Because of the strange way Master Ichiro glared at us, I decided to give him a secret nickname. I called him, Master Boar, or simply, the Boar. I suspected he wouldn‘t appreciate the name as much as I did, but every time he smoked, I imagined a boar's face with a pipe in its mouth and gray mist lingering out of its nostrils. I smirked at this image as he lead our group across the courtyard towards the dormitory hall.

We went through cobble-stone paths, flanked by countless solid red banners and flags that hung from walls, buildings and neatly rowed poles. Red was considered the color of our class; the color of the children of the stream. When we came to the dormitory, I noticed how similar it looked on the outside, to the Great Hall. It had the same, gleaming black-tiled roof with wide, curving eaves, a large, covered porch that hugged the outside edges of the building, and a small pond off to the side, filled with exotic-colored carp. The only difference the building had from the Great Hall, was that it was much smaller in size. We were shown where we were supposed to place our shoes, presented the banner that hung over the door of the entrance room, which had the Emperor's seal on it and told about how we were supposed to bow to it every time we entered the dormitory hall. Last of all, we were shown our rooms.

Just like the rooms on the Ritual Decks of the airship, they were small and square, with glossed wooden floors, and paper sliding doors. They each had a small closet where we could store our bedding and our belongings. Though I felt a little unhappy about the size of the rooms, I was glad that there would be no more than two of us assigned to each one. Han and Kidou managed to get one together, while Masa and I were paired, probably because he stood next to me while we were grouped in the courtyard.

When I first saw Masa, I thought about how tall and imposing he was. I never thought children my age could look so much like an adult, but with his long, thin face, short-cut black hair and broad shoulders, I could have accidentally mistaken him as one of the senior students, had I not looked at him closely. Once the imposing sight of his appearance had worn off though, his true nature was revealed. When the Boar led us to one of the empty rooms and told us that we would be sharing, Masa looked at me shyly, with an uneasy expression, as if he thought that I was some sort of demon that would attack him in his sleep.

"Master, isn't there some place where I can room alone?" Masa's voice was quiet and whispy, as if he was afraid to ask the question.

The Boar took in one long breath from his pipe, squinting his green eyes. It was this silent gaze that seemed to make Masa even more uncomfortable than he already was. He immediately looked down, probably regretting the request. Master Boar slapped his palm across the top of his head, making him whimper like a scared animal.

"You think yourself so much better than the other children don't you?" The Boar's low, guttural voice caused Masa to wince. I was already inside the room, feeling gravely unsettled as I watched the both of them just outside the door in the hallway. "Asking for your own room, how dare you ask such a selfish question."

"I’m sorry Master Ichiro, but Master Lu promised that I would have my own room."

"Master Lu is not your teacher. Now you will accept what I give you, or you will be sleeping on the bridge by the pond."

Masa quickly bowed and apologized, then shuffled inside, putting his few belongings in the closet.

"You, what’s your name again?" Master Ichiro pointed at me from outside the door.

"My name is Terr."

He looked at me as though he was about to accuse me for Masa's mistake.

"Terr, I will not forget your name again. Watch him. Make sure he doesn’t do anything foolish."

I acknowledged his request and bowed. Afterwards, he gave a small grunt then walked off down the hall.

I turned to face Masa, who was kneeling down in the corner next to the open closet. His eyes remained lowered as if he were counting the pieces of dust on the floor.

"I'm not supposed to be here with you," he said quietly ", I'm not supposed to be here at all."

"Then where are you supposed to be?" I thought my question mocked him somehow, because his eyes narrowed as he as he raised them to meet mine.

"You're from one of those small villages aren't you? I can tell, because you have that idiotic accent. The kind, that only dumb, village people speak." His voice became spiteful. "You and other people from the country come here because you have no choice. I know for a fact that people like you would be more than happy to give up their poor life to live here at the nation's expense. But I’m not like you. My family has enough money to make its own choices. But because I’m cursed with these eyes, I’m forced by law, to come here. So be glad, boy from the country, be as glad and full of joy as you want to be. But remember, not everyone wants this life."

Living all my life in Rune, I’d never had the chance to understand the difference between living in the city and the village. You eat, you sleep, you work. I always thought these things were the same, no matter where you lived. How foolish I was to think that life was that simple. Masa's words became my first glimpse into how different our lives really were. And it was also my first glimpse into his arrogance.

"We are going to serve the Emperor, and help make this nation prosperous. How can you say that you don’t want such life?" I sat down in front of him, but he looked away and made a hissing sound with his lips. "Did you know my sister doesn’t like people who keep dogs as pets? She says she feels very sad for the dogs, because they have no purpose, other than to laze around all day. They will live for a while, and then die, never accomplishing a single thing. Is that something you want for your life?"

Masa gave a chuckle that slowly grew into a haughty laugh. He waved his hand at my words and slowly turned his head to meet my gaze. "Your sister is as much of an idiot as you. We’re all dogs here. We’re pets in the eyes of the Emperor, with no other purpose than to amuse him."

Even though I didn’t like him at first, I thought that there was some way I could become friends with him. Even though the sun and the moon don’t like to share the same sky, eclipses still happen. But the minute he called my sister an idiot, I didn’t hesitate to shove him hard on the shoulder. He fell to the floor with a shallow thud.

"Don't ever say that about my sister." I stood up and kicked him in the thigh. "She’s not an idiot."

Masa quickly sat back up and with an angry grunt, grabbed my leg and forced me to the ground. He crawled up my chest like a snake, pinning my arms to my sides, until his face loomed over mine. He breathed heavily and his purple eyes seemed to darken. "All village people are idiots. They smell like rotten fish and their brains are so small, they barely know how to talk." I tried to squirm out of his hold, but he had his full weight on top of me. He lifted me by my arms then slammed my back against the floor. "Master Lu, my father, is an important man here. When I talk to him about getting my own room, I’m going to make sure he sends you back to your fish-smelling village."

With all of my strength, I rolled to the side and forced him off me. I tried to run out, into the hallway, but he grabbed my leg again and I fell. Like angry dogs, we crawled over each other, hitting each other's faces and chests. His knee hit me in the stomach several times and I cried out as loudly as I could. Our fighting continued until two pairs of arms pried the two of us apart. It was Han and Kidou, both of them yelling over our grunts and angry words; telling us to stay still. They pinned us against the wall on either side of the room. My stomach and nose seared with pain and I could see through the tears that blurred my eyes that a group of students were peering curiously through the open door.

It was the first time I had ever seen Han look the way he did. His already thin head, seemed to grow longer and skinnier as his lips puffed out and his eyes grew small. I could see in his eyes that he was concerned, while the rest of his face showed that he was upset.

"All of you, leave." Han looked to the crowd by the door. "Go back to your rooms."

Kidou held Masa tightly by the shoulders, but he quickly shrugged off Kidou's grip and strode to another corner of the room.

He waited until the students left before he spoke. "That savage village boy attacked me. He should be reported to Master Ichiro at once."

"He hasn’t done anything wrong," Han said, letting go of my shoulders. "And as far as I am concerned, nothing happened here."

Masa looked at Han in disbelief, then turned his attention to Kidou, hoping to get his support.

"I didn’t see," Kidou added.

Masa probably recognized their accents, because an expression of distaste blanketed his face. "Neither of you are from the city. Typical that you‘d protect your own kind. Well none of you deserve to be here; and after I’ve spoken to my father, he’ll make sure that lazy filth like you are removed from this place."

He gave a disgusted grunt, then stomped out of the room and down the hallway.

"Where’s he going?" Kidou asked.

"Probably to Master Lu, his father," I replied.

"Master Lu?" Han's eyes widened. "You mean the man from the airship?"

"I suppose so. I know he's an important person here, but I don't believe in Masa's threats-"

"You have to apologize to him," Han said suddenly. "As soon as he gets back, apologize."

"No, he doesn’t deserve one." I went across the room and slid the door shut. I wiped the blood from my nose with the back of my hand and lightly rubbed the pain on my stomach. "He should be the one apologizing to me. He insulted my sister."

"You don’t understand Terr," Kidou said quietly. "If he manages to convince someone to expel you, it‘s not like you‘ll just be sent home. My father said, that people who fail training or are kicked out of the temple, are sent to a terrible place, where you’re treated like a slave for the rest of your life.

Han gave a small smile, slapping his palm against my shoulder. " I think Kidou is exhaggerating. But still, it doesn’t do you any good to make any obstacles for yourself while you’re here. There will be far more challenging things for you to overcome, and making enemies will only make it worse. At least for that reason, you should apologize to him."

"Master Ichiro just now made Han our class leader," Kidou teased. "Han probably thinks himself as one of the temple masters now."

Han gave a wide-brimmed smirk and I couldn’t help, but smile back at him.

"Alright Han, I’ll apologize," I said with a short sigh. "But if he‘d better not say anything about my sister again."

He gave a satisfied nod then waved for Kidou to follow him to the door. "Master Ichiro wants me to take everyone to the courtyard. We’ll be leaving in a few moments, so hurry up and clean yourself up, then meet us outside."

As soon as he closed the door behind him, I fell lazily to the floor. I looked up at the ceiling and took a deep breath, listening through the thin walls, the idle murmurs of the students in neighboring rooms. I couldn’t make out any words, but it sounded like they were enjoying the company of their roommates, while I lay on the floor trying to forget mine.

The Boar was puffing ferociously at his pipe as he looked at all of our faces. We stood in a square formation, lined up in rows in the middle of the courtyard. It felt a little ominous being the only ones there, when it had been just earlier that morning, that the place was filled with new students, checking their papers with imposing-looking men, amidst the sounds of a hissing airship, coughing smoke and water vapor across the grounds. Beside him was a large, gleaming bronze chest sitting atop a sturdy, wooden table. It was decorated with intricate, brass moldings of lizard-like dragons that snaked around its edges. Covering its front, was an oversized lock that seemed sturdy enough to withstand the hardest strike from the largest hammer, perhaps even a gunpowder blast.

"Is everyone here Han?" Master Boar asked hoarsely.

Han hesitated before he answered. "No, Master Ichiro. Masa isn’t with us. He ran out of the dormitory and I haven’t seen him since."

"Masa is missing? Why? And where did he go?" Before Han could answer, he pointed his pipe at me. "You. Terr is it? I asked you to look after him. Where did he go and why is he not with us?"

I was afraid to answer. I could hardly imagine the trouble I’d be in if I told him about our fight. "Master Ichiro . . . he told me that he no longer wished to be here, so he ran off to see Master Lu."

The Boar was silent for a moment. I saw his large nostrils grow as he breathed in the smoke from his pipe. His tiny green eyes were frozen, as if he were looking at something behind us. He seemed to be pondering something. "Very well. I will deal with him later."

He pulled out a large, bronze key from his robe and proceeded to the chest, which he inserted into the lock, then gave it a hard, forceful twist. The lock gave a metallic snapping sound that echoed across the almost, empty courtyard. The Boar seemed to struggle a little has he lifted the heavy lid. The creaking sound the lid made was loud enough to make me wince.

"Terr of the Stream, step forward."

Perhaps I wasn’t used to my new title yet, because for moment, I thought that he was calling for someone else. He looked at me with growing impatience. I gasped and rushed up to him as quickly as I could and gave a bow.

"Yes, Master Ichiro?"

"Terr of the Stream, what I am about to give you, is not just a gift from the Nation of Rui Nan, but also a gift from the Emperor himself. It is an honor that is forbidden to most people. You, and the other students will receive this gift and you will treat it as if it is a part of you. It is called a Tamma, the most important object a Shyo Mu may carry." He reached into the chest and pulled out a small, lacquer box about the size of my palm. Its glossed black finish gleamed in the pale sunlight. A small lock kept it shut. He held it out to me, but I continued to gawk, wary as to what was inside. He took my wrist and placed the box on my unsteady palm. "Accept this gift."

I bowed once again, but he regarded me with little tolerance and waved me off. I quickly scurried back to my place in formation.

Master Boar called out to another student, then another, handing out the small lacquer boxes as they came. This continued until everyone had one in their hands.

There had been moments in my life when I had been entrusted with taking care of important things. My mother had once asked me to help paint her pots. When my sister was at work, it was up to me to take care of the vegetable garden. None of these I did very well. I ended up painting terrible blotches and awkward shapes on mother's pots where there should have been beautiful patterns and images. The vegetable garden died, because I kept forgetting to pull the weeds and brush. I suppose you could probably imagine then, how insecure I felt, holding the most beautiful box I’d ever seen. Even more so, I felt unworthy to be entrusted with whatever mysterious object lay inside.

After Master Boar closed the chest, he scanned at each one of us, moving his eyes from one face to another, as if studying our reactions.

He took another puff from his pipe before he spoke. "None of you know what it is I just handed you. All you know, is what it is called. I will not tell you what is inside that box, or what it does. You will figure that out for yourselves." He pointed to a student that had eagerly raised his hand.

"Master Ichiro, how are we supposed to do that," the student asked. "The box is locked so we can‘t even look inside. If we don’t know what a tamma looks like, how can we even begin to know what it does?"

"I didn’t say you wouldn’t be allowed to look inside," the Boar replied. "But I will not give you the key to open it. This is your first test as Shyo Mu. You will not be allowed to eat or sleep until you can open the box and tell me what a tamma is."

The Boar silently regarded our faces again. I was certain he saw expressions of concern and fear in each one of us. To be threatened with hunger and fatigue over such a trivial thing, well, it seemed ludicrous.

After he seemed satisfied with our reactions, he continued. "To complete your first test, you must follow the red banners and flags. They will lead you beyond the temple grounds and towards a stream. From there, you will follow that stream, going the opposite direction of its currents; that will take you up the mountain. Once you have come to a certain clearing, you will find the key, which will open your boxes. After you’ve seen what’s inside and discovered its purpose, you may come back."

Scared as I was, I felt a strange sensation that made my muscles tighten and my lungs gasp. It was a sensation that I had never felt so strongly before. I looked around and saw expressions of doubt, of fear and of hesitation. Standing in the midst of such surprised and bewildered students, I was somehow emboldened, like a young tiger faced with its first hunt. I felt determined, driven by a sudden need to do this test more than anything.

I think he must have grown tired of watching the expression on our faces, because he gave a loud, grunting sigh that sent billows of smoke through his nostrils. "If you think there’s anything more I have to tell you, there isn't. I’ve already told you what you have to do. If you don’t wish to starve tonight, then you had better get going."

Kidou was the first to leave. Afterwards, everyone followed, making their way to the banners and flags that lead out of the courtyard. I decided that I would be the first to finish this task, so I ran as fast as I could; past the other students and past Han and Kidou who bounded out of my way as if I had been a charging bull.

"Terr, wait. We’re not supposed to do this alone." Han sprinted after me and gave a sharp tug on my shoulder. "I'm the class leader Terr, and I've decided that we're going to finish this together."

"I don't want anyone's help, Han," I said fiercely. "I want to do this on my own."

"Why? If you finish by yourself, then you might be eating alone tonight. If we work together, then we‘ll eat together."

Han was certainly concerned. It was important to him that he do his job as class leader. If we separated, instead of working together, he‘d probably lose face before the Boar. But the feeling in my chest, the need to face this challenge alone was too great. "There’s something I want to know about myself Han. It's important. I'm sorry."

Before he could reply, I gave a slight bow and hurried down the path.

As I ran, I imagined that there was a voice telling me that my life would not be worth anything until I did something on my own. My mother worked hard to help me live like a normal child, then it was my sister who made sure that I could remain in school. Everything that I had become, was because someone had helped me. This was my chance to prove that I could help myself, to prove, even to Masa, that I was a person of worth.

The trail of red flags and banners took me out of the temple grounds and to a forest paved with a faint dirt trail, most of it covered by snow. I probably wouldn’t have noticed it, if not for the worn banner poles just off to the side of the trail. I followed it as best as I could, stumbling now then on stones and branches that lay hidden along the path. I should have watched my feet, but my eagerness left little room for caution, something I would come to regret when my ankle struck a tree root protruding from the ground. I fell to the icy ground and the lacquer box slipped from my hands. It made a sickening snapping sound as it flew into the side of a tree. I winced, feeling the pain from the scrapes on my hands and knees. I rubbed the sore spots on my hands and scampered to the box. Picking it up, I realized that a small, jagged piece was missing from the side, leaving a tiny hole. I peered into the crack, but all I saw was a tiny glimmer of something that looked like glass. I tried to turn the box up against the daylight that filtered through the trees, but the pale, gray clouds covered most of the sun and aside from the glassy shimmer, there was nothing else the crack would reveal.

I treaded along much more carefully, holding the box tight against my chest. I was worried about crack I‘d made along its side and thought about the scolding I would receive for damaging the emperor's gift. The air was freezing and I felt it sting my lungs with every breath. My feet crunched against thick carpets of snow, slipping now and then on random patches of greasy mud. A small amount of doubt crept into my mind. I wondered if doing this alone was truly a good idea. I imagined that not too far behind, was Han and the rest of the class. For a moment I thought about rejoining them and apologizing to Han for my rudeness, but that thought quickly died away as I came to the stream.

There were statues of men twice my height, some dressed in robes and others in ancient armor, all carved of stone, lining either side of the bank. They stood with imposing gazes and chins held high, as if they were protecting the stream from intruders.

They were carved with their mouths open suggesting that they were in the midst of spreading their wisdom to some invisible audience, while the others in armor looked on with one hand on the hilt of their sheathed swords. All of them had one arm outstretched, pointing upstream. I had never seen anything like it before. The craftsmanship seemed so perfect, I was afraid they might come to life at any moment. My sister once told me that our people used to carve armies of stone soldiers in order to protect palaces, temples and even the graves of the imperial family’s ancestors. She used to scare me by telling me how sometimes, they came after people that doubted the superiority and purity of our country. I shivered at the thought. Out of curiosity, I found a long branch lying on the ground and carefully prodded several of them to see if they would flinch or move. Then I continued upstream, feeling unsettled, as I passed one stone figure after another. At times, I felt as though they were judging me while I passed below their stern eyes. It was impossible for me to know how many there were as the line of statues stretched down the entire length of the stream in either direction, much farther than I could see.

It seemed like an had hour passed before I started to think that the stream would go on forever. The clouds had begun to open and I felt the sunshine warm the chill in my skin. It was as if someone had turned on the lights in a dark room. I squinted through the sunlight that reflected off the water. A soft glow fell upon the statues, adding a mystical aura that only made me more leery of them.

"Hey you. Little trout."

A pebble splashed in the water next to me, giving me pause. I turned to see the frail, shriveled form of an old man gazing back at me from across the bank. His skin was heavily tanned and looked like a piece of old, worn leather. He wore a loose-fitting dark red robe, tied with a long piece of rope around his waist. He waved at me, grinning broadly. "Come here."

I was hesitant at first, but he was insistent and continued to wave me over. I did as he ordered and waded across the stream, feeling the icy water hug around my ankles. Hi grin widened, as if he were amused by the way I stumbled; shivering as I came out of the water on the other side. I greeted him with a bow and then opened my mouth to ask him if he knew where the key was to open the box. He answered before the question left my mouth.

"Well then little trout, you’re the first person today to come and get the key from me." He turned away abruptly and shambled towards the trees. "Come this way. . . oh, and don't do that again."

"I'm sorry sir, don‘t do what again?"

"The bowing, little trout; no more bowing. I know everyone at that temple wants you to be formal and proper, but in front of me, I expect a different kind of respect." He paused for a moment, as if he’d forgotten something, then blurted out suddenly. "And don't call me sir, master or any of that none sense. All the students call me old man, just so long as I have the right to call them all trouts. . . or whatever manner of creature I happen to fancy."

For a moment, I wondered if there were other things I shouldn‘t say or do, for fear of offending him. "I understand. . . Old Man. I won't do it again."

"And look up at me when you talk. Peering into the eyes of another is important sometimes. It shows that you are sincere."

He continued to wave me on, but I felt hesitant to follow. His appearance made me think of the poor beggars back in Rune. His clothes were dirty, with dry clumps of mud clinging against the frayed fabric. He walked with bare, calloused feet, which seemed hard and cracked. Just the man’s appearance alone left me wondering what purpose he served with the temple. I often ignored beggars, even though my sister and I came very close to becoming like one. Mostly, I pretended that they weren't there, and now, seeing this man in front of me, made me think of all kinds of reasons not to trust him, let alone follow him into the woods.

He didn’t wear silk or satin or keep his hair tied up like the other adults. His hair was wiry and looked like a withered bush. I wondered if birds had ever mistaken the top of his head for a nest, because there were dead leaves and straw tangled in the strands. Certainly, his hair was ready to accept an egg.

He looked over his shoulder and grunted discontentedly as he saw me still standing some distance away. "Well little trout, are you coming, or are you going to keep those statues company?"

"Your eyes... they're brown."

"Why yes they are. It is the color most people are born with. Or have you not known this?" He turned and crossed his arms stoutly as if he was expecting me to make some other foolish remark.

"I'm sorry, it's just, that many of the people I’ve seen working for the temple have strange-colored eyes. And also they. . ." I hesitated, trying to think of a way to word my thoughts as respectfully as possible.

"They what little trout? They dress nicer? They don’t smell of earth, or perhaps bathe themselves once in a while? You see? I already know what you’re going to say." I expected him to be offended or upset, but he simply chuckled as if I’d just told him a joke. "Just because you see a wolf with gray fur, does not mean that all wolves are of the same color. Don’t be mislead. My eyes may not be exotic and my appearance may not be as pristine as you had anticipated, but I am a teacher, just like every master at this temple. Just think of me as one who is much closer to nature than the others. Now, you can either come with me and learn about what’s inside that box of yours, or you can go back to your master and tell him that you’re too proud of yourself to trust your fate to an old, humble man."

I regarded the dark, lacquer box for a moment, then gazed back up to him. "Forgive me I didn’t mean to-"

"There you go, being proper again by giving me meaningless apologies. Are you coming, or are you not?"

I was about to apologize to him again, but I stopped myself before the words left my mouth. All I did was nod. He seemed pleased with this and waved me on.

I followed him through the trees, making sure to keep a certain distance. My body shivered as I felt the icy wind sting my cheeks and my feet grew numb from treading on the patches of snow that littered the ground. But the old man was not at all bothered by these things. His bare feet crunched along the frozen dirt, and though he wore just a simple, ragged robe, he carried on as if the cold was something he had long since become accustomed to.

We walked until the soft rustle of the river could no longer be heard. He murmured to himself, uttering things I couldn’t understand. Cautiously, I approached him, until I discovered that he was mumbling numbers. He was counting his steps, keeping his head low and to the side without paying much attention to what lay ahead. Such a strange way to walk. I was afraid he might run into a tree or a branch, but his eyes were listless and dull, as if he’d grown tired of using them.

"Stop, " he said suddenly, holding up his hand. He swiveled his head, scanning his surroundings with his dull, brown eyes. "How many paces is it from the river?"

"How many paces is what from the river?"

A small portion of his head peered in my direction over the skinny bow of his back. "I believe it is I who is asking the questions little trout, not you. Now how many paces?"

It was obvious that he was growing impatient, but so was I. "I'm sorry, I don’t know the answer to that."

"Didn’t Master Ichiro tell you how many paces it was from the river?"

"He didn’t tell me anything."

"Anything at all?" He turned to face me, displaying an accusing frown.

I silently shook my head.

The old man sighed, scratching his temple. "So he‘s done nothing to prepare you. This is why I have very little respect for many that teach at the Imperial Temple." He sighed again, putting a hand on my shoulder. "But we will keep my thoughts about them just between you and me, hmmm?"

I nodded, and he gave me a firm pat on the shoulder before he turned away and waved me on. "Four hundred paces little trout. That is the number you need to remember. The fox always digs his nest four hundred paces from the river. There are four hundred ways to make tea. And we celebrate our Emperor's reign every four hundred days. You see? It is a lucky number, one which has many uses. Now remember to count each pace as every left step, not every right, that way, you are sure to find your destination."

"What destination is that?"

"Have you already forgotten? Children have such short memories, it’s no wonder that they even remember to eat or to breath. It’s the way to the key young one. It’s the only reason why you have come to me. Now, we have come exactly three hundred and eighty paces. That means we are looking for the key just over that small hill ahead. Come along."

It was not exactly a hill, but rather, a cliff of dirt raised above the ground. It was the height of two people standing atop each other's shoulders with old tree roots snaking out like thorns on a bristle bush. The old man climbed it without the slightest hesitation using the roots as a ladder. I was hardly prepared for such a feat, as I didn’t know climbing was part of the journey. My instinct told me not to trust the strange man, but I decided to risk being the fool and continued to follow him, gritting through the clumps of dirt and bugs that fell upon me.

The old man reached down and helped over the top; and as he lifted me to my feet, I found myself standing upon a very small plateau, like a tall table overlooking the surrounding earth, which had somehow fallen beneath our feet. There was nothing on the earthen patch the old man and I shared. No leaves, no snow, not even wind. Only smooth, untouched dirt, much like yesterday when we came upon the airship and realized that the wind and snow had suddenly calmed the minute we came closer.

As I brushed the dirt from my clothes I came to realize how quiet it was. The sounds of birds and the rustle of the trees I heard before were silenced and all that remained, was the wispy groan of my own heavy breathing.
"Many people don’t realize, " the old man said, "that we are standing at the bottom of a great, invisible ocean. Its currents tell the winds where to blow. It can float a lumbering airship or change the course of a flake of snow. We call it, the Ocean of Ki, and the less educated of us refer to it as, the ether. Very few people have the gift to see and shape its will. Now, my task is to open your eyes, to start you on a path very few people have had the honor of traveling.

Take your box and stand in the center. Hold it in your palms in front of you and wait."

I did exactly as he said and stood in the center of the plateau, holding the box in my open palms as if it were a delicate insect. I expected him to open it, but instead, he paced around me as if expecting something to happen.

"Where’s the key? You said it was here, but I don't see it anywhere." I asked, wondering if this was some sort of trick. "Is it buried in the dirt somewhere?"

"You haven’t listened to anything I’ve said so far have you?"

"I have. I’ve listened to everything you said. You said we‘re standing underneath some kind of ocean."

He stopped front of me, then leaned forward, aiming his tiny, dark eyes at me. "And what is this ocean's name?"

"Ki. You said it was the Ocean of Ki."

He leaned back as he gave a small chuckle. "Good little trout. Very good. You’ve learned to repeat the things I say. Now, if only I can get you to understand them. That would truly be something I would like to see."

I blinked and looked around, expecting some sort of answer to appear, but all I had was a guess. "Is the Ocean of Ki going to open this box?"

"Aha! Now you show signs of thinking. Perhaps the Imperial Temple will have a use for you yet. But in answer to your question: no. The Ocean of Ki will not open the box, but rather, it is the absence of this ocean that will. You see, the Ocean of Ki is an invisible force that not only lifts things into the air, but also presses down upon us from all directions. It is that force, which keeps that box sealed, pressing in on all of its sides. We have come to this very place because it has no influence here. Think of it as a pocket of air, an empty spot in the ocean."

"If everything you said is true, why hasn't this box opened yet?"

"You’re so impatient little trout. I noticed the crack you made on the box. You were probably trying to break it open. For your sake, I hope you haven’t scratched the precious thing inside, because your master may never forgive you if you did. Now stay exactly where you are and give the box as much time as it needs. Eventually, it will open on its own. This is one of your first lessons. A chienkuu ko knows that his skills and focus are developed through patience."

The old man made his way to the edge of the plateau and started to climb down.

"Where are you going?" I asked, walking towards him. But he put his hand up gesturing to stay where I was.

"I’m going to leave you for a while little trout. I will be back when that box finally opens."

"Wait. Why are you leaving me alone up here?"

The folds on the man's leathery face grew deeper as he gave a wide grin. "Because it's boring up here."

After he disappeared, it wasn‘t long before I found myself growing unsettled by my surroundings. The stillness, the silence. It was hard to believe that several paces away, the wind was whistling amidst swaying braches and the birds were chirping away. Hardly any time passed and already, I found it almost unbearable. I looked down at the box. It was still sealed.

I sat down and placed the box on my lap. I imagined that I was holding a sleeping turtle, waiting for its shell to spring to life and sprout its head and limbs. At least an hour must have passed before I decided to close my eyes and sing a small tune, a patriotic song one of my teachers had taught us in class. I‘d forgotten most of the words, but I did the best I could and hummed some of the parts. I never had a voice for music, but it kept my mind busy and filled the empty, motionless void that surrounded me.

It wasn‘t long before I grew tired of singing. I opened my eyes only to find that the box was still closed. I sighed and looked up at the sky. The wispy snow clouds had mostly disappeared, leaving behind large white clumps amidst a vast expanse of brilliant blue. I discovered how cruel it was to leave me alone with my thoughts as I was suddenly reminded of my sister's ink cloud painting I had lost. She had given me something that she had placed all her heart into, and yet, I had shamed her faith by losing it all too quickly like a cheap, discarded trinket. I wondered if I would ever find it or if by some miracle, someone would return it. As the clouds rolled by the emotions inside me began to change. Regret gave way to a strange, warm sensation, as if the sky were radiating upon me a new, profound feeling of comfort.

I couldn’t understand it, but up until that moment, my feelings of the sky were as indifferent as watching the leaves fall from the trees. But now, gazing into the vast, unending blue, following the formless puffs of clouds as they steadily drifted by, made my spirit soar with a renewed sense of purpose. I wondered if the change in my body, the very nature of my newly-found gifts had some kind of influence with even my emotions. Whatever the reason, at that moment, and for the rest of my life, my true feelings of the clouds and the sky would become as cherished and sincere as my own love for my Sister.

A clicking sound snapped me from my trance. I looked down and saw the box begin to rattle and shake loose of whatever it was that was keeping it sealed. What was once a sturdy, lacquer box suddenly fell apart in my hands. What remained was a glass, transparent ball so perfect in shape, so smooth and without blemishes, I thought how it was that only the gods could have created such a thing. As I held it up to the sun, the ball changed color. It became a gleaming, radiant orange-white, then it turned transparent again as I placed it down on my lap.

A moment passed before the sound of rustling could be heard below as the head of the old man peered over the edge, like a curious gopher. "What do you think little trout? What do you think of your tamma?"

"How did you come back here so quickly? And how did you know the box was open?"

He helped himself over the edge and dusted himself off. "I know everything; even the time it takes for those little boxes to open." As he approached, he held out his hand. "Now, let me see that."

After I gave it to him, he held it high above his head, inspecting it with his dark, listless eyes. "Magnificent. You should be proud of this one little trout, for this is probably the best Tamma I have ever seen. You will most definitely be the envy of your classmates."

"What’s a Tamma?" I asked after he handed it back to me.

He gave another wide grin, one that stretched his face like rubber. "I can’t tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because, that is something you have to figure out for yourself. Look at it, examine it, feel it with your palm. Once you’ve figured out what it is, call out to me. I will return and tell you whether or not you are right. Until then, I think I’m going to take a little walk down the river." He turned and began climbing down over the edge. "And don't forget little trout. Don’t leave this place, not until I’m satisfied with your answer."

Yet again, I found myself confused and alone. I looked at the Tamma, wondering why Master Ichiro had sent me here. Surely there was a purpose to all of this. Even though I didn’t understand much of anything, I still felt compelled to finish this task. There was a reason for such an object to exist, and it seemed important enough that every chienkuu ko had to understand it. But why was it important? What did it do?

At first, I marveled at its perfection, its unblemished craftsmanship. When it wasn't held against the sunlight, the ball was absolutely clear, almost invisible.

The longer my eyes remained locked upon the object, the hazier I felt. A tinge of light-headedness overcame me, like I was drifting away. My eyelids started to droop. My body waved to and fro. Then, unexpectedly, I fell asleep.

The sun was setting when I woke up. I rubbed my eyes and looked around, even more confused than before. My tamma was lying on the ground a few paces away, so I scurried over to pick it up. I brushed away the dirt and gazed at it again, resuming my desperation in attempting to figure out what it was. My mind drew a blank and for a moment I thought that I would be stuck on that tiny plateau until I starved. My vision started to blur and I found myself, dozing off yet again. I shook my head and rubbed my eyes some more. As my sight came back into focus I noticed this time that there was a strange image reflecting off the ball’s glassy surface. It looked like a swarm of beetles. Then I realized that it was reflecting something above me. I immediately looked up.

Overhead, was a fleet of tiny boats soaring just above the treetops. They moved along gracefully, hovering and swaying about like a school of fish. In each of the boats were two older children, a boy at the front moving his hands and upper body, guiding the craft, and a girl, sitting peacefully in the back watching the boy's movements. I continued to stare, surprised and bewildered.

"Have you figured out what that thing is yet, or are you too busy gawking at the advanced students with their sky boats?" The old man had returned, unceremoniously lifting is wiry body over the edge of the plateau.

"Sky boats?" I asked, still amused by the spectacle above.

"Yes. Those are the students from the River Temple. Once you’ve graduated from the Stream Temple, that‘s where you‘ll be heading next. They’re making their way to the main temple for dinner, along with all the other students from the other schools. It’s customer that everyone gather there for evening meals. Now, I believe you have some sort of task I asked you to perform."

He tapped the back of my head, as my attention was still towards the sky.

"I’m sorry," I said. "But I don’t have an answer for you yet. The only thing I’ve learned from this thing, is that it makes you sleepy."

He took the ball from my hand and waved it in front of my face. "You are correct. If it isn‘t used properly, it will dull your mind and put you in a trance. But that is not really what a tamma is supposed to do."

"How could I possibly know what it’s supposed to do just from looking at? All I see is a glass ball. What more is there to it? I’m just a boy and I’m not as smart as you probably think I am." The old man's face seemed to light up all at once, just like Han's when he thought of something cheerful to say. "I think you’re done little trout. You’ve passed the test."

"But I haven’t figured out what a Tamma is yet."

"Of course you haven't. You’re just a boy. You can’t understand the mysteries of the universe until you’re at least as old as I am." He put the ball back onto my hand, still gleaming, like he was congratulating me for some grand deed. "This was just a simple test of the mind and spirit. You see, when children are chosen, they often let their pride consume them. The misguided ones think that just because they see and move certain things, they somehow believe that they are entitled to being treated better than everyone else. I’ve taken many of those students here, and have given them test after test. For some of them, days would pass before they learned the meaning of humility. I’m surprised with you however, as this is the fastest I‘d ever let a student go."

He paused, letting his praise sink in before he continued. "Now I will help you learn about that object you hold in your hand. Look at it carefully. There’s something hidden within it that only people like you can see. It appears only with a certain amount of focus. Remember, the trick to using your special talent is not in how hard you see things with your eyes, but how disciplined you are in seeing things with your mind. Gaze at it as closely as you can, but do not expect something to appear by will alone. Let it surface naturally with the help of your second sight."

I was anxious, restless, uneasy, even hungry, but I did as he told me, waiting as patiently as I could for something to happen, something to appear. I tried to relax, breathing slowly and hoping that I would not be put to sleep again.

Then, as if something were surfacing from the murky depths of a pond a small sliver of blue light began to appear from within the ball. It quivered for a moment then began to spin about like a propeller. After a while, the spinning stopped, then it swung to and fro as if caught by some breeze.

"I see something," I said quietly. "There’s a light inside, and it’s pointing to something."

"The Ocean of Ki changes its flow constantly and moves with the motions of the earth. What you have in your hand is a sort of compass and it is pointing out the direction of its flow. This tamma will be invaluable to you. You must keep it at your side for as long as you serve the Emperor. It will guide you, and help enhance your skills."

I looked up at him and gave a reverent nod.

The old man gave a big sigh and motioned towards the direction of the river. "We’re finished here Little Trout. It’s time you go back to the temple. Everyone will be waiting for you there."

"What about you? Aren't we all supposed to gather for dinner?"

His expression grew distant, as if his mind had wandered onto other concerns. "I have to stay and prepare for the next student. Move along now. And remember, four hundred is the key to all things."

Even though he’d made it apparent he didn‘t care much for formalities, I gave him a deep bow, then climbed down the side of the small dirt rise. I counted exactly four hundred paces to the river, and followed it to the red-banner-marked trail.

When I arrived at the temple, I saw more of the same sky boats I had discovered earlier, landing in swarms onto the main courtyard. The neatly paired boys and girls stepped off the boats wearing uniforms much more intricate and colorful than mine. Their shirts and pants had wavy, curling patterns that looked like flowing water, woven with gleaming blue thread. They wore wispy, blue sashes about their waists, and the girls had all manner of jewelry adorning their hair.

All kinds of lanterns made of wood, paper and metal, hung lit from every window, wall and ceiling across the temple grounds. Most lit the paths and walkways. Unlike the electric lights that I had become accustomed to at home, these flickered and made moving shadows across every surface. It made the buildings seem to move and blink like lazy creatures, expectant of their human occupants.

The hollow sound of a gong reverberated through the air and a green robed man called out from the middle of the courtyard. "It is the hour of the dog. The halls are now open for our evening meal."

People flowed out in streams from the surrounding buildings and joined the students which had arrived on the sky boats as they made their way to the Great Hall.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but I had come to stand out among the other students, who had begun to crowd around me. My clothes were dirty and spotted with small bits of mud. There was a tear on my delicate pants where I had tripped and fallen onto my knees. My face didn’t look any better, as my cheeks were streaked with small, brown smears and my hair was messy and clumped at odd angles.

A group of shyo mah girls stared awkwardly at me as they wandered by. They covered their mouths with their hands as they whispered to one another, giggling and darting doubtful looks in my direction.

"Terr, is that you?" I instantly recognized Etsu's face as she emerged from the same group of girls. She gave a quick wave as she ran up to me. "What happened to you? Why are you so dirty? Did your master punish you?"

"What do you mean?" I asked innocently.

She tugged lightly on my shirt. I looked down and immediately saw what she meant. "It looks as though you‘ve been spending the day cleaning the stables."

"I was tested today. I didn’t know I would end up looking like this afterwards."

She shook her head in disappointment. "And after you finished, they didn’t give you time to clean yourself? Where is your class leader? He’s the one responsible for making sure that you and the others look presentable for dinner. I can’t imagine your class leader leading students in this way."

"What’s happening here? Why are you not with your fellow students Etsu?" A middle-aged woman robed in dark red silk appeared from the shuffling crowd.

Etsu turned and immediately bowed. I bowed as well.

"My apologies Master Moon," Etsu said softly ", but this student has not properly prepared himself for the evening meal. I humbly ask your permission to escort him to the wash house. He could also use a change of clothes."

My head was still bowed and I was unable to see her face, yet I could feel her judging eyes glaring down at me.

I heard the woman sigh before she spoke. "Etsu, just because I made you class leader, does not mean you must look after every student here. Your responsibility is to my students, not to this boy."

"But Master Moon, " Etsu said, trying to sound compassionate. "He’s separated from his class. He’s lost and doesn’t know where to go. Please allow me to help him. I will return as quickly as I can."

The gong bellowed once again.

"Dinner ceremonies shall begin shortly," announced the green robed man.

"Very well," Master Moon said in a hurried tone. "But there’s no time for him to change. Just get him cleaned up, then bring him to the Great Hall immediately."

"Yes Master Moon." Etsu took me by the wrist and led me across the courtyard.

Inside the wash house, Etsu worked the hand pump and filled a bucket of water. She dipped a wash cloth into the bucket and reached out to wipe my face.

I quickly snatched the cloth from her hand. She seemed offended at this, but I couldn’t have her treat me like a young, helpless child. "I think I can wash myself. Can you wait outside?"

"Boys and their pride," she muttered as she proceeded to wait just outside the door.

"And thank you for your help," I said, calling out after her.

I took off my satin shirt and vigorously wiped down my arms, chest and face.

"This morning, on the airship, you were running around close to tears, and then I see you again tonight, clueless and confused. It looks like misfortune follows you everywhere." Though she was speaking from outside of the building, I could still make out the slightly sympathetic tone in her voice.

"My mother told me that there’s no such thing as misfortune," I replied. "Only tests of the mind and spirit."

"That’s what my parents say as well. But I think they just say that to make us feel better when terrible things happen."

I slipped my shirt back on and stepped out of the wash house. I found her standing next to the entrance. She saw that I‘d forgotten to shut the door, so she slid it closed behind me. "It's not supposed to make us feel better Etsu. It's supposed to make us stronger."

She nodded, but it was obvious that she was reluctant to agree. "Then maybe all of this misfortune has given you the strength of a tiger." She clawed the air with her hands and made a playful roaring sound. I smiled.

A moment later, she looked down at my hand. "What is that thing you keep carrying around with you?"

I held the transparent ball up to her eyes, gleaming proudly. "It's a tamma. It's something all shyo mu are required to carry."

"What does it do?"

"I guess it helps me become a better shyo mu."

"Let me see it. " She took the ball from my hands and proceeded walking back to the Great Hall, examining it with curious eyes.

I chased after her. "Hey, you should have asked me first before taking it."

"Why? You‘ll just say no." She glanced at me with a smirk, turning the ball in her hands. "What is it supposed to do?"

"I don't know. But it shows things that only shyo mu can see."

"I guess you‘re lucky to have tools like this," Etsu said as she politely handed it back to me. "We don‘t get anything. I think they expect us shyo mah to learn with just ink and paper. How boring is that?"

By the time we arrived, everyone was already inside the Great Hall. As we went through the doors, I gazed over a vast sea of chatting students seated next to finely carved, wooden tables. Over-sized paper lanterns of white and red glowed softly from the rafters high up in the ceiling. Golden dragons as well as pictures of mountains and oceans molded from brass decorated the walls. The students were seated according to their class, with the shyo mu boys on one side and the shyo mah girls on the other. The tables that seated the more advanced students had both of them sitting together.

Master Moon was on the far side of the room, motioning for Etsu to come.

"I have to join my class now Terr," Etsu said humbly. "I'm sorry I can't help you find yours."

"Don't worry. I think I'll be able to find them. Thank you for your help."

She gave a small smile, then left.

I made my way across the enormous room, moving from table to table, looking for familiar faces. It was like gazing into a glorious flower garden. Every table was its own color, with each group of students wearing matching clothes. Some of them glimmered with metallic adornments and thread. Others wore soft colors decorated with flowing patterns. It seemed, the more advanced or senior a student was, the more intricate his or her clothes were. This made it easier for me to find my class, for they were seated on a table in the farthest corner of the room, their plain, white clothes standing out like an unattractive silverfish in a pond full of rainbow carp.

Master Boar saw me approach and quickly pulled me to the side. "You're dirty and you've ripped your clothes. Do you realize how disgraceful you look?"

"I’m sorry master, but I did as you told me. I went to the stream to discover what was in the box."

He made a small rumbling sound in his throat that caused the smoke from his pipe to scatter. "That was several hours ago. At most, it should have taken you no more than a few hours. Everyone came back by noon, except for you. Your class leader got worried and he and the rest of the students spent the rest of the day looking for you. Because of your careless actions, you have wasted valuable teaching time."

"The teacher I met wouldn’t let me leave. It took all day before he was satisfied enough to dismiss me." Even though it wasn’t strictly my fault, I felt a tinge of guilt for worrying everyone.

"That’s impossible." I sensed Master Boar getting annoyed at my protests. "The teacher I sent you to told me you never arrived."

"But the old man by the stream; he said he was a teacher. He took me to a strange-looking hill in the forest and told me about the tamma."

The Boar's eyes grew wide and his brows furrowed. It was as if he were mimicking an animal preparing to charge. "What did he say to you? Did he tell you what his name was?" He took a few stern steps forward, which startled me and sent me reeling until I almost stumbled over a chair.

"He only told me about the tamma and I don't know what his name is. He just told me to call him, old man." The students in the nearby tables grew silent and I suddenly felt their curious gazes resting upon me.

The Boar, realizing the unneeded attention lowered his voice to a whisper. "We will not speak about this anymore tonight. Whatever it is you know about the old man, keep it sealed in your mind and do not let it leave your mouth."

He turned away, puffing at his pipe as he strolled to the other teachers, intent on conversing with them.

"Are you alright Terr?" Han asked as I uneasily sat down next to him. "Some of us thought you got lost and had a violent meeting with a wolf or a bear."

"Whatever it was you were doing, you probably had a more exciting time than the rest of us," Kidou said in a droll tone from across the table.

I stared longingly at the transparent ball in my hand, then looked up solemnly. "I'm sorry if I made you worry Han."

Han smiled broadly, shaking my shoulder reassuringly. "You're back aren't you? I was sure you didn't run off like that coward, Masa. And from what I heard from your conversation with Master Ichiro, it sounds like you met an interesting stranger today."

The loud, thundering crash of a gong filled the cavernous room instantly catching everyone‘s attention.

One of the temple servants made his way to the front of the head table and gazed at all the faces in the room before making his announcement. "Now entering, the Temple Master."

Master Hotaka, Head Priest and leader of the Imperial Temple was at the head of a procession of other temple masters that filed reverently through the center aisle. Trailing at the end, was a stalwart-looking man in a military uniform, who's straight posture and stern gaze seemed to emit a sort of pride that challenged the humble nature of the robed figures around him. His presence was made all the more obvious by the loud clicking of boots against the smooth, wooden floor. At the head table, all the members of the procession sat down, except for Master Hotaka who seemed eager to address the students.

"Today is a special day," Master Hotaka said, giving particular notice to our table. "For today we honor our new students. For them, an important chapter is beginning, one which sacrifices their old lives so that they may be renewed. As of today, their old family names are gone, replaced with a title that few have the honor of receiving. Let this ceremony signal the beginning of their glorious service to the Emperor."

Temple servants carrying silver trays of paper and ink visited the tables that seated the new students. A small piece of paper, ink and brush was placed in front of us. The senior students pretended to look interested, but it was obvious that they had witnessed the ceremony practiced many times before.

"On the paper before you, each of you will write your family names." From Master Hotaka, it sounded like a polite request. But the Boar, who gestured impatiently at us to pick up the brushes, made it clear that any request from the temple master, no matter how gentle, was almost as important as a command from the Emperor himself.

As we proceeded to write down the honored names of our families, earthen bowls were placed at the center of our tables.

"Everyone who stands united under the divine will of the Emperor," Master Hotaka announced. "Is blessed by a family name. For generations it has been passed on from parent to child and each time, the name is preserved, nurtured and dignified by the actions of you and your ancestors. Whether it brings you honor or shame, this is your most cherished possession. Never forget your family or where you came from, but know, that as of this night, your family name is no longer your responsibility. The Emperor absolves you of any past disgrace that you may have carried from your ancestors by commanding you to leave your name behind and in its place, take the divine title of the temple you reside."

The small amount of oil in each bowl was lit, sparking a flame that flickered intensely.

"Now," Master Hotaka continued. "Let your family names turn to ash. Stand up and place your names in the bowl. Take your first steps on the path to becoming a chienkuu ko."

Without hesitation, Kidou stood up and threw his piece of paper into the fire. Everyone else quickly followed. I paused, waiting until everyone else had thrown in their names and watched as the stacks of paper curled up and withered like dead leaves. I looked down at my paper clutched in my uncertain hands and saw the worth of my life up until now, brushed in ink. I’d never known the history of my family name, whether it was once held in praise by a great general or humiliated by a lowly peasant. My mother never told me or my sister about our ancestors. I suppose there was nothing truly glorious to say about the history of the Wind family, save for the humble, yet brave deeds of my sister who must have brought us at least some dignity. After a few moments, gazing idly at the paper I tossed it hesitantly into the bowl.

To my relief, the rest of the evening was spent without ceremony or formalities. We ate, chatted and laughed just as normal children would at any family meal. Kidou was as serious and silent as ever, hardly picking at his food as he whispered to himself, his newly acquired title. Kidou of the Stream, he‘d mumble in proud, mumbled tones. For Han it was an opportunity to make fun of him.

"You know why he’s so infatuated with his new title?" Han announced. "Because at home, he was called Kidou, Master of Snores and Keeper of the Round Belly."

Everyone laughed except for Kidou, who seemed too occupied with himself to notice Han‘s playful banter.

We were served as much food as we wanted that night. There were mountains of rice served in great big bowls and fish, chicken, pork and beef served boiled, fried and stewed. Vegetables of all kinds, many I had never seen or heard of before in many exotic shapes and colors, were served raw, pickled, or cooked. In Rune, I had never really eaten anything beyond a helping of rice, some potatoes or cabbage and a bit of fish. Though I could have just as easily filled my belly, I ate sparingly, as I felt guilty for not having been able to share the food with my sister. My thoughts of her quickly made me forget how hungry I was. Even though Mr. Takaya was with her, I couldn’t shake my worries.

The meal concluded with each master presenting their final words of the day to the table of their assigned students. Master Boar seemed like someone who would never show his anxiety. He was much too strong-willed for that. But I could see on his face, a hint of concern in his stern gaze as he spoke. Perhaps he was unnerved by my meeting with that strange old man today, because his eyes glanced in my direction every now and then as he spoke.

"We will begin training tomorrow," said the Boar in a hoarse, but loud voice ", I’ve already informed your class leader of all the details. He will be in charge of waking you all and taking you to where you need to go. I suggest everyone get as much sleep as you can."

We left the Great Hall and just as we made our way to the main courtyard, we paused. Our class looked on with envy as we watched the advanced students board the sky boats. Each boy and girl walked together in pairs, as if they were close siblings. Their brightly colored clothes, and the long, flowing sashes tied at their waists left me wondering how much I would have to prove of myself to wear such things. Of all of us, Kidou seemed to be the most distracted by them. He looked on with such longing, I thought that at moment he might steal one of the sky boats for himself.

A few of them happened by our group and gave us the same, curious stare that we had given them. It took me a few moments to realize that they were actually giving particular attention to me.

"You're that boy that met the old man in the forest today aren't you?" one of the shyo mu's said. "I remember. You were making such a commotion with your master. I think my entire table must have heard you."

I felt my face flush. Immediately, I hardened my expression and tried to seem as mature as possible.

"I didn’t mean to be disrespectful," I said in a calm tone so as to hide my embarrassment. "I guess my master was just worried about me."

"He should be," the shyo mu's partner said. She frowned hotly, obviously upset about something. "That old man was probably trying to steal you away and take you to his so-called school."

"School?" I asked.

"Yes. A school for gifted children like us."

"You mean, there are other places like this one?"

"Yes, there are many of them." Her eyes narrowed, adding to the loathing expression on her face. "But they’re all privately owned and most of them are just run down buildings with poor teachers that don't care about you at all. The students who finish training there become slaves, and are forced to fly broken down airships for corrupt business men. At least here, at the Imperial Temple, we receive the best training in the world, so that we might serve the Emperor and fly his Imperial Ships. Heaven smiles on everyone that comes to this place, so you should consider yourself very lucky, but also you should be very careful and train as hard as you can."

"I understand," I said humbly.

"No, you don't understand." The shyo mah's voice exploded. She turned her fierce eyes to all of us, as if we’d done something to offend her.

Her partner placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "What she means is, there are terrible things that can happen if you are not careful. Representatives from other schools wander onto the temple grounds every day, spying on us, watching us, waiting for us to slip up. It’s important that we do well here, because if any one of us fails to meet our masters' expectations, we are sold away to one of those terrible schools. Our abilities are of great value to certain people and there is always a demand for us. Chances are, that man you met today will be watching you. Make sure you do not dishonor yourself by giving your master a reason to fail you. That‘s the only sure way to keep men like him away from you."

A somber silence fell upon my classmates as we walked back to the dormitory. I thought about the two senior students and about how passionate they were with their warnings. I wondered if such a thing once happened to a close friend of theirs or if they had seen their classmates become victims to the consequences of failure.

"Well I'm not going to be sold away, " I heard one of my classmates say. "I plan to be the first to graduate to the River Temple."

"If I don’t make it, " another one of the students said. "I'm just going to run away and go back to my family."

"That would just make things worse." Kidou's voice had little emotion, but I knew he meant well with what he was saying. "How can you go back to your family knowing the shame you'd bring them?"

"They would still love me, no matter what."

"Then you should return their love, by showing them that you‘re worthy enough to graduate this place."

Han rose his hand, diverting everyone‘s attention. "Kidou, I think that's enough. Nobu, you shouldn’t be thinking such things. None of us is going to fail. I’m sure we will all make our families proud."

At that moment, everyone's eyes turned upwards as the sky boats flew overhead, the lanterns hanging off their bows dotting the evening sky like fireflies as they made their way back to the River and Ocean Temples.

I looked down at my tamma again, rubbing my fingers across its smooth surface. That night, I decided to set aside all of my concerns and to only look down the path ahead of me.