Jovian Under Heaven - a light novel

00| prologue

Once, deep in the mountains of Southeast Asia, there lived an elderly couple. The husband was a Japanese immigrant who had settled with his wife in her native Cambodia. The two spent much of their life in the city, but in their later years due to health issues and general weariness of captivity, they moved to a modest hut in the mountains. The elderly couple had no children, as the wife was sterile, but the two were very loving and enjoyed the tranquility of seclusion.

The husband had been an avid martial artist and practiced various forms from all over Asia. Even in his ripe old age, he was quite strong and continued his practice. The wife, on the other hand, was a very spiritual woman. She was a devout Buddhist and meditated each day. Together, the couple lived comfortably off the land, never once killing an animal. However pleasant their life was, the wife grew sad at one point and, noticing his wife's demeanor, her husband asked what was troubling her.

She told him, "Husband, I am always grateful for this good change in our life, but if only we had a child to share it with."

Her husband comforted her and said, "Fear not, dear wife. We have the animals in the forest to keep us company. They are our children."

At that precise moment, all of the animals in the forest cried out as a thunderous noise shook the walls of the modest hut. Rushing outside, the couple saw that several of the tall trees in front of their hut lay crumpled and broken. Atop the pile of felled trees was a large, egg-shaped capsule. From where the couple stood, they noticed that it was silver and appeared to be made of metal.

Motioning for his wife to stay back, the husband climbed over the tree trunks and peered through the capsule's window. To his surprise, he found a little girl inside no older than four years of age. The little girl wore a long white garment, asleep until the window opened up. At that point, the little girl woke and sat up in the capsule, staring at the husband. To his amazement, the little girl reached her chubby little hand to pat the old man's face. She giggled and allowed the husband to pick her up out of the capsule, who laughed along with her.

At last, the elderly couple's wish was fulfilled. They took in the little girl as their adoptive granddaughter and named her Kaneko, the metal child. The couple raised her to be a strong, courteous young girl and Kaneko grew to love them very much. Kaneko would grow up to live with the elderly couple, calling them Obi and Yeay, until the age of eight. During that time, she learned the teachings of Buddha and became a proficient martial artist at a young age.

In an attempt to raise money for the treatment of her her sickly grandparents, Kaneko competed in the junior divisions of various martial arts tournaments for prize money. She grew skilled enough to eventually land second- and first-place positions in a number of the competitions held in the area and accumulated enough funds for her grandparents. They, however, unfortunately passed away before the young girl could get the treatment. It was at this point that eight-year-old Kaneko set off on her own.