Life Step ChronicleBook 1 : The Royal Road

Chapter 1 : The Story of 3

 Alone

Allen Wu

Looking out at the bright sun. An 18 year old boy feels like he’s nothing in this world. Every day is the same, the echoes of the trees shuddering a dark shadow over a room of nothingness. It was Allen Wu’s first semester at Mt. Sai community college. The kids in the classroom talking to one another but since my expression was cold and unwelcoming, none of the other students dare to approach me. I’ve trained myself in martial arts and swordsmanship ever since I was young. My body remembers the pain it endured every day. With that I have a much built body with a nice six pack but I hide everything with my long sleeves that wear and jeans that cover up my muscles. It was my escape from life since having friends was an impossible feat for someone like me. But in the corner of my eyes I watch two others engage in a conversation. 

“Hey lets go check out this new movie tonight.” A blonde guy by the window was talking to a girl he met in class. She was very beautiful with long hair that gives off an aura that makes men drool. The blonde guy was tall and handsome with the typical stereotype that he’s an ass and that girls only want men that treat them the wrong way. In my mind I thought. “Typical, an Asian girl with a London boy, why can’t Asians just be with their own kind” The Asian girl with a look at the guy gave a smile while saying. “If you’re the one that’s treating me, then I might consider it.” The blonde guy then spoke. “Well babe we sure will have a great time ahead.” As I watched them from afar my stomach just wanted to explode. I wonder to myself why could I not have the courage to talk to a girl like that or even seal the deal of going out as I plucked at my dark brown hair in silence. 

Fantasies in my mind that I shall never have I thought, the other students look at me like I am some sort of outcast. This semester will not be fun at all in my mind. “Well I guess I can always practice my martial arts and sword play to ease my sorrow.” Silently I said those words of comfort while looking at the spotless sky once more. 

As I sat there peering into the cloudless sky, I started to remember my first encounter in swordsmanship. It was 5 years ago, a hot Friday afternoon when the sun was radiating in all its might ,probably a little too much for I was sweating like a dog. I was travelling to go home until I stopped and noticed that there was a dojo nearby my home. Me being someone familiar to martial arts I peeked through the front window and saw an old person, teaching his students swordsman ship. My mind was enchanted by the might and force of the impact as I watch how men would battle with all their heart and soul in to one sudden and skillful strike. Seeing these men spar and fight with all their heart lured me into the dojo.

As soon as I entered the dojo, a man named Mahiro Adenai who would be my future ‘senpai’ if I joined called out to me “Do you wish to join our dojo, to learn swordsmanship?” he asked “yes” I replied in a spirited manner, “please enter” he said. As I strolled into the dojo all I saw was eight men in their 30’s except for the sensei of the dojo that was in his late 60’s giving a lecture. 

The sensei Ahn Yundo was one of the greatest swordsman in the whole of Asia, as soon as he saw me ,he stopped his teaching and walked towards me “what is your name?” he asked , it was hard to reply because his presence alone told me that he was a great person. “I … I am Allen Wu, and I would like to join your dojo for swordsmanship “I said softly. “Pick up a sword!” He demanded. I was scared to at first but I thought to myself, if these people would accept me as a student maybe I won’t be alone anymore, with a smile I lifted up a wooden sword and took his challenge. After a chain of events I was in the dojo training with my ‘senpais’ learning the way of the sword every day. 

Our sensei saw great potential in me always pushing me further and further into the art of swordsmanship, teaching me to never give up. I was learning and practicing so much with the swords that I made two wooden swords of my own and started dual wielding, a style that none of the other students did. For months I practiced so much that I passed the level of all my ‘senpais’, they all said I was a genius ,that I was born to be a warrior and Mahiro would always ask “how come a fit, handsome boy like you … not have a girlfriend?” And over and over I would reply that girls naturally did not like me.