Waterstrider

Canvas Town, Tseludia Station, Pantheonic Territory, Fourthmonth, 1634 PTS

Han Yu was exhilarated. For the past few days, they had been receiving teachings directly from their sect leader, Cyrus ‘Riverfiend’ Yu himself. Someone who he still secretly imagined might be a distant relative of his. As time had passed, and he learned more about martial arts, Han had come to understand just how impressive everything the sect leader had achieved was. This was particularly so for his more recent feats… to Han, a spirit refiner was practically an immortal already. And to think that such a person had given him personal training tips on numerous occasions… he felt proud. Proud of himself, and proud of the sect he had chosen to dedicate himself to.

The disciples were taking a short break to eat a meal, which in the time since he had joined the sect had always been small nutrient pills and if someone was feeling generous, maybe a small bowl of rice paste to go with it. Supposedly it built character, and those who managed to be promoted to the meridian establishment level would be able to eat normal food again. Even though he had just swallowed his sustenance pill, Han’s mouth couldn’t help but water at the thought. He was reaching the point where even his father’s awful cooking would seem appetizing.

“Are you really going to brood every time we eat a meal?” asked Qian, who was seated nearby him. She had a mocking expression on her face.

The two of them had been spending a lot of time together recently, much to Han's surprise. He had always thought that the only reason she hung out within their friend group was because they were the only kids of a similar age living on the same street. He had thought she would make new friends within the sect and no longer hang out with him, but here she was, seated near him at every break. Though it surprised him, he didn’t mind it. He had promised Tai that he would take care of his sister, and this certainly made it easier for Han to keep the promise. He turned to her and shrugged.

“I still don’t get why it doesn’t bother you,” he said. “Pills do not make for proper food, no matter how many condensed nutrients are inside.”

Qian held up her pill, taking a close look at it, before popping it into her mouth and swallowing.

“It’s efficient.”

“...I suppose that’s true,” said Han. “Tastes terrible, though.”

She flashed him another grin. Han got the feeling that she was in a very good mood, recently, though he found it difficult to comprehend the reason for it. Perhaps she had made some good friends with the other women in the sect? He never saw her acting particularly close with anyone else, but it wasn’t as if the male and female disciples of the sect slept in the same locations, anyway. Alternatively, perhaps she had just not lost the high from joining the sect. He was feeling a similar way, after all, though his excitement was tinged with nervousness. After the meal, they would have one final training session with the Sect Leader, after which he would decide who to take as his personal disciples. More than anything, Han wished to receive that honor.

“Are you worried?”

Han turned his attention back to Qian, who had a rare, seemingly concerned expression on her face. It was only there for an instant, before morphing back into her usual arrogant look. Han decided he must have been seeing things. He chuckled slightly, taking her attitude in stride. He remembered her being like this back when she was just a little girl tagging along with his and Tai’s adventures.

“Are you not?” he asked. “This could decide your future.”

Qian smirked.

“I’ll be chosen, I’m sure of it. You should be more worried about yourself.”

Han laughed at his friend.

“No, you being chosen but me not would be the worst case scenario. I’ll have to be sure I make it as well, or else you’ll get even more arrogant.”

Somehow, the exchange had made him feel better about the situation, quelling his anxiety. He stood up, dusting off his robes slightly and offering a hand to Qian.

“We should go. We’ll both be done for if we leave the Sect Leader waiting.”

She pouted slightly at his previous comment, but after a moment of hesitation, Qian accepted Han's hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet. She had an odd expression, but Han didn’t have time to parse it. As they joined the line of black-robed disciples filing into the training hall, Han could not help but feel his nerves slightly begin to surge back. He knew that while becoming one of the Riverfiend’s personal disciples and learning formless arts was a great opportunity, the fact that the techniques were unorthodox came with great risk as well. Many of the disciples would turn down the opportunity even if they managed to grab his attention. For some people, a long life was more important than personal power.

Of course, that was not how Han himself felt, nor did Qian or most of the disciples in the room. Power was life itself. The weak were compelled to the whims of the strong. Despite the deep feeling of belonging he had already started to attach to the Redwater Sect, Han still knew that the Elders and the Palace Leaders would sacrifice as many of the weaker disciples as was necessary for the betterment of the sect as a whole. That was how all organizations worked. Han’s face darkened slightly as he had another thought. Sometimes, that was how families worked as well.

The two of them filed their way into the training room, where the other disciples had lined up in perfect order. They had been drilled intensively on such minor things like this, for the purposes of discipline, as Palace Leader Cinto had called it.

Before long, all the disciples had filed in. Han noticed that there were about ten individuals less than there usually was. Were they busy doing something else? A few minutes later, past the supposed start time, the Sect Leader walked in, trailed by Vice-Sect Leader as he usually was. At this point, Han and everyone else were pretty much certain that the two of them were in a relationship. Though Han himself had no experience with such relationships, so he didn’t actually have any way of knowing what that was like. Still, everyone was saying it, and he felt that they had to be right.

The Riverfiend stood upon the small stage, once more looking down at everyone. His gaze passed over Han, who couldn’t help but puff out his chest with pride.

“I’ve been inspecting the results of your training for several days now,” he said, “and most of you have had decent results. Most of you are ready to choose which path you will take. Those who were not have been taken out of this group to receive remedial training with the Third Elder. I do not expect them to be enjoying themselves. They will rejoin you once they have caught up.”

Han was not sure he wanted to know what sort of training those unfortunate disciples would be undergoing at the moment. It was rumored that the Third Elder was a powerful sanguine practitioner, and based on what he knew of them, Han could barely imagine what sort of torture methods he would use to ‘train’ someone.

“The two of us have already decided on a few selections for the position of my personal disciples, while a few spots we left open on purpose. We will call those chosen to the stage now. If you are called but do not wish to learn my arts, you may remain where you are. You will be allowed to remain an outer disciple and learn any other art we offer.”

He said this, but everyone in the room knew that none would dare refuse. It was an incredible opportunity, and if someone was the sort to fear unorthodox arts, they would also be the sort to fear angering the Sect Leader with their refusal.

The Vice-Sect Leader then took a step forward, standing adjacent to the Riverfiend, and gave out the three names that had been chosen.

“Lin Wuyuan, Blake Wan, and Qian Tang, you may approach the stage, if you wish.”

Of course, they all did. Lin Wuyuan was a muscular sei woman with a sprinter’s physique. She had been considered one of the most talented disciples, and it was no surprise that she was granted such a privilege. Blake Wan was a bit more of a surprise, as he bore an almost skeletal physique, and had achieved no particular results so far. He had even been slightly bullied by some of the other disciples. And Qian… Han couldn’t help but feel jealous of her, but when she glanced back at him he gave her a bright smile, matching the joy that clearly showed through her eyes. He would not allow any filthy emotions of his own to ruin her moment. She had earned this, and Han would join her soon. After all, the Sect Leader had mentioned that others would have another opportunity.

The three lucky individuals soon stood behind the Riverfiend, who they would soon take as their master. Without a word, he continued inspecting the remaining disciples.

“Three more of you will be chosen,” he said. Beside his blank expression, Vice-Sect Leader Rachel’s face had lit up, clearly amused by what was about to happen. A fire of anticipation burned within Han’s veins as he prepared to hear just how they would decide.

“As one might expect, this is a martial sect. Your talent at bodily control and your talent at sensing souls have both been detected by now. But we have only gotten glimpses of another important capability. We will be measuring your martial talent through spars. The three most successful among you will be granted the same opportunity that was given to the three behind me.”

The Riverfiend’s expression seemed still and calm, like a pool hiding vast depths below, but in his eyes Han could see vast crashing waves. Fate had granted him an opportunity, and just like all the times before, Han would not waste it. Instinctively, his fists clenched. He had been in brawls before, he knew how to fight, and how to fight dirty. There was a chance, and he would be the one to claim it for himself.

His eyes locked with those of Qian, peering down at him from the stage above. He could sense the anticipation in them, and he would not let her down.

The Riverfiend: [One of the most notable public figures on the station within recent months, Cyrus 'Riverfiend' Yu is the Sect Leader of the Redwater Sect, a Canvasian organization located in Canvas Town. It is widely known to be an underworld organization, and believed to secretly be affiliated with the Hadal Clan. The Riverfiend has been involved in practically every major shift in Tseludia's underworld during the time he has been present on the station. Recently reaching the level of a spirit refiner, the Riverfiend is one of the most dangerous individuals on the station, and is someone deeply tied to the growing tension and resentment between the station's Celan and Canvasian population. His political beliefs are unknown, but many suspect he has already made ties to one or more Staiven corporations due to the pace of his sect's economic development. Many have become concerned about just what the intentions of this unorthodox practitioner are, and for what purpose he has arrived on the station. Conspiracy theories that it is his goal to take over the Hadal Clan and turn the station's Canvasian populace into an unorthodox anti-Sunlit Hall faction have only continued to grow over time, but his popularity among the downtrodden has yet to diminish.]