====== Aspiring Heroes ======

Pono Malianakin’s dojo, focused on training aspiring adventurers in offense and defense, looks over Mydreign from its perch up above. Here, Pono is able to teach crowds of students enrolled in Mythhandler II’s Sky Islands School of Lost Finding on a part-time basis. Retirement is treating him well so far, but during the more boring days Pono is glad that he can take The Bird That Takes You Places up to the Islands to do some sparring -- and stretch his joints.

The dojo is clean, newly built on the old land. It took a lot of effort bringing up some of the bigger materials that couldn’t pass through the portal down at the Temple of Life, but the Bird seemed happy to see its home be filled with people again and did its best to help out.

Pono spends most of his time teaching large classes the basics of sword technique -- perhaps not the most effective form of pedagogy, but Mythhandler II is still in the process of looking for more sword instructors after the last one decided it wanted to teach archery instead. For now, though, Pono is stuck with a crowd of students, from naïve aspiring adventurers to stuck-up rich kids, learning how to slice through logs. There’s certainly a variety of successes and failures in this lesson, but the majority seem to just find slashing around and yelling //HAI-YAH!// effective sword handling.

There is, at least, a rising star that Pono has begun to pay attention to. Or, well, more accurately put, this student did everything to make sure //ze// was paid attention to -- including attempting to duel him on the first day of class when zer pincers could barely balance the sword.

“Chozi, focus!” Pono yells, swinging his sword and almost hitting the shadecrawler student. Chozi yelps, dodging out of the way. “Yes, sir!” ze exclaims, breath ragged, regripping zer sword and shield.

The two hold steady, then, waiting for a moment to strike.

Chozi ambles forward, attempting to swipe at Pono’s shoulder, but Pono parries. Steel on steel rings out as the setting sun bathes the mostly empty dojo in a golden light. 

Then there is a battle of strength. Chozi is one of Pono’s older students, and while zer youth and size can be used to zer advantage, Pono can’t help but be a little disappointed at how ze isn’t doing that here. As if to make a point, Pono forces one of his legs to push himself forward, forcing Chozi towards the floor.

Ze lands with an //OOF//.

“And that’s three to zero,” Pono states. “Not a good run today.”

Chozi doesn’t get up immediately. Ze breathes heavily, taking in as much air as ze can. “I know. I’m sorry.”

Pono frowns. “Sorry’s not going to save you in a battle.” All he’s heard all day have been excuses from his students.

There’s hurt on zer expression. 

Pono sighs. “You’re a good swordsman, Chozi. Remember that.”

Eventually, Pono helps Chozi up. Ze is quiet as Pono makes sure ze get home to the Desert through the portal, and they go their separate ways. “I’ll see you next week,” Pono calls, to no response.

Pono takes The Bird down to the Plaza in Myddul City, hoping to breathe in some fresh evening air before he heads back home. He takes the time to saunter through the market stalls too -- buy some fresh bread, some corn, and veggies. 

The luxite lights in the City Plaza begin to sparkle in the darkness, lighting the area. It’s still fairly busy, though people are beginning to head home for supper. 

Pono eventually finds himself passing through the centre of the plaza. There, on a small rectangular monument, a plaque hangs, reading: A SPECIAL EXHIBITION TO COMMEMORATE THE BATTLE OF MYDDUL PLAZA, AND THE HEROES OF MYDDUL.

There, a painting that was commissioned of those who defeated the Kingslayer, just over a year ago. Strange how time flies.

Pono hasn’t had the chance to see the painting, so he can’t help but stare. Haloed by the setting sun in the painting, Glimmer, Pono, Cairn, Heralding, and Angus all strike a pose worthy of a Hero.

Sounds behind Pono make him feel exposed, so he turns to size up the threat -- only to see a small volgecko child ambling up to him.

“I wann’ be a hero, like you,” he says shyly. He can’t be more than three. He looks to his parent, who gives him an encouraging thumbs up. “Papa tells me that’s you…” he points towards the painting.

“Why, yes, I’m in the painting.”

The child gives a lopsided smile. “I drew you!” In his shorts he ruffles through some folded bits of paper. “Here,” he says.

The drawing is crude, but it’s clearly a copy of the painting. There stands Pono, colored in brown and blue, with his sword by his side.

Beyond the… //stylistic// choices, there is one major difference between the child’s drawing and the painting: there, in the middle, is a red volgecko, with big crystals and a giant sword. A drawing of the child, all grown-up, an aspiring Hero. 

Pono folds it into your tunic pocket, keeping it safe. “Thank you, little one.” 

----

//CLANG. SWISH. THUD.//

The next week, Pono is back at the dojo dueling Chozi. It seems that Chozi is in a much better mood, fuelled by a spirit not present last time.

Pono lunges, only for Chozi to parry. “Good!” Pono exclaims, before stepping back and getting ready for another slash. This time, Chozi blocks it with a shield. “Fantastic defense work!”

The air rings with steel against steel and the thudding of many pairs of feet against the dojo floor. Chozi manages to trap Pono in a bind, but ze struggles to finally take him down.

“Feel the power of the Hero within you!” Pono shouts.

In that moment, Pono sees in the eyes of his student a swordsman worthy of the title. The one he first saw when, despite zer utter defeat in their first ever duel, ze looked up at him with a fire in zer eyes.

Pono feels a force tip his balance, and he falls to the dojo’s soft flooring. Panting, he looks up at Chozi, smiling and proud.