5 years later- Ken - 14, Leo - 15, Juliet- 14, Izumi-14, Underclassmen-12 to 13
The wooden doors slid open as Ken entered, panting hard. The whole class stopped what they were doing and whipped their heads to the entrance. Whispers spread like wildfire across the dojo.
"It must be nice to have a famous older brother and be the teacher's favorite," a voice said among the whispers slightly louder than the rest.
The class clown and #1 slacker, Ken Noryev.
Sensei Xiao facepalmed, "Ken, you're late on the last day!"
Ken scratched his head, "Sorry, Sensei… my alarm didn't go off."
Sensei Xiao glared at him and then shook his head, "Take a seat, we're doing a final review before you all join the war effort. Hopefully, your head stays on through the first day."
The class erupted in laughter.
Sensei Xiao whips his head to the class," That goes double for all of you. All it takes is one misplay on the battlefield, and your life is gone. Ken has been training since he was 9 years old. He's farther ahead than most of you."
That silenced the laughter buzz immediately. Reality seemed to set in the young teenager's eyes that today might be the last day of being kids.
"Class, remind me what Qi is?"
Izumi stood up, "Sensei, Qi is the cosmic energy flowing within our bodies from one dantian to the next meridian gate. Everyone in this world has a unique Qi signature, like a frequency unique to them. When one awakens as an elemental, they gain control and their elemental affinity based on that signature, which is heavily
influenced by bloodline."
Sensei nodded softly, "As expected from our class rep. Now, someone else, what is Tao?"
Nobody raised their hands; some scratched their heads.
Sensei sighed, "Ken, since you came late, how about you enlighten your classmates?"
Ken yawned, "The Tao is the external cosmic force around the earth, time, and space. When we apply Qi in any of the 3 combat styles, whether it be Taojutsu, Bukijutsu, or Taijutsu. The Tao is forever carved by our personal signatures and remembers our story through "feats".
Sensei Xiao clapped his hands, "Not bad for a slacker, ya see that class underestimate your enemy, and he will be the one leaving alive.
The class sat there, surprised. There were moments like this where Ken showed his potential.
Finally, what are the three umbrella combat styles defined?
Juliet rose to her feet, " Bukijutsu is weapon-to-weapon combat. Most regard it as Kenjutsu cuz not many have a weapon choice outside of a katana nowadays. People within that style specialize in forms and techniques using their own weapon. Taijutsu is hand-to-hand combat. This covers the many martial arts across the world. Taojutsu are Elemental techniques passed down within clans and families. These techniques can be used internally and externally. Special skills, or some call finesse, play a big role in how to amplify and grow in the ways of Taojutsu.
Sensei sat down pleased, " My three seniors have honored me today. Class as of today onwards, you guys will be soldiers on the 18th squadron led by Leo Noryev and vice captain Kazetora Yoshida. Your first battle on the field is tomorrow. I am honored to have spent my time honing the new blades of our next generation. You teenagers, go out there and change this cruel world! I bid you farewell and good luck….. Class dismissed.
The class was packing up their things. Izumi stretched and then yelled out, "Hey, guys!" Everybody turned their heads in attention. "Let's train together outside in the bamboo forest, we're gonna prove Sensei wrong and come back alive."
Ken laughed hysterically, "Are you serious? You should be resting your body right now, you morons. Guys, don't listen to this idiot otherwise, you'll have no energy even to hold your katana tomorrow."
Izumi sighed, the whole class stopped all conversations and focused on what would be the last argument between the class rep and the class clown.
Izumi's eyes narrowed. "The pessimist strikes again. What makes you think getting a good sleep will make you better than us? Were not the ones riding our big brothers' coattails."
Ken slammed his fist into the table and walked up so that his face was inches away from Izumi. "I'm sorry I didn't hear you, wanna say that again?"
Izumi held Ken's blazing gaze, "You'll always be Ken Noryev, Ken shrugged at the statement.
"The boy who couldn't outlive his brother's legacy," Izumi added.
Ken grabbed Izumi's kimono in a fist," You, me, outside, now. Let's see if you can back up all that trash-talking, asshole.
Izumi was unfazed. What type of duel are we doing?
Ken walked over to his bag and took out his bokken, "Katana duel, fool."
"Academy rules?"
"Obviously"
***
Ken and Izumi stood in the cherry blossom clearing outside the dojo. Their classmates were watching from a distance.
"Isn't Izumi below Ken in the duels that they've had, senpai?"
"Yup", Juliet said, "Ken is ahead with a 3-0 record."
"So then why is he challenging him again?"
Juliet shook her head, "One thing about Izumi is that he is a sore loser; it doesn't help that he is as stubborn as an ox."
"One more thing, senpai, what are the Academy rules?"
"No qi imbue/enchantment or qi hardening. Basically, no qi usage at all. Just a normal duel."
The cherry blossom petals danced slowly to the floor. The sun's beam through the gray clouds slowly diminished. Ken and Izumi were circling each other like two apex predators ready to rumble. Ken burst forward, snapping the twig beneath his foot. He went for an overhead slash. Izumi sidestepped and retaliated with a swift stabbing thrust to Ken's face. However, all Izumi's bokken caught were fluttering sakura petals.
THWACK
Ken had spun into a crouch and swept Izumi's feet. Izumi fell backward but planted his hands firmly on the ground and snapped back on his feet. Ken rushed forward, taking advantage of the upper hand he had.
"Now's my chance!!"
He swung his katana, and Izumi parried the first, gritting his teeth. Ken was on the hunt like a cheetah.
WHOOSH
CRACK
CRACK
SMACK
Ken let loose a storm of four connected, successive slashes. Izumi dodged the first, parried the next, but was unsuccessful in timing his next parry as Ken feigned a slash at his shoulder and slashed his ribcage. Izumi faltered for half a second, regaining his posture.
Izumi, breathing hard, met Ken's gaze. "Is that all you've got, Leo's coattail rider?"
The flower petals scattered as Ken zoomed towards Izumi. He swung his bokken down, targeting Izumi's left shoulder. Izumi parried and went for a swift thrust, which landed right in between Ken's chest and upper stomach, the solar plexus. The strike froze Ken in his tracks, dumbfounded and gasping hard. Izumi didn't let up; his next slash disarmed Ken, who was still gasping for air. Izumi pointed the bokken at Ken's face. A mischievous smirk crossed his face.
"Checkmate."
***
The sound of whooshing filled the backyard. The evening sky was a bright orange glow off the windows. Ken gripped his katana and slashed at the dummy again and again. His anger fuelled him. "You'll always be Ken Noryev, the boy who couldn't outlive his brother's legacy. "
He growled, "It doesn't make sense, how'd I lose?"
"Kenny."
Ken stops mid-swing, sheaths his katana, and turns around. Standing on the porch was his fifteen-year-old brother, Leo Noryev, his black fingerless gloves tattered, and his menacingly dark blue kimono cardigan adorned with twin dragons. To top all of that off, he had a red and black plaid buffalo scarf. His black hair was tied back in a bun, allowing his bangs to fall at the sides of both his cheeks and catch the wind. Leo had been in the war effort since he was 13. A true prodigy, he graduated ahead of his class.
He walks over to the dummy and traces his fingers across the slashes. "What's got you so worked up, little bruh?"
Ken sighs and falls onto his back, landing on the grassy field. "I lost big time."
Leo comes and sits beside him, legs crossed. "To Izumi?"
Ken's eyes widened in surprise, "How'd you know?"
"He's the only one in the class who could almost stand on the same footing as you, plus I saw the scouting report of the whole class."
It was dumb luck that he won this time around
"No, it wasn't, Kenny. You underestimated him and let your emotions cloud your thoughts."
Ken whipped his head quizzically to Leo.
"Juliet told me she cares a lot for you."
Ken sighed, "I can't help it, bro. Every time I walk into that stupid dojo and anywhere in the Kyoto dojo academy grounds, there will always be someone who'll say I'll always live in your shadow."
Ken clenched his teeth and balled his hands into fists, "I wanna prove 'em wrong!!"
Leo jabbed his index and middle fingers into Ken's forehead, "Kenny, this is how Izumi won."
Ken raised a brow, "What do you mean?"
"Look at you, you're overridden with rage, you're like a lake with endless ripples and waves. Against any other weaker opponent, it won't matter, and you still might win."
Leo's face darkened, "However, when faced with a formidable opponent with equal strength or better, it will prove to be fatal. To win those tough battles, your mind must be as calm as a serene lake."
Leo stood up and grabbed the extra bokken lying on the ground, "Come on, Kenny lets have a duel, you and me, just like the old days."
Ken rose to his feet and unsheathed his bokken, "Alright, let's do this."
Leo stood still, unfazed, "Come at me."
Ken hesitated, and the pressure felt heavier all of a sudden, but that wasn't gonna stop him from trying. He dashed forward with a thrust aimed at Leo's solar plexus.
Leo parried the attack downward and stepped on the blade, forcing it into the ground.
CRACKLE!
Ken was struck in the chest with a single palm strike. The force of it felt like a static zap multiplied by a 100. Ken left his feet and rolled onto the grass.
Ken slowly rose, dazed, "What was that?"
Leo smiled, "It's a counter meant to deal with thrust moves, the solar plexus is one of the vital spots we must protect, no matter what. It can be the difference between life and death."
Ken nodded, " I'll remember that one for sure. What was that palm strike? It felt way more powerful than the ones you did before."
"That was elemental flow imbue and Qi hardening. When mixed and flowed just right, it becomes Fa Jin."
"In English, please?"
Leo punches Ken's arm, "Fajin means explosive power."
"Ohhh that's awesome bro."
"See, look at you, Kenny, you should be happy you lost."
"Huh, why's that?"
"'Cause now you've got a head start on what comes next. You can't be a slacker on the battlefield. There will be many like Izumi who look weak but knock you off your feet. You must face every enemy with the same energy and not get overconfident. You must be as balanced as the sun and moon."
The sun began to set, lighting the sky in a crimson red. Leo and Ken stare off into the horizon as stars begin to sprinkle the sky, slowly shifting from crimson red into indigo.
"From tomorrow onwards, we'll be fighting side by side to make our wish come true," Leo said.
Ken nodded, " To a world where our kids can be free."
Leo smiled, "To a world where we stand back to back or side to side till death do us part."
They raise their bokkens to the sky and touch the points to the setting sun on the horizon.
Glossary
Imbuement/imbue: adding one's elemental flow or qi to the body externally, this also includes weapons.
Qi hardening: focusing and pooling Qi into a specific spot/area in the body to reduce damage from an incoming hit.
Fa Jin: When the frequency of the elemental flow and qi are flowing and matching a rhythm just right, and when timed correctly can lead to an explosive hit. This is usually what leads to a Kirifuda in elementals.
Feats: tales or legendary/extraordinary achievements done by an individual in battle or while alive.
Kirifuda: the strongest attack, usually the ace in the hole in an elementalist sleeve. It can be used in any of the umbrella terms