The academy is back in operation as the first years have passed the entrance exam.

Life as a second year isn't particularly different from my first year.

The lectures are open to all who are eager to learn.

Despite the trials that he experienced last year, Robert is lax in his studies in the beginning.

"You have to live on the razor's edge, Adam."

He spreads his arms.

"Spending nights with beautiful ladies and good friends while also passing the exams. That is the true purpose of our education."

"That's contingent on you passing the exams," I point out.

"He chuckles, "Oh, my little friend, that will hardly be a problem."

"I'm not tutoring you again."

His smug confidence crumbles as he turns to his desk and sifts through miscellaneous notes.

After a review of my paperwork, I leave the dorm and find myself at the temple.

As I enter the giant wooden structure, I hear the hushed whispers of the gods.

Only the Buddha stands apart, not given to gossip as the vain gods and goddesses are.

I see him meditating under the Buddha's statue.

"Old soul," he says as I approach. "It is good to see you again."

I sit down across from him.

"Your spirit is strong."

He smiles, "Thank you."

"Can you tell me what the gods are discussing today?"

He straightens his spine.

"The gods talk of war. The god of battle and the goddess of the hunt grow in power as they are sought for their wisdom."

I find myself dreading what I know is coming.

"The gods say that...," he pauses. "They say that the dead will rise."

Kati, the monk, is shaken.

"I do not understand it."

I feel like I do. And, I let my breath escape me.

"Thank you," I say as I stand to leave.

"Old soul," the man calls after me. "Who were you?"

I shrug with a wry smile. I can't help but feel that is a question I will have to answer at some point.

"Good night, Kati."

My routine carries me through the season. And, I continue to score well on the exams.

I find Ben, the top-ranked student, to be an excellent teacher. I find myself wondering if he won't just get recruited into the Royal Academy faculty when he graduates.

Siri confuses me when we meet.

I know she enjoys herself when in out exchange. But, I can't figure out why she closes herself off from me.

"What is it?" I ask over my sword.

She is stirred from her thoughts.

"What's wrong, Siri?"

She lets her guard drop.

She sighs, "My father is thinking about canceling our arranged marriage."

I feel like she just punched me in the gut.

"There's a young lord from a more renowned family. Father said he'll wait till after graduation to announce the nullification."

Her eyes grow watery. But, she holds herself back from letting her tears fall.

"If we have a year," I say. "Then there's time."

Time to do what, I do not know.

She breaks from her anxiety and charges me, tears stinging her eyes.

I fall back from her assault and we return to our dance.

Night and day pass on an ever-forward projection.

Time seems to be passing faster than the first year

"You're not gonna believe this," someone whispers. "That insurgent, the one from 20 years ago, he's back."

Excitement carries over the room.

"Bullshit. You're talking about Meridian. He's been dead 15 years."

"There were rumors that he figured out the secrets of immortality."

"Don't tell me you believe that crap."

"Where are you even getting this rumor from?"

"It's everywhere, man. The slaves are going crazy with the news. They are taking him as a saint to revere."

"Slaves are stupid. Probably it's just some upstart trying to cash in on the name."

I can't take it anymore and leave the gossip behind me.

I should have sworn the Boros brothers to secrecy.

I watch the snowfall. The seasons are changing too fast.

Siri has let her icy attitude thaw.

When it's too cold to fight, we attend the venues of the city.

She laughs more this year.

But, for as happy as we are, the axe looms over our engagement.

I catch her just looking at me. Like she's trying to hold on to something she is destined to lose.

I try to smile for her. But, I can't help myself from feeling the same melancholy.

I watch my life pass me by.

"You are worried, old soul."

I laugh as we enjoy tea together.

"I haven't been worried like this since my first life."

Kati nods knowingly, "You have lived a pampered life."

I know his words to be true.

"What's your life like?" I ask.

It's his turn to laugh.

"My father was a warrior. A soldier of the Royal Army. I never had the chance to meet him. Not that I remember, at least."

Kati stares into the flame of a candle.

I find myself feeling guilty.

"He died in the battle of Lastmarch. One from among the thousands."

"My mother was devastated by the loss. In her despair, she sold me."

"I'm sorry," I say.

"For what?" he asks. "It is my past. Not yours.

"As a slave, I was eventually bought by a monk and trained as his disciple.

"Since that time, I have minded this temple while my master travels the land."

I nod. He has suffered his entire life while I have had every comfort. And, the worst part is that it was my campaign that started him on such a path.

"What do you think of Meridian?" I can't help myself from asking.

Kati looks into my eyes.

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"I have lived without father or mother my whole life. My father was a warrior and he died at war.

"I have also lived the life of a slave.

"Meridian was a symptom. Not a cause. The world itself brought them together."

Kati is quiet for a long moment.

"What about you, old soul? What do you think of the man?"

I look down, "He got a lot of people killed."

The monk nods.

"Our tea has gone cold. Let me heat it."

I am left with my thoughts as he busies himself.

Meridian's ghost haunts more than just me.

The year ends as the final exam is handed to the proctors.

I am satisfied with my ranking. And, somehow, Robert slid by just above the expulsion line.

He invited me to a party. But, I declined the offer.

He sighs, "You may have scored well, Adam. But, you never learned the purpose of this academy.

"Good luck to you on the civil service exam."

I bow to him, "Thank you. Have fun at the party."

Most of my belongings are sold or given away.

I don't want to be weighed down.

Siri waits for me at the gate to the academy.

"Hey," she says.

"Hey," I return.

She's anxious as we begin walking to the building from which a carriage will take us to her family home in the Northern region.

The driver is unconcerned at my presence.

In the carriage, Siri looks from me to the floor to the window.

"It'll be alright," I tell her. "Your family are fighters. I just have to fight for you."

My fiance looks unconvinced. But, she nods, steadying her will to face the challenge.

The journey is long and most nights we sleep under the stars.

Siri gazes at the stars next to me. Together, we recline.

"Do you believe that the heavens can be read?" she asks.

"Well," I say. "It depends on what you're trying to read."

As Meridian, I consulted with oracles like the skull and bones man. I know that there are secrets for those who can comprehend them.

"Do you think that, maybe, we're written about up there?"

I hold my breath a moment too long.

"Yes."

I feel like we are so close to one another. But, some great barrier prevents us from being close.

The night passes with us chatting about our lives and dreams.

In some ways, I dread reaching our destination. To lose our time together.

And, in other ways, I am impatient to face the trial.

The North is verdant with life. The season is gentle.

One day we spend our time dipping our feet into a warm river as it gurgles.

"Marshal's a puppy next to our eldest brother.

"Brenon is an expert with the sword. But, more specifically, he is a practitioner of the spiritual arts.

"I've never heard of him being defeated."

She's proud of him.

"But, father surpasses him in every way."

She looks into the woodland as if she could see her home from here.

I find myself missing my own family.

I had sent a letter to them about my venture. It'll still be some time before I see them again.

The road is long. But, soon we find ourselves in Siri's hometown of Arkas.

The city is thriving. At least part of the city thrives while the other begs for bread crusts.

We don't spend much time with the poor as we are carried into the wealthy quarter.

A cast iron gate and fencing protect the estate from the riffraff.

The guards recognize the young lady Li and usher us into the grounds.

Servants run ahead to alert the Li family of one of its daughters return.

An elegantly dressed woman stands before several maids and butlers.

"Siri," the woman says. "It is good to have you with-"

The woman's thought falters as I step out of the carriage.

"Siri," she admonishes. "Who is this man?"

Siri is somewhat embarrassed to say, "My fiance, mother."

The lady Li recovers her wits. "Young master Derrick, I was not made aware of your joining us."

"My lady, I hope that I have not overstepped in coming here."

"Oh, heavens no. It is right for you to be here."

"Siri, dear. Please run ahead and alert your father of your return with your... fiance."

Siri looks to me for support as she runs ahead.

"Young lord, please allow me to entertain you." she escorts me into an extravagant waiting room.

"Some tea, dear."

I nod, "Thank you."

A static charge carries through the manor as Siri's mother trembles as she pours the tea.

The sound of thunderous steps reaches my ears as I receive the tea.

I set the cup on the table and rise to my feet as the doors to the waiting room slam open.

At the front of the train stands a massive man with long black hair caught up in a ponytail.

Just behind him, a man somewhere in his twenties leads a retinue of servants and guards.

"Adam Derrick," the large man fumes. "What is the meaning of this?"

I bow.

"I have come to reaffirm my tie with your daughter."

The 20-something man interrupts. the dialogue.

"We're sorry to inform you..." he pauses.

"Your marriage is canceled," the patriarch declares.

The man, I assume to be Brenon Li, interjects, "We were going to alert your family by the end of the month."

I weigh my words as I say them, "I am prepared to fight for my bride."

The words hang over the room for a moment before laughter spreads among the Li family.

"Ha- Little lord. You beat my boy Marshal and think that makes you equal to the Li family?"

He glowers down on me. At first only anger registers. But, then something peculiar stirs in his gaze.

"Alright then," the patriarch says.

"What?" the word echoes around the room before landing flat.

Lord Li looks to his eldest son.

"The boy wants to fight. Teach him the price of underestimating the Li."

He turns back to me, "Beat Brenon and I'll consider maintaining the previous arrangement."

The ladies whisper about the fool little lord who would act like a king.

I put them out of my mind. This will be a battle between spiritualists. It is not to be taken lightly.

I am escorted to a private courtyard.

Rather than a courtyard, it feels like a stage as staff of the Li household look down from balconies to watch their young lord beat down the upstart.

My eyes find Siri beside her mother and father.

Brenon faces me with arrogance. "You can just walk away."

"No," I say, "I can't."

Rather than wooden swords, real blades find our hands.

I put up my guard while the experienced older man is casual.

He's full of holes. But, then, he wants me to break first.

I comply with his will and attack.

A smirk turns into a snarl as he deflects my attack and goes on the offensive.

I bat backward under his routine.

He's significantly better than Siri.

A pause in our battle lets me see my anxious fiance.

This time, I charge his defenses.

We trade blow after blow. Each trying to get first blood.

"You're better than I was expecting," Brenon huffs.

"Your form is excellent," I respond.

I can tell he wants to beat me without using his spiritual arts. But, it's only a matter of time.

One strike comes too close to his eye and I feel a wave rise over him.

"You're good. Better than anyone else I've faced. But," he pauses, "you need to learn that there's always someone stronger."

The air bursts under his assault and I have to channel chi into my sword to keep it from shattering.

He tries to exert a gravity field over me to bring me to my knees.

He's surprised when I don't buckle under his force.

He puts some distance between us.

"I wasn't aware of you being a spiritualist."

I shrug.

Our battle resumes as air pops and dust is pounded down by our mutual fields.

I perform a foot technique and appear behind Brenon.

My slash nearly cuts his back. But, the man falls forward to roll away.

We're both breathing heavily as we regroup.

A smile of delight is on my enemy's face and I return the will.

This is a battle that neither of us has experienced before.

Strike after strike until at last a streak of red catches the light.

Brenon's arm is lacerated.

"Ha- Well shit."

The man drops his guard and bows to me.

I return the respect and turn to Siri and her parents.

Hope and awe register in my fiance's eyes.

As I approach, I hear the whispers of the staff. No one was expecting me to win.

"You won," the massive lord says. "And, as promised I will consider letting you marry my daughter."

The man takes a moment.

"Denied!"

My gaze is even as he walks out into the courtyard.

His visage isn't angry. Rather, he seems excited.

"Prove yourself worthy of Siri and defeat me.

"Otherwise, leave."

Brenon comes forward to offer his father the sword he battled me with.

The titan waves his son away.

Perhaps he intends to give me the handicap of using a sword against his unarmed style.

As he advances, I toss my blade aside.

His advance stops and he looks curiously at me.

"Little lord," he says. "Pride is one thing in battle. But, arrogance..."

He lets his words hang over my head.

My answer is to bow before my opponent.

He doesn't return the bow. He looks confused by my actions.

A smirk tugs at his lips as he takes up a fighting stance.

If muscle alone were the deciding factor, he would crush me.

But, this is a contest of spirit.

I enhance my physique with energy from my spirit seed.

Siri's father pounces like a lion upon me.

I roll with his strike and wrap around him.

The next exchange sees a strike to his kidney.

Our battle continues for some time.

He looks at me from over his fists.

"Where did you learn the Open Palm style?"

I shrug, "I had a master who taught me."

His eyes narrow, "What was his name?"

I smile, "I cannot say."

Rage boils over the giant as he engages in a sequence of strikes.

I fall back under his assault.

The man is breathing hard after his assault. But, he recovers while I wait.

"You're an oddity."

I smile, "It was you who first sought me out to marry your daughter. You must have had a reason to."

He nods, "I thought you were a scholar.

"I didn't expect you to also be a spiritualist or master of the sword. And, not only that, but you practice rare martial arts."

He smiles, "I was wrong. You are an ideal match for my daughter."

I feel the tension leave my shoulders.

"But," he says with excitement, "you must first defeat me for her."

With that, air pops as chi bombs burst.

I feel one such bomb explode beside my head.

The skin of my face tears from my eye to my cheek.

The older man stands triumphant while I bleed.

I stop the blood loss and initiate the healing process with my spirit.

"Is this all," he asks, "that the little prince is capable of?"

He's looking to the audience that cheers his drawing of blood.

Siri stands beside her mother. She looks distraught as she watches.

I smile at her, my face covered in blood.

The old man has his back to me as he receives the accolades of his servants.

"Can we continue?" I ask. "Or, do you need to stroke your ego some more?"

He turns an amused face to me.

Then, his gaze turns serious.

We come together with violence.

Our fields cratering the dirt between our feet.

He's strong. His spirit seed is more refined than my peak as Meridian.

His martial art is solid and he pushes into my sphere.

As I block a strike, he changes tactics and grabs onto my defending arm.

I panic as he lifts me off my feet and spins me around before throwing me through the wall of one of the rooms along the perimeter of the courtyard.

Dust and debris cling to me as I come to my feet.

Other than some scratches, I'm fine.

No taunts are cast at me as I return to the arena.

I've been intentionally suppressing my spiritual powers, not wanting too many people to know.

But, against this enemy, I can hold nothing back.

Electricity courses through me as I, first walk, then run at the goliath.

He waits with a smirk until I activate a foot technique to appear behind him.

My strikes hit his kidneys.

A mist of saliva escapes his mouth and he staggers forward.

Collecting his bearings, he turns on me.

I sense the chi rises over him as he steadies his breath.

There is excitement in his eyes.

We carry on with an exchange of blows.

My hands swipe his attacks away and I slam a cupped hand into his ear.

He stumbles and I allow him time to recover.

Our battle continues while the audience watches in surprise at how the fight grows increasingly one-sided.

Despite blow after painful blow meeting him, Siri's father never stops smiling.

He refuses to give in. But, the battle is won before the contest ends.

"Ha- Hah-" he pants as he cradles a broken arm.

"You-" he says. "You're unusual,"

I smirk.

"Very well then. Siri," he calls his daughter.

She rushes forward, "Yes, father?"

He looks between us, "You still want this brat for your husband?"

Somewhat embarrassed, Siri nods.

The older man sighs, "Then it will be so.

"You," he points to me, "can have your bride 2 years from now. For now, she will remain with her family."

I smile at Siri, who blushes.

"Now," her father says. "Return to your family. It is improper for the bride and groom to share a roof before their wedding.

I bow before the Li patriarch.

"Thank you, sir."

"Go," he winces as he walks over to his wife.

My fiance walks me to the gate of the estate.

"I'll be waiting," she says.

I look into her eyes, "Me too."

I find myself wishing I could have said something more profound as I walk away.

I give her one final look before carrying on my way.