At first, this morning seemed no different than any other in Tang Dung Hien's life. He woke just before the rise of the sun and Greeted the Dawn in the privacy of his barracks "room", little more than a corner cordoned off from the rest of the barracks by two neck high screens. Then, at his home made shrine to the Water Kami of the Qui family, he gave tribute to them, and to his ancestos. Next he shaved and dressed his hair, tying it into a warrior's queue, and donned his sword and armor. Finally he grabed his shield and slung it onto his back. Thus, properly garbed for another day, he left his small corner of the barracks prepared to live yet another seemingly regular day. But it was no regular day.
Today was three days after his sixteenth birthday. He had spent the past few days in nearly total solitude, meditating on what it meant to be a man, and what it meant to follow the Way of the Warrior. Soon he would begin service as a soldier of the Great Qui family. Soon, but not soon enough for Hien. As he caught himself walking towards the kitchen at a quickened pace he conciously slowed down. Only through the patience of a turle can one become a great warrior, he thought, reciting the maxim of his family.
Reaching the kitchen he served himself a modest portion of rice and a thin strip of fish before heading out to the courtyard. There he saw his father and brothers training with the other Qui soldiers. No one said a word. Nothing needed to be said, all knew that another retainer was about to start his career in glorious service.
Hien walked out of the double doors of the small building and was greeted by the by the sights of he glorious Floating City. He began the trek towards the main Qui Thanh compound. His shield on his back, painted in the pattern of a turtle shell, drew giggles from the occasional child. He smirked but said nothing, continuing on his trek.
A Warrior comes of age. (Open) Chyril 27, MT
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