Chapter 30

  Endless Effort

  “Again.”

  Yan’s grumble was hidden by the sound of the swinging blades as she rose to her feet from a rested crouch. Starting off with a run, Yan jumped into the frenzy of danger. Her body twisted to avoid the sharpened metal, and Yan latched to a wall. Her feet stuck, held in place with a faint glow of green as the energy lashed itself from her feet to the wood.

  The hammer came soon after, forcing Yan to roll from the wall back to the top of one of the wooden poles. Her small foot was too large for it, but she moved along to avoid another one of the extraneous number of death traps. Yan ran along the surface of the wooden poles and spotted the target. With an aerial somersault, Yan avoided one last trap and struck the ball.

  The small object bounced off into another area of the room, and the traps died down once more. Yan dropped to the ground and sat down, panting. “Ugh... I hate muscle training.”

  “That’s the point.” Odai said, walking over to gather the target sphere. “If you get used to it, it loses its value.”

  “I could be doing muscle training with my friends, you know.” Yan said, glaring at her father. He did not seem fazed.

  “That would never work.” Odai said. “Your ‘party’ is made up of you and four men. Ludicrous. You’d never be able to focus on proper muscle development.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?!” Yan said, an offended tone lashing out.

  “Oh please.” Odai said, rolling his eyes as he pocketed the sphere, “I’ve heard all about the promiscuous nature of adventurers. My own daughter, an adventuring group with four men.” He shook his head.

  “Hey! It’s not like that at all!” Yan said, jumping to her feet. “We stick together for survival and to accomplish our goals!”

  “Yes, well, there will be no unnecessary ‘sticking together’ or ‘partying’ while you are home.” Odai said, walking towards the doors to leave the activity hall, “Put thoughts of those men out of your mind while you are here, Yan.”

  “It’s not like that.” Yan said again, to herself. “Really.” The images of her friends came to mind. The four of them laughing together, fighting together. Michael’s enthusiastic attitude and immediate decisions, Sebastian’s wit and knowledge, Hyato’s stoic observation broken by his childishness. Wolf was new, but seemed brash and zestful. “I miss my friends.”

  “Clear your mind of thoughts like those, Yan, it’s time for the advanced technique training.” Odai said.

  “I wasn’t having those kinds of thoughts.” Yan said, frowning. A sudden memory resurfaced. When she had seen Michael shirtless. His body was really toned, and he had all those... muscles. They were dripping from the water as he walked away from her. A blush colored Yan’s face, and she shook her head to clear the thoughts.

  It didn’t work. Yan imagined Michael, Hyato, and Wolf, all shirtless around her. Muscular men in high spirits, Yan had to take a steadying breath. Was her Father right? No, it couldn’t be. Nothing like that would ever happen.

  Right?

  “Yan!” Odai snapped. He was standing by the door holding it open and watching her.

  “Sorry.” Yan said, hurrying along. For now, she had to focus. If she didn’t complete her training, Father would never let them leave the village again.

  Sebastian began to write a furious series of notes when they arrived at the house. He’d asked for patience, so Michael decided to meditate in the meantime. He had not been keeping up on his daily meditation since they arrived in the village.

  Once his thoughts were cleared, Michael turned to Hyato. “Hey, you live everything in your own order, right?” Hyato looked over and nodded. “So, do you already know about the Trials we have to face?”

  “No.” Hyato said. “I have not experienced the other days in this village yet. In fact, as I am now, I have not seen all of the events that we went through recently.”

  “Oh, okay.” Michael said. “I suppose I shouldn’t ask for tips from my future just because you’ve already experienced it.”

  “I’m not really sure.” Hyato said. “Can I change your future using my past? Is everything fated to happen the same way? I have always wondered, but I have no answers.”

  “That seems morbid.” Michael said.

  “Morbid? How?” Hyato asked.

  “Well, if everything is fated to happen, then there would be no reason to act. That’s what I think anyways.” Michael said.

  “Care to elaborate?” Hyato asked.

  Michael closed his eyes and lay back on the grass. “Well. Fate, huh. I’m not so sure about it. I feel like it's impossible. Or if it is real, I guess I would call it unfair.”

  “Unfair?”

  “Yeah. If fate is real, then...” Michael thought about what had happened. “There are lots of people who suffer because of it.”

  “But what if it is your fate to be happy?” Hyato asked.

  “Eh, that’s no good either. I don’t want some unknowable force to rule me. I want whatever to happen to be because of things I do. And I will continue to act as if that’s the case.” Michael said.

  Hyato smiled. “I think I agree with that.”

  The clicking and scritching of pen on paper ended, and Sebastian appeared in Michael’s vision above. “You boys rested? It’s time for some training.” He said, grinning as he held a paper with far too many notes on it.

  “That looks like complex training...” Hyato said, a grimace on his face.

  “Don’t be scared off before we even begin.” Sebastian said. “Here, let me explain it.”

  Michael and Hyato both went to sit at the table so Sebastian could explain his idea. Hyato rested an elbow on the table and his hand on his face. “Okay,” Sebastian said. “After observing everyone’s attempts, I have determined that there are three reasonable ways to win the Trial of Dexterity, and some unreasonable ones.”

  “From Wolf’s attempt, it is clear that speed is one of the ways we can use. He was brutish about it, but he managed to collect all of the petals that were near him. If he had mobility with that speed, it would have worked.” Sebastian said.

  “I was going for speed, why didn’t that work?” Michael asked.

  “Simple. You had speed, but not enough. From your attempt I determined that perception is another viable route. You were able to pick out which of the petals would fall next, and got to them. Only a faint few slipped through the cracks. Had you upped the speed, your perception would have won.”

  “I felt that I was moving pretty fast though.”

  “But when you had to turn around you lost some of that speed. You needed to turn faster. And besides, the only reason you failed was because of the factor Hyato taught us.” Sebastian explained, while pouring some water for everyone.

  Hyato nodded. “The air currents.” He said, accepting one of the cups from Sebastian.

  “Precisely,” The tactician said as he took a drink of his own water, “The Trial site in particular has odd air currents. I was unable to draw all the petals in with the winds, because the winds were too unique there. Which leads me to the last method. Control. With enough control of your movements it would not be hard to predict the patterns of the petals. Then you could take a slow walk around and let the petals fall into your hands.”

  “And how do we train for these?” Michael said, glancing at the complex notes on the table.

  The grin that showed on Sebastian’s face made Michael’s eyes go wide and Hyato lean back. “Training time.”

  As Wolf stepped onto the rope bridge over the chasm in the village, he saw that ninja girl from before. “Hello again, Jess.” He said as he reached the other side of the bridge. “You’re the one that taught my bros those techniques before, right?”

  She nodded, “What of it?”

  “Just wanted to say thanks. I think they really appreciated it. That Sebastian couldn’t shut up about you.” Wolf grinned. “I wont ask you to teach me them. I’ll just focus on training my own skills.”

  Jess smirked and nodded. Her expression had changed from reserved to warm, Wolf didn’t have to wonder why. As soon as people found out he wasn’t interested in them, they were either nice or just left. Wolf stepped through the gate first and went around back. “What’s that noise?” He wondered aloud.

  Wolf entered the training yard in the back, and dodged! He avoided being kicked in the face by inches, as Michael landed against the side of a column. Then Michael kicked from the column and sailed across the yard to the side of one of the stone platforms. He continued to jump from place to place, but didn’t touch down to the ground.

  “What’s all this?!” Wolf looked around for something that made sense.

  Michael was flying around the training area, leaping from the side of every solid surface and jumping again nonstop. Hyato was in some kind of deep trance, eyes closed, and turned with sluggish motions while holding his sword out. Sebastian was surrounded by a whirl of magical winds. “I have no idea.” Jess said, looking over the scene.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Sebastian opened his eyes and the winds around him ceased. “Jess! And Wolf, you’re back.”

  “Gee thanks.” Wolf said. Sebastian rushed over to them, pausing to let a soaring Michael pass. “What is Michael doing, is this your doing?”

  “It’s all part of the training.” Sebastian said. “I even have a regimen for you.”

  “No thanks.” Wolf held up his hands. “I’ll just focus on my own training.”

  “Give it a try,” Sebastian said, “At least for an hour or so.” Wolf groaned.

  “I thought you were ‘bros’,” Jess said, “What could it hurt. You’d just lose an hour.”

  “See?” Sebastian said. “Jess thinks you should try it too.”

  “One hour.” Wolf said, following Sebastian.

  Wolf was shown the training that Sebastian had devised for him, motion training. He was to use his abilities while moving around marked areas in an open training area. “This will help you be able to move around while using your techniques. I noticed that you leap into battle, then don’t move around much.”

  “Well, I’ll give it a try,” Wolf said, a neutral look on his face. He turned to focus on his training as Sebastian walked back over to his training spot.

  Jess followed Sebastian, watching Michael’s crazed jumping and Hyato’s careful motions. “So, what are they training?” Jess asked.

  “Hyato is working on his control and senses. He is tracking Michael with his eyes closed, and moving only when he is certain of Michael’s location. This will help him attain greater control of his great skill.” Sebastian explained, then indicated Michael, “He has so much stamina I needed to go rough. Michael is jumping around and trying to maintain top speed with controlled movements. This should help prevent him from slowing down as he moves.”

  “And you are practicing elemancy?” Jess asked, “For what?”

  “I think if I gain a greater control of wind I may be able to use that to complete the Trial. Controlling more wind with greater precision. Each of us almost completed the Trial, I am trying to refine us all so that we all have a good chance at winning.” Sebastian grinned, creating a swirl of winds around him. One of the rope fences came undone and flapped up in the wind.

  Michael soared through the air, and his foot caught on the flapping rope. He tumbled through the air, crashing into the table near the porch, and rolled to a stop. Jess gasped, Sebastian froze, but before either of them moved Hyato was already at Michael's side.

  Hyato checked Michael, and then glared at Sebastian. “Don’t you think this is a little much?!”

  “I didn’t mean to!” Sebastian said, “I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.”

  The Valon swordsman glowered for another moment, while Sebastian looked sincere in his regret. “This training.” Hyato said, “It’s too much.”

  “Really? I didn’t think it was more than you could handle.” Sebastian said, the regret in his look shifting to confusion. “What do you mean?”

  “We should not forget our objective.” Hyato said, “The Kairaetsu may use these Trials to prove themselves...” Jess seemed impressed at the term drop, “But that’s not what we are using them for. Only one of us needs to pass the Trial. The others should find out what the other Trials are and prepare for those. The sooner we complete them, the sooner we can continue to Cryston.”

  Sebastian sat at a chair, folding his hands over his chin. “You’re right. I’ve been overthinking this. Only one of us needs to pass each Trial. Chief Odai even said as much.” Sebastian looked over the others. Wolf was off in his training, but Michael, Hyato, and Jess were all looking at him. Michael seemed to have brushed off the tumble. “Do you agree, Michael?”

  “Yes.” Michael said. “We should be going for haste, we just need permission to leave and the mountain data.” He had sat up. “Who will do the Trial of Dexterity?”

  “I will.” Hyato said. “I know how to train for it as well.”

  “Then I will learn what the other Trials are, and plan for those.” Sebastian said. “Hyato, focus on your training as you see fit. You too Michael. I’ll go tell Wolf the change in plan so he can do the same.” Sebastian rose to his feet along with the others. Michael and Hyato nodded, and moved off to do their own training.

  Sebastian stepped over into the bamboo grove clearing where Wolf had migrated his training. “Wolf. Change of plans. We’ll all do our own training and prepare for each Trial independently.”

  “No.” Wolf said.

  “Wha-! What do you mean no?” Sebastian asked.

  “I said I would try your training for an hour. So I will.” Wolf said. “Fill me in afterwards.” He turned and summoned flames around his feet and hands again, while moving around.

  Sebastian shook his head and chuckled, then returned to the main building. “Time to do some research.” He said.

  “Where are you going?” Jess asked, standing there with a smirk.

  “To find out about the other Trials.” Sebastian said. “That’s the best strategy, I just didn’t see it before.” Sebastian looked thoughtful. “I need to get serious.”

  Jess laughed. “Well don’t go too far.” She said, “Or did you forget? I’m a Ninja of this village.” She patted her own chest, which drew all of Sebastian’s attention. “I’ve done the Trials before, so I know all about them.”

  “I’m an idiot.” Sebastian said, mouth agape.

  “Yeah, but that’s okay.” Jess said.

  “So you’ll tell us about the Trials? What they are and how to beat them?” Sebastian asked.

  “Maybe...” Jess looked off to one side and trailed off. “I won’t tell you how to beat them, but I might be convinced to tell you what they are.”

  “What can I do to convince you?” Sebastian asked, “I’m ready for anything.” The look on his face was serious, which made Jess laugh again.

  “Skills.” She said. “Teach me skills, and I will tell you all you need to know.”

  “Deal!” Sebastian said. He offered his hand. Jess smiled and completed the greeting, right hands to right shoulders, sealing the agreement.

  “Okay. So, after the Trial of Dexterity...”

  After training all day and eating dinner, the sky was burnt orange in the dim light of twilight. Michael stepped out along the front porch and sat at the Command Board. He pulled out the box of pieces and started to set them up. He paused when he noticed the box contained more pieces than they had been using the last few nights.

  “Oh, playing some Command?” Sebastian asked, striding over. He was wearing one of those kimonos that had been hanging in a closet. “Do you have memories of it?”

  “No.” Michael said. “I’ve been trying to learn.”

  “I can coach you on it.” Sebastian said. “It’s a tactical game, and I am quite good at it. Would you like to learn too Hyato?” Sebastian looked at the swordsman who was lurking just inside the sliding door of the house. Michael hadn’t noticed him there.

  “I’ve never learned.” Hyato said, walking over and sitting at the side of the board. Sebastian sat across from Michael, his cheeks a little flushed from the alcohol he drank at dinner.

  “Let me explain the basics.” Sebastian said, pulling pieces from the box and placing them on the board. “Command is a turn based strategy game played on a grid. You have an army of pieces under your control, and you can move them around the board and capture the opponent’s pieces with them.” Hyato watched as Sebastian set out some pieces. Michael listened in.

  “There are many pieces to go over, but let’s start with the Warlord. If your Warlord piece is captured you lose. It is one of the weakest pieces in the game, at the start.” Sebastian explained. “The other pieces are each part of four categories. Earth, Fire, Wind, Water. The four elements. Only the Warlord does not have an element.” Hyato nodded, growing more interested. Michael wondered if he played many games.

  “There are Pawns in all the elements.” Sebastian said, “As well as two Knights and a General of each Element. Each elemental Knight has a different movement type from the others, and each of the Four Generals has its own moveset. It rarely happens, but another way to win is by capturing all of your opponents Generals while having all four of yours still in play.” Michael perked up, he hadn’t learned that before.

  “Isn’t this too complex?” Hyato said.

  “It gets easier to understand once you start playing.” Sebastian said. He moved a pawn to the tile of another, and ‘captured’ it. He placed that pawn in a square bowl on his side of the table. “Captured units are placed in the box on your side of the table, your ‘prison’ so to speak. There are two actions involving captured pieces. You can use a turn to place a captured Pawn or Knight on a controlled tile, making the piece be under your command. Or you can use them to cast Spells. Each of the nine spells costs four captured pieces of a particular elemental setup. Each Spell cast is a permanent modification to the game board and some of the rules, and each spell adds some functionality to the Warlord. Proper use of spells can make the Warlord the most powerful piece on the board.”

  “Can I play a game with you?” Hyato asked, “To learn?”

  “Certainly.” Sebastian said. Hyato seemed pleased, and Michael traded places with him. “Let me go over the rest of the rules. Each spell takes four parts. Four of the spells take four pieces of the same element. The next four spells take two spells of an element, and one spell each of the adjacent element, but not the opposing. For example, since Water and Fire are opposed, the spell uses two fire, one wind, and one earth to be cast. The last spell is one of each element. Some boards have a little chart on the side showing the spells, but this one doesn’t. Now, as for how the pieces move...” Hyato listened in rapt silence, and Michael leaned back on the deck, closing his eyes for a bit. He heard Sebastian explaining the rest of the rules before playing. Michael would just take a short nap.

  The clack of wooden tiles on the board every few moments was calming. A faint breeze swept across the area, bringing the sound of bamboo chimes from the village. Every so often one of Wolf’s snores echoed from the house. The tiles clacked again. A water droplet rang out, sending a thick and heavy ripple of sound through the cave. Of course, it wasn’t water. Blood is thicker than that.

  Michael sat up, eyes snapping open. Darkness enveloped him. Not the cool calm of night, nor the empty serenity of meditation. The darkness around him was pervasive, and the air stuffy. A sharp scent, metal, tickled at Michael’s nose.

  The pervasive darkness around him started to clear, his eyes were adjusting. There was light here after all. Michael stood up and took a defensive stance as he waited to see. His left ear twitched, and Michael could hear a faint rattle of metal from nearby. He strained his ears, and heard something else. A slow ragged breath, followed by an even slower exhale. Someone was there!

  Adrenaline raced through Michael, his heart raced. Michael drew energy to his eyes, forcing them to adjust. The dim light became sharper from the effort, and Michael looked around once more.

  He stood in a large room made of natural stone. Around the room alcoves were carved into the wall, and each held a faint cluster of candle flames, bereft of any wax to sustain them. Behind Michael was a massive white door of some metal, covered in strange ornate black designs. The ragged breathing bounced around the stone walls, but it seemed to be coming from the darkest patch of the room, the center. Michael’s gaze was drawn there, and a cold sweat broke out over his body.

  Suspended in chains in the center of the room, a scarred figure. Michael had seen this before, he recalled a memory of it. Was it from a vision? A dream? His thoughts scrambled as he looked at the restrained being. The red chains were bound tight around his arms, neck, legs, and chest. They seemed to be held tight, with thorns puncturing into the man. His black hair was disheveled, hanging down over his face as he was held at an angle facing the ground. Michael’s chest felt pained and hot, so he took in a breath.

  The chained man’s head twitched, the barest hint of movement. Michael took a step back, feeling a dangerous gaze on himself. His heart stopped, and Michael froze. The red chains kept him from moving, but Michael knew. That man could kill him, there would be no fight. If Michael remained, he was dead. He needed to turn, to leave. The door behind him, could it be opened? Michael needed to escape. His legs wouldn’t move. The tension in his arms stung with pain.

  Michael’s vision blurred, and his ears began to ring. He felt too hot, too tense. Was his heart beating? He couldn’t breath. The pervasive darkness enveloped him.

  It was all over...

  Michael thrashed up, taking in a desperate breath. His back was soaked in sweat as the cold air washed over him. Michael rolled to his feet in a daze, his throat scratched with thirst. His legs gave out and he dropped to one knee, slamming it on the wooden deck with a sharp pain.

  “Woah! You alright?”

  It was too dark to see who spoke when Michael looked around. Night had arrived in the village. “W-water.” He rasped. There was a rush of motion, the sound of the door sliding open, and then a silence. A few moments later Michael felt cold water at his lips, and he pulled his head back to let the icy water wash through his mouth. After coughing too much from the first gulp Michael paced himself. He drank down the glass. He was almost quenched, but the back of his throat and tongue were still scratchy. “M-more, please.” Another glass was fetched and Michael drank it down, then took a deep breath. “Thanks.” He said.

  “You alright?” Yan asked, sitting next to him. She watched him with a worried look.

  “Sorry.” Michael said. “I... had a nightmare.” He shook his head, and felt better. His vision had cleared up, and his adrenaline was dying down. “I’m feeling better. Thanks again.”

  Yan still wore a worried look. “As long as you’re alright.” She said. Then she smiled. “So, tell me about your day, while we play some Command.”

  Michael nodded, and moved to the Command Board. He began setting up the board, which made Yan smile. “Okay. So let’s start with the Trial of Dexterity...”