CHAPTER 1 - THE STRONG PREVAIL

THE PLANET TENGSU IS LOCATED IN THE GAMMA SECTOR OF THE KYBERNAN. THE PLANET IS A PART OF THE JOSS SOLAR SYSTEM. IT IS THE LONE HABITABLE PLANET IN THE SYSTEM AND EVEN THEN IT IS A HARSH WORLD IN A HARSH CORNER OF THE GALAXY.

TENGSU, A HISTORY 1.1

Ash breathing was heavy as he stood in the sparring yard opposite Mekir the sword master. Joss hung low in the sky giving an amber light to the evening sparring session. Ash’s shoulders ached from the long session with Mekkir however the power of his youth and conditioning to the sparring kept him light on his feet.

“How many times do I have to tell you Ash?” Mekir demanded “You must always have your sword at the ready. Don’t let your enemies have an opening.”

Ash only then realized that he had let his sword drop to the ground arm hanging by his side.

Again? Ash wondered while bringing his sword back to the ready. Why do I always do that??

“Good. Let us go one more time” Mekkir said, also readying himself.

Ash quickly closed the distance between them. He feinted to his right and then quickly came back around to his left. Mekkir had been ready for the attack from Ash’s favored side moving to block the would-be strike. He was only just able to get his sword back to his right to deflect Ash’s swing. Mekkir raised an eyebrow in surprise at the move from Ash.

While the blow did not land it did put Mekkir at a disadvantage. Ash pressed the advantage keeping Mekkir on the back foot. He moved the attacks back over to his better right side as he unleashed a flurry of strikes. Using his strength he was able to break through Mekkir’s defense and land a blow to the instructor's ribs.

Ash backed off a couple of paces as he and Mekkir took a couple of seconds to catch their breath.

“You continue to impress Ash. Surely you are blessed by the great Bjorn as your father was.” Mekkir said.

“Thank you, Mekkir.” Ash said, bowing his head slightly in recognition of his sword master. “Thanks to all of your training.”

“You are welcome” Mekkir responded. “However, few of my students are able to best me. It takes most to turn to adulthood before being able to get the better of me. Your quickness and strength are impressive Ash. After all, the strong do prevail.”

Ash smiled to himself after the compliment from Mikell. He stood a little taller, straightening his shoulders. He then looked over and noticed his siblings Sykon and Anna sparring in the yard next to him. He walked over to the mushroom-grown fence and leaned up against it.

Sykon, his brother being 14 moons, only a couple of moons the younger of Ash’s 16, yielded his favored ax. His sister Anna fought Syskon with a sword of her own. Anna despite being three moons younger than Syskon and rather smaller still was able to hold her own with Syskon. She moved quickly and cleverly through the yard understanding the size disadvantage to the elder brother.

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Syskon had long, telegraphed swings with his ax. He was still not completely comfortable with his growing teenage body. Anna was able to dodge and block his swing methodically. However it did take all of her effort to do so. Despite her skill she was still nearly a foot shorter than Syskon and it showed.

Syskon continued to swing. Anna’s dodges began to slow and her blocks became weaker. It took a decent amount of time but eventually Syskon was able to catch Anna's leg with the blunt edge of his wooden ax as she was too slow to get out of the way.

Mekkir clapped as their duel finished. “Well done to both of you!! Syskon your strikes are persistent and strong. Anna, you are swift but I would like to see you use an offensive move once in a while.”

Anna grinned as she quickly drew her sword and slapped at Syskon’s leg with the blunt side of her sword. Syskon fell slowly to the ground in the most exaggerated way possible, arms flailing through the air as he made a fake yell of extreme pain. Anna and Ash devolved into laughter as Syskon lay on the ground playing dead.

Mekkir chuckled slightly at the antics of the siblings. “Alright you fools let's get one more spar in before the night is upon us. Syskon it's about time you face Ash.”

“On it Mekkir!” Syskon responded joyfully, hurrying to his feet to recover his ax.

As Syskon began to prepare himself to spar, Ash walked over to Mekkir and whispered to his swordmaster. “Are you sure about this Mekkir? You know I can beat him easily.”

Mekkir responded to Ash quietly but confidently, not quite whispering. “Syskon needs to face someone better than him, Ash, it is the best way for one to improve. I also need you to recognize your strength so don’t hold back on the boy.”

Ash turned from Mekkir and walked to the far side of the yard.

Don’t hold back? Are you sure about that master? I mean I can already beat you. This will be a lot easier than sparring with you. Well if you insist. I won’t hold back.

Ash turned around as Sykon was lowering himself over the fence into the yard. He stood at the ready as his brother got himself in position. They stood facing each other for a moment waiting for a word from Mekkir.

“Begin!” Mekkir shouted.

Ash ran straight at Sykon. He saw a glint of fear in his brother’s eyes as he rushed forward. He didn’t let that slow him down however as he swung heavily with his right. Syskon raised his ax to block but his grip was easily broken from the blow and the ax was sent flying. Ash quickly swept his brother's legs with his own and grabbed the boy with his left guiding him quickly to the ground. In the matter of only a couple of seconds Ash had Sykon on the ground, disarmed, with a sparring sword at his throat.

Ash then stood back and wiped his hands on his trousers before reaching down to help his defeated brother up.

“Only the strong prevail brother” He said as he held an open hand to Syskon.

Syskon looked up at his brother and instead of reaching out to accept the help he started laughing.

“Oh my what a tough guy Ash. OnLy ThE StRoNg PrEvAiL.” Syskon said mockingly. “That’s what you want to go with? Really Ash?”

Ash began to laugh with his brother. “Oh come on I was just trying something to give me a break Sysk.”

“How can I when you sound like old Gammall talking like that. Should we skip making you an adult and promote you right to village elder where you can share your words of wisdom with everyone? I bet they all would speak of the wise words of the great wise Ash.”

The brothers continued to laugh with each other enjoying each other's company as the light of Joss drew even lower over the horizon. The amber light began to turn to purple heralding the end of another beautiful day in Bjorn.