You are Exalted!

Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story.

Arc 1: Exaltation.

Chapter 1.6: Training and troubles.

"Cardiac rhythm is good. Speed is still 18 mph... Incredible..."

Professor Sakura Mayuta was a biologist specialized in Physiology and came from the rare scientists that stayed with the Japanese Self-Defence Force instead of going for the more lucrative civilian world. She was young, idealist and something of a maverick: Not a good blend in the traditional and elitist Japan, the fact that she was also a woman compounded the problem.

I was being tested in the JSDF Anti-Aircraft Training facility of Okinawa. Not many equipment or even state-of-art ones, but the team under Mayuta-sensei knew how to improvise and used whatever was available.

I was running on a training mill with many various captors stuck to my body and an apparatus measuring my respiratory exchanges. The team had improvised with IR lamps and an ingenious little transparent shack with dry ice and ventilators around me to simulate hot and cold environments.

While Nippontai, the Japanese Super-Hero Team followed somewhat the Protectorate guidelines regarding rules, training and equipment, I was a ward of the state and officially under the command of the JSDF. Which was a nice paper fiction regarding an under-age girl. There was a sort of cold war in the Japanese government between the Ultra-nationalists, the Moderates and the Traditionalists. This absence of a central decision concerning me and the fact that I was a volunteer had enable the JSDF to snatch me.

In my opinion, the Ultra-nationalists were complete idiots. They wanted a politic of isolation of the nation, a rather extreme one with a concentration of all national resources to "guide back Japan to its rightful place in the world"... Ha! They wanted to stop the drain of brains and bodies to other nations and they wanted to prevent any foreigner on their land. I noted that it didn't concern the money, since they always protested that the international help wasn't enough. Many radical and extremist groups followed their ideals and violence exploded too many times.

I would called the Traditionalists a band of utter morons. They seemed to think and even expressed that Japan needed only time and a few international resources to come back stronger than before. They "counted on the willpower of the Japanese people to do their utmost duty for the nation..." Yeah, sure, and I had also nice piece of land in the Sahara just for you. They didn't seem to acknowledge that Japan was on a descendant spiral with less and less resources that prompted people to go elsewhere and that reduced the available resources and so on and so for.

The Moderates, with the current Prime Minister were, well... moderate. They tried to accommodate everyone, and unfortunately the other two factions. They wanted to do something, anything really, but couldn't gather enough support from either the population or another faction. Which was too bad because most of the people were moderate in sentiment, but their morale had been broken by the sinking of Kyushu and the faction didn't have the money and/or the will to broke through the general apathy.

The JSDF was... Well they didn't know exactly what to do with me now that they had me. Yeah, that's a laugh. One must understand that they had many problems. As its name indicated, the JSDF is geared towards self-defence. They weren't the aggressor but the protector. Unfortunately, that hamstrung them rather severely. Unlike other armies in the world, their combat doctrine didn't have what they CAN'T do but what they CAN do. For any situations they had to follow a precise guideline and that hampered their efficiency. The trauma of WWII had engendered a strong pacifist sentiment and a visceral abhorrence of the Nuclear Weapon. Thus the total absence of any offensive systems and a lack of projection of forces. Finally, they were dependant on the USA for many of critical key systems, not including intelligence gathering and military research.

The advantage for me was that the Japanese Prime Minister was the commander-in-chief of the SDF and I was already under his responsibility as a ward of the state. Through many intermediaries and subordinates of course. The SDF was an all-volunteer organization: I was a volunteer. I was a woman: They opened combat positions to women since 1992. They had to compete for qualified personnel with better-paying industries: That changed following the Brain Drain to other countries. They used to have a lower battle experience than many western armies: They were gaining plenty of it, fighting for their nation on its very ground.

Finally, since the almost complete eradication of Capes by Leviathan and the going to greener pastures attitude of most newly triggered Capes, the JSDF had somewhat regained the favour of the public as their defenders and I was a new Cape, easily malleable because of my age into a figurehead or beacon. And Rules of Engagement for Capes weren't in any of their current doctrines.

That said, they were a little haphazard in their training of me.

Mayuta-sensei smiled. "All right, Hakkõ-san. That's it for now. Remarkable that it was without the bleeding effect of your aura when you use your Brute classification. I can see the correlation between your sun-based theme and what you can do so far. Still for a trigger event during a sun eclipse... Next is the strength testing and then the dexterity one." I slowed down and waited for the staff to remove their equipment from me. I thanked an assistant with a towel and a water bottle and went to the area next to the mill.

As I said, it was a simple series of test: Various weights for me to lift under the eyes of cameras and then some juggling, rapid manipulation of small items like cards and games geared towards coordination. Easy as pie. The physical tests were nothing to be worried about, it was the skills training that was the real challenge and interest for me.

Gunso (sergeant) Toshiro Kamazaki was a grumpy man in his early fifties and appeared only thirty. He was almost the stereotype of the tough-as-nails Army Sergeant who terrorized his troops and trying to make them "real men even if I have to kill you for that..!" That said, he was also a family man and it had been a little awkward at first when he confronted my ten years old self.

Most of his methods were based on intense physical training, but I was already out of bounds even when compared to the standards of elite commandos. I could lift 225 kg easily, hold my breath for 150 seconds at least, exercise heavily for 10 hours at minimum, run up to 25 mph top and jump 5 meters up without running. So he went with the other sides of military training: Equipment and specialities.

Training with the unarmed combat system of Toshu Kabuto, a simplified and direct style: "Good, Hakkõ-san... Now help me down from the fence and less enthusiast next time. Thanks the Kami for padding."

"I did warn you, Gunso."

Disaster management: "No Hakkõ-san, you do not abandon the entire Diet by pretending a communication blackout in order to save the civilian neighbourhood... Even if I acknowledge they're all a bunch of useless ass..."

"Gunso! Remember my young virgin ears!"

Firearms use and tactics after I reminded them that 7 to 12 years old children could learn a basic civilian course in the USA: "Nice grouping with the handgun, Hakkõ-san. But that was the target for the next course on rifles, you should have used the nearer one. Oh, and also use only one handgun at a time, we're not filming the next Jon Woo."

"Oops... Sorry, Gunso. At least I remembered all the safety lessons."

Tactical and emergency medical uses: "How the he... heck did you know he wasn't simulating..." I pointed to the blazing mark on my forehead. "Right, right, boosted skills... And you corporal, don't think I won't ask why you came to work ill..."

"Say Gunso? Do you think I could try my hand at some impromptu field-surgery, we have a complete functional kit."

"What do you mean? You want to practice field-surgery..? Corporal, come back! She was joking! I hope..."

Active response in case of guerilla and killer on location: "Yes, I know I did say there was nothing important behind the wall. That's not a good reason to pass the terrorist THROUGH the wall: We're trying to minimize collateral damage, NOT make more, Hakkõ-san. The poor dummy will never be the same... Why are you so pale soldier?"

"Well, he DID volunteer to play the killer in the next scenario, Gunso."

Combativeness and melee weapons: "No Hakkõ-san, a 100 kg container doesn't make a proper weapon, especially as a thrown projectile... Even if I think it makes a good deterrent, it's better to use it as cover." I sighed and put down my other weapon, smiling at the dummy under my "little" projectile. "And no, you can't use a bench like a staff, you're not Jackie Chan. And next time, go for finesse and not for the nuts, that's the second dummy you demolish..." I giggled, retrieved two telescopic combat sticks, turned to my future sparring partner and frowned as he was trying to hide behind the scowling sergeant. "Hum, what do you think you're doing soldier?"

S.E.R.E. with an emphasis on evasion, camouflage, navigation, field medical, survival and a little sniper training: "And four "laser tag" hits... Damn, she managed to hit all four targets despite having the whole squadron searching for her on a limited terrain they know and that she light like a flare mine when she goes boosted... They never going to live it down. All right! Hakkõ-san, you win! you can show yours..." I discretely deactivated the camouflage of my amulet and get up. "Holy..?! How did you manage to sneak up to FOUR meters in front of me..!?" One of the soldiers searching for me came to whisper something to sergeant Kamazaki which looked at him flatly. He made a certain bet before the beginning of this exercise. "...No soldier, I don't have any ketchup to go with your cap."

Vehicle handling and CQB: "Very good, Hakkõ-san. I wasn't too sure about your height, but you did it. However, we don't use other vehicles as jumping platforms and we don't rip off the conductor's door to take his place... Even if it was faster."

"Right! Sorry Gunso, I forgot myself during the action. By the way, do you think I could have a few lessons concerning your helicopters?"

"What..? Helicopters..?! I don't think learning to fly would be..." He frowned at a panicked-looking soldier exiting the vehicle I just used. "Soldier, I said to stay in the vehicle until the end of the exercise...You're looking a little green..." The soldier actually knelt and garbled something to Kamazaki. "...No, she's not going to learn to fly! Parachuting maybe..." Wailing as if Hell was pursuing him, the soldier then began to run away. "SOLDIER!"

Radio and sensors operations: "Perfect, Hakkõ-san. Morse code, procedures, basic EW,... You're qualified for the standard electronic equipment of the JSDF and 80% of the Americans' one. Ha, one lesson without..."

"By the way, Gunso. It would be prudent to call maintenance, I had to make a few repairs on the left display."

"What do you mean you had to repair the left display..?" He seemed a little alarmed.

"Yes Gunso, it was nothing. One or two faulty calibrations on the main radar dish that induced a 1.2% error on distance."

He blinked. "Faulty calibrations on the radar..? How did you even know..?" He shook his head considering the fierce Anima Banner around me and the sun-bleached chair I was using. "Yeah, of course boosted skills and the power of the sun... I need a vacation..." The soldier that try to run away and was currently punished by being a designed volunteer to all my activities whispered something in his ear. "...No soldier, not you... What..? Going back to the civilian sector..?"

I was smiling and laughing with them at the end of those training sessions. A Solar excelled in the use of her skills. It was an intoxicating feeling to have that power coursing through my veins, to reach and surpass the human limit, to will yourself to succeed and to recover smoothly from failure. The flows of Essence within my being were becoming more and more clear to me. There was also the fact that in 5 hours a week, I was learning a full month of intensive training.

It was also with the men and women of the JSDF that I discovered my full Anima Banner. Until now I never really found it as I limited myself in the expense of my peripheral Essence. It stunned them, awed them but they also found it very appropriate. It also earned me a nickname unfortunately: "Gao-Hime-chan" wasn't really all that glorious. I wasn't a mascot, damn it..! At least, now I fully understood what Vista of the Brockton Bay Wards felt in regard to her public image... Which meant that clandestine photos of me would circulate soon and I didn't want to think about the future shipping and the "ecchi" drawings.

I sip the soothing Olong tea that Verdant Wind served us. The past event with the Elemental Water Dragon Seiryu and the consequences of my actions were... very serious.

Verdant sighed as she put down her cup. "You're not asking..."

"I'm not sure what to ask." I pinched my nose. "I guessed there was a good reason for the presence of Lord Seiryu. I know I made an error when I mentioned the Existence-Ruling Mandate. I should have stayed with the use of the Ancient Pacts between Spirits and Exalts: It would have perfectly ensured we stayed in good terms without resorting to weapons of mass destruction. I didn't have to trick Seiryu into an Oath concerning his little test: He was honourable and my little stunt trampled his personal honour... Damn it! I really fuck things..."

Verdant Wind winced. "Well... It's not entirely your fault... I mean... All right, let's take this from the beginning although I will focus only on the spiritual side and let the others planes of Existence for another time." She coughed discretely. "Hum... Seiryu-sama took the place of the chief trickster spirit of the Ryukyu Islands. It was his right to do so because he is one of the 5 leaders of the Five-Fold Spirit Court of Asia. That give him full authority on any Terrestrial Gods in Asia."

She nodded to herself. "The Five-Fold Court and ALL the equivalent courts on the Spiritual Plane originated with the various Pantheons created by Humanity. We spirits, existed since the very conception of Existence. Existence was composed of Essence and thus was everything and has a form of consciousness of itself. At first we were simply a part of it. We didn't exist in a conscious way and all the functions we assumed were automatic, natural, instinctual and ordered in synch with the overall consciousness of Existence. We certainly didn't have our actual forms, couldn't even conceive to not did what we did and we manifested on the Material Plane only as natural phenomena coming on a metaphysical point from under and beyond it."

She paused for a moment. "Then Humanity began his ascendency from beasts. They were different from everything because there was a... Spark in them, another consciousness like Existence and yet different that didn't direct them but inspired them. Instinct was present, but reason grew and gradually dominated. From this spark in them came the values of Compassion, Conviction, Temperance and Valour and their freedom to be able to choose. It combined with the Will behind Existence and with it they generated Faith: The capacity to utterly believe in something, anything and to give power to that thing."

She shook her head. "It is unknown, even for us, if the design was already present or came spontaneously into existence, but the concept of Fate then simply also was present. The Netherworld and Oblivion came into being or perhaps were revealed with the first death of a sentient being. It was then that Humanity began to name and classify us as it witnessed the natural phenomena around them. Faith could affect and change us, it was giving form, power and sentience to the spirits: We could now interact with Humanity."

She bitterly smiled. "They had and still have a rather binary view on all things: Yin and Yang, negative and positive and all their infinite combinations. Under their faith, spirits were separated in two great categories: Terrestrial Gods responsible for the material aspects of Existence and the Celestial Gods that tend to the abstract concepts. Initially we all lived in Harmony, because Humanity and us that were influenced by faith seek stability, order and understanding."

She leaned to me. "We then begin to teach about the only thing that we always instinctively knew: Essence. Humanity grew spiritually and reached Enlightenment, enabling them to wield Essence in the forms of Sorcery and Supernatural Martial Arts. Their brightest also explored the power of their own minds and developed Psionic, imitating our own innate powers. Although, it never exceeded past small effects and never accounted for something significant." A tear shone in her eye. "It was a golden age, the civilisations you know under the current names of Mu and Atlantis rose during this period."

She bit her lower lip. "But Mankind was never a coherent group. War is a part of its existence and war brings necessity which brings invention. Their intellect began to expand to the detriment of their spirituality. Humanity's Intellect engendered or revealed 5 elements of their own. They were dependant on the 5 original elements and yet different. From Wood, Air, Water, Fire and Earth came Oil, Crystal, Steam, Lightning and Metal. And then... Everything changed."

She took the time to sip anew her now cold tea and grimaced. "Understand that while we existed before Humanity, we became dependant on them to give us clear goals and a conscious reason to be... well us. We didn't want to return to our mindless state. When Humanity turned to Reason and created wonders of their own, they gradually shifted their faith away from us. Power and identity fled us and some gods even begun to fade away into raw Essence. Unfortunately, Existence is dynamic Balance. When Humanity forget us, they lost also what we brought them. Essence usage became a myth then a legend. Humanity couldn't even progress on the elements born from itself and focused on the material aspect of the world, the only constant they have without searching for it."

She laughed weakly. "The following schism was only the cherry on the top. Both God factions began to quarrel and accused the other to be responsible for the situation although both agreed on Humanity's failing. The Terrestrial Gods blamed their counterparts for inspiring Humanity to seek out knowledge. The Celestial Gods blamed us for providing the very natural phenomena that push Humanity into asking and searching why everything material was. We were already divided into factions of our own, based also on Humanity faith into the Pantheons they created. When one nation conquered another, they pushed their own belief system on the invaded."

She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. "What I am going to say is our side of the story. So far I stated only facts as I know as truths. The Celestial Gods retired themselves from the Material Plane, trusting that the separation should allow them to continue their existence even if they had only themselves, the concepts they represent and a few sporadic believers to generate faith. The Terrestrial Gods, angered by what they call abandonment and cowardice closed themselves from Humanity. Their ironically own faith in Humanity was shattered and they decided to let things go and turned away from Humanity liked they did to them. The advantage we have is that we still received a trickle of Faith because as long as natural phenomena exist in the eyes of Mankind, we will exist."

"I... see... I think..?" I was deeply troubled. That explained a few things and reinforced the monumental stupidity I did with Seiryu. And those 5 new elements... My stomach knotted on itself: I could almost taste the names of the two primordial forces behind Existence and Humanity and the balance they created... "What do you think about Lord Seiryu and his little spy act?"

"It wasn't a spy act, but a deliberate attempt to draw out the truth about you. He suspected that you were a Celestial proxy, most probably someone having some blood of the gods and initiated by her progenitor. As I said before there are a few descendants of God-blooded in the world and we are weary of those individuals. Both factions sporadically use them to advance their agenda, generally for preserving a critical area, retrieving an item or implementing an Essence-gathering ritual."

"In other terms, he was here to kill me." I shook my head. "It's probably this hostile feeling that put me on the defensive and I reacted strongly... Too strongly." I reacted like a Solar of old. Another geas, an echo of my past lives or simply my wounded pride? No wonder why Solar diplomats used so many compulsion-based charms.

"There is also the precedent that many of those people tended to use their knowledge for their immediate gratification and tried to acquire more at any cost. Thus, why I was presenting you gradually to a few key Terrestrial Gods to prevent being tainted as a power-hungry upstart... Your revelation of the Existence-Ruling Mandate, even if you didn't use it, didn't play well for you."

"And my use of my power to sanctify an oath?"

"A more personal error as far as Seiryu-sama is concerned. There was probably something belonging to him inside Tomigusuku Castle, either the Martial Arts scroll or something else. And since he came with this test almost immediately and with your oath... Well, he might consider your act as thievery."

I sighed and face-palmed. Yes, my situation required it.

Notes: Curiously, I'm not satisfied of this chapter.

Probably because there is only characterisation and a bunch of precisions about the world in general.

The training was inspired by various civilian courses available in the USA and the information I could find on the JSDF.

Oh, well... Next chapter: Iriomote Island. At last!