Age of Strife Book 0: The Path of War

Chapter 6: First Steps of Understanding

 Three months have passed since Hiryu's induction into the Ninth Monastic School, and thus far his presence among the other students is met with wariness. Though willing as they may be to help him, they still see him as an outsider first. Though he raised his grievances to Kazuma, the only response he would get is "Give them time, they'll come around to knowing you." While Hiryu agrees to the sentiment he still feels as though there is naught he could to have the others be comfortable with him. "Hiryu, are you even listening?" a woman in an annoyed tone calls. Returning to the present Hiryu sees Lucille sternly glaring at him and with annoyed expression on her face. "Sorry, Lucille... I was just... thinking." Hiryu replies. "About what, you have your assignment before you what is there to think about other than the topic at hand?" Lucille asks sternly. The assignment Hiryu was to complete is an insightful essay on the various philosophies and perspectives of the three kingdoms. As he's already learnt about the three kingdoms respectively weeks prior he is to learn of their culture too. "Lucille... what do you think of me?" Hiryu asks earnestly. "What do I think of you? I think you should finish your assignment before I get Hark-Ban here to lecture you on various sediments in mountains." Lucille chides. Hiryu gives Lucille a deadpan look, causing her to sigh in frustration before answering "Fine... if you really want an answer...." Hiryu looks at her with anticipation before she embarrassedly blurts out "You are an exceptional student that has remarkable insight on topics of both history and perspective." "That's it?" Hiryu says with disappointment. "I mean... you're also curious sort Hiryu. You have the aura of someone not quite like the rest of us, and I mean in the way all of us came knowing where we came from. Yet you... you knew almost nothing about the Human Empire, the Faerie Kingdom, or even the Southern Tribes. You're like a foreigner, but somehow not quite." Lucille continues. "Hiryu... to put simply, your unlike anyone we've had in our ranks." Hiryu though filled with newfound insight; still he did not know how to feel about this knowledge. "Now then if that that has satisfied your question... please return to finishing your assignment." Lucille asks. Hiryu return his attention to his assignment, so that he could avoid another lecture on mountain sediments. Leaving the library, Hiryu wanders about the monastery grounds as to take in the atmosphere of the outdoors. As he wanders he bumps into girl seeming as old as he is and accidently knocks scrolls and books out her hands. "Oh sorry, let me help you." Hiryu exclaimed before assisting the girl in re-organizing. "No, No... It was my mistake. I wasn't watching where I was going." the girl says. After gathering the scrolls and books Hiryu decide to accompany the girl as she was lost. "I'm so sorry for bothering you with my problems!" the girl apologizes. "It's no problem, besides I probably caused you to be late so it's the least I can do." Hiryu replies in a comforting tone. "I should probably introduce myself, I'm Kasumi and you are?" said Kasumi. "I'm Hiryu, pleased to meet your acquaintance Kasumi." Hiryu responded. "Hiryu... wait as in-" "Kasumi! There you are!" Kasumi is interrupted by an older woman who seems to in her lateforties and is dressed in a pea-green formal dress. "Come on now, we've been waiting for you to arrive with the scrolls in the Arboretum for a while now." "Ah! I'm sorry I got lost and bumped into Hiryu here and well..." Kasumi sputtered before looking away embarrassed. "Ma'am I'm the one who caused her to be late, if any blame is to be place then it should be on me." Hiryu proclaims. The older woman looks at Hiryu with a discerning eye before saying "So you're thenew disciple Kazuma found. Huh, you seem to be old to be trained alongside usual student. What does... wait a moment." The older woman looks at Hiryu closer before being taken aback by what she saw. "Kazuma... you... Kasumi let us go. Now." the older woman says quickly walking in the direction of the Arboretum. "Uh... goodbye... Hiryu, hope to see you... around." Kasumi said awkwardly before following after the older woman. Hiryu watches as Kasumi quickly leaves and stands there thinking on something she was about to say. 'Wait as in...' what did she meant by that he wonders, she spoke as though she knew him when he said his nickname. Hiryu thought it to be not likely she would really know who he was personally, as there was only one other person that truly knew him when he was younger. But she left to move somewhere else. "Oi, Oi is our little initiate in love?" a gruff accented voice jests. Hiryu's focus returns to the present as Hark-Ban elbows his wrist, and Balyek wraps his arm around the back of Hiryu's neck. "Seems like it as his focus was on her for a while, and I'll bet she's on his mind too." Balyek adds on to. Hiryu removes Balyek's arm and asks "Who is she?" "She is a Sister of the Verdant, my good initiate. If I were to guess her rank I'd probably place her to be three ranks above you." Balyek answers. "Aye, but what are they doing here I wonder? You don't often see them from their gardens or infirmaries." Hark-Ban muses aloud on. "They are our allies visiting us." a stern woman's voice interjects. Turn around the three of them sees Me-Yun walking towards them "The Sisters of Verdant have come on business to discuss something with Grandmaster Kazuma. No doubt about you initiate." said Me-Yun. Balyek and Hark-Ban look at Hiryu trying to see what Me-Yun means, and Balyek remarks "... That's a bit much to assume don't you think Me-Yun?" "I agree, Hiryu is a quick study and sufficiently insightful than most. But he's no prodigy, and he still hasn't undergone martial training." Hark-Ban added. Me-Yun gives a disapproving looking but only 'Humph' at the two's comments as she walks pass the two and in the direction of the Arboretum. The three watch her walk away, Balyek and Hark-Ban comment to each other "Did we say something wrong?""Gah, I can never know with her." Hiryu however was curious as to what see meant, and decided to follow after her to the Arboretum.As it stands the Monastery's Arboretum is off limits for the day, and only the senior disciples can enter if they so choose. Hiryu is of course not of the rank of senior and had donned a mask to sneak into the Arboretum by scaling the walls. Of course while the gates of the Arboretum were guarded by the monasteries disciple, within it seems as though patrols are made by women heavily armed and dressed in ornate uniforms. Fortunately the Arboretum's surroundings were much like to the Exiled Valley's forests, allowing for Hiryu to climb above tree line and traverse through brush. Eventually he would arrive at a dome where he saw Grandmaster Kazuma, Me-Yun, Ry'ar, and Kalyd sitting with three women. Respectively each of them was old, middle-aged, and young along with wearing sky-blue, beige, and pea-green dresses. The windows of the dome open Hiryu listens in on the conversation. "Kazuma... you know very well what the mandate demands, did you really think your initiation of this... young man would go unseen." The old woman asks. "Indeed, while the Sisters of Verdant are allied with the Ninth School we still adhere to the mandate of the divinities first." The middle age woman adds. "Why now have you decided to transgress the mandate, at this moment in time? You know very well what we all face currently." the young woman remarks. Kazuma strokes his chin for a moment before answer "I chose young Hiryu to join our ranks as I saw something special in him. A potential not nurtured properly nor given proper release... you know what I speak of." The three women look at each other before the eldest utters "Battle Frenzy...." "Indeed Grand-Mother, but this battle frenzy is not like any other... its more akin to-" Kazuma is interrupted by a furious woman "To Berserkers! Kazuma, do you know you have put great risk to not only yourself but us too by association!?" Hiryu sees the woman and recognize her as the woman who called Kasumi. "Ah Mother Yuma, I see you've met Hiryu." Kazuma responds coolly. "When I went to find Kasumi she was accompanied by that boy! When I conversed with him I look into his eyes and you know what I saw? A blood-soaked battlefield with him being the sole warrior surround by a sea of bodies!" Mother Yuma exclaimed. Everyone but Kazuma begins whispering to each other at the information given to them, Kazuma verbosely states "Enough! Mother Yuma... young Hiryu is well under good care here in the Ninth School, I will see to it that my senior students train him well." "That is not good enough Kazuma and you know it! The boy is a danger to everyone around him, you're better off-" Yuma is interrupted by Kazuma who yells "Doing what, exactly!? Send him out to the wilds? To the Imperial Armies where he can feed into his frenzy? Killing him? No, I shall do no such thing to my student! He has potential and he has proven thus far he is willing to learn and adapt, just ask my senior students." Kazuma motions for Me-Yun, Ry'ar, and Kalyd to speak up on their thoughts. Looking at each other for a moment Me-Yun speaks up first "Initiate Hiryu has proven to be strong-headed, over-confident, and dense student. But he has proven that his strength in academics and adaptability is remarkable, he knew nothing of the Eastern Front's kingdom before arriving here and yet has proven to be a fast learner. I would say despite the mandates requirements he fits well within our school." Ry'ar looks at Me-Yun who notions him to follow up and so he speaks "While Hiryu is currently occupied with academics, and has not engaged in martial training I see signs that his prowess and capabilities are vast to a good extent. The Initiate has an uncanny reaction and instinct but doesn't know how to harness them properly alone. With our help, he may yet master it." Kalyd sits silently for a moment for a moment before giving her response "It is true Hiryu's spirit is as violent as a storm, but I sense he wishes to tame that violence... not for his benefit but for everyone's safety. I believe that here he can gain the true training he needs." Hiryu is agape at what his seniors said, despite what they may think of him personally they all see something within him much like Kazuma. Hiryu to some extent feels... glad that they do care for him in some fashion, not just as seniors but a person who too needs help. "As you can see my seniors are at agreeance, Hiryu will stay with us and train to be among our ranks. Now you're welcome to disagree with our decision but I will not change my mind unless proven otherwise." Kazuma states firmly. The four women all look at each other in contemplation each of them with varying expression from Yuma's disapproval to the elderly's more understanding look. Soon the young woman speaks up and says "Kazuma, while we find you in violation of the mandate... we... ultimately agree to your decision. You may continue to train the Initiate Hiryu, but know this that should any fault befall us by proxy... then you will be found accountable." Kazuma with a proud grin on his face merely nods in agreement to the terms. "Uh... pardon... Grandmaster Kazuma, sir?" a meek voice asks. Hiryu's attention piques as he sees Kasumi entering, why would she be here with such high ranking members? "Where exactly did you find Hiryu, if I might ask." said Kasumi. Kazuma looking discerningly at Kasumi then answers "On the road of the western borders... He found me being mugged by bandits, and tried to help. But of course I dealt with them before he could even help. Why?" The four women look at Kasumi before the middle-aged one asks her "Yes Sister Kasumi, why is it relevant?" "It's just that...." Kasumi sputters out before her posture and tone changes "It's just that, I know him personally and have a... keen interest in making sure he's who I think he is." Kazuma looks at her with an analyzing expression on his face before answering "And who, pray tell do you think he is?" Kasumi with a curt smile answers "I know his name, it's-" "Intruder!" a stern woman's voice calls. Hiryu looks to his right and sees a Sister of Verdant defender draw her weapon and calling for reinforcements. Kazuma, along with the other senior members, and Kasumi all see Hiryu whose identity is masked outside the window of the dome. Hiryu in a desperate attempt charges through the Arboretum's forest to escape potential capture, and possible expulsion. Charging through the forests Hiryu hears the sounds of the Sister's orders being barked from afar. Before long he is met by a set of the Verdant Defenders, readying their weapons they charged straight at him. Having no choice but to push forward, Hiryu charged through then begins to dodge and weave past the guard's blades instinctually. Neither a single cut nor blade touched him as he continued to run through the forest, mantling and swinging over various obstacles to put distance between him and his pursuers. Now hiding behind a tree, Hiryu peeks from cover to see the Verdant Defenders running past him and searching up ahead. Trying to catch his breath Hiryu is then dodging a set of knives that were thrown after him, as he escapes the knives trajectory Hiryu sees Me-Yun looking at him with intent to possibly kill. "You will not escape capture or death easily intruder!" she proclaims. Me-Yun then throws another set of knives at Hiryu, who dodges with instinctually ease as he begins breaking into a sprint to continue his escape. Seeing the wall that borders the Arboretum and Monastery ahead, Hiryu quickly climbs up a tree to break line of sight and quickly rushes through the trees leaves. Before Hiryu could even make a clean escape he is hit with a knife to his shoulder, and falls over the wall instead of jumping over. Pain coursing through his upper body Hiryu pulls the knife out, causing blood to spill out of the wound by drips. Needing to ensure nobody knew he was the intruder, Hiryu shrugs through the pain and haggardly rushes back to his room cautious to not spill his own blood or be seen to avoid suspicion. Inside his dorm he immediately tended and cleans his wound, before bandaging and binding it. Sighing in relief Hiryu thinks on what had overheard at the dome, Grandmaster Kazuma and his seniors all see something within him and wish for him to harness it. While they see him as student, they also see him as someone who truly needs help. Hiryu felt as though the first step of understanding was taken as he knows how his fellows and seniors must feel. But a feeling of suspicion for Kasumi lingered as she was about speak what she thought his names was, thinking on it further her attitude shifted from polite and mild-mannered to assertive and commanding. Who was this girl? Hiryu's thoughts are interrupted as a bell is ringed for the entire monastery to hear, it must be so the disciples look for the "intruder". Walking out of his dorm, he to alongside his fellows participated in the search for "the masked intruder". From there he would try and establish himself to be more open