Aaru - Chapter 12 (Master Kami)

Story by Malakye on SoFurry

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#12 of Aaru (Side Story to Malakye's Story)

Hey everyone, sorry it has been so long since I've updated this story. Time just got away from me and suddenly it's 9 months since I last updated. I'm not going to blame it on any one thing, but I do feel bad it's taken me this long to update. I hope you'll understand, and that you enjoy the next part of the story.

This is a story about Malakye's time in Aaru, and is completely optional to read in regards to the other parts of the story seires (Malakye's Story). It takes place during the gap between Book 2 - A New Dawn and Book 3 - The Mourning After I would advise to avoid any spoilers, to avoid reading it until you have finished reading Book 3 - The Mourning After.

This story will have mature and adult rated chapters along the way, if you find yourself unable to find missing chapters please check that your age-rating (or your SFW settings) are set appropriately so you can view them before notifying me. This happens a lot more than you'd think!

I always appreciate feedback and constructive critisim.****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Sometime later, after sitting in the hut I shared with Jan'zar, worrying about her impending return. She burst into the hut, I had been dozing on my bedroll, and was startled to full awareness by the act. She seemed more pissed off than normal. She didn't say anything, or even look at me. She just stared at the wall of the hut with enough rage that I was waiting for it to ignite. Coltan, Fras and myself remained silent, fearful of having her ire aimed at us. Jun'lao entered the hut a few moments later.

"How are you feeling Malakye?"

"Better." I smiled nervously, half expecting Jan'zar to use the fact I had spoken to unleash her anger upon me.

"That is good. You fought well." He replied back with a smile of his own.

"THAT ASS!" Jan'Zar yelled as she violently kicked a stool across the room, it struck into the wall with a loud bang before clattering to the ground. She turned and glared at me and my throat tightened, catching my breath in my throat. "Leave us!" She commanded.

Coltan and Fras quickly complied with the order, not making a sound or eye contact with her, as they swiftly left the room. It was not difficult to read her mood... and unfortunately her ire was aimed directly at me. The only thing that gave me hope was the fact that Jun'lao was still in the room with us. I suspected the reason why she was pissed at me.

"I'm sor..."

"You stupid cunt!" She yelled, storming across the room in a split second and grabbed me by the throat. "You were under strict orders not to use the spirits power!" She spat in my muzzle.

I was genuinely terrified at that point. Even Jun'lao's presence wasn't enough to make not fear for my life. She was crushing my throat. I couldn't breath or say anything, even if I had something to say in my defence. All I could do was stare into her fierce eyes, my snout filled with the scent of her war-paint.

Thankfully she let me go, throwing me down against the bedroll before turning and storming across the room to punch the wall with considerable force. I knew she was holding back, otherwise the wooden wall of the hut would have been obliterated. I was grateful she had this much self control, or I'd likely be dead right now. Jun'lao still had not said anything, he was standing by the door calmly, more than likely waiting for her to calm down.

"I'm sorry!" I said.

"Oh? You're sorry?!" She snapped. "For what? Nearly killing your Master? Breaking your vow to never use the spirits power without permission? For making most of the village terrified of you?"

The were scared of me now? Had I truly been that terrifying?

"My Lady, not all of that can be laid at Malakye's foot-paws." Jun'lao chimed in.

"No... not all of it. Part of the blame lies with me." She admitted. I looked between them with a confused expression. How was it not all my fault? What had she done? Almost as if sensing my questions Jan'Zar continued to speak. "I should have stepped in sooner. I should have realised he was trying to provoke that very reaction from you."

"He... was trying to get me to use the spirits power?"

"Yes, he admitted to as much" Jun'lao chimed in.

"Honestly... I didn't even know I was using the spirits power until it was too late...." I admitted. "I won't make excuses. I'll accept whatever punishment you deem appropriate."

"Damn right you will!" Jan'Zar snapped. "You will be punished... but until I can find a new teacher to teach you how to fire bend, You will spend extra time training with Jun'lao."

I looked at Jun'lao and tried not to smile in case the act provoked her in some way. That was good news. Jun'lao was an amazing teacher. He reminded me of Master Aceh in a lot of ways. As tough as his training was, I always felt like I had become stronger in some way after spending a day with him.

"But for the remainder of today you will spend time with Coltan and Fras and learn how to speak the local tongue! I will be testing your progress myself!" She warned. "Failure to advance in your lessons to my satisfaction will result in all three of you being punished!"

She would punish them for my failure as well!? I was about to voice my objection, but was quickly silenced by her threatening scowl. I would just have to learn quickly. I didn't want anyone to be punished for my mistakes!

"Yes... Master." I bowed my head in submission.

"Now get out of my sight!"

I left the hut as quickly as I could without running, trying not to look like a scolded cub. Jun'lao gave me a warm smile and a reassuring pat on the shoulder as I passed by him. I left the hut and set out to find where Coltan and Fras had gone. I needed to start my studies as soon as possible in order to satisfy Jan'Zar, and ensure the others were not punished for my mistakes.****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************


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CHAPTER 12

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As I headed out towards the area where I trained with Jun'lao and his other students, a constant twinge in my right shoulder reminded me of my fight against Wraith yesterday, I wondered what kind of Master Jan'Zar would pick for me to replace Wraith. Wraith was dismissed as my Master for forcing me to use the spirits power. I too had been punished for using the power without her permission, even though I did so unintentionally in order to try and save my life.

I had been made to prostrate myself before the entire village last night and beg their forgiveness. It was quite an embarrassing and humbling experience. Everyone seemed to forgive me, and no one seemed fearful of me. They all understood what had happened, and why I had done it. If anyone was afraid of me, it was not because I had used the spirits power, but because of just how strong a fighter I appeared to be. At least according to Coltan and Fras anyway. Speaking of which, I had learnt enough words of the local tongue to prevent them from suffering a punishment, as Jan'Zar had threatened. I suspect that had just been a ploy to make me study in earnest, but I wouldn't put it past her to punish them if I had displeased her.

When I arrived at Jun'lao's camp Kao'lar and Hen'zi were busy running through their drills, each one matching the movements of the other perfectly as they moved in sync. Jun'bak, Jun'lao's son, was sitting atop the large boulder in the middle of the clearing eating something, while Jun'lao himself was kneeling on the ground by the camp fire, sipping out of a delicate looking cup. He was quite fond of a herbal drink he called 'tea'. I had tried it myself but wasn't overly keen on the taste.

"No'das sami." I said awkwardly, crossing my arms in front of my chest as I dipped my head. It was a typical Masrur greeting.

"Umi sano'dras!" Jun'lao replied with a smile.

I knew he was welcoming me, but I'm not sure what exactly he said. Old tongue was complicated in that a single 'word' could have different tenses, meanings and intentions depending on the other words used along with it, and what order you used them in. Many of these changes were so subtle, it was as if making a 'ch' sound instead of a 'ku' sound, could be the difference between a compliment or an insult. Honestly it made my head hurt. Jun'lao took a final sip of his drink before rising from his seat.

"I see you are taking your studies to heart." He smiled, reverting to common tongue for which I was extremely grateful!

"If I'm going to be staying here, I may as well learn how to talk to the locals myself."

"A fine attitude. But I hope you are just as keen to learn your other lessons."

"Of course!" I said eagerly, striking my chest with my fist. Another Masrur habit when showing eagerness or courage. I was a little surprised I had done the act without thinking about it.

"Excellent. However due to the fact we were not expecting you to be joining us for another five days, my intended training regime will have to be put on hold until we have time to finish building camp, and crafting the equipment." He explained.

"I'm more than willing to help!"

"And I appreciate that, but we can handle it. You have more important lessons to learn." He said. "Jun'bak will be taking care of your training today."

"Not you?"

"I have to oversee the construction of the training equipment, but I assure in terms of skill, he is more talented in this particular area than myself. You are in good paws."

As if on cue Jun'bak appeared to my right, as if he had been summoned by some invisible signal I had missed. He had an air of confidence that was hard to miss. It reminded me of Kaleb in a way. Which probably meant that he was talented, and knew that he was.

"Hope you're ready to be worked into the ground!" Jun'bak chuckled ominously. "I'm told you can fly?" I nodded in response. "Good, then the journey will not take long. Follow me."

Without another word he extended his feathered wings and took to the air. I bowed me head respectfully to Master Jun'lao before extending my own wings, drawing on my nen and taking flight to follow. We flew a fair distance away from their camp towards the forest, landing just before the tree line. He didn't say anything, and neither did I. We walked in silence to the tree line before he turned to face me.

"What I'm going to teach you today is simple. It has many names, but my people call it parkour." He explained. "It is requires you to master control over your body, know your limitations and learn how to overcome any obstacle."

"How?" I asked.

"I will show you. Not only will this help train your mind and body, but also help train your understanding of the flow. You have learned how to predict dangers using the flow, but now you must learn how to move using the flow."

"Okay then, lets do this." I said eagerly.

"Follow me, and try and keep up... if you can!"

He turned and took off into the forest. Knowing that this was helping me with my flow training I drew on my nen and chased after him. He was fast! He wasn't using his nen, but I was just barely faster than him while using my nen. Just as I was no more than three strides behind him he suddenly ran up the trunk of a tree, leapt to the trunk of another tree and then jumped and grabbed a branch which was twenty foot off the ground. With a single smooth motion he swung up and landed atop the branch on his foot-paws. He then leapt across to another branch, and swung off it, back flipped through the air and landed perfectly on another branch. He stopped and looked down at me.

"Well? Are you going to follow me or just stand there like an idiot?"

There was no way I could do that! But I was damned if I was going to give up without at least trying. This was just him showing off, proving his superiority to me. He wanted to show the difference in our skills. I'd sparred with him numerous times during my training for my fight with Wraith. In terms of skill, speed and technique he was better than me. But he was no where near the level of his father; Master Jun'lao.

In some ways he reminded me of Kaleb. A son who was forever trapped in the shadow of his fathers achievements. Yes Jun'bak was definitely an asshole, an exceptionally talented asshole at that, and had the confidence of someone who knew they were better than everyone else around them; but at least he had the discipline to control his actions.

I backed away from the tree trunk, allowing myself to gain some speed. I tried to do as he did, running up the trunk before... plummeting back to the ground. I managed to push off the trunk before falling backwards, and landed on my foot-paws with a back-flip.

"Is that the best you've got!" He chuckled. "But I'll give you credit for not falling on your tail at least." He chuckled before he leapt down, grabbing a branch as he fell and somersaulted before landing on the ground next to me. Showing off yet again. I rolled my eyes and stood-up straight to face him. "I guess I will need to give you a few pointers."

"That'd be nice." I scoffed sarcastically.

And so he did. To be honest he was a good teacher, full of excellent tips and explained everything very clearly and succinctly. For example, when I did a back flip, if I threw my right paw over my left shoulder I would also spin while in the air. After practising this move several dozen times, and failing miserably for most of them, I eventually managed to land the move. Simple, but effective, moves like that were all it would take to effect how I moved through the air when I flew, allowing me to fly more effectively.

We spent most of the day covering different types of moves like this. Needless to say I was exhausted, and pretty sore after falling on my tail for most of the day. I was a sweaty mess, and as I lay flat on my back in the cool shade of the canopy of the trees overhead. Jun'bak stood over me and chuckled.

"Tired already?" He mocked. "You need to work on your stamina."

"I'll get right on that." I said sarcastically.

"I don't appreciate your tone." He huffed. "But at least your not entirely useless, so I'll let that one slide. But I expect to be shown the appropriate respect as your Master."

"Heh... ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" I laughed. It was completely involuntary. I don't even know why I was laughing. Tears welled up in my eyes and I laughed until my chest hurt.

Jun'bak meanwhile was completely speechless, his beak agape as he stared at me dumbfounded. When the look of anger crossed his face, as he no doubt felt I was laughing at him, which perhaps I was; but not directly. I held up my paws and waved my paw slightly to convey my intended lack of offence; but I'm not sure how well it was conveyed. Slowly my hysteria faded, and I stopped the lung hurting bellows of laughter and was just chortling, tears freely flowing from my eyes.

"If this is your idea of respect... I should kick your ass!" Jun'bak snapped.

"I-I'm sorry..." I said between giggles. "I'm not laughing at you."

"Oh? So what were you laughing at?"

"I don't know." I chuckled. "I have no idea what set me off."

"So you're just crazy then?"

"Perhaps I am." I chuckled. "Maybe this is just one big dream. Maybe I did die... maybe this is what the afterlife is... I honestly don't know."

"If this is all a dream, then that would mean that I am nothing more than a figment of your imagination!" He stated with a disapproving tone. "I do not appreciate that idea!"

"I certainly hope not!" I said. "If my imagination came up with you, then I'm more fucked up than I'd care to admit!"

We looked at each other, smiles growing on both of our expressions. He kicked me, not so gently, in the leg. He was full on smiling now, just as I was. This was the moment our friendship was forged. In this one moment of shared amusement. We would become rivals, both of us striving to out-do the other. It was that rivalry that motivated me to push myself even harder during my training, and what helped forge me into the warrior I was to become!

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For the next couple of weeks my training was fairly regimented. The days I spent with Jan'Zar, Coltan and Fras, consisted of physical training, sparring and learning how to speak the local tongue. The rest of the time I would train with Jun'lao and his students. I still trained with Jun'bak to learn parkour for part of the time, and learned how to wind bend with them.

One afternoon as I sparred with Hen'zi, our training came to a sudden stop when Jan'Zar appeared with another fur in tow. At first I thought he was a dragon, but once he got closer I realised he wasn't. He was a lizard of some sort, but I hadn't seen his species before. He was slightly shorter than I was. He was slender in build, but had wide shoulders and muscular arms, so he appeared to be quite strong. He wore a gentle yellow tunic, which complimented his pale white scales. His eyes were a beautiful, deep blue. They weren't like Jun'lao and the others eyes, they lacked the unusual, yet striking glow of power theirs had, which meant he wasn't Tai'lar; a race born of a deities power.

"My Lady, welcome." Master Jun'lao greeted her and bowed his head as she approached, just as Jun'bak, Hen'zi and Kao'lar did.

Suddenly I felt like I should be doing the same thing, but I didn't. It was just too strange to think about bowing my head to her now after all this time. Should I have been showing her more respect than I had? She had never commented on it, and she was not the type to stay quiet about something that she didn't approve of.

"Master Jun'lao, it is good to see you again." The white scaled lizard bowed.

"You as well Kami." Master Jun'lao smiled.

I noticed that while Kami bowed to Master Jun'lao, he did not bow in return. A strange feeling washed over me as I watched the two of them interact. I don't know why or how the thought came to mind, but I was suddenly sure that Kami was a former student of Master Jun'lao's!

"This is Malakye." Jan'Zar motioned to me. Kami nodded his head respectfully in my direction, an action I returned. "Malakye this is Kami'rastulatra Nas'ra. He will be teaching you how to fire bend."

"Oh... Master...!" I bowed properly to him, but stopped as I struggled to repeat the name which Jan'Zar had spoken effortlessly.

"Do not worry, please, call me Kami. Everyone does."

"Thank you Master Kami." I bowed appreciatively at him. I liked him all ready. "Can I assume that you are a former student of Master Jun'lao?"

He looked at Master Jun'lao wild mild surprise.

"I didn't tell him." Jun'lao shook his head.

"Why yes, yes I am." Master Kami smiled. "How did you know?"

"I don't... it just struck me." I admitted, a little embarrassed.

"Malakye has a natural affinity for the flow." Master Jun'lao explained. "We have been training him quite intensively, but I do believe this is the first time he has displayed this type of insight."

I nodded. I certainly don't remember being struck with a absolute certainty of something I had no previous knowledge of. But Jun'lao did say that seers and oracles powers and premonitions were based on reading the flow. While I may gain some level of insight in certain situations I would never come close to reaching the level of knowledge that oracles or seers had.

"I must admit to being quite jealous Malakye." Master Kami chuckled. "I was never truly able to read the flow effectively."

"But he was an excellent student of the martial arts!" Master Jun'lao chimed in. "One of the finest I've had the privilege to teach."

"You are too kind Master Jun'lao."

"You need not call me Master anymore." Jun'lao smiled. "You are no longer my student. I view you as an equal."

"But your knowledge and wisdom of the martial arts still far surpasses my own." Master Kami countered. "And for that reason I still consider myself a student of yours, than a Master in my own right."

"Wisdom comes not from schooling, but the lifelong attempt to acquire it." Jun'lao smiled.

"Urghh... if you two are quite done?" Jan'Zar huffed impatiently. "I shall leave you two to decide how to split up Malakye's time between you in order to teach him the skills he needs."

"Of course my Lady. I shall assume you wish to still have him join you at the usual times?"

"Yes." she replied as she turned to leave.

"Then we shall work around that." Master Jun'lao, Master Kami and the others bowed to her as she walked away.

"Can I interest you in a drink?" Master Jun'lao asked my new Master.

"Thank you."

"While we discuss the particulars of Malakye's training, Jun'bak, would you take everyone to practise parkour?"

"Of course Master." I still found it a little odd than Jun'bak would refer to his father as 'Master' as often as he did,

The two of them walked off towards the camp on the far side of the clearing. The rest of us took flight and headed towards the dense forest several miles to the South. Over the past few weeks my parkour training with Jun'bak had produced results I was quite proud of. I certainly wasn't as fast or as agile as Jun'bak, Hen'zi or Kao'lar were, but I was able to keep up with them as they leapt and vaulted through the forest.

It was certainly fun though. Even though I lost every race, and my body ached by the end of the day, I enjoyed myself as I raced after them. I was getting faster everyday. I was learning how to transition from one maneuver to the next more fluidly. Jun'bak was so smooth he never broke his stride. It was actually a beautiful thing to just watch. I was trying to use the flow to predict the best path, over or around any given obstacle, but he moved as if he was the wind itself.

After several hours we were all breathless and sweaty. We all agreed to bathe in a nearby river before returning back to camp. We stripped down and stepped into the cool, knee high water. I lay down and floated on my back, my tail and wings rubbing against the smooth rocks of the river bed.

"So what do you think about Master Kami?" Hen'zi asked aloud, the question directed at everyone.

"He seems nice." I said. "He reminds me of Jun'lao in a lot of ways."

"Master Jun'lao!" Jun'bak barked. He hated it when I didn't call him master, even though Jun'lao himself had told me that I didn't need to use the title. In truth I only did it to annoy Jun'bak. But I always called him Master when in his presence. "Master Kami is a well respected warrior. He is said to be amongst the strongest fighters, in martial arts at least, amongst the Champions."

"He's a Champion as well?" I asked.

"Yes. He is a Champion of Pyrrat."

Pyrrat, the Guardian Deity of fire. It made sense that someone who was a Champion of the fire deity would be chosen to train me in fire bending. What better teacher could there be?

"What do you guys think of him?" I asked curiously.

"I respect him." Jun'bak stated. "I was very young when he trained with my father, but he was always so strong and composed no matter the challenge my father faced him with."

"And you wanted to be just like him right?" I teased.

"I admired his skill!" He shot back defensively.

"I bet you admired more than that!" Kao'lar added. "He's definitely cute!"

"I'd let him fuck me!" Hen'zi giggled.

"..." Jun'bak made some unintelligible noise. "Have some pride!"

"Oh I have pride!" Hen'zi countered. "At least I'm not repressed!"

"I will kick your tail feathers so hard your mother will feel it!" Jun'bak snapped at his junior.

"Just try it!"

"Calm down guys!" Kao'lar interjected. "Master would be disappointed in this behaviour!"

"Your right." Hen'zi sighed.

"Yes... I apologise for my threat." Jun'bak said.

"I'm sorry for calling you repressed."

There was a long awkward moment, which I decided to be the one to break.

"Tell us honestly Jun'bak. If Master Kami offered to sleep with you..."

"Do not finish that question!" Jun'bak growled, jabbing his finger in my direction.

"Hey, I'm not judging." I assured him. "Do you have a special someone back home or something?"

"No!" He huffed. "I just don't want to sully our relationship with such crude thoughts."

As it turns out, homophobia was not a thing here in Aaru. No race saw sleeping with a member of the same sex, or of a different species, as a crime or immoral. They saw the act for what it was; an act of intimacy, closeness and mutual pleasure. Even compared to Zangar, where you could mate with another male, the open mindedness here in Aaru made Zangar seem as closed minded as the wolven settlements back in the mortal realm by comparison.

"Aww come on!" Kao'lar teased. "If you respect him as much as you claim, surely you wouldn't turn him down if he offered!"

Jun'bak seemed unusually embarrassed. It was just then, like it had been back when I came to the conclusion that Master Kami had been a student of Master Jun'lao, that I was hit by the realisation of the truth.

"You've never slept with anyone, have you?" I asked.

"WHAT!?" Hen'zi exclaimed.

"No way..." Kao'lar gasped.

"Shut up!" Jun'bak snapped, obviouly embarrassed.

"Hesh'na preserve me... it's true!" Hen'zi gasped.

Now this was a surprise. Jun'bak was around the same age as myself, a bit older in fact, and was a fine figure of a male, and a well respected fighter. Not to mention he was the son of a Champion! I couldn't imagine that he would have any trouble finding someone willing to sleep with him. But perhaps it wasn't that he couldn't find anyone... but he was waiting for that special someone? He didn't strike me as the romantic type, and that kind of traditional thinking was old fashioned back home, although highly desired amongst the noble classes. But from what I picked up from the Masrur culture it was viewed as old fashioned here as well.

"You've seriously never had sex?" Kao'lar asked. "Not even oral?"

"No..." Jun'bak grumbled almost inaudibly.

I was feeling bad for him. Sure I liked to poke fun at him, but I didn't want to embarrass the guy. And it was my fault for simply blurting out my conclusion without any thought. I would have to be more careful of that in the future.

"Well there's no harm in it." I said. "If you want to save yourself for someone... it's romantic."

"Yeah!" Hen'zi agreed. "He's right. In fact... it's impressive! I mean to be disciplined enough to save yourself... I couldn't do it! I've been so horny ever since we got here! I haven't had a decent fuck in weeks now!"

"You could have asked!" Kao'lar said.

"Nah, no offence or anything, but you guys are like brothers to me. It would be a little weird to... you know."

"No harm in brothers fucking. Not like we can get pregnant." Kao'lar chuckled. "But I see your point. Although I've known plenty of brothers who fuck each other. I once spent the weekend with these twins..."

"Wait! It wasn't Rash and Kol was it?" Hen'zi asked excitedly.

"Ha! Yeah!"

"Damn! I'm so jealous! They are so hot!"

The conversation went on, and included some very graphic details about the pairs sex life. They asked me about my own sexual experiences, which I happily reciprocated since they had told me theirs.

I could tell the Jun'bak felt a little out of place, not being able to contribute to the conversation. But I didn't miss the fact he was covering himself, hiding his arousal. I could quite clearly smell it, even when mixed with the others arousal. My sense of smell was much better than theirs, so I don't think Kao'lar or Hen'zi were able to smell his aroused state over their own. I was quite aroused myself. Remembering the times I'd spent having sex, and listening to the others had made me quite hard.

"We should be heading back." Jun'bak declared, as he rose from the water and waded to shore, his back to the rest of us.

"Okay, just give me a couple of minutes." Hen'zi said as he blatantly began jacking himself off.

"Yeah... I need to deal with my own as well!" Kao'lar agreed, and began stroking himself off as well.

"How crude are you both!?"

"Come on, we're all guys. You can go on ahead if you like, but I need to deal with this or I'll be popping a boner in front of Master Kami next time I see him!" Hen'zi joked.

"There's no harm." I said, standing up and grasping my own erection. Now I was deliberately teasing him.

"Damn... I didn't realise you were so big Malakye!" Hen'zi exclaimed, his wide eyes locked on my crotch.

I was a lot bigger than all of them, maybe twice as long and fair bit thicker. I didn't miss that all three of them were staring at me, even Jun'bak. Normally my cock was hidden within my genital slit, so this was the first time they'd actually seen my size despite having bathed together several times now.

"Are all members of your race that big?" Kao'lar asked curiously, obviously forgetting that I was actually a hybrid and there weren't any others of my specific race back in the mortal realm. But I assumed he meant the Zangarians.

"Not all of them, but it's not like I've seen a lot of their cocks. Only the ones I've slept with. But I was the biggest out of the one's I've seen. I have slept with other furs, some of which were about the same size. Back home its common knowledge that stallions tend to be among the biggest down there."

"I don't know what a stallion is, but I'd really like to meet one." Hen'zi drooled as he stroked himself, his gaze unfocused as he was lost in his own little world. "Maybe Master Jun'lao will take us with him next time he goes to the Mortal Realm!"

"You're not going to the Mortal Realm just to whore yourself about!" Jun'bak snapped at him.

"I can dream can't I?"

I had been warned about not becoming overly close to other furs, to avoid giving the spirit ways to torment me. At least until I was able to properly defend myself against the spirits attacks on my psyche. I had viewed Jan'Zar's warning as not to become physically intimate with others, to prevent what had happened between myself and Callen from happening again. But perhaps she also meant forming friendships like this. Yes, we were being quite open about masturbating in front of each other, but that was just what guys did... it didn't count right?

Suddenly I wasn't so sure any more. Even my friendship with them may mean I was breaking a promise I had made yet again... and I didn't want to be the kind of fur who made promises and then broke them when it suited me, let alone think up poor excuses for doing so.

We returned to camp, the warm afternoon sun as we flew through the air kept us warm as we dried out from our earlier swim. As we landed back at camp late in the afternoon, both Master Jun'lao and Master Kami were standing waiting for us. Upon landing I bowed respectfully towards them, just as the others did.

"How was your training?" Master Jun'lao asked.

"It went well." Jun'bak replied.

"Very good. Now, Malakye, we have spoken at length, and have decided on what we both agree is the fairest way to split your time in regards to your training."

I nodded my understanding in response.

"Master Jun'lao has very kindly offered me a place to stay here, so that we can both spend time developing your skills." Master Kami added. "I have heard many things about you from both Lady Jan'Zar and Master Jun'lao, however I would like to see your skills for myself in order to properly evaluate you. No offence." He said to Master Jun'lao.

"None taken, I assure you." Master Jun'lao assured him. "I am no expert when it comes to the mastery of flame manipulation."

"If you feel up to it, I would like to test you now."

"I am ready Master." I responded with a polite bow.

Without prompting the others walked clear of field, leaving both myself and Master Kami standing alone as they all took a seat atop the large boulder which marked the separation of the camp and training area.

"I understand you lack the ability to create flames."

"Yes Master." I replied. "My father has such an ability, but I don't."

"You are of the Anaris clan yes?"

"Yes Master."

"They are well known for their mastery of flame manipulation, even here in Aaru. But all descendant clans of the original Daemons are well known here." Master Kami explained. "But I am aware that your talent resides with wind manipulation, rather than fire."

"Wind bending comes more naturally to me." I explained.

"Ah yes, you call it bending. A rather apt term I suppose." He smirked. "I lack the ability to create flames from nothing myself, which was one of the reasons I was chosen as your master." He held up an orange coloured gem that I recognised; a firris stone.

They were rare, but not not very valuable when compared to gold and other gems, but to a fire bender they were worth many times their weight in gold! Naturally they were transparent, like glass, but they had a rare ability to absorb and retain the energy of any flames they came into contact with. Allowing fire benders to carry around a source of fire safely. Adept level fire benders were trained how to draw the flames from these stones back in Zangar, although only the nobles were wealthy enough to own one out right.

"Are you familiar with these?"

"Yes Master."

"Very good, then I shall not waste my time explaining what it does."

With a simple gesture of his other paw, a large spout of flame shot out of the stone and into the air to his right. Once all of the flames drawn from the stone he put it away safely within his robes The mass of flames hovered several feet above the ground, being sustained by his nen as he fed it into them.

He made several gestures with his paws and the flames split into two. One half of them floated slowly towards me. Understanding that he was giving to them to me to use I drew on my nen and reached out to take them from him.

"Now I want you to do as I do."

He began manipulating the shape of the flames and I did my best to keep up with him. He made the flames form perfect circles, Nothing he did required a large amount of nen in order to do, but it did require a fair amount of finesse. I was able to copy all of his moves, albeit a fair bit slower and clumsier than he was able to, but I achieved a similar result.

"Not bad." He said. "Now try this."

He spread his arms and the flames split into numerous fire spirits. Now that could do! I split my flames into a dozen small fire spirits as he had done. But I was determined to show him what I could do! I poured my nen into the fire spirits, making them double in size before once again splitting them apart; doubling their number.

This was my limit. The focus it required to maintain all of these fire spirits was incredibly draining. But I smiled and looked him in the eye. He seemed suitably impressed as well, and nodded at me.

"Impressive, but you've left yourself exposed!"

He fired a single fire spirit at me. I drew back my nen to try and quickly form a nen barrier to block the incoming attack. But I didn't have enough time! He attack broke through my incomplete nen shield and struck me in the chest. A wave of heat, embers and smoke washed over me. My chest stung from the mild burn I had suffered there.

"In battle you should avoid pushing yourself to your limits like that." He said. "The nen you used to create those extra fire spirits has been wasted!"

I was tempted to say that we weren't in a fight, but I knew that he would come back with some comment about always being prepared, so I swallowed my comment and decided to act humbled instead of defiant.

"Yes Master. I will remember that." I said as I got back up to my foot-paws.

"Understand this Malakye, as it is important. In battle it does not matter how well trained you are, or how flashy your moves are. What matters is the effectiveness of your actions. I may be able to crush an opponent using a single fire spirit, whereas it would take you a dozen to achieve the same result. But all that matters is that you achieve the desired results." He declared sternly. "I will train you to be as effective a warrior as possible, that is my goal as your master. But as my student, your goal is to complete the tasks set before you."

"I-I understand Master." I bowed, realising that I had not achieved the results he had asked of me. He had asked me to copy his moves, and instead I had tried to show off. "I apologise for not following your instructions. I will not do it again."

"Very good." He said, walking over and placing a paw on my shoulder. "Raise your head. We have more training to complete."