Chapter 2: The Hidden Legacy
Adrian couldn't shake the pendant's glow from his mind. Each night, he meditated with it, feeling the warmth seep into his veins. Yet questions gnawed at him: Why did his grandfather leave this to him? Was it truly a relic of power, or just a strange heirloom?
One Sunday afternoon, he visited his grandmother in the old family house. The place smelled of wood polish and dried herbs, a reminder of his childhood. She welcomed him with a frail smile, her hands trembling as she poured tea.
As they sat together, Adrian pulled out the pendant. "Lola," he said softly, "do you know what this is? It belonged to Lolo, right?"
Her eyes widened, and for a moment, fear flickered across her face. She reached out, fingers brushing the jade. "I thought it was lost," she whispered. "Your grandfather… he was not like other men. He spoke of energies, of heavens, of paths beyond mortal life. We thought him eccentric, maybe even mad. But he believed in something greater."
Adrian leaned forward. "Did he ever… show you anything? Powers, techniques?"
She shook her head. "He kept it hidden. Said the world wasn't ready. He warned me never to touch the pendant, that it would awaken only for one chosen by fate." Her gaze locked onto Adrian's. "And now it glows for you."
That night, Adrian dreamt vividly. His grandfather stood beneath a starry sky, robes fluttering in a cosmic wind. "The world hides secrets, Adrian," the dream-figure said. "Seek them, and you will ascend. But beware—the path is perilous."
Adrian woke drenched in sweat, heart pounding. The pendant pulsed faintly on his desk. He realized then: his grandfather had been a cultivator. And now, the legacy had passed to him.
The ordinary life he once knew was gone. He was standing at the threshold of something vast, mysterious, and dangerous.
Days passed, and Adrian's cultivation grew steadier. His body felt stronger, his senses sharper. Yet he knew he was still fumbling in the dark, without guidance or technique.
One evening, after a failed job interview, he wandered the streets aimlessly. The neon lights of Quezon City flickered above him, but beneath the urban chaos, he sensed something unusual. A ripple in the air, heavy and dark.
In a narrow alley, a man leaned against the wall. His eyes glowed faintly, and his aura radiated menace. Adrian froze. The pendant burned against his chest.
The man smirked. "You've awakened, haven't you? I can smell the Qi on you."
Adrian's pulse quickened. "Who are you?"
"Someone who hunts fledglings like you," the man replied, stepping closer. His movements were unnaturally swift, his presence suffocating. "You're weak. Easy prey."
Adrian's instincts screamed at him to run, but the pendant flared, filling him with courage. The man lunged, and Adrian dodged clumsily, guided by heightened reflexes. His fists swung wildly, connecting once, twice. The stranger barely flinched.
"You're raw," the man sneered. "But the energy in you… it's promising."
Adrian staggered back, chest heaving. He had no techniques, no training, only desperation. The man struck, and Adrian barely blocked, pain shooting through his arms. Yet the pendant pulsed, releasing a surge of warmth. A wave of energy burst outward, forcing the man to stumble.
The stranger's eyes narrowed. "Interesting. You carry a relic. That explains it." He stepped back into the shadows. "You're not ready. But soon, you will be hunted. Remember that."
And then he was gone.
Adrian collapsed, trembling. His first trial had come, and though he had survived, the warning echoed in his mind. There were others—cultivators, hunters, rivals. The world was far more dangerous than he had imagine