The Carved Path

In this world, there were three kinds of known Arts used by Practitioners.

Martial Arts used by Warriors

Spirit Arts used by Spiritualists

Beast Arts used by Tamers

These different Arts required different kinds of energies to function. Ki, Mana, and Chi, were respectively used for the three Arts, making them distinct areas of disciplines with hardly any overlap.

Practitioners spent their whole life learning one of these Arts, with their level of proficiency and mastery dependent on their innate talent and affinities. Usually, this would be in tune with where the person was born, and the prevalent Art practiced there.

Though… there were exceptions.

Finally, just as a budding Practioner was taught about the foundational concepts of these Arts, and guided into the path that suited him or her the most, there was something most fundamental that had to be drilled into their heads.

It was impossible to learn more than one!

However, ever since a certain boy began learning of them, he began to have a strange line of thought. It bothered him throughout his training, and often kept him up at night.

A single question resonating within him, begging for an answer.

'Is there no way to have all three?'

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"As you know, Liu, all the children in this Sect have the affinity for Martial Arts, so we train them in that discipline. This is because we're in the Eastern Continent, where Martial Arts is prevalent, and the Ki around is very dense. It's very rare to find exceptions."

Hearing Tia speak about these things made Liu ponder even more. It felt restrictive, almost to an unfair extent, that a person's path in the Arts was decided since their birth.

"How rare are the exceptions?" He asked.

"One in a million perhaps."

"A-ah… wow." He was expecting something like 'One in a thousand' or a slightly bigger number.

But weren't the odds too high?

"This only applies to people born here, though. There are certainly a substantial amount of Practitioners who use other kinds of Arts in the Eastern Continent. Ever since the end of the Great Conflict, and the world entered into the 'Era of Peace', so to speak, Sects that practice Arts that aren't indigenous to the East also exist here."

Liu noticed how loosely his master used the word 'Era of Peace'. That was because, despite how relatively better the world had become thanks to the Sword Saint's efforts at ending the conflict all those centuries ago, it was still a messed up place.

There was still so much work to be done, and Yui must have felt so frustrated at being unable to do much to stop the current injustices existing in the world.

'That's why I must grow up quickly. I must be very strong, so I can stand by her side and support her!' He clecnched his fists and kept listening to her words.

"Do you know why I am telling you all of this, Liu?" She broke into a light smile, looking deep into his eyes as if she was peering straight toward his soul.

Liu sharply shook his head.

It had been long established that, just like everyone else in the Sect, Liu had the affinity for Martial Arts. So, other than basic knowledge of the other two, Liu had no real business with them.

'I thought we'd take the next step in my Martial Arts training. Learning Sword Techniques would be nice…'

The fact that his master was going back to the topics of Arts, and all the complexities attached to it, puzzled him.

"I remember telling you that your Spirit, Soul, and Body weren't ready for the next step, despite how many times you petitioned for more advanced training."

Liu remembered those times well. He guessed it was probably because he was lacking, so he put in more effort into training and meditation so he could be qualified for his master's next step.

"The truth is that you are already qualified to start learning advanced techniques. You have been for a while now."

'I knew it!' Liu's thoughts echoed as he head Yui's words.

After trying and trying, he had begun to feel stuck. All his activities felt monotonous and hardly challenging. He felt like his training was beginning to grow stale, predictable, and completely boring.

'Fighting with the seniors is sometimes fun, but I don't think its helping me grow stronger…'

Still, his master must have had a good reason for her decision. She always did. There had to have been something he was lacking that made her unable to take him to the next step.

And it seemed like he was about to find out.

"I thought about it for some time, and I also observed you carefully to evaluate my choice. However, after being your master for this long, I have made my decision."

She walked away from him, creating even more distance between them. As he watched her take steps back, he felt his heart pound for some reason. Excitement and anticipation caused his body to tremble slightly.

Something was coming! He could feel it down to the marrow of his bones.

"You have often pondered it too, haven't you? If it is possible for one person to learn and master more than one Art…"

Liu felt his heart racing now. His eyes widened in surprise and excitement, and he could feel himself resonate with the Sword Saint—no, with Yui.

"Conventionally, it isn't. All bodies are built with the ability to contain only one form of energy, and your pathways can only transfer one kind. There are no exceptions, and the mere attempt at defying this law leads to terrifying consequences."

Why was she telling him this? Liu already knew all of this, yet it seemed like Yui was reminding him of the fact.

'Why? Could it be…?!'

"I also thought deeply on this in my youth. However, rather than merely accepting the reality of this world, and the fated paths set before me, I decided to carve out my own destiny… to overturn the expectations of this world. I decided to build my own path."

Her eyes narrowed, and her smile widened. She was staring right at him, and Liu could feel his entire self becoming one with hers.

"As my only disciple, I have decided to pass down my secret technique to you." The sojourning winds caused her hair to dance as she spoke to him with conviction in her heart.

"I shall teach you the way of the Sword Saint. The ultimate technique that surpasses the Arts, and the path that can allow you to harness the power of all three energies into one."

Liu felt it all… the new world that awaited him.

"You shall learn Swordcraft."

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[A/N]

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