2 2 - °Stuff of Legends°

The Ena family were still bickering as they passed through the gate. When they had neared it, the thick black iron gate was wide open and with no sign of anyone guarding it. None of them were remotely worried considering the one who owned the grand space was a man of strength. No one would dare to touch him or his things carelessly if they didn't want to incur his wrath and, most of all, that of his students.

Gin pestered his father to tell him more about their benefactor who had generously agreed to take him in as his parents went to the Royal Capital to get their new home ready. He had tried to get his parents to tell him more about Il San after it was decided that he would stay with the elder, but they each had been too busy to spare him a minute. Il San was a mystery and according to his father, Il San found this suitable to preserve his peace. His father understood this the most since he was well acquainted with him from way back when. Other than coming with his father to give Il San congratulatory greetings on his birthday, Gin hadn't seen him on any other occasions that could be considered less formal.

Since he would now have to live with him for three months at most, he had to know as much as possible. The speculations he heard about him was that he had good relations with the King, that or, he was part of the Royal family. This piece of gossip about him stemmed from him having enough resources to have, not only one, but five students to be taught the Divine Art. How could anyone be so wealthy as to hire Priests to train five people in the Arts if they didn't have some connections with the Rulers of the Nation?

Most refuted this vehemently to say that he was chosen by the gods. They countered by claiming Il San as a Priest himself since it would explain how he was able to raise commoners to Divine Art users that rivaled, or so went the tales, the rich and powerful of the Jade Nation. However, what had stomped this from being cast onto the stones of rumour mongers was, how could a Priest be allowed to reside away from the Royal Palace where the lot of them lived and handled most of their affairs under the King?

From what his father was telling Gin, however, the rumors of Il San having relations with the King were more inclined to the truth. But, Il San hadn't had blood relations with the King, he had worked closely with her. Before he had retired, he had been the Chief of the Palace's Defense Army. That was the second key position in the military of Jade Nation, the first being the King's Defense Army who were only there for the King and none else.

The military ranks that worked in the Palace were rarely seen or talked about, so it made sense why the common folk didn't know of such a possibility. In towns and villages, people learned about how the ranks were placed in the military and that they were their protectors. The most detailed topics were on border soldiers with whom they had frequent contact with. A fact known by all was that soldiers below the Palace's Defense didn't have the luck of delving in the Divine Art, but they did learn other Fighting Arts that every military camp provided for them and those who chose to join them. Those recommended for the ranks in the Palace's Defense Army and up were from the Imperial District and Noble Ward; as far as most of them knew, no one outside of the District had been chosen for the ranks.

Apparently, if Il San had not retired at the outskirts of Janln, he would have been at the Noble Ward instead. It would all explain how he was able to own such a rich place and be able to raise such prodigies. What was raising five prodigies when you had ruled over hundreds of people with similar caliber? Gin sighed in melancholy at what he had learned.

The said rich place was a rising three-storey estate that they were steadily approaching. The full view of the impressive building was partially hidden from them by large trees of various species which, on either side of them, were standing on top of a spacious stretch of grass fields that were well taken care of, and as they went further into the estate they could finally see workers here and there. The serene essence of the place made Gin giddy and smile in pleasure. That was always the reaction he had when he came here, but he didn't have his eyes wide in wonderment as he had when he was younger.

The path with the trees abruptly stopped and they could finally see the building fully and the stoned path that they had to cross to reach it. However, rather than having their eyes on the chalk-white building, with beautiful blue colored roof adorned with intricate golden vegetation designs in various places, the Ena family was greeted with two fighting figures. Or, more accurately, two fighting shadows, and above the stairs that led to the building's imposing wooden entrance, whose design resembled that of the larger outer gate, was none other than Il San himself looking over the fighting forms.

Kach!

Clear rings of metal colliding could be heard. How the metals collided was a mystery to Gin as he couldn't distinguish the strikes from the movements of the two. From time to time, there were ripples in the air from where the fighting figures paused for a second. Gin had his eyes make a full circle at the swift duel. That humans could move in such inhuman ways was beyond his belief.

Never had he seen such a fight. These were peaceful times, and the most that he had ever seen as a fight would be a play some folks had come to perform in his little town. They had reenacted some story or other, but it hadn't been as fierce.

"Will you two stop this very instant!" Il San's voice boomed across the yard. His robes swayed slightly from the cool breeze. The man cut an impressive figure.

At that command, it was only then that Gin could see the two people. One had a shortsword, the other a greatsword with its scabbard set firmly at his back. He didn't notice this because they were at attention from the order that Il San had given, rather, they were at a deadlock, and didn't look to be retiring from their fight anytime soon.

"What's wrong, Master? We are just sharing some greetings, aren't we, Flower?" the one enclosed in blue robes with white linings at the edge of the robes said as he pressed further onto his opponent.

'Flower!' Gin's already wide eyes became even wider. 'One of the legends? The most infamous anti-hero?!'