Chapter 2

Wufei

Present time

People would say that Eranth was a country divided geographically into five parts. There were the Nacest Mountain, Delghi Sea, Sandric Desert, Shinigor Forest, and the Whering Swamp. The first four pieces of the country were relatively nice and peaceful places to live in, although the forest and mountain areas were lightly inhabited. The Whering Swap was the notorious place where people feared to go, and all the legends of dragons and demons were made because people feared the element of the unknown. Demons were said to reside in the swamp and angels were said to live in the Shinigor Forest, but even little children knew that they were only legends, and that both species had long died out about a hundred years ago.

The Nacest Mountains were known for their great height and sheer steepness, that even the bravest and best mountaineers found unnerving. The tallest peaks touched the heavens, and only the Dragon Clan could live their whole lives on the mountain without perishing. The Nacest people were highly disciplined and trained from a young age in the skill of the swords that they were so highly known for. Although the training started off at a young age, it was never cruel or barbaric, and the Nacest lived their lives mostly in peace, upholding a high sense of honor, and codes of conduct that were passed through generations.

The chosen warrior of the clan had the privilege to choose who would be his successor. Although it was never a real choice for the Dragon clan, for every chosen warrior in the clan had a small blue dragon mark on their left shoulder. It had the same look of a professionally done tattoo, but it was a birthmark that branded the warrior. When the chosen child turned the age of five, he was sent to live and train for ten years under the guidance and wisdom of the previous warrior. The Dragon Clan, along with the other three clans, had special powers, things like magic that were well know and practiced through the land, but also the special power of the clan that only came with the honor of being the chosen one. The Dragon Clan had extreme mental powers, and the chosen one had the most power. He could tap into your thoughts and hear what you were thinking. Combine that with the amazing skill of their sword wielding and you had a permissible foe.

The clan was called upon to use their powers when an assassin or spy was in the mist of royalty or any other potentially fatal situations. They were effective and that's what the king liked, for only a handful of people could block them out of their mind; these people being the other chosen and extremely powerful magicians or witches.

The warrior of the Dragon Clan was deathly ill, and soon he would be gone. The clan elders knew it and all the villagers as well. Before he died he wanted to see his replacement one last time, and to give him the clan's pendant. The pendant in itself was an oval shaped stone, clear with a slight tinge of blue, and in the center was the reflection of the dragon tattoo that would show up when tilted the right way in the light. The pendant was suspended on a thick and strong silver chain, evoked with magic so it would never snap or rust. The pendant itself was not that magnificent; it was the ability to control the perfect warrior that made it so special.

Echin looked at it one more time. Dying now in a time of war was something he hoped would not happen, and to die of an illness and not in battle was shameful. Yet this is how it was meant to be, and the pendant and the responsibilities now must fully rest on Chang Wufei. Chang, preferably called Wufei, was a reserved individual. Quiet, yet when pushed onto a subject he felt strong enough for, he would rip you apart. Wufei was tall compared to others his age; black hair pulled into a ponytail, and equally black eyes. He was a prodigy in the clan, and his skills far surpassed all the others; a great warrior he was going to become.

Wufei tiredly tried to teach the younger children in the village how to properly hold their swords. Although they were too young to start their training, these simple skills would help them later on, and begin a superior swordsman in the clan. He was obligated to watch over some of the children. He was gently interrupted when one of the lesser swordsmen came up to him and gently tapped him on the shoulder, drawing his attention away from his duty

"Your presence is needed immediately in the warrior's hut." The man said, with a worried look that caused him to rush off in the general direction, he thanked the man and quickly made his departure. Arriving at the hut, Wufei didn't have a good feeling. Something was going to happen, and the result would lead to something big; he could feel it.

Hesitantly, yet showing none on his face or in his body language, he stepped into his master's house and quietly sank down on the ground by his bed.

"I'm glad you came so fast." The strong voice of his master's reached his ear with strength and normal volume; it was what surprised him.

"I came as soon as I could sir. Ginshi said it was urgent."

"It is. As you know, I'm going to die soon…"

"Don't sa-" He was interrupted by his master's stern look, and a gentle bowing of his head.

"You and I both know my time is up, and with my departure comes a great responsibility that is now placed on your shoulders. You will now represent the clan, for our honor must be upheld, and with it, you must be strong. The war is raging, and I fear that the King is growing impatient for a solution. He is rash of mind and will not think of the consequences of his actions," he said, taking another breath as if it pained him.

"If he is planning to do what I think he is, come next full moon, you will be called to the palace, along with the three other warriors."

"B..But the only reason I can think of for the four warriors to be united is…" Wufei's face went white. "No… that cant be… it… he… would not..."

"But he would, and he is going to. He thinks that it's the only option left, and unfortunately the high council agrees with him."

"But no one could control him! What chances do we have? I don't mean to disrespect you, but four mere teenagers can not..."

"He is but a teenager himself, although years of being sealed on the wall, he has not changed, in appearance or emotionally."

"But that does not change the fact that he is uncontrollable. If there was a way to make him submit, then maybe I could see the posibli-"

"There is a way to make him submit, Wufei. To make him do your every command and whim, and he will be harmless."

"Why haven't I heard of such a thing? Are you losing your mind now that your deathly ill?"

"No, I'm not losing my mind. This pendant-" Echin held up the Dragon pendant for Wufei to see. "has the power to control the perfect warrior, along with the other four warrior's pendants."

"Why haven't I ever heard of this?"

"Do you know of what lengths some people would go to, to get their hands on the pendants so they can unlock and control him?"

"I understand now, master."

"Good. Here." He held up the pendent and placed it in Wufei's hands. "You are now the keeper of it, so remember, if you ever do unlock the warrior, remember to always wear it. If even one of you take it off, then the spell with be broken."

"I understand, master."

"Good, now leave. This old man needs his sleep."

"Yes, sir." Wufei quickly stood up and left the hut, promising to himself that tomorrow morning he would come and visit his master to get more details out of him. But in the early morning of the next day, one of the village women came to Wufei's hut to tell him that Echin had passed away a couple hours ago. With Echin's death meant the events leading up to the unlocking of the perfect soldier would begin.