In the temple of dusk the light was a consistent dark violet color. The colors dance and twirled like the Northern lights of the world. It was a sight of complete beauty. The heavens had been her home since she could first form thoughts. Dusk had existed since the dawn of creation when the one above all created the universe and the heavens. Since then she had existed watching over this world. Iarae was the mediator between day and night while her brother Ialium was the god of dawn. Under her was minor gods of various kinds some were known as gods of dusk as well, but only one herself had existed since the dawn of creation. Iarae looked down upon her many familia regularly over the years her daughters gave her much joy. They always served with grace and humility something that the typical man lacked. Iarae had no particular ill-will towards men, but they rarely choose to seek out her as it was she eventually just made a general rule not to accept males into her familia. It wasn't until that brash and unashamed youth came to her. The boy had seen her in a state no male had ever seen her and it both infuriated her and impressed her. The young man known as Sun Yun had a most impressive background yet he willingly came to her shrine and entreated her. It was both puzzling and impressive.

In the past she would appear to her disciples in the vestige of pure undefiled beauty of dusk she allowed them to see her body uncovered to see if they could withstand her in all her glory. The boy had not only seen her exposed godly body, but did something she never expected he averted his eyes, bowed before her, and apologized for his rudeness. That alone would not have set her off in fury the fact that he did not bask in her glory was unheard. It was what he said afterward that shocked her and made her pause of smiting him down then and there.

"Goddess Iarae, I apologize for coming to your shrine though I know your preference for women in your familia, but I humbly request to join your familia! Since I first heard of you and read about you I have known that no other women on earth or in the heavens could compare and so I! SUN YUN! Declare that I will strive to become worthy to be your consort!"

“Ehh?!?”

The words had left Iarae completely flabbergasted she had no idea how to react except out of anger. Then why had she accepted him? Perhaps she had a moment of weakness and felt amused she was still unsure why she did so, but one thing was sure relations between the gods and mortals were not completely unheard of, but were often short and fleeting do to the nature of mortals who could never love for an eternity even if a deity was willing to make them their consort she knew personally several deities who were extremely bitter from fleeting affairs with mortals and she had no desire to repeat their mistake. Though it was possible for them to become a minor deity underneath the umbrella of another god or even earn their own deification it was uncommon and took untold amounts of years. So often it only led to problems. It was a good thing that many of her familia that were in the academy were under a master who was also part of familia and so far Sun Yun had be extremely successful in impressing even herself to her surprise. He had not turned out to be a pervert like she first thought was his reasoning behind joining an almost exclusively female familia, but she wasn't about to let down her guard she would watch this mortal most carefully. Perhaps if he did well she would indeed give him a special chance to earn a place by her side, but mortals needed to prove their devotion to gain her trust.

…

Near the border of Kalimdah alliance and the Empire

"HE WHAT!" General Sun Shuren yelled in fury "What did you just say that my foolish son went and did!" Sun Shuren yelled loudly towards the poor messenger.

When word reached General Shuren that his son had joined a nearly all female familia he could hardly believe it. It wasn't so much that he viewed the goddess of dusk as a weak deity, but it was the shame that it brought on his family name that his son was viewed by all the military upper command as a pervert! It was scandalous and embarrassing. How could he do this to his father! He was the servant of Suwayojin the god of valor and was hoping his son would carry on his mantle and all signs pointed to that. Suwayojin was their families patron deity for generations and for him it was completely unacceptable to spit in the face of your ancestors like his own son just did.

"Captain Takeda" he growled as he gripped the edges of the table where he sat.

"Yes General!"

"Get me my steed" his growl became even lower "I need to go see my son."

"As you command" Captain Takeda saluted and marched away quickly.

He would learn…oh yes…he would make certain he talked to his son about this. He only needed to be certain that he did not offend Iarae. Subjects causing problems between gods was extremely frowned upon in the Empire. Unity was more important and all served the Emperor.

...

Sun Yun was quite ecstatic with how the last two days had gone with his new master Katsura Shoko happened to be a senior member of his goddess’s familia. He still did not know how his goddess’s blessing would affect him, but on the brightside he got two crescent moon blades as his weapons of choice and he loved it was quite impressive. Each blade was dyed a slight shade of violet just as the color of his goddess. Iarae was a deity as old as creation and few deities had remained as popular and unwavering as herself. Even the current leader of the pantheon could not calm to be as popular as her for as long as a time. Though currently he was vastly more popular than nearly every deity currently widely followed in Sato.

Sun Yun’s only worry was how his father would react when he heard about his choice, but all he had to do was show his father how powerful his goddess was and do well on the upcoming talent showcase before all the nobility and the ridicule he was sure his father was receiving would vanish. Perhaps he would even reward him… His biggest disappointment though was that his goddess had yet to make personal contact with him yet and it was quite sad for him. How would he cause his lovely goddess to fall for him if he never got a chance to speak with her! He despaired frequently before finding more determination to fight for his goddess and earn her favor.

"Sun Yun quit daydreaming and prepare for your sparring session we have less than a week to prepare you for the upcoming showcase so don't slack off!"

"Yes Miss Shoko!"

"Also QUIT USING MY FIRST NAME!" She yelled at him as she charged forward her own crescent blades flickering in the sun.

Sun Yun dodged around avoiding her blades by ducking and bring up his to strike at her, but due to the weakness of the crescent blades he couldn't get a good strike at her so close to the body. At the last moment he spun on his heels letting them spin to strike her ankles.

"Not good enough" she said smacking him on the top of the head with the hilt of her blade.

"You are treating them like any sword, acting as if they are the same they are not! You need to forget the lessons your father taught you and focus your natural talents into how to use the weapon of our goddess." She spun around letting them spin at him before he blocked them with his own. "Use your momentum to your advantage and at the same time keep your opponent off balance or you will allow them to exploit your own weapons weaknesses."

"Yes Miss Shoko!" Sun Yun said determined.

"What did I just TELL YOU!" She yelled again charging at him.

Sun Yun quickly dodged away and continued to spar as the sweat dripped down his back under the hot humid day in Xi’an.

…

From far above a man watched the various masters train their students on their second day of being with their masters. An older man who wore the academies robes signifying him as the Grandmaster of the entire school smiled his medium length beard he scratched as he appreciated the many talents that had come this year. It was often that the younger masters did not appreciate the many talents that came through every year. He watched some of the older disciples watch with both joy, fear, envy, and anger as they watched the newer students challenge them for their master's attention it was a constant cycle that was meant to push the older disciples to continue trying hard so that they would not be forgotten.

He chuckled to himself "something will never change."

*****

*Thump* *Thump*

Her beating heart could be felt in her skull as the heat from the afternoon sun beat down on her back. It was her first full day since she got her twin katana daggers and Rize could already feel a growing attachment to them. She worked hard twisting and turning dodging her master's strikes left and right. Cui Xinya never gave her a chance to get a breather before she was on top of her again putting immense pressure on her. It was good because it gave her a major distraction from the sorrow she felt in her heart since she found out her mother left to Sinsan. Even though she had grown distant from her mother since she found out her father died she did not dislike her. Perhaps deep down it was her way of dealing with the sorrow left behind by her father. The training while intense and left her sore everyday so far also let her forget about her past a bit and that made it worth it to her it would let her forget her feelings and focus on her future.

Slashing down towards her master she spun around until she was to her back kicking her in the butt sending her face into the ground.

"Too slow my child also why are you not using your blessing to augment your weapons? It works the same way as anything else it is a mere extension of your body. You need to be better than this if you are to rise above the prejudice that comes with the god you follow."

Rize jumped up and slashed at her master again trying to push her back instead, but in a flash her master sidestepped the strike giving three swift punches to her chest sending her stumbling back.

The sheer exhaustion and aches from sparring all day had finally took it's toil on her dropping her to her knees her hands lost strength and she dropped her katanas.

Her master looked down on her. "Get up and go to the springs early today. Cultivate and rest well tomorrow I have business to attend to and you will be training with a friend of mine and her students. Do you understand?"

Breathing heavily Rize nodded unable to speak while she was still gasping for breath. Rize quickly took out her leather water pouch and took a long gulp of water.

"Get up when you are ready. I will see you at the spring Minako."

Rize collapsed to her back as she tried to catch her breath even though she knew it was better to walk off the exhaustion she still wanted to lay there and never leave. Resigning to her fate she got up and slowly made her way to the springs.

...

Rize walked up the spring and dove in immediately letting the energy fill her up. Her master had obviously already finished her bath and left her to herself. Rize didn't mind it let her focus on herself for a change. She floated in the water keeping only her face above the water. The spiritual energies of the spring poured into her body she entered into her Ki island and looked around it was slightly bigger than before, but nothing drastically different.

The inner court was more segregated than she had originally hoped. Even though she was quite bitter to the very people who bullied her for so many years she still felt a desire to earn their approval it made her disgusted with herself, but she couldn't hide her true feelings from her own mind. She worked hard because the time where she could put all the naysayers to rest was fast approaching and she needed to train. After so long of struggling she hoped it was all coming to an end and she would finally be free and clear.

...

The following day Rize woke the same time she always did and waited for her master's friend in the courtyard. She imagined they were cut from the same cloth in terms of personality meaning serious and harsh in training. Rize watched the sun just peak over the horizon turning the sky a purple haze.

"Minako Rize?" a voice came from behind her it was a light and cheery voice. As she turned around Rize saw possibly the most ridiculous sight she had seen since arriving in the academy. A woman who was slightly taller than average with long legs and a large chest. Her hair was long dark brown pinned up in a very old fashion style. She stood before her holding onto a large quarter staff with metal bearings on the ends, behind her were three youth one around her age and was a girl and the other two a few years older than herself and were boys. To say the least if her master was tigress her friend was large black and white fanged bear.

Every master she has met seems to be very eccentric in their own way Rize thought to herself. This one was way to bubbly and she had just spoken a few words.

"This student greets you" Rize bowed politely towards her master's friend.

"Aren't you just a sweetheart. Listen your master asked me to take you around the city today so hurry on up and get ready to go." She said with abnormally large smile. "Oh and those eyes! Someone could just take a swim in them couldn't they?"

Rize averted her gaze slightly embarrassed no one had ever complimented her eyes before so she didn't know how to react. Who was this insane women?

"Thank you...err I don't think you mentioned your name Master."

The woman looked quite offended at the moment "Xinya never told you my name?!?" she pouted "so typical of her!" she stamped her foot onto the ground in a mini fit of anger.

"Minako Rize you may call me Master Myong Yeo-Jung I am one of the three young masters of the Phoenix academy" she said proudly.

Rize looked at her blankly giving her no reaction. It wasn't that she was not impressed only she didn't understand the significance of it at all.

Myong Yeo-Jung's face twitched in annoyance at the lack of reaction on Rize's part, but quickly moved on.

"Today is going to be quite fun! We are going to the arena!"