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The Element Series: Part I

AuthorHouse

Contents

Acknowledgements........................................viiPower...................................................1In the Beginning........................................3Shishini Togasan And Shogan Togasan.....................4Tyrone Anderson.........................................29Claude Simpson..........................................36Mercedes Lopez..........................................40Timothy Smith...........................................42Field Trip Surprises....................................45Indecent Reunion........................................49Sibling Rivalry.........................................58Hospital Visits.........................................68Improvised Flight Plans.................................72The Vengeful Team Leader................................81Sunny Radiance..........................................86The Opposite World in Mount Shasta......................99The Distant Battle......................................101Side Trip...............................................114Underlying Softness.....................................126Planted Seeds...........................................132Ultimate Techniques.....................................138Decisions...............................................150Diverging Paths.........................................156The Participation Prize.................................161Time is Almost upon Us..................................163About the Author........................................165

Chapter One

Power is the ability to influence the actions of another. With such a broad definition, power has as much variety as a crayon box with one hundred and twenty different colors. Power can range from the humblest teacher in a classroom to the most sinister of military dictators who use their power to murder, steal, and force people to submit to their wills. Power also has the ability to turn a landfill into a forest, reduce carbon emission, or bring a smile to a child's face.

The quest for power is the downfall of man. I have seen too many instances in which we humans will feed on our brothers and sisters to crawl up to the top. Whether we seek power for righteous or diabolical reasons, the ones we leave in our wake can attest to the weight of our actions.

Once we obtain the power that we so desperately seek, then the true test begins. Without a moral compass, intelligence, and the ability to let go, we become nothing more than a child with a big stick among weaponless peers—a mere schoolyard bully who does not want to yield his power or see a rising star among the crowd.

I did not ask for this power, nor would I have. The power that courses through my veins comes a heavy price. This price has left me emotionally bankrupt, and many a time I thought about giving up. However, at this point, regret is a luxury that I cannot afford because its cost is to lose focus of what is important to me now. My sole duty is to honor those who came before me, to protect those in front of me, and to leave this world in a better condition than I found it.

The questions that remain are, what is my name, and who am I? My name is more than a collection of letters. It is more than a rhythmic tune that is hummed when the letters are said in sequence. My name is the sum of all of my words, thoughts, and deeds. Therefore, if asked who I am, I simply respond with my name, because that is enough. If that does not answer the question sufficiently, then I have not done enough.

The only power that I seek is to leave this fight in strong, capable hands, which will allow me to rest in peace, knowing that the good fight will be left with suitable caretakers. Even as selfish as it may sound, this is the only way that I can atone for being too weak to prevent this situation in the first place.

The only power that I seek is to bring this world back into balance since the scale has shifted too far to the side of evil.

Socrates Meridius

In the Beginning

1500 years ago, the forces of good and evil waged an unrelenting war. It was a war that ravaged the lands and changed the course of human history. The heroes and villains of both sides commanded extraordinary abilities due to the incredible powers of specialized crystals that became known as The Elements. After numerous battles and the loss of many warriors, an uneasy truce was made. Neither side could respectfully claim victory. At the end of the brutal conflict, the survivors hid the remaining Elements to ensure the safety of mankind for future generations, or so they thought....

Shishini Togasan And Shogan Togasan

(Six years ago)

Shishini and Shogan Togasan are twins of Japanese descent who grew up in a humble village in New Zealand where they lived by the way of the sword. They have been trained in the art of combat ever since they could stand and hold a katana upright. Shishini has always been the more humble of the twins, while Shogan always leaned more toward the mischievous side. Little did they know that their beginning would be a preview for the paths they were to take in their lives.

Every morning before training, Shishini and Shogan would sit in the nearby temple and meditate for five minutes to clear their minds of any negative energy that may have accumulated during the course of the evening. This routine was done so they could be prepared for another strenuous day of training.

After meditation one morning, Shogan left to go to training ahead of Shishini. While making his exit, he gazed straight into her eyes, and she felt the growing discontent in her brother's eyes. He left without uttering a word, which left Shishini distraught, so she sought her Sensei's counsel.

"Hayashi Sensei, may I speak with you for a moment?" she requested humbly as she bowed out of respect. He bowed and looked at her with sincerity. Shishini's master was noticeably taller than her, and was a man of medium build. Despite not being the largest man in the village, he still commanded great respect. He was only a couple of years older than Shishini's father, making him her "second" father. While looking into his eyes, he gave off the impression that he was wise beyond his years. Yet, that intuition was true, and was easily converted from a feeling to a fact nearly every time he spoke. This is why Shishini knew he would be the perfect one to speak to on this matter concerning her brother.

"Yes, what is on your mind, my student?" he inquired.

"It is about Shogan. I am a little concerned as we continue to become masters of swordsmanship. When we were little, he always played pranks, like switching my sword with a wooden bokken, or putting my fingers in water while I slept. That was back when we were young, but now it seems like he has a deep-rooted anger circulating through his veins that not even meditation has the power to cleanse. I am worried that he is not satisfied with our way of life," Shishini confessed, bearing her troubles on her sensei. She had allowed these troubling thoughts to build up for quite some time. Her teacher closed his eyes and took a moment to reflect on everything Shishini told him so he could respond appropriately....