Jacara found Yamada next to the well with six buckets filled to the brim. He spent the time waiting doing push ups with his armour on. Jacara sucked on his teeth. "What are you doing here Yamada?" "I wanted to go see the princess. This is the only way we get to see her." "Oh no, you don't! You already have Karina. You don't get another beautiful woman wrapped around you." "I don't have Karina." Yamada looked around before leaning into whisper. "I think Foreaux is in love with her." Xia and Jacara both gasped at the same time. "Nooo!" They said sarcastically. "Shhh! He might hear us. Now come on. I want to go see the princess." Yamada said happily stacking the buckets on himself. "He's not very bright is he?" "No. No, he is not." Jacara lugged the basket staff over his shoulder. He watched angrily, as Yamada carried one set on each shoulder and one in each arm, with pure ease. "Come on!" He said sauntering off, the buckets balancing perfectly on him.
"Hey! Stay behind me, the princess sees me first remember?" Jacara snapped. Yamada frowned, sulking behind Jacara. After few agonizing minutes of dawdling behind Jacara. Yamada impatiently jogged in front of the panting and sweating man. "I said...haaa..get-" "You're too slow. Does this really take you all day to carry all these buckets to the castle?" "He doesn't even make it to the castle." "Really!?" Jacara glared at Yamada, narrowing his vision on him. "I am trying! Now get behind me. We'll get there soon enough." Yamada followed Jacara for another few agonizingly slow minutes. He looked to Xia, hoping for a way to make Jacara go faster, who only shrugged at him.
"Okay, that's enough." Yamada said jogging back in front. "I can't take this anymore. You're too slow." "Fuck....wooooooooo....you...." He wheezed, dropping the buckets to keel over. "Control your breathing." Jacara took a deep breath. "Breathing isn't my problem! I don't have insane amounts of energy like you do!" He snapped, shoving his finger into Yamada's face. "Of course you do. You're just not using the right amount." "What?" "Here, I'll show you. Are you thirsty?" "Of course-" Yamada tossed a bucket of water into Jacara's face. Knocking him to the ground. He coughed choking on the water. "Are you still thirsty?" "You piece of shit! I'm going to kill you!" He lunged at Yamada, tackling him at the waist. Xia watched as Jacara danced around Yamada hugging his hips. Jacara broke away frustrated wiping his face from the water. "What was the point of that!?"
"That's how your using your energy." Yamada said putting the buckets down. Jacara froze in place. He watched as Yamada created a small stream of water to fill the bucket gently. Xia cracked a smirk. 'This boy is something different.' "Control your breathing, and you can control the flow, but you always use your energy like this." Yamada increased to water from his hand into giant torrent. The water tipped over the bucket spilling everywhere. "See. It doesn't work unless you control it." Yamada quickly filled the bucket, with a gentle stream instead, placing the staff onto Jacara's shoulders. "Now come on. We're gonna miss breakfast." He said quickly sprinting off, with the buckets. "Did...Did Yamada, just teach me something?" He said to himself. "Thinking you know everything, leads to you knowing nothing."
Jacara took a deep breath, calming himself. He walked with a gentle cadence, keeping his eyes on the back of Yamada. He alternated his inhalation and exhalation with each step. Xia watched on with a smile, seeing Jacara progress further than ever before. With his eyes glued on Yamada, he slowly followed after him. Jacara felt the buckets become lighter than ever, with a constant step they never sagged. Yamada came sprinting back, not even huffed. "There you go. You have it now. Let's try running now." "Yamada, if you say another word, I will summon every gate up your asshole." He growled. Yamada stepped away, reeling back terrified. "I'm going to start moving faster now. So keep up." He said cracking a smirk. "Alright!" Jacara continued his slow and controlled pace. Yamada took a deep breath, completely frustrated at Jacara. "Is the Princess, really, really, beautiful?" "The last woman to see her naked, lost her appetite for men." Jacara and Yamada locked eyes. "Sorry, Jacara!" Yamada took off into a sprint. "AH! WAIT!"
Yamada had already disappeared into distance. Jacara dropped his buckets summoning the Feather and Gaia card. Xia watched as Yamada was launched into the air by a large earthen spike, and thrown to the side by a gust of power wind. Yamada screamed crashing into the ground, with the sound of wood cracking and breaking. Jacara let out a satisfied huff, taking the buckets on his shoulder again. Yamada sprinted back, holding the tattered remains of each bucket. "Do I have to use that water in the well or...?" "You have to use that water in the well." "Damn it!" Yamada sprinted off the buckets dragging behind him. "Does he really?" "No, but he'll be in a lot of trouble for breaking those buckets." "But he didn't break them. I did." "They were okay, in the air, they broke when he landed on them. Now you better hurry, unless you want him to see the princess first." Xia strolled ahead. Jacara snickered picking up his buckets.
Ul'lanna was ushered into the bustling and chaotic kitchen. It stretched for metres, with chefs and sous-chefs pacing around roaring flames. She winced at the clanging and scraping of each steel wok. "What am I doing here?" She asked covering her ears. Foreaux stood behind her. "You need work on your control. Since you are so incapable of seeing naked people." "I can see naked people just fine. The issue, is that I don't want to see naked people." "Nevertheless, Ichibae has felt it necessary for you to learn in another way." Ul'lanna scoffed. "What, you want me to cook something?" Foreaux summoned a Fire gate snuffing all the flames in the kitchen. The room instantly filled with a cool and chilling air. He placed the top of his hand on top of her head, making her bow.
"Cooks! This is Ul'lanna. She'll be your fire from now on. If she isn't doing a good job, feel free to hit her. If she talks back, hit her. If she does anything except keep the fire going. Hit her." "You think, I'm gonna let a bunch of cooks hit me?" Foreaux leaned in close whispering into her ear. "If you think fried vegetables are bad. Wait till you eat them raw." A shiver ran down Ul'lanna's spine, she shuddered at the disgusting thought. Their only saving merit was that they were relatively soft. Foreaux left with a wave. They cooks glared Ul'lanna, before darting their eyes to the wood underneath their woks. "Yeah, yeah. How hard could this even be." She said creating a Fire gate. She reignited the flames under each wok, to a gentle flame. One cook at the end banged his steel wok. "OI! More heat over here!" Ul'lanna held her gate open, increasing the flames heat. It shot past the wok, shooting up into the cook's face.
He stumbled back glaring at Ul'lanna with missing eyebrows and black soot covered face. She cringed. "Too much heat." She gave him a nervous smile, controlling the heat to roaring flame. The other cooks glared at her. "You want all of them to be at that heat?" She asked shocked at their request. They all nodded. "I can't control that many fla-" All of them slapped their ladles against their palms. She gulped. "Fine. I'm not going to lose to Curly." She took a deep breath creating a raging fire under each one. She stood in the middle of the room, straining her control. "OI! Too hot!" A voice called out from the other end, clanging his wok. She winced at the high pitched rattling. "OI! Not hot enough!" Another clanged. "Raise it high over here!" Ul'lanna forced a pleasant smile across her face. "How long do you all cook for?" "We cook for the whole Monastery." "That doesn't answer my question." "The whole day." "I'm gonna kill that Curly piece of shit." She muttered. A ladle struck the top of her head. She cried out, clutching her head. "Don't talk. Only make fire." "I-" He clenched the ladle tighter. Ul'lanna dropped her head in defeat.
Yamada came back to the well, like a bat out of hell. He dunked his hands into the water pulling out giant sphere of water. He held it above his head, running back at full speed. He spotted Jacara at the base, of the castle stairs. "JACARA!" Jacara and Xia turned back to see Yamada running towards them with a giant ball of water. The two of them turned around shocked. "You've got to be fucking joking." Jacara wheezed. "He really is something else." Yamada stopped beside them with a grin across his face and a thin layer of sweat on his forehead. "I'll be going to go see the princess now." As he took his first step onto the stairs, Xia gripped his shoulder. "Where do you think you're going?" "...To go see the princess?...." "You will deliver the water in those buckets, to ensure the water is not tainted." "But they're broken." "Then fix them." "But-" "No buts. Now go get the buckets."
Yamada stomped his feet throwing the ball of water aside. He left in a huff. "Stupid rules, stupid buckets. Want to see the princess." "Huh." "Something wrong Prince?" "Nothing. Just...never realized, what that looks like from the outside." Yamada sulked all the way to the well, trying to tie the ropes around the broken fragments. "What are you doing Ken?" Ichibae asked. Yamada didn't respond, still trying to find a way to tie the pieces together. "Yamada?" "Hmm?" Ichibae cocked his eyebrows at him. "Oh, I didn't know you were talking to me." "You're the only Ken here." "I go by Yamada." "What are you doing?" "Xia, won't let me go see the princess, unless I carry the water in the buckets." "Did she now..." "Hmmm, do you have Kaioni trees here?" Ichibae panned to the other floating cities, seeing no trees in the entire skyline. "No...." "Damn it."
"I'll take you to go see the princess tomorrow." "Really!?" Yamada said excitedly. "I'm surprised you don't want to spend more time with Karina." Yamada panned around, pulling Ichibae in closer. "I think Foreaux is in love with her. I don't want to hurt him." "Ahuh...So you're avoiding Karina for that sake?" "Yes, but shhh, I think he doesn't want her to know that." Ichibae pursed his lips to a line. "You could say that. How about for now, I'll help you avoid her, with another chore?" "Okay, I don't want to get between them." "Ooh, I don't think that will be a problem..." Yamada followed Ichibae into the kitchen. He heard Ul'lanna scream in pain. "Ul'lanna!" He rushed in summoning his armour. The cooks froze in place. He looked at Ul'lanna holding her head, teary eyed, pouting and with a lump forming on top of her head. Ichibae followed Yamada inside.
"Why are you here?" He asked banishing his armour. Ul'lanna sprinted to Yamada, standing behind him. "They're hitting me!" Yamada looked to the cooks, who all took a terrified step back. "Why?" "What does it matter why? They're hitting me. Help me." "Is her chore to help you all cook?" They all nodded. He spotted the empty flames underneath each wok, and looked back to Ul'lanna. "Are you meant to keep all their fires hot?" She shied away. "Noooo..." "Ul'lanna." "Fine! Yes. They want me to keep all their fires at certain strengths. It's impossible to do." "It's not impossible." "Yes it is! I don't even know how this will help me." Ichibae watched as Yamada took a smouldering log out from underneath a wok. The tip of it was grey and a small red hot core, continued to burn away. "Is this oil?" Yamada asked, grabbing a jug. The cook nodded.
He held the log out in front of Ul'lanna. "This fire is you." She glared at him. "What." "He said, that the log is-" "I heard him the first time, I want an explanation!" She snapped at Ichibae. Yamada blew a puff onto the log, igniting a flickering plume. "When things touch you. You react like this. Big reaction, but it disappears very fast." Ichibae watched on with a smirk. Yamada poured the oil onto the log letting it drip down at a constant rate. Each droplet sparked a larger and large plume of fire. The core burnt deeper into the log. "See, then you burn yourself out, reacting to everything." "So I should just ignore everything?" He tossed the log back inside, grabbing a fresh log. He coated the end in the oil. Lighting the tip he held the gentle flame out in front of Ul'lanna. He blew on the fire, letting flicker and dance, but continue to burn gently. He poured the remnants of oil onto the log, watching as the flame followed the oil before eventually dying out.
She looked at the log continuing to burn gently. "See, a fire that doesn't react the same, as your burning centre." She was silent. 'Did...did Yamada, just teach me something?' "Then what should I do?" She asked. "Breathe. Here follow me." He took Ul'lanna to the middle of the kitchen. "Close your eyes." Ul'lanna followed his instructions. "Open your gate." A large Fire Gate swirled above them, pulsing larger and larger. She clenched her jaw, her body tensing up. "Breathe. Fire follows the wind. Let it follow your breathing." Ul'lanna relaxed, letting out a long breath. The Fire Gate shrunk stabilizing above her. "It doesn't matter the intensity. Breathe and let it follow that flow." A raging flame shot underneath each wok, each at the same perfect heat. "Can you feel the fire?" She nodded. "Hold your breath. Breathe, when I tell you." She took a deep breath, holding it tight to her chest. After thirty seconds, her face went red. The fire in the room became more intense. "Breathe."
She gasped for air, the flames shot into the air, before dying out. "What was that!?" She stopped seeing the flames had gone out. Yamada smiled at her. "You can do this." She nodded closing her eyes. The flames shot up in the kitchen once more. Yamada tore off a piece of sleeve, stuffing them into her ears. She smiled warmly as he left. "She'll keep the fires hot. If any of you hit her again, or make her cry again." His eyes became amber and slit for a second. The cooks all gulped. "You'll be dealing with me." The cooks quickly all returned to the duties. Ichibae followed Yamada out with a happy grin across his face. "That was very well demonstrated, quite wise teaching, if I must say."
Yamada shrugged. "It wasn't anything hard. What was my chore?" Ichibae took Yamada to the courtyard. In front of him where 9 men and women, wearing burnt orange Kāṣāyas with Bo staffs of the same colour. They stood in a semi circle, all with stoic expressions, their heads shaved bald. "Did I say chore? I meant to say training." "I don't want to hurt anyone else, while I'm here." "Do not worry. You are here to train your magic." Ichibae took a seat on the side. "You far exceeded all our expectations in strength. We had thought that Osore, imparted you with our teachings, but that was not the case. You became a Master of Arcane manipulation by yourself. Now you must learn to create." "Then what are they for?" "To see if your creations are useful." Yamada frowned, before opening the Water gate. He struggled to make it razor thin like Jacara did. "Oh and Yamada. Powerful magic, does not mean it is always useful." "Right...that's helpful." 'Let's see if he how fast he learns the basics of magic.'
"Let's start with your defence." Ichibae said. "Wait, so they attack me or-" A unified war cry startled him. Three of them stepped forward creating a joint large Fire gate. A geyser of fire shot out towards him. Yamada reeled back turning his gate into a wall of water. He was bombarded by a cloud of scalding steam. 'Hmm, he isn't using magic. Just raw energy.' Yamada flapped his hands, swatting away the steam. "Now let's try your offence." Yamada scoffed confidently. "I can do that!" "Using only magic." "Ahhh.....That is...not as easy..." Three of the bronze monks stepped forward creating an Earth gate. A layer of Earth surrounded them in a large dome. "Well I can break that-" Steel seeped through the earth enveloping the dome. "Well I could probably..." Pillars of earth shot out from the ground as vines, encircling the dome, like a pit of snakes. "I'm going to stop talking now."
Yamada approached the dome, inspecting it from all sides. Yamada created a Water gate, holding it above the dome. "Let's see if this works!" Ichibae watched as the gate disappeared turning into a large sphere of pulsating water. He watched concern as Yamada clenched his fist throwing the ball down. The water splattered against the sphere turning into little droplets. Yamada stroked his chin, going into deep thought. "Hmmm..." Yamada summoned another gate, this time in front of the sphere. He took a deep breath, this time turning the gate into a torrent. He dissipated against the swirling pillars, disappearing without making a dent on the dome. Yamada frowned, stroking his chin and taking a squat. "Yamada. Is that how you've always used your magic?" Ichibae asked. He nodded. "Is there something wrong with it?" Ichibae's eyes bulged, and he lurched forward. 'He's not even using magic. He's just throwing the water around. His insane strength, Arcane reserves, and manipulation have made him mimic magic usage this whole time.'
"You...you're not using magic." "I'm not?" He shook his head at him. "But I make the gate and everything." "Yes, but you're also banishing your gate." "Then what have I been doing this whole time then?" "You're throwing large amounts of energy around." "Then what should I do?" "The gate is your connection to the element. The only way to master magic, is to become the element itself." Yamada sat down cross legged, entering into deep thought. He closed his eyes. Ichibae waved the bronze men and women away. They left the dome in place. "Are you okay Yamada?" He nodded. "Could I be left alone?" "Of course." Ichibae and the others left. Yamada fell flat on his back staring up into the open sky. "Become my element...." He looked the steel dome. "How does water beat metal?" He picked up a pebble beside him, holding it out. "How does water beat a rock?" He rubbed his face frantically, letting out a frustrated growl.
Jacara wheezed his way to the top of the long flight of stairs. He collapsed at the top, completely drenched in sweat, with his Kāṣāya clinging to him. "You did it prince. You finally managed to reach the castle." He weakly nodded, rolling onto his back. "How do you feel?" Xia asked with a grin. Jacara blabbered trying to catch his breath and form words. "So this is Prince Cagim." A woman's voice said. Jacara groaned rolling onto his side, to look up. His eyes widened with disbelief, at the beauty before him. The princess had the porcelain skin of a geisha, with long flowing raven locks, tied into a top bun. She wore a ruby dress that hugged her physique. Jacara's jaw swung in the air. She squatted in front of him, with a disappointed look, cupping his chin. "They told me you were the prince of two kingdoms, and the son to, one of the most powerful mages in all of Jux. Yet all I see is another dumb speechless man, who can't even carry my water."
She sucked on her teeth, dropping Jacara's chin, walking away disappointed. "Xia, bring me the Forsaken Knight, I would like to see him." "Oi." Jacara panted. She turned around surprised at Jacara's audacity. "How dare you talk to her like that!" "You set my heart ablaze more than Himiko Yamatai." She was left speechless. Jacara took the staff, slowly walking back down. Xia smiled at the princess. "Prince." She called out. Jacara stopped to turn around. "I hope you understand, what you have said." "What kind of prince would I be, if I lied to a princess?" She cracked a smile.
Jacara continued to walk down. "Perhaps, next time you'll come here, looking more presentable." He spun around summoning the Hero armour, bowing with his hand over his heart. Xia followed Jacara down the stairs, looking at him smiling from ear to ear. "Colour me impressed Prince. That was very charming." "Is she still looking at us?" Xia turned around. "No, she went back inside, the moment we started walking down." "Okay, good." Jacara's eyes glazed over and he collapsed tumbling down the giant flight of stairs. Xia watched him roll down the stairs. "Hmmm, I should probably stop this." Jacara bounced off one of the steps. "Buuuttt...it is hysterical." She said, as Jacara's body hit the base of the stairs.
Jacara and Ul'lanna wearily made their into the dining room. The two of them found Yamada slumped over the table, staring at a plate of water. The two of them locked eyes with each other. Jacara pointed to Yamada. She shrugged equally as confused. The two of them slowly sat down, side by side, opposite of Yamada. "Yamada...are you alright?" Ul'lanna asked. "No." He said glumly. "And the plate of water is your dinner?" Jacara asked. "No." "Well this has been an insightful conversation, but anyway-" Ul'lanna nudged Jacara in the ribs. "What?" She frowned at him. "Yamada, what's wrong? Why are you staring at plate of water?" "Ichibae, wants me to learn magic." "Well, Jacara can help teach you." "No, I can't." "Why not? I've seen you open the gate before." "Doesn't mean I can do anything with it. I could make more water pissing and spitting, than through that gate."
A cook handed them each a plate of fried noodles and a separate plate of meat. Their eyes lit up with excitement. "Eat up. You both did a good job." Xia said taking a seat beside Yamada. "Yes, the cooks were very impressed with your performance." Kenpachi said sitting beside Yamada. Ul'lanna blushed, politely digging into her plate, trying to hide her ravenous desire to devour the entire plate. A high pitched whimper caught their attention. Karina sprinted towards Yamada. She wrapped her arms around his neck, embracing him tightly. She signed with her hands at him. He shook his head. "I didn't see the princess today." She frowned, replying back to him. "I broke some buckets, and I couldn't carry the water properly to her." Karina death stared Xia, who shied away, with Jacara. She sat beside Jacara, signing to Yamada. "I'm okay, I already ate."
"Yamada, how are you understanding her?" Kenpachi asked. "Hmm? Oh, some of the other children on Yamata, also lost their voices. They did similar things. Her and Foreaux's one is a little different." She signed to Yamada. "Don't worry, I don't think there's anything that can make me sadder." "I saw and made the princess smile today." Yamada stood up leaving the table. Everyone glared at Jacara. "What? He said nothing could make him sadder. I had to prove him wrong." Ul'lanna smacked the back of his head. Foreaux came to their table, and Karina quickly left following after Yamada. He stood at the ledge of the well, looking at his own reflection in the water. Karina tapped Yamada on the shoulder, pulling him out of his concentration. She smiled at him, her beauty radiating under the moon light. 'You're hiding from me.' She signed.
Yamada blushed. "I didn't mean to offend or anything." 'Why are you hiding from me?' She signed with a pout. "Foreaux. He likes you. I don't want to cause any problems with him or you." Karina spat, covering her mouth to hide her blustering laughter. Yamada looked on confused. She shook her head and hand, making dramatic crosses with her arms, clutching her sides. "This is somehow the loudest and quietest laugh ever." She took a deep breath, wiping her tears. 'Foreaux is a close friend. He doesn't have feelings for me.' "Are you sure?" She nodded, pinching Yamada's cheek. 'Now, why are you looking at water?' "Ichibae, told me to become my element, but I really don't know how or why I would. I mean water doesn't do anything."
She poked the water with one finger, making a ripple. When it settled, she used two fingers, making a larger ripple. Karina then struck the water with her fist, creating a large splash. 'Is that water damaged?' "Well no. It's water, it just comes back to norm...al..." He trailed off smiling at Karina. She tapped his head gently, and then his heart. 'You know water, better than anyone, but don't think like water. Become water. It comes from your connection to it.' He nodded with a smile, staring at the water. She rustled his hair. 'Now come and get some sleep. I like having someone to cuddle.' Yamada blushed, his ears turning red.
Ul'lanna and Jacara rested comfortably in their beds both with grins across their faces, and warm filled bellies. "I forgot to ask you. Why are you covered in bruises? Looks like you fell down a flight of stairs." Jacara chuckled. "That's because I did." Ul'lanna chuckled. "Wait what?" "Carrying those buckets are no easy task alright." "What was the princess like?" "Absolutely beautiful." "Really now? I'm surprised she gave you the time of day, with how bad you probably looked." "I let her see the prince." "You whipped that out in front of her?" Jacara sat up looking at her confused. "No. I meant my charming prince side. Why would I ever just whip 'that' out?" She shrugged. "You do weird things to get with women."
"Well, I didn't do anything weird. I just said she was prettier than Himiko Yamatai." The entire room sat up with a unified shuffle, Ul'lanna included. He looked around the room terrified and shocked. "Could you all hear us, this entire time?" "You said what?" Ul'lanna snapped. "What? Is it a big deal?" "YES!" The entire room shouted. Jacara jumped in his bed, clutching his blanket. "Do you even know, what you just said? How could you be that dumb!?" Ul'lanna snapped. "Are you seriously not concerned, about how they're all listening to us this whole time?" "Jacara, please. Tell me exactly what you said." "I said, she set my heart ablaze more than Himiko Yamatai." A synchronized smack sound echoed throughout, everyone slapping their foreheads. Ul'lanna's jaw hung, and she scowled at him. "Was that a bad thing to say?"
Ul'lanna slowly buried her face into her hands."Jacara, you just said you were madly in love with her, and that no one else will ever be good enough for you." "Well I mean she is beautiful." "Did you even know what she's like. As a person? What if you find her insufferable?" "I'm sure she's amazing." "You cannot be this stup...You know what. Do what you will Jacara. Just don't cause any problems for Yamada." "Ahhh, right. This is about Yamada again." "Are you seriously that jealous of him?" "I'm tired of doing everything for him. He's nearly gotten us killed more than anything." "Don't forget he saved us from Skora, the Silver City from the Storm, and helped you deal with your fucked up grandparents." "Three things that would never happened, if Yamada wasn't around. Unless you forgot, that Skora was interested in him, that the Storm reacted to him being a Forsaken Knight. But I'll let him have that last one." Ul'lanna rolled her eyes. "Whatever, just don't do anything incredibly stupid. We have 2 more months here." "Yes mother." He said shaking his head.