Nestled between the crook of a mountain and a small town was a cave that led to an underground path. The underground path led to a small pool, one that was highly prized within certain martial artists as it had a great healing property to it when one bathed within it. There was an obelisk with magical abilities, magical abilities that many didn’t even fully comprehend even after generations of study, or lack thereof. There was also an underground waterfall. The water was cold, that was about it. Still, it’s a waterfall, so it was an integral part of martial arts, because that’s a thing. There were also an endless amount of tunnels where one’s senses would be of no use. No, one had to use their inner spirit, their ki, to guide them along the path, leading them on for what felt like several days, only to collapse and then awaken near the pool.

Each of these trained the various martial artists in the key aspects of martial arts. To train one’s will, mind, body, and heart. It was here they trained under their master’s long ago, and so the three have returned.

They appeared before the large mountain. Dragon stared up at it. It wasn’t here he wanted to come to, but considering everything that had happened to the group, he wanted to make sure they could actually head to the right mountain in order to do what originally set out to do.

It had taken weeks to arrive here, and the trio were still not at their best. They had yet to replenish their ki, and Dragon’s body was still slightly broken in that regard. Even with each passing day, the hole within him remained. He felt emptier and emptier, and he could feel his mind slowly slipping away. Most martial arts felt that way when they forced their awakenings to end before it even begun, and even those that went into exile could go deep into a madness due to it.

The cave was in front of them. A single step away, and there would be no turning back. Dragon paused for a moment, wondering if this was truly all wor-

Then Tiger sauntered in, yawning. Tiger always had a way of breaking up his thoughts, among other annoyances.

Dragon followed, with Wolf immediately behind him, and the four made their way to an open area inside. There were several paths within the mountain, this particular one was wide enough that three people could walk abreast, but the fall into the void dissuaded them.

Once they finally arrived at the large open space, a huge square where one could speak, or even fight if they didn’t mind the fact they may fall hundreds, if not thousands of feet down to their demise.

Their masters had never fought here, there was an arena further in that was larger than this, and one that was even smaller, neither of which were so terrifying to stand at the end since their drops were barely three hundred feet.

Dragon glanced around, remembering how his master had first taught him the technique of Dragon Rend. Of course, being the Black Calamity, he had taught Dragon how to do it by first using it on him. He had been berated by Wild Fang whilst Raging Tiger laughed at him.

It was a simpler time, a time before Raging Tiger met his demise by one of his closest friend’s hand, the all mighty Black Calamity who had no qualms killing whoever stood in his way.

Dragon threw a glance towards Tiger, who had sat down and then started to pull out a ration. It would be their last meal together for some time, for they would need to focus on their respective training.

“Tiger.” Dragon finally called out, taking a seat near him. Not quite in front of Tiger, a little ways off to the side. Then Wolf sat beside both of them, forming a triangle with their packs in the middle.

“Yeah?” Tiger called back, though Dragon could see Tiger had been anticipating this.

“I’m… I’m sorry.”

Tiger let out a sharp scoff, chuckling to himself. “You don’t have to be. It wasn’t you, and it wasn’t your fault.”

The fact that Dragon’s own mentor killed someone who Tiger had considered his father, even if they weren’t related by blood, gnawed at Dragon in his mind. The last time he had seen Tiger, before they recently met, was when Tiger was… in a state.

Tiger went from one loss to another in the span of moments. He had failed to protect someone dear to him, and he had lost his master soon after. Tiger’s self imposed retirement, or rather exile, was something that he felt partially responsible for, and he knew Wolf felt the same.

“We don’t need to talk about it.” Tiger said, eating the remaining bit of his food, a bird he had caught not long ago that they had cooked up.

“We should.” Dragon urged.

“We don’t need to.” Tiger dismissed him with a hand. “This is the way the world is. I don’t blame you, as much as I don’t blame Wolf for what his master had done either.”

Wolf winced a little. After all, not long before Raging Tiger met his demise, he had faced Wild Fang. The bout was an open secret, most knew about it, but no one talked about it.

What caused Raging Tiger to fight them was unknown to all but The Twelve, and even then only Black Calamity and perhaps even Wild Fang truly knew what occurred.

Dragon and Wolf exchanged a glance with one another.

“So, you guys gonna eat those birds?” Tiger asked, licking his fingers clean.