Way of the Dragon

Way of the Dragon is a fiction written by Seth Mason. It is the sixth of ten parts from the Dawn of the Empire promotional ccg set. 

Annotated Story
Previously: The Hand of Peace.

Unmei continues his story, explaining that the arrival of Shinsei had brought answers but also more questions. These questions caused the Dragon Kami to seek out his own path.



Somewhere in the northern mountains, Akodo Kaiteru hears voices telling him to go back to his family. He has not eaten much, and is unclean from days of climbing. Many cuts and scrapes cover his body. Kaiteru tells the voice to go away, but the retorts that Kaiteru has already gone away his mother and sisters and that his family needs him now his father is dead. Kaiteru tells the voice his father is alive, but the voice claims again that his father died in Akodo's army. An image of his father fighting goblins flashes in Kaiteru's mind, and his father stumbles and is overwhelmed by the horde. Kaiteru screams at the voice, thinking it a lie. The voice taunts Kaiteru, calling him a coward for giving up his family. Kaiteru begins to question his own actions, but clarity finally dawns on him. He realised they were never his to give up nor save. Their kharma was seperate, and he starts to continue his climb. After pulling himself up the next ledge he finds himself on a wide plateau.

A year ago, Kaiteru is training with his sensei Akodo Hitoshi. The older samurai had been teaching Kaiteru to become a scout for months. Kaiteru asks if Hitoshi has been beyond the Lion borders to the north. Hitoshi reveals he has never had any duty take him into the lands of the Dragon Clan, and Keitaro asks what Hitoshi has heard about Togashi. Hitoshi does not listen to rumors, and that he believes the things he has heard about Togashi and his followers to be just stories. Hitoshi will not believe until he sees it with his own eyes or he is told them by someone he trusts. Kaiteru reveals it was his father who told him about Togashi, and Hitoshi apologizes for implying his father was a liar. Hitoshi points out however that Keitaru's father was also quite fond of Ikoma's stories, including one where Ikoma claimed he broke the back of a troll simply to amuse a pretty girl. Kaiteru understands, but surrepticiously eyes the mountains to the north when his sensei cannot see. Kaiteru was deciding he would find out which of Ikoma's tales were true and which were fanciful.



Back to the present, Kaiteru is wandering in the wilderness. He is going north, but has lost track of how far he has moved. Kaiteru is certain he will not survive here for more than a couple of days. He is so lost in thought he does not sense the approach of another. He hears the sound of someone moving, clearly not seeking to surprise him, and Keitaru's hand drifts to his wakizashi. Kaiteru had left his katana in Lion lands, having never felt right with it in his hands. The other man steps out infront of Kaiteru, noticably in his middle age with a head shaven bald as many who had taken in the word of Shinsei had done. On the mans hip rests perhaps the finest daisho Kaiteru has ever seen. The man says Kaiteru is the wanderer, and Kaiteru responds that he has come from the Lion Clan. The man asks if he is an invasion army, but Kaiteru is entirely confused but presses the point that he is not invasion army. A small woman emerges for the forest nearby and tells Mirumoto not to taunt Kaiteru. She excuses Mirumoto's behaviour, as he has been tasked with guarding the lands of the Dragon by Togashi-kami. She introduces herself as Agasha, and reveals that she has been sent here to teach Kaiteru. Mirumoto disagrees, sensing that Kaiteru is a warrior and he shall train with him. Kaiteru asks them why the keep on referring to him as the wanderer. Agasha suggests this is proof that his inquisitive mind should be a student of hers. Kaiteru apologizes, but says he is not scholar. Mirumoto tells him to study with him, but Kaiteru professes he is not a warrior either. Agasha asks why he has come if not to learn from them, and Kaiteru reveals that he will let them know why when he finds out himself.

A week later, Kaiteru is beginning to falter. He stumbles and falls, knocking his head on the ground again. Kaiteru picks himself up once more, and begins to stumble onwards. Blood runs into his eyes, but as he blinks away the blood he almost stumbles to the ground once more when he sees an infinitely-long coiled dragon no larger than himself. Kaiteru recognizes the creature as Togashi, and Togashi greets him as wanderer. Kaiteru asks why he is being called the wanderer. Togashi is annoyed, and replies that Kaiteru is not the wanderer. There is a moment of silence before Togashi commands Kaiteru to leave. Kaiteru begs to stay, having come too far to turn back now. Togashi tells him he has merely come to guide the wanderer to him, and tells him to leave. Kaiteru depairs, having given up everything to quench the yearning in his soul. With his last ounce of strength he stands tall and agrees to leave. Kaiteru collapses, and feels the 'shell' of Kaiteru fade away. All that remained was the wanderer, one of the first who would act in Togashi's name in the mortal world. Togashi says he sees the Dragon in Kaiteru's soul, and he will paint it for the world to see. Kaiteru will show Togashi the path of mortals, and he has now found his place.



To Be Continued in: Defenders of the Empire.

Characters

 * Unmei
 * Akodo Kaiteru
 * Akodo Hitoshi
 * Mirumoto
 * Agasha
 * Togashi

Not Present, But Mentioned

 * Shinsei
 * Akodo