Chapter 21: Brother Bothers

Chapter 21: Brother Bothers

Sakura

Gamera escorted me down another flight of stairs that seemed to go on forever until we reached a large open cavern. It was lit by several floating balls of gentle light that gave everything the feeling of mid day. We had emerged into the cavern onto a small plateau that overlooked densely packed homes and sprawling rice fields below. A warm breeze lifted my hair and filled my face as I stared.

It was a beautiful sight. One I knew I had never seen before, in either life.

Welcome to my lunges, child. Gamera chuckled as I gave him a blank look. Well, my subsidiary lounges anyway. In order to cultivate deep metal veins, I have to shut down several major body processes. Such as the active filtering of air into my actual lunges. So, when I submerge my body, I build mana constructs, such as these caverns that are designed to absorb moisture, and other things that would be bad if they got into my body. The fact it provides a haven for your familys people and structures is another bonus.

But I dont recognize any of these buildings, I said, searching through Sakuras memories.

Look closer. They may be in different locations than you are used too, but I am sure you will find some familiarity. There, for example. He pointed a clawed hand towards the far side of the cavern.

The Familial Palace sat on a small hill on the far side of the cavern. Surrounded by fields that were being tended by farmers, and cherry blossom trees. The largest tree of its kind I had ever seen was at the center of the palace, and Sakura knew that there was something special about it. She, I, had sat under it during most of my meditation and cultivation sessions.

Thats enough gawking, little mouse. We have places to get.

Were just going to walk all the way there? I was already pretty tired from my hick up the mountain. I didnt know if I could finish this one without sleep, and a good meal first.

What? No. Im too old and lazy for that. Well take the gondola.

***

The Gondola reminded me of the train system back on Earth. But instead of riding on top of rails, it hung down from a set of mana infused ropes suspended from the top of the cavern. A young cultivator used mana to propel it along, taking us along with a handful of other people in a straight line to the far side.

I watched the ground pass below. The dense city buildings where most of our people lived their lives were practically empty. Most of the commoners left this morning to gather and hunt outside. Apparently, the rice fields arent enough to sustain the population by themselves. Let alone the cultivation needs of the nobility.

Gameras voice was dismissive, but I could tell from the way he watched the few people still around as they went about their business that he was nearly as fascinated as I was. Farmers farmed, merchants sold their wears, and children played in the streets games that neither Sakura nor Genji knew how to play.

The city was small for the capital of a duchy, but if she counted the entirety of those who lived on or within Gamera the tortious, it rivaled most others. The city took up about a quarter of the space in the cavern, right at its heart. The fields took up another two quarters. What was left was filled with either palatial estates, minor sect schools, or temples to the various spirits and minor gods that made their home within the cavern, and when Gamera was mobile, on his back.

But I also knew that there were other places where people lived. Small villages high in the mountains, sect temples, or towns tucked away in small valleys high on the twin peaks. I had visited many of them as a child and had grown to enjoy the people there. Hard-working, hardy folk, dedicated to tending the little land they were intrusted with.

My eyes landed on something interesting near the end of our time on the gondola. Gamera? What is that? I pointed down to where a gathering of folk were building what looked like stone seating, arranged in a circle.

Theyre rebuilding the stadium for the tournament of choosing. You dont think the Choosing is just a time for celebration among your family and mine do you? All the duchy celebrates. The lesser nobility and peasant cultivators take part in games and displays of craftsmanship. There is even a fighting tournament. Single elimination. Your younger brother has received permission from your parents to join the junior division since his recent mastery of his first spells.

He mastered a spell? Which one? I had known he was working on doing so. He was a low Iron, in cultivation, but was much better at magic.

Two actually. But Ill let him show you.

***

The Familial Palace was a contradiction of sorts. The buildings were tall and tightly packed, with covered walkways that connected them. The rooms inside were designed for function, and little else. Spartan and austere, but capable of housing hundreds of people. A couple of thousand perhaps if we squeezed several people to a room.nôvel binz was the first platform to present this chapter.

Outside, however, was entirely different. The courtyards were large and well-tended, small gardens dotted them, and trees of various kinds that made up an exotic tapestry of colors stood as living statues.

Gamera left me at the entrance, and instructed me to find him in an hour for training before he wandered off into the sprawling outer gardens and hedgerows. Servants helped take my few possessions, my clothes, and the gifted box of silkworms, to my rooms in the rear building, allowing me to wander the place and become acquainted with the sights and places from Sakuras memories.

I found my quarters in the rear building, the one building in the complex that had a little more than the bare minimum of the comforts of life. Our rooms were a bit larger than those in the rest of the complex, and the stones were heated through simple enchantments Yu had placed years ago.

I found a small sand garden behind it, one Sakura had only lose memories of having previously been filled with raised garden beds. Now, instead of green and growing plants, there was only sand, and a stone path that lead in a circle.

A young man I instantly recognized was standing on the central stone, one leg raised on the tips of his toes. He was shirtless, wearing white loose pants designed for martial arts. His eyes were closed. He shifted stances several times as I watched, and I felt a sense of pride at how hard he had been working.

Youve made a lot of improvements Rayce, I found myself saying. Rayce, my younger brother by a little less than a year, stopped his slow-moving kata and opened his eyes.

Oh, hi Sakura. He sounded abnormally calm. From Sakuras memories, this kid had been nearly hyperactive. Glad youre home and healthy.

I smiled as I leaned against the stone pillars that surrounded the sand garden. It was odd, seeing him here so changed, and only knowing him from memories I hadnt yet fully sorted through. Your birthday happened while we were gone, didnt it?

Rayce fought a slight frown from crossing his face, but I was familiar with his mannerisms and caught it. Yes. Yes, it did. Though you living and being hale and whole are all the blessings, I can ask of the Gods.

Okay, who is this kid? Hes got the brains, I can see that clearly. But wheres the hyperactivity? The constant fidgeting? This isnt the Rayce Sakura knew. Not even close. Youre twelve now. Technically, were the same age. At least for a few months.

Rayce did frown this time. Yes. And well both be doing the choosing together. How do you feel about that? Do you feel ready?

For the choosing? I dont know. I spoke to Raif about it, but he wasnt all that helpful.

You spoke with Uncle Raif?

Oh, thats right. He practically idolizes the guy, doesnt he? Yeah. We ran into him on our way home. He was visiting a friend of his as we were passing through the eastern forests.

Thats His composure broke then, and the calm centered Rayce was replaced with the one I was familiar with. Thats not fair! You didnt even earn time with him, I bet. He just gave it to you. Rayce stood there fuming, trying to get himself under control.

I, It wasnt like that.

I bowed from the waste. Yes, master Gamera. Thank you. When I righted myself, Gameras neck had bent down, and his face was level with me. He had closed one eye and was staring at me with the other. I didnt feel his presence wash over me, or any other kind of magical scan. But still, I felt uneasy under his gaze.

Formality will get you places, girl. But there is no need to use it as a shield here. As your brother said, we are family. Even if you are young, neive, and weak as a kitten before a Cherry Blossom Lion. I see youve changed a bit since last you walked my shell, yes. You have changed much. For the better in some ways to be sure, though. It is yet to be seen if you have experienced setbacks. Your soul is unsettled.

His eye got closer and closer until I felt forced to lean back away from him. Gamera harrumphed, then moved towards a table that held a set of weapons on pedestals.

As I said. Competition, along with cultivation and mana reinforcement, are what you need to ascend properly in so short a time. Sakura, despite your lack of spell mastery, you are slightly further along in that regard. But well get to that in a moment. As for the competition aspect of things, you will both be entering the Choosing Games in the martial arts tournament.

Rayce pumped a fist. Yes! I practically begged mother and father to let me start last year at the new year festival but they said I was too young. Thank you, master Gamera!

Some real world experience against trained opponents near your own age will do you both well.

Um. I My voice trailed off as it started to close. I had never, once, done anything like that in either life. Yes, Sakura had learned some basics of self defense, and she had learned to use a bow for hunting and target practice. But she had never had to use any of those skills. While Genji had avoided physical altercations as much as possible. I was in no way equipped for a tournament.

Yes Sakura? The old tortoise turned his one piercing eye on me again, as if trying to take in my every expression.

I, Ive never. Ive never done anything like that before. Not really.

Ah. I see the problem. Do not worry Sakura. Powerful magicians and cultivators have enchanted and inscribed the fighting grounds. You saw them hard at work as we were on our way here. Those enchantments will keep you from getting harmed beyond scrapes and bruises. And will quickly heal you should things get out of hand. But if you are to walk the path of cultivation, then you must become familiar with pain, little mouse.

Thats not it. I understand pain. I, its, that Ive never struck someone and meant it before. I felt my face burn as I forced the words out.Youve scrapped with me plenty of times.

When we were little, maybe. But youre my brother. Not some random person. That big eye got right up in my face again and began examining every inch of my reaction. Ive sparred before, but it was always with padded weapons or gloves. II dont know if I can intentionally hurt someone like that.

Hmmm. Every member of this family, both inner and outer, must learn to protect themselves and be willing to strike down an enemy. If not to protect themselves, then to protect others.

But, what if

Say it, little mouse. What bothers you?

What if I like it?

Rayce laughed, but Gamera quieted him with a raised claw. He ran his claw through my hair, idly removing it from in front of my face so he could get a better look.

You worry you will become cruel. Yes? I nodded. Indeed, there is much that has changed in you little mouse. You worry about imperfection in your own motivations. Something you had never considered before. Yes. Much, much change.

How do you know that? I asked, incredulous. How could an old tortoise man who had, for all intents and purposes, never met Sakura, let alone Genji before, know that about me?

Gamera chuckled as he stood back to his full, comfortable height. You have lived on my shell since you were born, little mouse. Running in its cracks and crevices, laughing, crying, scraping your knee when you played to rough, or fell from trees you were climbing. Ive seen you work with those who had little in the way of things or opportunities to give them stability and a new chance at life. Ive seen you be kind, and at times unintentionally cruel to those below you. You have always been bright little mouse, with a good heart pointed in the right directions. But you are young, very young even for your species. And the young lack wisdom. Until something happens to them, and they gain the first seeds of it.

He looked up at the ceiling for a moment, as if contemplating something. I see not just a growing seed, little mouse. But a sapling, about to bud its first bloom. You are still young, but you have grown. Which is why you are too wise not to understand. You must protect yourself, and have a duty to protect those around you.

I I remembered the village, and the feeling I felt walking among villagers, talking with them. Seeing them go about their lives, as small as they were. Those lives, they were worth living. And so, they were worth protecting. If I were to keep my promise, I would have to learn to do just that. To protect. I understand.

Good. Now, here we have the six holy weapons of the nobility. The fan, used largely by those who focus on keeping an enemy at a distance. The fan is usually made of jade or other precious stone or metal, and they are great as a mana focus. Increasing spell efficiency, particularly for water and air-based spells. Their weakness is, while they can defend with the wicked spikes that hold the fan together, they are not ideal for close in fighting. Those who use the fan are typically Controllers. Those who use spells and techniques who control the field. Such large spells require much mana and chie to power, and the increased efficiency helps dramatically.

He motioned to the next three in line. These are the blades. The Jian, He pointed twoards, one that was long and straight, with a wicked-looking point. Mainly used by soldiers as it is easy to maintain, and easy to repair. The Katana.

This blade was long, longer than the Katana my father had shown me in their shrine before that year had gone badly. But it was shaped in a similar way, though clearly intended for two handed use rather than for switching between one and two hands. The Katana is used largely in the Eastern Kingdom. Though your father has shown a liking to it as it is a rugged blade. And last, a Full Tang. It was a massive sword, with a blade as long as the handle. This is used primarily by priests when fighting demons and pacifying spirits. But it can be useful for chie expression.

Gamera moved on to the last two items. They were some kind of sword-spear, and a black box. This is a Naginata. The traditional weapon of the southern kingdom. Useful for blade work from horseback, or mounted on any other steed. Even a Gamera or Kame. The old tortious got a mischievous look in his eyes. This one was your uncle Raifs first blade. Before he forged one with his own chie as he ascended into the noble realms.

Can I? Rayce asked, and the old tortoise lifted the weapon effortlessly and placed it in my brothers hands. Rayces eyes were enormous, and the blade seemed to hum lightly.

Send a trickle of chie and mana through it. Let us see how it reacts.

Rayce did, and it glowed with a warm yellow light. I hear something in my head.

Yes. Training weapons like this have the most basic techniques imprinted inside them. If you listen closely to the weapon, you will learn the fundamentals of its use.

Thank you. Rayces eyes brimmed with emotion and the tortoise man chuckled.

Yes yes. Go try it out. Back up the stairs with you to the sandpit. Ill be up in a few hours to see how you are coming along. Rayce walked out of the room, only until he was out of direct eyesight. Then I heard his steps pick up to a desperate run.

Now for you Sakura. Do any of these weapons seem interesting to you? They all have the same educational enchantments as your brothers Naginata.

I examined each of them closely before shaking my head. None of them seemed right. The closest was the fan, as I wanted nothing to do with getting in close with an enemy if I could help it.

Then lets look at this last item. He used a long claw to open the black box to reveal a set of three sharp looking knives with thin silk ropes attached to them.. These are throwing knives. The rope attaches to your belt. When you throw the knife and you either will it back, or it reaches the end of its rope, the knife will reappear in its carrier on your belt.

I examined them closely, running my fingers over the metal and the ropes. I felt something inside the metal speak to my mind. It showed me images of me throwing the knives at a shadowy opponent, and them reappearing in the three sheath carrier on my belt. Then it showed me an image of me imbuing the knives with mana, and them catching fire as I threw them at that same shadow.

Images kept coming into my mind as I touched them until I placed them back in the box. I think these will work. At least for now, I dont want to get too close to people.

Wise. Throwing daggers of returning, it is. Good choice, little mouse. Now, follow me. We have some work to do before tomorrows tournament.