Chapter 5:
Choices
I felt my head begin to swim as I did my best to process all the information that was just shared with me.
âLet me use more familiar termsâ the Old Man offered. âWhat would happen if the water cycle no longer produced rain?â
âWell, if the water suddenly disappeared from The Belt then the plants would no longer grow. Crops would fail and people would starve.â
The old man nodded approvingly. "Exactly. Life depends on balance. Just as crops wither without rain, so too does existence crumble if the cycle of souls is broken.â
I swallowed, the weight of his words settling in my chest. "So... is that whatâs happening? Something is disrupting this cycle..how is that even possible?"
His expression darkened as he nodded in confirmation.
"That is my concern, yes. The symptoms are unconsequential for now but this cancer is growing steadily just beyond my ability to perceive it.â
A chill ran down my spine. "What could do something like that? And why?"
"That, Samuel Garner, is a question with more answers than you might expect. However, right now I am unaware if it stems from old threats or new.â
The old man placed a hand on my shoulder and began to usher me forward gently as he spoke. "Which is why I am speaking with you today. I am not telling you all this simply for conversation sake; I am giving you this knowledge so that the final prerequisite might be met and a new path may be presented to you at the time of your Choosing.â
I walked in step with him, my mind racing at the implication. âAre you saying that, you, The Path, want me, a farmers son, to help you fix whatever is happening with the cycle of souls?â
The old man nodded. "I am. But this is not a demand, Samuel. It is merely a path, one you are free to walk or walk away from.â
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry despite my lack of a completely physical forme. "And what exactly would that mean for me if I choose to walk this path?â
âIt means that you, Samuel, would become an extension of my will. I am limited here in the spiritual realm, as this is a condition I placed upon myself as to not be a tyrant over the physical world. However, there are times throughout history where I call upon the willing so that they might stand at the crossroads of life and death to ensure that the cycle continues unmolested. And, if necessary, fight against those who seek to destroy it.â
I exhaled slowly, my hands clenching at my sides. âAnd what happens if I decline this offer?â
The old man nodded approvingly, as if he expected the question. âThen you will walk another path, and the world will move forward as it always has. You are not the only one that has been called upon to face this threat, but you are one of the very rare few who meet the qualifications for the path that I am offering you.â
As we walked, I could see something in the distance but it was still too far away for me to make out any details. Iâm not sure how I knew, but I could tell my time here would soon be coming to an end.
âMay I ask you another question?â I said, turning to look directly at the Old Man.
âWhy me?â My voice was low, barely audible under the weight of my own self doubt.
The Old Man didnât waver at my question but simply responded with his own. âWhy not you?â
âBecause..â I said weakly, my voice quieting as I did my best to respond. âIâm a nobody. Iâm a farmer, the son of a farmer, raised in a family of farmers in the middle of nowhere, and the only thing I know for certain is that I am not qualified to protect souls or whatever it is I am to do. Surely, you know many people better suited for this role.â
The old man smiled and spoke softly, his voice carrying the weight of eternity.
"Samuel, do you think the greatest warriors are born with swords in their hands? Or that the wisest scholars emerge from the womb knowing the secrets of the stars? No. No one is born great, Samuel. It is simply the choices you make that shape your greatness. And that, my young friend, is what it means to walk The Path. The question is not whether you are worthy. The question is whether or not you are willing."
As he finished speaking, I looked up to find that we had somehow arrived at our destination, though moments ago it had been far off in the distance. The road before me widened into a circular space, the ground beneath my feet was smooth and unmarked. The only features in this quiet, open area were three distinct paths, each splitting off in different directions, waiting to lead me somewhere unknown. The weight of the moment settled heavily upon me. Each path seemed to carry its own unspoken promise, its own fate.
I turned around, expecting to find the Old Man by my side, only to realize he had not followed me into the circular space.
"Are you not coming with me?"
âI am sorry, Samuel, but this is as far as I go,â the Old Man said with a soft smile, as he extended his hand. âThe Path is full of choices that must be made on your own. No one can force you to walk where you are unwilling, nor would I want to, even if I could.â
I took his hand, gripping it firmly as his form began to fade away back into the ethereal light of the spiritual realm around us.
âSamuel Garner, whatever choice you make, I want you to know that I am pleased to have walked with you, even if it was only for a short time.â
I suddenly found myself standing alone once more, with nothing but the three choices that loomed in front of me.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
As I looked I wasnât sure how I was supposed to know which path was which. Each one looked identical, stretching out in the distance with no distinguishing features other than an arch that framed each pathway.
After a momentâs hesitation, I approached the path on the far left, figuring it would be best to work my way across as I examined what each path had to offer.
As I stepped closer to the archway, I could feel it begin to vibrate as power flowed into its frame. The space between its borders took on a mirror like quality reflecting my image within. Reaching out my hand, I touched the inside of the archway causing the surface inside to ripple like a rock thrown into still water.
As the ripples receded and the mirror like quality of the archway returned, an image began to take shape inside.
A sprawling, golden field stretched out before me, bathed in the soft light of the setting sun. In the distance, I could see the silhouette of my families home. My parents were older and my children ran around the yard as I worked in the fields along side my brother.
As I watched, words began to appear on the mirrored surface:
----------------------------------------
Domain: Cultivation
Path of the Farmer (Common)
Farmers specialize in cultivating the potential in the land and animals under their care. Their path is rooted in hard work, resourcefulness, and a deep connection to natureâs cycles.
Would you like to walk this path? Yes / No
----------------------------------------
Upon reading the description I felt a deep longing take hold inside my chest. This was the path my father wished I would walk along side him. This was the path my uncle had rejected. It was familiar and that familiarity made this choice a tempting option. There would be no surprises if I took this path, the journey would have an obvious destination.
I took several steps back from the archway, my gaze lingering on the scene that continued to unfold before me. The golden words still hovered on the glassy surface, offering their quiet invitation.
Pulling myself away from the left path, I made my way to the archway in the center of the circular space. As I approached, the air around it once again began to hum with energy, and the space inside shimmered, taking on a glassy appearance. A new scene began to form, playing out before me just like the previous path had done.
Clear blue skies stretched overhead, with a vast green field unfolding before me. A covered wagon, drawn by two sturdy horses, rumbled down a well-worn path. Inside the wagon were crates of goods, leathers, specialty foods, weapons, and silks, all carefully packed for transport. Surrounding the wagon, a small group of guards chatted casually, while I sat at the reins, guiding the horses down the road.
Beside me a young red headed child sat, talking excitedly as we made our way towards new horizons.
Golden words once again began to appear on the mirrored surface:
----------------------------------------
Domain: Cultivation
Path of the Trader (common)
Traders specialize in cultivating their ability to accurately assess and value the potential of items, people, and many other services. Their path is one of insight, relationships, and an understanding of the world around themselves.
Would you like to walk this path: Yes / No
----------------------------------------
This new path appealed to me in a way I hadnât expected. I had always dreamed of traveling, but Iâd never considered that I could do so while still living a simple life. Iâd imagined myself as a warrior, struggling to carve my place in the world. But a trader... a trader could offer a different kind of life, one that would allow me to work with my family, though in a more roundabout way. It would be a compromise but one Iâm sure my father would accept.
This path was harder to walk away from than the last. It was, by all accounts, the kind of life I had always hoped for, one of adventure, freedom, and a hint of the unknown. Yet, there was one more path, one more future I needed to consider before I could make my decision.
Taking a deep breath, I turned toward the archway on the far right of the circle, preparing to face whatever possible future it was preparing to show me.
Like the previous two paths, the archway hummed with power, and the familiar glassy surface appeared within its frame. I waited, my heart racing, as the scene began to unfold before me.
A figure appeared in the image, draped in a shadowy cloak, walking towards a massive, fur-covered beast. The creature roared in defiance, its voice shaking the air around it. It was humanoid in shape, but its powerful, fur-covered arms and massive fangs gave it an unnerving, primal intensity. The clash between them seemed inevitable.
Two sickles materialized in the hands of the cloaked figure, gleaming in the dim light. With a swift motion, he dashed forward, the blades cutting deep into the beastâs flesh, leaving furrows of blood in their wake. The monster swung its massive arms in retaliation, but the figure was already in the air, flipping gracefully over its head. He weaved effortlessly between the beastâs attacks, moving with a fluid precision that seemed supernatural. The battle between them raged, but the cloaked figure's movements were a blur of agility and power.
The battle ended as swiftly as it had begun. With a precise strike, the cloaked figure severed the tendons in the beast's legs, causing it to collapse to its knees. In a fluid continuous motion, he sidestepped and brought the sickles down in a clean arc, decapitating the monstrous creature.
As the beastâs blood pooled at his feet, an ethereal energy poured from its body, and began to flow into the warrior. His body shimmered with power as it glowed with an otherworldly light.
The figure pulled back his hood, revealing his face, and I stood awestruck as my own reflection smiled back at me.
----------------------------------------
Domain: Divine
Path of the Harvester (Unique)
Harvesters are stewards of the eternal cycle, gifted with the ability to reap and sow the lingering potential of both beast and man; their path is one of balance, wielding harvested potential to fulfill their sacred duty. They do not merely take; they reclaim, restore, and empower, ensuring the cycle endures.
Would you like to walk this path? Yes / No
----------------------------------------
I held my breath, my gaze transfixed on the shimmering words before me. This path was unlike the others, it was not a promise of family and comfort, but rather an opportunity to serve something greater than myself. It was a path into a dangerous unknown, one that would be accompanied by great power and purpose.
I took a step back and made my way to the middle of the circular space. I sat down and looked at all the three archways as I considered the options available to me.
Farmer, Trader, and Harvester.
I didnât have to think about being a farmer for very long. Even before reading my uncleâs letter, I had known that I wanted something different from the life my family had planned for me. It would have been a good life, but it wasnât the one I wanted. As far as I knew, I only had one chance to live, and I refused to settle for a path I wasnât truly committed to.
The second option, Trader, was still very appealing to me. It was a compromise, one that would let me venture into the world while maintaining ties to my family. My father would see it as a betrayal, but one I was certain he could eventually come to terms with. It offered adventure without severing my roots, a balance between duty and desire. All things considered, this was the most reasonable choice.
However, my third option, Harvester, set my imagination on fire; the battle between myself and the beast replayed in my mind, over and over, each moment stirring a desire deep inside my chest. It was hard to picture myself as that warrior, but I could feel the possibility just waiting to be claimed; like the Old Man had said, no one was born great, greatness was forged through the choices we made. If my choices could shape my future, then all that remained was the courage to take the first step.
With my mind made up, I took a deep breath, and walked through the archway.