Mei Qian faced a lot of misery after her kingdom was attacked. What an ordinary 5 year old girl could do at that time. The war not only made the king give up but Mei Qian lost her parents in the war. From time to time she faced struggles which made...
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The clang of metal rang through the training grounds, a sharp contrast to the distant memories that flickered in my mind like the dying embers of a once vibrant flame. I thrust my sword forward, the blade slicing through the air with a whoosh, as if it could cut away the ghosts of my childhood.
“Hah!”
I cried, punctuating my strike with a fierce determination that echoed off the stone walls.
“Focus, Mei! You’re letting your mind wander again,”
Barked Zhang, my trainer, as he circled me like a hawk. His voice was rough, but I could hear the concern hidden beneath the bark.
“Sorry,”
I muttered, lowering my sword for just a moment. My breath came in quick bursts, but it wasn’t from the exertion. It was the memory of laughter—the warm sound of my parents’ voices, mingling in the garden where I used to play.
“It’s just...”
“Just what?”
Zhang pressed, lowering his own weapon to his side.
I hesitated, my grip tightening around the hilt.
“Nothing.”
He crossed his arms, a frown creasing his brow.
“You can’t fight with half your heart. You’ve got to let go of the past.”
Letting go. It felt impossible, as if I were grasping at smoke.
“You don’t understand,”
I replied, my voice trembling slightly.
“I was happy once.”
I recalled the sun-drenched garden, the vibrant flowers swaying in the breeze, and my parents’ laughter—a sweet melody that filled the air.
“They didn’t deserve what happened to them,”
I whispered, the weight of loss pressing down on my chest like an iron shroud. Zhang’s expression softened for a moment, but he quickly hardened again.
“No one does. But you can’t let it consume you. Use that pain, Mei. Channel it into your training.”
I nodded, though his words felt like a knife twisted in my heart. The truth was, I had no one left. My parents were gone, swept away by the tides of war that had ravaged our kingdom. I was a warrior now, forged in the crucible of sorrow, yet I felt the sharp edges of loneliness gnawing at my soul.
“Let’s try again, to awaken your spirit you have to concentrate”
Zhang said, stepping back into position.
“Show me that fire.”
With a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and resumed my stance. The clang of metal resumed as I charged at him, each swing of my sword carving out a piece of my anguish.
“Ha! Hah!”
Each shout was a release, a catharsis I desperately needed.
“Better,”
Zhang grunted, parrying my blows.
“But you’re still holding back. Imagine your enemies. The ones who took everything from you.”
The words stung, but they ignited something in me.
“I can’t forget,”
I admitted, my voice was low but fierce.
“I won’t!!”
He nodded, and for a moment, I saw understanding in his eyes.
“Then make them pay.”
I lunged at him again, the sound of our blades clashing echoing through the empty training yard. The rhythm of combat felt familiar, a dance of survival.
“I will make them pay,”
I gritted through clenched teeth. Suddenly, I stumbled, my foot catching on the uneven ground.
“Whoa!”
I yelped, falling forward, but a strong gust of wind caught me just in time. Master enlightened his spirit of air it was easy for him to blow his enemies from a distance too. The only problem was that he was not the one who should be in the fight I am in and he stated that carefully the day I decided to leave my emotions.
“Careful!”
Zhang’s voice was sharp, but I could hear the underlying amusement.
“Your enemies won’t wait for you to regain your footing.”
I laughed then, a short, breathless sound that surprised even me.
“Yeah, I’d hate to trip over my own feet in battle.”
“Exactly. It’s not just about strength. You need to be aware.”
I straightened up, brushing dirt from my training tunic.
“I know that, Master. I’m trying.”
“Trying isn’t enough,”
He replied, a hint of frustration creeping into his tone.
“What you're after can't be achieved by just trying. You have to take the whole control over your mind. Once you get a hold on your mind, your spirit will eventually wake accordingly”
Spirit. The word hung in the air like a challenge. I clenched my jaw, determination igniting within me. Spirit, the one in this era who has awoken his spirit is known as superior. These Spirits can be of Natural elements or of Mysterious creatures. These Spirits were the one which brought misery upon our kingdom. The Akihito empire is well known for its spirit power.
“Then I’ll control it."
"I won’t let my past define me.”
“Good,”
He said, stepping back to give me room.
“Now, let’s see that fire again.”
With a fierce battle cry, I charged forward, the memories of my past merging with the fierce resolve of my present. I would carve my path through this world, no matter the cost.
