The Selection

“ No, no, no!” The angry cry of Saishi caused Reniko to look up. The young lad was sitting cross-legged in his mother’s garden, meditating as he had done for years. Yet, for some reason, his mother was rarely pleased, as if she was searching for a result Reniko did not know about.

“ What is it?” Reniko asked, remembering to keep his tone respectful. His mother had a sharp tongue he had no desire to feel.

“ Reniko, you are not trying hard enough,” Saishi stated, crossing her arms as she stood in front of him. “ You can draw in the natural energy, the Forhal, and convert it into Morhal, the Spirit Energy. You have been able to do so since you had lived five cycles. Yet you are too easily distracted, and thus, channeling Morhal remains more difficult for you than the other children. What I am saying is, it is the fault of your easily wandering mind you sit here, still attending to your lessons rather than playing and preparing for the Selection. If you desire to be free, then you will do as I have instructed.”

Reniko closed his eyes and tried his best to focus, but it was hard. The smells of honeysuckles, pine trees, cooking meat filling his nostrils, and loud, exciting talking filling his ears only served to distract him. After a few moments, his mother sighed loudly.

“ Forget it. I can see you won’t be able to do it this morning.” Reniko hesitantly opened his eyes, expecting his mother to glare at him, yet she looked tired. “ I just don’t get it, boy. You’re sharp, sharper than my own blade was when I was on the field. Yet, you continue to struggle. This won’t do at the Academy, mind you. They won’t go as easy on you as I have. Perhaps that is why you cannot fully grasp it. Perhaps I have been too easy on your lessons.”

Reniko sprung to his feet, face starting to red. “ I tried, mother!” he protested, “ I really am!”

“Lower your voice Reniko. You are in my garden, and I will not abide shouting,” Saishi said, holding her hand up and fixing her son with a stern glance. “ I can see you are trying but trying and achieving nothing is wasted time and nothing more. I could try to become a man, for instance, but try as I might, I just wouldn’t be able to. Not that it wouldn’t be amusing to see, can you imagine?”

Reniko had to laugh at the image of her mother looking like a man. The more he pictured his petite mother with a man’s features, the more he found it funny. Saishi was laughing as well. “ It is rather funny, isn’t it?” she asked, smiling at him. Reniko liked it when his mother smiled. A question he always wanted to ask his mother is why she never remarried after losing his father.

Reniko had inquired about his father a few times, but all she had ever told him was he was an outsider and had left due to the Usodori clan’s habit of making outsiders feel unwelcome. Saishi said she wasn’t willing to leave her clan, so they had parted ways. Reniko always wanted to ask why his mother never sought another. With her fair complexion, hair the color of fresh straw, bright green eyes, and tan skin, it was a wonder the more daring Usodori men didn’t ask after her. Perhaps it was because her older brother was the Khan, universal leader of the Usodori Clan, Doraki Usodori. There were many questions Reniko always wanted to ask his mother, yet something told him it was best not to ask.

His mother had been forced to retire after being born as tradition dictated warriors who had a child with no spouse must retire until the child entered the academy to become an orphan. It was the reason warriors were forbidden from sealing courtship with each other.

“ Go on, Reniko,” his mother’s soft voice caused Reniko to jerk from his thoughts.

“ What?” He asked. His mother sighed.

“ You really need to start paying more attention!” She snapped. “ The day is for waking, not dreaming. I said you might as well go find your friends. Today is quite important so they may be waiting for you already. The Selection is today. Of course, I’ll need you back here by sundown so you can prepare for your part. But you and your friends should watch the competitions taking place today. It will be your turn one day.”

Reniko dipped his head, a huge smile crossing his face before trotting out of the garden. The village he had grown up in, the Usodori village, was bustling with activity. Members of his clan were hurting in rows of gray stone buildings that lined the narrow cobblestone roads fabled to have been carved out of the imposing mountains by the Great Spirit Ancestor of the Usodori, the Great Bear, Zadiam. Although being of nobility by birth, his mother and he lived in the sector reserved for those that were not Shadow Wardens, the warriors of the Usodori. The Usodori Meideir clan had lived deep in the Shibukawa mountains for centuries. And today was one of the most important days to the Usodori, a day all children eagerly looked forward to.

Reniko ran throughout the crowded street, narrowly avoiding running into others. Being of the lower district of the village they wouldn't dream of scolding Reniko of all people, a single word from him would be enough for them to catch a Shadow Warden's wrath, not that Reniko would dream of doing that. His mother always told him to never use his status as a blade. Many glanced at him, opening their mouths to say something but clearly thought better of it, seeing the excited child. Reniko ran until he came to a shop that sold sweets where three other kids waited for him. Reniko stopped running and slowly walked to them.

“ Hail,” he said, greeting them, a greeting they returned. The largest of the kids had long brown hair that hung loose and blue eyes. Big and burly from living on a farm, he looked a few cycles older than ten. He was the serious one, the responsible one. The one that the parents trusted to keep the others out of trouble. His name was Kudo Hidenori, the firstborn of the Hidenori family. Wearing a brand new black and red kimono that bore the family crest and a depiction of a roaring lion.

The next was a small girl with black hair out into a ponytail and had green eyes. She was smaller than most kids, looking as though she had lived through only eight cycles rather than ten. She, too, wore a new kimono, this one blue and white bearing her family crest and the depiction of a hawk. Known as the mischievous one who was always getting the others in trouble, she was known as Katou Cho of the Cho merchant family.

Standing between them was another girl, this one with auburn colored hair with violet eyes. She was tall for a ten-year-old girl. Her brand new kimono was green and pink and had a depiction of a baboon along with her family crest. She played the peacemaker in the small group whenever the others argued. Her name was Toda Isa of the Isa blacksmithing family. of the four, Reniko was the only one who could claim noble blood. But Reniko never did like the other noble kids, they looked down their noses at his friends for reasons Reniko could not understand. Granted the parents of his friends were not Shadow Wardens but how was that the fault of his friends?

“ Today is the day, Reniko!” Kudo said with a wide grin.” Today is the day we get to attend our own Selection!”

“‘Like everything we talked about!” Katou chimed in.

“ Just think, after today, we’ll be at The Academy!” Toda squealed excitedly. Reniko smiled broadly. The Academy! A place where young boys were sent at the age of ten to be learned in the art of the Usodori warrior Where boys entered and Shadow Wardens left. Of course, there were multiple different schools, which was the reason for the Selection. The Khan himself would be conducting the ceremony. Reniko wondered what would happen, those that went through the Selection were sworn to secrecy.

“ The games must be happening as we speak. We should speak to Makino, see if she will give us pastries,” Toda said.

“ You think she will?” Reniko asked.

“ She loves us! Of course, she will!” Kudo said and, without another word, burst into the sweet shop, followed closely by his friends. They crowded in the cramped store, breathing in the smell of freshly baked bread. They walked to the counter side by side and stared at an elderly woman. She was bent over like a question mark and had a cane. Her long gray hair reached past her shoulders. Her brown eyes that had seen war and famine many times over brightened when she saw the children.

“ If it isn’t my favorite customers!” She exclaimed.

“ Do you have anything for us today?” Reniko asked.

“ Indeed I have,” the old woman said. She reached behind her and grabbed four large honey-flavored rice cakes, and handed one to each child. Reniko took a big bite of his, enjoying the rich taste. After muttering their thanks, the kids headed towards the door.

“ You kids behave now. I’ll see you later this evening,” Makino called after them.

The four kids bowed at the waist, which the elderly shopkeeper returned then the kids exited the shop.

“ What should we do now?” Katou asked.

“ I suppose we could go see the games. We will be in them one day,” Toda said. Kudo folded his arms and huffed.

“ I won’t!” he declared. “ I never want to get married, which is what these games are for. To show off for potential marriage partners.”

“ Are you sure about that? I’ve seen how you look at Sagara,” Reniko said with a teasing tone to his voice.

“ Shut up! I don’t even like her!” Kudo shouted.

“ Yes, you do,” Reniko said.

“ Don’t!”

“ Do!”

“ Don’t!”

“ Do!”

“ If you two are done, can we go to the games?” Asked Toda. The two boys elbowed each other but smiled. Their banter was an everyday occurrence and was never done in malice. In fact, the two boys seemed to have the deepest bond of them all. The four kids took off, waving in between the adults who were forced to get out of the way. The children ran out of the village entrance and ran along a gravel path to a large field surrounded by large oak trees where a crowd of people gathered.

Loud excited shouting was deafening. The kids shoved their way to get a good point so they could watch the action. Two Usodori warriors faced off against each other, wearing the red, black, and white kimonos of the Usodori Shadow Warden warriors. They each held a wooden sword, holding it in a defensive position. Between them was an older man with gray and black hair, tired blue eyes, and a wrinkly face wearing a gray robe stood before them.

“ Begin.” In the blink of an eye, both warriors began their dance of swordplay. A dance of thrusts and stabs and parries. Reniko stood, transfixed as he watched the two warriors. He could have stood there and watched the warriors dance their dance all day. However, it was over as soon as it began, with the warrior standing closest to Reniko getting the victory, burying the tip of the wooden sword into his opponent’s chest. Reniko noticed a woman throw a red streamer into the field, indicating interest in the victorious warrior.

“ Wonder if he’ll go with it,” Kudo remarked. Katou shook her head in disgust.

“ He shouldn’t. That’s Miura Kiku. My mother says she never stays with a man for long.” Reniko had heard that too from his own mother, but she had always explained to him to never bring it up to her face.

“ She’ll settle down eventually, son,” she had said. “ We must not criticize the path of another.” The next pair of warriors stepped on the field and bowed to the referee, then each tiebreaker. This time it was two women, one of which Reniko recognized.

“ That is Furuta Iri! Scorion-Bane!” He told his friends excitedly. Early in her warrior career, Furuta had come across a nest of Scorions. Nasty creatures full of malice and bloodlust. Reniko had never seen one, but according to what his mother told him, he knew they were a mix of scorpion and lion, created by a coven of witches in the earliest of days. Their venom was said to be so potent that it could kill a man before he could blink three times. Furuta had a song written about her for her heroic deed.

Reniko watched as Furuta handily defeated her opponent, earning a score of red streamers from males watching.

“ Does Scorion-Bane even care for men?” Toda whispered.

“ My elder sister has never spoken of a man sharing her bed, and she knows everything that happens in the village,” Kudo whispered back. Kouta shoved them both.

“ Be nice! Do not speak ill of her!” The children watch match after match, imagining what it would be like to compete in the field, attempting to earn the affection of another, and earning laurels till after midday. Reniko’s growling stomach is what caused him to head home for his midday meal. Reniko chatted with his mother as he ate his fish and rice. After he ate, his mother insisted he meditated more until the sun began to go down.

" You must improve in conjuring Forhal, Natural Energy and converting it into Morhal, Spirit Energy. That will be expected of you when you get to The Academy. I will not have you dishonor the Doraki name," she told him. Reniko nodded and went out to the small herbal garden and attempted to meditate. However, he found it too difficult to focus and made no progress. He heaved a sigh of relief when his mother called him inside.

“ Come, Reniko,” he heard his mother say. Reniko opened his eyes and entered the hut to meet his mother. On the floor was a brand new black and blue kimono with a depiction of a turtle with the Doraki family crest.

“ You’ll have to look your best. Hurry and dress; we must meet your uncle for the ceremony.” Reniko nodded and took his new kimono, and put it on. He took a moment to look at his reflection in the mirror. He had long shaggy white hair, pale orange eyes, and a scar over his right eye from when a cat scratched him when he was younger. Reniko put his sandals on and went back over to his mother. An odd appearance that never failed to attract stares as his white hair stood out. Reniko had once asked why he looked so different, to which his mother had told him he looked just like his father. After looking at his reflection in the small mirror a few moments longer he went to stand in front of Saishi.

“ You look just like your father. He would have loved to see this,” she said with a smile. Again Reniko felt the need to ask what exactly happened to him, but something held him back. Instead, he just nodded and followed his mother outside. They walked up a dirt path that led to the warrior district of the village, leaving the shabby buildings and homes behind. When they came to an iron gate, a Shadow Warden wearing the pitch-black heavy plated armor and black bear fur cloak of the Usodori warrior opened the gate to let them through.

The middle district or The Warrior district was mostly barracks and training grounds as well as infirmaries. Of course, the officers had their own villas his mother had once explained but as Saishi and Reink were only passing through, they took the most direct path uphill. While the lower district was cramped and hard to navigate, the middle district was open, making travel easy. Shadow Wardens hurried past Saishi and Reniko as they went about their daily lives, stopping to acknowledging them as not doing so would be considered un proper of a Usodori warrior. Reniko wanted to explore as he never got the chance to be in this part of the village but he knew he had more important affairs to attend to. So he followed his mother up a singular stone path upward until they came to another gate that they were let through.

Finally, they had arrived at the Imperial district of the village. Reniko had been here only a few times to visit his uncle the Khan. By all rights, he and his mother should live here but his mother had always said the life of a noble never suited her nor should it suit him. Reniko's head kept swiveling as he took it all in. The large buildings made of the finest mountain stone, adjourned with gold silver, and jewels, the painted stories of might Shadow Wardens of the past defending the pride and honor the Usodori, the way the nobles carried themself with importance as they hurried about. Those that were not noble by both were only allowed here by invitation or summons. Reniko felt a little overwhelmed by all the majesty and glamour surrounding him,

They continued walking straight until they came to the largest iron gate Reniko had ever seen. Saishi and Reniko were ushered in. They walked up two flights of stone steps and then one curving flight of twenty steps before they came to the Imperial Temple, although castle would be more of a fitting term as it closely resembled one. Reniko had never seen anything like the imposing and magnificent building. Nine thin, round towers dwarfed everything surrounding them, so large that one could see them at the village entrance. The walls were made of white stone had stories of the Usodori's mightiest deeds engraved into them.

Stories of great battles, mighty conquests, and noble sacrifice. Things that the Usodori Shadow Wardens preached were the qualities of a Meideir warrior. Reniko and Saishi fell in behind a group of parents and children. In front of the group stood The Circle of Elders. An elderly woman, with one blind eye and a toothless mouth, began to speak.

“ Greetings, young ones! Today is the day you take the first step into becoming a warrior!” One of the elders said. “ One by one, you shall enter and will learn which school you will attend at the Academy. May Zadiam watch over you all as you begin the journey of becoming shadow Wardens.Reniko Doraki, son of Saishi Doraki, nephew of the Great Khan himself! step forward.” Reniko was surprised his name was first to be called. He wasn’t one to stand out, and his marks weren’t near the top of the class. If he had to guess, he would guess it was because he was chosen first due to his relation to the Khan.

He slowly stepped forward, and the temple door was open. He looked back to see his mother nodding encouragingly. The others didn't seem thrilled he was the first to go in. Reniko hesitantly stepped inside and jumped slightly as the door slammed shut.

“ Come,” came a commanding voice. Reniko looked to see his uncle sitting cross-legged in front of the back wall of what one would easily mistake as a throne room. The main room or the Khan's Chamber as it was called, was adjourned with paintings of the mighty deeds of past Khans and had Usodori clan laws hanging beside him. Golden bear statues were placed everywhere; beside Reniko’s uncle were two large standing torches. Reniko slowly walked up to his uncle, trying to hide his nervousness.

“ Sit,” his uncle commanded. Reniko did as instructed, sitting cross-legged, wanting to mimic the Khan. After a few moments, the Khan spoke.

“ Reniko, my nephew. It is time for you to know which of the schools you shall be attending once you leave for The Academy in the morning. There are five schools. Kagmity, the School of Archery, Vupwarry, the School of Assassins, Grodets, the School of Scouts, Lalniara, the School of Melee, and Sormerra, the School of the Priesthood," The Khan examines his nephew curiously. “ Your mother tells me you still struggle with tapping into Forhal and converting it into Morhal, is that true?”

“ Ye… yes sir,” Reniko stammered.

“ I see…” The Khan said thoughtfully. He stood and motioned that Reniko should do the thing. He led to the vase and gestured for Reniko to step forward. Reniko did as instructed, his heart thinking in his chest.

“ Close your eyes, empty your mind, become totally at peace. Once you do, reach into the vase and pull out the object you first make contact with,” His uncle said. Reniko did as instructed, shutting his eyes and trying to empty his mind. He found it difficult as thoughts raced around his mind. What if I fail? What if I draw something I don’t want? What if I do terrible at The Academy? He angrily shook his head. Focus!

After several minutes Reniko succeeded in flaming down, clearing his mind. He reached into the vase, fumbling about, only stopping when he felt something. Opening his eyes, he pulled it out to found he had pulled out a sheathed sword.

“ It is determined. Zadiam has decreed you shall enter Lalniara” The Khan said. He reached into an urn and scooped up some ash in the palm of his hand.

" Ashes of the fallen. May they guide you, advise you and fill you with strength and courage," The Khan poured the ash on top of his head. He then grabbed a flask and poured water down on Reniko. " Water blessed by Zadiam. May his future for you be clear." The Khan smiled as he looked at his nephew and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Remember, you are not permitted to speak to anyone the details of the Selection. Now go and bring honor to our family.”