Walking the Path Chosen
Chapter 3: The Kill
by deadkitty1
The boy slowly grows as he tries his hardest to catch up with the new recruits. Being with everyone who supports one another is bringing him back to feeling like a family again. Choi Young had doubts of fitting in but he easily finds out that one's pasts makes no difference to these warriors. It's the effort each person contributes to their own future that gives merit in the eyes of others. Each member bears their own personal struggles and deals with them differently, but they band together with one purpose in mind that has given them the will to fight back and it's to bring back their fallen country from the ruins of the invaders.
His teacher becomes a prominent figure in his life and everyone else's. He is everyone's father, leader, and friend. He goes far and beyond to help out the Red Moon Army in which the people in turn model his shining behavior. The young boy notices that although he's learning from their leader and many others, he's also teaching them in return. He didn't count on so many people eager to want to learn how to read or to even learn how to fish. Skills he thought he possessed had no gain are now helping his friends better themselves and more.
He's also regains control and wisdom over his new power. Out of the handful of people in the Crescent Army, he's one of the few that possess an inner power that can materialize out of his body. The power links with one's emotions and the strategy for it is not to bottle it up but rather focus on the feeling and purpose, to concentrate the energy in one spot then release. He's seen the dangers of wild energy gone loose first hand after remembering the events in the kidnapping. It's better to gain a hold over it than to let it control him.
The meeting with his aunt might not be the last one he'll see. He has a feeling he'll encounter her later on somehow. It's comforting to know she would still look out for him even from the confines of the palace. Her strength and tenacity for information will always pinpoint his location. She probably gets updates on his training at the Crescent Moon camp even if it seems like it's a highly guarded place from the common folk. He remembers seeing her train herself with a sword when he was just a boy. Crossing her is like crossing his father except she might actually cut his head off.
As he gathers skills upon each lesson on combat, weaponry, and strategy, he also volunteers to help out at the Suribang who he finds out later were the middlemen in charge of his ransom. Up to a certain point in his training, there's only so much he can learn about fighting when the Goryeo people are much more interesting. There's much to see through the citizens and the old politicians running around with their tongues hanging out of their mouths. The gossip grape vine provides great stories on whereabouts of Yuan soldiers, Japanese encampments, and their own Goryeo warriors. He even searches out bumbling thieves and corrupt lords who take advantage of the citizens. His minor heroic deeds gain the attention of a select few who will always be in his debt. Soon the people not only know him by face but by his name and they came to love him as they sing the name of the Red Moon Crescent Army in praise.
As the days creep pass to a year, there's only so much training one can achieve until its tested out on the battlefield. Young's time has finally come and only the butterflies in his stomach can relate to the anxious feeling burning inside of him. He can barely control the power of spark tingling through his fingers waiting to be released as the teacher announces the strategy for the mission. As each minute passes and he tries listening to the list of steps named one by one in the command, the heat in his body increases. He waits with impatient feet ready to run at a moment's notice the minute his name gets called.
"Choi Young!" the admiral announces.
"Yes, teacher!" he answers loudly, eyes filled with determination.
"You will be on lookout with Chang," the admiral commands.
Young hesitates a second then answers," Yes, teacher."
As the orders come in, the spirit in him deflates. The lookout stays back in the safe zone. There's no action in that place at all! He wants to be in the front defending with the rest of the group. After so many practices with the recruits and the experienced fighters, he's proven he has the ability to fight and win. Does the teacher have no faith in his skills? Was he unfit to be fighting with them?
"Oh! What's with the face? You upset that you're not in the front lines?"
Young pushes Chang off his shoulders to stomp out in a huff. He trails right after him with a smile still plastered on his face trying to talk to the stubborn recruit once more.
"Ah! I was right? I was, wasn't I? Eh?" Chang teases.
The sullen rookie stops so abruptly that Chang crashes his face full force on his back. Even though it neither fazes him, Chang moans in pain at the ruined image of his perfect nose. Young roughly takes his friend by the cuffs of his shirt, almost pulling him up from the ground with his own brute force.
"Why?! Why am I chosen for the lookout? Why am I not in the front? Why?!" he shouts in frustration, spitting saliva on Chang's pretty face. His friend tries his best to soothe his weary young friend. Unfortunately, his nervous laughter did little to solve Young's questions. Losing his enthusiasm, he sulks away, wondering what he did wrong to deserve such a miserable downgraded position for his first mission as a proper warrior. He pictured glory and honor, a great bloody battle, maybe even a stab wound or two but not this.
"Now cheer up! It's still your first mission out with us and I'm here by your side! What's so bad about that?" he cheers while awaiting a response from his pouting friend. When he only slips him a dejected sigh as an answer, Chang changes his optimistic tone and advises him with a hard face. "Okay, look. We don't know what Teacher has in mind but if he assigned you as a lookout, it's for the good of the group. Remember, Young-ah, you're still a recruit. It's not bad to start at the bottom and work your way up. Not everyone can get everything in one go. You gotta earn it."
The sulking recruit perks at his words and nods in response.
"I got to earn it," he repeats, sounding the mantra in his head.
It's a test. He is just a recruit. He needs to earn his spot to claim it. It's only the beginning and there are bounds of other missions to come along where he'll be able to help them. If he does great on the first one and blazes through the second and third missions, soon he'll be jumping up to the front lines in no time fighting the enemy. It's the chance he didn't see coming and the chance he will take.
The two run ahead to clear the area and inform their troops of what they scout. Night is perfect for their attacks. It not only gives them an advantage but hides their faces from their enemies which makes the red crescent insignia all the more frightening in the light of the moon. Chang's movements slide quick through the rocky hills while it takes the rookie a step and a half slower to get into the swing of things. A spot opens up and the two perch themselves inconspicuously against the foliage. Chang's eyes twinkle bright against the light of the night as he flashes a sly smile back at his friend. Young exchanges it knowing full well what he's doing. In a few minutes, Chang starts giving out information about the enemy, from their positions to the ones picking their noses. His inner power of sight in the dark has always given the Crescent Army the upper advantage towards sneak attacks.
"Teacher's right. There's a group of at least 30 to 40 people ahead down there. The posts are facing the woods. They'll never expect us coming in from the fields. It's perfect!" Chang reports with zeal, "Ah! Two are going on a bathroom break. Tell them to get ready."
Young sounds a quiet signal that soon finds its way to the right person. The two discernible men suddenly become replaced by a pair of Red Moon warriors as the two infiltrate the camp. Only time will tell when the action begins. Chang eagerly awaits the outcome, bouncing eyes from one enemy to another while the rookie slums to the side of a tree in the back with an irate attitude. He knows his power and skills weren't being used to the fullest potential. Just waiting for everything to fall through without contributing makes him feel useless and incompetent.
"Young-ah! If only you can see this. We have them surrounded! They're running away like rats! Woah! Ho Min got two men at the same time! They did not see that coming and Teacher is clearing them out with that sword like nothing! It's crazy I tell you! I mean they-"
Chang groans and tumbles on the ground almost falling off the cliff of the hill if he didn't grab the side on impulse. An enemy shadows above him ready to cut his hold with a dagger. It only takes a second. Within that second, it stills for the young recruit. Young, with his sword out, charges into the assailant, stabbing him through. The man drops down, spitting blood and saliva over the grass. Just as the fight seemed over, the stabbed man rises for a second strike and Young reacts instantly as he slashes him right on the neck ending his life. Even as the danger lies dead on his feet, his breathing keeps staggering with each painful inhale as his eyes refuse to tear itself away from the bleeding corpse.
A man. A young man with a missing tooth. He came in so quietly without notice. A skilled man. A dead man.
"Hey. Hey! Get a hold of yourself! Come on. We gotta check to make sure no one came with him," Chang orders.
The warrior snaps out of his trance and gets right to work. Silently, they scour the area well once more, careful not to miss a thing. Not one clue is found of how or why the enemy ended up in the hills in the first place, but Chang couldn't thank his stars enough that his friend has once again come to his rescue.
As the mission ends, Chang glorifies Young's noble deed over a round of drinks most joyously consumed by the group. The joy becomes contagious as the smiles force him to join in too.
"You should've seen the little guy! There was no hesitation. He was a natural! He saw the enemy and went for it. Stakes him right here on the side like a professional!" Chang brags as he reenacts the scene with plenty of moans for added effect. "And this man was huge! A tough muscly one! Young-ah needed to take it to him again or he would be the one keeled over in that forest right now!"
A round of laughter resounds as Chang's savior roughly pokes him on the side of the head.
"I would be what? Dead? What's that you're saying?" Young said with irritation.
"Aiya! I meant unless I was there, you would have been dead. Honestly, if you didn't spot that man trying to attack you a second time, I would have your back! Honestly. Really! Come on, it's true!" Chang throughly explains but even the audience remains unconvinced.
Before Young can give another rebuttal, the rest of the gang steps up for him. They throw a couple of jeers while teasing Chang about his lack of timing. Even Mae Hee joins in on the celebration knowing that the recruit's victory is a sign of the many more yet to come.
The celebration cuts short with the command of the captains. The party has worn down everyone and the hype of victory makes for a great night's rest with the exception of one person. With the hours passing by and the growing hum of the snores perpetrating the tents, the savior of the night clings tightly to the hem of the blanket unable to keep himself still.
The second he shuts his eyes, the image of the dead man's corpse appears vividly as if the man is there in his room right now. The man's eyes once filled with anger and fear cannot be erased from the warrior's memory. His hand remembers the feel of the sword plunging through flesh as well as the sound it makes as it tears the skin with blood dripping continuously through like a slow replay. In his mind, he didn't kill the man once but again and again and again. The gruesome image a permanent fixture and one he's sure he cannot run away from.
Traumatized, he grabs his sword and drapes a blanket around his shoulders as he exits the tent. He find a spot on the field to stand, trying to sort out the feelings and thoughts of his first kill. Although being praised by his friends was rewarding, he failed to realize the consequences of taking a life, a human life. To kill by the sword is to live by its will.
He gazes solemnly at the weapon against the moonlight. The trace of blood is gone. It remains a stark illusion of the sword's purpose. Meanwhile his hand will forever be marked with blood. He can try to wash it off but it will remain as a reminder of the life he took and the future lives he's yet to end. The daunting task weighs hard on him. He can't fathom how everyone manages to deal with this feeling of dread, guilt, and grief for an enemy. An enemy he hates but can't help think about. The man's worth. What was his place in the world? It feels wrong to take it away so abruptly just with a swing from his sword. Isn't it wrong? Who is he to have command over someone's life? Killing a stranger has now made him an owner of the man's soul who has marked him as something other than human. Almost like an animal.
"Young-ah. Are you okay?"
The boy looks up and immediately bows his head at the appearance of his teacher. A little flustered at being caught off-guard, he replies, "I'm alright, teacher. I just wanted to get some air. "
The bearded man can spot the lie and gets right to the point.
"I would think it would be a little strange getting air in the middle of the night at such a late hour unless one has a lot on their mind."
"But teacher, you're out on this hour too!" Young bluntly states then promptly recognizes his disrespect as he takes it back, "Uh! Please disregard what I spoke! I spoke out of turn!"
The wise man only sighs as he turns around to face his student. "No. You are right. I do have a lot on my mind."
The curious student perks up in surprise at his master's honest response and without wasting a beat, he asks, "About what, if I may ask?"
"About you."
Choi Young watches in amazement, honored to be in his thoughts even if they are worried ones. He waits in anticipation for his master's explanation but the man steers it away to another subject. Taking out his sword, he gently places it on the capable hands of the warrior.
"Do you know how I got this sword?"
Trying his hardest to simmer his overwhelming excitement at holding the legendary sword, he concentrates on giving a proper answer. " The precious sword. A sword in which blood never stains and shines in the moonlight at a certain angle. Like this!"
Young tilts the sword until the light illuminates the steal in a strange glow. He looks proudly back at his teacher for achieving his feat who smirks at his kid-like gesture. Coughing out in embarrassment, the warrior steals a glance at the man as he shyly asks, "This sword is given by a ghost. Is that correct?"
The tired man doesn't answer right away nor does the student prod him further. His teacher stares out into the sea of grass reminiscing the past as it unfolds in front of him. He clears his throat and narrates grimly.
"I fought in battles way before this sword ever came into my life, but even before then, this sword was already becoming a trophy in the eyes of men. I wasn't any different. I did what most do. Searched for it until I came upon the owner. I fought him... that man who owned the sword. I won. Soon the sword fulfilled what I thought it would do. Win my battles, slay my enemies, protect my men. My victories were indeed sweeter until night falls and I see him, that man who owned the sword, a ghost who never leaves me alone. It reminds me of what I did. We all have our ghosts, young one. We may not address them, but they're there. I didn't want you to face them so soon but remember we're fighting for a purpose and so are they. It's that purpose that gives us our own will to keep going. So I'm here to ask, what is your purpose."
Young meets the strong gaze of his teacher as he gathers his words in a promise.
"To protect my family. To protect my friends."
The man gives him a pat on a the shoulder, acknowledging his words.
The boy still looks upon his master filled with worry as he encloses his thoughts too.
"But in fulfilling my purpose by slaying one man after another, how do I stay as I am?"
The strong man breaks eye contact and sighs to the wind.
"You will never be the same man the minute you take a life. You just try to live through it by holding the people close to you that you have protected. Remember your father's words and the words of the people close to you. They will help you return to who you are when you feel like you are losing yourself."
The young warrior follows his master's line of sight as he absorbs his words. Somehow it isn't as cold as before and the blanket around him slips off his shoulders. He seems to have found peace in his teacher's advice and although the young one still has worries, he would rather find a way through them on his own. Just knowing he isn't alone is enough to help him along this journey. As his teacher turns to leave, Young couldn't help calling out to him.
"Teacher! What about your purpose?!"
The wise leader smiles as he gives his answer, "To give you kids a future worth looking forward to."