A Castle in the Dawn Sky

Doza awoke in a daze. Looking at his surroundings he notices Kenos curled up around a dying fire. "Thanks little Ken", said Doza rubbing his bandages. A plate of vegetable fried rice and some water next to him. "How far did he travel down stream", he thought. "He must've been moving for at least half the night."

Doza gets up to stretch his body, "Ugh", he groans, I should take it easy for a little bit." Walking to the wagon Doza greets Noir who was huddled next to it caressing its mane. "I can always count on you in a pinch huh boy".

Grabbing a book Doza finds a shady tree to rest on and read until Kenos wakes up.

"Morning Ken'', said Doza by the river.

"Morning Doze", said Kenos rolling over on his floor mat.

"You did a good job taking care of my wounds'', Doza continued.

"I was just tryna stop the bleeding", replied Kenos.

Doza looked to the sky, "I got more banged up than I thought. If not for you little Ken I might've died." Doza slowly gets on his knees and bows his head on the ground. "I will become the strongest guard, and the best right hand to you master Kenos. I shall never lose to anyone as long as I still hold a single breath."

Kenos, who was shocked by the determination in Doza's eyes, smiles back, "you better."

Doza, chuckles, "Thanks Ken."

Kenos who was trying to hide his satisfaction answers back, "Don't mention it, you'd do the same."

"Training is going to be a little different today", said Doza. "Instead of physical conditioning you'll be meditating. This will help increase your Zen output and control. That'll keep you occupied while we move today."

Kenos nods his head "okay, let me know when you're ready to get moving." Kenos rolls his mat up and throws it in the wagon, cleaning up the rest of the camp.

"Lets move out", said Doza.

"So what exactly am I supposed to meditate about", asked Kenos as they trekked down the path. "It's not something anyone can really explain", Doza replied. "Try thinking of what you felt or seen when you first achieved commencement." "Yah that's really helpful", said Kenos.

"Aye It's something to start with, but you'll experience enlightenment once you find truth within yourself as a martial artist", responded Doza, "Just try it."

"Whatever", pouted Kenos crossing his legs, breathing in and out in a calm and controlled manner. "I don't see how this is going to make me any stronger", he thought. Suddenly the Zen in Kenoses' body began flowing intensely, Making sure to properly distribute it all over his body he pondered "Hmmm balance", he started to perceive his surroundings. Feeling every living thing in the area, even hearing the beating heart of Doza. Until finally, Kenos falls out of his body into darkness. Awakening at the Castle in the dawn sky. Kenos look around the castle, seeing its destroyed décor. "Why does my mind lead me here?" He wondered. While exploring the castle Kenos turns into the throne room to see a dark entity similar to that of the cursed forest of wisteria. The entity grew into a human-like appearance, Kenos, still unable to make out its face, Stairs trying to piece where he's seen this before. The entity whispers, "Child of Boidouoka, Prepare yourself." Kenos, hesitant at first, brings up his fist last second as the dark figure charges in, blocking its attack. Kenos answers back with a spin kick. Putting some space in between the too. "What's this about?" Asked Kenos. The Dark entity gave no response. Charging back in, the entity overwhelms Kenos with a barrage of attacks. Kenos keeps his guard up looking for an opening. There, he thinks, starting his counter attack. avoiding the hit and connecting with his own Zen enhanced punch. The entity fazed but undamaged, slides back absorbing most of the attack. The two spar for hours not another word spoken. Kenos holds his ground but the entity itself was in control the majority of that time.

Kenos breathes heavily, "We've exchanged enough blows for me to know that it doesn't want to kill me. This thing could've ended me in a heartbeat if it really wanted to." Kenos smirks and charges in. Sliding on the ground he trips the entity over. Kenos then maneuvers his body into a handstand and begins turning, and connecting with a barrage of kicks.

The entity diminishes to its original form, a ball of dark energy. "This shall be enough, it spoke out." Kenos breathes heavily looking up to the entity, "what do you… mean… by that."

"The future holds all answers", the entity responded, sending a wave of energy knocking Kenos out.

Kenos jolted awake in the real world to see a dark sky. Observing his new surroundings Kenos notices Doza had set up camp, and disappeared. "Time moves so differently whenever I go there", he thought. Just then Doza walks back into the camp holding a line of fish from the river.

"Welcome back master Ken, said Doza.

"I thought we went over this Doza", Replied Kenos. "We can skip the formalities." Doza laughs, throwing some fish on the fire. "What did you see while meditating", he asked.

"It was kind of like the first time", Kenos responded. "I was in the dark until I woke up in a castle encased in the sky. But this time I didn't leave as soon as I arrived. I got to explore it a little. When I reached the throne room I saw something otherworldly. It was a being of condensed energy. It insisted we fight telling me only to put my guard up. We fought until it was satisfied I guess, I could tell that if it wanted it could've ended the fight whenever it felt. O yah! It also said something about the Boidouoka child."

Doza stairs in confusion, "Boidouoka, that sounds familiar", He thought. Doza got up and rummaged through the chest he guarded throughout the years. "I knew I heard that name before. Your father left us this map to a temple of the Boidouoka people. It looks like it's located in the mountains in the west. An area that used to be home to a prosperous kingdom, Before our own was even thought up."

"Should we check it out", Kenos suggested

Kenos wondered why Doza changed the topic so quickly, but he was interested in the map so he pushed the thought away.

"It would be a long journey but it's not like we got anything else going for us right now", answered Doza. "Will start heading towards the temple tomorrow." Doza takes a fish from the fire and carefully places it on a bowl of black rice. "After this, get to bed. You'll be meditating again for your training tomorrow. Need to keep your mind healthy and true."

Kenos and Doza woke up early the next day. "Let's get a move on Ken", said Doza on readying their noble steed Noir. Kenos grabs a book from his bag and kicks his feet up on the wagon.

"Ahh you're reading that one again", asked Doza. "Yeah, I like how the author perceived the world as only neutral, not good or bad." Gives me faith about our own. Doza smiles, "you'll see the world for yourself and be able to make your own assumptions on that." Kenos looks up from his book and replies, "I bet we'd find a lot of strong people looking for those answers." "I bet we would", said Doza. Kenos continued to read his book for the morning hours.

"Alright", said Kenos looking up, "I'll be starting my meditation for the day."

"Best of luck", said Doza as he digs into his jacket pulling out a container.

"Haha", he chuckles, opening it, taking out a small sheet of paper and some herbs.

He rolls it up and with the tip of his finger he lights it with a spark of electricity.

"Ahhh yeah, now that the brats clocked out I can really kick back", he chuckles.

Doza continues down the path leaving a trail of smoke.

A couple hours go and Doza comes across a buoyant looking town. "This may be the only town this prosperous for weeks", he thought. "We should stop and get a few more supplies." Doza looks back to the still meditating Kenos with a sinister smile. "Static Discharge: Low voltage", said Doza as he touched Kenoses' shoulder.

"Ouch, what's wrong with you", yelled Kenos rubbing his shoulder. Doza looks for a spot to conceal the wagon and horse. "We're stopping here to prepare for the journey. Might be the last town of this magnitude we might see for a while. I thought it'd be good if we got some more supplies or anything else that catches the eye."

"You thought shocking me was the best way to break my concentration", Kenos replied.

Doza shakes his head in agreement with a smug face, "I had to pull you out somehow. How could I leave you in a state like that unattended."

The two hide away their belongings and head to town.