Dren stepped into the family hall slowly, keeping his shoulders slumped like always. The room was large and dim, lit by torches along the black stone walls. Shadows danced everywhere, fitting for the Nightveil Clan. A long wooden table stretched down the middle. Elders sat at the front, younger members on the sides. Everyone turned to look as he entered.
He acted the same as before with a blank face, slow walk and eyes half-focused. Inside, his mind was sharp now, he took in every detail. Head Elder Eldar, old with a long white beard, sat in the center chair, aunt Mira was next to him, her face already twisted in dislike. Zev lounged a few seats down, smirking like he owned the place.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMRSTkiGJh
"Dren," Eldar said in his deep, tired voice.
"Sit. We've waited long enough."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xnTtrctmF
Dren nodded slowly, mumbled something low, and shuffled to the empty seat at the very end of the table. He kept his head down, staring at the wood grain like it was interesting.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4c50Z14v8
Eldar cleared his throat. "We all know why we're here. Dren was sent to Beast Valley for the rite. Every fifteen-year-old in the Nightveil Clan must go. It's theTradition."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Q5lYUJXE0
A few snickers came from the sides. Aunt Mira spoke first, voice sharp. "Tradition? Sending him was a joke. We knew he wouldn't tame a single beast. Look at him, he can barely tie his own shoes."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLFGjmCgly
Zev laughed out loud. "Yeah. Did you even find the valley, Dren? Or did you just sit under a tree the whole time?"
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYzQJ5zYcm
More laughter erupted as someone else muttered, "He's probably scared of his own shadow."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkESa8DpGAQ
Dren lifted his head a little, slow like always. He mumbled, "Valley... dark... beasts..." and trailed off.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqg1HVY1Pn
The hall exploded in chuckles. Even some of the younger cousins covered their mouths. Zev slapped the table. "See? Still the same idiot. I bet he ran back crying the first night."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHETlmUKSwF
Anger burned hot in Dren's chest, but he kept it locked down. His fists clenched under the table. Vion's cold voice slid into his mind. "Let them laugh. Fools always mock what they don't understand. You should be wise enough to know that you should save your strength."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDXgP7QUyR
Eldar raised a hand, and the room quieted. "Enough. He returned empty-handed, no spirit beast bonded, no qi awakening that we can sense. As expected."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriRInvC4V8
An elder named Torv, fat and red-faced, leaned forward. "So what now? He's fifteen and now past the rite age. He's useless for cultivation. We should move him to the outer yards permanently. Let him sweep floors or carry water. At least then he's not wasting space in the main compound."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXm201f9ue
Aunt Mira nodded fast. "Better yet, send him to one of the branch families in the villages. Out of sight. He's been a burden since the day he was born. No parents, no talent, nothing."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YO2is3pHK
The words hit harder now that Dren's mind was clear. Before, they had slid off the fog. Now each one cut deep. He remembered years of this, being shoved aside at meals, ignored during lessons, left alone in cold rooms. They had never even tried to teach him, assuming he was too stupid.
He wanted to stand up, to shout that he wasn't the same anymore, that something in the valley had changed everything. But he stayed still. Not yet. He needed time, time to understand what Vion was. Time to feel the power awaking inside him.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAERfRraNJ
Eldar rubbed his beard. "We'll decide his place later. For now, the clan faces real threats. The Duskblade Clan has been raiding our border villages again. Sword qi patrols spotted them last week. We need every able warlock ready."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlt3XN235t4
The talk shifted. Elders discussed defenses, shadow illusion formations, summoning circles for night beasts, poison mists. They spoke of requesting healing potions from the Jadebrew Clan, maybe archer support from Shadowbolt if things got worse.
Dren pretended to zone out, eyes glassy, head nodding a little too late. But he listened to every word. Names of spells he had never understood before now made sense. He felt threads of energy in the air, faint but there, like invisible strings waiting to be pulled.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eG3GbCvET
Zev leaned over after a while, voice low but loud enough for others to hear. "Hey, idiot. After this, go clean the training yard. All the practice dummies need wiping. That's about your speed."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UjyI85PQT
A few cousins laughed again. Dren just nodded slowly, mumbling, "Y-yes..."
Inside, he smiled coldly. “Keep thinking that, Zev.“ He thought to himself.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuO4cZsGQq
The meeting dragged on for another hour, supply counts, training schedules for the younger generation, warnings about staying alert were also things they discussed. Finally, Eldar slammed a hand on the table. "Dismissed. Prepare yourselves. War may come soon."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnkUNhILtH
They all stood up and filed out. Dren waited until almost everyone left, then rose slowly. He shuffled toward the door, keeping the act up.
Once he was outside, he slipped away from the main paths. The compound was huge, black stone buildings connected by covered walkways, courtyards for training, gardens of dark herbs used in warlock potions. He found an empty side courtyard, far from prying eyes. The sun was dipping low, painting everything red and purple.
He sat cross-legged on the cold ground, his back against a wall.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAgVQ39aP7
Vion spoke right away. "Good. You hid it well. They suspect nothing."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgD2Ydw8xW
"What now?" Dren asked quietly.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdymfcKYds6
"Now we test what you have. Close your eyes, breathe slow, feel for the qi in the air. It's everywhere, though, it's thin here but it's enough for a start."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBTlL2ItYt
Dren did as he was told. At first, he felt nothing but his own heartbeat. Then, slowly, he felt a faint warmth in his chest, like a tiny spark.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTjCvPS2nu
"Draw it in," Vion said. "Pull it toward that spark."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfIQuceLfo
Dren focused. The warmth grew, spreading through his arms, legs, head, It tingled, almost burned, but not painful.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTMx5GiirL
"You are better than I expected," Vion muttered.
"Your meridians were blocked before, which was part of what sealed your mind but the valley broke that seal, your Qi flows freely now." Vion said unhurriedly
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOn6R7AWOo
"How far can I go?" Dren asked.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwG7B2RTKH
"Far but slow. You'll start at nothing, first step is Qi Gathering realm, pull in energy, store it in your dantian. Most of the people in your clan reach it by twelve or thirteen. You'll catch up fast with my help." Vion said.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjmhelxpFq
Dren kept breathing, pulling in more qi. The spark became a small flame, sweat beaded on his forehead. After what felt like hours, he opened his eyes. The courtyard was fully dark now, stars out.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzEIaqY71y
"Enough for tonight," Vion said. "You've gathered a thin strand. Tomorrow we'll do more. And I'll teach you your first shadow technique." Vion said.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuNoGtkhLY
Dren stood up, his legs were stiff but he felt different, stronger, even if it was just a little. He walked back toward his small room in the servants' wing.
On the way, he passed the training yard. Zev and a few cousins were still there, practicing basic shadow blades, dark qi forming into short swords. They laughed as they proudly showed off their skills.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUsLSNeTDB
Zev noticed him. "There he is, the yard cleaner. Get to work, loser."
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNOFXezor2
Dren nodded dumbly and picked up a broom from the side. He started sweeping slowly, head down but as he worked, he watched their forms, the way they moved qi from dantian to palms, the hand signs for shaping shadow, he memorized every motion.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSquBqxUhAu
Vion chuckled in his head. "Learning already? Smart.“
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEGC5Ytq9i
Dren swept until they left, still laughing about him. Then he finished quickly and headed to his room.
He lay on the thin mat, staring at the cracked ceiling again. As he thought to himself, tomorrow he would train more and grow even stronger.
The clan thought they knew him but they had no idea what was coming.
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WixNx7LSz
Thank you for reading Awakening of the Young Weirdo.
Dren’s rise is just beginning.
Who’s your favorite character so far or the one you can’t stand?
More shadows soon.
ns216.73.216.253da2
and then Add to home screen.