Rain slid off of the curved roof of the training building, making puddles on the ground outside. Seiho sat on the deck, which surrounded the entire building. She was sheltered from the storm, but was far from calm.

Tomorrow, I'll be carrying out what my lifetime of training has been leading toward. What if it isn't enough? What if I don't compare to the others who share my duty? She was worried about practically everything. She had spent her whole life learning and practicing the art of healing, to protect the soon-to be Princess on a journey.

She decided that some tea would calm her down, and headed inside. The building had four rooms, and a courtyard in the center. It had paper screen walls and a wooden frame and roof, and was surrounded by forest.

One of the rooms was a kitchen, which doubled as a parlor. It had one small table with two pillows on the floor, a stove, and a shelf with pots and other cooking utensils. Seiho retrieved a kettle and took it to the courtyard. There was a water-catching basin by the deck, and she filled the kettle with water from it.

Once it was full, Seiho took it back to the kitchen and set it on the stove. She lit the wood inside it with a flint, and sat at the table while she waited for the water to boil.

"Making tea? I'd like some."

Seiho was startled by a voice coming from the screen door. She turned around and saw Jinsa, her trainer. She was smiling and leaning against the door frame.

Seiho hurriedly stood and bowed. "Master Jinsa. Of course, you may have some tea." She rose from her bow. "It still has to boil, though."

Jinsa sat down across from Seiho. "That's alright. I'll wait."

Seiho sat down again. "Okay." There was a moment of silence, and then she asked, "Where were you yesterday? I didn't see you at all."

"I was in the city. I spoke with the empress and emperor. They told me that their daughter is ready for the journey, and have no doubt that she will come home with the Crown Jewel. I told them that you are ready as well, and they were satisfied with that." Jinsa smoothed down her silk tunic, which was decorated with flower patterns.

Seiho looked down. She was wearing a plain white cotton tunic. "But am I really ready? I know I've been training my whole life, but... I'm not as good as you yet. Your spells are quicker and more effective, and you still know more about medicine than I do..."

"Well, I've been training for 25 years. You've only been training for fifteen," Jinsa said gently. "I've also had more experience outside of the training grounds, so I know more variety."

Seiho fiddled with the hem of her tunic anxiously. "I suppose that's true."

The kettle whistled. Seiho got up and put some tea leaves into two cups, and filled each with the hot water. She handed one to Jinsa and kept the other for herself.

They drank their tea in silence, which was broken only by the sound of the storm outside.

After they finished their tea, Jinsa left. Seiho washed the cups in the basin in the courtyard, and placed them back in their place. The drink had soothed her mind, if only a bit, and she wasn't as worried about meeting the empress' and emperor's daughter the next day.

Seiho returned to the deck and watched the storm. It rocked the trees, and made puddles in the forest. The edges of the deck were wet from the slanted rain, even though the whole structure was under the roof.

It was rather beautiful, the rain. It was nice to see the landscape changed, since Seiho saw pretty much the same thing every day. She rarely left the training grounds, and when she did, it was for her education. She had been to several different areas of the world to learn different healing and medicinal techniques, but the majority of her time was spent within the same property.

Jinsa was probably only there around half the time, excluding nights, since she traveled around and had a normal life otherwise. She lived in a different area, so Seiho was always alone at night. She was used to the solitude.

Everything is going to change. I'll suddenly be a part of a group, and I'll have friends. I'll be using my abilities instead of just practicing them. It won't ever be silent. She would miss the silence. Silence was kind entity, it allowed the mind to focus or to spread. Seiho meditated every day. She probably would not have that opportunity on the journey.

This will be my last day here. Seiho took in her surroundings. She would miss all of it. Sometimes she hated the place, keeping her trapped, not allowing her to live her life the way she wanted to, but it was a a wonderful place. It supplied everything she needed, and made her feel safe. She had a master and friend, and it was always peaceful. That peace would be gone.

Seiho sat down to meditate.

                               ~*~

Some time later, she opened her eyes. The storm had passed, leaving fallen branches and a crisp smell in its wake.

Night was beginning to fall. Seiho knew that Jinsa would be leaving soon, if she hadn't left already.

Seiho's eyes widened. Jinsa. This would likely be the last time they saw each other. "Master Jinsa!" Seiho called, fearing that she was gone. "Master Jinsa!"

A voice sounded from the courtyard. "What?"

Seiho sighed with relief. She headed to the courtyard, where Jinsa sat. She had likely been meditating, as well.

"Oh, I thought you left, Master. I realized that... we might not see each other again, after today."

Jinsa nodded. "That is true." She stood and opened her arms.

Seiho walked into them and gave her trainer and fierce hug. "I'm going to miss you."

Jinsa stroked her hair. "I'll miss you, too."

They stood like that for a long time. Seiho felt like there was so much to say, but couldn't think of a single thing. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she began to sob.

Jinsa let her cry into her silk tunic, and just kept stroking her hair. After a minute, she started crying, too. The pair sank to the ground, holding each other tightly. Jinsa's long pink hair was tickling Seiho's face, but she didn't pay attention to it.

After a while, Seiho felt that she had cried everything out. She sat back from Jinsa and wiped her eyes. "It's not fair. You're the only person I'm allowed to get close to, and when it's time for the Crown Jewel ritual, we're yanked apart."

Jinsa stood, then helped Seiho up. "I know it's not fair." She sighed. "But we have no say. Every other master and trainee go through the same thing, and it's been this way for centuries. It's not changing any time soon, either."

"Speaking of other trainees, I'll be meeting the other ones tomorrow. You've met them, but you can't tell me anything about them."

Jinsa smiled wanly. "Yes, it's forbidden. But I think you'll be able to get along."

"I hope so."

Jinsa brushed down her tunic, even though there was no dirt on it. "I've left you instructions for tomorrow in your room. Read them in the morning."

"I will."

Jinsa looked around. "I think I'll leave now. It's getting late."

Seiho nodded. "Thanks. For everything. I'm really going to miss you."

Jinsa caressed Seiho's face. "Thank you too, for being cooperative. And everything else. Maybe we'll meet again."

"I hope so."

The pair walked to the screen that opened to the road that lead out of the training grounds. Jinsa gave Seiho one last hug, then left. Seiho watched as her figure got smaller until Jinsa turned and disappeared. She closed the screen and headed to her room. She saw the scroll with the next day's instructions, but ignored it and instead slid into her sleeping mat.

Sleep did not want to come. Seiho battled with her consciousness until it finally gave in and she fell into a fitful sleep.

                                ~*~

The next morning, Seiho woke up feeling better. She crawled out from under her blanket and rolled up the mat. She stored both away in the cupboard, then picked up the scroll with the instructions.

The first step was to put away the mat. Done already. The next was to put on the ceremonial robe that was in the training room. Seiho headed there and dressed. As the instructions said, she stored her other tunic with the mat and blanket.

The ceremonial robe was just a white cotton tunic with a gold hem. The hem was the only thing different from every other tunic Seiho had.

The last step was to head out to the end of the path until she reached the main road. She would then wait until a carriage picked her up to take her to the imperial palace

Seiho left the training grounds, giving a last glance at it. She was definitely going to miss it, and she would likely never get over leaving Jinsa. However, a new journey awaited.