The Wei clan’s home in the Sacred Valley was a beautiful place. The clan’s homes were built using lumber from the surrounding forests. The walls were painted a stark white, signifying the clan’s connection to the snow foxes. The roofs were made of clay tiles, dyed a deep purple to match the leaves of the orus tree. Dirt paths threaded between houses, connecting them haphazardly. Delicious scents drifted through the air as residences prepared dinner.

Oblivious to his surroundings, Lindon slowly made his way home. There was much for him to process.

A shout broke him from his reverie.

“Unsouled!” the voice of a young man called out from the yard of a nearby house.

Lindon shook his head and steeled himself before turning to the source of the voice. Two young men of similar age to him were strutting their way across their yard towards him.

The first was built like a brute. He had black hair and was dressed in the robe of sacred artist. A Copper badge with the symbol of an Enforcer was pinned to the chest of the robe that strained to fit him. The second young man was a whole head shorter than Lindon. He was thin with black hair pulled back. A small drudge hovered over his right shoulder, defining him as a Soulsmith without Lindon having to make out the symbol on his Copper badge.

Lindon immediately recognized them as the sacred artists that had been with Wei Mon Teris. He bowed, tense as he prepared himself for a confrontation.

“This one greets you.”

The first of the two sacred artists responded with a heavy punch to Lindon’s sternum, knocking him over. Lindon fell to the dirt path and gasped in agony, his broken arm breaking his fall. The two men began to viciously kick him as he curled into a fetal position.

After a few moments the beating stopped and the sacred artists stepped back. As Lindon lay moaning in pain, the brute spat on him.

“Teris sends his regards Unsouled,” he mocked. “Who do you think you are, getting in the way of a real sacred artist?”

“What were you even doing outside the Shi grounds? Did they forget to tie your leash?” the Soulsmith ridiculed him as the Enforcer laughed cruelly. “The Shi dog escaped from the yard, what a disgrace.”

The taunting fell on deaf ears. All Lindon could see was white, the pain was blinding. His broken arm had been kicked multiple times. Bruises began to form across his body. He lay silently as he could do nothing but wait for the two to leave.

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“This is just a taste of what Teris will do during your ‘duel’,” the brute said. “And you better not go crying to any of the Elders, who knows what could happen if you did.”

As the pain subsided, Lindon heard the two walking away. He remained on the ground, giving them time to leave. After a few minutes, he gathered his strength and struggled to his feet. Lindon began to limp home.

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The Shi residences were near indistinguishable from the rest of the clan families’ households. They were marked in purple with the Shi crest, designed by Lindon’s great-great grandfather. Lindon limped faster as he drew near, not wanting his family to see him.

“Brother!” Kelsa called out from inside her house. She threw the door open with a slam and sprinted over to him.

“Who! Who did this!” she growled as she grabbed him, her eyes flashing in rage.

Lindon hissed in pain, causing her to release him.

“Peace sister,” he said in a strained voice.

Kelsa apologized and stepped back.

Lindon said simply, “Teris’s friends.”

“You should go to the First Elder,” Kelsa beseeched him, “Teris is overstepping his bounds.”

He shook his head and said simply, “No.”

Kelsa frowned and folded her arms but did not argue with him.

“You need to surrender your duel with Teris. You know he won’t hold back. The family’s honor is not worth your life.”

Lindon looked away, not responding. Kelsa’s frown deepened.

“I know you’re upset because of the orus fruit but please listen to me! You’re my brother, I don’t want you to get hurt unnecessarily. Teris is a Copper, you can’t even hurt him let alone beat him. Just forfeit, no one will think less of you!” Kelsa’s voice escalated.

“There’s no hope I can win? Glad to see my family has such confidence in me. So much confidence that they ripped the very fruit that could fix me right from my grasp,” Lindon spat, walking past Kelsa.

Kelsa’s brow furrowed as she turned to follow him.

“Quit being so stubborn! Do you really think that we don’t care about you?”

Lindon gave a hollow laugh, “You have a funny way of showing it if you do.”

He reached the door to his home and stepped inside, slamming the door behind him in his sister’s face. He heard Kelsa yell in frustration and stormed off. Lindon ignored her and limped into his home. He stomped over to the small wooden shelf that held his collection of scrolls. Lindon snarled, smashing it with his fist. The wood held firm as if mocking him for his weakness. He stumbled over to his bed and fell in it face first.

Lindon grabbed his sheets with his uninjured arm, clenching as hard as he could. He trembled, doing all he could to contain his rage. His breaths came hard and fast. His own family didn’t believe in him. His sister told him to surrender. The very people who ripped the fruit of his labors from his hands.

Lindon took a deep breath and held it, slowing his heartbeat. He closed his eyes and rolled over, sitting himself upright. He crossed his legs and began to cycle. After his talk with Elder Whisper, he knew it was useless but he continued anyways. Cycling was methodical and relaxing, a way to calm himself.

He would not lose to Teris. It wasn’t about honor. It wasn’t even about pride. He had to prove to himself that he was not worthless, that everyone was wrong.

When Lindon broke himself from his reverie, the sky had gone dark and the light from the moon filtered into his home. He lay down and drifted off to sleep.