《Divine Retribution》


 Chapter 1

    The unpleasant sound of rattles filled the air, echoing across the barren wasteland. The coarse air carried the tune far and wide only for no one to hear. There was nothing to be seen for miles.


    Its contents only consisted of a crater, one that had been there for generations. At its very center is where the terrible rattle rang out. A throne dripped with an assortment of unsightly ¡°decorations¡±. Bones shook in the wind and aged flesh rotted. Skulls rested atop the chair dedicated to chaos. Dry blood littered the ground as well as ancient and broken weapons of those foolish enough to come.


    A man, no, a creature sat there with a disgusted face.


    ¡°Coalesce¡­¡± He muttered, the man kneeling at the foot of his throne trembled upon hearing his voice. The being was fleshy, his appearance twisted and disturbing.


    ¡°A place far too big for its own inhabitants, yet they still thrive among the great deal of danger lingering under its temporary beauty.¡± He scoffed at his own words.


    ¡°Humans in particular have made the most of the land, snatching it away from not only their rivals but other life as well. Such nasty creatures that take without remorse. A species full of flaws, full of hate. I fail to understand why he insists on them continuing to live, why they deserve life. Death is more appropriate, unfortunately, I cannot dish it out myself. That is why, others will carry out my will.¡± He continued with a strong grip on the armrest of his throne.


    Silence swept for a moment, until the sudden movement from the man disturbed the eerie quiet. He now stood tall, towering over the individual who let out no noise. Fear gripped him tightly, preventing any sort of reply.


    ¡°You will be the one to right that imbecile''s mistake of a creation.¡± A bony tail around his waist extended to caress his face, before the creature turned and swiped at the air in front of him.


    ¡°Such a world can¡¯t reach perfection in a state like this. Soon, all will be how it should.¡± He balled his four hands into a fist as he slowly raised one to his face.


    ¡°Now go, my Belial!¡± He pivoted on his heels and opened his hands out to him. Black mist oozed out of his palm before engulfing the person. The air cleared to reveal nothing but empty space. The man turned away before sitting upon his throne, a smile creeping along his face.


    ~~~~~


    It was nice and quiet, peace roaming among the air until bustling began to erupt from a large city.


    A natural state for the well known kingdom of Lushwood. It was by far one of the most active kingdoms out of the four. Friendly didn¡¯t even begin to describe how they treated one another. Most would call it the perfect home and they had good reason to.


    Along with its vivid people, it was surrounded by a beautiful forest jumping with life. The colors that hung off the tree¡¯s branches differentiated entirely. It would be hard to find two of the same with how lush it was. Thus, how the kingdom earned its name. An astonishing ecosystem with hardly any danger, making it the most ideal place to vacation. While it wasn¡¯t perfect, it was certainly a cut above the rest.


    Down in the vendor district was a fairly well known resident whose name always puzzled strangers. He walked down the stone street with a proud smile on his face, greeting others as he passed by while looking at the various foods for sale.


    He was mostly known as Duck, the teacher of one of the only fire dojos in the city. He wore a sleeveless black tunic with carmine red leather straps going down the middle holding together either side of his vest. On the right side of his chest rested a circle with a flame symbol inside which matched with his leather straps. Along with the tunic, he wore black pants that reached to his boots.


    He was currently out shopping, picking up food that he knew the children would eat. They weren¡¯t all too picky, but he didn¡¯t want to waste any food by getting something undesirable.


    Duck turned his head left and right constantly before finally coming to a stop at a vendor he found to be the best. He approached the woman behind the wooden cart which housed all the products currently available.


    ¡°Good morning! Good to see you again.¡± The woman said cheerfully, ¡°Likewise.¡± Duck replied soon after before picking out what he needed.


    ¡°How are the new batch of kids? You always talk about how they come in troublesome and undisciplined.¡± She started a conversation with the man as he grabbed various fruits from her wide selection.


    Duck chuckled softly, ¡°They aren¡¯t the worst, but they need to be polished that''s for sure. It''s not easy going back to untrained children after spending less than a year with those who listen. Can¡¯t complain though, the line of work never gets dull.¡±


    Most usually never bothered with teaching out of their own will unless the government lended a hand with their abundant resources. There were a lot of other occupations that paid more and caught the eyes of adventure seekers.


    The frequent customer selected everything he needed before handing the vendor twenty povers, the form of currency in all kingdoms. He removed the large bag off his shoulder and began placing what he bought inside.


    ¡°You always were independent. I still don¡¯t understand how you manage so many children despite the low demand for combat trainers. Most just settle for being soldiers which isn¡¯t too bad, I suppose.¡± She added just as Duck tied his bag close. He heaved the half full sack over his shoulder once more, taking steps away from the cart.


    ¡°The world needs heroes, not mindless brutes.¡± Duck replied, becoming one with the rest of the crowd. He maneuvered through the people, heading for town square to get a look at the news board.


    If you wanted to stay informed, that was the best place to find out any pressing subjects going on in or around the kingdom. It was also a good place to pick up any small jobs if you were just passing by or in need of some money.


    Duck finally escaped the confined shopping district and entered the more spacious town square. The middle held a large statue with a circle of shallow water around it. A faceless man stood tall against a large tiger, holding a generic sword and shield.


    It''s been there for a while, encouraging new adventures to become great and destroy creatures threatening the safety of innocents. He enjoyed its symbol greatly and considered it an important part of his younger years.


    Speaking of which, there were a great number of travelers. They talked amongst themselves, but most went solo in order to avoid sharing fame.


    Duck was suddenly captivated by a strong magical presence nearby. His head snapped towards a gathering crowd. As he approached, he could see flames of intricate shapes and patterns.


    Curiosity drew him closer to investigate what had them so engaged. He slipped his way past the back row, managing to snag a front row seat. There he saw a man dancing and playing with fire.


    He spewed out flames that shifted into creatures that jumped with life. A lion came out roaring, causing the crowd to cheer for him. The man spun around with flames in hand, changing the lion into an elegant phoenix that rose above them.


    Everyone enjoyed the show greatly while Duck stared down at the small hat full of povers.


    ¡®A street performer?¡¯ He said to himself, baffled by the waste of potential that laid in front of him. While others saw amazing colors and shapes, all he saw was despair and the want to be something more.


    There was no real passion behind the swirls of fire the man put out;, it was just a job. His movements felt forced despite how fluid he was and his magic was shackled down by disinterest.


    The street performer had just migrated to that part of Lushwood. His name was Vulcan, a highly praised man.


    Vulcan wrapped up the show by creating five flaming wolves that bowed with him. Claps erupted from the circle of people. There was a smile on all of their faces that screamed for more.


    The wolves bowing looked up just as several orbs crashed into their bodies. Small explosions blew them away. They cried in pain before dispersing. Vulcan stepped back frantically from the plume of smoke. A figure suddenly shot towards Vulcan. his eyes widened as he raised his hands up. A shockwave occurred at the center of the circle which caused the crowd to stumble.


    When the smoke cleared, Vulcan stood there with an open palm out, holding tightly onto the assaulter''s knuckles who was revealed soon after. Duck smirked as the two remained still for but a moment. He pulled his fist away and spun around before delivering a strong kick aimed at his torso.


    Duck took a step back while Vulcan regained his balance.


    ¡°What do you want?!¡± The performer shouted at his assailant who tried to look as menacing as possible.


    ¡°Just fight. kid.¡± Duck pushed off his right foot and threw a right hook followed by a punch to Vulcan¡¯s right side. Vulcan managed to dodge the first attack with a swift duck only to reel back from the second one. Duck pressed forward and raised his knee into his stomach. Despite the severity of his attacks, Duck was being quite cautious with them.


    The weak performer gritted his teeth and readied himself once more. This time he attacked first, hoping to push his enemy back. Vulcan prepared to attack until he suddenly dashed to the side, avoiding a fire blast from Duck.


    The blast rose up into the sky to avoid any unnecessary casualties.


    ¡®His instincts are sharp¡¯, Duck commented. He then charged at Vulcan, using his momentum for a push kick which he hoped would put him down. To his surprise he skimmed by and launched a punch at Ducks face.


    The experienced man blocked it in time but skidded backwards. Duck was getting a bit excited and decided to amp things up a bit. He lunged forward, attempting another punch at Vulcan''s face who sidestepped it.


    Unfortunately, it was just bait as a red entrail followed behind Duck¡¯s fist which prevented Vulcan from seeing anything. Duck dropped to the floor and tripped him up with a sweep kick. He then slammed his palms into his chest before he could touch the ground.


    Vulcan hit the ground hard as he rolled away from Duck who got into a fighting stance. His back foot positioned forty five degrees for any mobility needed while his front foot rested at twenty five, serving as defense and offense. His right hand was raised just under his face, resting on his chest to protect his face. Meanwhile his left hand stood out ready to make any quick and decisive blows when needed.


    Duck waited patiently as Vulcan stood up once more, looking determined as ever. The performer charged at him with all he had behind one punch, yelling as he did so.


    Duck caught his fist in his left hand before slamming his elbow into Vulcan''s face. His strength wavered but his will remained unbroken as he threw a punch from his left hand to free the other.


    He caught it and brought up his knee into his stomach. Duck let go of Vulcan''s right hand afterwards only to slip under his left to twist it into an undesirable position. He kicked the back of Vulcan''s knee, forcing him to kneel.


    Duck was careful not to do anything drastic to avoid major injuries. A face of disgust was apparent but it wasn¡¯t directed towards Vulcan.


    Vulcan cried in pain, trying to break free without breaking his own arm. He was ready to accept defeat but something in him shouted for him to continue. He growled in denial, extending his left leg out from under him, forcing Duck to his right knee. Despite the pull on his arm, he persevered and slammed the back of his head on Ducks chin. His arm was released and gave Vulcan some room to breathe. The surprised teacher stood as he held his mouth in pain.


    Vulcan stood up and twirled around with his right arm drawn back and engulfed in flames.


    ¡°Back off!¡±


    He rammed his fist into Ducks unguarded stomach with all he had in him. Duck yelled in pain as he was sent tumbling to the other side of the circle. Vulcan panted as he held out his fist, celebrating the small victory just a bit. He fell forward soon after as his body was beat.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Duck remained on the floor for a solid second or two, relishing in the fact that he found someone this good. He smiled with glee before rising up from the ground.


    He looked down at his torso, a hole now in his top. Steam sizzled quietly from the impact area. It didn¡¯t hurt that much because of the tungsten armor he had underneath his casual clothes.


    ¡°Not bad, not bad at all.¡± Duck stepped closer to the downed street performer who desperately tried to get up. He pushed himself up with his right hand until he fell back down.


    Duck placed his arm under Vulcan''s right and lifted him off the ground, letting him lean on him for support. Vulcan stared up at his assailant who was now helping him.


    Vulcan was shaken, but onlookers clapped vigorously as if he hadn¡¯t just been attacked. He was left speechless, expecting someone to get officials or step in. None of it made sense to him.


    It was no surprise that he was skeptical of Ducks motives. His limp arm was a very good reason to be scared of the fellow. Duck eventually moved in front of Vulcan. He reached for his arm but the young man flinched.


    He locked eyes with Vulcan, ¡°Please, allow me to aid you.¡±


    Vulcan hesitated at first, yet Ducks calm manner slowly eased him. Duck made no sudden movements and allowed Vulcan to see that he meant no harm. The injured performer came to the realization that he would have finished the job sooner if he really wanted to.


    After a minute or so, Vulcan nodded towards Duck who immediately went to work. Duck grabbed both his shoulder and forearm, holding it out in front of Vulcan. He then pulled his arm while twisting it upward. A crack could be heard from his shoulder followed along with a shout from Vulcan. He lifted his left arm with no trouble now.


    Before Vulcan could express anger towards his attacker any further, Duck bowed deeply in front of him. He was taken back by the sudden gesture.


    ¡°Please forgive my previous actions. I can assure you that my intentions were pure.¡± He straightened himself afterwards.


    Vulcan wasn¡¯t sure how to respond with how abnormal the situation was.


    ¡°I, uh, It''s fine. Why¡¯d you attack me though? That, really, hurt.¡± Duck chuckled softly.


    ¡°I just needed to be sure of something. Now, I¡¯m confident in my choice.¡± Vulcan raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want to waste potential like yours.¡± Duck walked past the performer, patting his shoulder.


    Vulcan zipped around and watched Duck hurl a sack over his shoulder before continuing down the street. He was speechless and could only stand there repeating the same word in his head over and over.


    ¡®Potential?¡±


    Vulcan had a lot of questions but wasn¡¯t sure of what to do. That just about summed up most of his life.


    ~~~~~


    Time blazed by in Lushwood. The sun clocked out while the moon began its shift. The warm air shifted over to a brisk breeze that caressed the few people who lingered in the city.


    In an alley, sat Vulcan who held tightly onto the money he earned today. He was hungry but the money wouldn¡¯t last long enough for him to eat two days in a row. Unfortunately, he would have to starve himself before using the Povers.


    He sighed and laid his head in between his kneecaps, allowing him to ease his stiff shoulders. Vulcan closed his eyes and let the nice breeze put him to sleep. His body still ached from his fight with that man¡­


    ¡®Dreams¡¯


    ¡®Potential¡¯


    He jolted awake, glancing around him upon hearing the very words again. There was nothing but empty space. Vulcan stared at his own two hands for a moment, wanting to know badly what he was capable of. He couldn''t shake it off now that someone mentioned it.


    Despite his better judgment, he pushed himself up. Vulcan pocketed the coins in hand and exited the alley in search of the man. The streets were empty except for the occasional pedestrian or shady looking chap lingering.


    He didn¡¯t exactly know where to start when it came to finding such an individual in a large place like lushwood. Unlike some, he had no clue who Duck was even though he owned a large establishment.


    Vulcan wandered into the town square, his eyes darting around in some attempt to acquire a clue to his whereabouts. He was suddenly pushed from behind, falling towards the ground. His face nearly slamming against the ground until his collar was caught. It lifted him back up before turning him around.


    He looked up to see a tall blonde man donning pristine armor, his elbows, knees, and neck were less protected to still allow for some maneuverability. Underneath was a simple blue tunic with blue pants.


    The scary looking man put on an unexpected smile, ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry, I should¡¯ve paid more attention to where I was going.¡± he apologized sincerely. Vulcan stayed incredibly stiff, making the interaction between the two...awkward.


    The blondie cleared his throat and continued with the riveting conversation.


    ¡°I hope my demeanor isn¡¯t too intimidating. Let me introduce myself. My name is Liam Jace, leader of the royal guard and sworn protector of this kingdom.¡± He gripped his fist tightly and placed it over his heart to further show his allegiance.


    Vulcan remained silent until he saw Liam¡¯s spear sticking out from behind him. Finally, it all clicked together.


    ¡°THE, Liam Jace? The highest ranking electricity user in all of Coalesce?! The hero known for single handedly taking down corrupt groups as well as dangerous monsters?!¡± He exclaimed a little too loud considering how late it was at the time.


    Liam was taken back by the sudden change in attitude towards him. Vulcan stared up at him like a child meeting his favorite hero, his eyes glistening with hope and respect.


    ¡°It seems my reputation exceeds me, once again, how about we keep it down. Wouldn¡¯t want to disturb your neighbors, now would we?


    Vulcan''s jaw that had dropped to the floor, shot up as he collected himself.


    ¡°Heh, sorry,¡± He rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.


    ¡°It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve never been able to meet any of my heroes in person. I didn¡¯t think it would ever happen.¡±


    Those words were always gratifying, allowing him to continue his line of work with unwavering strength.


    Liam chuckled with pride, ¡°If you stand and fight for what you want, nothing can stop you. Don¡¯t let anything stop you from doing anything, let it be more of a reason to achieve it.¡± Liam said sternly.


    Vulcan melted into a puddle of adoration upon hearing his inspiring words. He was left speechless as he engraved this moment into his memory.


    ¡°Now, I should get going. I have to finish collecting last minute taxes. I¡¯ve kept Duck waiting long enough.¡± The gushing young man snapped back to reality to watch Liam saunter past him.


    It would seem fate had its methods when it came to events aligning perfectly.


    ¡°Duck?¡± Vulcan whispered to himself, deciding on his next course of action. Since he had no leads, he set out to follow Liam.


    He didn¡¯t exactly have to follow Liam to look around but a part of him really wanted to be near him. A little creepy but no one would know. Vulcan let the royal guard turn the corner before bolting in his direction.


    Vulcan peeked around the corner to see Liam conversing with some locals before pressing onward. The young man stepped out and walked calmly down the street to continue tailing. Unlike the vivid armor donning man, he kept his head down and mouth silenced.


    The walk was nerve wracking and calming at the same time because of his past run-ins with people. He wasn¡¯t what they found to be the ideal human, or one at all. He just had to hope that nobody he knew would show up.


    After a brisk stroll through the streets of Lushwood, Liam finally arrived at a large dojo at the very edge of the kingdom. It was relatively short but it made up for it with its width and length. Marble steps led up to its entrance which bore two fire symbols on either side. On both sides of the steps were ladder shaped fountains that ran all along the stairs. The sound of rushing water never being absent. Potted plants stood guard at the bottom of the marble stairs while others littered the grounds. The place crawled with life and tranquility.


    Vulcan found himself a hidden place on the other side of the street and watched as Liam stepped onto the property. To his surprise, Duck was already waiting. He leaned forward on the railing as he gazed up at the sky full of stars.


    His pleasure shriveled up upon looking down at Liam. ¡°I hope I didn¡¯t keep you waiting too long.¡±


    Duck scoffed as he moved away from the railing, ¡°Don¡¯t flatter yourself, I wasn¡¯t waiting for you.¡± Liam kept a friendly smile on his face despite the attitude.


    Silence hung in the air, making it clear that there was some conflict between the two.


    ¡°I presume that you have what I came for?¡± Liam knew it was for the best if he strayed away from small talk.


    Duck reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pouch tied close with some red string. He tossed it to Liam who caught it with his left hand. Liam checked the bag to make sure the money was there and saw no problems.


    ¡°You can leave now.¡± The odd named fellow spat but Liam remained unwavered.


    He looked down at the marble he stood on before meeting Ducks glare.


    ¡°Look, I know we have some history but we don¡¯t have to drag it everywhere we go. Things could be normal if we just try, you know.¡±


    Duck looked unamused with his attempts at fixing whatever their problem was. Vulcan couldn¡¯t believe anyone disliked Liam besides evil doers.


    ¡°Normal stopped being an option a long time ago. You were the one to cause this, not me. If you stopped pretending to be a hero then it wouldn¡¯t have come to this.¡± He replied with disdain and turned to face away.


    Liam sighed as if he had gone through a similar situation many times before.


    ¡°We could use someone like you again. The world-¡± He paused as Duck looked over his shoulder with a stronger scowl than before. One that prevented Liam from disturbing him any longer. It wasn¡¯t out of fear but consideration of the topic.


    ¡°Enjoy your night.¡±


    That was the last of their conversation as Liam removed himself from Ducks sight. Vulcan was sure that he was the person just by looks and his voice but his personality was so different. He was reluctant to show himself but that wasn¡¯t necessary.


    ¡°Come out, boy. You¡¯ve skulked around long enough.¡± Duck shouted loud enough for Vulcan to hear. Soon after he turned around and stared right at him despite being in the shadow of the night.


    Vulcan noticed that his expression softened up compared to when he was conversing with the renowned hero. He stepped out from where he hid and approached the dojo steps.


    The young lad stood at the bottom of the steps where the tense conversation unfolded.


    ¡°I was beginning to wonder just how long you¡¯d take. I¡¯m glad you showed up.¡± Duck said with a hint of glee coming off his demeanor. Vulcan didn¡¯t expect the man to be waiting, which makes him wonder how long he did wait.


    He was still unsure of whether or not Duck was as caring as he looked after watching how he acted towards someone he admired.


    The waiting man noticed how uneasy Vulcan looked, ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry that you had to see that. It wasn¡¯t my intention for it to go quite like this. He just has a habit of showing up when it''s undesirable.¡± Duck paused briefly, lowering his gaze to the ground with a saddened look.


    ¡°I hope this won¡¯t stain your impression of me.¡± An unexpected apology came flying at Vulcan who frantically waved it away.


    ¡°No, no, no, of course not. I was just confused with what you said to me earlier today. Seeing this didn¡¯t exactly help, that''s all.¡± Vulcan explained that he didn¡¯t think any less of him but there was a part of him that thought otherwise. Getting attacked out of nowhere wasn¡¯t the best way to start things off between them.


    Duck was relieved since he had high hopes for Vulcan.


    ¡°Please, come in. It¡¯s late.¡± He ushered him towards the front door that he slid open. Vulcan climbed the steps before entering the abode.


    As expected, it was quiet. Peaceful even. The hallway was clean and well kept. Framed paintings lined the walls, Duck and his students present in each of them. Vulcan observed each of them as he followed Duck down the hall. There seemed to be only rooms on the outer section while the middle housed a zen area. It was there to relax but to also train classes.


    The interior was very calming with lanterns providing the right amount of light. Vulcan can tell great care was put into this place.


    ¡°Hungry?¡± Duck suddenly asked as he turned into a room. Vulcan soon followed to see a small table with food in the middle of the large room. Two pillows rested on either side, Duck taking the furthest one.


    This was all very perplexing to Vulcan who was more accustomed to a loaf of bread as his meal for the day.


    ¡°Is it really okay?¡± He asked, hesitantly sitting on the pillow with his legs crossed.


    Duck smiled earnestly, ¡°I don¡¯t see why it wouldn¡¯t. I specially prepared this for me and you. Unless you expect me to eat all of this?¡± He replied before taking a bite out of the many choices on the table. Vulcan glanced down at the plates of food. He picked up a fork and began digging, peeking at Duck every few seconds.


    The two enjoyed a silent meal together since Duck didn¡¯t attempt to converse with the young lad. Vulcan didn¡¯t want to stop eating either. It was a miracle to be eating such well made food.


    It wasn¡¯t until he was nearly done did he begin to question the fidelity of this situation.


    ¡°I have to ask. Why are you doing this? I¡¯m just some street performer.¡± Duck took a sip of his tea, thinking about the question. He put down his cup and looked Vulcan in his eyes.


    ¡°When I was a boy, my mother sat me down. She asked me what I wanted to do with my life. At the time, I had no clue. It was all fun and games for me. No direction. She told me, you have potential to do anything you want in life. Your strength and will were unfathomable. One day, you¡¯ll have to choose what to do with that strength.¡± Vulcan listened closely, waiting for Duck to continue as he paused briefly.


    ¡°Strange thing to tell a child, but it inspired me. The next day, I started to work out in our small backyard. Lifting rocks and sticks. Two months, I was training with a wooden sword. A year, let''s just say the other children couldn¡¯t keep up with me during recess.¡± Duck smiled proudly but the individual sitting across from him still didn¡¯t follow.


    ¡°That''s cool but what makes me special?¡±


    Duck was quick to reply, ¡°Nothing. You have strength and a burning desire to accomplish something. The special comes from what you create from that strength.¡± The man said before finishing the last of his food on the plate in front of him. Hope sprouted within Vulcan for the first time in his life. Someone...believed in him.


    Duck took a final swig of water from his cup and made an offer.


    ¡°Let''s make a deal. You stay here and train under me but you have to promise me one thing.¡±


    Vulcan leaned forward with curiosity, ¡°What?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Promise that you¡¯ll preserve this world at any cost.¡± Vulcan expected something along the lines of labor or some favor. He was beginning to see that Duck was a peculiar individual.


    ¡°That¡¯s a deal I can agree with.¡± Vulcan replied with a cheerful chuckle that got a smile out of the man parallel to him.


    Both were full of glee for different reasons but one thing that was certain was the bond forming between them.

 Chapter 2

    The next morning, Duck barged into Vulcan''s room at the crack of dawn.


    ¡°It''s time to wake up! We have an action packed day today.¡± Vulcan is sucked out of his dream and wakes to see his new teacher. The sun''s rays leaked in through the window and onto Vulcan''s weary face.


    The fresh student slid out of his bed as the sound of bustling feet echoed throughout the hallway. Vulcan got ready before heading out to join the other students.


    Vulcan stepped out into the dojos training area where children lined up in front of Duck. He was unsure where to go and simply went in the very back.


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯re doing the usual today but I want to welcome our new student.¡± Duck announced before raising a hand in Vulcan''s direction. The children turned to look at the much older and much taller student.


    ¡°I ask that you treat him with the same respect as your peers. He¡¯s family now.¡± Duck gave Vulcan a reassuring nod before continuing.


    ¡°First off, stretching!¡±


    The class was quick to fall into formation, Vulcan following along. After ten minutes of stretching they moved towards the back of the dojo. Duck led them to a path leading into the woods.


    ¡°Five mile run, let''s go!¡± He began jogging down the path with his students following in a single file line. Vulcan was the very last one and was unsure if he could even survive a mile.


    The group was deep in the forests when they hit their 2.5 mile mark which led to them turning around. Vulcan was no longer behind them and was quite far. The line of runners passed Vulcan who was told to keep going. Vulcan huffed and puffed as he finally reached two and half miles. Sweat dripped off him like a river but he continued to jog. By the time Vulcan returned, everyone was doing other exercises.


    Vulcan was only given a five minute break before Duck had him doing squats. He then moved onto lifting weights and much more painful workouts. The children were officially done while Vulcan was halfway. Duck decided to redo them so the boy wasn¡¯t alone.


    Vulcan finally finished and fell apart on the floor. He was extremely exhausted. Every part of his body ached and yet this was just the first day.


    ¡°You did good.¡± Duck told him despite being far behind the others. ¡°I couldn¡¯t even keep up with some kids.¡± The teacher shook his head and passed Vulcan a cup of water.


    ¡°Skill isn¡¯t based on age or gender. You¡¯ll see soon enough that you can achieve their strength and more.¡± Vulcan sat up to drink his cold refreshing water. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    The new student was ready to take a long break until Duck added more to his plate.


    ¡°Hey, I need some help before you go rest up. I forgot to buy a special fruit yesterday and I need it for supper. Think you¡¯re up for a chore?¡± Duck pulled out a piece of paper that had Nintai written on it. Vulcan was tired but didn¡¯t want to back down even if it was a small task.


    ¡°Sure, I guess you forgot to get it after beating me up huh?¡± He joked which got a chuckle from Duck.


    ¡°Perhaps. Nintai is a fruit so go ask some vendors about it in the market. Good luck!¡±


    Vulcan headed off with his sore body to find this fruit. He had never heard of it in his life, ¡®Maybe it''s a delicacy?¡¯ Vulcan thought to himself as the crowd grew thicker. He kept an eye out for any stalls selling food. The pupil¡¯s eyes eventually grazed upon someone with a wide variety on display. He approached with the paper in hand.


    ¡°Hello, how may I help you today?¡± The man asked which Vulcan responded by handing him the paper. ¡°Nintai huh? I ran out a while ago but if you go down some more and to the left you¡¯ll see a woman in a stall with a pink tarp. She¡¯ll have some for sure.¡± Vulcan listened to the specific details before thanking him politely.


    Vulcan followed what he was told and found himself in front of another stall.


    ¡°Hello, I was wondering if you had any Nintai fruit?¡± He asked which caused the woman to crack a smile for whatever reason.


    ¡°Sorry, pal. Just sold my last one. I know a guy who always has them. He wears a green shirt and is back down the way you came.¡± Vulcan nodded his head, unknowingly falling into a cycle.


    The young man continued to visit vendor after vendor who always told him where to go to find someone who did have Nintai. Vulcan did this for an hour until he finally reached his limit. He arrived at the final vendor who began to give him directions again when he exploded.


    ¡°Stop making me go in circles and just tell me where the hell I can find some Nintai fruit! I¡¯ve been running around for a fucking hour!¡± Vulcan shouts, losing his composure.


    The woman behind the counter leaned forward with a smirk, ¡°You failed. Return to Duck kid.¡± Vulcan''s expression shifted from rage to confusion at the statement.


    Vulcan sighed loudly before stomping off towards Ducks dojo. His arrival was loud as he slammed the door behind him after entering. He entered the training area to see Duck waiting for him.


    ¡°Why did one of them say I failed? Are you just toying with me?¡± Vulcan was fuming and Duck could clearly see that.


    ¡°Sit down, boy.¡±


    After Vulcan took a seat in front of Duck, he explained.


    ¡°It was a test to measure your patience. One often looks to gain power without any respect for what it can do to you. Impulsiveness, lack of knowledge and no regard for the world around you can get you killed before you step foot outside that door.¡± Duck elaborated on why he had Vulcan accomplish nothing in the market. Vulcan lowered his gaze as the lesson dawned upon him far too late.


    Duck didn¡¯t want Vulcan to feel like he did anything wrong as it was clear he was taking it hard.


    ¡°Now you know what to improve upon. I don¡¯t expect you to be perfect, I expect you to do your best. You¡¯re free to take your break now.¡± Duck dismissed Vulcan before taking his leave. Vulcan felt defeated but tried to stay determined in the face of hardships.

 Chapter 3

    A week went by with Vulcan being put through hell as his body couldn¡¯t keep up with the exercises. He showed his determination by persevering through it all to the weekend. While the mornings are full of training, the afternoon are classes taught by Duck. He isn¡¯t super knowledgeable but knows enough in each subject to pass it down coherently. Duck is firm when it comes to them being smart. He wants them to have as many options as possible when it comes to being what they want.


    The days were long and hard but Duck was encouraging through it all. Vulcan could tell that he had been doing this for a while. He¡¯s been curious about Duck for some time now but hasn¡¯t had a chance to get to know him. That was until one night.


    Vulcan was fast asleep in his room until he was forced awake by the sound of thumping. It wasn¡¯t very loud but it was quite annoying to sleep to. He got out of bed, sneaking through the empty hallway of the dojo. The pupil eventually made it to the back where the thumping was much louder. He stepped out of the dojo where they usually go for jogs. Vulcan eventually saw what was causing the noise.


    Duck faced away from him with a tree to his right. A branch hung low above him as he had a log hanging in front of him. The teacher wore no shirt, revealing burn marks all across his back. Vulcan stayed quiet as Duck punched away at the log in front of him. Duck was slamming his fists against the wood with no protection, using his bare fists.


    His strikes started to become sharper and stronger with each blow to the log. Duck pulled back one more punch before splitting the log in half. He stood there in silence before turning. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Vulcan stayed in the shadows, thinking he¡¯d be hidden but Duck called him out, ¡°I can see you.¡± Duck said as he dried himself off with a towel. Vulcan sighed in failure before stepping closer to his teacher.


    ¡°What are you doing up?¡± Duck asked, slipping on a shirt to hide his past.


    Vulcan ignored the question, ¡°How did you get those scars?¡± Duck stared at his pupil. It was clear he didn¡¯t want to answer.


    ¡°Uh, nevermind. Sorry for interrupting.¡± Vulcan turned to leave but Ducks voice stopped him.


    ¡°They¡¯re from battles.¡± The young man turned, watching as Duck sat down on a stump. Duck left enough space for Vulcan to sit which he took.


    ¡°You used to fight?¡± Duck chuckled with a mixed expression. His smirk showed how much he enjoyed it while his eyes portrayed the pain he went through.


    ¡°Yeah, I used to be a Paladin. The great heroes that protect the people.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t believe that Duck used to be one of the many Paladins in Coalesce.


    ¡°Wow, what made you stop?¡± Vulcan questioned with glee. It was exciting getting to know someone better. Especially when they gave him a home. Duck stood up suddenly after the last question.


    ¡°Sometimes stopping is better than moving forward into a place you¡¯re not ready for.¡± He gave very obvious hints that he didn¡¯t want to keep talking about the topic. Even Vulcan could see this and didn¡¯t press on.


    ¡°It''s late, you should get some rest. You¡¯ll need all the energy you can get tomorrow.¡± Duck walked off with no further words.


    Vulcan thought about how Duck acted, ¡®He seems to dislike his past a lot. I should be careful when bringing up anything¡¯ Vulcan told himself before heading back to his room to sleep.

 Chapter 4

    The sun rises over the horizon once more to gift its light to those awake. Duck is up bright and early, watching the sunrise from atop his dojo. He didn¡¯t have any reason to be up there. The man was waiting for Vulcan but wasn¡¯t quite going to wake him up early.


    Ducks sightseeing was interrupted when a voice called up to him. He looked down to see Vulcan which was a surprise. He jumped off the roof and landed in front of him.


    ¡°You¡¯re up early.¡± Duck said which prompted a quick reply from Vulcan. ¡°Well, that''s what I''ve been taught to do. Wouldn¡¯t feel natural if I slept in.¡± Duck wore a small smile on his face.


    ¡°I suppose it''s a good thing. I have more training for you to do.¡±


    Vulcan frowned, ¡°More training?¡± The tone in his voice suggested that he wasn¡¯t very excited about doing anymore.


    ¡°Not just any training. Special training. Come on, follow me.¡± Duck said as he led the way to the back of the dojo. They didn¡¯t stop there though and began to enter the vast forest.


    ¡°What exactly am I training for?¡± Vulcan asked as they strolled down the path they usually ran on.


    ¡°What is a warrior without their Fragment? You need to unlock yours if you want to become a skilled fighter. A martial artist uses every tool available to them.¡± Duck explained before turning onto a narrow path that branched off from the one they were on.


    Duck was pretty excited to be doing Fragment training. It was always interesting because no one had the exact same one. Plus, it reveals the best part of someone when used for good. This would let Duck see more of who Vulcan is. Vulcan figured that his Fragment would eventually unlock on its own. He didn¡¯t think he¡¯d have to obtain it.


    Finally the two walked into a meadow within the forest. There was nothing but grass and a few flowers. Two sticks did lean against a nearby tree which Duck picked up.


    ¡°Alright, let''s begin.¡± Duck tossed one of the bo-staffs at Vulcan who caught it with both hands.


    ¡°Before you can begin to work towards your fragment, you need to understand what it is.¡±


    Vulcan scoffed confidently, ¡°I know what a Fragment is. It¡¯s a cool power that makes you stronger in battle.¡±


    ¡°Wrong.¡±


    Duck said with a smile.


    ¡°A fragment is, admittedly, cool but it certainly doesn¡¯t make you stronger. Our Fragments will always be just that, a part of us. They do not determine if we¡¯re strong. You must learn the importance of your Fragment and respect it.¡± Vulcan listened intently as his teacher went into detail on the abnormal power in everyone.


    ¡°Do you know the origin of Fragments?¡± The pupil shook his head. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ¡°Fragments have a complicated history. People debated on whether they were gods'' gift or the devil''s curse. It is said the god of order gave mankind the power to change the world for good while some believe the god of chaos handed them out in an attempt to tilt the balance in his favor. Now, whether the gods actually exist, that''s up to you to decide. Eventually, we learned to live with what we were given but some choose not to acknowledge it.¡± Duck twirled his staff around his fingers as he explained. Vulcan was quite interested since he didn¡¯t have a lot of access to history on the streets.


    ¡°Sounds like a myth a parent would tell a child to keep them under control.¡± He joked.


    Duck stamped the ground with his bo-staff, ¡°Myth or not, you need to understand how to master it. First you¡¯ll have to get a grip on your emotions. They are what allow us to tap into our Fragment. People have many different ways of doing so. Anger, tranquility, content. It''s a matter of finding the one that resonates with you.¡± The teacher hopped up onto his staff which remained completely still. He twirled around before switching to a handstand with just one arm.


    ¡°Try it.¡± Duck said to Vulcan while upside down.


    Vulcan glanced at his staff and attempted the same feat. He was shaky but was able to stay fairly balanced on the stick. The pupil made no progress as an hour flew by. The young man had even fallen several times while Duck didn¡¯t falter for one second.


    He was getting aggravated and didn¡¯t want to keep going. Vulcan then thought of a rather interesting question.


    ¡°Hey Duck, how¡¯d you unlock your Fragment?¡± Duck shot a glance down at Vulcan before jumping off his staff.


    ¡°Why do you ask?¡± He responded nervously.


    ¡°Well I just thought if I knew how you got yours that maybe it¡¯d be easier to unlock mine.¡± Vulcan stood up from the ground and waited to hear what Duck was capable of.


    Duck sighed heavily, ¡°I trained my ass off everyday like I said when I first met you. My mothers words were all I needed to accomplish my goals. The want for strength slowly evolved into something more than just a goal, it became my dream. A dream where the world was full of hope and safety.¡± Vulcan looked away, clearly bothered because he didn¡¯t have a family to support him.


    The teacher walked up to Vulcan and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, ¡°Unfortunately, not everyone has a family. That''s why we make one and I''d say you got a pretty good one back at the dojo.¡± Vulcan looks over his shoulder with a smirk on his face.


    ¡°Now, how about we try one more time before we call it a day?¡± Duck moved away after snatching the bo-staff from Vulcan.


    ¡°Don¡¯t I need that?¡± The teacher shook his head in response to his question. ¡°Focus. Close your eyes this time.¡± Vulcan did what he was told.


    ¡°Relax your shoulders, every tense muscle in your body and breathe in slowly.¡± The pupils shoulders dropped as he breathed in deeply.


    ¡°Concentrate on your heartbeat and nothing else. Just let your mind free.¡± Duck gave out his final instructions as Vulcan remained dead silent.


    Vulcan slowly pushed away every sound around him. The chirping of birds, the rustle of leaves in the wind, everything except his heartbeat. Finally, he tuned that out. Leaving nothing. Duck watched as the wind around them stopped in its tracks. The trees stopped as if they were watching them. The hairs on his neck shot up as something out of the ordinary happened. Duck grinned just as Vulcan snapped out of it.


    He looked winded and exhausted despite having done nothing.


    ¡°Nicely done!¡± Duck congratulated which brought about confusion from Vulcan.


    ¡°Did something happen?¡± Vulcan looked clueless to the small spectacle that had just occurred.


    ¡°Boy, you just took your first step towards getting your Fragment. Let''s head home and I''ll explain on the way.¡± Duck beckoned Vulcan to follow. The two then ventured back to the dojo, talking up a storm together.

 Chapter 5

    Vulcan woke up as the sun slapped its rays onto his eyelids. He covers his face before sitting up. The dojo is quiet which is an unusual occurrence. The young man stepped out of his room, glancing down the hallway in search of someone.


    He walks down to Ducks room which he knocks on, ¡°Duck, you there?¡±


    ¡®No reply¡¯


    He slides open the door, getting his first glimpse at Ducks room. It was fairly empty and very clean. His bed was made which wasn¡¯t surprising at all. Vulcan''s attention immediately panned over to a pair of blades hanging on his wall. They looked old and worn as if they had been through hundreds of battles. A part of him wanted to explore some more but he decided against it since he¡¯d be intruding on his personal life.


    Vulcan closed the door and continued his search. He found his teacher out in front, sitting in a chair.


    ¡°Good morning, what do you have in store for today?¡± He questioned but Duck didn¡¯t have anything planned.


    ¡°Nothing, you¡¯re free to do whatever you want. You¡¯ve earned a break.¡± He replied, expecting Vulcan to run off. ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    Duck looked up at Vulcan who stood there awkwardly.


    ¡®I guess he¡¯s not used to having downtime¡¯ Duck pondered to himself before pushing himself up.


    ¡°How about we head into the city, check out what it has to offer today?¡± Vulcans face lit up as he now had something to do. He probably would¡¯ve just continued to train if he couldn¡¯t find something to do. Duck definitely didn¡¯t want that. Training was good, just not too much.


    The two left the dojo to the children inside who were doing their own thing. Duck trusted them enough to leave them alone. The teacher really didn¡¯t have any plan in mind as they sauntered through the streets of Lushwood. He didn¡¯t expect to be out at all but Vulcan looked lost after being told to go take a break. Perhaps they could grow closer.


    ¡°So, have you decided on what you want to wear as a hero?¡± Duck tossed out a question which was one Vulcan hadn¡¯t considered.


    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m not really sure. Maybe something like yours with no sleeves. I don¡¯t want anything too tight that¡¯ll hinder me in combat.¡± Duck nodded his head, envisioning what Vulcan might be talking about.


    ¡°That''s a good start. You just need to figure out the finer details. You have to look friendly to the people but strike fear in your enemies. Not an easy thing to do.¡± Vulcan took note of that so he could build upon what he¡¯s thought of so far.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget, you have to come up with a weapon too.¡± Duck added on which seemed to really excite Vulcan.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t even considered that. What would fit me best?¡± Vulcan jumped with enthusiasm. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Now, now. Lets focus on clothing and then your weapon. It¡¯ll come to you easily, I¡¯m sure of it.¡± He calmed the boy down, resulting in a low grumble.


    Vulcan went silent before realizing that it would be a good time to learn more about Duck if possible. He hadn¡¯t even bothered to ask questions about the man, well, not a lot at least.


    ¡°Duck, how long have you been teaching? It seems like you¡¯ve been doing it most of your life.¡± Duck thought for a moment, not knowing off the top of his head.


    ¡°About thirteen years now. Since I was twenty eight.¡± Vulcan was baffled at the numbers. Not only was Duck fairly old but so was his career. It¡¯s hard to believe that he used to fight.


    ¡°That''s a long time. Don¡¯t you ever get bored or want more excitement in life?¡± Duck let out a hearty laugh as if both questions were preposterous.


    ¡°How could I get bored of meeting new people and creating the future? This isn¡¯t just a job because there''s a dream and adventure waiting in every new class I get. Nothing could be more exciting.¡± He replied with sheer confidence. Vulcan could see why so many people knew him in Lushwood. He was buoyant and admirable.


    ¡°I can¡¯t imagine doing anything but fighting. The thrill from winning and being the best!¡±


    Duck glanced down at the young man with a distressed frown.


    ¡°Fighting isn¡¯t a sport to indulge yourself in. It should only be done when needed, not when it''s wanted because real heroes only walk towards the battle if there''s something at stake.¡± His tone suggested that he was very serious about the subject. It was clear as day that something led Duck to think in such a way.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to have fun?¡± Vulcan replied with a slightly annoyed tone.


    The teacher suddenly grabbed his shoulder before forcing him to a stop. The two locked onto each other.


    ¡°The world isn¡¯t fun. Fighting isn¡¯t fun, it kind of is but both are dangerous. Not everyone is going to be fighting you for fun, kid.¡± Vulcan looked at his feet as Duck let him go. He followed behind with a gloomy mood hanging over him now. It looked like all the fun had been sucked right out of him. Vulcan knew Duck was right but being yanked out of the sky hurt.


    Duck looked over at him with regret. He sighed softly and moved to resolve this quickly.


    ¡°Hey, after we check out the latest news, how about we get some grub and then take a look around some shops?¡±


    Vulcan gave him a quiet side glance, ¡°You can¡¯t tell the other kids though or they¡¯ll gang up on me.¡± Duck added shortly after which managed to get a small smirk from Vulcan.


    ¡°Yeah, that sounds good.¡±


    The two continued into the town square and beelined it for the newsboard. A decently sized group surrounded it, making it clear that there was something big going on. Duck couldn¡¯t see what the big fuss was about.


    ¡°Stay here.¡± He had Vulcan stay back while he squeezed past everyone. Duck got to the front where a paper could be seen. He got a good look in as his eyes filled with concern. The teacher pulled away and returned to Vulcan.


    Vulcan looked up at Duck who held a distraught face, ¡°What happened?¡± he asked moments after.


    ¡°Nothing good, but let''s try to enjoy the day while it lasts. It''s all government rubbish anyway.¡± Whatever Duck saw seemed to worry the man immensely so Vulcan didn¡¯t ask about it. He¡¯d probably find out later when it was more convenient.


    ¡°Fine, but I want to know later. You can¡¯t keep me in the dark if it''s important.¡±


    Duck could settle with that, ¡°Alright buddy, let''s get out of here.¡± Vulcan gave a nod of approval as they walked out of the town square.


    Duck loved Lushwood but it looked like they planned on changing how things would be done. A new war general was being decided which wasn¡¯t a bad thing but the last one was thankfully passive. Who knows if the next one would be the same.

 Chapter 6

    On the night Vulcan asked about Ducks past


    The acting war general returned to his home after a long day of work. The old man is still busy even if Lushwood had no intention of declaring war on other kingdoms. He was to keep the people safe with trained soldiers and establish defenses for their walls. There was a lot to maintain.


    He moved through the house, going upstairs to his room in order to acquire sleep. It was fairly late and he had to be up early for more business. When he opened the door, a gust of wind slid past him. His window was wide open. The elderly man was unsure if he had left it open since his memory was quite foggy. He walked over and closed it before preparing to remove his clothes.


    A shadowy figure stood in the corner behind him. It took a step forward, making its presence known. The general spun around after removing only his vest.


    ¡°Who are you and what are you doing in my home?¡± The figure took another step forward which instilled fear into the elder. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    There stood a well dressed man with a cape that reached the back of his knees. He wore a dark red suit jacket with black pants and red boots coming up to under his knees. Tassels hung over his left shoulder and crystals rested where the buttons to his suit would be.


    ¡°My name won¡¯t matter very soon but I''ll enlighten you. I¡¯m Kokoro, the righteous sword of our god.¡± He said before leering at the shaking old man.


    The general continued to step back as Kokoro drew closer to him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think...that I won¡¯t go down without a fight!¡± He shouted before yanking a scabbard off the wall behind him. By the time he turned to swing, Kokoro had his fingers curled around his throat.


    ¡°Your fight has been over and mine is just beginning.¡± He grinned wickedly as his grip tightened, preventing any breathing. The general dropped his sword after being lifted off the ground. He tried to pry his hand open but it didn¡¯t budge.


    The old man went limp seconds after.


    Kokoro laughed in his small victory before laying the corpse into bed. He made it seem as though he died in his sleep. The man couldn¡¯t have anyone suspecting anything for he had plans.


    He quickly made his escape through the window, straying away from civilian eyes.

 Chapter 7

    SMACK!


    CRASH!


    Two Bo staffs slammed into each other, emitting a powerful gust of wind. Duck and Vulcan were sparring as their training for the day.


    Vulcan was visibly struggling while Duck looked like he could go a couple more rounds.


    ¡°Remember to maintain good footing or else your strikes won¡¯t have as much power.¡± Vulcan grunted and pushed Ducks staff away in hopes of getting an opening. He went for a stab which Duck parried while moving to the side. Duck followed up with a push kick that the pupil blocked with his staff but was pushed back from the force.


    ¡°Continue using basic attacks to get the hang of it but try to mix it in with other stuff. You can¡¯t always use the same attack or string of combos because it¡¯ll make you more predictable.¡± Duck reminded Vulcan who panted heavily as sweat dribbled down his face.


    ¡°Again!¡± Duck shouted before getting into his stance. Vulcan did so as well despite his exhaustion. The two continued to practice simple attacks with advanced ones here and there.


    ¡°Have you given your weapon choice more thought?¡± Duck suddenly asked in the middle of sparring.


    Vulcan shook his head, ¡°I have but I really can¡¯t think of anything. Nothing calls out to me.¡± he replied with uncertainty. The teacher was quite surprised since most always have a dream weapon.


    ¡°Really? Surely you have some ambition towards a weapon.¡± Duck said after easily blocking an attack thrown by Vulcan.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never had time to worry about something like this.¡± Vulcan grunts as he narrowly dodges a jab from Duck.


    ¡°What do you think suits me?¡± He asked only to get a slight chuckle from Duck.


    ¡°You sound like my brother. Couldn¡¯t decide on a weapon for a whole month.¡± Vulcan stopped in his tracks, refraining from attacking for a moment. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°You have a brother?!¡± He hardly expected him to have any family besides his parents. Even then, Vulcan assumed that they weren¡¯t alive since Duck never mentioned them.


    ¡°How many siblings do you have?¡± He questioned further out of pure curiosity.


    Duck was happy to see the enthusiasm and didn¡¯t mind the questions.


    ¡°Yes, I do. It¡¯s just him. My little brother. He¡¯s quite the fighter but picking a weapon really stumped him. I still remember the day he called every weapon he tried, ¡°primitive.¡± Vulcan listened intently to see if he would find sudden inspiration.


    ¡°If he didn¡¯t like any of them then what else was there for him to choose?¡± Duck pulled back his bo staff before striking at Vulcan who just blocked it. The two remained clashed as Duck leaned in.


    ¡°Weapons are often seen as only offensive but there are options that don¡¯t have to involve an offensive fighting style. A shield is a great example. They can push blows aside, allowing for counter attacks. As long as one is fluid with it. My brother didn¡¯t exactly go for that but went with something similar, a forearm gauntlet.¡± Duck explained until Vulcan pulled away from their clash.


    ¡°Mainly defensive while his offense comes from his Fragment but, if needed, he can utilize it in close combat.¡± Vulcan thought about that for a moment which left him wide open.


    Duck lunged forward, smacking him across the face. Vulcan moved to block the next attack but he was tripped by a swift sweep kick. He fell to his back so Duck pulled back his staff and brought it down inches away from his throat.


    ¡°Keep your guard up at all times.¡± He said with a smile before backing off. Vulcan pushed himself up into a sitting position.


    ¡°So, you think I could be like him?¡± Duck twirled his staff around with one hand.


    ¡°I¡¯m simply supplying an idea. Your weapon should reflect your fighting style. Hell, you don¡¯t even need to have a weapon. I know a guy who''s like that.¡± Vulcan stood back up just as a loud knock occurred at the front door.


    The teacher glanced back, ¡°I¡¯ll be right back, you keep practicing and then we¡¯ll wrap up for the day.¡± He set his bo staff down afterwards to go see who was at the door. Upon arriving, he slid open the door but no one was there. Duck looked around in hopes of spotting someone until his eyes lowered to the ground.


    There, a piece of paper fluttered about. It wasn¡¯t too windy today so the paper was luckily still there. Duck bent over and picked it up to read its contents. The first noticeable thing he spotted was the name Kokoro in big letters. The flier described the many good characteristics the man had, stating that they would be the perfect candidate for the war general position. It was all hogwash. Most of it was just supporting how he¡¯s an amazing person. Duck didn¡¯t buy it though. War generals usually weren¡¯t just selected by the government, not Lushwoods at least. You had to be a high ranking general in their small army or meet the requirements to receive such a position. None of it made sense.


    He wasn¡¯t well versed in politics but something felt very wrong.

 Chapter 8

    Deep within the vibrant forests surrounding Lushwood, two powerful beings made an arrangement. The night prevented any vision as the first individual stepped out of the thicket. The meeting place was a small canyon with a large dead tree acting as a bridge above them.


    Kokoro looked around for any sign of the others. Eventually, the person he was looking for made their appearance on the other side of the canyon. The man smiled as he locked onto the cult leader, Azazel. He wore dark and ragged clothing despite his great fame as a terrorist. A deep scar lingered on his left eye. Kokoro could tell that it was a lichtenberg figure.


    ¡°Azazel, It¡¯s a pleasure to finally be meeting you.¡± Kokoro bowed in a sarcastic manner.


    ¡°How have your affairs been coming along?¡± He continued, asking a question he knew the answer to. Azazel was the leader of the Misos, a group pushing for human extinction but they weren¡¯t having much luck recently.


    Azazel bared his teeth in anger, ¡°Don¡¯t waste my time with your jokes! What do you want from me?¡± He spat.


    A pleased smile came from Kokoro as his soon to be accomplice grew irritated.


    ¡°I¡¯ve come to alleviate your troubles. Our visions of this world are not so different. We want nothing more than to be rid of the wretched creatures that plaque Coalesce. I believe we can both benefit from each other''s skills and resources.¡± The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Azazel narrowed his eyes, ¡°You¡¯re suggesting that we work together?¡± Skepticism was written all over the cult leader''s face.


    ¡°Our alliance will ensure both parties acquire what they want. Your men and supplies for control over Lushwood.¡± Kokoro stated his demands and what he had to offer. He was confident that the cultist would jump at the chance.


    Azazel scoffed at the idea, finding it to be deception of sorts.


    ¡°I fail to see how control over Lushwood will aid in killing humans. It hardly sounds like a beneficial bargain.¡± Kokoro wasn¡¯t discouraged though and decided to elaborate further.


    ¡°The Misos excel at clawing away their defenses but I can tear them apart from the inside. By gaining control, I will plant fear in Lushwood.¡± Azazel thought about it for a moment, seeing how it could prove fruitful. It was a solid idea but he still had one problem with Kokoro.


    ¡°And I''m supposed to believe that you¡¯ll follow through with your end of the deal? What will stop you from selling us out? You could be undercover for all I know.¡±


    Kokoro certainly didn¡¯t expect him to be so uptight. Azazel was desperate but even then he wouldn¡¯t risk losing their hold on Coalesce.


    ¡°You can believe me because we¡¯re working for the same person.¡± Azazel''s expression twisted into confusion at the statement.


    ¡°Your arm,¡± Kokoro gestured towards his left arm that had a long cape draped over it.


    ¡°You follow the will of our creator. His teachings are in that book. I can...feel it.¡± Azazel looked down at a thick book hooked onto his waist. He was no longer worried since no one knew of the book or his arm.


    ¡°I see, so you have been sent by him? Our god blesses us with his aid then. Perhaps I was wrong about you.¡± The cult leader smirked before stepping closer to Kokoro. He then held out his hand for Kokoro.


    ¡°Deal.¡±