Master Tallon Darkfist stood before Velea and I upon the sandy banks of the estuary opposite from the port city of Tanvu staring across the water at the governor's mansion that the Emperor had taken over for his own residence less than a year before. In his hands he held a scrap of parchment with the last words of a Lao'Jin monk killed by a kojuko manhunter on the roof of a nearby monastery. The chilly winter winds roared down the estuary making his robe and the scrap of parchment flutter. "The kojuko must be stopped, but first we have much training to do. The path to Lao'Jin is a long and difficult one, and I must see you further along it before I set you to cleansing this area of the kojuko infestation."
[More:]
"The Jin is spoken about differently by many. The Emperor condemns it, while villagers both praise and curse it. But your simple question is 'What is it?'"
"Jin is often spoken about as something intangible, but that is not always the case. Jin manifests itself to... special individuals. I believe the two of you may have already seen it."
He reached into his robes and withdrew two small pink crystals, and handed one to the disciple beside me, and one to myself. "I want you to take these small crystals and search nearby for physical manifestations of Jin. Let your instincts guide you. I shall explain more when you return."
Velea looked south-west along the beach, while I looked northeast for anything unusual, so she was the first to the faint glowing blue-green liquid light that seemed to pour itself through the air. Approaching the constantly moving bit of quicksilver, we took out the small gems and held them toward the spark. As they got closer, they seemed to vibrate and be drawn closer. Holding our breaths, not sure of what was about to happen, we touched the crystal to the manifestation. When the crystal touched the watery essence, something seemed to flow into the crystal, and up our arms, making them tingle and feel wet, though our clothes remained dry. Startled, we inspected the crystals, and discovered that there now appeared to be reflections of sea-grey that moved in ways that the reflections of the estuary didn't seem to match.
Thinking we had done as requested, we returned to Master Tallon, but he told us to go and seek more.
Inland from the estuary I saw a shrine lit from within by a light with a faint azure tinge. Heading that direction, we noticed a column of blue-white light sparkling in the very center of the hexagonal shrine. Again, Velea and I approached with our crystals out, and placed them in the column of light. A psychic shock jumped from the manifestation to the crystals, making us jump, though we felt nothing physical. Peering closely at the crystal, though mostly pink, there were now reflections of blue that mixed with the sea-grey in an intricate dance, yet it somehow seemed incomplete, so we went searching for more manifestations rather than return prematurely to the shifu again.
Finding the third manifestation took a bit of work. Behind the still smoldering ruins of Juu's old monastery, we found a grove of ancient, wind-shaped trees next to a ring of standing stones with a verdant wisp floating around them. Velea and I again touched the crystal to the bouncing wisp. This time the contact produced an itchy feeling on my arm around a half-healed cut from my battles with the kojuko at the temple behind us. Looking at spot, the scab had fallen away, and fresh skin shown where the scab had been covering the wound a few minutes before.
The fourth manifestation was located near another small shrine, almost more of a small shelter, along the northwestern ridge of the headland. While the others glowed with cool colors, this one was firey scarlet and yellow, and Velea and I approached it with some trepidation. Again, we extended the crystals toward the manifestation, and I admit to almost dropping the crystal when a sudden shock of heat prompted my arm to retract all by itself when the crystal and the manifestation met. Peering at the crystals, there now appeared to be the grey, blue, green, and orange lights dancing in a highly complimentary pattern. Thinking we may now have encountered enough manifestations: water, air, forest, and fire; Velea and I headed south-east across the headland to talk to Master Tallon again.
As we were passing his house, a young woman called us over. She introduced herself as Akomi, one of Master Tallon's disciples. She told us that she needed some mushrooms for the Master's dinner, but did not have the time to leave the other preparations to go get them. The type of mushroom that she needs grows atop rocky outcroppings, and she knows for a fact that there are some upon the monadnock to the northwest. Reaching the mushrooms proved challenging, involving some climbing and jumping from small perch to small perch, but Velea and I both persevered, and brought back a small handful each. When returned, Disciple Akomi gravely took the mushrooms from us, threw them to the ground, and stomped them into pieces. "You wanted these mushrooms, desired to give them to me. This is not the way of Jin! Do, but do not covet. Act with deliberation, but act not with desire. Go, Master Tallon waits for you on the strand."
Somewhat abashed, Velea and I went down the timber-held terraces from his house to the beach. We showed the crystals to Master Tallon. "Did you notice how the crystals have changed? These crystals have a peculiar relationship with Jin. While all living and non-living things are influenced by Jin, not excluding ourselves mind you, these crystals react uniquely. The crystals are able to somehow absorb Jin, and in doing so, trap it. What you have there could prove very dangerous in the wrong hands."
"The Jin is both a blight and blessing on this land. For centuries the Empire has taught warriors how to harness it, enabling them to defend us from foreign invaders. Unfortunately, the Empire's greatest enemies have always come from within."
"Lao'Jin is the term used to describe positive Jin. Ra'Jin is negative Jin. Right now, your crystal is neutral and can be charged either way. I would like you to choose one. Go to my disciple, Hirro, at the shrine where you found the flowing, airy manifestation. She will assist you."
Velea and I walked up the beach and found the female disciple. We bowed to her, and showed her the crystals as we explained what we were asked to do.
"Myself, Master Tallon, Master Kanjaro, Master Fhungusu – we all walk the path of the Lao'Jin. We have learned to harness the positive aspects of Jin. But choosing the path of the Lao'Jin is not always easy. Many warriors have chosen to follow Ra'Jin, succumbing to the allure of a darker power."
"Just because you choose a path now does not mean you must stick to it, but the further you go, the harder it is to turn back. However, be wary. Any path you choose will have unpredictable repercussions. You must be prepared to face them. Approach the essence in the center of the shrine when you have made your choice."
Velea and I agreed that we should take turns. I went first. As I approached the flowing essence at the center of the shrine with the crystal, I focused on the feelings of camaraderie I had for my new companion, of love for my sisters and the monks at the monastery where I grew up, and of the joy that had come to fill me since meeting Master Fhungusu. With these foremost in my mind, I touched the crystal to the pulsing light. A cold chill swept over me as the light surged and one of the crystal spirits, disembodied heads floating around the ceiling of the shrine, swooped at me, to drive me away. I ducked, and pressed forward, until the surging light drove the spirit back to the ceiling.
I watched Velea do the same, and then we both returned to Disciple Hirro. "So, you have both chosen to follow us on the path of Lao'Jin. I am pleased, as Master Tallon will be as well." She handed both of us a Lao'Jin Apprentice's tunic, and then told us to return to Master Tallon.
The Shifu on the docks commented that we had both come a long way since our days in the Imperial Army, but that we still have much to learn. Then he told us to sit, at which Velea and I sank to our knees in the waiting posture that was second nature to both of us. "We have not always hidden in small villages and shacks outside Tanvu. Before the Ulvari came, our school stood proud. Our students were honored and revered. But times have changed."
"The Emperor refused to aid us in the battle against the Ulvari; instead, he blamed us for their incursion. We are no longer welcome."
"Hidden nearby is the Ghost Wind Academy, one of the last remaining compounds where Lao'Jin can be studied. I want you to go there and speak with the Headmaster. We are done for now."
So Velea and I headed north, with a letter of introduction to Master Yaol, our next trainer.
