Trials of Destiny: Way of The Sword

Jin settled into his usual meditative position atop the boulder, breathing deeply as he tuned into the quiet of early dawn. Yet this morning, peace eluded him. A nagging restlessness tugged at his mind, clouding his focus as he drifted into his own thoughts. And then, something strange surfaced—a memory, faint and shrouded, like a whisper on the edge of his consciousness.

He found himself standing in a dimly lit room, though the details remained blurry. Faint, indistinct shapes formed around him, like shadows shifting with the slightest breeze. Suddenly, he heard soft footsteps approaching, echoing gently in the stillness. He turned toward the sound, drawn to it by an inexplicable warmth.

A woman stood before him, her face just out of reach, obscured by a veil of mist. Yet something about her felt achingly familiar. Her presence radiated a gentle warmth, and though he couldn't place her, the feeling that he knew her lingered—a mother, a sister, a caretaker… he couldn't tell.

The woman reached out, her hand trembling as though she was struggling to maintain her form. Her voice, barely more than a whisper, broke the silence. "You… must remember."

Jin's heart raced, recognition flickering like the last light of a candle, though he had no idea why. "Who… are you?" he asked, his voice sounding small in the heavy silence.

The woman hesitated, her face tilting slightly as if searching for the right words. "You don't remember, do you?" Her voice was tinged with sadness. "Wolfshrine… remember that name…"

"Wolfshrine?" Jin echoed, the name sparking a faint jolt within him. He'd heard it before, vaguely, like fragments scattered in the wind, but it had never meant anything to him. Now, however, the name felt weighted with a strange sense of urgency. "What… what is that?"

The woman's figure wavered, her hand reaching toward him as though she could touch him one last time. "Please, Jin," she whispered, her voice fading with her form. "Remember… I cannot explain…"

But before he could respond, the scene dissolved around him, slipping from his grasp like sand through his fingers. He opened his eyes abruptly, disoriented, his heart pounding in his chest. For a long moment, he just sat there, the memory lingering like a shadow over his thoughts.

"Jin! You finally awake?" Kade's voice cut through the silence, pulling him back to the present.

Jin turned, finding Kade and Kael leaning against a tree nearby. Riven, Brom, and Luna had gathered by the smoldering remains of their campfire, and all eyes were now on him, a mixture of curiosity and concern etched into their faces.

"Another rough night?" Kael asked, brow furrowed.

Jin hesitated, weighing his words. He wasn't sure he could explain what he'd just experienced—or even if he should. But something in their expectant gazes made him feel he couldn't brush it off entirely. "Just… memories. Hard to make sense of them, though." Jin managed a half-smile.

Kade chuckled, nudging Jin's shoulder. "Well, if you want any tips on dodging questions, I'm a pro."

Brom folded his arms, his expression more serious. "Some memories are better left undisturbed, Jin. But if this is something that bothers you… it may be worth exploring."

Jin gave a slight nod, his mind still replaying the name "Wolfshrine" over and over in his mind. The feeling that he should know the woman in his memory, that she was somehow important, lingered heavily on him, despite the vagueness of the vision.

"Thanks," he muttered, trying to shake off the tension. "Maybe it's nothing."

The conversation drifted on to lighter topics, but Jin's thoughts remained elsewhere, tangled up in the fragmented images and the name he couldn't shake. Eventually, the group dispersed, each of them busying themselves with preparations for the day's travel westward.

Seeking clarity, Jin headed off to a small clearing near the edge of their camp and began his training routine. His muscles responded instinctively, falling into familiar stances, his movements sharp and deliberate. He swung his fists through the air, striking out at invisible targets, hoping the exertion would help to quiet his mind.

But every strike seemed to bring the memory back, that figure's soft voice echoing in his ears. "Wolfshrine… just what the hell is it suppose to mean exactly?" He'd never thought much about it before, but now the word felt like a puzzle piece he'd been missing, something essential to understanding his own past.

The air around him grew colder as he practiced, sweat beading on his forehead as he intensified his movements. Each jab and kick grew sharper, more forceful, as he channeled his frustration into his training, hoping to burn off the questions that refused to fade.

Hours passed in this way, his body pushed to its limits as he tried to exhaust himself, to clear his head through sheer physical effort. Yet even as his limbs grew heavy and his breath came in ragged gasps, the memory remained, whispering in the back of his mind.

Finally, he stopped, lowering his arms as he stood in the clearing, his chest heaving with each breath. His gaze drifted up to the distant mountains, where the sun had begun its slow climb, casting long shadows across the land.

Jin returned to the caravan where everyone was already packing up to leave out again.

"Are we… already going again?" Jin asked with his muscles aching a little.

"Yeah, i'm not sure where to or how far though." Kade said throwing the last bag into the back of the caravan and jumping in.

Jin sighed before putting his hand on the side of the caravan and pushing himself in.

"Sore muscles?" Kael asked looking over at Jin. He slightly sighed and nodded in agreement before closing his eyes.

After several days of relentless travel, the group finally stopped near a large, serene lake. The journey westward had been long and exhausting, and the lake offered a much-needed reprieve. The air felt lighter here, the scent of fresh water mixing with the earthy smell of surrounding trees. It was the perfect place to rest and recharge, a brief escape from the tensions that had been building among them.

"We could really use a break," Kael muttered as he dropped his bag on the flat ground. His eyes scanned the lake's still waters, but his thoughts seemed far away, weighed down by the constant pressure of their travels.

Jin stood silently for a moment, his gaze lost in the shimmering surface of the water.

"We'll camp here tonight," Brom said, brushing off his armor. "The horse needs a break, and this looks like a great place to relax for a while."

Riven, ever the one to seize an opportunity, was already kneeling at the water's edge, splashing his face and grinning. "I'm in," she said, clearly pleased with the peaceful setting.

After a long moment of stillness from Jin, he made his way to the water's edge. The cool touch of the lake was refreshing as he dipped his hands in, letting the water soothe the weariness in his muscles.

The others scattered around the camp after getting out and changing clothes from the lake, taking in the tranquility of the area they stopped at. Kael sat under a tree, eyes closed in quiet reflection, while Kade remained more alert, scanning their surroundings still on edge.

"Not much of a talker today, huh?" Luna's voice was teasing but laced with curiosity.

Jin didn't answer, his gaze lingering on the water as he let the calmness of the scene wash over him.

The crackle of the fire broke the silence, Riven tending to it as she prepared food. The night sounds—a distant rustle of leaves, the chirping of insects—added to the serenity of the moment.

Brom's voice pulled him back to the present. "We leave in the morning, so rest up." He walked over with a flask of water, eyeing the horse nearby.

Jin nodded, his thoughts drifting. He was grateful for this brief pause, but the looming journey ahead never left him.

Luna's voice interrupted again, this time softer. "What's on your mind?"

"... Nothing much honestly. Just have been thinking of what we're going to do next." He said looking at Luna before Kael called everyone saying dinner was finished cooked from his earlier hunting a few days prior.

They gathered around the fire, the moment of peace felt like an eternity to everyone. Despite the recent months of not having intense training like the ki beast forest, they still had those feelings and thoughts about it.

After dinner was over, Luna walked to the back of the caravan with Jin before they both got in the back of it.

"So tell me everything." Luna said, her voice was serious but also soft.

"It's just a weird dream I had a bit ago… It was something about "Wolfshrine" I'm not exactly sure what it was, but it felt… as if it wasn't a dream in a way."

Luna looked over at Jin softly, "Well maybe it's a sign?… I'm not sure of what but perhaps it's to do with your technique or something?"

Jin thought it over for a few minutes and shrugged it off in front of him and agreed. Though, he felt like it was much more personal than just that.