( Journey begins:"4:"Sense of Omen )
The second day of demanding training arrived. Inside, the young warriors were deep in slumber, while outside, a thick, white shroud of snow covered the land. The dawn had yet to fully break; the soft flakes drifted down from the heavens, grazed the leaves of the trees, and silently melted into the earth.
The next grueling day had begun. To rouse the sleeping boys, the designated instructor another trainer stepped into the chamber.
He struck forcefully upon a large, circular gong he held in his hands. The deafening sound that erupted pierced the ears of every boy lying in their sleep.
Again and again, he rhythmically struck the gong, creating a clamor. Unable to bear the assault of the noise, all the young students started to rise from their disturbed rest.
The lack of complete sleep was evident on their faces. "Everyone, prepare for training immediately," he commanded them, before turning and departing the room.
Each boy, with heavy reluctance, rose from his cot and started moving towards the exit.
Haru had just risen from his bed and was about to head out. Suddenly, as if compelled by an instinct, he looked out through the nearby window.
Daylight had not yet broken; it was dark. Snowflakes floated down through the atmosphere, brushing against the trees and leaves before settling on the ground. He slowly extended his hand outside. The chilling cold of the air touched his skin, and he quickly pulled his hand back in.
"How are we supposed to train in this cold... these people must be insane..." muttered Sai, his voice thick with the anger of being abruptly woken, as he approached Haru.
Jinso, too, slowly joined their side.
All the boys, now clad in their training attire, descended into the courtyard of the training hall of the Dojo.
"How are they able to conduct training in this freezing cold?" Sai muttered to himself as he walked forward, his breath visible as mist in the frigid air.
"Sai... why are you so agitated?" Jinso inquired.
"We are just boys! Our training right now is merely physical conditioning. Why must they wake us up this early, and especially in this snow..." frustration simmered in his voice.
"Then when should the physical conditioning begin, Sai? We are young warriors. The training we are receiving now is for our physical and mental fortitude. Starting this early benefits our mind and health. It will serve you well in the rigorous training sessions to come, Sai," Haru said calmly, proceeding ahead.
All the young warriors took their places, sitting in a neat row on the cold floor of the dojo. They waited patiently for the arrival of their Sensei.
Into the space stepped Daisho, their revered Master. Seeing him, the boys immediately bowed their heads in deep respect.
"Firstly, I apologize for disturbing the sleep of each one of you at such an early hour," Daisho spoke, his voice firm and resonant. "You have not assembled here for rest or amusement. The purpose of your arrival your ultimate goal must always reside within you."
"In this second chapter of your training, today, at this hour, you shall commence with physical conditioning. For this, you will divide yourselves into three groups. You will then run, without stopping, fifty circuits around the path that encircles this very dojo. And you must complete this task before the last grain of sand passes through this vessel," he declared, placing a sand hourglass before them.
"Fifty circuits... without stopping?" Sai looked on in astonishment.
"You are, each of you, boys. But if you stand here in this training hall before me, then there is a difference in you. Fix your purpose in your mind and begin."
All the young warriors quickly divided themselves into three groups, aligning themselves in formation, ready to commence the ordeal.
Daisho set the hourglass in motion.
The boys began their run, starting with great vigor. However, as time wore on, weariness began to take hold of each one.
"Ah... ah... I cannot do it. No more!" Jinso and Sai stopped midway through a circuit.
Noticing their halt, Haru turned back.
"Jinso, Sai, the time will pass quickly, come!" He urged them to continue with him.
"We cannot, Haru. Look, we are already exhausted. It is impossible now," they responded, sinking down onto the ground.
"If you surrender by saying 'I cannot,' how will you secure your place among the ranks of the Samurai tomorrow? Remember the purpose for which you came here and act! Come!" Haru grabbed both their hands and began to run again, pulling them along without stopping.
The final moments of the Master's allotted time arrived. Barely able to place one foot in front of the other, they somehow ran and stumbled their way back toward the Master.
They were the first to reach Daisho's side. Seeing this, the Master walked towards them.
"Hmph... you have arrived slightly before the given time. Well done," the Master praised the three boys.
One by one, the rest of the young warriors slowly returned and entered the dojo.
The Master kept count of every returning student. Finally, of the last group of three expected boys, two had made it back.
The severely exhausted boys settled down onto the veranda. Realizing that one boy had not returned, Daisho approached the seated students.
"Where is the third among you?" the Master demanded.
It was then that they realized one of their companions was missing.
"Where...?" the Master asked again, his voice sharpening.
"Yin... he was right behind us, Master," the boys replied fearfully.
"Who instructed you to run separately?" The Master moved with an angry swiftness toward the outside.
It was then that Daisho noticed a change in the atmosphere of nature. A subtle shift, as if something ominous was about to occur.
"All of you, return to your rooms immediately," the Master commanded the boys, sensing something vital. He then stepped out into the surrounding grounds.
He and Daisho's aide began to search everywhere for the missing boy.
"Yin...! Yin...!"
The aide called out loudly.
"Master, where could the boy have gone...? Yin should have returned with the others," the aide said, still searching.
"He has not gone anywhere," the Master stated with certainty, walking forward, his aide following.
They arrived directly at the foot of the large tree. What they saw upon reaching it was Yin lying unconscious, slumped beneath the great tree.
The aide immediately rushed the boy up and carried him into the dojo. Daisho, however, remained rooted to the spot. A deep unease settled within him; he felt that something was not right. After standing there for a moment, Daisho also stepped inside and firmly shut the doors of the dojo.