Navia’s eyes opened quickly, and like a cat on edge, she searched her surroundings, finding herself in a now familiar room. The sun was at its brightest point in the sky, no clouds to spoil the blue horizon. She slowly took in all the stimuli given by the world. First, her eyes adapted to the light, then the skin informed her about the pleasantly warm light. She didn’t need to drink or eat, but there was this feeling of thirst; her lips were dry, and barely any saliva in her mouth.
From outside the window, she could hear constant hums. Slowly moving her stiff muscles, she went to the hole in the wall to check it out. With the view clear, she could see a whole yard under her room, separated by open corridors. The one near her window was packed with people, standing in rows. They changed their pose every few seconds, now slightly bending to the side while standing on one leg and a single fist extended forward.
In front of them stood a woman with bright red hair tied into a long ponytail, which wavered almost like a flame. She had white robes without sleeves, showing her refined muscles and the effort she put into building them. Her belt was of purple color, placing her high in the ranking. She shouted like an erupting volcano, startling even Navia, “Now a WHITE TIGER!” She brought down her foot to the floor with a loud thud, lowering her body nearly to the ground. The fingers of her left hand were lightly touching the ground while her right arm was near her chest, ready to throw a punch.
“Remain in that pose until I command!” She shouted while slowly straightening her back and then tilting her head back, right toward Navia. “If my lessons are so interesting, why don’t you join in?!” She shouted with a grin. She tried to sound polite, but it was more like a tiger interested in a prey. It was an invitation, but not for training; Navia had piqued her interest.
“Long time no see. Little Flame.” Shouted Navia, with a gentle smile. All the trainees gasped in disbelief at how Navia called their master. The woman with red hair was as surprised as them but then her wicked smile changed into a true one.
“I didn’t recognize you… Long time no see, Navia of Lizard Squad.” This time, the ‘Little Flame’ bowed respectfully.
Navia jumped off the second floor effortlessly, landing on her two feet, supporting her body with a single hand. The students quickly recognized the style just from her landing. It wasn’t the same as the Cat Style they knew, but it had its resemblance.
“You’ve grown a lot, Lio. Especially in the mastery of martial arts.” Navia took another glance at the purple belt. Looking into Lio’s eyes was enough for Navia to see she had grown a lot since the last time she saw her. She was now a grown woman with a lot of experience.
“You’re flattering me. Now… I’ve been waiting seven years for this. Spar with me!” She asked eagerly, with both of her arms near her chest, fingers placed as if she had the claws of a tiger.
“It’s been seven years… And you are an adult now, so I can’t turn you down. But I can’t promise you it will be a fair fight. I will have to hold back with my strength if that’s fine with you.” Navia took a few steps back and placed an open hand forward, ready to accept the challenge.
“Looks like I have to show you that I am strong enough…” Lio felt a bit offended by that, lightly gritting her teeth, but she was eager to show what she was capable of. “Students! Attention! Observe closely because it is a show-off between two purple belts! My opponent is a renowned warrior of the Order of Tomorrow!” At her order, the students stood back up and straightened their backs, paying close attention to the two women who were about to fight.
“Ready?” Asked Navia, curious of what her old friend was capable of. Looking at her, she still could see this little eager girl, but out of respect, she was ready for anything she could throw.
“Of course!” She shouted, and once Navia blinked, she was nearly in front of her with a leg mid swing. Lio’s eyes were completely focused, but there was a bit of joy hidden behind them.
Navia only lifted her arm to intercept the attack; it didn’t look like she tensed her muscles, and her arms looked weak compared to Lio’s muscles. Thus, the reason why everyone was stunned when Navia’s arm barely budged as the loud clasp of their limbs colliding echoed through the training grounds.
“She is strong…” Thought Navia as Lio, then followed with another attack. Moving her leg away and following with a straight punch, which Navia swept away. Lio didn’t stop as she constantly threw punches, occasionally adding kicks, but it didn’t work.
“New gate? Impressive.” Muttered Lio as she wrapped her arm around Navia’s and tried to pull her down, expecting to lock her and bring her defense down. Her eyes went blank as no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t move Navia.
“Would I surprise you if I said I am not using any gates?” Lio looked at Navia, trying to figure out what she meant, not comprehending that there was no trick behind it.
The students were whispering to each other, not believing that their fierce master couldn’t land a hit and was overpowered. Even those with the title of a Dragon acknowledged Lio, naming her a prospect for the title.
“Were you always this strong? Or joining Ta-” Lio was struggling to pull Navia, but her conversation was suddenly stopped by master Taro.
“I must ask you to stop the sparring match.” The master slowly approached them from the corridor, and the two of them backed away from each other. Lio didn’t look at master Taro; instead, she looked at her hands, imagining the strength she needed to stand off against Navia.
“Master Taro.” Navia bowed first while Lio was still distracted, lost in thoughts about their skirmish, or rather, a one-sided show of strength.
“The High Elder wishes to speak to you about your broken world.” Taro didn’t question their duel; he didn’t want to interrupt it, but sensing that it would end badly at the mention of Navia’s past, he had to cut in with an important invitation.
“Broken?” The question she asked was the same feeling she had inside; she was humiliated by someone weakened. Broken World meant the same thing as having a deep wound for the monks since their life and training were centered around gates.
“That’s right. On my last mission, I received a heavy wound… I did survive, but my inner world changed… Someone instructed me to visit the Monastery in the hope you will be the ones to heal it.” Navia explained, her hand slightly touching her chest, as if gracing her wounded world.
“Master Lio. I apologise for interrupting your training, but I have to take this one with me.” The elder lightly bowed and, without waiting for Lio’s word, he turned and slowly left the training ground, Navia, following a moment after him.
“Catch you later, little flame.” Navia waved to the woman and tried to muster a smile, but she didn’t know what was about to happen, so the smile wasn’t as genuine, clouded by her thoughts.
The Monastery looked as if it were built out of five different fortresses. Each one with different purpose. The one in the center was known as the common ground for all the monks and students. Then each wing served its other purpose: one was for the students, the second for the Dragons, the third for the Eternals, and the last one was for the Elders, the council that decided for the whole Monastery.
One of the High Elders was kind enough to meet Navia and gather more information about her problem. What Navia didn’t know at the moment was the identity of the Elder in question.
Entering the tallest part of the fifth bastion, she walked high up the stairs to the tower near the top. That gives Navia only one clue: that the Elder was one of the youngest in the council. The doors to his office were simple, but the frame was carved in a dark wood with special ornaments, resembling the tides and waves of the ocean.
Master Taro opened the doors for Navia, and even before she saw the Elder, the man in question spoke first, “It’s been a long time… Daughter-in-law…” Navia was quick to recognize the voice, and the mention of his daughter-in-law startled Taro, making him keep his eyes on Navia, worried that she might panic once again.
“Father Hwuan…” Navia smiled for a moment at the sight of her father-in-law, but she was quick to wipe that smile off her face as images of her dead husband flashed in her mind. With a reminder of his future right in front of him, after all, he took a lot from his father.
Taro sensed that her panic attack was drawing near, and he was about to grab her shoulder and begin his prayer. Yet before he could even lay a finger on her, the sudden rising of Hwuan's hand stopped him. He looked for the answer in Elder’s eyes, but he was unable to find it. He couldn’t even read his face; maybe it was curiosity mixed with apprehension, or was it disbelief with sorrow?
Navia’s eyes were distant, yet she didn’t panic or move at all. It’s as if she weren’t present, at least her consciousness. After a few seconds, Hwuan placed his hand down, and the silver bracelets rang as they lightly touched each other. Navia’s breaths got deeper, as if she just woke up from a deep slumber.
“So that’s how it is…” The man in a white robe and red scarf spoke. His triangular earring lightly dangled as he regarded Navia. Then his face fell down, looking at his desk.
Taro’s confusion only grew with passing time; no one said many words, yet so many things changed in the two of them. Navia suddenly fell down to her knees, crying. Yet the one who was sobbing wasn’t her, but the Elder by the desk.
“Master Taro…” Hwuan whimpered out, his voice trembled as he tried to gather the right words. “Begin the preparations for a funeral… My son… Died…”
“But… Elder-” Taro wanted to remind him why they came here, confused by his sudden change and his words, which came out of nowhere.
“It can wait… There are more serious matters than my inner world… Maybe this will even help me…” Whispered Navia, Taro didn’t even have to think for long to notice she was in the right state, with no need for her help.
Master Taro bowed and backed away from the office, closing the door behind him. After a moment of silence, Hwuan spoke lightly, trying not to startle Navia as he now understood how weak her mind was. “Take a seat… We have much to talk about…”
The two of them talked casually about their past times. Navia only remembered the things she experienced, which were dismissed by Hwuan as he didn’t want to worsen Navia’s state. He was the one talking the most, trying not to show surprise or disbelief that Navia didn’t remember her past in the Monastery and The Order. They didn’t laugh, but both of them smiled at the mention of something comedic. There was not much room for laughter in the broken hearts.
“I’m glad that at least one of you was able to come out alive…” Whispered Elder Hwuan, trying to console himself that at least something was left of his family.
“He should be the one to live on… I was the first to die… My husband-” Navia knew she had a loyal man at her side, but his name and face were distant even though someone who looked a lot like him was in front of her. “If he ran away back then… We both would live…” Navia could only wish that something like that would happen. “I was too weak-”
“T*&%#N would never run away. He pledged an oath which he would never break, and so did you. I may not understand what you mean by first to die, but if he were the first to fall, you would also stay. I know you would… I partially raised you, so I know who you are. You are my son’s wife and a warrior of the order. You are Navia Silckthron, vice captain of the Lizard Squad.” Hwuan said with certainty, and in those words was a hidden promise to help her come back to her true self. To once again be the Navia he once knew.
Just the mention of her title and full name opened Navia’s mind. She could see more of her memories, blurry, yet somehow they made sense. Instead of breaking, she smiled, whispering her name, “Navia Silckthron… Vice captain… Of Lizard Squad…”
A gentle smile slipped onto Hwuan's face, seeing that the conversation was successful. As he stood up, someone knocked on the door, and a second later he opened it.
“The funeral has been prepared.” A young monk bowed by the doors, waiting for Hwuan’s orders.
“Good. Lead the way.” Hwuan lightly bowed to thank the boy for coming, and then he waited by the door for Navia. As she walked through them, he couldn’t stop staring at her back. “I know you are in there… But your aura is… Shattered…” As he looked deeper, he could sense her life force, swirling around her, yet it wasn’t whole. It was in pieces with holes in them. Usually, the aura glows in bright colors and loses its colors with time, but hers was grey and barely had any glow in it. “What did you have to go through to end up like that, Navia…”