3.
The Sea was just a coined name for the fortress. It spoke more of the tranquility it exhumed than a physical sea. Along our paths there were fascinating sights to behold. Ranging from flowing fountains to Walls with moving creatures. I took a short glance at one of the creatures and he just shape shifted to a Penguin. I was already in love with this place. We highlighted from our horse before a building that could pass for a palace. The artwork is so captivating I could stare at it all day. Wei Chen literally dragged me away from where I stood with my eyes fixed on the magnificent work of art.
"Zhen,you must get ready,we start practice tonight!' He said 'What practice?' I quizzed. 'There's a threat to the fortress. I need your help to win the battle against the North ' Wei Chen said(sounded more like a plea,I thought!) 'Help? Battle? The North? I don't understand any bit of what you are saying! Where am I? Who are you? How can I help you? I don't even know how to lift a sword!' I screamed. Wei Chen tried calming me down ' I'll explain later but for now...' while he was still talking,I had a panick attack. Every sound became sometimes too distant or unbelievably loud. I saw flashes of lights moving around so fast, I couldn't bare to keep my eyes open.
My eyes were opened to see Wei Chen beside me tending to me with about twenty helps(all warriors and all female). I squinted my eyes to confirm the numbers. 'Wei Chen!' I shouted as though he was not standing right in my front. 'Ahhh! Good thing you can recognise me. Are you calm now. There's a lot of things to be explained,but just follow my instructions and you'll be fine.' I could feel the empathy in his voice and it was so soothing. 'I just nodded. I was too tired mentally to start or win an argument. 'So,follow these ladies and do as you are told.'
The ladies were four in number. They were dressed in sea Blue armoured clothing. They had silver wrist bands on their legs and arms about 10 c.m long. Their hair was packed in bonds and they looked so beautiful and fearful at the same time. In a manner similar to a procession, they ushered me out of the building into a cave like hut. The outer markings of the hut were so scary I could bare sustain a gaze. It opened of it accord and lights came on at our presence. It was a beauty to behold.
' I am Cheng fu, leader of the third order of the House of Flaming Lights. I will be your trainer in martial art and in unlocking your powers from the first level to the tenth level of the House of Golden Sceptre that you belong to.' the most beautiful of the four explained. 'Shin Fei! Reveal your aspect to her' she commanded. 'I am to instruct you on mind coordination. There are seven levels of coordination,if you scale up to the fifth level,you will be setting a new record. The last champion could not complete the fifth level' My mind was racing with different possibilities. I asked cautiously 'I take it you are not on the fifth level either,why would I bother to aim that high.' You do not know the power that the holder of the fifth to seventh mind sceptre commands. If you do,you will die trying to get it!' This was the voice of one of two that haven't been introduced to me yet. 'Not everyone is you! Not everyone desires power for the reasons you seek it!' Shin Fei rained on her.
'Enough!' echoed Cheng Fu. 'Kim Beomi kindly introduce yourself to our trainee' 'I am to take you on the crafting of weapons and in mastering their use.' Kim Beomi muttered angrily. Little wonder she gets irritated easily. ' While you are here, I, Wei Feng, will be in charge of your welfare and help you settle into our culture.' 'I am grateful for having you all, impact such wealth of knowledge in me.' I said unsure of what my response should be. 'You are most welcome. Rest now,your training begins tomorrow' Cheng Fu said while giving Shin Fei and Kim Beomi a knowing look. Immediately, they made an exit befitting for royalty.
'Wake up,chosen one' a voice startled me out of my sleep. 'Take a bath and meet me at the training ground' Kim Beomi echoed. I never knew it was morning already. My body needed that rest and more and I am grateful I got to sleep a little. I thought a bit about Kim Beom's statement and said to myself 'Chosen One'. 'Again!'. It became obvious they were not joking and I really needed brace myself up for what's ahead. Wei Feng showed up beside me suddenly. ' I've prepared your bath,take a quick shower,there's a whole day of sparring ahead of you' I stood up and followed her direction to the bath area,the tub was filled with sweet scented flowers. There was honey and milk to use as a scrub and moisturiser respectively. After the bath,I wore the training clothes I was given and got ready to spar(whatever that means)
On the field I saw different arrays of Warriors of the different order and Houses. There were four Harems. And each had three orders. House of the Cumin Sword, House of the Velvet Crest, House of the Golden Sceptre and House of the flaming Lights. These represented different elements of the earth. They were all dressed in blue,red,gold and white armoured clothing. In each Harem,the order was clearly marked out in standing arrangements and in the difference in their amours. The first order was the lowest ranked and their breastplate was plain and their sashes were single coloured without extra markings. The second order had breastplates with markings of gold all around it and their sashes were marked with the same and was multicoloured. The third order,which is the highest ranking had three stones attached to the shoulder of their breastplate plates with the perculiarity of the second order too. Also,their outfit differed by their Harems.
'Zhen!' I followed the familiar voice and to my relief it was Wei Chen. I made to run to him and I saw that some Warriors of the first order formed a barricade round the arena so much so I couldn't take a foot outside it. ' Best of luck!' he shouted,as he made his way through the crowds to a vantage point where we could see each other fair enough. 'You are to unlock your inner energy and gain entrance into your full potentials! Cheng Fu declared. I looked up and saw Kim Beomi standing to face me,with only a foot distance between us. 'You may begin! An umpire said and boom,did it I feel the first blow to my abdomen. I blacked out.