Beneath the hazy night sky, leaves rustle lightly as a gentle breeze weaves by. As the gentle streams of wind make their way past the trees and into a circular opening that resembles a scarred battlefield, they combine to form a strong gust, rushing towards a boy standing motionlessly in the center of the open field.

The gust of wind crashes into the boy, sending his long dark hair fluttering wildly along with his pale red earrings. The boy takes a deep breath as he tightens the grip on his blade. The blade, too long for the boy to brandish properly, forces him into a slightly awkward stance. With one foot in front of the other, he holds onto the one-handed sword with both hands, leaving it slanted towards the ground behind him. His eyes remain tightly closed as the wind courses by.

“Again!”

As the wind fades, the voice in his head calls out to him once more. With the voice echoing in his mind, the boy snaps his eyes open. In the same instant, he kicks his back foot forwards before stomping it deep into the ground. Carrying through with the momentum, he swings the aura-infused blade with all his might. The tip of the blade digs into the ground, splitting the soil beneath his feet effortlessly, before ascending towards the sky.

Following the reverberating explosion, the boy collapses onto his knees. His eyes lock onto the distortions in the air as the arc tears a path towards the sky, leaving behind thunderous booms in its trail. As the arc disappears into the night, he suddenly coughs up a mouthful of blood before collapsing onto his knees.

Ignoring his unstable breathing, the boy lifts his gaze towards the sky. Seeing the haze remain unchanged, he wipes the blood from his mouth and pushes himself to his feet.

“No more.”

A firm hand lands on the boy’s shoulder, stopping him from standing up fully, while another pries the sword from his hands. The man slides the blade into his sheath before gently pressing down on the boy’s shoulder, sending him back onto the ground with a thud.

“Control your breathing. You won’t reach the Heavens as you are.”

The boy falls flat on his back. He heaves for air as he stares at the empty darkness taunting him from above. Taking a deep breath, he closes his eyes as he tries to reign in his heavy breathing. After a short moment, he exhales slowly before opening his eyes. Instead of the hazy night sky, he’s greeted by the sight of his master’s grin.

“Still hearing those voices?”

“Move, old man.” The boy stretches his arms upwards, pushing the man aside. “You can’t expect me to control my breathing whilst staring at me with that face.”

“Bahahahaha! My bad, my bad.” The man laughs before laying down beside the boy, using his arms as pillows. “By the way, nice earrings. Where’d you get them?”

“Earrings?” The boy reaches towards his ear, feeling the crystalline feather-shaped earrings dangling beneath them. “…I don’t remember.”

“Is that so…? Why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind then? You’re being awfully impatient today.”

The boy doesn’t answer the question, choosing to remain silent as he stares at the hazy sky, occasionally playing with the pale red earrings. As the seconds pass in silence, the boy begins to question whether it was actually the night sky that was hazy. Raising his hand in front of him, he realizes that it’s his eyes.

“Master…” His voice finally breaks the silence. “Don’t go.”

“Is that what’s been bothering you, boy?” Sensing the tumultuous aura, the man pulls his arm from under his head and places it on the boy’s head. He chuckles as he ruffles the boy’s dark hair into a tangled mess. “I didn’t take you for a softie.”

“Don’t go…” Tears begin to escape the corner of his eyes as he struggles to keep his voice steady. “Stay with us. You, me, my sister, we can j-ju- we can just stay like t-t-this forever.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“Again!”

The man releases a heavy sigh as he realizes that jokes won’t be enough to heal the boy’s heart. After a short moment of quiet contemplation, he pushes himself off the ground and onto his feet.

“On your feet.”

Unconsciously following the firm command, the boy tries his best to lift himself off the ground and onto his feet. The man watches patiently as his disciple struggles to straighten his trembling legs.

“Steady your legs and straighten your back.”

The words reach out to the boy, helping him find renewed strength to calm his trembling legs and find his footing. Although the words were stern, the boy could sense the endearing fatherly love within his master’s voice. With his posture straight and tall, the boy lifts his eyes towards his master.

Seeing his disciple standing tall before him, the man smiles. He reaches behind his neck and lifts a medallion over his head, placing it around the boy’s neck.

“This…” The boy mutters as he stares at the medallion in his hand.

“That? It’s nothing. Just a present from your renowned master. Bahahaha!”

“What d-d-do you- why are you-” The boy chokes on his words upon realizing that the blue jade in his hand is a goodbye gift. Tears begin to stream down his face once again as he clutches the medallion. “Master, please… I d-don’t want you t-t- please d-d-don’t go.”

“Anning!”

“Do you hear that, my boy?” The man brushes his finger across the boy’s cheek, wiping the tears from his face. “It’s not me who has to go.”

He pulls his disciple into his arms, hugging him tightly as he pats the boy on the head. As the sobbing turns into uncontrollable crying, the man suddenly feels his vision growing blurry. Before a tear could escape his eyes, the man pushes the boy away by the shoulders. He takes one last look at his disciple before turning around to hide his tears.

“Don’t cry, my dear boy.” The man pauses as teardrops begin to stream from his eyes. He takes a deep breath to calm his trembling heart. “Great men don't cry. Great men stand tall to instill confidence. We shoulder the weight of responsibilities so that our loved ones don't have to. We stand tall to protect their smiles and their dreams.”

“Again!”

“Go now, my dear boy. They’re calling for you.”

“Master!” The boy frantically wipes the tears from his eyes as he cries out. “When will I see you again?!”

“We’ll meet again if the Heavens will it. Remember my teachings, dear boy. Protect yourself and protect your new family. Show them the better days that you promised them.”

“MASTER! WAIT!” The boy screams as feels himself drifting further and further away. “THE NAME YOU GAVE ME! WHAT WAS IT?!”

“My dear boy, how could you forget something so important?” His master chuckles as he turns back towards the boy. A light glister, remnants of his tears, decorates his cheeks as he smiles. “Your name… is… S…”

The boy tries to scream out as his master’s voice fades away, but not a sound comes out. As he tries to read the words from the movement of his master’s lips, the fire that kept them warm throughout those long nights suddenly flickers.

S…?

Once again, he tries to call out to his master. Once again, nothing comes out. The flame flickers again, growing weaker and weaker as he drifts further and further away, until eventually disappearing completely. Without the fire, a dark and empty nothingness sweeps across his world, filling the boy with a crippling despair.

Amidst that despair, the voice in his head calls out to him again. As the voice echoes, the veil of darkness begins to crack.

Sun…?

The boy’s eyes grow wide upon recalling something important. Wiping the tears from his eyes, he turns towards the night sky and watches as the cracks web rapidly across the veil of darkness.

Upon seeing the cracking slow to a halt, he raises his hand above his head, pausing at the apex.

He closes his eyes and takes a death breath.

My name… Sun.

His eyes snap open as he exhales. With his wrist straight and his fingers extended, he snaps his arm down, aiming at the cracked darkness above him. The surrounding air collapses towards the arc of his swing before erupting violently. The bright arc tears through the air, ripping through space towards its target, before disappearing into the veil of darkness.

After a short moment of silence, the veil shatters into a million pieces with a resounding explosion. The pieces crash down around him like a torrential storm, revealing a myriad of stars.

Gazing at their brilliant glows, he finally understands what his master meant.

Finding the answer he had been looking for this entire time, he smiles.

I’ll see you again soon.