"Xanatoa."
"What?" Al's voice was doubtful.
"It's called Xanatoa." Jian the Iron fist sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, yet still ready to impart wisdom and punishment onto his curious young pupil.
"How come I've never heard of it then?" At only 17 years of age, Alphonse exhibited all the classic symptoms of adolescence. He had always been overly sure of himself, and it showed in his sometimes know-it-all demeanor.
"Foolish child!" Jian delivered a swift smack to the back of Al's head. "There are plenty more places you've never heard of yet, how could you? Have you ever heard of China?"
"Of course I've heard of China," Phonse grumbled, rubbing the back of his head.
"Xanatoa is kind of like China, from a thousand years ago, except that it only exists as a pocket dimension. A realm that can only be accessed through the astral plane, the aether of dreams."
Alphonse nodded. He had heard of this "astral plane". He also knew Master Jian possessed skills that were not of this world, superhuman skills that could only have been gifts from some mysterious entity or faction. This was why he had sought Jian over all other Cyber-Knights as his tutor. Most of the Cyber-Knight fellowship who Alphonse had met were classic fighters: big musclebound fellows with a quiet seriousness whose very presence was intimidating. However Master Jian had been the odd one out; when first Alphonse saw him he did not believe the man to be a Cyber-Knight at all. His frail and skinny frame, his unassuming demeanor, his silent sit-in-the-corner ways, all of these combined to project the image of an elderly hermit, not at all one trained in the mysteries of the Outer Realms and extensive martial arts.
"One such as you will most likely never see such a place. But you never know..." The wise old Master's words stirred something inside of Alphonse. He was still years from the completion of his training, but he always paid much attention when Master Jian spoke of dreams.
"Your travels will take you many places, my student. These are not important. You must remain true to what lies within you."
"How will I know my path, Master?"
"Soon enough, all will be clear. The realm of dreams sometimes delivers glimpses of our fate to us. We Cyber-Knights are particularly blessed in this aspect."
Alphonse grew quiet, contemplating this thought. He knew that his dream vision was yet to come, but he wanted to be fully ready for his destiny when it came.
"Now enough talk! Let us go to the practice field, today you will be learning to break stone with your skull!" With that, Jian rose and hurried toward the courtyard where they frequently practiced.
"Wait Master! I still haven't broken the board with my fist yet!"
Alphonse hurried after him.
"What?" Al's voice was doubtful.
"It's called Xanatoa." Jian the Iron fist sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, yet still ready to impart wisdom and punishment onto his curious young pupil.
"How come I've never heard of it then?" At only 17 years of age, Alphonse exhibited all the classic symptoms of adolescence. He had always been overly sure of himself, and it showed in his sometimes know-it-all demeanor.
"Foolish child!" Jian delivered a swift smack to the back of Al's head. "There are plenty more places you've never heard of yet, how could you? Have you ever heard of China?"
"Of course I've heard of China," Phonse grumbled, rubbing the back of his head.
"Xanatoa is kind of like China, from a thousand years ago, except that it only exists as a pocket dimension. A realm that can only be accessed through the astral plane, the aether of dreams."
Alphonse nodded. He had heard of this "astral plane". He also knew Master Jian possessed skills that were not of this world, superhuman skills that could only have been gifts from some mysterious entity or faction. This was why he had sought Jian over all other Cyber-Knights as his tutor. Most of the Cyber-Knight fellowship who Alphonse had met were classic fighters: big musclebound fellows with a quiet seriousness whose very presence was intimidating. However Master Jian had been the odd one out; when first Alphonse saw him he did not believe the man to be a Cyber-Knight at all. His frail and skinny frame, his unassuming demeanor, his silent sit-in-the-corner ways, all of these combined to project the image of an elderly hermit, not at all one trained in the mysteries of the Outer Realms and extensive martial arts.
"One such as you will most likely never see such a place. But you never know..." The wise old Master's words stirred something inside of Alphonse. He was still years from the completion of his training, but he always paid much attention when Master Jian spoke of dreams.
"Your travels will take you many places, my student. These are not important. You must remain true to what lies within you."
"How will I know my path, Master?"
"Soon enough, all will be clear. The realm of dreams sometimes delivers glimpses of our fate to us. We Cyber-Knights are particularly blessed in this aspect."
Alphonse grew quiet, contemplating this thought. He knew that his dream vision was yet to come, but he wanted to be fully ready for his destiny when it came.
"Now enough talk! Let us go to the practice field, today you will be learning to break stone with your skull!" With that, Jian rose and hurried toward the courtyard where they frequently practiced.
"Wait Master! I still haven't broken the board with my fist yet!"
Alphonse hurried after him.