Excerpt: Daichi Akamine - Compassion

Year 319, Age 11
I am so excited! Father brought me over to the family forest, where we practiced day in, day out. Together we were an unstoppable duo! We brought youth and justice to all of Yatan! No- all of Marn!

I ran outside of my room early in the morning to meet father in the forest. When I got there, he was nowhere in sight. Father never arrives later than me! I quickly get ready, and I counter his ambush! I parry his attacks, and I create a vast distance between us!

“Splendid my boy!” Father says, “You are an amazing fighter, nice deduction skills!” He gives me a big thumbs up! I could not be more overjoyed!

“Thank you sensei! I learned from the best, and I would not have gotten far without you!” I close my eyes and grin big, and exchange a thumbs up.

“My son, call me Dad!” He smiles too, and it looks like he is about to cry. He always told me only real men cry!

He came back over to me, and we sat together and ate breakfast. We had egg rolls and more egg rolls! We could not afford super expensive food, but everything we ate was delicious because he made it with love! After we had eaten, father lifted me up on his shoulders, and he ran into the woods.

“Are you ready son?” He grins and giggles, “I want to show you something that will help you overcome your weakness.”

I tried to teach me, but my genes were too stubborn to learn. It is just how the Akamine's are. Instead of giving up, he taught me to overcome that obstacle and master physical mana, and become super fast!

This was the day dad taught me to Walk the First Veiled Path; the day the Rivals attacked; the day dad died.