There was a perpetual serenity in this place. A very tranquil environment, so much like those few places in the surface realm even though it was just a pocket dimension. Usually, his first entrance into Yaimin would offset him due to the absence of Ki in his body, causing him to go blank and unconscious. In his past turns, Sensei always explained it and everything to him, fully as time passed. This pocket dimension known as Yaimin, had been created by the original shadow magnate who had a great deal and mastery of shadow energy. And like it was in his previous turns, Sensei would always begin by explaining what the shadow world was in the first place.
Unleashed on the world over a hundred years ago by a man thought to be unrivalled below the heavens at that time, at a period where his pride knew no bounds, that was when he dared to open the Gates of the Etherealm, old as legend itself. The dark ethereal energy which had dwelt behind these gates poured into the surface realm as soon as it found way, creeping deeper and deeper into it.
Soon enough, it would condense and men would begin to gain mastery of it. It was then that men renamed it, calling it shadow energy or 'Daiki', it's various aspects explored and implemented by those capable of taming it.
That was just a very brief summary of it all. But then, the sense of it all was knowledge that their world of the arts was currently run by shadow energy. From the arenas to even the lords of the provinces and their soldiers; almost all who were involved in the arts would only be relevant by utilizing the dark energy. Although it was knowledge obscure to the common man but it was truth. It would be impossible to embark on a journey like this without thorough mastery of the shadow energy and it's foundations.
Durma had to restrain himself from rushing Sensei. He wished they could just skip the formalities and the explanations. He really knew everything about everything.
"You must be prepared for each of your battles, Durma" he said, begining his conclusion. "Your journey is hinged on your mastery of shadow energy and though your experience with it here might just be the thin end of the wedge, you cannot hope to 'shut the gates' without due preparations and training"
Then, he stood up.
"I shall leave you to your attendant. She will come to you in a short time"
Then he left.
Durma sat there for a while, waiting. Just as he did, memories from his previous turn replayed in his mind. And one of the most significant ones; the sound of a machine powering down as the 'Tyrant of worlds' fell down on his knees. He could remember 'his' large sword falling flat to the ground and an explosion of energy 'he' couldn't contain after 'his' defeat. It was way too easy, Durma thought. 'It was way too easy...'
"Sir" someone called to Durma who was now engrossed in his thoughts. At the doorway stood a young and reserved lady dressed in an official sakura patterned kimono, with an inch scar by the left side of her mouth.
"Ohh. You're the..."
"I'm Karin" she said. Of course he knew her well, and why she had come.
"I am your attendant here" she said.
"Yeah, right"
"You are highly welcome, Shadow warrior" she said with a bow.
"Ohh, yeah, yeah, no need..."
"Please, do feel welcomed here. Is there anything you need?"
"Uhh..."
"There is no need to hold back sir"
"No, no...it's just..."
Durma stuttered for a few reasons, one of which was Karin's politeness.
"If that is the case, then allow me to welcome you properly. First, your bath is already ready. You may follow me now to relieve yourself if you wish"
This pocket dimension was called 'Yaimin' and it was the size of a small village. At that, they weren't really the only ones here. For the rest of the occupants, it was either not the time to meet them yet or they weren't there in the first place yet.
The first two days here was always luxurious. Karin did her job well enough. In his first turn, he really let her spoil him. That was until his rigorous training began.
And so, in this turn, after those luxurious days elapsed, he began ready enough. She had already shown him around; the dojo, the main training hall, the shomen, which was the front wall of the dojo, the genkan, a small entrance area, zashiki, which was a small room for Sensei. And then, the noguchi, a forge and storage area for equipment, the ofuro, which was the bathhouse, the daikokoro, which was the kitchen. And then, outside, the niwa, a beautiful and quiet garden filled with lush pink sakura leaves which littered the courtyard.
And so, when his training began, they mostly made use of the dojo where she taught him the basic moves in their martial discipline and later, explain the practical aspects of the use of shadow energy. It went on for over four days straight. It would've taken longer but somehow to her astonishment at times, Durma was a very fast learner and soon enough, she'd conclude the first phase of one aspect.
And then, they advanced to the next aspect, which was also a very important process.
"Where're we headed now?" Durma felt like questioning.
"This is a place I haven't shown you yet" she replied as she led him through a hidden door in the dojo that lead to another space.
It was an intriguing thing; the space behind the secret door. It was another hall as large as the dojo, except that it was empty. Or so it seemed.
This area, connected to the Ki no Tankyū, meaning the 'way of Ki', was called the Kidōkan and it was heavily imbued with a purer form of ether energy, extracted from shadow energy. This energy was known as Ki. It's nature was more abstract and it's use differed from that of shadow energy.
On the floor of the room were symbolic lines drawn from the edge of a circle at the center of the room, about a meter in diameter. Bigger and bigger circles kept recurring in close proximities, farther and farther away from the center of the hall. And the imbued energy, a dark purplish haze of aura that stuck to the walls and corners of the hall, including the ceiling. This made the room cold.
They both walked towards the center circle. Then, Karin stopped, just outside the circle, and then sat on the floor, crossed legs before signaling Durma to do the same, but within that center circle.
"This is the Kidōkan" she began explaining.
"And it is imbued with a very complex form of ether energy we call Ki"
Durma sat inside that circle, not minding the chill he felt each time he moved. Then she continued.
"The use for this form of the ether is not for direct combat. Unlike the dark ether that is usually wielded outside the body, Ki is integrated into the body"
Then, she fell silent and closed her eyes in concentration. The room wasn't so bright due to the dark purplish energy clinging to the walls. Also there were no windows of course and the room wasn't lit enough. So when she manifested the same aura on her body, Durma could see it clearly but couldn't feel it.
Then, she ceased, opening her eyes slowly.
"Unlike the dark ether which can be easily detected by anyone, Ki isn't an extroverted energy. It cannot be felt"
"Access to Ki is not so uncommon. Only very skilled users are able extract it from the dark ether. And at that, they become much capable than your average dark ether user. They become highly versatile since there is so much use for it" she finalized.
"And so, it is highly crucial you integrate it in yourself as well. One of it's primary properties is it's interaction with the shadow energy imbued in your weapons and your opponent as well. Of course, there are other uses but for now, this should be enough for you"
"Yeahhh" Durma said, and without further guidance, he entered a meditative state and began integrating it properly. Karin was nonplussed. So far, he had been learning quick, perhaps too fast.
The process was draining. During his first turn, Durma thought he was relinquishing his energy. It wasn't just chill here. Movement gradually became more and more heavier as well owing to the interactive Ki all over the room. It was simply the nature of the process. Then in his first turn, he didn't last past an hour. But that was a different case now. He spent over five hours here. It was a feat that left Karin much more bemused.
The next day, after regaining his strength, she trained him more in the dojo. Now, his body felt lighter and more perceptive. On a note, this was a feeling he had been craving since he woke up at the cave.
Today, Karin would test him properly with an actual fight. She would introduce him to the Noguchi. A separate house in the courtyard which was also partitioned to the blacksmith. That was where his armory was. An armory where his arsenal was held; helms, weapons and armors of different sorts, with other equipments as well.
"We once had a special blacksmith who made everything we needed, but he left a long time ago" she said as she opened the doors. It looked damp, like it had not been visited for ages.
The armory itself was simply a space sectioned from the blacksmiths forge. In there, was a section where armors of different sorts were hung in rows from hangers and in another section, weapons of different sorts displayed, some hung on the wall and others on stands.
There was another section, but he wouldn't be accessing it for now.
Durma walked around, looking through the collections of clothings and armors already imbued with shadow energy. From a particular row, they could begin count from the armor with the least infusion of shadow energy. And then, onwards. He walked deeper through the rows, inspecting those gears when Karin called to him.
"Here"
They both stood before a pair of steel knuckles placed carefully in their set.
"These contain the same energy corresponding to your Ki level" she said, then took it out of the set to give him.
"Wear those" she directed.
And as soon as he did, he felt it. It wasn't such an old feeling though; the feeling of 'instant mastery'. That was what she called it.
"That's why we haven't really trained with weapons, well, until today"
She then lead him back to the armor section.
"These also are correspondent to your Ki level" she said, refering to the brown leather robe hung there. It was the same with it's helm as well; a light helm. One also at the same level with his Ki.
"Wear those" she requested.
"We're sparring today"
Soon enough, they were back at the dojo were she continued to lecture him.
"As I told you earlier, there are vast applications of Ki, and one of them is direct interaction with shadow energy. It is the bridge that links your body directly with the dark ether" she said, and then took her stance with a pair of daggers. Durma did the same with the pair of knuckles. It was an automatic stance, one that rhymed with his Ki and shadow energy.
"You should be feeling it" she said.
"Your stance is one that follows your Ki"
Then she began approaching him.
"Make a strike at me"
Durma expressed his noviceship. He tried not to do too much. As he moved to strike, he could feel the directions and moves his body were able to take. And those were the effects of a level one Ki when interacting with shadow energy. And that was why he had to learn a particular type of fighting style called 'Gukang'. A series of moves carved out from the restrictions of shadow energy. Although it was developed amongst users independently, this style had very similar characteristics and moves amongst them, hence a single name was assigned to it. But then, inasmuch as it would restrict Ki developers such as him, there were certain powerful moves and strikes that made it very potent in combat.
He knew what it was. And just as they sparred, she would explain it this way;
"Think of your Ki as liquid water and the imbued weapon, the container. When you arm yourself, your Ki takes the shape of the weapon, consequently altering it's shape and perception in your body"
It simply meant that he could instantly master the use of any of such weapons, and that was why they didn't really bother training with weapons all this time. They mainly covered physical and mental exercises, and then, their move techniques in Gukang, ensuring Durma knew all the possible moves available to him at that point and the best combinations.
After several minutes of intense exchanges, Durma fell back, drained of Daiki which left him tired and exhausted. And Karin, who had sparred with him on almost the same level of daiki was left bewildered at how much he was already capable of.
Without the restrictions of using shadow armories, he could implement any style and move he wished. And through his past turns, he already had much complex styles and techniques ingrained in him, but then, he wasn't going to show them off now. If he did, things might turn out like second turn, and possibly have long and unwanted complications.
"You have a very high aptitude for this, shadow warrior" she said complementing his skills.
"It's almost as if you've passed through these trainings before"
"Ahhh, no, no" Durma denied.
"I haven't"
"Ohh, then perhaps you were born and chosen for this"
She had said this in the last turn too, though it was at a later time.