Clouded Visions: prologue
My Father, Jakal sat me down and a grave look marred his usually happy face. I went to comfort him with my arms, but he looked away. I knew then that this was what he was talking about when he said that one day he would tell me of my true nature.
I'd always been able to lift things with my mind, that made me laugh when I was a little girl. I'd often have several small objects levitating just above the palms of my hands, a beaming smile on my little face. Father watched me, as I grew older I grew stronger, able to lift large heavy objects with just the flick of my hand. My Mother, Tiama eventually told me of her status. She was an Elder Goddess, of telepathy, telekinesis, and healing, and I had inherited those powers. Not as strong as hers though. Her sympathetic face as she held me told me she was telling me the truth, and not some silly lie to make me adore her even more. She had been cast out for falling in love with my Father, a mortal. That made me very sad.
Today, on my 18th birthday, my Father told me of his heritage. He was a member of the Lin Quei, an ancient clan originating from China. He was their General, chief in arms, assisting them when they were feuding with a Japanese clan called the Shirai Ryu. Now he took somewhat of a backseat, but he was still one of the highest regarded members of the clan. His family were murdered and he was taken in by one of the clan masters. His brutal training started at just three years old. I winced, I could not understand why it started so young. I had trained since I was seven, but nowhere near as rough as he did.
His face remained an unreadable mask, a stoic front to a brave soldier. I desperately wanted to hold him, let him know that his daughter adored him, no matter what had happened in his past. He told me when he was fifteen, he hunted down the killer of his family. He told me he felt no remorse, a merciless look in his eyes, that of an apex predator, and a smirk, that of a sadistic killer spread across his face as the killer's blood was on his hands. Father's sword was broken after that. I still loved him though, despite if anyone else had heard that deep confession, they would have snatched Mother and myself away from his blood stained hands. He told me Tiama met him at twenty, and did not judge him. She could only spend a few hours on Earthrealm before returning to her own realm, but that only made his longing for her grow. She soothed his angry heart, his silent cursings no longer pierced the air.
Everything Mother did, she did for him. She was cast aside, called a fool for being in love. But that never stopped her from cradling my Father's shaking form in her arms. He told her to leave him, not to sacrifice her perfect life for him. But it wasn't perfect, she suffered an endless agony. Forced to stay in one place by a supreme god, Raiden. She vowed she would never return, never want to see his vicious blue lightning eyes again. She stayed with my Father, and they were married a few years later. Then I was born.
Father stopped talking and brought out some robes, almost uniform like. They were black and purple, a crest adorned where my heart would lie underneath. "Kara, I would like you to start wearing these. You are Lin Quei, part of my clan. I will take you to their temple, where my fellow clan brothers will teach you our ways. Forgive me child, I did not tell you through fear that you would think your Mother and I were abandoning you. But your training here has come to an end, and know that when you are at the temple, that we shall always watch over you. But we cannot assist you any longer. You are a strong woman Kara, my little cub". I laughed a little at cub, but then a steely determination raced through my veins.
As I packed my things, Mother entered my room. "You shall be leaving tomorrow morning, at dawn. My dear, I shall miss you, I can only watch from afar your progress for Lord Raiden will not want nor allow me inside the temple walls. I love you, my sweet, precious cub". She began to cry and I held her tightly. Recently I noticed that I could hear her thoughts, so I was also telepathic. But she already knew that. Her thoughts made tears appear in my own eyes;
'What if I lose her? What if they are too strict? My cub, I cannot bear to hear of you getting hurt'.
"Mother? I'll be okay. I know how to deal with strict men, Father is one". She laughed at that. "I will try my hardest to make them see that I am worthy of being called a Lin Quei. I need to take a shower to be fresh for the journey tomorrow. I love you". I kissed her cheek and her tears disappeared. She used her mind to put my bag by the front door. "Take care sweetheart, and may the Elder God's light shine down upon you". She bowed, I returned the gesture and she left my room. I got undressed and got a shower, taking my time, easing my muscles after a hard days training. After living with only two people my entire life, tomorrow, I shall encounter many more, and in a new and potentially unsafe environment. I dried my hair, ate my dinner, made sure everything was packed and went to sleep.
The next morning, I was up with the sunrise. I joined my parents in the front garden. Despite Father being of high rank, we lived in a modest house. Two bedroom, both with on-suite bathrooms, a separate bathroom downstairs, a living room-come dining room and a kitchen. The front garden was a relatively big space, Father made sure of that, for training purposes. I lingered holding onto Mother, whilst Father's stoic face began to fade. He knew he may be sending me to my death, and Mother knew that too, but there would only be one way of finding that out.
After a few hours of walking, we arrived at the temple. Beautiful blue and silver painted pillars with a many step stone staircase in the middle. It led up to a pagoda. Father approached the guards and they lowered their spears. We walked up the stairs, and I felt uncomfortable. These new robes, they were silky soft, but so soft that it felt unusual against any of my bare skin. They smelt of my Mother, her tender hands washing them, and I felt my eyes well up. I rubbed my eyes and looked up to see a tall, broad shouldered man not far away from me. He was dressed in black and blue robes, his Lin Quei symbol on his belt. His hands and wrists gave off a freezing cold blast as he walked toward Father. They both bowed. "Grand Master Sub-Zero, this is my daughter Kara". I quickly noted the way they bowed, so I bowed to him the same way. "It is good to meet you Kara. I have heard many great things about you". Sub-Zero held out his hand and I shook it, slightly wincing due to it's coldness, but hiding it fairly well. Or so I thought. He chuckled a little and my nerves kicked in. "Grand Master? Did I do something wrong? I apologise sincerely". He took my hand again but this time it was warm, no ice blanketing it. "Not at all. Now Jakal, we have much to discuss. Kara, Smoke, my aid will be your trainer from now onward". He gestured behind him and walked down the stairs with my Father.
A strange fog filled the room, my senses perked up. Not fog, this is thinner, lighter, this is smoke. A man walked through the smoke, silent footsteps, the smoke masking them perfectly. I bit my lip, my nerves still present. "Er, Sir? Smoke...Master?" He laughed. "Smoke is fine". He laughed at my expression, it was one of marvel, tinged with interest. "Now that was an interesting way to enter a room. So you will train me?" He nodded and drew back, the smoke following his feet.
Before I knew it, I heard the words, 'follow me', and then I was alone in the room. I stood on top of the steps, confused only to see Smoke at the bottom of the stairs, awaiting my descent. I sighed, picked up my bag and slowly walked down.