Chapter 3

Castian, lying under the same tree where so many thoughts troubled him, couldn't shake the feeling that something was changing. Ever since the arrival of Shen, the old traveler, his mind had been restless. The stories the man had shared during last night's meal still echoed in his head.

Shen seemed to carry the weight of a world beyond the mountains, and his words, spoken with a deep and wise voice, had left a profound mark on Castian.

"There's a vastness beyond the mountains, boy. Huge cities, fields ravaged by war, lands of hunger and despair. Many are deceived by the idea that adventure is all about glory and conquest, but what I've seen out there..." Shen had paused, his eyes filling with sadness. "What I've seen out there can devour a man's soul."

Castian couldn't shake the image these words conjured: a world full of dangers, but also possibilities. Something inside him wanted to see all of it with his own eyes, no matter how frightening it might be.

The morning after Shen's arrival, Castian woke up earlier than usual, determined to confront his restlessness. The traveler was still staying at his family's house, recovering from the long journey, and Castian knew that if anyone could answer his questions, it was him.

When he arrived at the small cabin where Shen was staying, he found the old man sitting on the porch, gazing at the distant mountains. He seemed so deep in thought that Castian hesitated before approaching. But his curiosity was greater than any hesitation.

"Shen," Castian began, his voice low and uncertain. "You said the world out there is dangerous. But what exactly lies beyond the mountains? What's so terrible that makes it seem like living here in Liang is the only sensible option?"

Shen looked at the young man, his penetrating eyes studying him for a moment, as if assessing whether Castian was ready to hear the truth.

"What lies out there?" Shen repeated, with a hint of melancholy in his voice. "There are many things that a young heart isn't prepared to fully understand. There's hunger, endless wars, and people who lose everything in the pursuit of power. Have you ever heard of cities in flames? I've seen with my own eyes villages like this one, beautiful and peaceful, destroyed in a matter of hours. Men and women running in desperation, children separated from their parents. The world out there is not just dangerous, Castian... it is cruel."

Castian felt a knot forming in his throat. The idea of war and destruction was something so distant from his reality in Liang that it almost seemed unreal. But he could see in Shen's eyes that none of it was an exaggeration.

"But..." Castian began, with a mix of fear and curiosity. "Then why do people leave their villages? Why did you leave? If it's so terrible out there, why not stay in places like this, where there's peace?"

Shen smiled faintly, a weary smile that seemed to carry the weight of an entire lifetime.

"That's a good question, boy." The old man sighed deeply. "Even with all the danger, with all the pain, humans have an intrinsic need to seek something beyond what they know. Some seek power, others, knowledge. Some just want to escape a worse fate. But there's always something that drives us forward. A search, a restlessness. Like what you're feeling, Castian."

Castian fell silent. Shen had touched on the very point he was trying to hide from himself. That insatiable desire to know what lay beyond, to understand more about the world. Something inside him was urging him to venture out, even knowing the dangers.

"I... I feel that," Castian admitted, with a touch of shame. "I love this village, my family. But there's something inside me that pushes me to leave here. It's like there's a whole world waiting for me out there, something I need to see with my own eyes. I don't know if it's adventure or just curiosity. But I can't ignore this call."

Shen nodded slowly, as if he had expected this confession. His gaze was understanding, and for a moment he seemed to see himself in the young man before him.

"That's the dilemma for many who grow up in peaceful places like Liang," Shen responded calmly. "Tranquility, as precious as it is, doesn't satisfy those who long for something more. But remember, young Castian, what you seek out there may not be what you imagine. The world has a way of shaping the brave and destroying the reckless."

Castian remained silent, Shen's words echoing in his mind. He knew there was truth in them, but he also knew he couldn't ignore the growing feeling inside him. He wouldn't be able to spend the rest of his life in Liang, always wondering what else was out there.

Shen rose slowly, his expression softening.

"The choice is yours, Castian. If you choose to leave this village, do so with a firm heart and open eyes. Don't let fear paralyze you, but don't be blinded by the promise of adventure either. True strength comes from knowing how to balance both."

Castian nodded, feeling a new weight on his shoulders. He knew he still had much to think about, but one thing was clear: the desire to explore the world beyond the mountains was growing inside him, and sooner or later, he would have to answer that call.

As he returned home that afternoon, Castian felt the familiar embrace of the village surrounding him like a comforting blanket. But now, the tranquility of Liang seemed different - no longer a complete refuge, but rather a starting point. Castian's destiny, he knew, lay beyond the green valleys that had been his home all his life.