Once true night had descended and blanketed nearly every feature surrounded by the verdant jungle canopy, a figure rustled out of the foliage clad in black clothing. He moved with assured footsteps even in the dark as if traversing a well known road.

The familiar steps took him to a clearing of a glittering pond reflecting stars on its surface. A surface which stood so calm it was trance enducing. There wasn't even the sporadic ripple brought by an overhanging leaf, a drop of dew gliding off its surface to the water below. That hanging branch seemed to have the hardest job of all its siblings, keeping any moisture away from the pond, and judging by its thick bushels it was doing the job splendidly.

The location had quickly become a favoured spot among the practitioners - those who sought it out. It had become an exalted location for it allowed struggling practitioners a chance to walk upon heavenly Sky, but that right is earned and contested.

The figure in black studied similarly dressed people standing in groups and identified the silhouettes he was familiar with and made his way towards them.

"It's another night above the stars, Lukho".

"Zuko," he acknowledged the joker with a dip of the head, "it doesn't get old, this sight". Lukho had a soft smile on his face as he said that, turning his head to the water once more before swivelling back to his counterparts. "Have the festivities not started yet?"

"It's been nothing but quiet contemplation so far, but now that you're here, why don't we take a walk?"

It was always a jarring thing to speak to Zuko without the frivolous joviality, the man knew the time for play and work and separated them with a war surgeon's brutality. Lukho liked that about him, it made him reliable when he needed to be.

The pair drifted out from under the canopy of trees they were standing near and made their way to the body of water and immediately eyes were drawn to them; a few respectful looks, some smug and others mocking. The duo didn't care none. The ascent towards venerate Sky was fuelled by perpetual motion no matter the hurdles and hiccups in the way.

As they walked abreast upon the glittering surface, Lukho, as he'd done every other night since coming across this place, bent low and scooped up a handful of the liquid and watched it flow down his palm back to the greater source. There was something about disturbing that serene calm that always eased his mind. The water itself had a weight to it, a certain density that made it feel like something else other than water.

His reverie was broken up by the sounds of soles upon the water, hearing that squelch familiar with the action, he raised his head to see their welcoming party and studied them from his low crouch. Newcomers, he could tell from first glance, others who were now seeking the safety of the mass now that they had shed the arrogant's solitude. Both opponents wielded swords, with one of them lanky enough to have posed a problem if Zuko wasn't wielding a shield and spear. Lukho looked to his partner and got a nod in return, they'd done this enough times to understand one another without speaking and the strategy came through. The fights were to first blood

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Zuko took the lead, one then two, three steps in a running motion with his spear held for a throw. To their credit the taller opponent dashed at him to stop him, reading his intentions. Lukho had lingered two strides behind, which offered him his opening, he threw two daggers at the rushing opponent, further selling the ruse. The taller opponent had his attention taken by the weapons, allowing Zuko to transition from his throwing stance to a lunging thrust! Unfortunately the second swordsman was no pushover, parrying the thrust to his outside right, forcing Zuko to be carried away by his momentum but - to the swordsman's great dismay - he put him next to his partner and though his spear was poorly positioned, Zuko twisted from left to right, bashing his shield in the other opponents face with a thump and crack that made the man drop to his knees. Blood.

Furious, his friend tried to retaliate against the spearman, only to be cut on the back of his shoulder blade, dropping the offending arm and sword in the process. Blood. Lukho came around and gave the man a cold stare, daring him to continue if he had the inclination. The man was wiser than that, picking up his sword with his other arm, sheathing it and walking off with his partner.

As was the victor's due, the winners sat out any immediate follow up fight and instead could stand at the edges of the pond, bathing in humble sky and enjoying the serenity of the pond. One thing no winner could get used to however we're the hungry looks coming from their peers, eyes that told them they would snatch victory from their hands - if they could - and bask themselves in it, and some most certainly could. Time would tell.

Lukho and Zuko had picked the area by the low hanging branch as their spot of rest, watching the ongoing fights as they reflected on their own.

"You should work on that lunge, a more deft enemy could have opened you up in two strokes," Lukho told his partner.

"In single combat, sure, but with you by my side it becomes an opening for you, and you're very good at taking opportunities."

"Hm. Still work on that lunge, or leave it and work with the thrust instead, the feint was quite effective."

"You sound like the elders at my sect, brother, and I thought I was getting away from those harsh taskmasters when I came here."

Lukho chuckled at the comment, clearly his friend was not interested in the conversation's direction. He gave the dying topic the required amount of silence before pressing onto a more important topic, the reason they were here in this jungle.

"I've been thinking about our time here, how even after nearly a month we've found nothing of substance that could help in our ascent."

Zuko took a deep breath, mulling over the words spoken and weighing them. There was a lot that Lukho left unsaid there, but he could get the message all the same."

"It's - concerning," Zuko took another heavy breath, as if voicing the thought was the final decision in an ongoing discussion. "The more time I spend here the more I think of the ones who've already returned to their sects, the progress they're making while we stay in this sweltering heat. Tell me that what we're doing here can't be done back at any sect and I'll call you a liar."

Lukho couldn't argue with that even if he wanted to, only a fool would deny the obvious. At some point, probably very soon, even this hallowed space would soon become mundane, just a distraction for the simple fact that this was a failed venture, and the only thing keeping them here was the embarrassment of returning to their sects with nothing.

"There's only one thing of value we have found while we've been here," he said, tapping Zuko on the arm. "Let's go have a chat with the others."