Volume 1: Arc 1: Chapter 6

AUTHOR'S NOTE

The book Rajac speaks of is the Four Forms of the Ventros Sword Style

15 R.E. – 20 R.E.

Rajac was genuinely worried when Thron disappeared that day. As he looked for him within the valley, he felt even more strongly that Thron had met some ill-fated end while Rajac prepared his lunch.

It was rare, but known to happen, a stray monster would enter the mouth of the valley. When this occurred, Uncle Narl or father would pelt the creature with arrows until it left, looking for easier prey, or died from its wounds.

Not finding any trace of Thron, Rajac spent the next few days outside of the valley searching for the man. He ventured deeper down the mountain than he had ever before as he was willing to go to great lengths for the man who had given him his Sadat.

But, alas, Rajac was unable to find any trace of him. Reluctantly, after a week of searching, Rajac gave the matter up, hoping Thron was safe, wherever he had gone.

The next few days, after Rajac stopped searching for Thron, he began to attempt to figure out how the Sadat worked. Thron claimed these stones were used often and so, Rajac concluded, they must be easy to use.

His first attempt at using the Sadat turned out rather well, depending on your point of view. Instead of using a tree-branch, Rajac used the sword Thron had given him instead. When he made the first step in the Cadence, he attempted to will a wall of earth to shield his flank.

Instead, a giant mountain of dirt soared into the sky, tearing up the roots of the towering oaks fifty paces wide, with him at the epicenter. After some careful tinkering, he realized the force of the thought helped to modify the strength of the magic. As he had reservations about whether his attempt would actually work, he thought much harder than he needed to create a geyser-like explosion of dirt, rather than a wall. Furthermore, he thought that his race’s affinity with earth might have overcharged the magic much more than was usual.

Over the next few weeks, Rajac began to interweave Earth Elemental Magic into the Cadence of Jin. Every step he took, he threw up a wall of dirt to cover his back. Then, just as he took his next step, he sunk the wall back into the ground and threw up another wall just behind him. By the fourth month of interweaving elemental magic, he had mastered the Cadence of Jin.

It was an ultimate defense. Truly. While the Cadence of Jin, without the use of elemental magic, was a one-on-one defensive form. The Cadence, with elemental magic, was a one-versus-many form. While Rajac concentrated on a singular opponent, the wall of earth protected him against all the others. If Rajac defeated one opponent, he could alter his next step to face the next opponent while throwing up a wall to defend against the rest. This tactic could be used to face multiple opponents, all at the same time.

At 14, he began to learn the second form of the Ventros Sword Style, Martyr’s Fallacy, and his mother became pregnant. It was, once again, a time of joy for the Rashak household. Rajac spent a little more time in the house, helping his mother, and a little less time training.

Martyr’s Fallacy was quite different from the Cadence of Jin. While the Cadence was defensive in nature, Martyr’s Fallacy was offensive. He had attempted to practice Martyr’s Fallacy at the same time as the Cadence; however, he found he had even more trouble completing the steps for this form than the Cadence so he gave it up until a later date.

Now though, Rajac found he was able to understand the form much more clearly than before. He was not lacking only in footwork but the fact that each form interwove elemental magic into it. Martyr’s Fallacy used fire elemental magic to augment each thrust. While each step in the Cadence was in response to an opponent, the Fallacy attempted to make an opponent respond to you. Therefore, just as the Cadence had a million variations so too did Martyr’s Fallacy.

As Rajac attempted to master Martyr’s Fallacy, he interwove Fire Elemental Magic into the form. Perhaps due to this, he was able to master the Fallacy faster than he mastered the Cadence. When he mastered up to the seventeenth step out of the thirty-five within the form, his little sister Nisa was born.

It was one of the happiest times in Rajac’s new life. While Dadras’ birth was marked by the same feeling, it was marred by Grandfather Yorin’s illness. This time, there was no calamitous event that intentionally spread ill will.

As the months and later years passed, Rajac trained his body and mastered Martyr’s Fallacy. Rajac worked himself well past exhaustion every day. Now that Nisa had been born, his mother had to spend a lot more of her time with Nisa than with her own daily chores.

Though Rajac’s father helped, Rajac took on most of the burden. On average, his daily chores took him from early in the morning to mid-evening without break, yet, he remained vigilant in his training.

His family and his race were the two most important things within his life. By helping one, he helped the other. So, Rajac welcomed the exhaustion and he was rewarded for his hard work.

By the time he turned 16, he had mastered Martyr’s Fallacy and he had increased his stamina, strength, and dexterity greatly from when he was a child. While his strength could be considered to be that of a fit human, Rajac was able to run 8 miles each morning while his dexterity proved to be monstrously quick in relation to the speed and skill he demonstrated when performing the two forms he had mastered.

Rajac decided years ago, when he mastered Martyr’s Fallacy, he would not attempt to learn the other two forms yet. As he studied his book, a daily ritual, he had realized the forms were not only a grouping of four, but had sub-groups as well. The first two forms, the Cadence of Jin and Martyr’s Fallacy, were to be used in concert with each other. The Cadence and Fallacy could be used to attack and defend at the same time, driving an opponent into a corner while defending against a mass of opponents at the same time. And when Rajac mastered the ability to use all four forms in concert, he would be a true master of the Ventros Sword Style.

But as Rajac melded the first two forms together, he found that he was tiring of life in the valley. He had no complaints about life at home nor the chores he was given but an ache had begun to grow behind his breast.

He wanted to see the world of Thantos. So far, he’d seen no more than a couple dozen miles of it’s landscape. Furthermore, he needed to search for the rest of the Ventros to protect his future.

Even though he yearned to leave the valley, his heart ached when he thought of abandoning his family here. He loved both his mother and father even though they could truly be stubborn in their ways and he was even fonder of his little sister, Nisa, whom had begun to watch his training over the last few years with avid fascination.

For the next two years, he trained with a heavy heart as he melded the two forms together, interweaving both elements and steps of each form. Just after Rajac reached the age of 18, he had come to the conclusion that his mastery of the first sub-grouping of the Ventros Sword Style was complete.

With a solemn look out into the clearing that had become his training ground, he turned back towards the farm to tell his family his intentions.

It was only a short walk back to the main house and with his heart as cold as ice he opened the weather-worn wooden door to his family’s modest home.

As he entered the living area, he saw his father sitting in an iron-clawed chair carving while his mother sat with Nisa in her lap sewing one of Rajac’s old training shirts. He could tell by the numerous holes in the front and back of the shirt.

“Father, mother.” Rajac addressed them as he entered. “Rajac?” Aiken said surprised, looking up from his carving. A small pile of wood shavings lay littered near his feet. “You finished your training early today.”

After a second when Rajac said nothing, his father looked alarmed. “What’s the matter? Is something wrong?” “Rajac…Rajac” Nisa called from his mother’s lap. She was half-asleep and was holding her arms out as if wanting for him to carry her. Almost five, Nisa was still young enough where she would know something was wrong but not yet unable to understand it.

So, Rajac ignored her calls, letting her remain asleep, and said to his father, “I’ve decided it’s time I look for the rest of our race father.” Aiken flicked his eyes towards where Rajac’s mother and Nisa sat. “Tai, is this the first you’ve heard of this.” “Yes.” Tai Rashak said. She was a quiet woman; though, when she spoke, others could not help but listen. There was a gravity to her voice that could quiet crowds, entice lovers, and even enflame soldiers.

“But I think this has been on his mind for some time. You’ve seen the way he has been acting. Usually he has that silly grin on his face when he goes off to train, but recently, he’s been quiet solemn as he leaves every day.”

Rajac was surprised his mother saw so much. Even Rajac had not known that he’d changed that much. “Rajac,” his father sighed, placing his carving knife on the wooden floor gently, “You aren’t ready. It’s dangerous outside the valley. You’re what? Only 18. You’re still too young. Wait a few more years and then go search. If there are any of our race out there in the world, they will still be there in a couple years.”

“Father,” Rajac said softly. He knew his father would attempt this course of action upon him; however, Rajac had made up his mind. “I’ve already mastered the first two forms of the Ventros Sword Style. They are both strong. I’ve seen the travelers who have entered the valley from time to time and by judging their strength I believe I am equals with most of them.”

“But you said that the Ventros Sword Style requires magic which you cannot use.” There was a question in his father’s statement but Rajac had no wish to answer it. He had told his parents about Thron and the gift of the sword but not about the magic qualities of the Sadat imbedded in it’s pommel. Like his Client status, his attempts at practicing magic had become a topic that was rarely discussed in the Rashak household.

Rajac, not wanting to invoke his father’s wrath, neglected to tell both of his parents that he had successful interwoven elemental magic into his forms. Therefore, Rajac remained silent as his father continued to look at him questioningly. “But since you can’t,” Aiken continued, “you’ll be much weaker than many who live outside this valley.” “Father,” Rajac said firmly, “I already told you I am their equal.”

While it was the truth, without his magic, he was their lesser. But he had magic, thus, Rajac was their equal. While Rajac had lied by omitting all the relevant facts, he believed it was necessary; therefore, he felt only a small portion of guilt for deceiving his father. If he wasn’t so stubborn, Rajac thought. But no, Aiken Rashak would always be the same man and if he knew Rajac had been using magic behind his back, there would be no way he would ever let Rajac leave.

“Rajac, when you leave, you must remember to return soon. Otherwise, Nisa will grow up without her big brother.” Tai Rashak said a warm smile on her lips. “Mother?” Rajac said surprised just as Rajac’s father hissed “Tai!” in a hoarse whisper. Both were shocked that she came down on Rajac’s side. Usually, she agreed with his father on most everything.

“Of course. We all knew this day would come.” She said in a matter-of-fact manner, all the while, a small smile played on her lips. “Your father just wanted to postpone it as long as possible; however, I am more pragmatic than he.” Tai shot Aiken a playful look which he returned with a flabbergasted one.

“But what about his strength? Without magic he is weaker than many of the races in the world!” Aiken said exasperated. “If Rajac says he is strong enough, I believe him. Now, I expect a proper goodbye before you leave.” Tai said as she turned to Rajac, ignoring slackjawed Aiken. “We will all have to prepare for your departure, so don’t plan to run off too soon.”

“I won’t.” Rajac said, nodding his head in acquiesce. “Thank you, mother, father.” Rajac said softly; however, his heart was already beating a thousand times a minute as he turned from the room, already preparing to pack his things.

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