Chapter 5
The days had dragged on since Castian's last conversation with Shen, but the old traveler's words still echoed in his mind, persistent like the distant beat of a drum. Every story told, every mention of far-off horizons seemed to have left an invisible mark, but one that was impossible to ignore. Something within Castian felt different, as if the life he knew could no longer contain the weight of his thoughts.
The quiet routine of Liang continued unchanged. The mornings in the fields, family meals, and the tranquility of the nights formed a continuous, predictable cycle. For many, this repetition brought comfort, but for Castian, it was beginning to feel more like an invisible prison.
One afternoon, while helping his mother, Mei, harvest vegetables for dinner, he felt her gaze on him more intensely than usual. It was a look he knew well-the sharp, piercing gaze of a mother, capable of seeing into the soul, as if she could perceive what he barely understood about himself.
"Castian, we need to talk," she said, pausing her harvesting, her voice laden with almost palpable concern.
The young man sighed, setting down the vegetables he was holding. He knew this moment would come. The knot in his stomach announced what was to follow. Trying to appear unconcerned, he turned to her.
"What is it, Mother?" he asked, even though he already knew the answer.
Mei didn't respond immediately. Instead, she wiped her hands on her apron and sat on the small wooden bench that rested under the shade of a tree in their yard. Her eyes lifted to the sky, where the sun was beginning to set, painting the horizon with soft shades of orange and pink.
"I've noticed you've been different, more distant," Mei finally broke the silence, her calmness hiding a whirlwind of emotions. "It's not hard to imagine what has been occupying your mind-Shen's stories..."
She sighed, her eyes filled with a concern that only a mother can feel. "It's the same look I saw in your father when he was young, before he accepted the quiet life we have here in Liang. It's the look of someone dreaming of something beyond."
Castian lowered his head, unsure how to respond immediately. His mother's words carried a truth he could no longer ignore. Something within him longed for more, something that didn't fit within the village or the mountains surrounding Liang. He sat beside his mother, lacking the courage to look her directly in the eye.
"Mother," he began hesitantly, as if each word needed to be chosen with care. "I know the world outside is dangerous. And I know life here is safe, stable..." He paused, searching for the right words. "But I can't keep ignoring what I feel. There's something inside me that needs to know what exists beyond these mountains."
Mei, who had heard these words before, closed her eyes for a moment. She seemed to be searching for the right answers, the ones that could protect him from what was to come.
"Castian, I understand your desire to explore the unknown," she said, her voice soft as a breeze. "But life here, though simple, is safe. We have everything we need. The world beyond the mountains... it's not as Shen describes it in his stories. It's a cruel place, where danger lurks in every shadow."
She held Castian's hand, the warmth of the gesture conveying all the love she had for him.
"Dreaming is good, my son, but there are dangers in dreaming of the unknown. Not everything we find is worth what we lose. Sometimes, in seeking something, we end up losing more than we could ever imagine."
Castian felt the weight of his mother's words. They were heavy with wisdom and experience, but something within him remained restless. The desire to leave, to see what lay beyond, burned stronger than any warning. The more he tried to convince himself to stay, the harder it became.
"I know the world out there is dangerous, Mother," he said earnestly. "But... I can't spend the rest of my life without at least trying. I feel like my destiny is out there, somewhere. If I stay here, I'll always wonder what could have been. I can't ignore that."
Mei pressed her lips together, her eyes filling with a resigned sadness. She understood this feeling, the longing for something greater. She knew that when Castian made a decision, it was hard to change his mind.
"What if you go and don't find what you're looking for?" she asked, her voice now quieter. "What if you get lost seeking something that may not even exist? We won't be there to help you, Castian."
Her words hit a sensitive chord. Castian knew it was a real possibility. The world outside was vast and unforgiving. But the fear of never trying seemed greater than the fear of failure.
"I know there's that risk, Mother," he admitted. "But the fear of failing can't be greater than the desire to discover. And if I don't try... I'll always wonder what could have been." He squeezed his mother's hand, trying to comfort her. "I love you all, I love our home, but if I stay... I would be ignoring who I really am."
Mei listened to her son's words and, even against her will, felt the truth in them. She had always wanted to protect Castian from the pains of the world, but she knew he was no longer a boy. He had the right to carve his own path, no matter how dangerous it might be. Taking a deep breath, she pulled him into a tight embrace, as if she wanted to keep him safe for just a moment longer.
"I will always be here for you," she said, tears in her eyes. "No matter what you choose, you will always have a home in Liang."
Castian closed his eyes, feeling the warmth and love in his mother's embrace. He knew the decision he was making wouldn't be easy, but he also knew he was not alone. Even if his journey took him far away, his heart would always have deep roots in Liang.
In the days that followed, Castian continued to help his father in the fields, but his mind was elsewhere. The village, which once brought him so much comfort, now felt like a prison, a barrier between him and the world beyond. It was as if he no longer belonged there, as if something was calling him from afar.
One afternoon, while working alone, he heard footsteps behind him. It was Shen, the old traveler, approaching with an enigmatic smile, as if he knew exactly what was going through Castian's mind.
"You're restless, aren't you?" Shen said, leaning against a tree. "Curiosity is as much a burden as it is a responsibility."
Castian smiled, already knowing that Shen spoke from the experience of someone who had lived many adventures.
"I can't stop thinking about what you said, Shen. The distant lands, the warriors, the adventures..." Castian shook his head, confused. "My mother wants me to stay. She says the unknown is dangerous, and I know she's right. But something inside me tells me I need to go."
Shen watched the young man for a moment, his tired eyes still filled with wisdom.
"The unknown is dangerous, yes," he said calmly. "But it's also where we find the deepest parts of ourselves. Sometimes, to discover who we truly are, we need to get lost."
Castian absorbed those words, feeling that Shen understood exactly what he was going through. He didn't just want adventures; he wanted to find himself.
"I'm going to leave, Shen," Castian said, now with renewed conviction. "I don't know what I'll find, but I know I have to go."
Shen nodded, his tired eyes sparkling with a hint of pride.
"Then prepare yourself, young man. Your journey is just beginning."
And so, in Castian's heart, the decision had been made. The future, uncertain and dangerous, now awaited him beyond the mountains that surrounded Liang.