Heaven's Crossing (Working Title)

Salie and Xishi had just finished sparring. Salie could see that Xishi was making excellent progress as usual, "Just the kind of natural martial talent one would expect from the famous Rina's daughter." Kinich praised Xishi. "It is not like that Kinich, look." Salie said as he took Xishi's hand and slowly unwound the bandages, showing cuts and bruises from diligent training. "She is just like me. Showing that hard work gets great rewards." Salie said as he held up his own bandaged hands. "You are doing great Xishi." Xishi hid her face at Salie's praise. "Thank you Onii." she said calling him by his nickname. Salie looked back towards the mountains and sighed, "Sorry girls, I got something on my mind, so I am going for a walk. I will see you both later." Salie said glancing back at the both of them as he slid his hands in his pockets. "Ok, see you later Onii-sama!" Xishi said bowing her head. "Yeah, see you Salie-sama. Try not to have too many naughty dreams about me!" Kinich teased. Xishi started arguing with Kinich about the likelihood of that happening. Salie chuckled as he turned and walked off waving back at the girls as he rounded the corner and walked into town.

As Salie drifted through the crowded streets, people waved and smiled cheerfully at him. Reminding him of when he had first arrived and got only looks of suspicious contempt. Over time everyone had grown attached to the young, helpful Yuki. He had helped fight off the occasional bandit raid, rescued his now best friend Kitsuno Takarashi, guardian of the Heaven's Crossing entrance bridge, from drowning, made the Lobo princess smile even when her father did not know how, and trained under four of the most famous martial arts masters of Heaven's Crossing. Looking back he had accomplished so much but still Salie's mind wandered into the past that lied beyond his memory. Could Kaylee and Rina have been telling the truth. Am I a prince? If I am does that make me any different? Salie pondered to himself walking through the marketplace accidentally bumping into a blue haired Neko, they both fell to the ground. "Ow, oh hi Sinarie, sorry about that. I was kind of daydreaming I guess." Salie said to the Neko school teacher. "Oh, it is quite alright Salie. Least you were keeping your strength under control, it actually felt just like bumping into anybody else." Sinarie assured him with a smile as he got to his feet and adjusted his glasses. "Sinarie-san!" a voice called from the crowd. A pink haired Neko ran up to them. "Oh, hello Shinari." Sinarie said to her. "Shinari? You're Sora's friend right? She has mentioned you before. She says you two are partners." Salie said. Thinking about the female Yuki fortuneteller. "That is right. We are both fortune tellers. I do Cleromancy with bones, lots, and stones while Sora does Cartomancy which is divining your fortune using cards." Shinari explained. "Salie, right?" "Mm-hmm." Salie replied.

"I have heard of you but this is my first time meeting you. You are the one that trained with the four masters alongside Rina's daughter. Most impressive." Shinari said, holding out her hand. Sinarie frowned momentarily when Shinari held out her hand. Salie shook it with an unsure glance over at Sinarie. What was that look for? "Well, we have things to do, Salie. We will see you later." Sinarie said pulling Shinari away by her hand. As soon as they were out of sight and hearing range, he pinned her against the wall, "What were you thinking? Trying to scout him. He is just a kid. A good kid." Sinarie scolded his companion. "There is no problem with just looking. But I was surprised that 'kid' has a huge reserve of hidden power. We have to tell him." Shinari said. Sinarie scoffed. "I suppose we do." Sinarie said. Then he released her arms. He dissolved into water. Shinari disappeared in a violent gust of wind.

Chapter 4 Salie walked through the market district, "Hey Salie!" a voice called, Salie looked over at the source. "Oh, hey Vilars." Salie said to Liorca's older brother, the famous village smith. "Wondering if you have time to help me with an errand?" Vilars asked. "Sure Vilars, what do you need help with?" Salie asked eager to be helpful to his friend. "I have a commission from a really important client and need help harvesting materials for it. I am going to the mountain to find them and I could use an extra hand." Vilars said, pointing to the Ebony mountains. "I did not know there were any ores up in the mountains." Salie stated. "We are not after any metal, we are looking for crystal." Vilars said. "Ok, well how big a piece are we going to need and what kind?" Salie asked. "Enough to make a sword, and as for the crystal type, I am not sure. I am not much of a Mineralogist but I would like something that has hidden properties, will not chip or shatter and can slice through steel." Vilars said thinking a moment. Salie sighed, "That is kind of a tall order Vilars, I have never heard of any kind of mineral like that." Salie explained. "Besides no one has ever created a crystal sword that was usable." "Oh, it is mostly supposed to be ceremonial so no worries about usability. Though if we do find something that can be used for combat it would be nice. But, even if we do not, normal crystal would be fine too." Vilars assured the young Yuki, handing him a chiseling kit. "Well, if you say so Vilars, ok. Do you have a spot picked out to hunt for these crystals?" Salie asked. "Yes, there is a cave by the base of the South-East Mountain, it has plentiful large crystals, hopefully we can find a particularly good one for the client." Vilars said. "The South-East Mountain, you mean the Peak of Claws?" Salie asked.

"Yeah, do not worry, we will just be at the base, you do not have to worry about the legend." Vilars assured his young friend. "I am not worried, just curious. I have always thought about climbing the four mountains." Salie said. "I would not suggest it. Not only are the mountains treacherous but the inhabitants are rumored to be quite hostile." Vilars said, as he started to head to the village gate. "Let us go Salie." “Right.” Salie said, following closely behind the Siu smith. “Sinarie? Shinari? Did you need something?” a male voice called when the Neko pair walked in the spacious underground room. “Mikuro we found someone who may be usable to yo… I mean our cause.” Shinari said. “Oh? Does this person have a name?” the man said stepping from the shadows. He had long black hair and golden slit pupil eyes typical of a Lacos, as well as scars over his left eye. He had a small purple circle marking on his forehead, with a tomoe on either side and he wore a white and purple yukata. Mikuro, the Lacos, leaned against the wall waiting for an answer. “Salie, the Yuki the lord took in nine years ago. I felt his chakra. It is strong. Very strong.” Shinari said. “No one knows anything about him before he came here. A complete mystery. He was a good student, a great role model to the Sai-Huon girl, trained under the Four Masters, saved the guardian of the Lit Bridge, Kitsuno Takarashi, and has had multiple altercations with Alexander Cho-Tora, all of which he has walked away from with no feelings of hostility towards him.” Sinarie reported.

“My, you have certainly done your homework, sensei.” Mikuro said with a chuckle. “You remember that aura we felt back nine years ago that we could never pinpoint?” Sinarie said. Mikuro’s eyebrow arched, “Salie was the source.” Shinari confirmed. “Then I think it is time to recruit this young prodigy, and bring him around to our way of thinking.” Mikuro said, “Locate him and when you find him I want to know, I will be the one to recruit him.” “Yes sir.” the Neko pair said as they left the chamber.

The cave Vilars mentioned was a couple hours walk away. It was filled with crystals as big as people. “Wow these are huge!” Salie said, touching one. “We need to be careful in here. Sometimes bandits and wild animals gather inside.” Vilars warned Salie. Salie tightened his fist, “Right. Then I should go first since I have martial arts training.” Salie entered first, cautiously peering around the corner. A large stalagmite and stalactites of colorful crystal were all he could see. “Ok, the coast is clear Vilars.” Vilars walked in and examined a large pale red crystal, “Salie I want you to smash this crystal so I can do some tests on it.” Vilars said. Salie nodded and moved in front of the crystal, he took a step forward as he propelled his fist forward while turning his hips resulting in a strong frontal punch which smashed right through the crystal. “Whoa, nice power Salie.” Vilars praised his friend, Salie chuckled embarrassed by the praise. Vilars picked up a shard, scratching it with a small chisel, “Hmm. Too fragile, even for decorative purposes. Ok Salie, next that large bright blue glowing one.” Vilars said discarding the shard on the floor and pointing to a stalactite. Salie repeated the technique again, Vilars once again picked up a shard and examined it. “Hmm, not stable enough for a long piece like the blade but it would be good for other decorative pieces.” Vilars said collecting a few shards into his pouch. “Did you guys hear something?” a voice said from further in the cave. “Crap, bandits.” Vilars said, as a trio of men rounded the corner and spotted them. “What do we have here?” the foremost said as he and his two friends drew their bows and notched an arrow aiming at Salie and his Siu friend. “Is that not the famous weapon smith Fuchsia-no-Vilars?” One said. “It sure is. Let us capture him and ransom him back to the village.” Another suggested.

“Kill the other.” the foremost said as the group loosed their arrows. Salie’s instincts took over. He slammed his hands onto the ground and a large slab of jade green crystal shot up out of the ground, blocking the arrow. Without missing a beat he slammed both palms against it, separating it from its base and sending it crashing into the three bandits, slamming them hard into the cave wall. It fell away from them, revealing the three bandits unconscious, heavily injured but alive. “Wha… How?” was all Vilars could muster. “I do not know. But lucky for us.” Salie said, examining the crystal as it seemed to be reforming where he had broken it. “Vilars, it is regenerating. Do you think you could use it?” Salie asked, Vilars knelt by it and tested it. “Amazing. Salie put your hand on it.” Vilars said looking up at the Yuki. Salie complied placing his right hand on the slab. He felt a strong energy flow from him into the shard then come back into him strong. “What is that?” Salie asked, “It feels like it is taking my energy and returning it twofold.” Salie stated. “This is what I need. Could you carry it Salie? It should be easy for you with your strength. Let us get out of here before they wake up.” Vilars suggested. Salie picked up the crystal and the duo quickly departed back for the village.

Arriving at Vilars’ forge, he proceeded to thank Salie profusely. Salie smiled. “No need to thank me Vilars. I was happy to help. I am also glad you were not hurt. Be sure to tell the guards about that cave so those bandits can be caught.” Salie said, then he waved and turned leaving Vilars’ forge. “We have found him.” Shinari reported. “Good. Where?” Mikuro asked. “He just left Vilars forge and is headed for his home in the men’s living district.” Shinari continued. “Summon Hinarie and Gin to escort me.” Mikuro commanded. “Right.” Shinari said then she turned and left. Shortly after, two figures entered, “You summoned us, sir.” the larger of the figures said, as he stepped into the light. He was a large neko with black hair with orange tips and markings of the tiger subspecies. He was armored and had a large blade on his back. “Gin, it has come to my attention that there may be a potential recruit in the village.” Mikuro said to the Tiger-Neko. The other figure stepped forward into the light. He had pale light green hair, yellow eyes, and a long tail common to Lemuroi. He wore a strange purple outfit that consisted of a vest, pants with the thighs exposed by fishnet, and gloves that extended to his elbow. “My lord, who could it be that has caught your discerning eye.” the Lemuroi asked. “A young male Yuki named Salie. You and Gin are coming with me Hinarie. I will convince him to join us and discern whether we can actually use him or not.” Mikuro said. “As you wish my lord.” Hinarie said, as Mikuro walked out the exit with Hinarie and Gin following him.

Salie laid on the roof of his house and stared at the sky judging it was about 5pm. He sighed. He looked out over the village to the fire at Vilars’. It was burning brightly. He wondered when he would get to see Vilars’ finished work. He often helped the Siu smith with his work on commissioned pieces. As he was gazing toward the village he noticed a trio of figures approaching. He recognized one as Gin, one of the village guards. The other two he had never seen before. As his eye fell on the Lacos, he felt his muscles tighten and his blood rush, but chose not to act upon the strange feeling and it soon passed. The trio walked up to the house and spotted him on the roof, “Hey Salie!” Gin called. “Hey Gin. Do you need something?” Salie asked, with a friendly wave of his hand. “Well actually…” Gin started. “We came to find you.” Mikuro piped in, “I have been told you are a young man of much promise, and I want to offer you a chance to help the Dragon Empire.” Salie quickly sat up, “How can I do that?” Salie said deeply interested at a chance to help the Empire. “We three are part of an organization called The Fighter’s Guild, this is our crest.” Mikuro said motioning to the crest on Hinarie’s vest. “We help the empire behind the scenes, doing what others cannot.” Mikuro said. “Like how exactly?” Salie asked. Crossing his arms still not sure to believe the Lacos, it would take more than a few sugared words to make him ignore that feeling he had earlier. “All the members of the Fighter’s Guild are quite powerful, we provide combat support, help settle disputes, whatever needs to be done for the good of the Empire.” Mikuro said, “Come with us tomorrow and I will prove it, besides I am sure there are quite a few of us that you already call friends.”