"Tell me, Cassian," the old man said suddenly, his voice weak but strangely calm. "What would you do if you had the kind of power those great cultivators have?"
Cassian blinked, caught off guard.
He leaned back and rubbed his chin, pretending to think deeply. "Hmmm… if I had that kind of power, honestly? I'd just mind my own business. And if anyone messes with me, I'll mess them right back. Simple as that."
The old man smiled, his cracked lips curling slightly. "You seem like a really good kid."
Cassian's face twitched.
Good kid? Bullshit.
If you saw a quarter of what goes on in my head, old man, you'd be crawling away right now.
On the outside though, Cassian plastered his best shameless grin and replied, "Good? Nah… I'm just smart enough to know that pretending to be good saves you a lot of trouble."
The old man raised his eyebrows. For a moment, he actually looked impressed. "Such wise words… coming from such a young man."
Cassian chuckled and scratched his head, pretending to blush. "Well, wisdom and I sleep on the same bed, old man."
The old man's smile lingered as his eyes softened. Then, without warning, he said, "I have something for you."
Cassian blinked again. "Something for me?"
"Consider it… a gift."
Cassian froze.
Gift?
Is this man shitting me? What the hell does he mean by a gift? Look around, man! You live in a tent that smells like death! What could you possibly give me? A free cough?
He watched silently as the old man reached under his tattered robes, trembling hands fumbling for something. After a few seconds, he pulled out a small, dusty old book.
Cassian stared at it.
The cover was cracked, the pages looked half-eaten by time. It didn't even have a title. Just some faded brown leather and dust. Lots of dust.
The old man extended it toward him with a faint smile. "Take it."
Cassian accepted it with both hands, smiling politely. "Ah, thank you, old man. I'll… treasure it."
But inside?
Treasure it? Treasure my ass! This old hag just gave me a rotten book! Does he look like I'm some nerd who enjoys reading? What am I supposed to do with this? start a book club for the damned?
Seriously, I was expecting at least a coin, a trinket, hell, even leftover soup would've been better than this.
The old man coughed violently, clutching his chest. Cassian quickly set the book aside and tried to help him, but the old man waved him off.
His eyes were oddly bright, almost glowing in the dim tent. "That book…" he wheezed, "what you're holding… is the greatest weapon in the entire universe."
Cassian blinked, then stared at the old man like he'd just said the dumbest thing ever.
Yeah, no shit! Greatest weapon my ass! What's next, you gonna tell me it fires lightning bolts and makes women fall in love with me?
Wait—actually, scratch that last part. That would be kinda useful.
Cassian sighed and shook his head. "Alright, old man, whatever you say. I'll… take care of it."
He picked the book back up, turning it over once more. It really was old. Fragile, even. There was no title, no marks, nothing—just a strange warmth that seeped into his palms.
Weird.
He shrugged and looked back at the old man. The old man had his eyes closed now, breathing slow and shallow.
Cassian didn't know it yet, but this was the moment his whole miserable life would change.