Monarch of Darkness, Arsene

Staring at the long silver spear in my hand, my eyes brighten as I hugged mother, "Thank you, Mama,"

"Anything for my baby, while I can't train you with the spear, I will oversee your training with the bow."

Mother had a happy smile on her face as she led me to the training hall. The stench of sweat and blood assaulted my nostrils as I heard loud shouts in the distance.

There had seemed to be a major battle today as everyone was gathered together. Standing in the middle of the arena stood two young men around the age of twelve. They both had blades in their hands as they stared at each other with hatred.

"Are they fighting to the death," I asked, staring at how they were acting?

"No, it's merely a squabble among children. It would be stupid to allow kids to fight to the death. Relationships can be mended." she curtly said

Touching my chin, I shook my head before turning to mother, "Who will teach me how to use a spear, or will I have to learn on my own?"

"Unfortunately, you will have to learn on your own I'm sorry, but it would be far too dangerous for people to be aware of a one-year-old training in the ways of the spear. I am merely giving you a tour of the training ground in case you want to look at the various people fight amongst each other.

Nodding, I smiled before following behind mother as we left the training hall. Walking back to my room, she suddenly asked, "Do you wish to join the order of Knights like your Elder brother."

Me a knight, the mear thought had me laughing, "Of course not, I would rather be an assassin than a Knight...I wish to tour the world, brother will have the titles and stature, but I want the freedom to do as I please."

Mother seemed surprised at my words but smiled bitterly, "Arsène; unfortunately, you are part of the snow family. You need to make accomplishments in order to gain freedom like that."

Thinking for a moment, I smiled, "would they give me my freedom if I gave them a technique that allowed someone to have a photographic memory. Allowing someone to retain anything they saw."

Mother's eyes slowly turned cold as she eyed everyone around before flickering away with me in hand. As we appeared in my room, she stared at me, "Arsène, what are you talking about. You are only one year of age. How could you create a technique like that."

I could see the panic in Mother's eyes, but I continued, "It's just as I said, being trapped in the darkness has taught me a lot. Being in a void of nothing, my only company being the darkness, you are bound to learn a few things."

"I can recall everything since the day I was born, the look of the wet nurse that helped birth me, the face of my brother at the dinner table, even words you spoke before knocking me out."

A shiver ran through Mother's body as she paled with horror, remembering what she did, "It depends as of right now, they would not. You still have a long way to go, Arsène. The Snow's are a major family for a reason they would not give you such freedom for something like that...At least not until you truly prove yourself."

"While the technique is great, it's not necessary for, in the long run, most cultivators develop photographic memories the stronger they grow," she explained.

Looking at the time, mother sighed in annoyance, "I will be back later. I have been asked to check on the condition of the First prince."

"You're a doctor," I asked in surprise,

"No, there seems to be some kind of curse on his body due to the assassination plot. I will be back tonight; your father will be accompanying me. So don't cause any trouble, OK."

Feeling mother was clearly worried. I smiled, giving her a warm hug as she flickered away, causing me to sigh jealously. Knowing I would reach that level one day I chuckled inwardly, before looking over at my desk that had a large plate of food waiting for me.

Taking a few bites, I readied my mind for what was about to come. Rose had given me some pills that would help boost my cultivation rate while also making sure I don't die from blood loss.

Stuffing both the pill father and Rose gave me down my throat, I quickly began performing the Immortal Origin Art. However, to my surprise, unlike last time, none of my bones shattered, much less broke.

Feeling more confident, I began to perform the same move over and over again. My skin had slowly turned red as an amount of large black ooze that reeked of shit and piss slowly burst from my pores. And yet, I did not stop; adjusting my movements over and over, I began my first step in mastering the first movement of the Immortal Origin Art.

In the beginning, it had taken me over an hour to perform just one movement, but as I continued, the rate of completion began decreasing at an alarming rate.

55 minutes,

45 minutes,

30 minutes,

10 minutes,

5 minutes.

Time seemed to have passed by so quickly as I stared down at the floor that was covered in ooze. A steam of sweat was flowing from my body as I closed my eyes, remembering the sensation that just happened.

Sensing that I was at a major milestone, I opened my eyes before continuing. My body was exhausted, and my mind was weary, but I continued. Over and over, I performed the same movement before I heard a loud tear coming from within.

Blood burst from my eyes and mouth as I fell to the floor, convulsing. Pain rivaling the time Flama had increased, my comprehension exploded forward, causing me to scream out in anguish. Slamming my fist down, I suddenly felt a massive amount of power flowing through my body. My red skin had returned to its original milky white complexion as all the pain I felt suddenly vanished.

The First of Twelve Meridians had been opened, causing a deep laugh to escape from my mouth. Feeling triumphant, I laid on the floor covered in my own impurities smiling as tears filled my eyes.

"I succeeded, I did it, mother, father...I did it"