sky appeared a white-robed man.

His feet were firmly planted on air as he walked down toward the cottage. The young man was wearing white robes but there were bloodstains all over it. From afar it looked like he was wearing red robes instead of white robes.

His eyes were filled with intense malice that threatened to devour anything in its line of sight. The young man landed on the ground turning the snow blood red with a single step. The entire mountain peak seemed to turn red in his presence.

When the young man saw the woman, his cold eyes seemed to soften considerably. The sanguine aura around him calmed significantly as he approached her and sat in front of her. The beautiful woman soundlessly set a cup in front of the young man and poured tea.

”Sugar?” She asked with a soft voice that soothed one's heart.

”Yes.” The young man intoned, his demeanor transformed from his previous malice filled expression.

She reached over for the bowl and took a spoon and threw in a few teaspoons, then the young man gestured for her to stop. She put down the bowl and poured herself more tea.

The young man grabbed the cup and took a small sip. A cleansing aura entered his body and settled in his stomach. He felt as though he was riding on a cloud and suddenly the sanguine aura and blood on his robes disappeared.

”How is it?” She asked as she gave him a cursory glance.

”Your spirit tea is incredibly soothing. I can feel the purity in my soul.” The young man praised as he put down the cup.

The young woman looked down at the ground as hesitation flashed on her face. The young man looked around the mountain waiting until suddenly she raised her head with determination and spoke.

”You didn't come here just for tea.” She said with certainty.

The young man couldn't help but become serious at that moment, and he focused his attention back to her. With no hesitation, he spoke: ”I came to say goodbye.”

”Goodbye?” She couldn't help but say quizzically.

”Why? Why must you leave?” She said with a somber frown.

”I must walk my path to the end.” He replied as he stood up with his back turned to her and looked to the skies.

”What path? What path could surpass our bond?” She said as she stood up and gripped the hems of her robe with bitterness.

”Bond, what bond? That ended in this life.” He said as he threw a cursory glance at her with his back still turned.

”What?!?” She questioned unsure of what he meant.

”Did you know? I've already done it, I've killed my father.” He said as a serpent materialized on his left hand and he showed it to her.

”You...how could you?!?” She said surprised as her body felt unbalanced by the sight of the serpent.

”I had done so long ago, and I had done far more. The aura you dispelled is nothing.” He said coldly as he raised his palms towards the skies.

The young man's eyes transformed into a great world that lived and died in an instant. It was like a vision of the eventual death of the universe. All that remained in his eyes was the cold eyes of heaven unmatched.

From his body burst out a massive blood river that filled the entire sky and reached for beyond the firmament. The blood river stretched across the entire land threatening to engulf the world.

The young woman looked closely into the river and noticed hundreds of writhing faces and souls. The torment of millions of lives all in front of her made her nauseous and fearful.

”It's not possible, how could you be such a demon?!” She screamed with bitter disbelief, she lost her balance and fell to the ground of the cabin.