Paradecent Training

[littlekreen]

Wangshu was at home in the field and needed for little. After discovering food banks for the poor and indigent had even less interest in getting a home for himself. Though found kinship in the aged and broken there that suffered the horrors of some war in this plane's past. He had to limit his descriptions of the place he'd seen and though less affected than some there. A virtue of Guardian training yet understood their unconscious ticks against violent noises all too well. Though he didn't understand the vulgarity of the younger folk's nickname for him until someone brought it up later. The adults at least were polite enough not to call him 'Lo Wang' even if some came out to watch him train. Wanrou seemed content to remain in the possession of some of the older ba-shu that came to watch so kept her out of trouble at least. They'd otherwise closed the temple for now. He only wore a loose set of pants for his training so he could better feel the energy here as he moved.

Today he practiced a rote to refine his Zong Qi a thing long idle by virtue of the trip far more extended than he'd planned. So long he had to be on a constant running war with no time to center himself by contemplation. In the end his Qi sharpened to knifepoint through Wanrou when sometimes he needed the bluntness of a hammer or the subtlety of a broom. So today his feet whirled about a stone at a rock garden within a temple near the neighborhood of the ba-shu. A Purifier-at-arms must always be judicious with their time so today he took up a purification ritual of Lei Gong to further both his centering of himself and the purification of this temple. The priests here did a good enough job, though Wangshu thought no less of them, they certainly were no guardians to ward against corruption.

---

Know the center of your strike, seek it not; In closing his eyes held his own wrists to focus on the garden and sense energy flow around himself and the boulder there pushing other presences from his focus.

The hammer does not swing on its own, it is wielded by will; A practiced mind deepened past the lungs and behind the stomach though he felt the faintest of wisps remain as the world dropped away to reveal both where he must cleanse his own burdens and the impurities of the space.

You are the will, prepare for the strike of the hammer; Wangshou began the quiet recitation of the ritual involved to enjoin his will and the boulder into motion as his wrists lit a jade color.

Strike with certainty and purpose to spall the earth's corruption; Without opening his eyes leaped in place from his practiced barefoot stance to the center of the rock with the flat of both hands struck straight down in a solid hit that sent a tingle of electricity through the floor.

Embrace the east and wood, drive out impurities by heaven's will through that which grows from their earth; He stepped down exactly one stance away to make the first pair of marks in the sand for flow in earth as himself shuffles energies free that purity could see them for a quick double strike to the boulder at an exacting distance.

Enjoin wood with fire, face that which will not obey Heaven's law; A practiced hop to whirl his leg about reversed his stance to cross the two positions and opened his jade eyes the hands burning in that same text of the whispered recitation on his lips to sense what would consume without due cause then closed his eyes once more.

Embrace the south and fire, constrain it to acceptance of no wrath unbound by Heaven; A whirl to hop and land with two strikes at the south as candles nearby flicker or dim with a will that sought out fires that disobeyed the natural laws.

Enjoin Fire with Metal, face that which will not be worked by the will of Heaven; Again he spun to open his eyes and sense the many new metal parts of the building and its wiring as his will and eye conducted through it.

Embrace the west and metal, judge the metal to carry Heaven's wrath; Another spin and double blind-strike as his will sought out metals that did not belong to the natural laws.

Enjoin metal with water, face that creates more than due its work for Heaven; Again the jade eyes flicker open as Wangshu peers out for magical things draining more than they ought from the natural laws

Embrace the north and water, move through the flow to find the waters unfit for Heaven's law; a faint ripple in the body when Wangshu spun and hit again as his will sensed for corrupted flesh among the waters of the flesh.

Enjoin water with wood, and face that which would disrupt the power of Heaven's law; another spin and gaze peered that any corrupted flesh be known to Heaven.

---

So he repeated over and over in spinning about the rock even as his body started to sweat and his muscles ache. The motions wavered at first but improved the ritual was as much training as it was the creation of a standing ward. It would be nearly half an hour as he worked and handprints appear at each cardinal direction. The words chisled there too as if a part of his palm.

[Circe]

A small group of people had gathered to watch Wangshu with curiosity. They had heard the tales of the Guardians as children, but were convinced it was some sort of lesson for them to learn from. Not that there were actually individuals who had been appointed by Heaven itself to combat against the darkness and corruption.

Little did they know however that Wangshu wasn't the only one, but he was the only one that they could easily identify. The rest easily blended in among the rest of the community, and even the humans. Quietly going about their duties, even in Heaven's ever present silence.

But, Heaven's silence didn't mean that they were without power. Instead the Guardians managed the same rites and rituals as before the war. Fealty was still sworn to Heaven, and in return they did their best to uphold the values and traditions required of them. However times were changing, and many of the younger Ba-Shu had little interest in these old things.

Xiaolian meanwhile was running deliveries for Zhen, a partial payment for the chaos she had dragged him into over the course of the solstice. She hadn't really any other choice given how thinly many of them had been spread.

One of the older community members, a woman, spotted Xiaolian and waved her over. "Xiaolian, how are you today?" The woman asked. "Helping your brother I see." She added waiting expectantly for Xiaolian to answer, ignoring the fact that she may have had more deliveries to make.

"I'm well Āyí." Xiaolian replied offering a slight nod of her head. "I thought the temple was closed today." She commented glancing suspiciously over to where Wangshu worked through the ritual. She could see the ward shimmering in the midday sun, but doubted the other woman could. Much of the magic that many of the families had brought with them to their new home had been diluted over the years, decades even.

Xiaolian and Zhen were lucky, they had been one of the families who had not lost the majority of their magic. Even if hers had been sealed away for a time, it was still as powerful as ever upon its return.

The pair had been some of the last to be trained as Guardians, Xiaolian in the midst of a campaign to regain their home from those that that had pushed them from it, and Zhen at the end. The two couldn't be any different in their styles, Zhen was cautious preferring a more scholarly approach and Xiaolian preferred a more active hands on approach. Something that had often resulted in disciplinary measures during her time at MCU, and as a result landed her on what was so lovingly referred to as 'Team Fuck Up'.

"Oh! No, the Temple isn't really closed.. they're just not allowing any visitors today." The old woman answered dismissing Xiaolian's question. Meanwhile she prattled on and on, asking her about her brother, parents, cousins, and who was marrying who and who was expecting children. "Auntie..." Xiaolian started to say, suspecting that the old woman had gone senile. "Auntie.. I really.." She tried again, probably looking rather annoyed and put out by now. The woman had been going for a good fifteen to twenty minutes now, surely Zhen would be wondering what had happened. But knowing her luck, he was probably halfway into a bottle by now.

If there weren't rules about just disappearing, Xiaolian would have been long gone by now.

[littlekreen]

Wangshu still thought like a warrior and suffered like one at necessary war gone on far too long. His unexpected exile had been one very long day of careful travel amid bolts from the hells of frenetic combat. The nights there did not fall unless they'd fallen forever. At that end, in this largely unprepared plane, he needed somewhere to go to ground if he required it. A place that could repel a corruption that rose its ugly head or a hungry shadow its dark and protect the people. His training was one of particular depth but not entirely destruction for if one laid down a fortress did protectors not come?

As he came to the end of one cycle the faint shimmer overtook the sand beneath his feet as it started to lap at the edges of its confines as his feet pounded into the grains. Wangshu called for his implement of heaven as the sword slipped from an elder's grasp and twirled over a railing with the tassel of Wanrou's scabbard twirling on its own. The sword as excited to be used to purify as to see Wangshu at work. The peach-handled dao hovered scabbard point down across the sand leaving a small spray trail behind until hammering into Wangshu's hand. One hand connected to the other then removed Wanrou from her sheath. The scabbard behind him and the sword held above the Earth mark upon the top of the stone. His will impulses the creation cycle to turn as he channeled through Wanrou to goad a stone to roll within rather than without. The temple creaked as small blemishes faded from the wood in an expanding radius. Purifying the building his personal aura flaring up into the jade-colored fire of purifier-at-arms. Even as his body started to sear from minor threads within the building that fought back his gaze and chanting of the ward did not waver. Only as the craters of of invisible hooves splayed the sand opposite him did he stop - a protector had come did his jade flame quell.

A bodiless voice spoke in ba-shu as his chanting ended with the pattern of purification in the ward growing far slower on its own along the edges of hallways, "It is good to see we have not been forgotten too."

Wangshu sheathed Wanrou in slow practiced movement careful not to offend the protector then touched his forehead to the sand and Wanrou laid before him. As long as the priests could avoid offending the Qilin the spirit creature would remain to defend the place of suitable purity. Though this particular effort left him drained the muscled burned and his soul felt lighter. Finally, somewhere his learned paranoia could be put to rest. He stood then left as the hoofprints appeared then vanished in the sand as they parted in different directions. Wangshu to see who had just arrived and the other with hooves on wooden floors busied to inspect the minders of the temple.

Outside the ritual now Wanrou clung to the side of his loose pants even as his chiseled muscles started to sweat when the effort caught up to him as he walked over, "The ritual will stand until I return to devote more will to it, elder. Honor the protector and they will remain. Who might this be?"

[Circe]

Xiaolian sighed in frustration as the older woman ignored her protests, no doubt convinced of the fact that Xiaolian was some local youth who didn't know how to respect her elders. Never mind the fact that she had likely been born long before the elder's family was in the country. But such was her lot, as some things were not to be shared even with her own community.

"Āyí..." Xiaolian protested again, emphasizing the Ba-Shu word for Auntie with impatience and frustration. It was really an honorific for an elder woman in the community more than the other being an actual aunt. As far as she knew, her father had had no sisters and her mother's had long since passed before Xiaolian and Zhen were born.

Again the woman ignored her, waving aside her concerns and only causing Xiaolian to grow more agitated and impatient by the minute. "Oh thank you! I'm sure the priests will appreciate the help." The woman replied to Wangshu with a gummy and nicotine stained smile. Truth be told, she really didn't know if they would or not, but it seemed like the proper thing to say. Besides, she and her friends would have something to gossip over when they met again. Turning to Xiaolian, she nudged the other forward slightly, "Go on, introduce yourself."

Caught off balance and off guard, Xiaolian stumbled slightly and glared at the old woman before turning her attention to Wangshu. "Lianhua Xiaolian.. it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." She said politely enough with a slight nod and bow, doing what she could to keep the tension and anger out of her voice. It wouldn't do for Zhen to hear that she had been less than amicable to one of the temple's monks or priests; she wasn't entirely sure what Wangshu's rank was and for the moment didn't much care.

[littlekreen]

Wangshu brushed at the sword on his hip and Wanrou drifted upright to pivot in place. The hilt rotated once as the tassel lightly swayed then turned to face Xiolain with fixed attention. Wanrou's own magical aura not of an inanimate object nor a particularly enchanted one instead of an individual's that came in tandem with sapience. Though it was alien, Wanrou's spirit as angular and machined as Wangshu's own seemed ground down to a smooth perpetual flame. He'd asked Wanrou to remain quiet, even if clearly a magical creature, given it seemed best to not raise suspicion from non ba-shu.

At the older woman, he let a polite nod, "The priests will learn though the wise spirit may leave another in its stead the ward will remain defended. We both strive to learn how to better serve the people in our own ways."

Wangshu made a small bow to Xiaolian of his own points at the food delivery, "I am Hao Wangshu, Xiaolian, good to meet you as well since I believe your reputation proceeds you. Your brother has a sister with no small envy about it I think. I hope you take after my work than his even if his food is good. It seems I've come back from the dark to ranks far thinner than we once were."

[Circe]

The woman only nodded and smiled before shuffling off to leave. Acting as if she understood all of what Wangshu had said, in reality all she considered it was a nice gesture towards the temple and the community. Like many in the community, they were only nominally culturally Ba-Shu, and had largely forgotten their roots. Few if any could travel between the branches of the tree now, and while some still had limited magic, it was devoted more to fortune telling and things of that nature.

"One would hope that that reputation is a honorable one, Master Hao." Xiaolian replied coolly. Ever suspicious and ever on guard, she didn't much care for surprises. Holding her aura tucked tightly away, she was uncertain if Wangshu and the accompanying spirit she sensed from the sword were friendly yet. Things hadn't exactly gone her way lately, and it seemed like she was constantly stumbling and making rookie mistakes. For now it would be better safe than sorry to expose herself just yet.

In the last six months she had already had to deal with the Cedar Ridge alpha surprising her while out shopping. She had yet to stop chastising herself for that, as she should have been paying better attention. Then there had been the planar storm, with its swarm of jingling, and a blinded mage; which admittedly was her own fault. The time spent on this plane had only resulted in her growing complacent, and had lead to poor decisions on her part.

"Though with the company my brother keeps, it's always uncertain what ones reputation might be." She added, having met some of the other's more recent friends. He was a weak link that needed to be shored up, and in many ways largely family's fault for indulging him. While each of them had been affected by the horrors of leaving home in such a way as they had, each of them was different. Xiaolian had become hardened and untrusting, building a wall around herself; while Zhen had grown withdrawn and despondent, indulging in his own self pity.

Glancing at the now empty bags she held, Xiaolian offered a noncommittal shrug, "It's just for today." In reality it was becoming more and more frequent that Zhen needed the help, often forgetting that his sister had other duties to attend to elsewhere.

[littlekreen]

He looked at the group milling away from the temple for a moment, "Days spent on unexpected roads do blur into that 'just today'. I remember people still strong that set me and others against corruption. The people that I return to don't see their ruins."

Or chose not to remember the horrors that made them when alone he mused with a darkened face as picked up his coat and shirt left by the door. In a pocket, he procured an amulet of the Ko cycle he wore about his neck. Guardians sent not to nurture the tree but to prune it. They neither mingled nor hid and Wangshu never had cause for any such habits though tattoos on him would hardly last long so had none to hide. There were no allies on his road and few paths that didn't have eyes on them. So used to threats in every shadow his mind grew so used to it that now confused the dark of a new plane with nameless horrors when he was alone.

As he put his shirt on commented from under the charitable donation, "Your brother has the same paranoia for strangers as I have for enemies. Though I sense you're more on firm ground like myself than his worrying. I suppose I'm the old soldiers I remember now."

His head stuck out and put his hat on, "Still, I should repay your brother for his charity. Would you like help with his deliveries?"

[Circe]

Xiaolian sighed, "You are right on both accounts." The Ba-Shu were more concerned with more modern and more mundane things now. They had grown used to their comfortable life in this new home, and had forgotten what it had meant to serve Heaven. All she seemed to be doing now was baby sitting a rogue mage, hiding from the Ratatoskr, and working as her brother's delivery girl. It was discouraging to be so hindered on all fronts, though she would admit knocking the mage down a few pegs had been entertaining.

"My brother has too long indulged in his own self pity and has succumbed to a man's own avarice." Xiaolian added bluntly. Zhen was a problem, and she couldn't really do much about it. Whatever demons he was battling, were not hers. "My brother's paranoia stems from his own issues. I'm simply cautious, given how things were." She was beginning to regret her choice of agreeing to be take this particular plane as her assignment. They had said it wouldn't be too terribly difficult, but in the last year there had been one major veil exploit and then a major storm.

Xiaolian was beginning to think that something needed to be done about Tyrus, more than anything else. Many of his decisions when it came to magic, were in her opinion questionable. Training should instill some sort of responsibility and forethought, but she had yet to see it.

"If you wish. But, I am curious.. how come my brother hasn't said anything about you?"

[littlekreen]

Wangshu sighed and made a wry smile, "I asked your brother for time; before I find what's left of the leaders I remember. Wanrou and service help me battle my own demons now that they're not around every corner."

If it wasn't for Wanrou to keep him company he would never have kept his mind as long as he did. Someone to talk to and empathize with. An intellect determined by the lost servants he'd been bonding to her more than the creatures he used her to destroy.

A glance at Wanrou the sword standing on its scabbard-point pivots toward him, "Though I was always a weapon of war, Xiaolian, not a citizen. Even resistant to corruption as I am that placid water drains through my hands. I need to be more useful than idle."

A moment flashed to him remembering the fields of half-realized souls stored on pikes stripped of their identity. Crawling through confused demons and other creatures unable to muster emotion for there was no person there to identify with them. Hollow things going about the motions of endless confusion or bored stares like newborn children. When he looked at the people here with their half-interested curious stares Wangshu had to remind himself they were people, not half-empty obstacles that couldn't really die.

Eyes pressed closed for that moment, outstretched a hand to take a few of the packages, "Isn't your brother's avarice his way to show how he's useful? It seems at least he's sharing it with you."

[Circe]

"My brother's avarice and love for drink has shown me little except he is incapable." That was Xiaolian's own opinion, others may have thought differently. The only reason she helped because he was family, and that in order to at least have another pair of hands similarly trained. There hadn't been a capable group of novices since the war, and any interest in the traditional arts was slowly disappearing. "Citizen? I'm beginning to wonder what that bone headed boy has been saying." She muttered to herself, rolling her eyes.

What sort of non-sensical drivel had Zhen been feeding to their fellow guardian? Citizens indeed! Their family had taken pride in the length of their service to heaven, and Xiaolian had spent her own time in the trenches and exposed to the horrors that often came with.

Handing Wangshu half of the packages, Xiaolian debated all this and wondered why now of all times did someone like Wangshu have to show up? "My brother, Zhen, is a shiftless coward who barely remembers home, never saw a battle in his life, muchless knows his duty outside of that he owes to a bottle and majohng. He was too busy whining about things to prove capable during a storm. The jingling even bested him." She pointed out finally. The planar fish were largely harmless, curious and vaugely meddlesome, but harmless.

[littlekreen]

Wangshu slips the sword underneath his long leather coat where the metal length slips away beneath. The packages he took with some sorting for balance to pile the rest in his arms. Without complaint shifted the load to better balance. A task to complete quieted the shiftless part of his mind looking for the next one. Though he wasn't sure if it was Wanrou's discontent with one about ferrying packages or his own. Plastic things barely concerned they might be damaged and remembered the darker times Xiao mentioned of food in heavy crates or wrappings to protect precious cargo.

An eye to the public outside going about their business without the faintest care said while looking over them, "Even Jingling? Novices used amuse the teachers because of them. Now it feels like all that's left is just feckless aliens to both war and to Heaven. Perhaps we just know too much and they too little."

He eyes the amulet a marker for what was once a task of importance, "Apologies, I shouldn't judge. Though how many of us care to serve at all if Heaven says nothing? Not even the half-eaten charnel I found in that place of Heaven's higher servants ever heard anything if their minds survived at all. I gave what solace I could to them to take my own."

A focused gaze at Xiaolain with a distant eye of contemplation and a wry smile, "My duty as a Guardian will be my drink of choice. Only Heaven knows which of us is is better off."

A soft voice between them from under his coat had a sigh in it, "Good to hear. I wouldn't want to turn dull. Now that there's people to talk to you talk too much."

Just a chuckle in response to Wanrou his aura flexed against the in-between from a more ponderous weight trained long ago. The Ko cycle were not guardians of an willful and agile step instead the digging shift of a battering ram when the wrath of heaven was asked of them. Wangshu wasn't sure if they were walking or stepping through the in between but his was a ship that wheeled about slowly. Daily use was an aspect of practice though in truth it quieted the squeals of paranoia of a war-machine about escape from an unknown plane. Talking helped him replace some of the parts of his humanity he'd worn down.