Post by Sam on Aug 6, 2022 20:06:59 GMT -5
Push and pull...
The sound of waves on the sandy beach crashing against land was such a serene sound. There on the sand, sitting down looking at the starry horizon was Yi. The young man enjoyed the stillness and quiet that the shrouds of darkness had to offer. Perusing the coast for any signs of danger was a tiresome job but it was a task he was up for in any case. With a smirk on his face, he turned around to look at his new band of friends. It had been a week since he'd first met Wolfric and the gang. But it felt like he'd known them for years. Perhaps he had in another lifetime. The young man smiled looking at his friends sleeping around the glowing red embers of the fire. Letting out a tired sigh he turned back to the boundless horizon. It was silent nights like these when he got into the headspace of thinking.
Push and pull... the persistent sound of the waves continued. Yi stared up at the full moon, hard to believe that a beautiful pale face was the reason behind the push and pull of waters. Yet, such was the case... his eyes moved jittering like a ticking clock across the sky. Delicate yet sudden movements as he admired the stars painting the void-like darkness. This picturesque sky reminded him of home... all that was missing from the scene were the occasional shooting stars darting through the darkness. A phenomenon that was very prevalent on Dojo Island. The smile that was once on the swordsman's face soon dissipated and turned into a frown. Home. He missed home a lot, he still had doubts about what he'd done. Was it selfish? He kept trying to tell himself it wasn't, that it was for the good of his family for the good of his people. After all, he had proven that it was possible to stand up against oppression.
But it was a heavy burden. Not only that but his mind would often spin it the other way, he'd abandoned them. No. Yi thought to himself, he shouldn't regret what he'd done. After all he had promised he would come back. He would have his revenge. He would liberate his people once and for all from the tyranny that plagued them. Freedom was imminent. Staring at the pale moon's face the young man was filled with an air of resolve as old memories came flashing back... with the backdrop of... Push and pull... the sound continued, the foam of waves dissipating slowly to reveal images of a long forlorn past.
It was high morning on Dojo Island! A quaint little place seated in the far reaches of the North Blue just barely bordering the enigmatic calm belt. A cool breeze blew across the island's busy dirt streets causing chimes to jingle. Bells rang as merchants sold their goods on the market square. The smell of fresh fish and charcoal wafted through the streets. Voices chattering about local gossip or arguing over discounts. Overall the ambiance was rather mundane as people went about their day... a man in a wide-brimmed straw hat pulled on a cart of cabbages. A group of children played tag in the corner running around as they usually did... panning out of town square and to its edge a young boy with fiery orange hair walked next to a young woman with the same colored hair.
"Whooooa so the sword fell out of the sky!? It was a gift from the dragons!?"
Yi asked, there was a bright sparkle in his eye as he heard the story for the millionth time. It was his favorite story, how a valiant demi-god and son of the dragon god was given a shooting star which was promptly forged by the mountain lord who resided in the volcano. With the newfound blade, the man defended the nation from the invading demon lord from the north and Emperor of the Holy Remuno Empire. In the ensuing battle he managed to not only kill the evil emperor but also carve up the continent on which it all took place thus leading to the creation of the Remuno Archipelago and the separation of Dojo Island from the chain at large.
Finally slaying the beast and separating the island from the mainland. In his honor, a Dojo was built on the very crater where the shooting star landed, one where he would teach the locals about fighting so that they could defend themselves once he was gone. Of course, the title of the master was passed down from generation to generation to ensure the islanders were well trained. It was a story everyone on the island was tired of hearing. But Yi always asked his older sister to tell him the story over and over again. The young woman smiled, her green eyes were full of care for her younger brother. She simply couldn't deny his enthusiasm.
"Yes Yi, they did and the sword now resides in the Temple overlooking the mountain. Mounted on a bronze dragon's statues' mouth. Legend has it that it awaits the return of a great hero just like the one in the legend!"
Man, Yi wished to see that hero come in during his lifetime. Honestly, that was probably a common feeling among all the other villagers... the current rule was rather oppressive. Although many had lost hope. Holding out for a hero of legend seemed like a child-like wish more than a reality. The truth was tyrants were real but mythic heros weren’t. It was a feeling among the crowd that was never expressed, letting out a quiet little sigh, Yi passed by the local children sitting around. He tugged at his sister's hanbok to get her attention.
"Can I hang out with my friends?"
His sister nodded and motioned for him to go ahead. Smiling widely he rushed over to the group.
"Hey, Yi!"
Some of the children called out as Yi approached the party. One of the first people to meet Yi's gaze was another boy around his age... Tsung.
"Oiiii! Yi! I see you're with your sister shopping. Man, she's hot hahaha! Don't tell her I said that... ok?"
A swift blow from Liu, another kid, was promptly delivered to Tsung. Everyone in the group shook their heads in disappointment. Yi on the other hand was simply embarrassed by the exchange, his face turned red.
"Wha ugh... um..."
That was all that he managed to stutter out, it didn't matter, Tsung had learned his lesson as he had been swiftly bashed over the head by his friend and was already regretting expressing himself like that. Although it wasn't a lie... Yi's eldest sister was indeed one of the most beautiful young women on the island. Everyone always complimented her... it was said even the Master had even commented on the matter. Whatever the case, this exchange had made Yi rather flustered. Wanting to move on from the awkward exchange the friend group decided to change the subject.
"Hey! Look who's coming over here! It's Yuumi..."
Liu piped up pointing to the other side of the dirt road, wearing a white set of noble clothing. The modest girl hardly two years older than Yi crossed the road slowly. Her hair was white as freshly fallen snow and her skin a golden honey color which heavily contrasted her snow-white hair... her eyes were silvery and bright. If Yi had been flustered before he was surely very much flustered right now. His peach-colored cheeks turned into a light shade of pink. Yumi, the master's youngest of the daughters of the moon. Her presence was astounding to him... but that's not how the others felt and for good reason too. In fact, Liu's voice was filled with negativity. His tone conveys a degree of repugnance and disgust.
"Come on guys let 's move."
The young man uttered signaling the rest to follow him away. It was clear, they didn't wish to be in her presence... not because of who she was but rather because of her father. Yi's brow furrowed as he looked at his friends starting to leave, Tsung who was at the tail end of the moralizing group turned around to look at Yi, the boy's greasy black hair flipped as he turned to look at his friend.
"Oi Yi! Are you coming?"
Tsung asked.
"No, I'm good."
The reply was not something the other boy expected from Yi, he narrowed his eyes slightly but overall didn't question the choice. Making his own decisions on the matter, Tsung left along with the rest. Surely enough, Yuumi finally crossed the street, the silver-eyed woman looked around.
"H-hey Yi! Umm, where did everyone go?"
She asked, mildly concerned, Yi sighed, he rubbed the back of his head and gave her a frown. Unlike the rest, Yi didn't resent the young lady and that went beyond his emotions. He simply wasn't a prejudiced type. But, to his people... family was important and more often than not, every member was measured with the same stick. With his own bronze-colored eyes the youngster made eye contact.
"Oh! They had to go home!"
The boy lied.
"All of them?"
Yuumi tilted her head quizzically, she pursed her lips and lifted a brow.
"Yes! Hehehe..."
Yi answered awkwardly, his face was starting to get red again. The boy held his breath as his gaze was locked onto the young woman's eyes. Bronze eyes and silver eyes meeting for a few seconds. Until. Finally, Yuumi broke the gaze with Yi. Turning her head back to normal, Yuumi decided to go along with her only friend's story.
"Ok."
She simply answered, Yi, let out a sigh from having held his breath and slouched down his arms dangling. He'd done it. His lie was successful...
"So what's up, Yi?"
The young woman asked as she moved over to the stones where Liu and the others had once been. She crouched closer to her legs pinning her elbows on them as she sat on the stones waiting for Yi to speak up. Turning around the fourteen-year-old straightened out. That was a question and a half... what's up?
"Well it's uh it's been ok I guess? Appa has been teaching me how to craft ships and Omma has been taking care of my sword training. Omma says I'm a lot more talented than Kwan but tells me not to tell him haha."
Yi announced proudly! He walked over to Yuumi and sat on a stone across from her. A few lizards scuttled around as he moved toward the stone and sat down. The wind blew lightly moving Yi's long copper hair around. Frankly, he was very happy with his family and how things went. Even if they did go through hard times at least they had each other. Looking back up Yi stared at Yuumi's flowing white hair and how it shined in the delicate sunlight... just like silver... or platinum.
"So what about you? How goes?"
The young man inquired, a small nervous smile forming across his lips. Yuumi had been staring at Yi, thinking over his words... her eyes darkened slightly as she lowered her head to look at a bundle of leaves floating in the breeze. That was a hard question to answer... paired with Yi's happy boast about his family it became a lot more difficult. It wasn't hard for Yi to notice the question was troubling for his friend. Yuumi was the youngest of twelve sisters. Add to the fact a missing maternal figure and a father whose expectation of his children were unreasonable and that would drive anyone mad.
"That's good to hear, Yi. I'm doing well, just went out for a walk."
Letting out a sigh the young woman's eyes continued to follow the dead leaves in the wind until they fluttered around Yi's copper mane. Turning her eyes back over at the young man's bronze eyes she looked at him intently for a moment.
"I see..."
The young man muttered...
"Oiiii Yi! I'm going back home! Have fun with your friend."
Came a familiar voice from the market, turning his head around Yi saw his older sister Hana called out. She had a big friendly smile, her eyes closing as she waved at Yi with a basket full of groceries.
"Come back home soon!"
Hana walked back to her home, a small wooden house with a hay roof bordering the coast. On the sandy shores of Dojo Island, the copper-haired woman had a slight smile on her face as she trekked up the hill and over to her house. The sawing of wood and hammering of nails was heard louder and louder the closer she came to the house.
"Good job Kwan! Your craftsmanship grows every day more and more."
A dark brown-haired man patted his son on the back. He smiled a big toothy grin at his son... Kwan... a boy of Yi's same age and identical to him in every way except for personality. Yi's older twin brother, however, was much meeker and milder. His love laid in the craftsmanship of wood rather than the study of the sword unlike his twin.
"Thanks, appa! It helps to learn from the greatest shipwright this part of the North Blue!"
The kid retorted with a wide smile of his own, as Hana approached they both took note of her presence.
"Gohoho! How's my dearest daughter doing? Say where's the copperhead?"
The joyous father chuckled, he was a large man standing tall with dark brown hair and a happy attitude. Hana let out a sigh and shook her head, a smile still on her face.
"Come on appa, you know he dislikes that nickname. He stayed behind with some friends."
Hana replied she moved on toward the entrance of the house pausing just before going in. Her father turned around as well as Kwan.
"Wha but it's TRUE! That boy's quicker than pit vipers in midsummer! He's going to rattle the stars one day... I just feel it in my bones."
Mr. Gong explained, his eyes going wide... he was getting goosebumps as he spoke about his son. His arms waving wildly in the air and his hands shaking as he spoke about the very stars trembling. Everyone remained silent for a moment Hana looked down with a solemn look. Kwan looked up at his father who met his bronze-colored eyes. Finally breaking the silence Kwan spoke up.
"Maybe he's the one... the hero everyones been waiting for so long."
The trio looked at each other, they had all thought the same. It's why they'd gone silent. Hana shook her head. With a tinge of annoyance in her voice Hana spat back.
"Perhaps. But perhaps it's best if he isn't."
With that the young woman stormed off into their cabin. That kind of pressure on a boy that young was no good. No matter the level of talent her little brother had. Hana put down the groceries on a wooden table, her mother who was polishing a sword next to the fireplace raised her head. She was a woman with the same bronze fiery hair which seemed so prevalent in the family.
"Oh you're back honey. Is… everything alright?"
Hana nodded, she really didn't feel like talking about this topic any longer than was necessary. With a frown her mother took the hint and resumed polishing the blade. Perhaps they could discuss it later when the metaphorical waters settled.
Elsewhere...
"Get out of my way!"
A young man yelled out shoving an older man to the ground. The young man looked at the older man with an angered face, teeth clenched and a vein popping out of his forehead. His red face seemed like a tomato on top of his Blue regal clothing ornate with golden dragons.
"Who gave you permission to get in my way!? Don't you know who I am!?"
The young man yelled out, his personal guard all clad in black dyed gambeson rallying up behind him spears tightly held in their hands. The felled man simply cowered, covering himself innocently from the wrath of this indignant nobleman.
"I'm the Magistrate! Second only to Moon Lord Dal! You should do your best to remember that! Now get out of my way before I beat your sorry excuse for a face into an unrecognizable pulp."
Quickly the older man scrambled away from Son. He was named Son and was the Magistrate of Moon Lord Dal. His best student. Quite the prominent figure and powerful combatant, it was likely this that made him extremely arrogant.
"Now why did Master send me out again!? Do any of you simpletons remember?"
He asked the consort of guards following him brandishing curved spears and wearing the typical black garb. A few of the guards looked at each other in confusion until one of the braver ones answered with a furrowed brow.
“We’re supposed to collect a debt from the Gong family.”
The brave guard spoke up, the arrogant man turned to look at him, a scowl on his face. He remembered now, indeed Master had sent him on this fetch quest. Well, at least involved making unreliable peasants more miserable. It allowed him to display how much better than them he was and he loved it. Putting one hand on his chest with a smugly smile plastered over his golden face, Son made a proclamation.
“Ohoho! Of course now I remember! Well what are we waiting on? Let's make the Master proud! Let's not delay…"
With that the party marched onward toward the coast, it didn’t take them long before they reached the cliffside on which the Gong’s home was. At this point the sky was already a gun metal grey and the winds flustered about causing the coastal palms to sway left and right.
“Grr, let's make this quick! I don’t want the rain to ruin my new tunic."
Son barked as he marched up the door and knocked heavily the guards following shortly behind. The door slowly opened revealing the orange warmth of the hearth behind… The family sitting around a table looked at the front door where a beautiful young lady with fiery hair. Hana, the young woman flinched as a flash of lightning broke through the howling winds lighting up Son’s smiling face for a moment.
“I know what I AM taking for payment! BAHAHAHA! You’ll make a fine concubine…”
The sound of thunder boomed making Yi jump, talking to Yuumi was fun but he needed to head back home as soon as possible. His face turning a bright shade of pink he looked over at the blue eyed girl before him.
“Erm um.. I have to go, Yuumi! It's about to rain.”
Yi announced, quickly dashing toward his home, his boots clattering against the pavement. But he stopped only a couple of feet out, Yuumi looked over at him with a confused look.
"S-sorry… um goodbye! Hope you make it home safe."
He muttered giving a quick bow before running off. Yuu shook her head slightly in disapproval. 'What was wrong with that boy.'
Yi's footsteps hit against the pavement… one drop two drop three drops… it started to rain. Puddles forming in the dents of the uneven streets. Water splashed everytime his foot hit one of those dents. The sky was darker than ever, wind swirled around causing the water rain to spin about. Yi held onto his gat tightly as he ran out of town and into the countryside, his boots covering themselves in the grey volcanic clay. Rice paddies surrounded him as he ran through the muddled roads… frogs croaking adding to the cacophony of unpleasant sounds.
Raising over the hill up ahead he finally made it up. It was dark and quiet. Too quiet. Yi's brows furrowed as he went up the hill slowly, the thatched roof fluttering slightly against the hefty winds. With one pale palm extended out he opened up the entrance of his door… over a single candle, the only warm orange color amongst the cold blues and purples that painted the darkness. Kwan, his father, and his mother were huddled up. His mother was leaning against her father's chest sobbing quietly. Someone was missing. Hana.
"W-what happened? Where is Hana?"
Yi suttered, a bolt of lightning flashed behind him illuminating the room further. His father raised his head up, to speak… his brown eyes full of sorrow.
"They took her, Son came down the mountain and took her as payment."
He answered, his voice shaken… Yi had never heard his father speak like that. Never seen his mother cry. Never seen Kwan frown. It shattered his heart, he felt a pang in chest as it tightened up. His fists curling up, knuckles going pink as his veins popped up. It was a mixed bag of emotions. Sadness, anger, frustration, hate. They were all boiling within him. It was so unfair. What they had to live. Without saying a word he moved toward the put out fire place, above it his mother's sword hung… ornate. A family heirloom.
"Yi… no!"
His father yelled out, but Yi wasn't having any of it. Without looking at any of them in the eye, he past them. He was already at the door when he felt a tug at his hanbok. Turning around he saw the bronze colored eyes of his mother… watered and hazy. They were reddened… stinging with pain. Yi bit his lip holding back his own tears.
"Please… don't."
Yi tugged his hanbok back, a stern look on his face.
"I'm sorry. But I'm getting her back."
With a blade in hand and a storm raging he fled into the night to chase after the man who took his sister. Yi turned around one last time shutting the door, the darkness within the house staring back at him as his family stood there with their pale faces blank wondering how to react.
Gently he closed the door, cold rain drops dripping onto his hat and sliding down his face. His blade was whet, hungry for revenge wielding the blade outwardly he trudged through the muddled ground. Flashes of lightning in a darkened sky burning with their cold flaming glow.
Meanwhile…
"Come on! Stop tugging against me, b*tch."
Son grumbled in annoyance as he held onto Hana's arm tightly. The wild orange haired girl was pulling back, tears streaming down her face. The soldiers looked at the scene silent, but with concerned looks on their faces… no one could say they were against this exchange even if they were. The student's choice was his and his alone. He could do as he pleased and anyone who went against him would likely be put up.
Son slapped the young woman across the face, sending her stepping back a few steps on the muddy pavement. Hands on the ground, her sobs stopped as she shook looking at the ground in shock. In the heat of the moment, the soldiers instinctively went to help up the girl.
"What do you think you're doing!?"
"You… you can- aughh..."
The Magestrait yelled, unsheathing his sword he lunged at the soldier and cut him down. A gash opened up through his chest exposing flesh and causing blood to sputter over Hana's face, flinching as it happened. The soldier screamed in agonizing pain as he fell to the ground, with a crazed look on the noble man's face, he looked around at his other guards.
"Anyone else!?"
There was silence among the party as the soldiers fidget with their spears. No one dared end up like their former companion who now lay dead on the ground.
"That's what I thought…"
Son began to sheath his shortsword when a yell came from over a nearby hill.
"Me!"
Immediately the noble's head jerked to look around confused, turning about to find the location of the voice. Over a nearby hill, as a crackle of lightning hit… he found it. With a flash of light and followed by thunder Yi's visage was lit up. Drops of water fell down his face as he removed his hat dramatically tossing it aside. His bronze eyes like those of a predatory snake peered straight into Son's own blue eyes. Still on the ground Hana looked up to see her little brother standing on the hilltop. Her eyes widened at the sight in disbelief as her eyes looked upon the sheen of his blade.
"Yi…"
Son looked up at the man snarling angrily, reaching to his side he pulled out what seemed like a feather-shaped dagger and tossed it Yi's way. The wind breaking around the sides of the steel blade as it whizzed faster than an arrow.
"Don't bother me brat!"
He growled, but to his dismay the bronze haired 'brat' deflected the knife with his sword causing it to squander to the side pathetically. Getting into a proper fighting position Yi readied himself, eyes locked on Son like a snake locking its eyes on a target. Steady breathes and a calm expression accompanied his stance, his eyes were those of a warrior ready to die. Hana looked at her brother then at Yi, wondering what next. With an intrepid leap through the air Yi raised his blade up high to clash against him.
"AGHHHHHH!"
Yi yelled in rage, any composure that he may have seemed to have had before was now gone. His pale face was red with fury! It was all so sudden, Son was not ready for the surprise attack… with a quick motion of his cloak Son managed to block the incoming attack just barely. A loud clinch was heard revealing the wall of daggers underneath the cloak which acted almost like tethered scale mail. There was a slight tinge of pain which seared his left cheek… followed by the warm feeling of red ichor mingling with cold rain. Placing one hand on his cheek he felt it, a thin cut painted on his face.
"Stupid brat! You'll pay for that!"
Son said, his voice getting shrill again turning to his soldiers he looked at them. He wouldn't waste his time on a sixteen year old child. Pointing a shaking finger he yelled at them.
"You! Useless bunch take care of this worthless kid."
As he did Hana let out a scream.
"Soo-Yi!!!"
With that he ran away grabbing Hana by the arm and pulling her off down the path. Yi scoffed, lifting himself up ready to chase after him. But before he could three armed soldiers pulled up on him. They looked down at the boy, they knew this was merciless. But their heads were on the line.
"Get out of my way, this is none of your business."
The leader of the trio spoke up.
"Sorry kid… but you know the rules."
Yi looked down at the ground, water dripping from his face… creating ripples in the puddles that dotted the muddled path below. His blood was boiling, where he normally would have tried to talk this situation out he wasn't going to. He was in a rush and frankly didn't care. They had made their decision when they signed themselves up as temple guards. Watching the water rippling below… in the puddle he caught a glimpse of his own face. It didn't look like him, the cold blooded look in his eyes was not his own.
"I gave you a chance…"
Yi clutched his sword tightly, he had a technique at the ready. One that he'd practiced with his mom millions of times… but couldn't master. But perhaps now was the moment. Perhaps his stress would push him beyond his limits.
As the words left his mouth Yi dashed furiously forward pushing the air around him in a forward facing whirlwind that sent all the soldiers flying to the wayside. His blade cut them in the process… their red colored outfits masking the ribbon-like wounds inflicted on their bodies. Their groans and moans filled the air, exasperated gasps of pain. Where Yi may have once cared and felt the pain… he didn't. He was done, this stupid island had done enough to his family. He returning the pain they inflicted back. He was getting his revenge tonight. As he began to walk away from the scene a hand grabbed his leg. He stared at the pained eyes… a part in the back of his head was nagging at him and deep down some part of him felt remorse. He bit his lips.
"I warned you, didn't I?"
Yi said, turning to look at the soldier grasping his leg… blood dripping from his lips. Without thinking it twice he kicked the man off and went on his way. It didn't take more than a short sprint down the path for him to spot Son dragging his sister through the muddied path.
"Son!!"
The young man yelled out, this patch of the path crossed under a canopy of trees so the water dripped down less. Looking back, Son saw the fledgling warrior in hot pursuit, his soldiers had failed him yet again. Worthless! The, lot of them. No matter, he would deal with this on his own. Getting his hands dirty wasn't in his plans but this boy was clearly not giving up tonight. Dropping Hana to a side he unsheathed his blade and got ready.
"You think you're something special because you got rid of my soldiers, eh?"
Without a word Yi went for another heavy power attack aimed at Son, holding the double edge sword in two hands. The swordsman didn't care to answer the man before him as he silently accessed the situation. Son parried the attack being slightly pushed back by the sudden stack of speed, lunging forward he pushed Yi back a few steps. The two clashed time and time again, in a stalemate of blades clashing. They had long moved past the muddled forest and into a cliffside nearby. Below the waters crashed against the jet rocks of the coast. Two men at arms danced on the edge of a precipice.
"You're a talented kid, I'll give you that… Why not work for me? Become my personal bodyguard eh? I'll even clear the debt on your family."
Son offered through heavy pants, Yi looked at him panting as well. The sound of thunder crackling behind him. It was hardly a tempting offer, even before this whole exchange. But, even if Son had never taken his sister… Yi would have never accepted that offer. Never. His hatred for Moon Dal, the master of the island, knew no bounds. They had done so much wrong to him and his family. Draining them of resources like a parasite drains the body… meanwhile they get to sit on piles of gold and jade on their monumental household. Not lifting as much as a finger.
"No."
Yi went for another open swing, this was however exactly what Son had been looking for. Covertly with his left hand he had reached into his cloak and readied a dagger. With one hand he parried and the other he stabbed Yi right in the gut. The young swordsman flinched, feeling the dagger imbed itself into his stomach; a sting of pain that began in his abdomen and spread across his body caused him to flinch compulsively in pain. Even losing grip of his blade.
"That's it… it wasn't so hard to toy with you now was it?"
Yi was stunned for a moment as he was still on the edge. Son's words made him feel angrier… but he didn't have much time to react as Son immediately kicked him down the cliff. Immediately be it by instinct or perhaps something else Yi grabbed onto a branch on the cliffside. But his grip was waning as the pain in his abdomen still continued. His teeth were clenched.
"Hahaha… look at you… hanging onto life like a maggot."
Son laughed as he saw Yi's futile attempts on the cliffside. The young man stared up at his opponent remembering a key thing from his training. He had been angry. His emotions had clouded him up until now. Swords were weapons. Ones aimed at maiming and killing. But they were tools too. A man who picked up a blade was accepting this fact. They had both life and death in their hands… legends after all spoke of men and women who could choose when to cut. That was their degree of control. But they only achieved it when they didn't carelessly swing a sword. These people, they could cut anything with anything. A sword was a tool. A man was a warrior.
The warrior couldn't let the tool for killing control him. He had to be the master of his own destiny. Yi's eyes opened wide, he felt a surge of resolve come over him allowing him to push past the pain as he tuned out the mocking laughter. Using his powerful arms and legs he managed to pull himself up sending himself lunging forward and spring boarding over the branch. With a flip he landed on the mud with a roll and grabbed his blade. Son stopped laughing as he stared at the young man who moments earlier was at death's door.
"What!? You don't give up do you!?"
His smile was fading.
"No matter, you won't last a second in your state…"
Yi didn't even reply as Son prepared his sword to cut down the young man that to him was opened wide. But that was his last mistake, the young man now calm and with a clear mind took the opportunity. He raised his sword up with both hands at eye level next to his face as Son came running at him and without even moving in the blank of an eye they each swiped. Yi remained standing as did Son. Both backs turned to each other a few feet apart. But it was Son who flinched a spray of blood mingling with the cold rain. A flash of lightning boomed.
The light it casted showed the shadow of a man. His top half sliding diagonally from his bottom half. A thud was heard behind Yi who didn't even bother checking on the man. Quickly he sheathed his blade and went to check on his sister.
To Be Continued…
The sound of waves on the sandy beach crashing against land was such a serene sound. There on the sand, sitting down looking at the starry horizon was Yi. The young man enjoyed the stillness and quiet that the shrouds of darkness had to offer. Perusing the coast for any signs of danger was a tiresome job but it was a task he was up for in any case. With a smirk on his face, he turned around to look at his new band of friends. It had been a week since he'd first met Wolfric and the gang. But it felt like he'd known them for years. Perhaps he had in another lifetime. The young man smiled looking at his friends sleeping around the glowing red embers of the fire. Letting out a tired sigh he turned back to the boundless horizon. It was silent nights like these when he got into the headspace of thinking.
Push and pull... the persistent sound of the waves continued. Yi stared up at the full moon, hard to believe that a beautiful pale face was the reason behind the push and pull of waters. Yet, such was the case... his eyes moved jittering like a ticking clock across the sky. Delicate yet sudden movements as he admired the stars painting the void-like darkness. This picturesque sky reminded him of home... all that was missing from the scene were the occasional shooting stars darting through the darkness. A phenomenon that was very prevalent on Dojo Island. The smile that was once on the swordsman's face soon dissipated and turned into a frown. Home. He missed home a lot, he still had doubts about what he'd done. Was it selfish? He kept trying to tell himself it wasn't, that it was for the good of his family for the good of his people. After all, he had proven that it was possible to stand up against oppression.
But it was a heavy burden. Not only that but his mind would often spin it the other way, he'd abandoned them. No. Yi thought to himself, he shouldn't regret what he'd done. After all he had promised he would come back. He would have his revenge. He would liberate his people once and for all from the tyranny that plagued them. Freedom was imminent. Staring at the pale moon's face the young man was filled with an air of resolve as old memories came flashing back... with the backdrop of... Push and pull... the sound continued, the foam of waves dissipating slowly to reveal images of a long forlorn past.
~~~
It was high morning on Dojo Island! A quaint little place seated in the far reaches of the North Blue just barely bordering the enigmatic calm belt. A cool breeze blew across the island's busy dirt streets causing chimes to jingle. Bells rang as merchants sold their goods on the market square. The smell of fresh fish and charcoal wafted through the streets. Voices chattering about local gossip or arguing over discounts. Overall the ambiance was rather mundane as people went about their day... a man in a wide-brimmed straw hat pulled on a cart of cabbages. A group of children played tag in the corner running around as they usually did... panning out of town square and to its edge a young boy with fiery orange hair walked next to a young woman with the same colored hair.
"Whooooa so the sword fell out of the sky!? It was a gift from the dragons!?"
Yi asked, there was a bright sparkle in his eye as he heard the story for the millionth time. It was his favorite story, how a valiant demi-god and son of the dragon god was given a shooting star which was promptly forged by the mountain lord who resided in the volcano. With the newfound blade, the man defended the nation from the invading demon lord from the north and Emperor of the Holy Remuno Empire. In the ensuing battle he managed to not only kill the evil emperor but also carve up the continent on which it all took place thus leading to the creation of the Remuno Archipelago and the separation of Dojo Island from the chain at large.
Finally slaying the beast and separating the island from the mainland. In his honor, a Dojo was built on the very crater where the shooting star landed, one where he would teach the locals about fighting so that they could defend themselves once he was gone. Of course, the title of the master was passed down from generation to generation to ensure the islanders were well trained. It was a story everyone on the island was tired of hearing. But Yi always asked his older sister to tell him the story over and over again. The young woman smiled, her green eyes were full of care for her younger brother. She simply couldn't deny his enthusiasm.
"Yes Yi, they did and the sword now resides in the Temple overlooking the mountain. Mounted on a bronze dragon's statues' mouth. Legend has it that it awaits the return of a great hero just like the one in the legend!"
Man, Yi wished to see that hero come in during his lifetime. Honestly, that was probably a common feeling among all the other villagers... the current rule was rather oppressive. Although many had lost hope. Holding out for a hero of legend seemed like a child-like wish more than a reality. The truth was tyrants were real but mythic heros weren’t. It was a feeling among the crowd that was never expressed, letting out a quiet little sigh, Yi passed by the local children sitting around. He tugged at his sister's hanbok to get her attention.
"Can I hang out with my friends?"
His sister nodded and motioned for him to go ahead. Smiling widely he rushed over to the group.
"Hey, Yi!"
Some of the children called out as Yi approached the party. One of the first people to meet Yi's gaze was another boy around his age... Tsung.
"Oiiii! Yi! I see you're with your sister shopping. Man, she's hot hahaha! Don't tell her I said that... ok?"
*BAM*
A swift blow from Liu, another kid, was promptly delivered to Tsung. Everyone in the group shook their heads in disappointment. Yi on the other hand was simply embarrassed by the exchange, his face turned red.
"Wha ugh... um..."
That was all that he managed to stutter out, it didn't matter, Tsung had learned his lesson as he had been swiftly bashed over the head by his friend and was already regretting expressing himself like that. Although it wasn't a lie... Yi's eldest sister was indeed one of the most beautiful young women on the island. Everyone always complimented her... it was said even the Master had even commented on the matter. Whatever the case, this exchange had made Yi rather flustered. Wanting to move on from the awkward exchange the friend group decided to change the subject.
"Hey! Look who's coming over here! It's Yuumi..."
Liu piped up pointing to the other side of the dirt road, wearing a white set of noble clothing. The modest girl hardly two years older than Yi crossed the road slowly. Her hair was white as freshly fallen snow and her skin a golden honey color which heavily contrasted her snow-white hair... her eyes were silvery and bright. If Yi had been flustered before he was surely very much flustered right now. His peach-colored cheeks turned into a light shade of pink. Yumi, the master's youngest of the daughters of the moon. Her presence was astounding to him... but that's not how the others felt and for good reason too. In fact, Liu's voice was filled with negativity. His tone conveys a degree of repugnance and disgust.
"Come on guys let 's move."
The young man uttered signaling the rest to follow him away. It was clear, they didn't wish to be in her presence... not because of who she was but rather because of her father. Yi's brow furrowed as he looked at his friends starting to leave, Tsung who was at the tail end of the moralizing group turned around to look at Yi, the boy's greasy black hair flipped as he turned to look at his friend.
"Oi Yi! Are you coming?"
Tsung asked.
"No, I'm good."
The reply was not something the other boy expected from Yi, he narrowed his eyes slightly but overall didn't question the choice. Making his own decisions on the matter, Tsung left along with the rest. Surely enough, Yuumi finally crossed the street, the silver-eyed woman looked around.
"H-hey Yi! Umm, where did everyone go?"
She asked, mildly concerned, Yi sighed, he rubbed the back of his head and gave her a frown. Unlike the rest, Yi didn't resent the young lady and that went beyond his emotions. He simply wasn't a prejudiced type. But, to his people... family was important and more often than not, every member was measured with the same stick. With his own bronze-colored eyes the youngster made eye contact.
"Oh! They had to go home!"
The boy lied.
"All of them?"
Yuumi tilted her head quizzically, she pursed her lips and lifted a brow.
"Yes! Hehehe..."
Yi answered awkwardly, his face was starting to get red again. The boy held his breath as his gaze was locked onto the young woman's eyes. Bronze eyes and silver eyes meeting for a few seconds. Until. Finally, Yuumi broke the gaze with Yi. Turning her head back to normal, Yuumi decided to go along with her only friend's story.
"Ok."
She simply answered, Yi, let out a sigh from having held his breath and slouched down his arms dangling. He'd done it. His lie was successful...
"So what's up, Yi?"
The young woman asked as she moved over to the stones where Liu and the others had once been. She crouched closer to her legs pinning her elbows on them as she sat on the stones waiting for Yi to speak up. Turning around the fourteen-year-old straightened out. That was a question and a half... what's up?
"Well it's uh it's been ok I guess? Appa has been teaching me how to craft ships and Omma has been taking care of my sword training. Omma says I'm a lot more talented than Kwan but tells me not to tell him haha."
Yi announced proudly! He walked over to Yuumi and sat on a stone across from her. A few lizards scuttled around as he moved toward the stone and sat down. The wind blew lightly moving Yi's long copper hair around. Frankly, he was very happy with his family and how things went. Even if they did go through hard times at least they had each other. Looking back up Yi stared at Yuumi's flowing white hair and how it shined in the delicate sunlight... just like silver... or platinum.
"So what about you? How goes?"
The young man inquired, a small nervous smile forming across his lips. Yuumi had been staring at Yi, thinking over his words... her eyes darkened slightly as she lowered her head to look at a bundle of leaves floating in the breeze. That was a hard question to answer... paired with Yi's happy boast about his family it became a lot more difficult. It wasn't hard for Yi to notice the question was troubling for his friend. Yuumi was the youngest of twelve sisters. Add to the fact a missing maternal figure and a father whose expectation of his children were unreasonable and that would drive anyone mad.
"That's good to hear, Yi. I'm doing well, just went out for a walk."
Letting out a sigh the young woman's eyes continued to follow the dead leaves in the wind until they fluttered around Yi's copper mane. Turning her eyes back over at the young man's bronze eyes she looked at him intently for a moment.
"I see..."
The young man muttered...
"Oiiii Yi! I'm going back home! Have fun with your friend."
Came a familiar voice from the market, turning his head around Yi saw his older sister Hana called out. She had a big friendly smile, her eyes closing as she waved at Yi with a basket full of groceries.
"Come back home soon!"
~~~
Hana walked back to her home, a small wooden house with a hay roof bordering the coast. On the sandy shores of Dojo Island, the copper-haired woman had a slight smile on her face as she trekked up the hill and over to her house. The sawing of wood and hammering of nails was heard louder and louder the closer she came to the house.
"Good job Kwan! Your craftsmanship grows every day more and more."
A dark brown-haired man patted his son on the back. He smiled a big toothy grin at his son... Kwan... a boy of Yi's same age and identical to him in every way except for personality. Yi's older twin brother, however, was much meeker and milder. His love laid in the craftsmanship of wood rather than the study of the sword unlike his twin.
"Thanks, appa! It helps to learn from the greatest shipwright this part of the North Blue!"
The kid retorted with a wide smile of his own, as Hana approached they both took note of her presence.
"Gohoho! How's my dearest daughter doing? Say where's the copperhead?"
The joyous father chuckled, he was a large man standing tall with dark brown hair and a happy attitude. Hana let out a sigh and shook her head, a smile still on her face.
"Come on appa, you know he dislikes that nickname. He stayed behind with some friends."
Hana replied she moved on toward the entrance of the house pausing just before going in. Her father turned around as well as Kwan.
"Wha but it's TRUE! That boy's quicker than pit vipers in midsummer! He's going to rattle the stars one day... I just feel it in my bones."
Mr. Gong explained, his eyes going wide... he was getting goosebumps as he spoke about his son. His arms waving wildly in the air and his hands shaking as he spoke about the very stars trembling. Everyone remained silent for a moment Hana looked down with a solemn look. Kwan looked up at his father who met his bronze-colored eyes. Finally breaking the silence Kwan spoke up.
"Maybe he's the one... the hero everyones been waiting for so long."
The trio looked at each other, they had all thought the same. It's why they'd gone silent. Hana shook her head. With a tinge of annoyance in her voice Hana spat back.
"Perhaps. But perhaps it's best if he isn't."
With that the young woman stormed off into their cabin. That kind of pressure on a boy that young was no good. No matter the level of talent her little brother had. Hana put down the groceries on a wooden table, her mother who was polishing a sword next to the fireplace raised her head. She was a woman with the same bronze fiery hair which seemed so prevalent in the family.
"Oh you're back honey. Is… everything alright?"
Hana nodded, she really didn't feel like talking about this topic any longer than was necessary. With a frown her mother took the hint and resumed polishing the blade. Perhaps they could discuss it later when the metaphorical waters settled.
~~~
Elsewhere...
"Get out of my way!"
A young man yelled out shoving an older man to the ground. The young man looked at the older man with an angered face, teeth clenched and a vein popping out of his forehead. His red face seemed like a tomato on top of his Blue regal clothing ornate with golden dragons.
"Who gave you permission to get in my way!? Don't you know who I am!?"
The young man yelled out, his personal guard all clad in black dyed gambeson rallying up behind him spears tightly held in their hands. The felled man simply cowered, covering himself innocently from the wrath of this indignant nobleman.
"I'm the Magistrate! Second only to Moon Lord Dal! You should do your best to remember that! Now get out of my way before I beat your sorry excuse for a face into an unrecognizable pulp."
Quickly the older man scrambled away from Son. He was named Son and was the Magistrate of Moon Lord Dal. His best student. Quite the prominent figure and powerful combatant, it was likely this that made him extremely arrogant.
"Now why did Master send me out again!? Do any of you simpletons remember?"
He asked the consort of guards following him brandishing curved spears and wearing the typical black garb. A few of the guards looked at each other in confusion until one of the braver ones answered with a furrowed brow.
“We’re supposed to collect a debt from the Gong family.”
The brave guard spoke up, the arrogant man turned to look at him, a scowl on his face. He remembered now, indeed Master had sent him on this fetch quest. Well, at least involved making unreliable peasants more miserable. It allowed him to display how much better than them he was and he loved it. Putting one hand on his chest with a smugly smile plastered over his golden face, Son made a proclamation.
“Ohoho! Of course now I remember! Well what are we waiting on? Let's make the Master proud! Let's not delay…"
With that the party marched onward toward the coast, it didn’t take them long before they reached the cliffside on which the Gong’s home was. At this point the sky was already a gun metal grey and the winds flustered about causing the coastal palms to sway left and right.
“Grr, let's make this quick! I don’t want the rain to ruin my new tunic."
Son barked as he marched up the door and knocked heavily the guards following shortly behind. The door slowly opened revealing the orange warmth of the hearth behind… The family sitting around a table looked at the front door where a beautiful young lady with fiery hair. Hana, the young woman flinched as a flash of lightning broke through the howling winds lighting up Son’s smiling face for a moment.
“I know what I AM taking for payment! BAHAHAHA! You’ll make a fine concubine…”
~~~
*CRACK-KOW*
The sound of thunder boomed making Yi jump, talking to Yuumi was fun but he needed to head back home as soon as possible. His face turning a bright shade of pink he looked over at the blue eyed girl before him.
“Erm um.. I have to go, Yuumi! It's about to rain.”
Yi announced, quickly dashing toward his home, his boots clattering against the pavement. But he stopped only a couple of feet out, Yuumi looked over at him with a confused look.
"S-sorry… um goodbye! Hope you make it home safe."
He muttered giving a quick bow before running off. Yuu shook her head slightly in disapproval. 'What was wrong with that boy.'
*click clack click clack*
Raising over the hill up ahead he finally made it up. It was dark and quiet. Too quiet. Yi's brows furrowed as he went up the hill slowly, the thatched roof fluttering slightly against the hefty winds. With one pale palm extended out he opened up the entrance of his door… over a single candle, the only warm orange color amongst the cold blues and purples that painted the darkness. Kwan, his father, and his mother were huddled up. His mother was leaning against her father's chest sobbing quietly. Someone was missing. Hana.
"W-what happened? Where is Hana?"
Yi suttered, a bolt of lightning flashed behind him illuminating the room further. His father raised his head up, to speak… his brown eyes full of sorrow.
"They took her, Son came down the mountain and took her as payment."
He answered, his voice shaken… Yi had never heard his father speak like that. Never seen his mother cry. Never seen Kwan frown. It shattered his heart, he felt a pang in chest as it tightened up. His fists curling up, knuckles going pink as his veins popped up. It was a mixed bag of emotions. Sadness, anger, frustration, hate. They were all boiling within him. It was so unfair. What they had to live. Without saying a word he moved toward the put out fire place, above it his mother's sword hung… ornate. A family heirloom.
"Yi… no!"
His father yelled out, but Yi wasn't having any of it. Without looking at any of them in the eye, he past them. He was already at the door when he felt a tug at his hanbok. Turning around he saw the bronze colored eyes of his mother… watered and hazy. They were reddened… stinging with pain. Yi bit his lip holding back his own tears.
"Please… don't."
Yi tugged his hanbok back, a stern look on his face.
"I'm sorry. But I'm getting her back."
With a blade in hand and a storm raging he fled into the night to chase after the man who took his sister. Yi turned around one last time shutting the door, the darkness within the house staring back at him as his family stood there with their pale faces blank wondering how to react.
*click*
Gently he closed the door, cold rain drops dripping onto his hat and sliding down his face. His blade was whet, hungry for revenge wielding the blade outwardly he trudged through the muddled ground. Flashes of lightning in a darkened sky burning with their cold flaming glow.
*CRACK KOW*
~~~
Meanwhile…
"Come on! Stop tugging against me, b*tch."
Son grumbled in annoyance as he held onto Hana's arm tightly. The wild orange haired girl was pulling back, tears streaming down her face. The soldiers looked at the scene silent, but with concerned looks on their faces… no one could say they were against this exchange even if they were. The student's choice was his and his alone. He could do as he pleased and anyone who went against him would likely be put up.
*womp*
Son slapped the young woman across the face, sending her stepping back a few steps on the muddy pavement. Hands on the ground, her sobs stopped as she shook looking at the ground in shock. In the heat of the moment, the soldiers instinctively went to help up the girl.
"What do you think you're doing!?"
"You… you can- aughh..."
The Magestrait yelled, unsheathing his sword he lunged at the soldier and cut him down. A gash opened up through his chest exposing flesh and causing blood to sputter over Hana's face, flinching as it happened. The soldier screamed in agonizing pain as he fell to the ground, with a crazed look on the noble man's face, he looked around at his other guards.
"Anyone else!?"
There was silence among the party as the soldiers fidget with their spears. No one dared end up like their former companion who now lay dead on the ground.
"That's what I thought…"
Son began to sheath his shortsword when a yell came from over a nearby hill.
"Me!"
Immediately the noble's head jerked to look around confused, turning about to find the location of the voice. Over a nearby hill, as a crackle of lightning hit… he found it. With a flash of light and followed by thunder Yi's visage was lit up. Drops of water fell down his face as he removed his hat dramatically tossing it aside. His bronze eyes like those of a predatory snake peered straight into Son's own blue eyes. Still on the ground Hana looked up to see her little brother standing on the hilltop. Her eyes widened at the sight in disbelief as her eyes looked upon the sheen of his blade.
"Yi…"
Son looked up at the man snarling angrily, reaching to his side he pulled out what seemed like a feather-shaped dagger and tossed it Yi's way. The wind breaking around the sides of the steel blade as it whizzed faster than an arrow.
"Don't bother me brat!"
He growled, but to his dismay the bronze haired 'brat' deflected the knife with his sword causing it to squander to the side pathetically. Getting into a proper fighting position Yi readied himself, eyes locked on Son like a snake locking its eyes on a target. Steady breathes and a calm expression accompanied his stance, his eyes were those of a warrior ready to die. Hana looked at her brother then at Yi, wondering what next. With an intrepid leap through the air Yi raised his blade up high to clash against him.
"AGHHHHHH!"
Yi yelled in rage, any composure that he may have seemed to have had before was now gone. His pale face was red with fury! It was all so sudden, Son was not ready for the surprise attack… with a quick motion of his cloak Son managed to block the incoming attack just barely. A loud clinch was heard revealing the wall of daggers underneath the cloak which acted almost like tethered scale mail. There was a slight tinge of pain which seared his left cheek… followed by the warm feeling of red ichor mingling with cold rain. Placing one hand on his cheek he felt it, a thin cut painted on his face.
"Stupid brat! You'll pay for that!"
Son said, his voice getting shrill again turning to his soldiers he looked at them. He wouldn't waste his time on a sixteen year old child. Pointing a shaking finger he yelled at them.
"You! Useless bunch take care of this worthless kid."
As he did Hana let out a scream.
"Soo-Yi!!!"
With that he ran away grabbing Hana by the arm and pulling her off down the path. Yi scoffed, lifting himself up ready to chase after him. But before he could three armed soldiers pulled up on him. They looked down at the boy, they knew this was merciless. But their heads were on the line.
"Get out of my way, this is none of your business."
The leader of the trio spoke up.
"Sorry kid… but you know the rules."
Yi looked down at the ground, water dripping from his face… creating ripples in the puddles that dotted the muddled path below. His blood was boiling, where he normally would have tried to talk this situation out he wasn't going to. He was in a rush and frankly didn't care. They had made their decision when they signed themselves up as temple guards. Watching the water rippling below… in the puddle he caught a glimpse of his own face. It didn't look like him, the cold blooded look in his eyes was not his own.
"I gave you a chance…"
Yi clutched his sword tightly, he had a technique at the ready. One that he'd practiced with his mom millions of times… but couldn't master. But perhaps now was the moment. Perhaps his stress would push him beyond his limits.
"Dogsa Chum | Viper Dance."
"I warned you, didn't I?"
Yi said, turning to look at the soldier grasping his leg… blood dripping from his lips. Without thinking it twice he kicked the man off and went on his way. It didn't take more than a short sprint down the path for him to spot Son dragging his sister through the muddied path.
"Son!!"
The young man yelled out, this patch of the path crossed under a canopy of trees so the water dripped down less. Looking back, Son saw the fledgling warrior in hot pursuit, his soldiers had failed him yet again. Worthless! The, lot of them. No matter, he would deal with this on his own. Getting his hands dirty wasn't in his plans but this boy was clearly not giving up tonight. Dropping Hana to a side he unsheathed his blade and got ready.
"You think you're something special because you got rid of my soldiers, eh?"
Without a word Yi went for another heavy power attack aimed at Son, holding the double edge sword in two hands. The swordsman didn't care to answer the man before him as he silently accessed the situation. Son parried the attack being slightly pushed back by the sudden stack of speed, lunging forward he pushed Yi back a few steps. The two clashed time and time again, in a stalemate of blades clashing. They had long moved past the muddled forest and into a cliffside nearby. Below the waters crashed against the jet rocks of the coast. Two men at arms danced on the edge of a precipice.
"You're a talented kid, I'll give you that… Why not work for me? Become my personal bodyguard eh? I'll even clear the debt on your family."
Son offered through heavy pants, Yi looked at him panting as well. The sound of thunder crackling behind him. It was hardly a tempting offer, even before this whole exchange. But, even if Son had never taken his sister… Yi would have never accepted that offer. Never. His hatred for Moon Dal, the master of the island, knew no bounds. They had done so much wrong to him and his family. Draining them of resources like a parasite drains the body… meanwhile they get to sit on piles of gold and jade on their monumental household. Not lifting as much as a finger.
"No."
Yi went for another open swing, this was however exactly what Son had been looking for. Covertly with his left hand he had reached into his cloak and readied a dagger. With one hand he parried and the other he stabbed Yi right in the gut. The young swordsman flinched, feeling the dagger imbed itself into his stomach; a sting of pain that began in his abdomen and spread across his body caused him to flinch compulsively in pain. Even losing grip of his blade.
"That's it… it wasn't so hard to toy with you now was it?"
Yi was stunned for a moment as he was still on the edge. Son's words made him feel angrier… but he didn't have much time to react as Son immediately kicked him down the cliff. Immediately be it by instinct or perhaps something else Yi grabbed onto a branch on the cliffside. But his grip was waning as the pain in his abdomen still continued. His teeth were clenched.
"Hahaha… look at you… hanging onto life like a maggot."
Son laughed as he saw Yi's futile attempts on the cliffside. The young man stared up at his opponent remembering a key thing from his training. He had been angry. His emotions had clouded him up until now. Swords were weapons. Ones aimed at maiming and killing. But they were tools too. A man who picked up a blade was accepting this fact. They had both life and death in their hands… legends after all spoke of men and women who could choose when to cut. That was their degree of control. But they only achieved it when they didn't carelessly swing a sword. These people, they could cut anything with anything. A sword was a tool. A man was a warrior.
The warrior couldn't let the tool for killing control him. He had to be the master of his own destiny. Yi's eyes opened wide, he felt a surge of resolve come over him allowing him to push past the pain as he tuned out the mocking laughter. Using his powerful arms and legs he managed to pull himself up sending himself lunging forward and spring boarding over the branch. With a flip he landed on the mud with a roll and grabbed his blade. Son stopped laughing as he stared at the young man who moments earlier was at death's door.
"What!? You don't give up do you!?"
His smile was fading.
"No matter, you won't last a second in your state…"
Yi didn't even reply as Son prepared his sword to cut down the young man that to him was opened wide. But that was his last mistake, the young man now calm and with a clear mind took the opportunity. He raised his sword up with both hands at eye level next to his face as Son came running at him and without even moving in the blank of an eye they each swiped. Yi remained standing as did Son. Both backs turned to each other a few feet apart. But it was Son who flinched a spray of blood mingling with the cold rain. A flash of lightning boomed.
KRAKOW
The light it casted showed the shadow of a man. His top half sliding diagonally from his bottom half. A thud was heard behind Yi who didn't even bother checking on the man. Quickly he sheathed his blade and went to check on his sister.
To Be Continued…
