Shun woke up the next morning to find the front yard looking very different. There were three giant circles outlined in chalk. On different points along the circles' edges, arranged in a neat clock-like manner, were eight objects: a lit candle, a bowl of water, a feather, a fist-sized stone, a palm-sized piece of yellow quartz, a metal blade, a small bucket of ice, and a potted plant.
Tara, who had by now finished setting it all up, noticed Shun's presence and gestured for him to come forward. "Shun, today we will begin the next phase of your training," he said. "Now that you've mastered breathing, the next step is to open up your chaka gates. But first, we must check something." He instructed Zen to sit in one of the circles and Shun in another circle. Kira, meanwhile, stood to the side while her father took to the third circle in front of the boys. He sat down and Zen and Shun followed suit. "In Chidao, there is one concept that forms the underlying principle of the art," began Tara. "Chi is the permeating energy that forms the foundation of life. Chidao, in its most basic form, is a method of utilizing that energy to its greatest potential. But for what reason? There are many schools and sects in the martial world that have dedicated themselves to answering this question. They seek to uncover the true purpose of Chidao. But if there is one thing that they can all agree on, it is that Chidao was formed so that humans can become one with the universe, in one way or another. We cultivate Chi on a daily basis and it is important for us to live and survive. And now, we have developed methods to manipulate it."
Tara turned to Shun and said, "Shun, you have now mastered the most basic of Chi cultivation. Chi cultivation is utilized by martial artists to manipulate the world around them. We fight with fists and feet, but we also fight with the natural elements. These elements are the eight foundations which our universe is built upon and is said to be the most purest constructs of Chi to exist since the beginning of time. By utilizing the elements, Duelists can truly become one with the universe. And all styles and techniques of Chidao are rooted in one or more of these elements. Shun, can you tell me what the Eight Elements are?"
This question was very simple for Shun. Everyone learns about the Eight Elements as soon as they were born; they are a crucial part of human culture and human understanding. As he listed each element, he pointed to their corresponding object around the circle: "Fire, water, wind, earth, lightning, metal, ice, and nature."
"Correct," confirmed Tara. "These elements are the purest constructs of Chi the universe has to offer. A practitioner of Chidao strives to perfect his control over Chi. With control over Chi, one can perform amazing feats." Tara demonstrated what he meant by pushing out a palm. Suddenly, the flame from the lit candle in front of him increased in intensity and grew into a thin column of fire. When he brought his hand back down, the flame returned back to its original state. Shun was awestruck at such an amazing feat. It was like magic! Tara noticed the expression on Shun's face and decided to impress him a bit. Channeling his Chi, he threw a palm backwards and caused the ice in the bucket behind him to grow into a sparkling glacial wall. He then swung a kick at the quartz on his left and the object shot out a crackling bolt of lightning.
Shun, Zen, and Kira applauded their teacher's performance. Out of all of them, Shun's was the most frantic and excited. Tara bowed and then returned back to the lesson. "Each of the Eight Elements can be classified into one of four strengths and one of two forces. The strengths are: hard, soft, heavy, and light. The two forces are: internal and external. Listen well as I explain the following part. An element's strength determines how much Chi is required to manipulate it. Hard elements use more Chi while soft elements use less. Heavy elements and light elements are in the middle, with the former leaning more to the hard side and the latter leaning more to the soft side. The two forces are used to distinguish elements based on their applications. External elements utilize outward applications and relies on physical attributes to use them. Internal elements use more of your inner energy and their applications rely more on focus and mental fortitude. Now, listen closely to what I'm going to tell you because it will be important for you as a Duelist to remember. Earth is hard and external, fire is hard and internal, wind is soft and external, water is soft and internal, metal is heavy and external, lightning is heavy and internal, nature is light and external, and ice is light and internal.
"Do you know why the elements are classified as such based on their properties?" Tara asked Shun. Shun was embarrassed to admit it, but he didn't know and answered with a shake of his head. "Earth is hard because it requires more Chi and energy to use. Its external property comes from the fact that it requires physical strength rather than mental strength to manipulate it. Fire is hard because it also requires a lot of energy and Chi to use, but unlike Earth, it is internal. Fire is a volatile element and requires a strong mental fortitude in order to control it."
"I see," said Shun with a nod of his head.
Tara stood up and placed his hands behind his back. "Now, we will test for your elemental affinity," he told Shun.
"Elemental affinity?" asked Shun.
"This test will see which elements you have a natural talent for," said Tara. "The elements that you have a strong affinity towards will be naturally easier for you to master and control. Of course, this is not to say that you cannot master all of the elements. All Duelists have some kind of affinity for all of the elements, but the ones that are more compatible with us are just easier for us to manipulate. But as you go on your journey to become a Duelist, you will be able to learn more amazing skills from all eight elements. In fact, I sincerely urge you to do so." Shun accepted his teacher's words with an understanding nod. "But if you want to be a specialist and focus only on one or a few elements, that is also fine. There is nothing wrong with focusing solely on one element."
"Like the Eight Dragons!" announced Zen excitedly. Tara agreed with a nod.
Zen, in his excitement over bringing them up, began to spiral straight into his fanboying once again. "There's Gan Jirachi the Fire Dragon, Reigan Reiji the Lightning Dragon, Warana Jio the Ice Dragon, and Horo Han the Earth Dragon." His eyes sparkled as he listed a few of the Eight Dragons. "One day, I'm going get really strong. And then, I'm going to challenge each of them and win!" he triumphantly declared to the heavens above.
"Are you serious?" came Kira insultingly. "Those words were what got us into this mess in the first place."
"Hah?! Wanna fight?!" barked Zen pugnaciously.
"I'm ready when you are!" challenged Kira.
"Kira! Zen!" admonished Tara sternly. Both Kira and Zen quickly shut their mouths and bowed to their teacher in apology. "Now, let's continue on with the lesson," he announced. He turned to Zen and instructed him to show Shun how to test for one's affinity. Zen nodded his head and closed his eyes. "Just do what Zen is doing," Tara told Shun. Shun nodded and did just that. "Now, relax and take deep breaths," instructed Tara.
Shun listened to his teacher's words and breathed through his nostrils to fill his lungs before exhaling it all back out and repeating the process all over again. As he did it, he cleared his mind and relaxed his body. After about three minutes of meditation, Tara told him to open his eyes. Shun did as he was told and was surprised to see the objects around him acting strangely. Most of them shook in place as if they were experiencing an earthquake. But the lit candle, the bowl of water, and the quartz behaved the most remarkably out of them all. The flame from the candle shot up into the air like a geyser of fire; the water surged upwards out of its bowl and rotated to form a water cyclone; the quartz violently shot out strong arcs of electricity that charged the air around it and created static!
"The elements that you have a strong affinity for will react more strongly to you than any other," explained Tara. "It seems that you, Shun, possess a strong affinity for fire, water, and lightning." After about a minute or two, the elements calmed down and became still once again. Shun then turned to see Zen still in meditation. The elements around him were reacting to him and he opened his eyes. Shun saw that the ice in the bucket had expanded and now formed a large glacier; the steel blade had become deformed and was now nothing more than liquified metal; and the feather was floating in the air at a very tall height above a subtly visible cyclone of wind. "Zen has an affinity for ice, metal, and wind," said Tara.
"And in case you were wondering, my affinities are earth, lightning, and nature," said Kira.
"How about yours?" Shun asked his teacher.
"Lightning, ice, fire, and earth," answered Tara. "Let us move on now to the concept of chaka and how it relates to the elements," he continued on with the lesson. "Our body contains eight chaka gates. Starting from the bottom-most gate, we have the Root Chaka at the base of your spine. This chaka gate correlates to the element of earth and is responsible for regulating Chi in your bones and muscles. Located in between your hips is the Sensual Chaka. This chaka gate correlates to the element of water and regulates Chi in your glands, kidneys, liver, and other internal organs. Third is the Abdominal Chaka, which is located in your navel. This chaka gate correlates to the element of wind and regulates Chi in your intestines, stomach, diaphragm, and lungs. Next is the Chest Chaka. This chaka gate is located right between your breasts, correlates to the element of metal, and is responsible for regulating Chi in your heart. The Throat Chaka is located right in the center of your neck. This chaka gate correlates to the element of ice and regulates Chi in your throat, vocal folds, and mouth. Then we have the Forehead Chaka, which is also known as the 'sense chaka'. This chaka gate correlates to the element of fire, is located in between your eyes, and regulates Chi in your eyes, nose, ears, and skin. At the crown of your head is the Crown Chaka. This chaka gate correlates to the element of lightning and is responsible for regulating Chi in your brain and nerves. Lastly, at the nape of your neck is the Soul Chaka. This chaka gate correlates to the element of nature and is responsible for regulating Chi along your meridians.
"When these gates are closed, the human body goes through such suffering as illness and pain. This is due to the inability to circulate Chi through the body, thereby hindering the body to function properly. But if these gates are open, then Chi is allowed to circulate through our body and we can properly function without trouble. Naturally, the gates are open in our bodies. However, their positions can change based on mental, physical, environmental, and spiritual factors. What we want to achieve, as Duelists, is to completely open the gates. This means to control their positions and prevent them from being influenced by external or internal factors. Doing so will also allow us to achieve a new plane of understanding of the world around us, connect us to the universal Chi, and awaken our latent abilities as creatures created by the gods. For example, allowing us to manipulate the purest elements of nature, the Eight Elements themselves."
"I see," said Shun, nodding his head quickly in awe.
"Your next training will be opening all of the eight chaka gates. Opening your gates will allow you to maximize your Chi and let it circulate smoothly in your body." Tara let out a sigh. "Opening all eight gates will usually take a month to achieve. But we do not have that much time."
"Is there no method to curtail this?" asked Zen.
"Father, one month is the standard, that is true. But I've heard that there have been many people who have managed to unlock all of their gates in as little as a week! Similarly, there have been many cases where Duelists have spent more than a month before they could open all eight gates," said Kira.
"It all depends on your dedication and talent," concluded Tara with a nod. "I understand that Shun has the dedication. And when it comes to talent, well, he surprises me every time. But opening the chaka gates is no mean feat." After giving it some more thought, Tara announced the following words: "Shun, for the next eight days, you will open all eight gates. To accomplish this, you will meditate all day with only breaks for food and relieving yourself. During those breaks, you are to constantly chant the necessary mantras in both mind and mouth." These words were enough to tell Shun just how intense this training was going to be. Even Zen and Kira couldn't believe the harsh training Tara was prepared to put their friend through.
'If only I didn't start this, Shun wouldn't have to suffer like this,' Zen berated himself.
'Shun-wan, I pray the gods are on your side,' prayed Kira.
'Shun, I apologize for my harshness. But this is for your own good. In the end, you get to decide your fate. It is up to you whether or not you choose to accept this,' said Tara.
"I understand," said Shun. His words shocked the others and they drew in sharp gasps. It wasn't really the words that surprised them but the confidence with which he said them. And the look he had in his eyes, that glare that exuded nothing but confidence and a tenacious hunger for triumph, left them in awe.
Shun closed his eyes and sat with his legs crossed. His hands were clasped together with his fingers pointed up and he kept his breathing steady and calm. Tara recited to him the first mantra to unlock his Root Chaka: "Riu Lia Vat Om Gan Chu Yim Kwa". Shun listened to his teacher's words well and chanted the mantra from start to finish without trouble. He continued to chant at a steady and constant rate. Slowly, Shun began to feel his body tremble a bit. The tremble quickly grew to become a large tremor that took over his entire body. But despite all of these distractions, he kept his breathing constant and continued his chanting. His eyes suddenly flew open and he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
He didn't know how or why, but his surroundings had completely changed! Now, he found himself surrounded on all sides by sand. His body appeared to be halfway buried beneath the earth. He still felt a massive tremble but saw that his body wasn't the only thing affected by it. The sand all around him were being shook as if an earthquake was taking place at this exact moment. Each time the ground trembled, the sand shifted. And each time the sand shifted, Shun felt his body getting buried deeper and deeper into the earth. He tried to pull himself out of the sand but it was impossible! His limbs felt like they had no strength in them! The trembling got more and more stronger and violent and Shun felt the strength being sapped out of him quicker and quicker. The sand had now surrounded Shun in large dunes on all sides. Shun knew that if the trembling gets any stronger and violent, the sand will bury him into the earth in one quick movement.
Meanwhile, back in the Eru residence, Tara and the others were watching Shun with anxious eyes. Shun's real body was still here in the real world and only his consciousness was transported into the chaka gate. They watched intently at Shun's trembling body and the sweat staining his face and neck. "If we were to open the gates using more common methods, Shun would've had three days to do so ," said Tara. "You two know of the more practical method to open ones chaka gates since you both had undergone it. It is also the method that is used in schools and other martial arts factions and sects. One would spend two hours in meditation while chanting the mantra. If one had successfully entered their chaka gates, in order to bring one out of it safely, the scent of a special tea is used. Do you know why two hours is treated as the optimal time for one to spend on a chaka gate?"
"Because you could damage yourself, or even worse, devastate your chaka gates, if you attempt to go over the time limit," answered Kira.
"Correct," said Tara. "This is why it is typical for one to unlock a chaka gate after spending at least three days on it."
"Then this method is dangerous, isn't it?!" exclaimed Zen.
"This method is one of the few safer methods that I could come up with," said Tara. "However, that does not mean that this method is entirely free of harm. Although Shun will be safe as long as he completes this method with no deviations, there is no certainty as to what harm he would suffer if he doesn't. Moreover, we cannot disturb him nor bring him out using the special tea. The only way he can come back is after he successfully opens the gate."
"No way," murmured Zen in shock.
Shun, still trapped in the sand from within the Root Chaka gate, struggled to pull himself out. Time was running out and his body sank lower and lower. When it appeared that his death was imminent and there was no escape from this fate, Shun concluded that the only thing he could do was accept it for what it was. 'What else could I do in this situation?' he asked himself. Of course, he had no answer. But a little voice from within the crevices of his mind spoke up and the words struck him hard: 'If I fail this, how will I be able to save Miri?' The question dispelled all of the doubt he had before and reinvigorated his spirit. He remembered what his goal was. This was only the first step towards that goal. If he stopped right now, then he couldn't continue forward in his quest to become a strong Duelist and save his sister. Empowered by this newfound confidence, Shun stopped his descent with the only hand he had that was above the piling sand. He pulled himself up just as the confidence was pulling up his own spirit. As he ascended, he felt his body becoming stronger and lighter. The sand didn't feel any heavier than a pile of feathers and the quakes disappeared into the background. He finally succeeded in freeing himself and stood atop the sand. His surroundings suddenly illuminated until he was completely surrounded by light. And then, darkness. Shun opened his eyes and found himself back in the real world. Outside, the sun was already setting and the sky was beginning to change into a dark purplish hue.
"Shun! You're back!" announced Kira happily. Zen heaved out a sigh of relief and Tara simply nodded his head with a relieved smile upon his face.
"Did I…did I do it?" asked Shun.
With just one glance at the boy, Tara knew the answer to his question. "You have indeed."
The day was done and Shun was instructed to sleep early to prepare for tomorrow's training. And so, for the next seven days, Shun did his best to unlock all of hid chaka gates by the end of the week.
In the days that followed, Shun opened his Sensual, Abdominal, and Chest Chaka gates. They each took an entire day to complete. And just as he expected, the trial of each following gate became increasingly more difficult than the last. For the Sensual gate, Shun found himself back in his village as if nothing had happened. The village was the same as before and everyone was happy. Shun truly believed that he had woken up from a bad dream, that what he was witnessing right now was actually reality! He was happy that he got what he very much desired! But when he came upon a puddle of water right in the street, what he saw in its reflection revealed to him an illusion. Despite his strong desire to live in this perfect world, he knew that he could not escape the truth. Once he learned to dissociate himself from this illusory world and come back to his senses, he completed the trial and opened his Sensual Chaka gate.
For the Abdominal gate, Shun was transported to a forest. There were graceful breezes that made the trees dance and carried with them a wonderful scent. But carried along the breezes was the trial itself. Voices and whispers entered his ears and rattled him. Their words made his heart beat fast and his body tense up. However, the feelings that swam through his mind wasn't fear nor depression nor grief nor anxiety. The words empowered him with promises that seem grand but suddenly felt possible to achieve. 'You shall be your sister's savior!' they spoke; 'You will bring glory back to your village!' they promised; 'You will be a hero unlike any other!' they foretold; 'Your brilliance is a marvel to behold among heroes!' they praised. Shun became lost in their words. The constant echoing about his sister and his village gradually chipped away at the superficial promises as they brought Shun back to his senses. He suddenly became aware of the meaning behind this trial and understood these all to be his own inner delusions. He shut out the words and realized the futility of their promises. He completed the third trial and opened his Abdominal Gate.
For the Chest gate, Shun found himself in a long tunnel made out of metal. Out in the distance, he could make out a faint light. He moved towards it and for the first time, noticed the large metal sword he now carried in his hand. After about ten steps, a dark shadow popped up from the floor right in front of Shun. He watched in shock as the shadow revealed itself to be an uncanny copy of his little sister, Miri. His body shook as he ran up without thinking to embrace her. Miri smiled back at him and gratefully accepted his embrace. Once Shun found himself within her clutches, he suddenly felt his body growing heavier and heavier. At the same time, he began to grow weaker and weaker as tears began to stream uncontrollably down his cheeks. The Miri copy said nothing and just smiled at him. The smile sent a chill down Shun's spine. The hand holding the sword shook and, in a moment of thoughtlessness, he swiped the sword and cut down the image of his very own sister. The copy quickly turned back into liquid metal and melted back into the ground. This very own action horrified him. Wanting to quickly complete this trial and escape the terrible thing he had done, Shun dashed for the light. But as he did, he found that his true trial was the tunnel itself. More images sprang up, each eliciting some kind of extreme emotion from him without his own mental consent: images of thieves, which drew out his wrath; images of the Five Emperors, which drew out his fear; images of his friends, which drew out his hesitation; and images of his own family, which drew out his sadness and grief. But no matter what emotion he had to suffer through, he had to cut them all down. He finally managed to reach the light and complete his trial, but not without a cost to his own sanity.
Upon Shun's return, he saw Tara with the grimmest expression he had ever seen. "Good job, Shun," congratulated his teacher in a hollow voice. "How about you take a rest tomorrow?" he suggested.
"Rest?" wondered Shun.
"You are still young, and despite my desire to make you believe that you will not suffer any more than you did today, I cannot bring myself to lie to you," stated Tara regretfully. "The last four gates will test your resolve further. You must be able to handle the mental pressure, the physical abuse, the spiritual damage they will deal to you. Will you be able to accept them all and still continue on? You will not have the luxury of rebuilding your defenses over a three day period to deal with the terrors of the trials so that you don't lose your sanity. Knowing that, are you prepared to continue on?"
"I've come this far," Shun told his teacher confidently. The harrowing scene of himself cutting down his own sister back in the metal tunnel replayed in his head. He shuddered and closed his eyes to calm himself down. "I can't back down now," he declared.
"I see," said Tara with a nod of his head. "You are right. However, I still recommend that you take the next day off. Your trials will only get even more demanding and terrifying starting from here,"
"I understand," said Shun with a nod of his head.
"I applaud you and that student of yours, Tara-senzo," said the duke with a clap of his hands.
"I had nothing to do with his progress," admitted Tara. "He did it all on his own. Shun is a very bright boy and he seems to be able to pick up on new things really quick."
"Does that go for academics, too?" asked the duke curiously with a smile.
"He had already caught up to Kira and Zen in two weeks time!" answered Tara with a chuckle.
"But to be able to unlock his fourth chaka gate already," mused the duke. He sighed and slumped his head. "I deeply apologize for the mess my son has gotten you into," he said. "It is because of Zen's fault that Shun has to go through this gruesome training."
"If it was only a squabble between children, I would not have interfered in the matter," said Tara. "However, it has become a matter with our honors at stake. We should do well to respect their honor while upholding our own. This is for our own merit as it is for theirs."
"You speak the truth," agreed the duke. He then remembered something and his face became grim. "I have done some more investigating into the matter concerning Shun's village," he told Tara. "However, I cannot get my hands on any clear evidence. I asked my fellow nobles and other close officials, but they either do not know or would brush away my inquiries. The only conclusion that I could arrive at, if it is as you said and a government official is indeed behind this, is it must be a high ranking official. Someone even higher than me. Perhaps a minister of the royal court."
"That's what I feared," said Tara grimly.
"While we are on the subject, have you heard that Crown Prince Chiru Hem had renounced his title and his right to the throne?" asked the duke. "The news shook the royal court! No one had expected the Crown Prince to do that!" The duke leaned back in his seat and stroked his chin. "We all knew that the prince was somewhat of a free-spirit. The Emperor, I heard, would often lock the prince up in his room to force the young royal to focus on his studies. He would place two chaperones in the room and two guards by the doors."
"Everyone was prepared for him to take the throne," added Tara. "For a free-spirit, he was a bright young man, as I have heard. I've often heard the ministers and nobles talk of how Chirokai would be fine if left in his hands."
"But now that he renounced his title and right to the throne, the only heirs left are Prince Chiru Uro and Prince Chiru Kai," said the duke.
"Did Prince Chiru Hem not announce his choice for his successor?" asked Tara.
"The Emperor did not make such an announcement either," said the duke. "But the court was quick to divide their support. Prince Chiru Uro is a cunning and assertive prince, but he is too superficial and materialistic. His backers include high ranking nobles and those who support his economic reforms that will reduce taxes for the Patrician Class and support offshoring practices for manufacturing."
"He plans to use Chirokai's standing as the dominant power in Adata to exploit the lands of our neighbors for our own businesses," added Tara with a shake of his head.
"On the other hand, Prince Chiru Kai is a reasonable and just prince, but he is too inexperienced and naive. However, he is supported by ministers such as Tiu Tayoi and Vai Nobu."
"If those men support the young prince, then they must trust him," said Tara.
"But which prince would truly lead our nation towards greatness?" asked the duke. "A prince who is assertive yet selfish, or a prince who is immature yet just?" He shook his head just thinking about the choices. "Prince Chiru Hem was careful not to play favorites with his siblings. He loves both of them equally," added the duke.
"We cannot look to the renounced prince for our answer," said Tara with a light chuckle. "We would just be asking for sun when all we have is rain."
Both men became silent and enjoyed the peace of the courtyard. The duke then began to fidget in his seat. Tara was a little worried for his friend and asked him what was wrong. The duke glanced at Tara and tried to brush it off with a smile, but the priest knew better. With a heavy sigh, the duke laid out what was on his chest. "While I was investigating into Shun's situation, I was reminded of a secret that I have kept for so long. I have never told you this before, but this may be the right time for it." He looked at Tara and had on a very serious face that sent chills down the priest's spine. "Please promise me that you will keep this a secret between us," asked the duke. Tara nodded his head solemnly. The duke acknowledged his friend's promise with a nod of his own.
"Kre yi warunin, tiri yi taia! Sho goi dan Data meiki!" recited the duke. ("Seeds have no parents, birds know their parents! We are all children of Data (Earth)!").
"Vika Najizai," said Tara, referring to the poet whom the poem is attributed to. The poem in question expresses the difference between orphaned children and children who are raised by their parents; likening the former to the seeds of flowers and grasses which are dispersed into the world and left to survive on their own, while the latter are compared to birds which are raised and cared for and loved by their parents since birth. In the end, the poem posits that we are all children of the earth despite the circumstances of our youth. Knowing full well of the meaning behind this poem, Tara had an inkling of what the duke wanted to discuss.
"When I married my wife and we proceeded to consummate our union, I came upon a very troubling realization," proceeded the duke. "My shortcomings has shattered our dreams of becoming birds." He glanced over at Tara and lightly chuckled. "You may be thinking that perhaps it would work if I tried it again. One time is too soon to truly know for certain. Well, I indeed tried and tried again. Alas, it all ended in failure. Even the physician confirmed my worst fears. Not having an heir to pass on my title to is the worst fear I could have as a duke." He paused. "Two years passed. My wife and I were in Juilan Province in the north for a banquet. On the way there, we were told that bandits were spotted in the forests leading to the capital city's gate. An alternate route was found by our scouts and we promptly took to that course. The route led us to the ruins of a decimated village. Houses and the like were crumbled and charred, the roads were fractured and torn, and there was not a single soul left. My scouts investigated the village and told us that they suspect the village to have been destroyed no more than a few days prior.
We didn't know what could've caused the village to be destroyed, and we feared for the worst that it could've been the work of an epidemic or the like so our retainers quickly put themselves before us to protect us from any possible lingering of the disease. And then, we heard it, the cry of a baby. My wife, who desperately wanted to experience motherhood, quickly gave in to her weakness and rushed towards the sound despite the retainers' warnings. We quickly followed after her and found her with the baby in her arms."
"Was that—?" asked Tara with a gasp.
"It has been nine years since then," said the duke with a faraway smile. He held up his arms in apology. "Please, forgive me for recounting this heavy tale to you."
"I am grateful to be your ears," said Tara with a bow of his own. "But why did you tell me that?"
"When you told me of Shun's situation, I was reminded of that time," answered the duke. "However, the one difference in their situations is the fact that I managed to uncover the reason behind the decimation of that village." The duke proceeded to explain to Tara all that he knew.
Shun spent his day off with Zen and Kira and the trio were relaxing near the river behind the Eru family's residence. Zen was busy having fun in the water while Kira and Shun sat down on the white beach. They basked in the brilliantly bright and warm sun with the cool sea breezes providing the perfect counterbalance.
"Was it hard for you to open your chaka gates?" Shun asked Kira.
"It was," she simply answered back. She glanced at Shun with serious eyes. "Shun-wan, it's only going to get harder from here. But I know you can do it."
Her words made Shun blush. "T-Thanks," he stammered.
"Hey, guys!" called Zen from the waters. "What do you say to grilled salt-boned breams for dinner tonight?" he asked them. He raised his hands from the waters to show them his catch. In each of his hands were three medium-sized silver-blue scaled fish.
Kira jumped up from her seat with a beaming smile on her face. "Is it that season already?" she asked in awe. "Have you had grilled salt-boned breams before?" she asked Shun. Shun was unfamiliar with the fish and shook his head. Kira's smile grew wider and she now had twinkles in her eyes.
That evening, Tara and the kids had grilled salt-boned breams with rice and a side of spicy pickled vegetables. Cooking the salt-boned breams were quick and easy. Like their name, the fish contains salt inside their body that they absorb through seawater and form a protective film over their fragile bones. The fish are normally found in oceans but migrate to rivers and streams during breeding season. Grilling the fish releases the salt from their bones and easily dissolves it into their flesh. Because of this quick and easy method to cook them, grilled salt-boned bream have become a popular seasonal staple among the North and East regions of Chirokai. As he ate, Shun thought of how he would've liked his family to enjoy this meal with him. The thought made him sad and he slowed down his eating.
"Are you okay, Shun-wan?" asked Kira worriedly.
"Do you not like the fish?" asked Tara.
"No, it's not that," Shun told them. "I was just thinking about my family."
Kira, Zen, and Tara exchanged glances. Zen then grabbed Shun's shoulder and gave him a light shake. "Don't forget, Shun, you have family right here, too. You have Kira and I as your sworn-siblings, and Eru-senzo as your master! We're family, too!" Those words quickly replaced Shun's face with a smile and he nodded in agreement.
The following day, Shun resumed his training. He was now entering his Throat Chaka gate. He was transported to a landscape of ice with giant glacial crystals forming walls on all sides of him. Shun looked at the icy walls and saw his reflection. As he walked closer to one of them, he began to see his reflection change a bit—it felt more alive than a simple reflection, almost as if it was someone else completely and not him at all! "What are you doing here?" the reflection spoke to him.
Shun was surprised by this development and took a step back. "Who are you?" he asked back.
"Who else?" replied the reflection. "What are you doing here?" the reflection asked him again.
"To open the throat gate," Shun replied back confidently.
"Is this important to you?" asked the reflection.
"Yes," Shun told it.
"Is this more important than family?" came another of his reflections. Shun turned around and saw more and more of his reflections coming to life. "Why did you leave the village?" asked the same reflection. Shun couldn't answer back and had his mouth gaped open in confusion.
"What were you doing when the village burned down?" came another reflection.
"It's your fault that you couldn't save your family," accused another.
"Why are you living with another family?" spoke a third.
"What is the point in learning this?" questioned a fourth.
"Do you really think that this will save your family?" said a fifth.
"Are you only doing this for yourself?" came a sixth.
"Isn't this just a selfish desire?" shouted a seventh.
These words bombarded Shun from all directions and he felt their pressure quickly stacking on top of him. He couldn't answer them back quick enough…. He didn't even know what to say! But the words they spoke echoed in his heart and he felt broken and anxious and dread. They were all speaking the truth…. Shun had his eyes to the ground and slowly, with shaky legs, fell to the ground. As he did, he could feel his body becoming colder and colder and frost was beginning to form in his hair and on his fingernails and lips. Snow was quickly building around him and his body began to cease to function. Is this how it will end for him?
Meanwhile, out in the real world, Tara noticed Shun's real body beginning to shiver. He reached out a hand and could feel the air around his student becoming as cold as ice. This was what he had feared. The Throat Chaka was one of the hardest chaka to open given the trial one must overcome. However, there was nothing he could do to help his student but pray that he could overcome it.
Shun let his reflections' attacks get the better of him and his body had already turned a really alarming blue color. 'I'm sorry, Eru-senzo,' apologized Shun, 'I can't do this.' Images of his family flashed in his mind as he was slowly losing consciousness. 'Family,' he whispered to himself. Suddenly, Zen's words came back to him. The words that his friend spoke yesterday during dinner echoed in his heart and confidence and warmth slowly returned to him. "I understand your feelings!" he shouted out to his reflections. His reflections became quiet. Shun then turned to each of them and addressed each of their concerns. Speaking from the heart, he told them exactly what he felt. "I accept the fact that I couldn't save my family. I accept the fact that I could not save my village. But I am not abandoning my family or my home for another. If I cannot move forward with myself, I can never live up to my parents' or to my village's standards, nor can I avenge them. This is something that I have to do! I accept all of your feelings!" Once he said this, armed with the strength and confidence and sincerity in his voice, each and every one of his other reflections disappeared and the ice that housed them melted. The only one that was left was the first one.
"What are you doing here?" the reflection asked once again.
"I am here to move on," answered Shun with unwavering determination. The reflection, satisfied with that answer, disappeared and the wall of ice melted. Suddenly, Shun opened his eyes and found himself back in the real world. Finally, he had successfully opened his Throat Chaka.
The next day, Shun went on to open his sixth chaka. He entered his Forehead Chaka and found himself back in a really familiar place. He scanned his surroundings and came upon the realization that he was back home in his tent in Condor Village. The tent was fixed like new and he saw many familiar objects and furniture that brought back very fond memories of his early childhood. As he examined his surroundings, he heard the flap of his tent open and saw what could only be described as a dream: his mother and little sister had entered the tent, healthy and very well alive. Shun couldn't help but tear up at the sight of them.
"Mother! Miri!" he joyfully called out to them.
"Ah, Shun! You were in here all this time. We were looking for you," said his mother.
"I'm here! I'm here!" Shun cried. He ran up to them and wiped his eyes. "It's been so long," he told them.
"What are you talking about, big brother?" asked Miri.
"It's…. It's nothing," Shun replied with a sniffle and a laugh.
"Anyway, shall we get going to the festival?" his mother asked him. "Everyone is waiting for you to make an appearance."
"Of course!" obliged Shun. His mother held out her hand and Shun quickly reached out to grab it. As he took hold of her hand, the most terrifying thing happened: her hand became literal flames and the heat forced Shun to quickly let go and jump back. 'What just happened?' he asked himself. He looked up at his mother and little sister once again and saw them both reaching out their hands to him. Without hesitation, Shun grabbed both their hands. The same sensation, doubled this time, caused him to quickly push himself away and fall down on his butt. This revelation pained him—what he had believed to be his mother and sister were nothing but illusions from his past given life by fire.
Unlike the other chaka, Shun knew exactly what he had to do to unlock this gate—he needed to let them go. He understands that the past is unchangeable and unattainable. A wise man would know and understand this. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them back, he shed a tear, but his heart and emotions remained firm. The illusions of his mother and sister looked back at him with a sad smile. The tent suddenly opened again and his father and two younger siblings came inside. They too joined his mother and sister in looking back at him with the same sad smile. Suddenly, their surroundings burst into flames and left Shun and his illusionary family standing within a field of fire. The flames didn't burn him and Shun stayed very still in his position.
"Shun, aren't you coming?" asked his mother.
"I can't," Shun told her firmly.
"Are you sure about this, Shun?" she asked him.
"Yes," Shun answered back confidently. "I'm sorry, but I must let you go!"
Those words made his illusionary family exchange glances. Then his father walked up to him and placed his hand on Shun's shoulder. "I see," he said to his son. And with a smile, he added, "Well then, good luck." Those words elicited another tear from Shun. Suddenly, his illusionary family burst into flames and disappeared, but as they did, Shun saw them all smiling contently back at him. Shun had wanted to hold their hands and stop them, but he knew that that would be counterintuitive to what he was trying to achieve and struggled to keep his hands to his side. The pain of doing so hurt his heart but he had to endure it without giving in. As he watched everyone disappear before his very eyes, Shun had to push his emotions down lest they get the better of him. And finally, his father, who was the only one left, said the very last words that Shun will ever get to hear him say: "Farewell, my son." And just like the rest, he disappeared into a burst of flames. Shun had successfully opened his Forehead Chaka and was transported into the real world. He slowly opened his eyes and a tear fell down his cheek.
"I saw my family," Shun told his teacher. Tara said nothing—he knew that there was nothing he could say in response to this. He, Kira, and Zen simply bowed their heads to him in apologetic silence.
Shun was now on the last two gates. That following day, he proceeded to enter his Crown Chaka. He now found himself in a silent town with no inhabitants at all; the streets and shops were all empty. Up above him were dark clouds. The sound of rolling thunder echoed through the silent landscape. Shun cautiously walked through the city, unaware of what it is he had to do to open this gate. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning came down a few steps behind him. He turned around in surprise and saw the lightning bolt crack the ground. But what scared him more than the force of nature was the shadow hiding within it. The silhouette of a tall man rode the lightning bolt down to earth and disappeared with it. The image scared Shun and he was almost paralyzed with fear. He immediately turned around and ran. This action wasn't a conscious choice but he didn't dare rebel against his instincts in this situation. He turned corners and dashed down alleyways, but every time he did, a flash of lightning would appear before him carrying the same silhouette. With each flash and appearance, he was buried deeper into deeper into fear. His bones were shaking, his body felt heavy, his mind was hazy, his blood froze—Shun was losing himself to the trial. 'I can't go on,' he told himself. This feeling of loss transformed into depression, then into anger, then into denial, then into acceptance, then into apathy. His feelings were all mixed up and blinding him further and further. Finally, he decided to confront this fear head-on. This confidence that now coursed through his blood was not borne out of strength, but out of the strife that the fear had put him through. He stopped and waited for the lightning to strike. Once it did, he stared right into the dark silhouette and charged towards it with both fear and determination in his eyes. He reached the silhouette and suddenly his world turned white. He opened his eyes and found that he had successfully opened his Crown Chaka.
It was now the last day and Shun was on his last chaka gate—his Soul Chaka. He closed his eyes and was transported to a dense forest. He was standing before a large tree with the grandest canopy he had ever seen. Its trunks were thick and smooth and its branches stretched up towards the heavens. Shun approached the tree and saw a dark shadow reflected back at him on its trunk. He was quick to realize that the shadow was his own. After everything that he had gone through to open the other chaka gates, he wasn't sure what to expect out of this one. He stood very still and waited. His eyes were focused on the shadow but his ears were open to the world. Nothing. He swallowed a gulp and lifted his hand. The shadow reflected back exactly what he had done. Cautiously, he reached out towards it. As his fingers got closer and closer to the shadow, various scenes of his previous trials flashed in his mind. The images swirled in his head like ghosts and his body shook as a monsoon of emotions washed over him. Still, Shun didn't waver and continued to his approach towards the shadow. Typically, the average man would've descended into madness; but Shun was determined to see this through. He was determined to finish his training and open all of his chaka gates so he could continue with his training. It was this determination that allowed him to fight against himself. 'Just a little more,' he told himself. Finally, his fingers touched his shadow. The images stopped and his surroundings disappeared into the darkness. Shun suddenly opened his eyes and found himself back in the real world. He had successfully opened his last chaka.
"Congratulations, Shun," said Tara upon seeing his student's return. "You have opened all of your gates. You are ready to proceed with your training."