A sweeping kick forced Kalen to take two steps back. Without time or balance to counter, he was limited to dodging and blocking the series of blows directed at him.

His opponent closed the space between them with ease every time Kalen tried to create some distance. He moved his right arm to parry a punch just as his opponent shifted the weight of their body. It was a feint. Kalen reacted quickly and raised his left leg over another sweeping kick, blocking the next strike and finally earning some distance.

So far he had been able to read the attacks coming his way but he kept losing ground each time. He needed to be more aggressive if he were to level things up.

"Have you forgotten how to attack, Kalen?" His master, Ryuji, asked.

"She is too fast!" Kalen replied, eyes locked on the woman in front of him.

"Is that so?" Ryuji said. "Seems to me you're just as fast with the way you keep avoiding her attacks."

"I can't..." Kalen ducked when a high kick came from an impossible angle. He lost his balance for a split second, enough for the woman to follow with a punch directed at his ribs. Deciding he couldn't continue to retreat, Kalen stepped closer instead for a clinch, reducing the momentum of her punch and forcing her to retreat for the first time. "...find an opening."

"Are you really going to converse in the middle of our spar?" Shiori asked, furrowing her brows.

Kalen winked. "It's called multitasking."

Shiori dashed towards him even faster than before, her fist aimed at his chin. Kalen raised his guard and blocked with one arm while the other hand grab hold of her wrist. He slipped in the space between them trying to throw her over his shoulder, but she twisted her body before his movement was complete, landing a knee in his side and freeing her arm.

"Your multitasking seems a bit off." Shiori said, adding a wink afterwards.

Kalen chuckled. "I suppose I deserved that one." He stretched his neck and focused. If he paid attention he could hear the calling in his ears. Was that cheating? Whatever this 'calling' was, it allowed Kalen to break through his limits.

He felt the temptation to reach out to it, to let it guide his movements. Looking at Shiori however, he chose to let the temptation go. We are just sparring, Kalen thought, I'll practice listening to it another time.

Shiori gazed at him silently, moving her feet slowly. Kalen's eyes remained locked on hers, but his body waited for any sign of her muscles twitching.

He moved his stance and stepped closer with one foot, prompting Shiori to react, lunging towards him. He smiled.

She let out a flurry of sharp jabs which he skillfully parried and dodged until he delayed one movement on purpose and swung for a counter. Shiori ducked under him and prepared for an uppercut, but Kalen's knee blocked her fist's trajectory and left her open for his direct punch, which Kalen stopped right before her eyes.

"Shimata." Shiori said, sighing. "Seems I lost."

Ryuji clapped his hand once, symbolizing the end of their spar. "Well done, Shiori, Kalen."

"Seems you did." Kalen said with a smile, massaging Shiori's shoulders.

"Wow!" Juilan blurted. "You two are on another level. When did your strikes and reaction speed become so fast?"

Kalen flashed a wide grin. "We have been practicing a lot lately."

He walked alongside Shiori towards their fathers while Ryuji gave final instructions to the other students and declared the end of that afternoon's practice session.

"Well, that's a problem." Julian said, crossing his arms. "I don't think your old man can spar if you anymore. I value my health way too much for that."

"Come on, dad!" Kalen said. "I have been waiting for a chance to beat you!"

"One more reason for me to not do it." Julian replied, winking at Shiori.

Shiori chuckled. "All three of you do that a lot. It's quite the family trait."

"What?" Kalen and Julian asked in unison.

"Wink." Shiori said. "It's charming, really."

"They both got it from Nat." Ryuji said, turning his attention to them after the other students began leaving. "She used to do it all the time when we were young. It must be in their family DNA by now."

Kalen looked at his father and noticed he had a silly smile on his face while his eyes seem to point at no specific place. My mother really has him wrapped around her fingers, Kalen thought, chuckling.

"You two are progressing very well." Ryuji said, bringing Kalen's attention back to his master. Ryuji looked at Shiori, then at Kalen.

Ryuji was many things to Kalen, and he respected him just as much as his parents. An uncle, a master, the father of the girl he loved. In many ways, Kalen sought his approval even more than his parents'. His master was always composed, but he didn't smile nearly as often as Kalen's parents did. His facial features were similar to Shiori's — so much so Kalen could have sworn he was her biological father — and he was just as tall and well built as Julian. Kalen wondered many times if they had been soldiers before moving to Iroyama to raise him and Shiori.

"Aside from your fast movements," Ryuji continued. "you demonstrated adaptability and resourcefulness."

Kalen and Shiori looked at each other and smiled proudly.

"However," Ryuji said, prompting their smiles to slowly fade away. "Shiori needs to scale down on her aggressiveness, while Kalen can't remain defensive for so long. Because you know each other so well it is easier for you to lay traps and force a mistake — like Kalen did today by taking advantage of Shiori's impetus.

"You must always assume your opponent will identify your weakness and do the same, especially if it is so pronounced as it is right now. Like everything in life, you must find balance."

Both Kalen and Shiori bowed in a practiced movement. "Hai!"

"Alright," Julian said, putting an arm over Kalen's shoulders. "the Festival awaits! Let's go get ready."

After quick goodbyes, Kalen trotted alongside his father out to the street. The sun was halfway down in its setting direction on the horizon and the temperature was no longer warm and pleasant. It was common in Iroyama for it to drop when sunset approached. A chilly wind would often arrive from the ocean and demand proper clothing from the residents.

They passed by the plaza on their way home and Kalen saw people beginning to gather around the bars and restaurants. Some were talking to stand owners getting ready for the Festival, while others stood by the stage to make sure they would be as close as possible when the first attraction started. If there was one thing the people of Iroyama liked, it was music.

Suddenly, the calling reached out to Kalen. The hair in his arms rose, not because of the chilly air, he knew, rather it was the intensity with which the calling resonated within his mind. It was many times higher than previous times.

He turned his head and looked across the plaza. He was unsure why he did it, only that he should have. In his line of sight stood a figure, both hands in the pockets of a black jacket, the hood pulled up, making it impossible for Kalen to recognize who they were.

It seemed whoever it was, he or she was also looking straight at him judging by the position of their body.

A group of people walked by in front of Kalen, and after they had all passed the figure had vanished from where they once stood.

Kalen looked around in confusion, searching for a black hood, but couldn't find a single jacket of that color. What the hell just happened? He asked himself.

"It's getting quite lively already." His father said.

"It really is." Kalen replied, still casting his eyes over the corners leading away from the plaza area.

"I meant to ask you earlier." Julian said. "Have you finished reading the last book we agreed on discussing?"

Unable to locate the mysterious figure, Kalen abandoned the search and turned to his father. "Yes, father. I still want to reread some passages before we do though. There were concepts I had a hard time grasping."

"I expected that." Julian noted. "Triani's notions on the role of critical thinking over the teachings preached by the Emperor's officials can cause some confusion at first."

Kalen nodded. "She puts so many of them in question it surprised me we are even allowed to read such a book. How are the officials allowing an author to defend the gods of Novarus while openly criticizing the Emperor?"

Daniel shook his head. "They aren't. I probably have the only copy still available." Kalen saw the corner of his father's mouth lift in a faint smile. Something in his expression, maybe the way his eyes sparkled, made Kalen think he was familiar with the author in some way. "Remember the same as always, Kal. Don't mention the contents of that book to anyone but Shiori. I am sure Ryuji tells her to keep it a secret too."

Kalen nodded. Even if he thought about mentioning it, he doubted any of his friends would ever be interested in discussing the War between the Emperor of Athrea and the gods of Novarus. Or how the continent was before the Reclamation. No one cared about the reasons behind Tel Kair, they only prayed it never happened again.

He continued walking beside his father as they made their way through the people excitedly moving about, the image of the mysterious figure inexplicably bothering him.