Aurora had trained every day; from fencing to hand-to-hand combat, to gathering chi in one chosen body part, as well as the relieving of that same black chi and the seizing of the surrounding mana.
They did not attempt to raise one of the dead before reaching the last day. The ninth day. The clock pointers, throughout the house, rose a tone. The wind blew harder. A couple of the leaves in the forest were already air-dancing, their bodies of orange and yellow hues, resting on the ground. Every unidentified noise: a tree whose trunks trembled for a few seconds more, a flock of birds that left towards the horizon, all left them nervous, an extra layer of ever-present attention.
"Today is the day," Liu-Ken said. It was 9:00 in the morning and the two of them were already in the garden. It was colder than usual and the hairs on the back of their heads were lifted, "the day when you raise a body. We have been training for this."
"I'm ready. I will not fail this time. I can manipulate chi the way I want," Aurora replied.
"Don't get too cocky. Your training has just begun. You still have a lot to learn," Liu-Ken responded, getting a grunt in return. "Let's start with a quick practice," he added and threw one of the swords.
Aurora caught it up in the air and flung herself at the mentor. She was faster, stronger, and sharper. The swords crashed into each other and the metal sparks sprinkled onto the pebbles. The thundering, repetitive echoes frightened the birds on the riverside tree. Aurora proceeded to maneuver the sword, striking non-stop, not allowing Liu-Ken to breathe. The man backed down, one step at a time, deflecting all attacks with ease.
"The best defense is the attack," Aurora said, as her right arm swung, spinning, attacking, trying to find a breach in Liu's defense.
"I see you really liked that book. However, it is time to end this. Let us see if your defense is any good," Liu warned her.
Aurora witnessed the whole moment in slow-motion; the gray edge of the sword in a horizontal position, dropping close to the mentor's face, revealing a small, short, smile in the corner of his lips.
Liu-Ken rushed off like a bullet. His feet hovered above the ground, his hands swung at a dizzying speed, almost impossible to perceive. Aurora prevailed attack after attack even though she did not know where the sword was coming from. She could only glimpse one dozen arms and a dozen swords, all moving at the same time, from upper to lower and to the sides, as Liu-Ken whirled through the air, his body being one with the Dao. Liu's skin sweated, glowing, his sleeves rolling down to his elbow with each rapid movement.
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"Damn it. You were hiding all this," Aurora said, panting, her fingertips clenched around the sword finally slackening off.
"I warned you. You still have a lot to learn," he said.
Aurora's instincts had prevailed and that was the only reason she had managed to endure. She had decided not to use chi throughout the battle. She wanted to beat her master with only her base strength. However, within a minute, she was on the edge of the creek, one step away from falling into the water. The sole of her shoe brushed against the pebbles separating the soil from the water. Sweat ran down her forehead. The weakened sun arose behind some gray clouds, the few rays of light that remained over their bodies, only half the edges of the swords showing up on their sides. Liu-Ken struck a sharp blow to Aurora's sword handle and it leaped from her hands, the sharp part burying itself in the ground, meters away from her.
Liu-Ken lowered his sword and Aurora sighed with relief. As she was distracted, she did not even see her mentor's opposite hand rising. Liu put two fingers on Aurora's chest and shoved her. The girl ended up sinking into the creek.
"I'm glad you're having fun," Aurora said, as soon as she got out of the water and noticed that Liu had already sat on one of the chairs next to the table. "Can we get down to business?
"Not yet. I want to try something new. A visualization technique. Climb the rock. Meditate, get your chi under control and think about the future you want for yourself. Illustrate it in your own way. Once you feel you are ready, get up, and try to raise one of the dead."
"Do we have time for that?" Aurora asked, her eyes on the forest. She too felt the danger approaching, a ticking time bomb about to explode.
"Yes, we should have at least one more day. Tomorrow morning, we leave for the nearest town," he replied.
"Is there a purpose?"
"Yes. I'll be training you on the way. We must go to the Mizu School, the water element school.”
"It's your element, isn't it? Is that why you can't use Kagu's power to the fullest?"
"You've been paying attention. Yes, it's my element. I know someone there who might be able to give us shelter for a few days. At least, until we prepare our next move," Liu-Ken replied and paused, "Yes, too. But not only that. Not everyone can control the full power of a deity. I don't have the innate talent for it, let alone a body that can resist or suck the mana around fast enough to survive. Your father did. He controlled fire and darkness. His body had been shaped in the great volcanoes, from east to west, where he spent a season alone, in reflection. It was in one of them that he found this ring. The previous owner had grown tired of not being able to create a connection with the divinity and left it there. Later, he was murdered. Karma does not forgive those who dare to disrespect a god. But it doesn't matter anymore. Let's not waste any time. Do as you're told," he said.
Aurora's climbed back on the rock. Her frustration grew. She wanted to implement all the training she had had and finally raise one of the dead soldiers. It was her last attempt and there was no room for failure. She sat down, crossed her legs, and closed her eyes.
“A visualization technique…” she thought, “I know exactly what I want to see,”