"This is the final day of your training today." Master Ten-zen said to Drake as he was meditating beneath a waterfall. "How do you feel after all this time?"
Drake opens his eye's and looks at his teacher, friend and confidant for the last ten years and says "I feel many things. For starters I feel both sad and happy that our ten year training is coming to an end. Sad cause I see you as more than just a Master and mentor. Happy since I can finally start on my goal of getting revenge for my parents and village."
Master Ten-Zen strokes his goatee as he responds to his pupil "I have drilled the basics into your body for the past ten years, as well as having made sure that you are not swayed by emotions. Though I fear that you will still be blinded by your anger when you come face to face with your target. All we can do now is to believe that you will succeed in your endeavor.
"With all that being said let us have dinner together one last time before you leave for your journey tomorrow morning." Master Ten-Zen says as he turns and walks toward the small monastic temple they have called home for the past ten years.
Drake stares at his mentor for the past ten years as he walks inside. He only begins to get up after he watches him go inside the temple. As he stands up to his full height of 6'2 and walks toward the shore of the river he looks over his body and sees how lean and muscular it is compared to how he was ten years ago. He reaches for his shirt by the bank of the river and see's his reflection staring back at him. Short red hair the color of blood and two piercing azure eyes stare back at him from the water.
Drake walks into the temple just as Ten-Zen finishes setting the food on the table and says to him "I was not expecting such a lavish meal tonight. What brought the change master?"
"Since this is your last meal as my pupil I thought that I should make it a bit more lavish. Even more so since you will be setting out on your journey tomorrow." Ten-Zen replies as he sits down and gestures to the empty mat on the other side of the table.
""Thank you for the food"" They both say with a praying gesture before they start to eat the meal of venison stew.
"Where do you plan to start your search for the dragon that attacked your village?" Ten-Zen asks as they both put down their utensils and begin clearing the table of the dirty dishes.
"I plan to head to Dravassia to the east and start my search there. After that will all depend on how that goes first. 'Don't plan for the unknown as that will make things far more complicated than what is known' As you always say master." Drake says with as he stares out into the trees that surround the temple where they stay. "All I know is that Dravassia is city that a lot of merchants pass through, and I highly doubt that there is no way that they do not know about the dragon attack back then as it could impact trade caravans."
"That is a smart choice. Merchant's inland rely heavily on caravan's to get goods. Both to where they need to go and coming from other towns and cities." Ten-Zen said as he was making tea. "Would you like some tea before you start your nightly meditation?"
"Thank you for the offer, but not tonight. I am too anxious and eager about tomorrow that I fear I may end up not sleeping. So I intend to do some last minute physical exercise to unwind and get rid of some of this pent up energy."
"Very well. Come and see me before you leave tomorrow morning. I have a gift I wish to give you for your journey. I received a similar gift from my master when I left for my own journey that led me to where I met you and even to right here." Ten-Zen said with a wistful look on his face.
"Alright master. If you need me before you go to bed I will be by the iron-bark tree in the back." Drake said as he stepped out of the temple.
On his way to the iron-bark tree Drake started to wrap his hands in thick linen cloth. Same for his legs when he arrived at the tree. Once all of this was done he started to punch and kick the tree. Not long after he started he got into a rhythm and the rest of the world started to fade into the back ground alongside his own feelings. All that remains is a determined focus to do the best he can in his journey no matter the outcome. He will not stop until he has his revenge or dies trying.
A few hours pass before he stops. His body drenched in sweat from the vigorous non-stop exercise. He heads to the well in the back of the temple and washes off the sweat with cold water and heads inside the temple to meditate for a short while before going to sleep.
As he begins to meditate he feels the mana in the atmosphere and begins to pull it in as he empties his mind of everything. The only thing still remaining is the sound of his breathing and the feeling of the mana entering his body. An hour later he stops and heads to bed.
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