KeotsuEclipse
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Kinda of an introductory chapter, still trying to get things set up. It's not very long, at just over 1200 words, but it's a start on my road back to writing...and (I'm gonna jinx myself here) I enjoyed writing it! ^_^
I hope you all enjoy!
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TWICK! The straw mat fell to the floor in two perfect halves – the boy wiped the sweat from his brow, as he held his katana in hand. Looking up to the sky, it was a perfect day, he thought. It was a little warm with the occasionally breeze, reminding him of late summer or early autumn in other countries. But it was usually like that here, in the Land of Autumn.
He caught a faint waft of aroma from the inside of the house – his mother was cooking supper, while his father was at a town hall meeting. Deciding to take a break, he went over to the bench beneath the apple tree in the yard as he grabbed a bottle of water to take a drink from.
Letting out a content sigh, he again focused his eyes on the skyline. The sky was a clear blue, dotted with bright white clouds, accenting the rolling hills below, adorned by forests of red, brown and gold. A place in perpetual autumn, the Land of Autumn was Keotsu’s personal paradise.
After his short break, he walked over to his discard saya and sheathed his katana, before returning inside the house.
“Mom, I’m heading out!” he yelled, as he walked up to his room – having walked in, he caught a better whiff of what was for dinner – beef stew, so he knew he had time before dinner would be ready.
“That’s fine, but be back before dark! And get your father to come home too, if you see him,” Nyame said as her soon descended the stairs from his room. She had long brown hair and brown eyes – Keotsu inherited her hair color, while he inherited his father’s eye color, who had blue eyes and black hair.
Pushing the door open and closing it behind him, Keotsu stepped out onto the street. The town was bustling as always. Merchants tended to their stalls as travelers roamed the streets, enjoying the upbeat atmosphere and looking at the various wares – the crafts from the Land of Autumn were world-famous, from intricate glass work to simple paper charms.
Anywhere else a fourteen year old walking around with a katana might have been a strange sight, but because of the policy of universal conscription, it was not a rare sight in the Land of Autumn – though a fairly young place, with just over three hundred years of history, the military might was impressive, and both attempts of invasion from other countries had ended in disaster – the Land of Autumn never went for conquest, never needing too. For the most part, it was a peaceful place.
The need to practice the Art of War came out of a need to be prepared, as well as a deep appreciation for them – an art of war or not, it was still an art form.
Keotsu’s mind wandered as it usually did on his walks: what was he going to do? He’d be sixteen in just over a year and a half, and he would be expected to choose a career path. His mother was a scholar and a healer, and the idea of being a teacher was definitely appealing… And his father was not only a high-ranking military official, but a glass blower.
Personally, Keotsu was a musician, and loved playing all sorts of instruments. There was a wide variety of choices at his disposal, but Keotsu still had two years to figure out what he wanted to do…it would all fall into place, he thought.
Coming into the central forum of the town, Keotsu saw his two best friends – predictably – hanging out in the usual spot by the fountain, most likely waiting for him.
“Hey, took you long enough!” yelled Diango, a boy of Keotsu’s age with blazing red eyes and spiky red hair with orange streaks through it. “Rena and I have been waiting all day for you to get here.”
“Yeah, today’s the day we all agreed to get together to practice for the festival coming up next week, remember?” said Rena, a young woman of Keotsu’s age who had sea-foam green eyes and hair three shades lighter than Keotsu’s.
Keotsu looked dumbfounded. “I totally forgot,” he said, rubbing the back of his head, “I’ve just been so focused on my practice that it must have slipped my mind.”
“Meh, well, I’ll give him that, Rena. His dad’s been pressing him pretty hard ever since Keotsu put that drifter in his place by using only a wooden branch. I didn’t even know you knew how to use a sword before that,” said Diango.
“I couldn’t, truth be told. I’d never held one before in my life. My dad favors the Eastern-school teachings, so he’s teaching me with katana. I like the Eastern school and all – the quality of the swords are amazing – but I want to try my hand at the Western school as well.”
A man walked up to Keotsu, obviously interested in the conversation – Keotsu didn’t recognize him, so he knew he was a tourist. “Pardon me lad, but I couldn’t help but overhearing… You say you’re learning to use a sword? I happen to be well versed in several foreign schools of combat…would you like to spar? I’m always interested to see what the new generation has up its sleeve.”
Keotsu cast a glance at his friends, who seemed to nod him on. “Just meet us at the old place – we’ll practice there. Have fun, and good luck. Nice meeting you, mister,” said Diango, throwing Keotsu a thumb up.
“I don’t have any practice equipment with me,” Keotsu started, “this is a real blade. Should we go get something else?”
“Don’t worry, boy, I’m well versed. I’ll be okay, and I’ll hold back as well.” As the man said this, and as Keotsu unsheathed his katana, a pillar of black flame erupted next to the man as he put his hand inside and withdrew a blade from the center – it was a type of long sword, black in color, but was rather wicked looking. The blade flowed upwards in a rough oval-like shape before coming to a point, with sections of it cut out to look like a flame; it had a crescent shaped hand guard, also black in color. And the blade looked wickedly sharp.
“Wow…! An Aetherian!” exclaimed Keotsu, much to the stranger’s surprise.
“You…know of Aether?” he asked, raising a silver eyebrow at Keotsu.
“Of course! Aether is one of the three magical circles. Aether draws upon the power found in the Natural Elements for various effects. You made some kind of black fire just now… So, your Aetheral Signature is Fire, and Black, corresponding to the element that matches your soul best, and the color of your soul itself. Aether is rare in the Land of Autumn, but I like to be informed. That’s cool.”
“I’m impressed. I didn’t think people this far West knew much about Aether. What’s your name, boy?”, asked the man, as he took a stance with his legs shoulder length apart, and the sword held parallel to the ground by his head.
“My name’s Keotsu Akarusa,” Keotsu replied as he took the basic chudan kendo stance, “and yours?”
“My name is Nathaniel.”
I hope you all enjoy!
_________________________
Those Chosen by Fate
Part 2
Part 2
TWICK! The straw mat fell to the floor in two perfect halves – the boy wiped the sweat from his brow, as he held his katana in hand. Looking up to the sky, it was a perfect day, he thought. It was a little warm with the occasionally breeze, reminding him of late summer or early autumn in other countries. But it was usually like that here, in the Land of Autumn.
He caught a faint waft of aroma from the inside of the house – his mother was cooking supper, while his father was at a town hall meeting. Deciding to take a break, he went over to the bench beneath the apple tree in the yard as he grabbed a bottle of water to take a drink from.
Letting out a content sigh, he again focused his eyes on the skyline. The sky was a clear blue, dotted with bright white clouds, accenting the rolling hills below, adorned by forests of red, brown and gold. A place in perpetual autumn, the Land of Autumn was Keotsu’s personal paradise.
After his short break, he walked over to his discard saya and sheathed his katana, before returning inside the house.
“Mom, I’m heading out!” he yelled, as he walked up to his room – having walked in, he caught a better whiff of what was for dinner – beef stew, so he knew he had time before dinner would be ready.
“That’s fine, but be back before dark! And get your father to come home too, if you see him,” Nyame said as her soon descended the stairs from his room. She had long brown hair and brown eyes – Keotsu inherited her hair color, while he inherited his father’s eye color, who had blue eyes and black hair.
Pushing the door open and closing it behind him, Keotsu stepped out onto the street. The town was bustling as always. Merchants tended to their stalls as travelers roamed the streets, enjoying the upbeat atmosphere and looking at the various wares – the crafts from the Land of Autumn were world-famous, from intricate glass work to simple paper charms.
Anywhere else a fourteen year old walking around with a katana might have been a strange sight, but because of the policy of universal conscription, it was not a rare sight in the Land of Autumn – though a fairly young place, with just over three hundred years of history, the military might was impressive, and both attempts of invasion from other countries had ended in disaster – the Land of Autumn never went for conquest, never needing too. For the most part, it was a peaceful place.
The need to practice the Art of War came out of a need to be prepared, as well as a deep appreciation for them – an art of war or not, it was still an art form.
Keotsu’s mind wandered as it usually did on his walks: what was he going to do? He’d be sixteen in just over a year and a half, and he would be expected to choose a career path. His mother was a scholar and a healer, and the idea of being a teacher was definitely appealing… And his father was not only a high-ranking military official, but a glass blower.
Personally, Keotsu was a musician, and loved playing all sorts of instruments. There was a wide variety of choices at his disposal, but Keotsu still had two years to figure out what he wanted to do…it would all fall into place, he thought.
Coming into the central forum of the town, Keotsu saw his two best friends – predictably – hanging out in the usual spot by the fountain, most likely waiting for him.
“Hey, took you long enough!” yelled Diango, a boy of Keotsu’s age with blazing red eyes and spiky red hair with orange streaks through it. “Rena and I have been waiting all day for you to get here.”
“Yeah, today’s the day we all agreed to get together to practice for the festival coming up next week, remember?” said Rena, a young woman of Keotsu’s age who had sea-foam green eyes and hair three shades lighter than Keotsu’s.
Keotsu looked dumbfounded. “I totally forgot,” he said, rubbing the back of his head, “I’ve just been so focused on my practice that it must have slipped my mind.”
“Meh, well, I’ll give him that, Rena. His dad’s been pressing him pretty hard ever since Keotsu put that drifter in his place by using only a wooden branch. I didn’t even know you knew how to use a sword before that,” said Diango.
“I couldn’t, truth be told. I’d never held one before in my life. My dad favors the Eastern-school teachings, so he’s teaching me with katana. I like the Eastern school and all – the quality of the swords are amazing – but I want to try my hand at the Western school as well.”
A man walked up to Keotsu, obviously interested in the conversation – Keotsu didn’t recognize him, so he knew he was a tourist. “Pardon me lad, but I couldn’t help but overhearing… You say you’re learning to use a sword? I happen to be well versed in several foreign schools of combat…would you like to spar? I’m always interested to see what the new generation has up its sleeve.”
Keotsu cast a glance at his friends, who seemed to nod him on. “Just meet us at the old place – we’ll practice there. Have fun, and good luck. Nice meeting you, mister,” said Diango, throwing Keotsu a thumb up.
“I don’t have any practice equipment with me,” Keotsu started, “this is a real blade. Should we go get something else?”
“Don’t worry, boy, I’m well versed. I’ll be okay, and I’ll hold back as well.” As the man said this, and as Keotsu unsheathed his katana, a pillar of black flame erupted next to the man as he put his hand inside and withdrew a blade from the center – it was a type of long sword, black in color, but was rather wicked looking. The blade flowed upwards in a rough oval-like shape before coming to a point, with sections of it cut out to look like a flame; it had a crescent shaped hand guard, also black in color. And the blade looked wickedly sharp.
“Wow…! An Aetherian!” exclaimed Keotsu, much to the stranger’s surprise.
“You…know of Aether?” he asked, raising a silver eyebrow at Keotsu.
“Of course! Aether is one of the three magical circles. Aether draws upon the power found in the Natural Elements for various effects. You made some kind of black fire just now… So, your Aetheral Signature is Fire, and Black, corresponding to the element that matches your soul best, and the color of your soul itself. Aether is rare in the Land of Autumn, but I like to be informed. That’s cool.”
“I’m impressed. I didn’t think people this far West knew much about Aether. What’s your name, boy?”, asked the man, as he took a stance with his legs shoulder length apart, and the sword held parallel to the ground by his head.
“My name’s Keotsu Akarusa,” Keotsu replied as he took the basic chudan kendo stance, “and yours?”
“My name is Nathaniel.”
