There is an agreed upon rule among the factions of the martial arts world to not drag civilians into their conflicts. Those outside of the martial arts world are to be kept separate from the battles inside the martial arts world.

  Tae didn’t know if it was because he’d talked about his past with Min, but it kept coming to mind and showing up in his dreams. He finished grinding the herbs into a powder and began the process of turning them into one of the pill balls. His mind seemed to wander more when he made these. Maybe it was because over the years the task had become so familiar that he didn’t need to focus on what his hands were doing anymore. His mind wandered back to one of the biggest turning points in his life.

  Seong, Eun-U had found him hiding in a cave in the mountains. Tae was actually surprised that Eun hadn’t noticed the corpses of both animals and people in that area. Then again it had been winter, and they’d been focused on following the trail he’d left behind due to his wounds. The man had completely changed his life, saved him really. He’d also managed to earn the trust of a half-feral sixteen year old. He smirked to himself as he remembered Eun’s surprise when he’d learned how old Tae was. He’d been so malnourished that he’d appeared younger than he really was. Tae let his mind wander into those memories.

  Tae hovered a few paces behind Eun-U. The man had quickly proven to be honest and trustworthy. Tae had started following the man around after a few weeks. The man must have said something because other than stares, no one bothered Tae. Tae knew he looked different. His wide shoulders didn’t match his more delicate facial features. Having spent a year hiding in the mountains had left him thin, which only added to him appearing delicate. These alone would have made people look twice at him. His blue eyes and snow white hair meant that no one could keep from stealing glances at him when he passed.

  “You sure you’re up for visiting the training grounds?” Eun-U asked. He’d asked this several times now. Tae nodded and then realized that since Eun-U was in front of him, the man couldn’t see him.

  “Yes.” Tae answered.

  “If you feel uncomfortable at any moment you don’t need to wait, you just leave.” Eun-U said after a moment. “You can go anywhere you think would help you feel better. Inside or outside our walls.”

  Tae smiled. This is why he’d come to like Eun-U so much. The man had made it clear that Tae wasn’t confined here. If he wanted to leave he was allowed to leave. If he wanted to stay he was welcome among them.

  “I think I’m more likely to make others uncomfortable.” Tae replied, still grinning. Eun-U glanced back at him and returned the smile.

  “Likely for multiple reasons too.” Eun-U agreed. “The training grounds are currently being used by kids around your age, most of which haven’t met you yet.”

  “Most?” Tae asked, trying to think of who around his age he would have met already.

  “You met Shin briefly in the kitchens.” Eun-U reminded him.

  Tae thought through his visits to the kitchens, going through the faces of everyone he’d seen there. Ah, right, he’d seen a boy not much shorter than him a few times. Eun-U had disappeared whenever the boy had appeared. Tae was going to make a comment about how that didn’t really count as meeting, but they’d arrived at the training grounds.

  They were much more open than Tae was used to. They passed through a single gate and the whole of the training grounds was visible. Covered wooden walkways surrounded the packed dirt training areas. Training dummies at one end, archery targets at the other. In the middle there was a raised platform, likely for sparring matches.

  In the area nearer the training dummies a group of young men were paired off and sparring. There was an uneven number of them, and one of them was paired with an adult. The young-man paired with the adult wasn’t Shin. His build was thinner, smaller, and his face had an almost feminine cast to it.

  Tae stood with Eun-U and watched. The young-man that had caught his attention moved as if the sparring match was a dance. He was light on his feet, and very quick. Tae could see why he’d been paired with an adult. His skills surpassed the others. There was also the fact that his fighting style was a bit different. Better to pair him with someone who could handle the speed of his attacks.

  “Stop.” the training master commanded. His voice didn’t bellow, but it was loud enough to be heard over the sparring. Everyone stopped and turned to look at the training master. The man was a bit shorter than Eun-U, but the weathered muscles visible on his exposed arms, and the scars he carried made it clear he was at least as good a fighter as Eun-U.

  Eun-U walked over to the training master, and Tae followed. The young-men had gathered around as well. Once they were a little closer, Tae realized he’d met both the training master and the adult who was helping with the sparring in the kitchens.

  “We’ve got someone joining us today.” the training master said. “Go on and introduce yourself.”

  “Seok, Tae-Hwan.” Tae said, bowing slightly.

  “As you’ve all heard, Tae-Hwan is a guest of our clan.” the training master continued. “He’s been staying with us while recovering.”

  There was a pause. Tae could feel the stares of the boys, but kept all his attention on the training master. Tae was relieved at how much like Eun-U the man was. His face and eyes held that same warmth, that same gentleness, that Tae hadn’t seen in an adult male that he could remember.

  “Tae-Hwan, if you’ve recovered enough for it, I’d like you to show these boys what you can do.” the training master said. The man had given Tae an out should he not be comfortable. That alone was enough to make Tae inclined to like the man. Tae nodded his consent. “Perfect. Lee, I’d like you to spar with Tae-Hwan.”

  The adult was Lee then. The man nodded and made his way up onto the platform.

  “Tae-Hwan, pick any weapon you’d like.” the training master said.

  “What are the rules of sparring here?” Tae-Hwan asked. He’d noticed that all the weapons currently on the racks were wooden. The training master seemed confused by his question and looked to Eun-U.

  Eun-U cleared his throat as if embarrassed. “Sorry, I should have explained that.” the man turned to Tae-Hwan. “We’d like to see your skills, so take your time with the spar. However, no inflicting injuries beyond bruises if you can help it. You win by either getting your opponent to surrender, or by Park calling the match based on a technical kill. Technical kills only. We want both of you to be able to leave the platform on your own two feet.”

  Tae could feel the surprise from the others. The training master showed no reaction on his face, but his eyes widened ever so slightly. The boys all shuffled and murmured to themselves. Tae nodded his understanding and went to the nearest weapon rack. It held swords, since Lee was also wielding a sword it seemed like the best choice for this kind of match.

  “No injuries, no killing, no injuries, no killing.” Tae repeated to himself quietly as he climbed up to the platform.

  “You both ready?” Park asked. Tae and Lee nodded. “Usually since Tae-Hwan is the younger opponent he’d get to make the first move, however, since he’s still becoming familiar with how we spar, Lee, you’ll go first this time. Begin.”

  No sooner had Park finished the command than Lee surged forward. He swung his sword to the right and Tae blocked it. He could have dodged but he’d wanted to feel how much power the man put into the blow. It was enough that he felt it through his arm as their swords connected. Seemed that as long as he wasn’t connecting with his opponent’s body he was allowed to hit at full force.

  Tae let Lee make a few more swings. He blocked each one, standing fast in the same position he’d started in. Tae watched as Lee recalculated. He’d obviously expected Tae to be as strong as the other young-men. The next blow that connected with Tae’s sword held more force and Tae smiled. Lee had begun to take him seriously. Tae hadn’t wanted to make a move until Lee had realized that Tae wasn’t some greenhorn.

  Tae moved out of the path of Lee’s sword. He took a step back and to the side. Lee was quick to adjust. The dance had truly begun. Tae didn’t wait for Lee to make another move. He swung for Lee’s exposed side. The man adjusted and their wooden swords met. Lee stumbled backwards slightly at the force of Tae’s blow. Both were smiling now.

  They danced around each other, swords meeting anytime either of them swung their swords. Tae slowly began to pick up the pace, curious as to how well Lee would be able to keep up with him. Lee had increased the power behind his own swings, but they still weren’t enough to make Tae stumble. Lee however, was pushed back slightly every time he blocked one of Tae’s blows.

  After a few more exchanges Tae realized Lee had nothing new to show him. Since the point of this was for Park and Eun-U to see his skill level, Tae saw no point in prolonging the match. Tae made a feint to the left. Lee fell for it. Tae jumped, twisting in the air, and landing on the other side of Lee. Before the man had realized what he’d done, Tae’s sword was at the man’s neck. His arm tense with the effort to not follow the move all the way through.

  “Match.” Park called.

  Tae lowered his sword. The two men faced each other and bowed.

  “Tae-Hwan, you feel up to another match?”

  Tae nodded.

  “Hyuk, you’re up.”

  The young-man who had been sparring with Lee earlier stepped up to the platform as Lee left it. He and Tae bowed to each other before getting into position. Both waited for further instructions.

  “Hyuk, your first move.” Park said. “Begin.”

  Hyuk wasted no time. He surged forward into a quick series of attacks. Tae block each one. He’d already seen the young-man spar earlier and had an idea of his abilities so he didn’t stay in one place like he had with Lee. Tae moved with Hyuk, countering each move with one of his own. Hyuk was quick and able to block, but only just. He could match Tae’s speed, but not his strength, and Tae was still pulling his blows.

  It seemed Hyuk had also noticed the difference in their strength levels. The young-man picked up his speed to make up the difference. He aimed quick blows for any part of Tae that seemed exposed. Tae blocked each blow, and stopped letting Hyuk drive him back. He put a bit more power behind his own swings. Hyuk dodged the first few, but stumbled when their swords connected next. He hadn’t braced for the increased power. Tae pushed his advantage. He could move just as fast as Hyuk, but had a lot more power behind each of his swings. slowly, carefully, he drove Hyuk backwards.

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  Hyuk was a speed fighter, he’d have to break free if he wanted to regain any advantage over the fight. Tae continued his attacks, being careful to provide an opening for Hyuk, while making it look like he was unaware of it. Hyuk took the opening just like Tae knew he would. Before the smaller man had taken more than a few steps Tae had grabbed him. Tae flung the smaller man to the ground. He put his right foot on Hyuk’s chest, being careful not to apply more pressure than was necessary to keep the man still. His sword was pointed at Hyuk’s throat.

  “Match.” Park called.

  Tae removed his sword and foot. He extended his hand to Hyuk to help the man up. Hyuk grasped his hand willingly, and Tae was careful to measure his strength as he pulled the man up. He didn’t want to accidentally launch him forward. Once Hyuk was on his feet again the two bowed to each other.

  “Both of you can step down from the platform for now.” Eun-U said. Tae followed Hyuk down to where the other boys were standing.

  “How much were you holding back?” Hyuk asked.

  Park, Lee, and Eun-U were discussing something it seemed. Likely what to do with him now that they had some idea of his abilities.

  “Well, I was told you were supposed to be able to walk off the platform on your own feet.” Tae replied.

  “If you hadn’t been worried about that, how quickly could you have taken me out?” Hyuk asked.

  “With you still getting the first move?” he asked after a moment.

  “Sure.” Hyuk answered.

  “During your first move.” Tae replied.

  “That fast?” Hyuk seemed surprised. “Did I leave myself that open?”

  Tae tried to think of how to explain. “It wasn’t so much that you left yourself open as your moves were predictable.”

  “How so?” Hyuk asked. The young-man seemed genuinely curious and not at all offended by the fact that Tae had said he could have taken him out in the first move.

  “You use a blend of the four winds movements. Your blending them together helps, but your moves are still patterned.” Tae explained. “You aim to meet your opponent’s sword, not to take down your opponent as quickly as possible. Your goal is to drive your opponent into a corner instead of taking them out as fast as possible.”

  Hyuk nodded. “I’m used to sparring my peers, sparring is different than a battle.”

  “And that is exactly why I held back.” Tae replied. “This was a spar, and I wanted to learn the rules.”

  “How did sparring work where you were taught to fight?” Hyuk asked.

  Tae glanced at the adults. The three were still talking, but Eun-U must have heard what Hyuk had asked because he met Tae’s gaze and nodded ever so slightly. They’d previously discussed that not everyone should know about what kind of place Tae had been in before, and that should anyone ask Eun-U would let him know if this was someone who could be told or not. The nod indicated that if Tae wished he could tell this group of people. Hyuk may have been the one to ask the question, but everyone, even the adults, were listening to the conversation.

  “Depended on the match.” Tae replied. He paused as he tried to think of a way to explain it in as few words as possible. “We fought until ordered to stop.”

  The adults stopped talking. They had understood what that meant. The young-men however, didn’t seem to understand. Tae sighed.

  “Do you remember what Eun-U told me before I chose my weapon?” Tae asked.

  Hyuk and the others nodded. Tae could see that though none of them fully grasped what he was getting at, a few weren’t far off.

  “Sparring didn’t mean the same thing to us as it does to you.” Tae said after a moment. “To you, it means a chance to learn, to grow, to show your abilities, in a safe match.”

  Several boys nodded.

  “To us it was about survival.” Tae continued. “From what I understand, unless there is an accident, both of you walk off the platform under your own power.” Tae paused, waiting for that to sink in a little. “We fought until ordered to stop. At best, one of us would need help leaving the ring.”

  “At worst?” one of the boys asked. Tae turned and met the boy’s dark brown eyes with his own blue ones.

  “At worst, which was nearly half of the time, only one of us walked away from the spar alive.” Tae told him. The boys all stared at him in horror. They lived a life where honour among warriors was prized. It made sense that this wouldn’t be something they understood. “In every match our lives were on the line. We didn’t spar. If we didn’t, more often than not, neither person in the ring made it out alive.”

  “This is why I asked Eun-U to have Tae-Hwan join us when he was recovered enough to.” Park said. “You boys have only fought among each other and your peers from other clans.”

  Tae turned to see the adults had joined them.

  “In the gatherings among the martial artist alliance clans you need not worry about more than that.” Eun-U said. “However, you’re getting to the age where you need to worry about battles, not just spars.”

  “Tae-Hwan, if you feel up for it, I’d like you to join the morning training.” Park said. “It’s alright if you aren’t there yet, you’ve got a lot to adjust to here.”

  “You’ll teach me how to fight like your warriors do?” Tae asked.

  “We’ll get you used to sparring first, but yes.” Park said. “We’ll need to activate your Qi first.”

  Tae looked to Eun-U confused. Eun-U grinned at him.

  “In order to learn your fighting methods I just need to adjust to sparring then.” Tae replied.

  “That’s not what I said boy.” Park said glaring at him. “Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

  “I’m not.” Tae told him. Park was about to say something more, but Tae held out his left hand palm up to the sky. In the time it took Park to blink Tae had gathered a small ball of his Qi and held it hovering just above his left palm. Everyone, even Eun-U stared at him in shock.

  “You most definitely are not.” Park agreed.

  “I might need to learn the differences of how you use Qi,” Tae replied. “I was trained for a different kind of fighting than what I saw earlier.”

  “That won’t take much.” Eun-U said. “The hardest part is activating and learning to access it. You’ve already done that and then some.”

  Tae dismissed his ball of Qi, feeling nervous.

  “You didn’t tell me he could use Qi.” Park accused. “He can wield it freely, Eun-U.”

  “I knew he knew of it and what it meant, but I didn’t know he had full access to it.” Eun-U replied.

  “Is it a problem?” Tae asked. He shifted so that there was no one behind him.

  “It’s not a problem.” Eun-U said quickly.

  “It’s not a problem.” Park agreed. “It just means that I should have had you spar with someone else. These boys are just learning to work with Qi, you’re simply ahead of them.”

  Tae held very still. Reading the faces of both men for any sign of a threat.

  “We just need to change plans a little.” Eun-U continued. “It’s okay Tae-Hwan, you’re okay.”

  Tae searched Eun-U’s eyes for any indication that there was a problem. Even though he didn’t see any he stayed ready to move at the slightest motion.

  “They’re just going to add extra training once you’ve adjusted to sparring.” Hyuk said. Tae turned to look at the young-man. His voice was very calm, his eyes gentle. “They’re just surprised because you’re more talented than they’d expected.”

  “Hyuk is correct.” Park said. “I knew you were skilled at fighting, we just weren’t aware that you had even more talents.”

  “You’ve tasted his cooking Park, don’t sell the kid short.” Eun-U replied laughing.

  “Is it really true he didn’t know how to cook properly before he came here?” Lee asked.

  “All he knew how to do was make sure food was safe to eat.” Eun-U told him.

  Tae felt some of the tension leave his body. He wasn’t in trouble. No one was upset. Things were still okay.

  “You’re pretty skittish, aren’t you.” one of the boys, a glance told Tae it was Shin, said.

  “He’s got more than enough reason to be.” Eun-U said. There was a sadness in his voice that didn’t make sense to Tae.

  “I’d thought you were exaggerating when you told us, father.” Shin replied.

  “Seems he underplayed it.” another boy said.

  “You don’t need to be so wary of us.” Hyuk said. He slowly, and very deliberately, placed his hand on Tae’s shoulder. Since Hyuk had kept the movement slow, Tae let him. “Besides, you could easily beat any of us in a fight, and probably get out of here before even Eun-U could react.”

  Tae tilted his head thinking. “I’m not sure if I could get passed Eun-U. His reactions are quick enough that if I tried to do anything other than flee I wouldn’t be able to get out without fighting him. Park is also quicker than you give him credit for. With those two here, I’d have no chance if I tried to fight my way out without killing.”

  The silence was heavy. Tae looked around and realized he’d done something strange again.

  “Eun-U and Park are strong warriors. I could outpace Park, but only because of the old injury to his left leg. As long as I focused on escaping I could get out of the complex before others arrived. If I tried to fight, Eun-U would slow me down enough that I’d have to fight several of your warriors to get out. If they’re on par with Eun-U they’d easily overpower me. If I aimed killing blows at Eun-U and Park before anyone could react, I’d at least injure them and buy myself time to escape.”

  The silence continued. Tae furrowed his brows confused.

  “I’d rather just run though.” Tae said quietly.

  “Since you’re smart enough to map all that out so quickly, care to let us know why you’d rather just run?” Park asked gently.

  Tae looked up to meet the man’s eyes. There was a gentleness that hadn’t been there before. An understanding. This man, like Eun-U, like Tae, had taken lives before.

  “Two reasons.” Tae told him. “Eun-U made me a promise, and as long as he upholds that I have to uphold my end.”

  “And the second?” Park asked, his voice still gentle.

  “I don’t want to kill or hurt anyone if I don’t have to.” Tae replied. “If I did, I’d never have left and never have been in that cave where Eun-U found me.”

  “Or you’d have killed me the moment I entered that cave.” Eun-U added. “You knew the moment I approached the entrance and chose to wait.”

  “You don’t walk like they do,” Tae told him.

  “If I did?” Eun-U asked.

  “I’d still be in the mountains.” Tae replied. “And you and your men would never have made it home.”

  “Glad I don’t walk that way then.” Eun-U said, smiling. “Because I don’t know that I’d have won if you’d decided to ambush me.”

  “Me too.” Tae told him. “I’d never have gotten the chance to come here.”

  “You’re liking it here then?” Eun-U asked. “Even if we trigger your fight/flight response occasionally?”

  Tae nodded.

  He blinked as he came back to the present. He’d changed so much since that time. It had taken him a while to warm up to Shin and the others. Mostly because he hadn’t understood them well. Hyuk had noticed that. Tae gripped the table as a wave of grief hit him. Hyuk had seen him as he was, and helped him understand the world around him. He’d never judged him. In fact, he’d reacted to Tae’s past much like Min had. It was something the two of them had in common. Tae smiled to himself at the thought of his amber eyed lover. The two were so very different in disposition, but similar in how they saw those they cared about.

  Min was cold and calculating where Hyuk had been warm and open. Shin was right that after he’d healed enough he’d be able to fall in love again. He hadn’t expected to love anyone or anything after he’d lost Hyuk. Loving again after that loss did hurt sometimes. Especially when Min did something Hyuk would do, or when Tae realized how much the two of them would have gotten along.

  Tae shook the potentially gloomy thoughts from his mind and put the pills away. He then sat on the bench and pulled his latest project from the basket he’d tucked under there. He had to be careful as he worked with the fabric so it wouldn’t catch on his calloused fingers. The silk fabric was a golden amber colour and the sheer fabric that would lay over it was a creamy white. Even once he finished making it, he’d still need other things to complete it for the full effect. He bit his lip as he focused on his needlework. He was certain Min would like it, but he still wasn’t completely sure how his lover would react to what it meant for him to do this. Still, there wasn’t anyone else he wanted to show this side of himself to. It would be a moment just for the two of them.