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The Hermit

The young blonde-haired boy stood on a thin pole that was ten feet tall. He looked down, glaring at the elder below him.

"William, you must learn. You have this natural gift yet," the elder paused and sighed, "you have no discipline. You were accepted into our sect, and you wanted in. We took you in because we saw the potential in you. You must learn to keep a calm head."

The elder walked off then. He had long black hair that he let hang free from his head. He was old, William knew, but he didn't look it. William wondered if any of these Sacred Artists could make themselves look young. They all seemed to never look like old men and women, so why not look like a child?

William wore the same robes as the elder, black inner robes with a deep red outer. They were the robes of the Iron Claw Sect, which paid homage to the tiger. They were brave and strong above all else. William had always shown a particular ferocity as well. While it helped him in training and sparring, the sect elders didn't look upon it too kindly.

The boy's bright green eyes focused on the elder as he walked away, and he frowned. With them being closest to the Western Islands, if he looked to the west, he could almost make out the island where he was born.

William was being punished for beating a boy bloody in a spar. Now he stood on this pole for three days or risk being thrown out of the sect once and for all. William sighed and stood there and looked toward his home. The boy deserved it. He told the elder he was making fun of William's pale skin, which was odd since they were in the North. Most of the people up here had pale skin.

The boy was from somewhere south, though, and had darker skin. Not the tan-ness of the Queping region. This boy was dark, and he said all pale-skinned people were fake and would never amount to anything in the sacred arts. This got under William's skin, and he lashed out even after the boy submitted. The elders said it didn't matter what the boy said. William should have had the presence of mind not to let it get into his head.

The night was falling, and William pulled his outer robe closer to his chest. At least it wasn't winter, he told himself. He might have allowed himself to be thrown out if it was winter. It got too cold up here in the winter. The islands were temperate, and he longed to return home.

No, that would be too easy. To admit defeat was something he couldn't do. He had to stay up here, accept his punishment, and then move on. Then, maybe just torment the boy who made fun of the pale-skinned people. William couldn't even remember the boy's name. William smirked and then looked back to the area his sect called home.

There were large buildings with red walls with black tiled roofs on them. There were three main buildings. One building was for training. One was a mess hall, and then finally, a dormitory-style building, which was the biggest. This was where the outer sect members lived that were still in training. Around those three main buildings were smaller buildings. These were the inner sect members and masters of the sect lived, then closer to the water were larger houses where the elders built their homes.

William looked down at the pole he was supposed to stand on for the three days. It wasn't even as wide as his forearm. He had to keep switching feet on the pole to keep up here, which involved a delicate jump to ensure he didn't fall.

He needed to find his calm, as the elders would tell him. William took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Holding that breath for as long as he could in an attempt to calm himself and even himself out so he could stay up here. He had his arms close to his body to keep himself warm and kept one foot on the other on top of the pole.

Next thing William knew, the sun was hitting him in the face, and he heard catcalling from below him. He opened his eyes and looked at the sky first. William could stay up and meditate the entire night. He was a little pleased with himself if he was going to be honest with himself.

William looked down at the ground with his bright green eyes and instantly frowned. It was the boy from yesterday whose fault this all was. William frowned as the boy continued to yell up at him. He was just yelling about how William was in trouble, and he wasn't or something. Just kids being kids on the playground. William tuned him out as best he could.

He attempted to close his eyes once more and go back into his state of meditation. He could just spend the rest of the three days in peace and then go back to his regular daily activities and lessons. That's when the boy yelled something else, and William opened his eyes again.

One sect elder was now coming over to the pole to discipline the boy, but William was sure he heard the kid say something about his mother. William jumped in the air, letting himself fall a little before he could grab onto the pole and slide down it the rest of the way.

"William, you stay up there, or you'll be gone from the sect!" the elder was yelling at him now instead of the boy.

William didn't care, though. He couldn't allow this. Before he knew what was happening, William was on the ground, charging at the boy. The elder watched William and sighed. With a pulse of madra, the elder raised the earth in front of William, causing him to run into it.

"William," the elder even sounded angry now, "you leave me no choice. Your temperament will not do here. Pack your things and go."

William pushed himself from the dirt wall and looked at Elder Wynn, frowning. Another elder had already come over and was dealing with the boy who kept insulting William and sent him up the very pole William had just come down from.

William looked to Elder Wynn and clasped his hands together before bowing to him, "yes, Elder."

The thing was, though, William didn't have any belongings. He was a street rat who showed the sect enough natural talent to be accepted. William didn't bother returning to his room to gather anything. He just left. Heading to the main sect entrance, he walked through the open gate and started down the coast.

He had yet to get far, unsure exactly what he was doing or where he was going. Maybe try to go back home when an older man in faded gray robes and a conical hat was smiling as he looked down at him.

"Hello, there William. Were you looking for a sect to join?" the man smiled warmly and reminded him of his old grandfather before he passed.

__________________

The first match with Leo went roughly for Silas. It also didn't last long. Silas could put up a fight for a short time on his pure physical strength, exchanging grappling moves and some punches and kicks. Leo was a wrestler, though. He didn't even punch much unless he was sure he had Silas locked into some kind of hold. They fought each little round to submission or if one was thrown out of the circle. Silas never submitted, but he got pushed or sometimes even tossed out of the makeshift ring more than once.

They were now sitting at the bar inside the Inn, breathing heavily and sharing some wine. Leo laughed and clapped Silas on the back. "You did well for someone in your condition, Silas. You're a better fighter than I thought you would be."

They were both still wearing only their pants, the rest of their clothing sitting on the back of a couple of chairs. The acting bartender was his new friend Maisy, who stood there looking Silas over. "Leo even got you to oil up, huh?" She grinned a little, looking him over.

Silas blushed a bit and nodded his head. "Yes, we did a couple of rounds, and he decided I was much too easy to throw around without being oiled up." Maisy and Leo both laughed together.

"Well, you can wash in the tub in my room. I'll fill it with hot water for you before leaving so you can be clean and put your robes back on." Maisy leaned over the bar counter, now looking at him with a particular look in her eye.

Silas smiled and nodded at her, "thank you, Maisy."

Leo, however, narrowed his eyes, looking at her, grumbling. "No freebies."

Maisy stared at him and rolled her eyes. "In my off hours, I will do what I want. Besides, it's just a joke." She reached across and patted him on the shoulder now.

Silas went wide-eyed and shook his head, "No, no… it isn't like that. I just didn't want to ruin my robes with the oil after I washed them today." He put up his hands defensively.

This made them both laugh, and Leo shook his head, clapping Silas on the shoulder. "I'm not worried about you, Silas, but Maisy here. Well, she's a lot to handle." Leo then looked back up to Maisy, that brief glare returning for a moment before returning to his wine and taking a drink.

The three of them sat in silence for what seemed like several long moments until Maisy finally spoke again, breaking the quiet. "Silas, what took you so long to come back? Leo seems fine that he had some training, but he was pretty upset when you didn't return the next day."

This caused Leo now to stare at Silas now as well, narrowing his eyes. "It was a little concerning." He didn't sound concerned, more angry than anything. Thinking he lost his training partner for the winter.

Silas's eyes went wide, and his mind reeled. He was unsure what they were talking about. "No, I went to bed, woke up the next morning, cleaned up, and came here."

The two now looked at Silas in a way that gave Silas a pit in the bottom of his stomach. They both shook their heads at him. "Silas, maybe you should clean up and head home. Go ahead and use Maisy's tub in her room."

Maisy took that as her cue and ran off and upstairs to fill the tub. Silas heard her ask for help and some other feet scurrying around on the hardwood floors as they worked.

"Finish your wine. Do you feel you'll be able to make it back to your shack tonight? You seem like the training has you a little out of it or something else." Leo asked him, and he seemed genuinely concerned for Silas now. "Stay the night if you'd like, Silas. I can have a girl make a room up for you." Leo said it was like a done deal.

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Before Silas could say anything, Maisy was back downstairs, leading Silas back to her room. Leo told her to prepare a room for Silas so he could stay the night. They seemed to argue in hushed tones that ended with Leo sighing heavily. He ended up shaking his head, and stomping off into a room off the main area. Silas assumed this was Leo’s personal room.

Once Silas and Maisy were in her room, she showed him the tub, which was a good size, big enough to lie comfortably in. When he looked in amazement, she laughed and explained that some customers liked to get bathed by the girls. Some liked to do much more in the tubs, so Leo ensured all the girls had a large one. Silas nodded as if that perfectly explained the situation. He just couldn't help but wonder about making love with Himari in a bathtub like this.

Maisy had brought Silas's clothes up and was setting them across her bed with her back turned, so Silas stripped down and climbed in the tub. Laying back, he relaxed in the water and let his body submerge completely.

"God, I haven't been in a bathhouse in a long time. Not since I was on a pilgrimage when I was a teacher at the School of the Jade Mountains." Silas spoke to Maisy, who turned around and eyed Silas's chest slightly.

"You are a teacher there?" She came over and kneeled by the bathtub, looking at him with a new adoration.

Silas shook his head, "no, not for a few years now. I met my wife and moved into the nearby village where she was from."

Maisy frowned a little, hearing Silas had a wife. "Oh," she muttered silently.

"She's gone now. Some sort of demon creature attacked my village." Silas stared off now. When he finally came to, he didn't realize Maisy had some soap and a washcloth and had her hands in the tub, washing his legs.

Silas jumped a little when he noticed and stared at her, blushing. "Maisy, no. Thank you, but no. I'm married. I must find my wife and return her to this realm. She does not belong locked up or something with some demon from the gates of death."

Maisy, stunned, looked at Silas like she was a deer staring at a hunter's lamp before it was killed. She made a sort of "eep" sound and jumped to her feet before rushing out.

Silas sighed and lifted his hand to his head, shaking it, embarrassed. Finally, he took the washcloth and bar of soap she dropped into the tub before she ran off and washed himself off. This warm relaxing bath suddenly got very unrelaxing, and Silas had to get out of there as soon as possible. He washed away the oils quickly and stood, climbing out of the tub and drying himself off with a towel that hung nearby. He dressed and returned downstairs, where he found Leo behind the bar counter sipping some wine.

"I think I'm going to head back today, Leo. Thank you, however, for the hospitality." Then Silas clapped his hands together and bowed, this time a little deeper than he had before. He wanted to show a sign of respect to the man who offered him a free night in his Inn when he didn't have to.

Leo returned the salute, and then Silas left the Inn. He couldn't believe the news he had gotten. How long had that night of nightmares been? They didn't tell him, but judging by how they were acting, it must have been a couple of days. Then all this with Maisy, Silas sighed again, thinking about it. He was a fool. Silas knew how she looked at him. He wasn't a child or an idiot. He could tell what the looks meant.

Eventually, he reached his shack again, this time just before nightfall, like before. He went inside and set about lighting a fire in his small fire pit in the house to keep warm. He didn't take off the bearskin cloak until it warmed up. Once the room was hot enough, he removed it and sat in lotus pose on his bed. He began trying to cultivate. The attempt didn't last long, and it was an utter failure. With even his core now corrupt, it felt worse than before. The pressure was unbearable, and he had to stop before he passed out.

He sighed and ate more of the dried boar. It was running low. He would have to go hunting. Silas needed some fresh meat. This time, he told himself, he'd stay the entire time the meat was cooking. He still had that deer buried, frozen in the snow as well that he had to deal with. He told himself he'd do it tomorrow, and he had other things to take care of.

This is the way it went during the winter. Silas resigned himself to just surviving the season. He hunted and just lived life. Once or twice a week, he'd head to the Inn and ask for some supplies and train with Leo. The man was never as nice to him again since that night with Maisy. He also rarely saw her anymore when he was there, which saddened him. She seemed like she would be a good friend to him. She reminded him a lot of Misumi if he sat down and thought about it.

It did no good to live with regrets. So whenever the thoughts of what could have been crept into his mind, he pushed them out and focused on whatever task he had on hand. Thankfully, he could keep himself busy most of the time, either between hunting or cooking or the training he had done with Leo. Silas had even picked up martial training by himself. The solo training seemed to help him stay strong, even without his cultivation. He was now someone who was built more traditionally like a Sacred Artist, though still short.

Among the regulars in the Inn who he saw when he went to get supplies or to train with Leo. He became known as a crazy old hermit who lived in the woods by himself. They made up all kinds of stories about him. They got even worse when they found out what Silas's last name was, and once the news about Kyoto had reached here, they got worse. Still, no one was outright hostile to him. They were too scared to be, scared of what he might do to them or his family since he had such an influential name.

One time, he had asked Leo what he knew about the lands of death, and Leo just shrugged and told Silas it wasn't his department to care about. Leo was all about life and living it to what he considered the fullest. Silas also asked some regulars who didn't treat him like some wild animal. None of them knew anything, though, and didn't really ever care to find out, judging from their reactions. The death lands were not something mortals ever cared to learn about for fear some demon would raise up and drag them away right then.

Sometimes he'd try to cultivate, but he'd always fail. Eventually, he gave up and just scolded himself when he tried. He did, however, sit and examine his channels every couple of days. They were getting worse, and he didn't know how to stop it. It seemed like they were getting worse quicker now. Silas would sigh and end the night whenever he did this, falling into the bed, covering himself with the bearskin cloak, and falling asleep.

__________________

The siblings, most of them, were scattered around in a cave. The cave was polished and well-decorated. In the middle of the main chamber was a large table made of pure white opal with colorful sparkles.

"Why'd you call us here to the mortal realm?" Kenji's crackly voice piped up. He didn't bother changing into his nicer clothes for this, as he had when the oldest Daichi called his meeting. Daichi cared more about such things, whereas Kentaro made this seem much more urgent. Kenji looked around the room and noticed Genki was missing from the assortment and Misumi.

The more prominent man on one side of the room spoke up. This was Kentaro, the embodiment of rage, war, and destruction.

"Someone stole my piece of eight! I had it guarded by an entire legion, and someone came in and could steal it! Which one of you took it?!" Kentaro raged. The large man demanded, who then slammed his hand against his chest.

"Well, it obviously wasn't one of us. Otherwise, why would we come to this meeting?" A small voice piped up as she walked up behind Kenji. He looked over, and it was his little sister, Minako.

Kenji smiled at her and reached for her hair to ruffle it in a show of affection with a small smile. Minako, however, looked at him sharply and took a step back so he couldn't do it. Kenji frowned, and she just shook her head sharply.

“Genki, Misumi, and Daichi are missing.” Lilith spoke up from another section of the room. "Where would they be?" She was off her horse but still standing in her suit of black metallic armor, her massive bastard sword on her back.

Kenji, still frowning, turned his focus to Lilith and Kentaro, folding his arms against his chest. "Well, Daichi never leaves that damn garden of his. That's why he always tries to summon us there when he wants to scold us like we're his children."

"True." That was all Lilith added.

"I don't care. All I want is my piece back!" Kentaro yelled and demanded. The being did act like a child sometimes. He paused and closed his eyes, grumbling, trying to compose himself. "We can't allow someone to get the keys to our realms and have power over them." He spoke calmer this time, more level-headed.

"Yes, I agree with you. I've recently discovered my piece is missing as well." Kenji frowned and admitted to the siblings, who all stared at him.

"If I find Genki, I'm going to rip her apart!" He yelled furiously, slamming his fist on the table.

Lilith and Minako stepped back in shock, and Kenji simply shook his head. "I don't think pure and utter rage will help us figure this out, brother. There may be a way we can use this piece of information to our advantage. With you calling this meeting, whoever took it would probably know you're onto them. However, they don't know that I know my piece is missing."

Kenji looked at Minako. "Where is your twin? I wasn't quite expecting her to be absent from this."

Minako glared at Kenji. "How should I know? I'm not always with her. I have my own things to do, you know."

Kenji raised a hand to soothe her, and he nodded. "Yes, of course, but you usually come to these things together. I'm sorry, little sister."

Minako still glared at him. "I don't know where she is. I haven't seen her in a little while." Minako now then, as everyone else, folded her arms against her chest.

"Whoever stole the pieces knows you'll be looking for them, Kentaro. They will keep a low profile. Genki doesn't have much work to do in the mortal realm, so if it is her, she's perfectly unable to not be seen again. I suggest you actually try to find her, see if it was her. If you find her, bring her here and call us once more. For now, though, I don't think there is much we can do." Kenji spoke up, offering some sort of plan, but he wasn't sure it was a good one.

"Oh, don't you worry. That, I can do." Was all Kentaro said darkly before he turned and disappeared from the cave.

"You don't think he'll be able to find her, do you?" Lilith looked over at her brother curiously.

Kenji shook his head. "No. He's brute force, not a strategic man. He may get lucky and find her, but Genki is sly. She can dodge him." Kenji held a hand to his chin in thought. "In truth, I don't know what to do about this situation. We can't destroy her, not without a replacement."

Minako simply frowned and left the meeting as quickly and quietly as she had entered it.

"Well, we need to think of something. If it gets serious enough, Father might get involved, and then who knows what will happen? To any of us." Lilith spoke, and Kenji just nodded in agreement.