Two years had passed since the Awakening Ceremony.
Wei Chen stood at the crossroads of his childhood and future, eight years old now, and Elder Shen had summoned him to the temple for what he called "the conversation that determines everything."
The old mage sat in his private study — a room Wei Chen had never entered before. Shelves lined the walls, filled with scrolls and books about elemental theory, magical history, and sect politics. A map of the continent hung on one wall, marked with locations Wei Chen recognized from stories but had never seen.
Elder Shen gestured to a cushion across from him. "Sit."
Wei Chen sat, back straight, hands folded. Two years of discipline had made formality second nature.
"You are eight years old," Elder Shen began. "In one year, you must choose your path. The law requires all registered mages to select by age nine — join a sect, enlist in the military, or register as an independent practitioner."
Wei Chen nodded. He'd known this was coming.
"I have taught you for two years. You have progressed from frightened child to competent mage. Your shadow manipulation is at Master level — seventy percent sub-magic mastery. That is exceptional for your age and training resources." Elder Shen's tone was matter-of-fact, neither praise nor criticism. Just assessment.
"However," Elder Shen continued, "competence in a small town means nothing in the capital. There are children your age at the Water Academy who have been training since birth. Some have Advanced-level magic. Some have already mastered multiple sub-elements."
Wei Chen felt that familiar burn. He'd known this intellectually, but hearing Elder Shen confirm it made it more real.
"I am telling you this not to discourage you, but to prepare you. The capital is not this town. Talent alone will not be enough. Resources alone will not be enough. Even dedication — which you have in abundance — will not guarantee success." Elder Shen leaned forward slightly. "You will need strategy. Allies. And most importantly, you will need to choose the correct sect."
He pulled out three scrolls, setting them on the table between them.
"These are your realistic options. Not dreams. Not aspirations. Realistic paths based on your current abilities, resources, and element."
Elder Shen unrolled the first scroll.
"Option one: Water Academy regional branch. Located in the capital, officially sanctioned by the government, prestigious and well-funded."
Wei Chen studied the scroll. It showed the Academy's structure — hundreds of students, master-level instructors, connections to military and government positions.
"Advantages," Elder Shen said. "Legitimate credentials. Government protection. Access to healing magic training and support techniques. Strong alumni network. Guaranteed employment upon graduation."
"Disadvantages?"
"They do not specialize in Darkness magic. You would be trained in water techniques as supplementary skills, which could be valuable, but your primary element would be... tolerated rather than celebrated. Additionally, their teaching philosophy emphasizes conformity and traditional applications. Your improvisational style would be discouraged."
Elder Shen set that scroll aside and opened the second.
"Option two: Mixed Elements Order. Located in the trade city of Merchant's Rest, three days' travel from the capital. Medium-sized sect, practical focus, diverse student body."
This scroll showed a more modest facility — maybe two hundred students, competent but not master-level instructors, emphasis on mercenary work and practical applications.
"Advantages: They accept all elements equally. Training focuses on real-world application rather than theory. Lower tuition costs — approximately ten gold per year compared to Water Academy's twenty. Strong connections to merchant guilds and trade organizations."
"Disadvantages?"
"Less prestigious. Their graduates are seen as competent but unremarkable. Limited access to advanced techniques. Fewer resources for specialized training. And frankly, you would outgrow them quickly. They are good for becoming a functional journeyman mage, not for reaching true mastery."
Elder Shen set that scroll aside and opened the third. This one was darker, written in shadow-infused ink that seemed to move on the parchment.
"Option three: Shadow Sanctuary. Located in the capital's outer district, semi-legal status, Darkness element specialists."
Wei Chen leaned forward, studying this scroll more carefully. The Sanctuary's structure was deliberately vague — student count unknown, instructor information limited, teaching methods described as "unorthodox."
"Advantages: They are Darkness magic specialists. Every instructor is at least Advanced-level Darkness user. They will understand your element's nature, push you toward mastery rather than suppression. Their graduates are feared and respected — those who survive become exceptional Darkness practitioners."
"Those who survive?" Wei Chen caught the phrasing.
"Disadvantages," Elder Shen said, not answering directly. "Semi-legal status means government scrutiny. Their methods are harsh — students die occasionally during training. Approximately ten percent mortality rate over the full program. Tuition is comparable to Water Academy, but financial aid is rare. They have no legitimate employment pipeline — graduates typically become assassins, spies, or independent operators. Society fears them."
Elder Shen rolled up all three scrolls. "These are your options. You have one year to decide. But I will tell you now — if you are serious about mastering Darkness magic, about becoming powerful rather than merely competent, Shadow Sanctuary is your only real choice."
"Even with the mortality rate?"
"Especially with it. Safe paths produce safe mages. Dangerous paths produce either corpses or masters. There is no middle ground in Darkness magic." Elder Shen met Wei Chen's eyes. "The question you must answer is: are you willing to risk death for the chance at true power?"
Wei Chen left the temple with the three scrolls, mind churning. One year to decide. But Elder Shen had made the recommendation clear — Shadow Sanctuary or mediocrity.
Ten percent mortality rate. One in ten students died during training.
But ninety percent survived. And those who did became exceptional.
Wei Chen thought about Yun Hao at the Water Academy — safe, prestigious, guaranteed success. Different path. Different element. Different person.
Wei Chen wasn't Yun Hao. He never would be.
That evening, he showed the scrolls to Instructor Feng.
Feng read through all three carefully, then set them down. "Elder Shen recommended Shadow Sanctuary."
"How did you know?"
"Because it's the only honest choice for you. The others are compromises." Feng poured tea for both of them — an unusual gesture of equality. "Let me tell you something about Darkness magic that Elder Shen probably didn't mention. It's not just an element. It's a philosophy."
Wei Chen listened carefully.
"Water adapts. Fire destroys. Earth endures. Air moves. Light purifies. These are straightforward, socially acceptable purposes." Feng sipped his tea. "Darkness? Darkness deceives. Darkness conceals. Darkness strikes from hidden places. Society calls this cowardly. Dishonorable. Evil, even."
"But it's not evil."
"No. It's practical. But practical and acceptable are different things." Feng set down his cup. "If you go to Water Academy or Mixed Elements Order, you will spend your life apologizing for your element. Explaining that you're not dangerous. Proving you can be trusted. You will be domesticated."
"And Shadow Sanctuary?"
"Shadow Sanctuary embraces what you are. They will teach you that deception is strategy, that concealment is strength, that striking from darkness is efficiency, not cowardice. You will become dangerous. Feared. Powerful."
Feng smiled slightly. "The question is whether you can accept being feared. Whether you can build a life knowing that people will always see you as a threat first, person second."
Wei Chen thought about the past two years. The isolation. The suspicious looks. The invisible boundary around his family's home.
"I'm already feared," Wei Chen said. "Might as well be feared and powerful."
"Good answer." Feng stood. "Then your choice is made. Shadow Sanctuary. One year to prepare. I'll adjust your training accordingly — the Sanctuary's entrance exam is brutal. We need you ready."
Wei Chen visited Merchant Liu next, finding him at the stall during the evening lull.
"Shadow Sanctuary," Wei Chen said without preamble. "That's my choice."
Liu didn't seem surprised. "Bold decision. Dangerous, but potentially very profitable."
"Profitable?"
"Darkness mages from Shadow Sanctuary command premium rates for specialized work. Espionage. Asset recovery. Security consulting." Liu pulled out his ledger. "I've worked with three Sanctuary graduates over the years. All were expensive. All were worth it."
He showed Wei Chen numbers — contracts worth fifty gold, hundred gold, five hundred gold for a single job.
"The question is: will you survive to capitalize on that training? Ten percent die. Another twenty percent wash out voluntarily. If you enter with ten students, seven graduate." Liu's tone was serious. "Those are not good odds for investment purposes."
"But if I succeed?"
"If you succeed, you'll have skills that make you independently wealthy within five years. Shadow Sanctuary graduates are rare and valuable. The market always needs competent Darkness practitioners."
Liu closed the ledger. "From a pure business perspective, it's high risk, high reward. From a personal perspective, I think you'll survive. You're hungry enough, smart enough, and ruthless enough when necessary."
"Ruthless?"
"You spent your last silver on honey cakes for Lian Xiu when you should have saved it. But you also invested in my merchant venture knowing you might lose everything. You balance sentiment with pragmatism. That's ruthlessness with a conscience — the best kind."
Wei Chen told his parents that night over dinner.
His mother's hands stopped moving halfway through cutting vegetables. His father set down the cup he'd been holding, tea cooling forgotten.
"Shadow Sanctuary," his mother repeated. "The one with the mortality rate."
"Yes."
"Ten percent," his father said. "That means—"
"One in ten students die. I know." Wei Chen kept his voice steady. "But nine in ten survive and become exceptional mages. Those are better odds than most things."
His mother looked stricken. "Wei Chen, there are safer options. Elder Shen mentioned the Water Academy—"
"Which doesn't specialize in Darkness magic. Which would train me to be acceptable rather than excellent." Wei Chen met her eyes. "Mother, I've spent two years being feared for my element. Two years watching people avoid us, overcharge us, treat us differently. If I'm going to be feared anyway, I might as well be feared and powerful enough that it matters."
"That's not a good reason to risk your life," she said, voice tight.
"It's not the only reason. I want to master Darkness magic. Really master it, not just control it. Shadow Sanctuary is the only place that can teach me that." Wei Chen looked between his parents. "I know this is dangerous. I know you're afraid. But I'm choosing this with full understanding of the risks."
His father was quiet for a long moment. Then he spoke, voice measured. "When you were five, at the Awakening Ceremony, I was terrified. Not because you had magic — because you had that magic. Darkness. The element everyone fears."
He stood, walking to the window. "I thought it was a curse. A burden you'd carry forever. But watching you these two years... you've turned that curse into purpose. Into drive. You've become someone exceptional."
He turned back. "If you're certain about this path, if you've calculated the risks and accepted them, then we support you. Not because we're happy about it. Because you've earned the right to choose your own future."
Wei Chen's mother was crying silently. His father moved to her side, hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you," Wei Chen said quietly.
"Don't thank us yet," his mother managed. "Thank us when you come home alive."
One week later, Wei Chen met with Lian Xiu behind the market. She'd heard the news — in a small town, information traveled instantly.
"Shadow Sanctuary," she said. "You're actually doing it."
"Yes."
"The death rate—"
"I know. Everyone keeps mentioning it." Wei Chen sat on their usual crate. "But I'm not going to be in that ten percent."
"How do you know?"
"Because I can't afford to be. My parents sacrificed for me. Feng is training me. Liu is investing in me. Elder Shen recommended me. I have too many people counting on me to die stupidly."
Lian Xiu studied him with those sharp eyes. "You're different than you were two years ago."
"How?"
"Harder. More certain. You used to hesitate, second-guess yourself. Now you make decisions and commit to them." She smiled slightly. "It's impressive. Also kind of scary."
"Scary how?"
"Scary like... you're becoming the person everyone was afraid you'd become. Powerful. Dangerous. Willing to take extreme risks." Lian Xiu's smile faded. "Just don't forget that power without humanity makes monsters."
Wei Chen thought about that. "I won't forget. I have anchors. You. My parents. The people who helped me when they didn't have to."
"Good. Because I'm planning on collecting on that honey cake debt eventually. Can't do that if you're dead."
They sat in comfortable silence. Two years of friendship had made words sometimes unnecessary.
"One year until you leave," Lian Xiu said eventually. "What happens until then?"
"I train. Save money. Prepare." Wei Chen pulled out a small pouch — twenty silver, saved specifically for this. "And I invest in making sure you're taken care of."
He handed her the pouch. Lian Xiu stared at it.
"What is this?"
"Twenty silver. For you. To save, spend, invest — whatever you need." Wei Chen's voice was firm. "You helped me when I had nothing. Now I'm helping you."
"Wei Chen, this is—"
"Not charity. Not debt payment. Just what friends do." He stood. "One year from now, I'll be gone. Maybe for years. Maybe forever. I need to know you're okay. This helps me know that."
Lian Xiu clutched the pouch, eyes bright. "You're an idiot."
"I've been told."
"A dangerous, generous idiot who's going to get himself killed at some murder school."
"Probably not."
"Definitely yes." But she was smiling. "Thank you, Wei Chen. For everything. For being my friend when you could've been like everyone else. For treating me like I matter."
"You do matter."
"I know. But it's nice to be reminded."
That night, Wei Chen updated his personal records.
Age: 8 years old
Timeline: 1 year until sect choice, 1 year until departure
Decision: Shadow Sanctuary
Current status:
Shadow manipulation — Master level (70% sub-magic mastery)
Combat capability — intermediate for age, advanced techniques in development
Savings — 50 silver remaining (20 given to Lian Xiu, earning continuing)
Temple ranking — First place
Private instruction — Weekly sessions with Elder Shen
Combat training — Three times weekly with Feng
Goal: Survive Shadow Sanctuary entrance exam, achieve admission, survive training program
Probability of success: Unknown, but non-zero
Wei Chen stared at his own writing. One year. Twelve months to prepare for the most dangerous decision of his life.
Ten percent mortality rate. One in ten students died.
But nine in ten survived. And those who did became masters.
Wei Chen closed the book and looked out his window at the darkened town. Somewhere out there, Yun Hao was training at the Water Academy. Becoming stronger, more skilled, more prepared.
But Wei Chen was choosing a different path. Darker. More dangerous. But potentially more powerful.
The Obscure Merchant, Liu had once called him. Someone who understood value, recognized opportunity, and wasn't afraid to invest in risky ventures.
Shadow Sanctuary was the ultimate risky venture. Everything on the line. Success or death. No middle ground.
Wei Chen smiled in the darkness.
He'd always preferred high stakes.
Time to see if he could win.