Summer roared to life across the lands.

Numerous days and nights passed by in what felt like a flash. A new light settled over the children. The blessed rays of the summer season glowed a vibrant heated orange. Such a season exalted by its overwhelming presence of the Sun, a truly sacred time of the year for the Paladinian people. For the Sunretsu clan.

An entire year had come and gone, the first of four that the children would endure if they ever wished to hold the warrior mantle. If they wished to obtain their birthright. Graduation afoot as the children grew into their next stage of the bloodline: class Ia. Luminous supergiants.

Awarded with the simple declaration by Nari in the courtyard, blood and earth houses moved forward in their pathways to warriordom. The eldest houses were deployed into their stations across the domain. From them, two new Sun Kissed Warrior squads departed under the High Priest’s decree. Their part to play in the Sunretsu clan predetermined.

The marked children of the Ia blood house only had one thought in mind: to train.

They had come to master the basic fighting forms of Paladinian tradition. Those passed down from Amaterasu altered to fit the lives of the children brought up under the importance of their lives serving a greater purpose. Their bodies conditioned for the next step of intensive training.

Specialization.

Yet beforehand, judgment had to be laid down. A change of winds brought a change of pace for the children of all households, one of loss.

Morning struck the sky with a vibrant golden glow.

Takeo walked up the solemn steps to the second floor of the household. A quiet morning he intended to keep that way as he remained light on his feet, not a creak to be heard. Pulling out a glowstone, the tender gleam of the light danced over the children's faces. Such a tender earth-bound flame. Little by little, weary and beaten eyes blinked open under the luminous blue shine. Eyelids pried open a tad earlier than expected, minds racing at the ominous shadow of their teacher hovering over them.

“It’s time,” Takeo muttered.

They immediately knew what he meant, what was to come.

Without another word, the boys sprung upright off of their mats. Dusting themselves off and splashing water in their faces, they leapt into the morning that awaited them. Quick to grab their training gear, yet opposition flooded into their ears.

“Don’t put it on, there’s no need.” Takeo reprimanded with a head tilt directed down the stairs.

A mix of gulps and muffled worries laced the children’s lips as they followed him out. This morning one that brought them to the edge. Unsure where they stood.

Lining up in an orderly fashion, the children’s morning was greeted with the likes of the entire board of Harion. Nari overwatching from the temple grounds only offered her distant presence to those about to depart. Yet all crumpled beneath the fear of what was to come, to hear the final judgment of their first year's roundup.

Arms crossed behind his back, Takeo bit the bullet and huffed an egregious sigh.

“To those that have earned the right to stay, know that were proud. That you’ve accomplished what many could only dream of seeing, of becoming. But not everyone gets to step into the light,” Head dipped forward, he darted his gaze across the sea of anxious eyes glistening in front of him. “Ryu, Saburo, Yutaka, Amida, and Ena. Come with us.” Takeo relayed without another word of explanation.

The four souls were plucked from the rows of children, spirits crushed as they swayed to the front of the group. While it wasn’t said directly it was already known. Their time in Harion was at its end.

A few whispers broke out amidst the relief of others.

“Heh, imagine being them,” Torio joked with a hearty jab into Shizu’s side.

“Wait, you weren’t called?” Shizu whispered to him.

“Okay, I see,” Torio mumbled as he tossed his hands back into the air.

“You know what, I think they did call your name,” Eiko muttered with a strained chuckle.

“Probably called yours then too,” Kono shot back with a wry smile.

“Moon believer,” Eiko grumbled.

Flick.

With a swift smack of justice, Kono delivered a prick of silence to Eiko’s skin. Eyeing each other, their feud kept them distracted from the downfall of their piers. This dispute was a much saner option to pass the time.

Kiyo and Shoma just watched in careless silence. To them, these people were nothing more than unknown faces of those they hadn’t grown attached to. Souls lost in the background of the other children they were striving to rise above.

But Daisuke was distracted by something else, someone else. Takeo. His eyes were a little glossy from shallow waters, emotions springing a leak. The stone-faced composure cracked by glistening tears smudged out across his cheeks. His inner feelings conflicted with his decision.

Or was it something else?

I. . .don’t understand. I thought this was apart of this all, so why’s he sad? Daisuke pondered to no end.

Three of the members of Torio’s group and two from Shizu’s fell to the will of the Sun, removed from the warrior’s path. Their birthright was stripped from them as they were hauled out of Harion. Yet no one cried for them, called out their names, or even said goodbye.

It wasn’t a moment of grief.

It was one of silent celebration.

Five children were carted out of the city and taken back to their homes as disappointments to the Sunretsu clan. Forced to live the rest of their days under the Sun making up for the lost potential within them. Working within the woods, fields, or foot soldiers for their town. Those who ventured out of the Sun’s decree were exiled or even worse.

There was no escaping fate. Not even in death.

Only five would become true warriors, the rest footman, guardians, or maidens of the Sunretsu clan. Those with far lower status and prestige would never uncover the lengths of their true potential. Wasted lives thrown into the fray.

“The rest of you, starting next week, we specialize.” Takeo gestured to the sparring grounds with a swift wave of his arm. “I suggest you train for it.”

With that seed of thought planted in their heads, they all dashed inside and slid into their training gear within seconds. This day was their last to go by the known routine, all the children dividing up into their groups to spar. But how could someone get over what they just witnessed?

“They're really gone.”

“I know, right?”

“Ryu wasn’t thaaaat bad. Better than Torio.”

“That’s what I said.”

“Yutaka and Saburo. They were really freaking annoying, to be honest.”

“I thought teacher wasn’t serious.”

“Thank the Sun Amida’s gone. She was so weird.”

Every person fed into themselves, into their vengeful pride, tearing up those that had just departed. Yet the very same could happen to them in months time. Five seats were all that could keep them from such a fate. Nineteen boys and six girls all fighting for the same destiny.

Yet Daisuke couldn’t get that look out of his mind. Takeo’s face blinded his focus as training dragged on through the day. Through the array of fists and kicks he just couldn’t get it out of his head.

A longing for answers drew his focus to the temple. Unsure of where else to turn, such thoughts were left in the dark over matters like this. Takeo was the only one he could confront, but Daisuke couldn’t find a reason to. Stuck yearning for the answer to just land on his lap, for everything to make sense. What was to come of his future if it wasn’t here? What if he was next to leave?

Whoosh—bang!

Eiko’s left fist socked Daisuke across the left side of his face, caught off guard mid-spar as bloodied spit flew into the air. Tainted rain that dotted the slick surface beneath their soles. Falling with the motions without a care in the world for the pain, he remained invested in what truths lay beyond the temple walls. What there was to uncover.

“Holy Sun!” Kono yelled as he ran over to the square.

“It wasn’t—I didn’t—he was supposed to dodge and—you know, not get hit?” Eiko rambled in an effort to clear himself of blame.

“Yeah, dodge. Right.” Kono rolled his eyes and lunged over to Daisuke. “At least help him up.”

“I—fine, yeah, fine,” Eiko grumbled, out of excuses to conjure.

Daisuke grasped at his chin as Kiyo and Eiko took a hand and lifted him to his feet. Left with a prick in his cheek, Daisuke dipped his finger into the shallow hole. Swirling it around, he brought it out into the light, the damage done by his piranha-like shape teeth glistening in the sunlight. A dashing scarlet that only drew awe from the child. Such pain reminiscent of home, of that day in the woods.

What have I accomplished since then?

“Watch where you fall next time,” A girl blabbed from behind.

“Sorry, I was—dis. . .tractor,” Daisuke mumbled as he straightened up.

But all the words fumbled out of his mouth as he turned around to see who it was. Thrown back a couple of feet from the impact, his body had impeded on the space of another group’s training. Miki’s group specifically. Two of her friends stood idle at her side. The outer walling of what lied within.

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On the right side was Millie. Topped with vibrant short-cut white hair and golden strands intermixed was uncharacteristically athletic for someone her size, arms flexed as she helped Miki stand upright. Her butterscotch beady eyes stared daggers into Daisuke, casting full blame on him. Shinya on the left stood far above the rest of the girls, towering like a near giant to them with her colorless white golden speckled eyes gazing down on them. A crow of golden hair with white streaks to match her reign.

But Daisuke didn’t even notice them. They could be blurs on the horizon to him, nothing of importance next to Miki. His emerald love-locked gaze said it all as he went numb. Eiko just sighed at his friends' overwhelming emotions as Kiyo rolled his eyes, both not the type to understand Daisuke’s fascination. All too young.

“She’s a what?” Millia called out as she stomped over to the awestruck Daisuke. Cracking her knuckles, the bruises that stained her fists were signs enough for what was to come.

Death was imminent.

“Your turn,” Kono whispered with an elbow into Eiko’s ribs.

“Uh—nuh uh. It’s yours,” Eiko jabbed back.

“I mean, to be fair, you hit him.” Kono relayed with another jab.

“Well—dang it” Eiko grumbled to himself as he accepted clean-up duty, a weekly endeavor.

Taking responsibility and putting his life on the line, Eiko slid in between Daisuke and the oncoming unstoppable object. With arms spread out wide, Eiko acted as a wall as he tried to diffuse the situation. Kono and Shoma watched from behind with laughter bubbling their Staring down at Eiko, she glanced between him and their mouths, just able to hold it in. Kiyo stepped away from the confrontation. Face drained of all color. The eerie presence of the girls was too much for him to handle.

Eiko left to deal with it all. To save Daisuke.

“Swear I’m gonna beat those Moon rock assholes,” Eiko grunted to himself.

“What was that?” Millie pipped up, turning her attention to Eiko.

Sweat trickled down Eiko’s forehead as he took notice of the beast in his midst. Millie was an unnatural feat of nature, how she was born a mystery in and of itself. Mind at a crossroads for how to get out of this situation, Eiko gulped down the misconstrued nerves and let his natural self take over.

Mistake number one.

“Look. . .to be fair, it was just a little tiny teeny accident. And hey, no one was hurt, so with that in mind. . .”

Eiko looked between the girl’s faces with a plastered grin, arms held out as he tried to appeal to them with whatever charm he could muster. But when you have zero, you can’t really do much.

“We good?” He asked, will quivering.

“If he apologizes,” Shinya muttered, crossing her arms.

“Apologize. . .sure, he’s sorry. We good?”

Shinya flowed her radiance freely into her right hand, fist steaming as she amped up her threat. Stepping forward, she thumped Eiko on the chest with her heated fingers, such tenacious power in such a gigantic frame.

“He. Apologizes.” Shinya said, pointing at the bumbling love-struck idiot that was Daisuke.

“I did, isn’t that enough? Like, what else do you want from him? His life?” Eiko relayed.

“Hi,” Daisuke muttered with a shy wave, eyes locked with Miki.

Not the time rock for brains. Eiko thought at the sound of Daisuke’s nervous tone.

“Yes, actually she does.” Millie blurted out abruptly.

“I didn’t ask you—-pebble.” Eiko spat back without a second thought, his next mistake.

“Pebble?” Millie repeated as she eased toward him.

“Yeah. Peb—”

Smack!

Mistake number two.

Eiko lost his words as Millie slapped them right out of his mouth, his right cheek burnt by the sudden fiery impact. Skin left numb with a prickly sting, he clutched his face swaying side to side.

“Okay, fine. Fine! He’ll—”

Bang—thud!

And that was three. The time to negotiate ended. With a burst of brutal energy Shinya shut Eiko up as her fists buried themselves in his face. To say the least, it was slightly overkill. His senses were knocked right out of him. A little river of blood drizzled out of his nose as drool filled his mouth. Mind at a loss for what happened, focus sent into the sky that couldn’t stop spinning.

“Hey. Get up.” Kiyo muttered, tapping the side of Eiko’s head with his foot.

Still caught up in the strange beat in his chest, Daisuke watched as the girls walked away. Millie and Shinya bad-mouthed the boys, laughing at their weakness while they returned to training. But Miki looked back. Beneath the disgust, sunshine peeked through, a little laughter cracking her lips.

She. . .laughed. Daisuke thought.

“C’mon, let’s get back to training,” Kono said, patting Daisuke on the back.

Snapping out of the trance, Daisuke nodded and made his way back over with Kono. Beside them, Kiyo and Shoma dragged a broken Eiko across the gravel. Confrontation solved. But Daisuke’s attention had already shifted back to the temple, too many questions in his head to ignore it.

He had to know.

…

The full Moon rose over the Sun, a wave of starry darkness crashing over the skies with it.

Night settled over Harion, the blood Ia house all at rest. Anticipation only rose for the impending specialization, dreams spent imagining what awaited them. But Daisuke couldn’t think of such wonders. Tossing and turning, he couldn’t find peace in the night amidst the questions.

He smacked his lips and sat upright, rubbing his eyes as he cut off what grip sleep had on his restless vessel. Looking for comfort there was only one person to turn to, but he was beyond asleep. Kiyo remained busy in rest, focused on quelling the severe urge of the radiance within him to make it through the night. To not lose control.

“Kiyo. . .you awake?” Daisuke whispered.

But there was no response to be heard, only the grumbles of a few light sleepers nearby.

Daisuke sighed and stretched his arms into the air. Out of options in slumber, he took his worries over to the windowsill. No life was to be seen amidst the gravel and paved stone that defined the courtyard, and no known guardians either. No one except a single soul sat on the temple's front steps.

Takeo.

No way. . .Can I? No, I have to. Just go quick, real quick. How could they know? Daisuke debated in his head, a resilient spirit pushing him to break the rules this once.

Tip-toeing down the steps, Daisuke snuck out of the house and dashed across the courtyard in his bare sleeping garments. The thin layer was nothing more than a tattered undersuit for his training gear. But it did its job, comfort found in the rest it provided.

At the base of the front steps, Daisuke came to a halt. Checking the coast was clear, he searched for Takeo, but he was nowhere to be seen. Just gone. Disappointment pulled at Daisuke’s face as he climbed the steps, each sway of his body disjointed and hopeless.

“Daisuke?” Takeo muttered from behind a pillar atop the steps.

“Eee!” Daisuke squealed as a chill raced down his spine. Slowly swiveling back around, Daisuke’s nerves simmered at the sight of Takeo.

“Oh. . .teacher, I was just—walking and I saw you. . .I just had a question?” Daisuke asked as he crept over to Takeo, hands held at his stomach.

“Ask away.” Takeo nodded with a smack of his lips.

But he couldn’t. There were too many to sort through to just pick one, and being put on the spot didn’t help in the slightest. Nerves spiking and the awkward silence between them growing, Daisuke plucked one out of the horde.

“Are you—okay?” Daisuke muttered.

“Am I—yes, I’m fine.” Takeo paused, a little thrown off by the gesture, able to see through it clear as day. “There’s something else, isn’t there?”

Daisuke nodded as he descended the stairs to Takeo’s side. Plopping down on the bottom step, the connection drawn in the past was finally able to step back into the limelight. Something he needed to say out loud.

“And thank you—for back in the woods, in Nippon. . . you saved us,” Daisuke slipped out, hiding his nerves as he gazed at the stars overhead.

“Oh. . .you’re welcome,” Takeo muttered, caught off guard once again.

Silence rolled in as the conversation died down. Not a soul was near to affront it, only the cool breeze of the night accompanied them. A brittle chill against their skin.

Lost in the stars above, Daisuke remained encapsulated by the stories wrapped within them. The countless warriors that gave their lives up for the Sunretsu clan, now free to rule the night. Remembered until the end of time.

But in that wonder, a question came to light. One that needed an answer.

“Teacher. Am I strong enough?” Daisuke forced out anxiously.

“No,” Takeo replied, no time given to even consider such a question.

“What?” Daisuke murmured, overrun with worry.

“You—lack the connection to your inner potential. You focus too much on those around you and not on yourself.” Takeo paused and let out a heavy sigh. “You're falling behind.”

He was right. Daisuke nodded and turned his focus back to the stars above. With the truth blasted into his ears, he could no longer hide from reality. As the Sun was bright, he was weak. Yet he smiled. Memories flooded his mind at the thought of such a weakness of himself, of the people that helped him get to such a glorious place.

Family, friends, and all others in Nippon. His and their future rode on his success, his growth.

“I know,” Daisuke replied.

“It’s only going to get harder, and as it is, I don’t see you ascending,” Takeo admitted.

Daisuke could only nod, head hung forward as the weight piled on his back. His future was slipping further and further from his grasp. What was once in arms reach now seemed miles away, a blip on the horizon, a star in the night sky.

“But—there’s something more.” Interest piqued, Daisuke came down from the stars to peer into Takeo’s eyes. Into the truth. “It seems Kiyo depends upon you.”

“No, he rarely ever needs—”

“We see it. Daisuke, we’ve all been watching you both.” Takeo cut in, leaning into his words.

“But even if—”

“That’s why you can’t be let go. For the Sun’s will to be achieved, you must continue to be at his side. To control what we can’t. The blessing of the most high.” Takeo proclaimed, right hand waving through the open air.

Daisuke curled his lips, unsure whether to smile or frown. It was such a bittersweet thought to break down. His use reduced to a handler of greater power. His friend, Kiyo, the chosen one. A potential savior.

“He’s already being sorted for his warrior position, but you—” Takeo shifted over and closed the distance, close and personal with Daisuke who sat inches away. “—you need to show us you can control him. Even when he lashes out. To do that you must be better than him. Stronger than him. You must rise above it all. Understood?” Takeo questioned with a thump against Daisuke’s chest.

Hesitancy laced Daisuke’s thoughts, but he did understand the meaning between the lines delivered. His purpose not of his own but of the Sun’s. With a shallow nod, he confirmed such an understanding.

Takeo rose to his feet and stepped back toward the temple, looking over his shoulder with the last few words on his mind. The last bit of advice he could provide.

“Don’t get left behind. I don’t want to have to replace you. . .like I was.”

Daisuke jumped up to his feet and spun around, his emerald eyes were vibrant as the gears turned in his mind. A subtle connection made, Takeo’s pull toward those banished from the warrior life.

“Were you. . .left behind? I mean—did you pass the trials?” Daisuke blurted out.

“No. . .not all of them.” The words crashed onto the floor with such solemn tenacity. A story to be told in the buried memories of a past Takeo wished to forget. To ignore.

“I only got so far, but I fell short. I lost—everything. But I was given a new purpose.” Takeo muttered through a tender smirk.

“What was that?” Daisuke chimed in, roped in by interest.

“Training you. The future. To be what I never could.”

It was like a thunderous bell rang throughout Daisuke’s vessel. There and then, he saw himself in the man standing before him, one held down by his past mistakes and rendered only to go so far as those around him dictated. He sympathized with Takeo, their paths all not too far apart.

Both created to serve, one in the same.

“That’s my true goal, my purpose. You all will surpass me. . .even you,” Takeo said firmly, no slack in his tone.

Night at its end, Takeo turned to leave, to retire for the night. But Daisuke couldn’t hold it anymore. Emotions on high, the truth was drowned out by desire. By a promise.

“I. . .will. I’ll surpass you, Monterio, even—Kiyo!” Daisuke stomped his foot and clenched his fists at his sides. “Watch me!!” He cried out into the night. Huffing in frigid breaths to regain his composure, he could only read Takeo’s initial response through the tension in his back. A loose yet rigid fold, gripped by the impactful words of a child.

“I know you will.” Takeo snuck out right as he dipped into the temple. “You’re the only one who can.”