Destiny in Cinders

I'm the most promising out of this batch? An Jing glanced around with an arched brow and found it to be true.

In front of the manor was an open, two-hundred-foot clearing that served a dual purpose—to keep out wild beasts and evil creatures as well as prevent potential runaways. The large convoy An Jing belonged to emerged from the woods and approached the open space where over twenty carriages were already parked.

He was the first to step out from the carriage.

The other children are still dizzy and sick as we head into this strange, remote, and closed-off environment. It's no wonder they're afraid to leave the carriage. Though the thought crossed his mind, An Jing decided against being subtle.

"Thank you for the compliment, Sir." He openly surveyed the manor before him and responded to the one-eyed rider's compliment, asking, "Is this where we'll be staying from now on?"

Nestled in the secluded mountains, the manor exuded an unsettling atmosphere. It stood majestically against the backdrop of the forest, projecting an incongruous air that was less creepy and more intimidating. The feeling was like peering over the edge of a bottomless precipice; even without ghosts or monsters, fear was a natural reaction.

An Jing narrowed his gaze and somehow linked the chilling sensation to the plaque at the entrance.

"Direlife Manor."

Inscribed on the plaque were bold, forceful words that subtly stirred the soul and rattled the mind.

"Birthed from the earth's embrace, living by heaven-ordained grace; humanity arises where heaven and earth convene."

A flood of information washed over An Jing, and he murmured softly to himself, "Fate, the arc of life itself, is dictated by talent, thus it hangs direly from the heavens."

Oh, he's quite the scholar. Noticing An Jing's fascination with the manor, the one-eyed leader beamed. It seemed he had struck gold.

Amid the snow calamity of the northern frontier, nine teams were deployed across various regions to gather eligible children. A generous reward was customary for those who discovered a child that eventually awakened lifearcs. Nevertheless, children who awakened lifearcs were few and far between.

In each trial, only a mere handful were ever successful, and like most, he had been among the failures. More often than not, a team would gather two or three dozen children who met the criteria, yet none would awaken lifearcs, leaving the entire team with only their regular wages.

But An Jing was different. Aside from possessing extraordinary talent and remarkable insight, he was bold enough to bargain with them. He wasn't afraid to sell himself to save his mother, and even slaughtered a man, using the severed head as a warning. His strong constitution also allowed him to resist the effects of the sleeping incense for a full fifteen minutes.

And now, An Jing was the first to overcome the physical discomforts of the jolting ride and the lingering effects of the incense, conquering the fear of the unfamiliar to step out of the carriage and bravely gaze upon the "Direlife" inscription, carved into the plaque by the Lord Inspector of the North personally. An Jing's ruthless drive, exceptional physique, and defiant refusal to accept fate made him far more likely to awaken his lifearc than his peers.

After an endless streak of bad luck, the one-eyed leader was confident he finally hit the jackpot. He was naturally courteous as the boy might one day be his superior.

Within ten minutes, the other children emerged from the carriages. Timid and cautious, they nervously surveyed their surroundings before casting their eyes downward, afraid to move a muscle.

An Jing completed his quiet count of the children while they were still gathering and the manor gates remained shut. They had collected a total of 253 children.

Several children stood out from the rest. Dressed in matching black attire, they were escorted from the carriages by the riders. An Jing could sense something special about these children that set them apart. Evidently, their status was above that of the riders, as even the one-eyed leader himself treated them with considerable respect.

Have they already awakened lifearcs? An Jing wondered as the manor gates opened.

"Vice Apothecary!"

The manor lord made his appearance. He was an old man whom they called the vice apothecary. Though he was withered and pale as a dying man, he maintained a rigid, unyielding stance. The ends of his white hair caught the light with an eerie green glow, perfectly matching the unnatural gleam in his cold eyes. One look at him was enough to send chills down the spine.

After bowing respectfully, the team leaders came forward to report on the name list and various other matters. Once the list was verified, the vice apothecary nodded with satisfaction, lifting his eyes to scan the children standing before him.

An overwhelming sense of dread, the sort inspired by a brightly-colored, venomous creature, instantly seized them. The children held their breath and broke into a cold sweat, paralyzed by the feeling that one false move would lead to a sudden, fatal strike.

However, this intimidating effect was merely instinctive. The vice apothecary had no intention of scaring them. Rather, he offered a strained smile that was far from reassuring, nodded, and gestured for them to enter the manor.

"Bathe the children and change their attire. They'll be fed after we've registered them. I'll have the physicians give them a full examination once they've all recovered. After some rest and recuperation, we'll start the training and tests when everyone is confirmed to meet the criteria."

Since he was first off the carriage, An Jing stood at the front of the line, just behind the five leaders and the vice apothecary, which made him, in essence, the "leader" of the children. With his heightened senses, An Jing was able to catch the vice apothecary's detailed instructions to his subordinates and his arrangements for the group.

Bathing, new clothes, food, and rest... Then training and tests. It all seemed normal until tests were mentioned. Is this the selection process for some mysterious organization? But what does it mean?

While An Jing was lost in thought, the vice apothecary suddenly stopped and turned around to face him. "Is he the most promising of the lot?"

Caught off guard, An Jing stared blankly at the old man, but quickly collected his wits and smiled. "Greetings, Sir."

"Ha!" The old man stared at An Jing, letting out a cryptic laugh. He ignored An Jing's greeting, stroking his beard as he continued walking.

After the brief interlude, An Jing noticed many eyes on him. The children were uncertain of what this place entailed or the future that awaited them, and instinctively turned their focus to the best among them. They wanted to see the individual who had caught the manor lord's special attention.

An Jing was impressively built, and even the gauntness brought on by a life of displacement couldn't hide his excellent physical frame. From behind, he resembled a tiger cub or a vigorous cheetah, proving he deserved to be called the best.

But it wasn't all goodwill or simple observation. There was no denying that being named "the best", deserved or not, guaranteed a constant stream of people who wanted to take his place.

Glancing over the other children, An Jing picked up on a few gazes laden with animosity or perhaps even a desire to challenge him. There's always someone who just won't accept it.

An Jing arched an eyebrow in response to the multiple eyes converging upon him. He was a cautious person who saw no value in exposing himself for a meaningless reputation; humility had nothing to do with it. He would rather stay hidden until he struck, and when he did, he would leave nothing in reserve.

But since he was already exposed, he might as well accept the title. Taking first place in the upcoming training and tests would likely yield additional benefits.

I guess I'll figure it out as I go.