Two and half years had passed. Shun was now thirteen years old. As per Chirokai tradition, reaching thirteen years of age means that he is now officially an adult. Shun now has the ability to live independently and travel the world on his own. To commemorate this event, Tara and the duke held a very extravagant birthday celebration for him. It was there that he also received his civil name from Tara. One's civil name is the name that is used in public settings as opposed to one's personal name, which is used in familial and official settings. It is usually granted by one's parents or other family member, though it is not uncommon for it to be granted instead by a teacher or martial master. These names usually reflect one's character in addition to the future that their parents or teacher wishes for them. Shun's civil name that Tara had given him was Muotai ("muo" = sincerity/honor, "tai" = wisdom/way): "The Honorable Way".
The day after, Zen came to visit Shun at the Eru residence. "Junlong Muotai, a pleasure to make your acquaintance," said Zen playfully with a bow.
"My pleasure, Juwan Gihe," replied Shun.
Zen's civil name, Gihe ("gihe" = light), was also given to him by Tara, as per the duke's request. It means: "Radiance". When the duke had asked Tara why that name, the teacher replied that he hopes for Zen to have a bright future and become a beacon of hope to others.
Both boys laughed at their little joke. They have both grew up into fine young men. Through these past two and a half years, they have shared many adventures and misadventures together. They've also grew as anyu and as martial artists. In fact, there is no one in Squire Village who do not know of their abilities in this day and age.
Zen stole a look at Shun's left arm and noticed a red armband wrapped around it. He had remembered hearing about it from time to time as a memento from Shun's deceased father. "Nice armband," he commented with an accepting nod.
Shun had now decided to wear the armband that used to be the symbol of his village's chief. He wanted to reach a point of maturity that would allow him to surpass his past and open up a new path for a brighter future. And the first step of that was for him to come to terms with his losses and move forward with generous memories as his foundation. Hence his decision to sport the armband of his deceased father. "Thanks," he replied back with a nod of his own.
"Ah! It's Zen!" called a voice from inside the house. Kira immediately rushed outside to join them.
Zen bowed to her and said, "Greetings, Eru Yousia." ("You" = merit; "sia" = fairy).
"Stop that! That's embarrassing!" whined Kira. Her civil name, which was granted to her by her father, means "Fairy of Abundant Merits". However, Kira found the name embarrassing and unfashionable. But there was nothing she could do about it once those words left her father's lips.
"I finally have something to use next time you try to mess with me," Zen told her, sticking out his tongue.
"If you're here to make fun of me, then leave," Kira told him with a huff.
"Why is it that you two always fight whenever you see each other?" Shun asked them with a light chuckle.
"Muo-ri, this girl is impertinent and only lives to ruin me!" cried Zen in a joking manner while speaking in a faux high-class gentlemanly voice.
"I don't need to ruin you," Kira responded. "You can ruin yourself with numbers."
"That's not fair to attack me like that!" quickly shouted Zen in irritation.
"There are five pigs and three goats on a farm. If one goat is sold and one pig gives birth to a litter of five piglets, how many total animals do the farm have now?" asked Kira.
Zen couldn't believe that he had fallen to her trap. He quickly took out his fingers to perform the calculation. "Six goats, three pigs, and one cow! That's twelve animals in all!" he told her.
"Wow, that was so wrong that I don't even know where to start," Kira replied in an unimpressed tone.
"Alright, enough with the numbers! You're going to make my brain a jumbled mess again!" Zen told her. "Anyway, I came here to invite you all to a banquet my family is hosting tomorrow," he explained to his friends. "Duke Geda of Juilan Province is coming to stay at our estate for a few days. I've heard that it's a diplomatic mission to ensure friendly ties between our two provinces."
"If it's an official manner, we should stay away," said Shun.
"But Father insists on inviting Eru-senzo," revealed Zen. "I think that having someone he can trust, a close friend if you must, with him that day will reassure him."
"I see," said Kira with an understanding nod. "Well, if that's the case, I think Father might accept."
Tara indeed accepted the invitation and when the next day arrived, he and his students made sure to arrive early. They were greeted warmly by the duke and his family. Along with their hosts, they went to the dining room and observed the magnificent feast that was being prepared for them. "I dare say that we are not worthy of such an invitation," Tara told the duke humbly. "However, I cannot deny the generosity of a friend."
"I know," said the duke with a light chuckle.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approached the front gate. Everyone returned to the waiting area and stood at attention to receive their guest. Shun gulped a little too obviously when the doors to the estate were being drawn open. Forward came a group of soldiers dressed in bright blue uniforms like the color of a clear reflective sky. Shun had never seen such uniforms before.
"They are Azure Guards," Zen whispered to him.
"You mean the provincial law enforcement officers?" asked Shun. He was familiar enough with the term and had a working idea of what they do, but he had never laid eyes on any of the so-called provincial law enforcement officers before. He was only familiar with the law enforcement officers of the city, whose uniforms were a dusty brown, and had only witnessed district-level law enforcement officers, whose uniforms are a piercing gold, a few times before.
Behind the Azure Guards were a group of young women dressed in pale purplish robes smeared with dirt and grime. Their hair was unkempt and they wore no makeup at all. A few of them had bruises on their faces. Shun could only assume that they were lowly servants belonging to the guest of honor. However, he had never seen servants look this haggard and beaten down before; it made him question the guest duke's temperament and character.
Following behind the servants were another group of servants of both men and women. However, compared to the servants from before, this group had plain clothes and looked very presentable. In fact, they looked very much like the servants of the Juwan estate. These better-looking servants were healthy and clean and walked with a vigor that was absent from the servants before them.
Next, came the duke's associates, which consisted of two men dressed in expensive clothes and decorated with jewels from head to toe, and the duke himself. These men walked side-by-side with radiant smiles on their faces. When one of the associates noticed Shun with a glance, he threw the boy a quick scowl and immediately returned to his regular smile upon turning back to face the front. Shun wasn't sure if he had done anything to offend the elite in any way and was confused by the look he had received.
Duke Juwan humbly greeted Duke Geda with a bow. The duke of Juilan Province returned the gesture. The guests were then invited to the feast laid out for them in the dining room. Before sitting down, Duke Juwan introduced Tara, Kira, and Shun to his guests.
"Ah! So you must be the great Eru Tara I have heard about! Divine priest of Chenzen, Athagoiÿen, I am humbled to be before your holy presence," said Duke Geda with a deep bow of respect. (The "ÿ" is pronounced with a slight w or y sound).
"Please, that title of mine was not something I have cultivated myself, but rather awarded to me by my master. Though I daresay that I have not lived to its expectations since long ago," said Tara humbly.
"These are my associates, Hei Shukan and Ko Krali," introduced the duke.
"So you left the holy life and had a daughter," said Hei Shukan.
"Yes, I did," replied Tara.
"And is that boy your son?" asked Ko Krali.
"He is my student," Tara simply answered. "He is an orphan under my care, yes, but that is all."
"I see," said Ko Krali with a sneer. "If I had a child like him, I wouldn't want to claim him either. I've heard that he's…hmm, what was the term again? It's quite a peculiar term that I have only been exposed to today. Oh, right! A kok'shi! He is an outsider is he not?"
"Your nobleness, if I could ask you to—," began Tara.
"Yes, I am!" quickly answered Shun shamelessly. Tara, Kira, and Zen all turned their heads to Shun after hearing him make such a bold move.
"I see," said the associate, surprised by Shun's confidence. He scowled at the boy and said nothing further.
Everyone finally sat down at the table. The servants all rushed to pour tea and wine into the cups of the diners. The sound of broken ceramics drew everyone's attention to where Ko Krali was sitting. One of Duke Geda's servant girls was being heavily berated by him. Shun knew that it was normal for masters to scold their servants, but the words that the noble was using was beyond necessary.
"You idiot girl!" Ko Krali cursed at her. Apparently, the girl had accidentally poured too close to the cup and made the cup fall over the table with the spout of the teapot. The servant girl had tears streaming down her face and was sobbing silently. "If we weren't before guests, I would've ordered for you to get lashed for this unforgiveable transgression!" Ko Krali said spitefully.
Shun couldn't take anymore of the noble's verbal abuse and stood up. "Is that not enough?" he asked the noble. "Please, I'm sure she now knows what she did wrong. This abuse is not needed."
Ko Krali flashed Shun a threatening scowl. Before he could say anything, Duke Geda stopped him. He then turned to the servant girl and said, "Outside. Don't come back until I call for you." The servant girl quickly nodded her head and rushed out of the room. "I apologize. This should be a time of celebration. Shall we continue with the feast," said the duke with a smile. His words and action slowly relieved the tension and everyone proceeded to feast.
As he ate, Shun's mind returned to the servant girl. The food turned bland in his mouth and he felt no pleasure at all now that all of his senses are focusing on the one thing on his mind. He felt sorry for her and the image of her sobbing face really made his heart ache. He understood the relationship between nobles and servants and he was aware that there are unscrupulous nobles out there in the world, but to witness an exchange such as this was not good for his heart. 'All human beings deserve the same basic level respect as birds have for trees, regardless of their status,' he believed.
Zen lightly touched Shun on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it," he told Shun.
Shun was surprised by Zen's words to him. "What do you mean?" he asked his friend.
"It's best to just let this one go," Zen replied.
On any other occasion, Shun would've at least voice his discontent. But in this situation, in front of very important guests, he did as he was told and tried his best to ignore his feelings. The food's flavor finally returned and he enjoyed their pleasure unlike before. As he ate, he suddenly found himself slowly drifting back into the darkness. 'I can't take it!' he told himself. Shun abruptly stood up from his seat. "Excuse me," he told the table with a bow.
As he prepared to leave, Ko Krali said to him with a sneer, "What do you think you're doing for a slave? Is she really worth that much to you?"
Shun stopped and asked back in a soft voice, "S-Slave?"
"That's right," Ko Krali answered back with an arrogant huff. "A slave is nothing more than a tool for our own use. What business do they have occupying themselves in our hearts and mind? They are nothing more than property!"
"Enough!" shouted Shun. His fists were clenched and trembling at his sides. "Excuse me," he repeated in a softer tone. He then rushed out of the dining hall and headed for the courtyard.
"Hmph! What's his problem?" grumbled Ko Krali.
"Krali," came Duke Geda in a stern voice. Ko Krali noticed the look of displeasure on the duke's face and became silent.
Now outside, Shun scanned the surroundings for any sign of the slave girl. He noticed her sitting on the lowest steps near the west side of the estate. He ran up to her and quickly called out, "Are you okay?" The slave girl was surprised by his arrival and flinched as if she was about to be jumped by a tiger. "Are you okay?" repeated Shun worriedly. The slave girl put down her arms and, after some hesitation, nodded her head. "That's good," let out Shun with a relieved sigh.
The slave girl's face suddenly turned sour and she began to cry again. She bowed deeply with her head and cried out, "I apologize for my insolence!"
Her outburst surprised Shun enough to make him jump back. "What are you talking about?" he asked her, confused.
"I made someone of your stature to worry about a worthless slave such as I," she cried miserably. "Please, don't take my life!"
"No one's going to take your life!" exclaimed Shun. He reached into his Kiso and pulled out a handkerchief. He then bent down near her side and lightly dabbed at her cheek to wipe away the tears. His action surprised the slave girl and she quickly pushed away from him. When she did, she noticed the red armband on his left arm.
"W-Where did you get that?" she asked him, pointing to his armband.
Shun glanced at the red armband with a smile. "It's my father's," he told her.
"You're father?" whispered the girl to herself.
Shun handed her the handkerchief and she accepted it despite some hesitation. She wiped the tears away, along with some of the grime on her face. As her face became cleaner and clearer, Shun began to see some recognizable features on her. "Kufuki Ruzu?" The name slipped out of his lips without a thought.
"Yes?" answered the slave girl.
"You're Kufuki Ruzu of Condor Village, are you not?" Shun asked her, a smile now beginning to form on face.
"I am," answered the girl with a nod.
"I remember when you and Miri used to play with each other in the village square! And you two would always sew and knit together in the same room!" Shun gushed. "You two were inseparable! And it didn't help much that were were neighbors."
"H-H-How do you—?" she started to ask, fear forming in her eyes. She was really scared of the words coming out of Shun's mouth and wondered if she was being deceived by some demon or phantom. She stopped herself and calmly observed the young man before her. She squinted her eyes a bit and the face finally came to her. "S-Shun-wari?" she asked. ("Wari" = honorific meaning big brother). When she was certain that it was indeed the Shun she knew, a giant smile swept across her face. "Shun-wari! It is you!" she happily exclaimed. "And you're alive!" she added, now on the verge of tears again. However, this time, they were happy tears.
"You too!" said Shun with a laugh. "Say, how did you survive?" he asked her.
Ruzu's face turned sad. "It was that day," she began. "A group of soldiers suddenly appeared in our village. The village chief went out to meet them. The villagers didn't know what was happening and many of them were preparing for the worst. What if they were here to demand more of our products? What if they were here to arrest our villagers for some kind of unknowable crime? What if they were here to take our men to war and our women to the brothels? Those were what we were thinking. But when the chief came back to tell us what the soldiers wanted, all young girls between the ages of eight and sixteen were ordered to line up before the soldiers."
"Why?" asked Shun.
"They wouldn't say," replied Ruzu. "But the leader of the soldiers had a very special gem with him. He put the gem up next to each and every girl. Sometimes, the gem would glow. Other times, it would do nothing. Once he was done, all of the girls that made the gem glow were taken away."
"And you were one of them," concluded Shun with a frown.
Ruzu nodded her head. "But before the soldiers left, they destroyed the village. My last memory of the village is one that haunts me every night as an unrelenting nightmare. I watched it burn with my very eyes."
"How about Miri?" Shun asked her anxiously.
"She was taken, too," Ruzu told him. "We were taken to somewhere near the Capital, Dokan. They trapped us in cells below the ground with chains bound around our wrists and ankles. We were fed leftovers from the soldiers' meals and water drawn from one of the city's waterways. Everyone's spirit was broken. After about a month had passed, a girl would disappear from the cells. At first, we thought that it meant we were being set free. But we soon learned that we were simply being sold to slavery. Those of us that were lucky, of course. Others who were not as fortunate were sold to brothels."
"Then Miri—," interjected Shun.
"She's fine," Ruzu told him with a smile. "She was still there when I left. The girls who were sold off were those who failed to make the gem glow any brighter than a simply ray of sunshine. But Miri, she was the only one that made the gem become the sun itself. That's probably the reason why she was being kept."
"So I can still save her," said Shun with some hope in his voice.
"How?" asked Ruzu.
Shun told her of his life after meeting Eru Tara and his training to become a Duelist. The entire time, Ruzu's eyes were wider than rice balls and she constantly wore a varied expression that continuously shifted from amazement to worry and back. The tale made her feel a little woozy and she clutched her head. "Ruzu!" said Shun, quickly catching her by the shoulder.
"Shun-wari, do you really think you can save her?" Ruzu asked him after having regained back her composure.
"If I don't, then who will?" Shun asked her logically. "Say, Ruzu, how did you end up as a slave for Duke Geda?"
"I was bought by him at a slave auction in the Capital," she told him.
"Have you tried running away?" Shun asked her.
"What? Are you crazy?! That's suicide!" she quickly cried.
Shun realized that he had overstepped his bounds and apologized. "Ruzu, I promise to save Miri," he told her. "Then, we can rebuild Condor Village."
Ruzu now had a faraway look in her eyes at the mention of the village. A single tear cropped up beside her left eye. "I really miss home," she uttered sadly.
"So this is where you're at!" came a very vicious voice. Ko Krali walked up to them with a scowl on his face. Without a word, he grabbed Ruzu by the sleeve of her shirt and threw her to the ground. "You've made a real mess for me!" he yelled at her.
"I'm sorry!" cried Ruzu in apology. She buried her face to the ground in a submissive bow.
Ko Krali's body shook in anger and he raised up his hand to strike her. "Is that all you have to say for yourself, you scum?!" he yelled. He then brought down his fist like a hammer.
Shun immediately stepped forward and took the strike. By channeling Chi to his face, he absorbed the impact without any pain or trouble. "Please, stop this," he begged the noble.
Ko Krali was taken aback by Shun's power and jumped back in fear. "W-W-What do you think you're doing?!" he yelled hysterically. His voice attracted the attention of everyone else and they quickly came out to see what was going on.
"What is the meaning of this?" Duke Geda asked Duke Juwan upon seeing Shun standing between Ruzu and Ko Krali.
Duke Juwan bowed his head and said, "I apologize for the offense my associate may have caused unto yours."
"This boy is your associate?" asked Duke Geda. He glanced at Shun and quickly continued with his questioning. "What does he think he is doing with my slave?"
"Duke Geda!" cried Ko Krali. "This boy is a fox! He is trying to confuse your slave so he can commit ignoble acts upon her! I have seen him embrace her with my very eyes! He is nothing more than a fox in heat!"
"Don't accuse Shun like that!" immediately shouted Zen in protest.
"What is this boy's relationship to the young master?" Duke Geda asked Zen.
"Shun is my anyu," Zen told him. "And I won't let anyone hurt my brother in any way, shape, or form." He added the last part in a snarl-like voice, making the already fearful Ko Krali even more scared.
"Besides, how do you know that your associate isn't making all of this up?" asked Kira. "From the very beginning, it was obvious that he hated Shun. He even called him a kok'shi."
"Krali, what really happened?" Duke Geda asked the noble.
"Are you really going to listen to the words of children?!" cried Ko Krali in desperation.
"Duke Geda," said Shun with a bow, "there is a reason why I was protecting Ruzu."
"Protect?" asked Duke Geda.
"This slave girl of yours is Kufuki Ruzu, a friend of mine from Condor Village," said Shun. The reveal elicited sharp gasps from everyone except Duke Geda and his associates. "She told me everything. When my village burned down, she was kidnapped with a bunch of other girls and taken to the capital. She had lived in inhumane conditions while being confined in a cell underneath the city. It wasn't until when her captives had no more use for her that she was sold into slavery, which is how she came unto your ownership."
Tara and Duke Juwan exchanged glances. After three years, they have finally uncovered an important piece to their puzzle. "Duke Geda, did you know of her history?" Tara asked the duke.
Duke Geda turned his face the other way for a moment before speaking, "Why do I need to know the history of my slave?"
"Did you perhaps acquire her from an unsanctioned auction?" asked Duke Juwan seriously.
"Unsanctioned auction?" asked Shun.
"Owning slaves is a legal practice that is regulated by the law," Tara explained. "In order to regulate this practice, auctions can only be held by licensed merchants or with a certified document stamped by the Ministry of Commerce. However, there are many unsanctioned auctions that take place to circumvent this law. Such auctions are conducted by unscrupulous thieves and dishonorable curs." That last part was added with a bite that didn't hide Tara's feelings towards the visiting duke and his associates at all.
Duke Geda had enough of this hostile atmosphere and turned to Duke Juwan with a scowl. "You have just yourself made a powerful enemy in Court," he told Duke Juwan. He walked off and Ko Krali quickly scrambled up to join him. Hei Shukan bowed his head in a respectful farewell before departing after his fellow men.
Ruzu got up to go join her master in leaving. Shun tugged at her sleeve and she stopped. "Are you going back?" he asked her.
"I have to," she told him. With a tearful goodbye, she obediently walked to join her master.
After the guests have left, Shun bowed to Duke Juwan in apology. "My behavior has caused trouble for your nobleness," he said.
"Don't worry," said the duke with a chuckle. "To tell you the truth, I was never really fond of Duke Geda. I had always suspected that he had connections to some shady and unsavory businesses. You've only helped to validate my suspicions."
Shun thanked the duke for his grace. He then made another big reveal to his friends: "I know where Miri is." He then told them everything that Ruzu had told him. Once he was finished, he had a look of determination on his face he had never wore before. "I'm going to go save her," he declared.
Three days had passed since the little incident at the Juwan Estate. Shun had already made his decision to travel to the capital to save his sister. He had since packed up for his trip. His clothes were folded in a cloth sack that was tied at the top to form an opening that allowed for him to wear it over his shoulder. His other belongings that he could carry with him and were of importance were carefully wrapped in cloth covers before being placed in the same cloth sack. Everything else that he couldn't carry with him, such as his family's markers, he had decided to leave here in the Eru residence. Now, he was ready to set out the next day.
It was after lunchtime when a messenger from the Juwan Estate came to their house in a hurry. The messenger had apparently rushed to get here and was stumbling on his own two feet by the time he reached the door of their house. His frantic knocking was what drew Tara's attention.
Tara, Shun, and Kira all went to the door. Today, Zen was also joining them for lunch, and he, too, joined them at the door. The door opened and the messenger began to shout at them hysterically. Tara helped him to calm down and encouraged him to calmly tell them what happened.
"Oh, bad news, bad news!" cried the messenger after regaining back some of his composure.
"What is it?" asked Tara.
"Jun-ri," said the messenger, facing Shun with apologetic eyes, "that slave girl you saved is dead."
"What?!" shouted Tara, Kira, and Zen in unison.
"Today, a slave had come to our doors," told the messenger. "It was clear from her clothes that she had belonged to Duke Geda. She was covered in bruises and blood, no doubt beaten nearly to death. Her legs were also covered in animal bites."
"Was that—," said Shun, choking on his words.
The messenger shook his head. "This slave told us that she was a friend of Kufuki Ruzu. She said that she just had to escape from the place to come bring us this news. She said that she learned about you, Jun-ri, from Kufuki Ruzu."
"What happened to Ruzu?" asked Shun.
"Two days ago, Kufuki Ruzu was killed," said the messenger. His words were enough to make Shun fall to his knees in despair. Zen and Kira were pained to see their friend this way and tried to help him back up.
"R-Ruzu," muttered Shun sadly.
"Duke Geda had ordered for her to be mauled by rabid dogs," continued the messenger in a pained voice. "Apparently, it was the only punishment befitting a 'rabid slave who has disobeyed her master'." After having relayed his message, the messenger bid farewell and left.
Shun's body shook in extreme anger. Never before had he felt such explosive power building up inside of him. He released a primitive yell that shook the heavens above with the force of his Chi. "That bastard!" he finally cried. Tears streamed down his face as he sobbed and mourned the death of his friend. Tara, Kira, and Zen left him to mourn in peace.
"How could that man be so evil?!" exclaimed Zen back in the dining room. "Does he think that he can do anything just because he's a noble?! Is this what our society has become?! Is this what it means to become a noble?" He added the last part in a quasi-whisper. After the incident three days ago, Zen had achieved a good understanding of how nobles think. It made him a bit wary now of inheriting his father's position. And now, after learning exactly of the evil nobility is capable of committing, his doubt was growing ever more greater.
"We should petition the Emperor to kill him," said Kira smartly with a scowl.
"He is a noble, a person of higher standing than us on the ladder of society," said Tara. "There is nothing we can do."
"So are we supposed to do nothing?!" exclaimed Zen in exasperation. "If being a noble means being an animal like him, then I don't think I want to become one anymore!"
"Not all nobles are the same," said Tara. "Zen, you must learn to accept your future. Once you do, I believe you can change the world into a better place."
"Poor Shun-wan," said Kira sadly. "He already had to suffer the death of his fellow villagers. And just when he found out that some of them were still alive, they were brutally killed to spite him."
"May the gods bless his soul and bring judgement upon the sinner," said Tara in prayer.
"I've made up my mind," said Shun at the doorway of the dining room.
"Shun! Are you okay, now?" asked Zen worriedly.
"I will save my sister," said Shun. His face had completely changed. There was no sign of warmth or innocence left in his face. His eyes only had fire in them and his brows were furrowed in a way that made it seem as if that was their natural state. Any sign of the old Shun was gone. Now, standing before them with an unbreakable will that could stand against even the most terrible of demons, was someone whom they had never met before. His face was one thing, but the main thing about a person that was the key in telling people whether or not they had change was their character. And they could tell that Shun's transformation was indeed one that ran deep to his very soul. This was revealed to them when he spoke the following words: "And I will kill the person responsible."
"Person responsible?" asked Kira, fearful of the words he had spoken.
"The person responsible for everything," said Shun. "He took away my family, my village, my sister. He turned me into a orphan. He turned me into a kok'shi! He ruined my life!"
"And you want to kill him?" asked Zen.
"Who wouldn't?!" yelled Shun with a furious gleam in his eye.
"Shun-wan, this is more than about saving your sister. This is about revenge," said Kira.
"Exactly," said Shun. "I didn't know why I didn't think of it before. Maybe it was because I was still too green. Maybe it was because I was too innocent, too ignorant to know about it all. But I know now what it is I have to do!"
"But Shun—," attempted Zen.
Shun turned to Tara and quickly said, "Eru-senzo, there is no rule against revenge, isn't there? Not in the Ten Precepts nor in the teachings of the Three Schools."
"The Three Schools stress the importance of mercy and compassion, and the religion of Usiddi strongly encourages one to practice forgiveness," said Tara. He then let out a sigh and continued, "But there are no strict teachings against the concept of revenge. Therefore, though it is discouraged, it is still within the bounds of ethics and morality in accordance to the Three Schools."
"There, you have it," said Shun. He bowed and thanked his teacher for the explanation. "I will still set out tomorrow as planned," he told them.
Tomorrow arrived and Shun had gotten ready first thing in the morning. Kira and Tara were waiting at the entrance to say goodbye to him. Shun exited the house with his belongings slung over his shoulder and bowed. "Shun," said Tara, "understand that the road you are treading is one filled with sorrow and grief. You will be tempted by the demon inside more than once. Knowing this, do you still choose to walk this path?"
"Eru-senzo, thank you for all that you have done for me," said Shun. "But regardless of my fate, I still choose to claim revenge for my fellow villagers and my family."
Tara knew that nothing else he could say would force Shun to change his mind. With a nod of acknowledgement, he brought out a sheathed sword and held it out for Shun. "Take this," he told his student.
Shun humbly took the blade. The sheath was a brilliant golden brown with jade green etchings of dragons and deities and fairies. The hilt of the blade was of a similar color but was covered in what looked like dragon scales. Shun drew the blade and found himself staring at a beautiful moonlight-silver blade that became iridescent in the sunlight. It's edges were so sharp that one look was enough to feel a cut from the blade.
"This is Nokilongren, the "Blade of the Righteous Dragon King"," said Tara. "It belonged to many heroes and used by many more. At one point, it had even found itself in the hands of Yujin Kazaki. I had received this blade from my master as a gift long after the passing of the "King of Heroes". And now, it is yours. Take good care of it." Shun was at a loss for words. He gratefully bowed before his teacher and tied the sword to his waist. "Next, I have yet to give you this," said Tara. He unveiled a metal rod the size of a finger and handed it to Shun. Shun took it and examined it. On the bottom of the rod was a protrusion of red wax in the shape of his own name. "This is your personal seal," Tara told him. Shun bowed his head in gratitude. Without a personal seal, Shun wouldn't be able to travel independently on his own. It is a very important tool that all adults carry with them at all times. The seal acts as their personal signature and is used to sign documents and checks, and to provide identification.
Now that Shun had everything he needed, he turned around to leave. "Shun-wan!" called Kira. She ran down to meet him. It was clear that she was trying to hold back tears. With a gulp, she brought out a small pouch. "Before you go, why don't you let me tell you your fortune so that you can be prepared on your journey?" she asked him with a smile.
Shun hesitated. "Okay," he relented in a soft voice. This would be the last time he would see his sworn sister for who knows how long. Shun didn't want to leave with any regrets for either of them. Kira opened the pouch and bent down to empty the contents: eight flower petals, a small stone, and a vial of ink. She then brought out a small eight-sided tablet that had each of the eight elements etched on each side. She opened the vial of ink and poured the viscous liquid into the indented center of the tablet. She then placed each of the lower petals on each of the eight sides. She handed the small stone to Shun. Shun twirled the stone in between his fingers before bending down and dropping the stone above the center of the tablet. The stone fell into the ink and sprayed it onto the flower petals. Some of the petals were safe from the black ink while others were either stained or completely dyed.
Kira analyzed the petals that were stained and dyed and calculated what they meant based on which elements the petals were representing. "Earth is dyed and so is lightning, while air and nature and water are stained," she observed. "On your travels you will have great hardship and meet dangerous enemies," she foretold Shun, "but you will also come face-to-face with allies." She looked at the petals and muttered, "A free-spirited girl, a cultured boy, and a child from the West."
"Anything else?" Shun asked her.
"Oh, um, nothing!" Kira told him with a smile.
"My journey may be dangerous, but that won't stop me from doing what I have to do," said Shun.
"I know," said Kira with a sad nod. They both said their goodbyes and Shun left the mountain. As she watched him leave, Kira couldn't help but feel a stabbing in her heart. Once he was out of sight, she got to her knees and cried.
After having left the mountain, Shun hesitated over the idea of saying goodbye to Zen. He knew that it would be bad manners to leave without saying goodbye to his sworn brother, so he eventually decided to go to the Juwan Estate to say farewell before leaving the city. But as he approached the gate, he was starting to have second thoughts. He knew the kind of person Zen was. If he were to say goodbye, Zen would try to convince him to stay. So instead of meeting his friend face-to-face, he decided to leave a message with the guards. When he was finished, he turned to leave. But before he could even take a single step, the gates opened. "Stop!" yelled out Zen, rushing out of the gate.
"Don't try to stop me, Zen," Shun told his friend.
"Even if I try to convince you to stay, I know that you'd only do that out of respect for our brotherhood," Zen replied. "But your heart tells you to go save your sister. And I won't stop you if that is what you want. But revenge—that's a dangerous sin to commit. I know that you're not the type of person to do that."
"Well then, you don't know me at all," said Shun with a scoff.
"Shun. I know you're angry. Your body is filled with rage and fury and you won't be able to let it all out until you nip this evil in the bud," said Zen.
"Then why stop me?!" yelled Shun. He turned around to face his friend with angry tears welling up in his eyes. "Why should I have to suffer at the expense of someone else? Why should anyone have to do that?! My actions are righteous and my heart is righteous, despite what demerits may come from my actions. The gods are watching me and my destiny is clear, but whether or not they accept me in heaven upon my death is not of my concern. I'll gladly take the hand of the devil if it means bringing justice to this unruly world."
"Shun, you told me that your favorite hero is Yujin Kazaki, didn't you? Would Yujin Kazaki do what you are doing right if he was in your shoes?!" cried Zen.
"I am not Yujin Kazaki," replied Shun with a scowl. "I had hoped that we would not have to say farewell with any bad blood forming between us. Before this gets any worse, I would still like to say farewell as brothers. Goodbye, Zen." He then turned back around and left.
Zen said no more and watched his friend leave with a look in his eyes that conveyed nothing but respect for his friend and their brotherhood. It wasn't until Shun was out of sight that he finally spoke. "Goodbye, my friend."
It has been more than three hours since Shun had left the city gates. The sun rays beat down on his face yet he didn't do anything to combat it. Instead, his stormy expression was enough to provide cover from the solar assault. His upturned lips, his stone-cold eyes, and his stiff jaw sent chills down the backs of everyone he passed on the road. Eventually, he walked alone down a path through a forest. He had chosen this path from the three-way crossroad just meters prior because of its apparent isolated nature.
The only sounds he heard as he marched through were the rustling of leaves, the calls of birds, the digging of rodents, and the distant hooves of deer. The forest canopy also provided him with cover from the sun, but that wasn't enough to wear down the expression he still sported. After about twenty more minutes of walking, the sound of his stomach stopped him. He rested underneath a nearby tree and slung off his travel sack. He opened it and brought out some snacks that Kira had prepared for him. As he unwrapped the tree leaves that kept them warm, his thoughts drifted to his sworn sister. "I give thanks to the lords above for this bounty," said Shun in prayer. "Thank you, Kira," he added in a whisper before eating.
The food brought back memories of his happier younger days with his friends. Each bite was accompanied with a happy episode. It was as if he was back with them and everything else that has happened recently was just a bad dream. When it came to the last few bites, the memories of his goodbyes flashed before his eyes. With a sigh, he gobbled up the last bite and got up to continue his journey.
Shun cleared the forest and came to the side of a dirt road. A carriage drawn by two horses stopped right in front of him. The carriage door opened and a short, stout man scrambled out of it. "Excuse me, sir, can you help me?" he asked Shun. The man's words took a moment to process in Shun's mind. His accent wasn't that strong, but it was clear that he was not a native of Iaro Province. At first, Shun was hesitant to help the man. But what was left of his original good-natured self got the better of him and he agreed to the man's request. "Oh thank you, oh thank you!" said the man with a cheerful laugh. He brought out a map from the inside of his robe and unfurled it so that Shun could see, too. "I am trying to get to Squire Village," explained the man. "Is this the right way?"
"Yes, it is," said Shun. "It will be about a half-day's trip from here."
"I see, I see!" laughed the man. "I'm a travelling merchant originally from Gold Peak Valley, the capital city of Gushitai Province. I have traveled down to the South and West Regions and recently came from the North Region. When I came back home, I decided to finish my travels by exploring all of the East Region. However, I do not even know where everything is! How shameful for a citizen of the East Region to not even know his own home!" The man laughed sheepishly at his own unfortunate ignorance. Shun didn't say anything in reply and simply smiled, though his smile had lost its usual shine, which was replaced with darkness and pity.
The merchant cleared his throat and asked, "Are you from Squire Village?"
"I…I used to be," Shun said after some hesitation.
"Used to be?" asked the merchant.
"Well, I never belonged there anyway," said Shun with a grim smile.
"Are you going somewhere?" asked the merchant.
'What's with this man?' thought Shun to himself. 'He should be more careful with his questions.'
"I can tell by the look in your eye that you are indeed going on a journey, aren't you?" said the man with a laugh.
Shun was a little taken aback by the man's scrutinizing eyes. "I'm going to the capital, Dokan," answered Shun.
"Do you know how to get there?" asked the man.
"N-No, not really," answered Shun honestly with a frown.
The man waved his map in front of Shun and said, "How about I give this to you? You can use it on your journey!"
"Are you serious?" asked Shun in surprise.
"Of course!" said the man with a nod. "However, it would have to wait for tomorrow. It appears that evening is upon us. There are no inns nearby, but I'm used to sleeping in the woods during my many travels."
Shun discovered that the man was right about the time. He hadn't even realized that the sun had set while they were talking. Although he didn't want to stop, he knew that trudging on forward at night would be dangerous, especially since he was travelling in foreign territory.
The man noticed the sword around Shun's waist and asked, "If it is at all possible, may I ask you to spend the night? I see that you carry with you a sword and can't help but to wonder if you are a hero! You see, being a merchant, I often carry valuable items. That also means that I am a constant target for bandits and thieves."
"I see," said Shun. With some hesitation, he eventually relented to acting as the man's bodyguard for the night. The man settled down next to a nearby tree and quickly drifted off to sleep. Shun stayed up for another hour or so before nodding off himself. He was only stirred awake by the sounds of scrambling feet and low whispering voices. He opened his eyes and saw two burly men in beige Zao and matching pants making off with his cloth sack. He immediately reacted and chased after them. "Stop!" he shouted.
He chased them back to the merchant's carriage and saw the merchant opening the carriage for them. When the merchant saw Shun, he flashed him a rat-like grin. Shun couldn't believe it; the merchant was a thief the entire time! 'So he was trying to get close to me so that he can lower my guard and steal my things!' realized Shun a little too late. He reached for his sword but saw that it, too, was taken from him. The merchant was now scrambling to get back inside the carriage. Enraged by this farce, Shun flipped in the air and landed right at the carriage door. With one strike of his palm, he blasted the door off its hinges. The impact knocked the merchant to the ground. Shun grabbed the merchant by the collar of his Kiso and inflicted fear upon him with his hunter's glare. This was the same look that he wore to convey his unrelenting confidence and hardened heart, yet, it was also a great weapon that inspires fear unto the hearts of others.
"Give it all back," Shun threatened the merchant.
"You're a fool for trusting me," said the merchant with a sly laugh. Despite this courageous act he was putting on, it was clear to Shun that the merchant was shaking at the knees in fear.
By now, the two burly men from before jumped out of the carriage and surrounded Shun from behind. Shun had no time to deal with this and threw the merchant to the ground. He then turned to face the two burly men. The men were armed with long sabers with wide blades. Shun didn't show any distress at all at having to fight two armed men with his own two hands. He simply flashed them the same look as before. The two men were a little scared at Shun's overwhelming confidence. With an exchanged of nods, the two men charged forward with their weapons.
Shun brilliantly sidestepped to dodge their weapons and threw a kick at the shin of one of them. The force with which he applied the kick was enough to break bone, which forced the struck bandit to drop his weapon in agony and hug his injured leg. The other bandit swung his saber wildly at Shun, who simply dodged each move with liquid movements that only enraged his opponent further. Using a textbook move, Shun slipped a hand underneath the weapon and grabbed the bandit's wrist. With a twist, he forced the bandit to drop the weapon. He then pulled the bandit towards him and struck the bandit flat in the chest with an open palm strike. The bandit gripped his chest and fell on his back.
Now that the big men were immobilized, Shun turned his focus to the merchant. The man was visibly shaking after having watched his men fall at the hands of the young man. With one step, Shun now stood in front of the merchant. He brought down his right hand and the merchant quickly held up his hands above his head in defense. Shun's hand, however, made its way to the merchant's robe and took out the map that was promised to him before. "I'll be taking this," Shun told the merchant.
The merchant was relieved to not have to suffer any grievous injury and nodded his head frantically. "Of course, of course! Take it, take it! You can have it!" he frantically said. Shun went back to retrieve his sack and sword. The merchant took this opportunity to run away, and he did so like a child seeking refuge from a monster.
Now that he was alone, Shun opened the map and analyzed its content under the shining moonlight. "It looks like it's going to be a few months journey," he said with a little sigh. Though he was a little downhearted that his destination was going to take more time to reach than he had anticipated, he was content with having a clearer picture of the trail he should take. "My next destination is Gushitai Province in the west," he told himself. He stored the map inside his sack and continued on with his journey as soon as dawn arrived.