Age of Strife Book 0: The Path of War

Chapter 10: Instinct like No Other

In the week preceding the grand-spar, Hiryu standing side-by-side other novices dressed in a formal looking grab stands proud in the main courtyard. Surrounding them are spectating disciples ranging from initiates, novices, adepts, and of course seniors all waiting for something to happen. As they all wait for a moment Kazuma walks out to the courtyard, and everyone but the novice bows before his presences in respect. Kazuma approaches the novices and walks in front of them as though he is inspecting them all, yet despite this the novices stand confident before him. "In the years since your arrivals, you've dedicated body, mind, and soul to our school. Learning all you could understand both the world at large and the world beyond, for that I commend your dedication." Kazuma announces. "Now all of you stand before me, ready to ascend in rank in our order... some have trained to see this moment, others studied, some..." Kazuma looking at Hiryu for a moment before continuing "Took the initiative where others would not. But now you stand before me... awaiting my judgement." Kazuma finishes. An air of silence fills as tension rises among the audience, the novices' still unfazed stand in confidence still. "In light of your accomplishments you individually claimed, you all have earn the rank of Adept!" Kazuma proudly announces. Clapping fills the courtyard as the disciples are congratulated for their accomplishments; Me-Yun and Ry'ar approach the new adepts with red sashes in hand to give. Each of them accepting the sashes replaces their emerald sashes with the new red sashes. Bowing once more to both grandmaster and seniors they are beckon to follow them inside the monastery's main building to properly both finish the ceremony and be given their new responsibilities. Two days have passed since his ascension to Adept, and Hiryu's responsibilities have had him assisting the seniors, along with assisting the training of novices and initiates. Currently taking a break from his duties, Hiryu sits in the shade of a tree in the courtyard and merely lay back in relaxation. However as he tries to rest a familiar feeling within Hiryu makes him restless, and causes his mind to drift to a particular set of weapons he saw two years ago. The six swords that were mantled before the dragon shrine called for him, yearned for him to take them and to use them in their full splendor. Hiryu had hoped that training in the martial practices his seniors had would've quelled this feeling, but instead it seems to have made the feeling worse. Seeing no way to relieve this instinctual want, Hiryu would make his way through the underground and stand before the ornate door once more. When approaching the door, almost by his presencealone the doors had open to reveal the path he trekked with Kazuma two years ago. Descending down the halls and stairs Hiryu finally stands before the shrine now basked in sunlight. Walking toward the shrine Hiryu's head begins to pound as whispers begin to fill his mind, and for one reason or another he would understand what they said. The whispers would die however when Hiryu finally laid one of his hands on one of the swords, and the want that festered within him also died. Feeling almost some sort relief fill him, Hiryu brings the sword closer to him to examine it. Feeling the sword's weight in his hand it was surprisingly light and was comfortable to hold in either hand, using the sword to slash to see how it would handle it almost felt as though was an extension of himself rather than a weapon being used. As Hiryu felt as though his curiosity and want was satisfied he goes to return the sword to the mantle, but feels as though he could not let it go. Try as might to let go, he could not physically make himself return the ancient blade to its place. Panic and dread fills Hiryu as he is unsure what to do; the five swords rise out of their mantles and gravitate toward him before locking themselves to his person. Hiryu seeing the sword in his hand joining the other swords on his waist he desperately tries to remove them, but to little avail and effect as every time he would remove one it would immediately reappear. Not sure what to do Hiryu immediately runs out of the ancient halls and goes to arboretum as to hopefully find a way to remove the swords from his possessions. As Hiryu rushes into a clearing within the arboretum he tries again to remove the swords from his person, but as it was before it would return to him. Dejected in despair Hiryu's mind races with all sorts' possibilities that would have him expelled from the Ninth School, but a strange calm would overcome him as he felt as though the swords compelled him to use them. Though resistant to their draw, Hiryu would eventually give in and unleash a slash at a tree relieving the strange hold on him. Hiryu looking at the blade in both fear and astonishment then turns to look at the slash on the tree and sees it to cut deep. Uncertainty fills Hiryu he feels the strange hold begin to regain itself, what did he take from the shrine? Was it a cursed weapon, one with a mind of its own and would corrupt his being? Or did he find something that was lost to him for so long, as in strange way he felt... whole with the weapons in hand. It was to say truly at this time, as he would have to train in this weapon's newfound and strange martial arts for him to be free. Taking a deep breath and preparing himself, he would begin to train with these swords.