A game of cat and mouse

Kenos glided over the wet swampy floor, only taking the slightest of steps to launch himself. A dark wispy aura covers the bottom of his soles, making his footsteps light and almost soundless. With a light push, Kenos springs off a tree soaring well above the treeline. Where are you Nala?

Calmly, Kenos scanned the area. She wants me to search for her Zen this time huh? Kenos begins focusing his mind looking for any sign of energy that feels out of place. Ugh, She's probably masking it.

Bracing himself, Kenos lands on a nearby tree. She's over there, I bet D' Anthony laid a few traps like last time don't wanna get caught in those again.

Kenos rubbed his wounded cheek. This whole week's sparring match with D' Anthony was embarrassing. Being with Doza this whole time I thought I had some type of edge but I was outclassed. He used a technique Doza never even seemed to mention. But I'll still show both of them I'm the strongest!!!

An ominous black and purple aura flared around Kenos, before condensing and shrouding onto his feet. "Phantom leap" he grinned. "Guess I got this one down

With his leviathan bow in hand Kenos kept both arms out and to his side soaring through the air. The residue of the dark aura still followed him, he looked as if he was ripping through the air. Bracing himself to land, Kenos slid across the muddy floor.

"Oh no," he panicked looking to see there was a damp patch of grass lying exactly where he was heading to. Kenos tried his hardest to stop his momentum, even risking his bow slamming it into the ground to stop. Even still his body fell through the pit. Below the false placement of grass was a spiked room made from nothing but earth. Kenos gave a weary smile, isn't this overkill?

Falling, Kenos forced his body to move to avoid the spikes below. At the same time, he channeled the dark shroud of phantom stance around his feet allowing him to launch off the side of the spike. Continually using Phantom leap propelling himself out of the pit kicking off the wall. Exhausted and drained from his continued use of the Phantom stance Kenos lands in front of a comfortable-looking Nala. "There's no escaping Nala", Kenos murmured in between his breaths.

Nala casually stretches her body before staring proudly at Kenos.

"Don't you do it," barked Kenos, both his arms wide and out ready to tackle Nala.

With ease, Nala leaped over Kenos blazing down the swampy path. "Of course", he pouted. Taking a deep breath Kenos forced what little embers of Zen he had left out to conjure the shroud of the Phantom step. Instead of condensing it on his feet, he tried to spread it across his whole body creating a thin layer of it. It was a flimsy and frailer version of the complete shroud D'anthony had shown him, but Kenos had an idea. Running after Nala his speed was greatly enhanced by the shroud, its abilities making his body feel lighter than it really was.

It was only a theory but through the course of his training with D' Anthony this past week. Kenos noticed that whenever D' Anthony used the full shroud of Phantom stance, the earth would almost bend to his will giving him footholds to launch from and softening terrain for him to land. D'Anthony explained to him that like Aeolus he had an earth release. That meant his application of the Phantom stance would be different from Kenoses' own. Kenos pondered on that information as he continued chasing after Nala.

With the lightning release, could I supercharge my physical capabilities?

Coming to a clearing in the swamp's forest, Nala breaks through, sprinting through the huge chunk of open wetlands that was Aeolus's backyard. Kenos keeps after her barreling out of the swamps' tall grass. He immediately noticed Doza who was bickering with D' Anthony, and Aeolus who stared in annoyance at the two.

A smirk grows onto Kenoses' face "It's my time to show off." Digging deep into his core a small spark of what's left of his Zen. Carefully guiding it around his body, small nearly invisible waves of lighting began spreading from the Phantom stance shroud. Did it work? Pushing his hardest he kept after Nala, actually gaining on her almost in reach of her tail. The effects of the full shroud began to wane, his body feeling heavier and his breathing getting incredibly harder. "Common Ken, finish strong." he heard from the sidelines, it was D' Anthony. "You got more in you than that Ken" yelled Doza soon after.

Just a little more, I can do it! With one more long stride, Kenos leaped with the last of his strength tackling Nala finally catching her.

"He managed to catch her," Aeolus smirked, walking over to Kenos who was covered in mud lying next to Nala. "Next time will let her run more freely, but it's good that you're grasping the first stance quickly. Good job young master, and you as well my son."

Kenos, who was still out of breath, managed a response, "Thank you."

D' Anthony responded with a simple bow, "of course father."

Aeolus looked back to Kenos, "After you recover, we're gonna have you meditating for a couple of days. You still lack control and output with your Zen. Got that D' Anthony"

"Heard you," he replied in a cool manner. Doza picks Kenos up and carries him on his back as the group return to Aeolus's home. "You did well out there Ken."

Kenos grows a winsome smile before his body fully shuts down leaving him unconscious.

"Hurry up and get him inside," shouted Aeolus, who was ahead of the group. "They need me back at the guildhall." Doza enters the house carrying Kenos to his room leaving D' Anthony and Aeolus in the back of the house.

As D' Anthony rests on the nearby wall he looks towards his father, "I thought you took care of all your tasks earlier?"

"Course I did '' said Aeolus calmly. "V called me up while you and Doza were having your hissy fit.

"What does she want?" D' Anthony questioned. "Nothing really," Aeolus replied. "Somethings causing trouble somewhere to the east of us. "That's the direction they came in from," D' Anthony blurted out. "You don't think?"

Before D' Anthony could pry more knowledge on the subject Doza walks back outside. "Didn't mean to take so long, Ken had woken up. you guys sounded like you were having a conversation don't stop for me," Doza chuckled.

"Nah we were already done", D' Anthony laughed. "I was just telling the old man that I'm ready to give you these hands.

"O yeah," Doza taunted, walking closer to D' Anthony. "If you are, just come and say it to my face, no point in bringing it to the middle man. "That's enough,'' said Aeolus, his voice tiresome and bothered. "D' Anthony you're free to do what you want for the rest of the day. D' Anthony bowed to his father "yes sir", he said graciously before vanishing inside. Turning to Doza, Aeolus motions him to follow him.

Doza already knew Aeolus wouldn't train them for long today; he was still in the elegant clothing of a guild master. so he wasn't surprised to hear that Aeolus would be returning to his office for the night.

"Finally breaking the silence that the two walked in before reaching the trail that led out of the estate, Aeolus opens his mouth "You understand why I won't teach you my fighting style? You've had about a week to think about it, so what answer did you come up with?" Doza grits his teeth, cause you're a hating old man. "Can't say that I really sat down to think about it. I've just been focusing on all the areas you have been guiding me through."

"You're still thinking too small, Doza," Aeolus chuckled. It's good that you pay attention to what you master easily but you must also reflect and pay special attention to what you lack, that's key to truly becoming strong.

"In truth, I decided to not instruct you in my form of martial arts in respect to the late lady Amiri'. The fighting style you possess is the last remaining piece of culture to an extinct clan from long before the Umbrage, but I imagine Amiri's told you more than me, you are her student. Instead of asking me to teach you a path you should work on developing the one you've already started.

A smirk grows on Doza's face.

Aeolus looks over and catches it replying with a smooth chuckle, "I suggest you do the same as Kenos and work on your Zen for a couple of days. Unlike master Kenos, however, your meditating will be a little more", he paused for a moment, ''intense ``.

"What do you mean intense?" Doza questioned.

"Have you heard the term Voidscape before, '' asked Aeolus.

"Nah, can't say I have," Doza replied, his eyes big and dumbfounded.

Essentially it's like looking deep into yourself." Answered Aeolus. "The Voidscape is located inside the core, it's the source of where your power derives from. A chunk of the Void realm, only connected to you and what you are. Once you reach the first stage of commencement the body naturally begins taking in Zen, that is to sustain the power of a newly awakened Voidscape. How fast one gains the spiritual knowledge to enter theirs is another story, but with some guidance, I'm sure we can get you and maybe even young master Kenos to do it.

Doza began laughing uncontrollably.

"What's funny?" Aeolus said, annoyed.

Doza struggles to stop himself from chuckling, "It's just one of the first times meditating with Kenos he told me woke up in some castle in the sky. At the time I thought he just fell asleep and was just dreaming but now I'm wondering if I was wrong?"

"Hmm", Aeolus pondered "a castle in the sky, I'll speak with him myself to make sure but if he was telling the truth. Just what is his connection to that castle? Elemental types tend to have Voidscapes that resemble that."

The two eventually come up to a shed on the outskirts of Aeolus's estate. "I want you to meditate here while I'm at the office", said Aeolus as he opened the door. "What is this place?", asked Doza. Inside he could see a set of comfortable-looking chairs surrounded by a room of unlit candles with various plants and herbs lying about. "This", replied Aeolus, "is just another place I retreat to whenever I need to be alone with my thoughts, much like my lounge at the tavern. The room itself isn't anything special, but these candles are a strong source of natural Zen. There are also some herbs in there that are good for stimulating the brain. I'm sure you can figure out how to put those to use." he chuckled. Doza replied to Aeolus's laughter with some of his own before taking a seat in the middle of the room.

"Let me finish explaining before you start meditating, to light the candles in the room you have to release a consistent amount of Zen into the air. This will trigger a reaction to the natural Zen condensed inside the wax candles causing them to burn in turn releasing the natural Zen in the air for you to cycle. Each of the 20 candles goes up in density."

"And that means, Doza interrupted

"That means", continued Aeolus'' To keep them lit you must maintain your output of Zen while cycling the Zen that's filling the room. Normally natural Zen couldn't hurt you unless it was converted into a technique. However, in places with extremely dense Zen or you know a room filled with Zen emitting candles, one's body can give way under all the pressure.

"So", said Doza, raising an eye. "How am I supposed to stop that from happening?"

Aeolus moves his hand from his chin, "it's actually quite simple, well maybe not for you. You were never good with meditating exercises. Do you still remember your breathing techniques?"

"Yeah", Replied Doza. "But I haven't practiced them in years if I'm being honest with you?"

"Name me the ones you're familiar with,'' inquired Aeolus. Doza took a moment to formulate his response "There's Lady Amiri's technique: the Void Walker's breath & the one Lord Kronos taught me breath of the Silent Storm." "Good", said Aeolus. When young master Kenos wakes up you can explain the basics of breathing techniques, I'll speak to him about his Voidscape when I return. "Good luck" wished Aeolus before casually leaving the room. "And for god sake don't go too overboard with this. I don't want to come back home to find out you perished from some simple breathing exercises."

"Simple my ass", Doza chuckled watching as the door closed behind Aeolus.