The destruction of the Iron-Tusk had left a scar on Oakhaven, but it had also forged a bond. While the "Ordinary" folk worked tirelessly to rebuild Konja's cart—using the obsidian-like scales of the fallen beast to reinforce the frame—the trio knew they couldn't stay. The Vane family's influence was closing in like a tightening noose, and the Iron Spire Academy would soon send more than just invitations."If you want to survive Kalia Frost," Garam said, standing at the village gates the following dawn, "you need more than raw Prana. You need the Five Flavors of Combat. Our ancestors didn't just fight; they mastered the elements of the kitchen to dominate the battlefield."He handed Konja a map made of aged cured leather. "Go to the Temple of the Five Spices in the Salt-Flats of Galmar. Find the monk known as Shor the Savory. He's the last keeper of the Munka martial scrolls."The Salt-Flats of GalmarThe journey took four days. The lush greens of Oakhaven faded into a blinding white expanse of salt crust that crunched like broken glass under their boots. The heat was relentless, shimmering off the ground in waves that played tricks on the eyes."Is it just me, or is the ground... spicy?" Renzo muttered, wiping sweat from his forehead. His Leaf-Blight, usually vibrant green, had turned a dusty olive color to conserve moisture."It's the Searing Salt," Mina explained, consulting a small compass. "The earth here is saturated with Fire-Element Prana. It's why nothing grows, but it's also why the martial artists of the old world came here to toughen their skin."Suddenly, the white horizon was broken by a figure. A girl, perhaps a year older than Konja, was sprinting across the salt flats. She wasn't running from anything; she was chasing something. She wore bright orange wraps and had a shock of short, spiky blonde hair.Behind her trailed a Crest-Mon that looked like a large, round bird made of golden dough, which occasionally emitted puffs of steam."Out of the way! Out of the way!" she yelled.She leaped into the air, performing a triple-flip. "Ginger-Snap Kick!"Her foot connected with a floating, translucent Salt-Wraith that had been stalking the trio from the shadows. The monster shattered into a thousand crystals. She landed perfectly, her eyes—bright and full of mischief—landing on Konja."You're the Silver-Eye kid!" she shouted, pointing a finger at him. "I'm Tali Ginger, and I've been tracking you since you left the woods! My family's been waiting for a Munka to show up for three generations!"The Guardian of the TempleTali led them to a structure that looked less like a temple and more like a massive, hollowed-out stone oven built into the side of a salt-cliff. This was the Temple of the Five Spices.Inside, the air was cool and smelled intensely of peppercorns and dried citrus. Sitting cross-legged in the center of the hall was a man who looked like he was made of polished bronze. His eyes were closed, and a massive, six-tailed Crest-Mon—a Cinnabar-Ape—sat behind him, mimicking his meditation."So," the man said, his voice echoing like a gong. "The son of Garam returns to the salt. I am Shor. And I see you've brought a scouting party.""We're here for the scrolls, Master Shor," Konja said, bowing low. Zale mimicked the bow, nearly toppling over.Shor opened his eyes. They were a deep, burnt amber. "The scrolls are earned, not given. The Munka-Style is divided into five pillars: Salt (Structure), Acid (Agility), Bitter (Endurance), Sweet (Flow), and Umami (Balance)."He stood up, the Cinnabar-Ape rising behind him, its presence so heavy that Renzo's Leaf-Blight hissed in warning."You have one week before the moon turns crimson," Shor said. "Tali will be your sparring partner. She has mastered the Spice-Fist. If you can't land a single hit on her by sunset, you leave without the scrolls."The Training of the First PillarThe training was brutal. Tali was unlike anyone Konja had ever fought. She didn't use the rigid forms of the Oakhaven guards. She moved like a flickering flame—unpredictable, stinging, and fast."Too slow, Silver-Eye!" Tali laughed, blurring past Konja and delivering a palm-strike to his ribs that felt like a burst of chili-oil. "Your Salt-Structure is weak! You're standing like a cook, not a mountain!"Konja climbed to his feet, gasping. "Zale... we need to stabilize. Don't push the Prana out. Pull it into the ground."Zale chirped, digging his tiny claws into Konja's shoulders. They tried to anchor themselves, but Tali was relentless. She was a master of Acid-Agility, her movements designed to melt through any defense.Mina and Renzo weren't idle either. Shor had them training in the "Pressure Pot"—a chamber filled with high-density Prana where they had to hold their combat stances for hours."Focus, Mina!" Renzo grunted, his muscles trembling. "If Konja is the blade, we have to be the whetstone!"Mina's hands glowed with a soft pink light as she tried to weave her scouting ribbons into a defensive web. "I'm trying! But the gravity here is... it's like lead!"A Spark of RecognitionBy the third day, Konja was covered in bruises, and his gi was white with salt-dust. He sat by a small fire that night, watching Tali share some of her "Ginger-Cakes" with Zale."Why are you helping us, Tali?" Konja asked.Tali looked at the moon, her playful demeanor softening. "The Iron Spire didn't just target your family, Konja. They've been buying up all the independent temples. They want to turn martial arts into a business. My dad... he refused to sell. Now he's 'missing.' If you win the tournament, you get a seat on the High Council. You can stop them."Konja looked at her, then at his friends. He realized the stakes were higher than just a food cart or a family name. This was a war for the soul of their world."Tomorrow," Konja said, his silver eyes flashing briefly. "I'm landing that hit."The BreakthroughThe next morning, as the sun broke over the salt-flats, Konja didn't take his usual Low-Tiger stance. Instead, he stood perfectly still, his arms hanging at his sides."Giving up?" Tali asked, dropping into her Spice-Fist stance."No," Konja said. "I'm just listening to the recipe."Tali lunged, her fist a blur of orange heat. "Ginger-Snap: Flash-Point!"But Konja didn't move away. He moved into the strike. He used the Salt-Pillar technique he'd been visualizing—not to block the blow, but to absorb the momentum into his frame.The hit landed on his shoulder with a thud, but Konja didn't budge. He felt the vibration travel through his body and into the ground. At that exact moment, Zale let out a high-pitched frequency that harmonized with the strike."Got you," Konja whispered.He pivoted, his hand moving in a slow, circular motion—the Sweet-Flow. He caught Tali's wrist and, using her own momentum, spun her around. With a gentle tap of his palm against her back, he sent a tiny pulse of blue Prana through her armor.Tali stumbled forward, eyes wide. She turned around, a massive grin breaking across her face."Aha! You did it! You used a Counter-Flow!"Shor emerged from the temple shadows, holding two ancient, silk-wrapped cylinders. "You have learned the first two pillars. Salt and Sweet. Structure and Flow. You are no longer just a cook, Konja Munka. You are a Disciple of the Hearth."He handed the scrolls to Konja. "But be warned. The Bitter and the Acid pillars are harder to swallow. And the Umami... that, you must find for yourself."As they prepared to head back toward Oakhaven for the tournament, a dark shape crossed the sun. A massive, mechanical bird made of iron and steam descended from the sky. On its back stood a group of men in the black-and-gold uniforms of the Vane Family Guard."Konja Munka!" the leader shouted through a megaphone. "By order of the High Council, you are under arrest for the illegal use of Bloodline Techniques. Surrender, or the Temple of the Five Spices will be reduced to ash!"Konja looked at the scrolls, then at his friends, and finally at Tali, who had already pulled a pair of spiked tonfas from her belt."I think," Konja said, his voice cold and steady, "it's time to show them how we handle the heat."
