Volume 1: Arc 1: Chapter 5

AUTHOR'S NOTE

There is, at most, one more training chapter. Bear with me!

11 R.E. – 15 R.E.

Grandfather Yorin died that winter. The disease that had ravaged him for years finally caught him in the end. While it dawned on his body like a parasitic worm, it never took the love of life from his eyes.

While Rajac grieved for his grandfather, he knew death was a part of life, except for the lucky few who cheated death through Renewal Eternal. Rajac did not become depressed by his death like so many do during such times, instead he found light in the memories of his grandfather. Memories he would cherish along the same note as those he had with Carolyne.

Rajac continued his training through the winter and into the spring. By summer, he was able to complete the first fourteen movements of the Cadence of Jin to perfection. Every month or so, he progressed. While it was minimalistic, Rajac was content to train in peace. He could not rush to understand the forms. When he first began on this path, Rajac thought with enough effort, he could master all the forms. His grandfather thought practice was the way to mastering the forms. That was true, in a way, however, they also required understanding.

The Cadence of Jin, for example, began with a single step; however, the step had many different variations. After much consideration, Rajac had to conclude that every step in the Cadence was in reaction to an opponent. Thus, the first step was in reaction to an opponent’s movement, as well as every other step in the form. Therefore, there were millions of variations of the Cadence.

Understanding this, it had become easier to master the steps in the Cadence. Although, it was still a grueling process that required extreme dedication on his part. Not much changed in the valley until that summer.

While Rajac began to understand the Cadence, he did not notice the brewing tension between his family. It all came to a head early in the summer when Uncle Narl put down one of the older cows without asking Rajac’s father first. A simple act but the tension between the families had reached a boiling point and now that Grandfather Yorin was gone, there was no one to keep the peace.

Akain and Narl nearly came to blows in the yard over the matter and the next week Rajac’s aunt and uncle took Dadras and moved to the small province of Thekanur in the kingdom of Azor.

Rajac could not stop them; however, he promised himself, when he mastered the forms, he would search them out while he searched for the rest of the Ventros race and bring them back to the valley by persuasion or any other means at his disposal.

Time passed and the valley remained as serene as always. Rajac’s father and mother began to intentionally forget there ever had been another sect of the Rashak Clan living in the valley. Instead, they began devote their whole attention to their son.

However, he had not forgotten his aunt, uncle, and cousin. It was one of the many things that drove him forward in his goal to master the forms. By the time he was eleven, Rajac could complete the Cadence of Jin without any apparent faults.

Even as he swung his tree-branch and moved in a quicker than humanly possible way, he became increasingly disturbed by a nagging feeling that the form was not complete. He studiously read his small book looking for minute infractions, yet, he found none.

Everything was perfect. His stance, his footwork, and his sword-arm all acted in unison to defend from an opponent. But it was not a complete Ventros Sword Form. He pondered the problem for days-on-end, refusing sleep in his pursuit of the mastery of the form.

For hours, he practiced the form. Moving slowly through the steps like it was a dance; however, no insights came to him. Frustration nearly overwhelmed him at points but he never gave in.

After what must have been the thousandth time he went through the whole form, he had a thought. More of an inkling but it was all he had. The character sheet said the Ventros had an affinity to the earth and fire elements. If that was true, then surely the forms would include them as well.

However, he had no idea how magic worked in Thantos nor did his mother and father. Frankly, they had never even heard the fact that Ventros could even use magic or had an affinity to it. Apparently, not all the races could use it.

By the time Rajac turned 12, he was out of ideas. He knew that magic was the way to complete the form. It was the only option.

Incongruously, though, Rajac was no closer to completing the form. At least, in the sword forms, Rajac had a head start. He knew how a sword was supposed to operate and the purpose of the steps within the Cadence; however, he had no idea how to create magic.

He tried all the old ideas he learned in his past-life about magic. Praying, chanting, believing, letting blood. Nothing worked. The letting blood idea was particularly bad. His parents found him in the barn covered with gashes on both of his arms as he mediated attempting to feel the earth. Naturally, it did not go over well when he explained the purpose.

To dissuade him from ever trying something that foolish again, they heaped even more chores upon him. Though, Rajac thought it was probably necessary as Uncle Narl had picked up a lot of the work when Grandfather Yorin fell ill.

Rajac continued to train and practice his forms; however, he kept attempts to use magic hidden from his parents. While they knew he was probably continuing his attempts, they chose not to accuse him of going against their wishes without proof.

Life stayed the same until Rajac was 13. It was summer time and Rajac was in the eastern field harvesting wheat. A small barrow, rusted with age, stood full to the brim with his work as he heaved load after load of wheat into the barrow.

When it was full, Rajac stood, his back sore from the constant bending over. A sheen of sweat dampened his whole body as he lugged the barrow back towards the granary on the far eastern slope of the valley.

Muscles bulged under the white cotton of his shirt. While he had not been able to improve the Cadence of Jin within the last year, he had increased his strength and stamina training and it had an impressive effect on his body. Rajac believed that even in his past-life, he never had a body as fit as the one he had now.

Once Rajac arrived at the granary, he pulled the barrow in after him, storing the contents of the barrow on the top-shelf. It would have to have preservatives added at a later date but he thought they would have more than enough wheat to last straight through the next year.

As he closed the door to the granary, leaving the barrow inside, a shout from the eastern entrance into the valley caused Rajac to instinctively move into the first step of the Cadence of Jin. Rajac looked for the source. An older man wearing a cotton tunic and pants covered by a knee-length travel cloak, a short-word on his hip and carrying a pack stood at the entrance to the valley, a hand raised overhead in greeting.

Rajac stayed in his defensive posture as the man approached. Apparently, the man did not notice Rajac’s stance and casual walked up to him. When he was twenty paces out, the man called out, “Hello there!”

Rajac eyed the man closer. He had an ovular face with a variety of different colored whiskers intermixing between white and black growing on his face. A human! Rajac thought in surprise. There were very few of them that passed through the Western Territories. They were usually too weak. At least, that’s what most of the travelers told Rajac as they snorted in disdain.

Rajac stood straight, crossing his arms. While he felt no threat from this man, Rajac still had to be wary. Anyone who could make it to the valley was either a very dangerous individual or a very lucky individual.

“Who are you?” Rajac said coldly. The man’s lips quirked as he walked closer. “I might ask the same. A child in the Western Territories? Who would have thought such a thing?” The man chuckled heartily as he approached.

“My family has lived here for centuries. Even the most adventurous of the races don’t come here willingly.” “Ha. That’s the truth.” The man said as he dropped his sack on the ground with a thump.

“Name’s Thron.” He said reaching out a hand in greeting. Hesitantly, Rajac did the same. “Rajac.”

Thron bent down opening his back and pulled out a thick slab of roasted meat. Rajac opened his eyes wide in surprise. Meat was rare in the valley. They had to subsist off of fruit and vegetables and the occasional cow when it became old as it was too dangerous outside of the valley to hunt.

Tearing off a chunk, Thron gobbled it in his mouth then wiped it with a sleeve. Turning to Rajac, he said, with another quirk of his lips, “You want some?” Rajac, once again hesitated. Could Thron be trying to poison him? But no, he already ate part of it.

Rajac nodded vigorously and Thron handed him a rather large piece. It was good. Salty and sweet at the same time with just the right amount of juice. As he ate, Rajac began to warm to the man. While it could be said it was not all due to the food, it mostly was with the tiniest smidgen concerning the man’s obvious quirks.

“How did you make it all the way out here?” Rajac asked curiously as he ate the meat. “Oh that?” Thron said, a curious expression on his face. “Luck, I guess. I’m not really that strong and the magic I possess is tiny in comparison with most in the region.”

Rajac nearly dropped the meat he was carrying as his face lit up in surprise. Breathe, damn you, breathe. Closing his eyes, he collected himself. “You have magic?” Rajac said neutrally. “Naturally. Don’t you?” Thron asked confused. “Well, no. I was told only certain races have magic.” Rajac said flustered.

Thron pulled out his short-sword from his belt. Turning it hilt first towards Rajac, Thron said, “See here,” Thron pointed to a small green stone inset into the hilt. “This is a Sadat. Those who are unable to use magic use these stones for magical purposes. They never fail and never wear out; however, they are common enough to where you can buy them rather cheaply in any major city. I guess that all the way out here you never heard of them.”

“No.” Rajac said, shaking his head, still stunned. “Never. I wish I had. I would have gone to a city and bought one. It would have been very useful.” “Don’t.” Thron said seriously, setting his jaw. “I was lucky in even making it this far but you would be more than helpless outside this valley.” Rajac thought there was some sense that and agreed with the man.

Thron looked down at the sword frowning as if considering a deeply concerning problem. “Have it.” He said finally. “What?” Rajac asked confused. “Have the sword.” Thron said proffering the hilt. “It’s more use to you than me.”

Rajac felt a surge of shock and greed almost overpower him as he thought of snatching the sword away from the old man. “But surely you need it?” Rajac asked instead as he grit his teeth before he said anything he would regret later. “No.” Thron said solemnly. “I was never much of a sword fighter and I have two more Sadats that will help me on this journey.”

Rajac could not believe the turn of events as he finally accepted the proffered sword with outstretched arms. A pained look crossed Thron’s face as he stood there awkwardly for a moment. “Hrm.” Thron cleared his throat. “Do you mind if I stay in the valley tonight. Here will be fine. I just need a night’s rest and I’ll be off.”

“Yes. I believe it’s appropriate considering this gift.” Rajac said, still staring at the sword in awe. “Thank you for your gracious hospitality.” Thron said, bowing slightly, a smile playing on his lips.

“I’ll go make some lunch for you while you’re here and you can tell me more about the Sadat and perhaps the outside world?” Rajac tacked the question on the end. Thron nodded and said, “I’ll be here.”

Rajac rushed off and cobbled together a quick lunch for the both of them; however, when he returned, Thron had gone. The only thing that remained of his visit was the sword Rajac now carried on his belt.

~

Thron the Historian walked merrily through the exit to the valley on the top of Creva Mountain. He had found the Ventros after all these years of searching. And when he had seen that boy perform the first step to the Cadence of Jin so expertly, his heart nearly jumped into his throat.

However, it looked as if there were very few of them left. He had hoped that they would have a bustling community as they hid in seclusion all these centuries. But it looked as if all the assassinations and wars caught up to the once mighty race. The few who remained appeared to be farmers by the wide fields percolating the curved landscape of the valley.

But that boy, Rajac, he could rise to be another Balzar with footwork like that at his age. My gods, how incredible. And maybe, just maybe, he could overcome the barriers of the Sadat like Balzar did as well. Time would tell.

Soon, perhaps, he would tell the world of the Ventros’ return. But not just yet. That boy had to become what Thron hoped he would be; otherwise, the Ventros could very well become the next race to die off.

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