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.

the morning sun and held a hand to shield his eyes. A sudden breeze tousled the robes of both father and

son- what

"Well, you have to be the strongest among

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 mountains, fed on snow, and

on a railing and looked down the

here and tell me what

hundred and fifty feet drop. Chojo hill had been cut into terraces to build the Karasuma village. The highest level housed the

the morning fog had started dissipating from the hill slopes, the lower terraces were visible from the edge of the Mikashita training grounds. 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

see a

to bring this accord. When I was appointed as the Overlord, our village was reeling under a history of conflict between kin, and wars between villages. The picture was so ugly, the hostilities so deep, that nobody ever imagined that we would 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 peace with others. And hopefully, you will continue my vision after I am gone. I am inviting an ambassador from Karasuki village for a trade deal

needs a vision of peace and

And certainly there is no hurry. But it would