It was the last day of spring. The fourth year at Kato Senior Academy had come to an end, and the graduates would soon have to find their place in the adult world. Some would continue their studies and eventually become masters themselves. Others would join the army to defend the Land of the Sun. Most, as usual, would settle into ordinary lives.
The path of the top ten graduates, however, was already decided. After three months of intense training under the best masters, they would compete in the annual tournament — one of the central events of the Autumn Festival. Everyone knew who the top ten were. The only secret left was which of the three masters each of them would be assigned to. By tradition, the assignments were decided the evening before the final day. Now the students only had to wait for Izuna Sensei to announce the teams.
The day was hot, so the windows in the classroom stood open. Kahn's green eyes watched the clouds drifting by — a habit he had never outgrown. The rest of the class argued, joked, and talked loudly until someone shouted that the door was opening.
The door swung wide, and she walked in.
Izuna Sensei was a young woman of striking beauty. Her long red hair and matching red eyes stood out vividly against the deep-red dress she wore. The dress had a daringly low neckline, and her long, slender legs ended in high-heeled shoes. She was, without exaggeration, breathtaking.
She took her place beside the teacher's desk and cast a calm glance over the room. The noise died instantly. Everyone waited.
"Well, everyone," she said with a slight smile, "we all know why we're here. Our esteemed Daimyo wanted this to be quick, but I wouldn't be myself if I didn't put you through one last test. Before I announce the teams, I'm going to ask a few questions to make sure you're truly ready."
She looked around the class.
"Who can tell me the difference between a Renin and a magician?"
Mari, a blonde girl with soft lilac eyes, answered at once.
"The main difference is that magicians draw energy from external sources — any object can serve as one — while Renin draw energy from within themselves. The energy Renin use is called Re-Ki. People often claim magicians have no Re-Ki of their own, but that's a common misconception. We do have it… just extremely little."
"Correct, Mari. Thank you."
Izuna's gaze lingered on the girl for a moment. Mari belonged to the only family of magicians left in the Land of the Sun. There were so few of them that most people had never even met one.
"Next question," Izuna continued. "What is celebrated during the Autumn Festival?"
Jenn, a girl with bright orange hair and green eyes, had always been dreamy and easily distracted during training. She made up for her weaker combat skills with excellent theoretical knowledge.
"The Autumn Festival marks the day Daimyo Kato founded the Land of the Sun and the city of Yato thirty years ago."
"And why is the country called the Land of the Sun?"
"No one knows for certain," Jenn replied, "but it's said to be a tribute to the old Empire of the Sun."
Izuna nodded, satisfied, and moved on.
"We already talked about Re-Ki. Tamba, can you tell us more?"
Tamba, a young man from the same clan as Izuna Sensei, shared the family's distinctive traits — red hair and red eyes. He was dressed in red as well, and carried himself with noticeable arrogance.
"Re-Ki is the energy that flows through every Renin," he said. "Some have more of it, the weak have less. With Re-Ki we can control the elements of nature. There are five main elements most Renin can use: Fire, Earth, Water, Lightning, and Wind. Most people control only one. A rare few can handle two or even three. Beyond the basic five there are many rarer elements, such as Iron or Wood."
"Well said. Thank you, Tamba."
Izuna took out a sheet of paper and studied it for a moment while the class waited in tense silence. Then she looked up.
"I'm satisfied with your answers. No point in delaying any longer."
The top ten graduates were as follows:
Kazegakure Kahn ranked first. He had been raised since childhood by his famous grandfather, Kazegakure Nakamura, who had come to Yato thirty years earlier from the mysterious Land of Heaven. Kahn's father had died when he was still a small child. His grandfather had taken him from his mother, accusing her of betrayal. Kahn grew up quiet and serious. Because of his outstanding results, many considered him the most promising student the Academy had seen in the last ten to fifteen years.
Second was Kuurai Tamba of Izuna's own clan. His arrogance toward the other students had not gone unnoticed.
Third was Taiko San. Like Kahn, he had been raised by his grandfather. His parents had died thirteen years earlier during the invasion of Hebiyaro the Green Snake. San belonged to the ancient Taiko clan, which had produced many strong warriors since the days of the Empire of the Sun. He seemed to possess every quality needed to continue that legacy.
Fourth was Narusana Izumi, niece of the commander of the Land of the Sun's army. She had inherited her dark-red hair from her mother and resembled her cousin Jenn, though she was far more composed and capable.
Fifth was Mitsunari Sai. His father had once been a famous samurai. He had fallen in love with a Renin woman, and because samurai and Renin had been enemies for as long as anyone could remember (though no living person knew why), he was expelled from the Fuji Shogunate. He settled with his wife and young son in the Land of the Sun under the protection of Kato-sama. As a half-blood, Sai inherited the ability to use Re-Ki from his mother, but he never learned to control it fully the way pure Renin did. Through sheer determination and hard work he had still earned fifth place.
Sixth was Hari of the Tsuchigumo people. At six feet five he towered over almost everyone at the Academy. His height, his pale gray — almost white — eyes, and the many rumors surrounding his people made him a figure of quiet mystery.
Seventh was Aquill of the Tenju people. With chestnut hair and amber eyes, he was the son of one of the strongest warriors of the Land of the Sun — Asuran the Red Lion, also called the Lion King. Asuran had died during the same invasion of the Green Snake that had claimed San's parents. Unlike his father, Aquill had never shown outstanding results during his years at the Academy, yet he had still finished in the top ten.
Eighth was Mari. Though she was not a Renin, her parents had enrolled her so she could train alongside her peers. Besides her family, there were no other magicians in Yato.
Ninth was Lee Jenn. Despite the fact that her maternal grandmother had been one of the strongest Renin women in history, Jenn ranked among the weakest in combat skill. Her dreamy nature often hindered her in training, but her intelligence and knowledge had still earned her a place among the top ten.
Tenth was the red-eyed Mako. He might not have made the list at all if Heisuke — who was far more talented — had not suddenly stopped studying and training in the final year. Heisuke was absent today.
Izuna Sensei's voice cut through the remaining whispers.
"Attention, everyone. Kazegakure Kahn, Hari, and Mari — you will train under Master Yoriki. Narusana Izumi, Taiko San, and Mako — you are on Rafa-sensei's team. Mitsunari Sai, Aquill, and Lee Jenn — your master will be Gimmu-sensei." She paused for a fraction of a second, privately wondering why he ha
d decided to become a master this year. "And Tamba… you will train with me."
Traditionally there had always been three masters. This year, however, an officer from the special unit had requested the position as well.
After the announcement the newly formed teams began to leave.
Sai, Aquill, and Jenn found themselves standing together outside.
"So we're a team now," Aquill said, perched on a nearby fence. A white-headed eagle sat calmly on his shoulder. "I wonder what Gimmu-sensei is like."
"I heard he's from the secret police," Jenn said, clearly excited. "He must be very strong and secretive."
"Probably some old man who didn't want to retire," Sai muttered, admiring the polished blade of his katana.
A group of three strangers approached them. One of them, a rough-looking young man, pointed at Sai's sword.
"What kind of sword is that?"
"Renji, look at his face," another said. "He's a samurai, damn it."
"Shit, you're right. Hey, samurai — you lost or something? Where's your shoginate?" The three of them laughed loudly.
"Judging by your clothes, you're not from around here either," Aquill remarked.
"You're right," a girl among the strangers answered. "We're from the Land of the Wild Winds. We came to take part in the Autumn Festival tournament."
"You're being unusually talkative today, Hasegawa," Renji said. "These kids aren't worth our time. And you, samurai — why so quiet? I asked you a question."
Sai did not fully draw his sword. In one fluid motion he struck Renji across the face with the hilt. The blow was so fast that no one saw it coming.
"Watch your own tongue," Sai said evenly.
Renji staggered back, blood running from his nose.
"You bastard! You broke my nose! I'll kill you!"
He drew two short blades and charged. Sai never unsheathed his katana. He simply dodged, waited for the right moment, then dropped low and swept Renji's legs out from under him. Renji crashed to the ground.
Panting, Renji scrambled up and reached for the bag on his back. The moment his hand closed on whatever was inside, a fourth figure appeared as if from nowhere — a young man in a hood.
"You should calm down, Renji. This is not the time to take that out."
The hooded stranger pulled the bag from Renji's grasp.
"I apologize for the trouble," he said to Sai and the others.
Renji tried to shove him aside, but the hooded man struck him sharply in the neck. Renji crumpled. The stranger slung the unconscious body over his shoulder and walked away, calling for the rest of his group to follow.
"What was that about?" Aquill asked. "Why does he care whether you're a samurai or not?"
"You all right, Sai?" Jenn asked.
"I'm fine. Someone that weak couldn't hurt me."
A voice came from the roof of a nearby house.
"Great work, all of you. I'm glad I didn't end up with a bunch of weaklings."
A young man stood there, blue eyes looking out from under equally blue hair. A genuine, almost playful smile lit his face. He looked barely older than they were — and unusually handsome.
"I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Akagi Gimmu — your instructor for the
next three months. From this moment on, you belong to me."