The Four Wheel Saga Book 1: THE LEGACY TRIALS

The Overlord announced the end of the fight. All the warriors returned to the pavilion to a standing ovation. Healers immediately rushed to the injured to tend to their wounds. Attendants provided mild refreshments, and the Overlord spoke at length about the role of the deputed preceptors in preparing the youngsters for the Legacy Trials. The battle with Yuuki Sensei was only symbolic of how treacherous and challenging the trials were to be, he said. The young Mikashita learned their lesson, and Senju charged them to report at the training grounds the following morning to Yuuki and Keiji Sensei. A few words of patronage to aspirants were followed by a brief prayer to the goddess by a Sharin priest. Subsequently, the Overlord dismissed the gathering.

Kento had his eyes peeled throughout the intense battle and had unravelled every manoeuvre of Yuuki, and his cousins, in his mind. It was a gift he had since he was pretty young. He had trained for years for this day. But the day had come sooner than he had expected. He had just left his seat to return to the palace when the Chief approached him.

Gotou: "Young master, the Overlord would like to see you now."

Kento looked around for his father in the retreating crowd and saw him treading the grounds alone. The young Mikashita caught up to the Overlord and bowed in courtesy. Senju beckoned his son to walk beside him.

Senju: "I was surprised when you did not participate in the demonstration, son. Are you feeling unwell?"

Kento had known his father long enough to surmise that one had to speak the truth without any corruption to escape his inquiry. Senju valued honesty and sincerity; he had instilled these virtues in his family and his responsibilities as the village leader.

Kento: "I am confident of my combat abilities, father. But I am, after all, kitsu blind. It would be unwise to rush into the Legacy Trials and risk failure. But I assure you that I will yield to your wisdom."

Kitsu blindness was a common ailment, by the vice of which children failed to connect to raiki from birth. At least four out of ten children were kitsu blind. Kento was one of them. His disability meant that he could never practice kitsu techniques. In the Legacy Trials, only two attempts were allowed. Failure in both attempts led to the loss of eligibility for all future trials.

morning sun and held a hand to shield his eyes.

me son- what

have to be the strongest among the kin

plateau. Metal railings ran all along the outer edge of the citadel. In the distance, the Youjin mountains were still shrouded in fog, although the sun shone bright and warm. It was fabled that snow sprites lived in the

a railing and looked down the precipice at

here and tell

and was ruffling his brittle hair. He had to be careful as it was a steep, two hundred and fifty feet drop. Chojo hill had been cut into terraces to build the Karasuma village. The highest level housed the citadel. Every lower level jutted out more than the prior, and the faces plunged steeply. Roads hewn into the hill connected them. A

The sub terrace was the toimaru, the Karasuma marketplace. It was primarily run by the merchant and craft guilds. Essential perishable items like grains, vegetables, fruits, flowers, and seeds were available in the northern zone, while the southern area cooped the craft shops of spinners, smiths, tanners, and carvers. Towards the middle of the terrace were a few sophisticated establishments of the bankers and lenders. The view was of at least a thousand little people running around, like ants on an ant-hill from the citadel—the cacophony of metals clanking spins reeling and vendors calling, easily carried to the plateau. Children ran around from one shop to another, making their

a rowdy, noisy

see peaceful times again. But here we are, listening to the commotion born from harmony. If I had demolished our enemies with Strength alone, I would be staring at a graveyard right now. I fought some, and made

One needs a vision of peace and unity. Not only for the warrior kin, but also for the people

That is a given. And certainly