《The Soul Finder》 Chapter 1. "Beginnings" Tired, confused, lonely these three words can be used to explain the situation of one young man at this very moment. As wave, after wave slowly rocking this young man whom can only be said to look of maybe 16 years of age. Ugh wha what happened where is everyone? as the young man slowly awakes to see his predicament, only one thing flashes through his mind Just my luck... Before we go any further into this young mans situation, lets look at who this young man is. His name is Kama, and his origins start off on a small island in the middle of an ocean referred to by his people as Punaola. Kamas island named Polu which was situated within a cluster of 11 other islands known to each islands residents as Moku. This small cluster of islands which formed a kind of U shape held 7 islands that spanned roughly 2,000 square kilometers and 5 islands that spanned 1,000-1,500 square kilometers. Its on these islands that Kama was raised as an apprentice to Toa one of the greatest Kahuna or Wiseman of his tribe. Kama was an only child, and his father Luna decided to raise him from birth as his mother died during labour. Sadly, it was but only 4 years after Kama was born that his father would also lose his life. It happened during a raid from a neighboring island, in a war that broke out between the 12 islands of Moku... After losing both his parents, Kama was but a lone child without a place to go, and no one to care for him. As if the gods felt pity for poor Kama, he was suddenly adopted by a man revered by the people of Moku as All seeing. Toa, as Kama would grow up to learn was All Seeing not because he could see everyone, and everything no because he could understand everyone and everything from just the slightest touch. Toa dealt in the magic of Soul Finding it was a special art to see the memories of objects, people, and things. By putting ones Mana or life force into an object whether it be a person of a weapon or even a tree, Toa could tap into the memories of that object. When Toa decided to adopt Kama, it wasnt because he felt pity for the boy it was because of his ability When Toa touched Kamas shoulder while walking through the many villages on his island, Toa didnt feel Kamas past no in fact it was something entirely different. When Toa touched Kamas shoulder he saw the image of a fierce warrior, standing on a mountain of shiny objects hed never seen in all of his life. Kamas image was further glorified by the multitudes of people who bowed and cheered before him, people of all kinds of looks and races Toa had never seen before either. To Toa, this child had given him his first glimpse of a possible future hed never imagine even in his wildest dreams. Toa, as if knowing that this child could change the face of not only these islands, but maybe lands beyond the great ocean of Punaola, decided to adopt Kama and raise him as his own. During the first few years of Toa and Kamas life together Kama showed signs of unmatched cleverness and wit. If not for the fact that he was only 6 years of age and his only thoughts were to play with his two friends and get into trouble, Kama would be an exemplary apprentice in the arts of Soul Finding... Koa! Anu! Where are you!?! Kama yelled as he ran to the hills behind his village in search of his two best friends. As Kama went to a part of the hills that held a small grove of trees, he was looking intently for his two best friends. As he got closer to the grove of trees which he and his two friends decided to name as their secret hide-out, Kama couldnt see his friends anywhere. Kama not noticing anyone one nearby thought of something his grandpa Toa had taught him. Kama my boy, if searching for something unseen try using your other senses to attune them to the search If using one sense is good, then using two senses is better. This technique is the first step to Soul Finding. To Kama, Toas words were undoubtedly the wisest, and after thinking for a moment he decided to kneel down and not only focus his sight on his surroundings, but also attune his hearing too. As he focused he could hear snickering pft hahaha, look Anu, he cant find us at all -Koa geez, Koa you have to be a little more quiet or..-Anu Just at that moment, Kama picked up a small pebble and threw it into the tall grass to the left of him.Oww! what was that for?!? A boy who looked about a foot taller than Kama, stood up from the tall grass gripping his forehead. You, asked for it when you wanted to try and hide from me. I knew you guys were going to try and trick me Koa Kama said, while tossing another pebble in his hand up in the air. Come on Anu, i know youre in there too theres no point in hiding anymore. As Kama said those words a small girl with a small stature that had very unruly hair came out of the grass, if it werent for this girls fiery mischievous eyes she would be a truly cute girl. Geez Kama, how is it you always catch us before we can manage to scare or prank you? Anu said with a cute pouty face. Its a secret, not telling Kama exclaimed with a triumphant smile on his face, to which Anu just stuck out her tongue and pouted. So whats the plan today Kama!?! ouch! Koa asked while still rubbing the small lump that was on his forehead. To that question Kama looked at his friends with a mischievous smile. Were going treasure hunting! Both Koa, and Anus face lit up with joy at their friends sudden announcement. Ooooh, that sounds great, where are we headed Anu exclaimed while staring at Kama with her eyes in anticipation. Kama looked at the two friends and said with confidence I know of a Cave just next to the shore in a cliff side, i heard that an old warriors bones are placed in there! I bet theres all kinds of cool stuff he left behind in there To those words Koa and Anus expressions changed from excitement to doubt. Kama i dont think we should go bothering someones grave i dont want to be cursed or something Koa said while looking at the ground not wanting to be dragged into a situation that would be to scary. Koa though being the tallest kid in the area was but a gentle giant and, and would frighten quite easily. Yah Kama, i dont want to be yelled at by my Mom and Dad again. Remember what happened last month when we wandered too far into the hills and when we got back we were punished for 2 days my butt still hurts to this day Anu exclaimed while covering her rear, as if her parents would turn up any second and punish her for even thinking about anything crazy. Come on, Please!!! I bet theres enough stuff in there for all of us to get something Kama pleaded to his friends. Finally after a few minutes of begging and pleading Kama finally got the approval from both of his friends. Then its settled, well go explore the cave! Follow me! exclaimed Kama with a face full of excitement, while his two friends followed behind with warry faces. As Kama, Koa, and Anu neared the cave on the shore they stood outside of the dark cavern with mixed feeling. Kama was was so pumped and ready to go, but when he got to the entrance of the cave his determination quickly faded. *gulp* well here we are, so um who wants to go in first? as Kama said those words, and looked behind at his two friends, he was met with an expression from both Koa, and Anu saying without a doubt you, wanted this adventure so you go first. With a heavy sigh Kama turned back to the cave and proceeded to enter. Step by step Kama walked into the cave, and the deeper he got the darker it became. Geez i cant see anything, this was such a bad idea Kama thought to himself. After the trio had gone a fourth of the way into the cave they could only see a few feet in front of them. Kama, not knowing what to do began to think about the things Toa had taught him about the different senses, and how they enhance each other. As Kama began to slow down he focused his mind on his sense of sight and sound The lighting of the cave began to get a little clearer for Kama. wow, its true that i can see a lot better when focusing on my more than one sense Kama thought to himself. After a moment Kama decided to try adding another sense, smell. As he stood in place he searched his surrounding for traces of anything he could smell. The sea breeze, the moist cave walls, everything and as he did this the cave got a little brighter in his eyes the darkness seeming to dissipate. But as Kama focused his three senses he began to notice a slightly hazy aura to the back of the cave. It was only for a moment that the aura showed itself, but it only took that moment for Kama to be completely enthralled in his new heightened state. Soon Kama wanted to try to expand even more on his senses and as he did so, he began to inch his way forward. The next sense Kama added was his sense of touch. He went to the side of the cave wall and touched it. Feeling the coarse rocks surface on his hand, the feeling of sand and small water worn pebbles under his feet, and the temperature in the air. Coupled with his sight, smell, and hearing kama was slowly getting closer to the aura that seemed to radiate ever so brilliantly. Um Kama Kama HEY KAMA!!! starting off quiet but slowly getting louder Kamas friends who have been following blindly behind Kama while in the cave. Started to yell at Kama to get his attention. Shhhh, Im trying to concentrate on something. I think I see something a little further up the cave Kama replied abruptly to his friends cries for an explanation. Kama doesnt fully grasp what hes doing at the moment could be considered superhuman, hes controlling his senses in a way that martial artists and various masters strive to do, and seldom achieve with so little experience. His friends on the other hand were still only 6 and 7 year old kids without an expert Kahuna as their teacher and parent. How could Koa, and Anu know that what Kama was doing was actually scratching the surface to the Soul Finding art. As Kama neared the aura and was only a couple feet in front of it, he found the aura to come from a bundle that was long, about 7 feet long. As Kama bent down to grab the bundle, he found it was quite heavy, so he decided to open it first to see what was inside. As Kama opened it up, to his surprise he found a beautiful fighting staff. It was adorned with carvings and, symbols of all Kinds. As Kama was busy admiring his find, unbenounced to him and his friends the entrance to his secret cave had actually started to disappear due to the rising tide. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Kama finally snapping out of his awe, he looked at his two friends behind him who were still gazing into nothingness and said, Hey guys check this awesome staff out!, I think it belonged to that dead warrior. What do you mean check this out!?!, me and Koa cant even see in this pitch dark, and you want us to look at some awesome stick? Come on Kama, lets get out of here, this cave is giving me the creeps after Anu said these words Kama could see Koa nodding in agreement too scared to leave the side of his friends. Alright I got what i wanted to get, so lets leave Kama said as he awkwardly dragged the staff behind him as he led his friends to the entrance of the cave. Getting closer to the entrance of the cave Kamas face turned a shade of gray, because waiting for them at the entrance of the cave wasn''t sand and beach it was ocean. in the hour or so that the trio was traversing the dark cave the tide had risen 5 feet and was only getting deeper. What do we do Kama!? I dont know how to swim! said Koa with a face filled with fear and doubt. Kama looked at his two best friends, both with faces seeming to think the exact same thing. Kama stepped back and assessed the situation, the tide is rising faster and faster, the only way out of here is to either swim, or climb the cliff side to shore or shallow waters. Seeing as how we dont know how to swim i guess are best bet is to climb our way around the cliff wall. After thinking for a bit, Kama looked at his friends with an eerie look, and decided to explain the situation and how their only choice is to climb. After hearing Kama explain the plan of climbing the cliff side and hugging the wall till they reached shore, both Koa and Anus doubt and fear started to fade. As the trio waded in the water toward the outside of the cave each of them hugged the caves inner wall as not to be dragged out to sea. When they reached the exit of the cave all of them were desperately clinging to the rock face and shimming out and toward the shore. As they proceeded with the plan all was well, Koa was leading the three, while Kama brought up the rear, and Anu who was the weakest of them stayed in the middle. The trek although seemingly easy to most adults was extremely strenuous to the trio. Soon the shimmying of the trio stopped and the look of exhaustion could be seen from all three of them. Anu with pleading eyes looked at Kama and said with tears forming I cant hold on anymore, my arms feel like theyre going to fall off! Kama with a pained expression tried to urge his friend forward Look Anu, you can see the shore from here the edge of the beach is just a little further Anu looked forward, and while staring at Koa who breamed with confidence at the fact that they could make it collected some renewed strength and pushed on. But god had another plan for them, and as the kids inched closer to the shore the waves began to kick up. Each wave that hit the cliff shook the children, and soon the waves were too strong for Anu to hold onto the cliff face. With faces stricken with horror at the sight of their best friend falling from their sight, all traces of confidence left them. Anu bobbing in the water struggling for air as wave after wave pelted her. As she was drowning screams for help and save me could be heard. Koa seeing his friend struggle endlessly, desperately clung to the cliff face muttering im sorry, i cant save you, please forgive me. Kama on the other hand had torrents of emotions swirling in his mind, desperation, helplessness, confusion and anger anger at himself and the gods. Anger that he lead his friends on this stupid adventure. As Kama stared at his friend Anu with her screams and pleas for help his mind went blank. Everything went silent for Kama, his senses seeming to be halted as his mind shattered under the situation. Than, as if opening a new gateway in his mind and soul, the desperation triggered something within him. Soon Kamas sight became broader, and more clear as if the glare and reflection of the waters surface wasnt there. He stared into the water as if looking through a glass cup filled with water. All of Kamas senses became heightened, his grip becoming stronger his ears seeming to hear even the sea creatures in the water. The warrior staff strapped to Kamas back gave off a slight aura in response to Kamas sudden transformation. As if calling out to Kama, the staff pulsed even fiercer. Kama as if instinctively knowing what to do, grabbed a hold onto the staff. When Kama gripped the staff memories of a man hed never seen flowed into his mind. Countless battles, practices of techniques, and the scene of a man with overwhelming confidence holding onto the same staff Kama held at the moment. Without any hesitation Kama lept from the cliff, both hands grasping the staff like a Samurai holding a Katana. With a sweep of the staff landing on the surface as Kama plunged off the cliff, an overwhelming aura exploded from the staff hitting the water. The force was so strong that water seemed to split aside, showing a small Anu curled up like a ball at the bottom of the sea floor. Kama using the force of the staff hitting the water slowed his descent down to a soft landing beside Anu. While still holding the staff in his right hand and grabbing anu by the hand with his left. Kama than whacked the sea floor with his staff and using the bending staffs tension he flew off the ground toward the cliff face. Yelling CATCH HER Kama threw Anu towards Koa, and if breaking out of deep sleep Koa came to his senses just in time to barely grab onto Anus arm as she fell. After tossing Anu to Koa, Kama landed on the cliff gripping onto its face with all his might. Kama was exhausted, truly exhausted and the power he felt in his body was slowly fading. Ive gotta save them Kama said to himself and then while gripping the wall with his left hand Kama took his staff and pointed at Koa. HOLD ON TO THE STAFF Kama yelled to Koa, and as Koa readily obeyed Kama placed all of his remaining power into his right arm and flung his friends towards the top of the cliff face. Koa while still holding onto an unconscious Anu soared 40 feet into the air just making it over the cliff face and onto flat land. Kama while truly exhausted, and in utter pain fell from the cliff face into the ocean that had just begun to recede back into place after Kamas first move. While being swallowed into the ocean Kamas face showed a wry smile. Kama was at peace, he knew he had saved his friends and he could now face his death without worry. Ever since losing his parents Kama thought he was cursed to follow the same fate. He always felt he was on borrowed time, and as if being punished for looking for a treasure that was hidden in a dangerous spot. Kama knew that he would be dead soon and it didnt shock him. Although this situation would frighten and give anxiety to most, to Kama he was as light at peace. But, as Kama waited for the waves to crush him, and for the water to drown him, it never came. Instead he opened his eyes to see Toa running on the surface of the water while carrying him... not to the shore but around the opposite side of the cliff. Koa, was in shock in just a few hours he had gone from despair to confidence and back a dozen times. He looked at the unconscious Anu laying beside him and quickly shook her to see if she was ok. As Anu slowly began to gain consciousness she looked around to see where she was and said ughhh.. wha where.. ah Koa, where is Kama, and howd we get here Koa, as if coming out of his confusion hurriedly scurried to the cliffs edge peering down to see where Kama was. To his dismay Kama was nowhere to be found, and Koas heart had sank. He was too weak and frightened to save Anu when she fell into the ocean the first time. And now that he thought that Kama had fallen to his death his heart slowly sank deeper and deeper into despair. What if Anu blames me for Kamas death? What if she leaves me and never wants to be my friend after this? These thoughts slowly turned Koas mind from being worried to that of being possessive. No! I cant lose my only friend left! After Kama left shes all ive got Koa thought to himself, and as these thoughts circulated in his mind his mouth answered Anus question. Kama and me jumped into the ocean to save you, but because i was stronger that Kama, i grabbed you by the arm and began to climb up the cliff. I thought Kama was right behind us, but when i looked back he was gone Koa began to sob, half of it was for the effect of the lie, but the other half was because he was truly sad. I could only save one of you, and i decided to save you Anu Koa said, while looking at Anu. Anu began to cry out in shock and out of despair at revelation she was told. Kama was her first friend in her life, she was one of the few girls in the village but because she was seen as a tomboy none of the other girls played with her. But Kama was different then the other kids in the village, he accepted Anu for the person she was, and Anu found her first real friend. Anu after flashing back through her times spent with her best friend Kama who was now gone... KAMA! *sob* You dummy, whyd you have to make us go on this dumb treasure hunt *sob* because of this ill never be able to see you again, well never be able to play together, run together, get into trouble together As Anu cried and sobbed her words became quieter and quieter. Soon all of the sounds she made vanished, and all traces of emotion faded from her face leaving only swollen eyes from her tears. Koa looked at Anu while slowly weeping to himself for lying and for being weak It was at this moment Koa made a resolution to never be afraid again and to train himself to be strong enough to protect what was his. Little did Koa know that that lie he told was the start of the seed of evil that he would sow into his heart. This evil would soon tear away at his being till he was a possesive, angry, deceitful individual. Chapter 2. “A new life” It had been about a week since Kama fell from the cliff side and was whisked away by his guardian Toa. Because of the superhuman abilities Kama had displayed, his body unable to deal with the strains of his actions was in ruins. Nearly all of his muscles had been torn and hairline fractures could be seen on the bones in his fists and arms. This boy, from the very first time I took him into my care i knew he was amazing. But to be able to unlock the 3rd stage of Soul Finding at this young of an age is remarkable Toa said to himself as he marveled at Kama. Its decided then, I will train Kama to be the best Soul Finder i can. And if Im correct, He will be able to go further than me in his growth. To Toa, Kama was indeed a marvel, he showed such astounding ability that it was awe inspiring, and also extremely fearsome. Kama had displayed the third form of Soul Finding even if it was just by sheer luck and circumstance. Soul Finding has 5 forms so far: Stage 1: Search, this stage allows the Finder to see the aura of souls residing in objects. Stage 2: Insight. This stage allows the Finder to see the memories of the object person or thing. Stage 3: Influence. This stage allows the Finder to tap into the objects soul and display or use its abilities. This stage can only be used while wielding the object. Stage 4: Attunement: This stage allows the Finder to absorb the objects soul into ones self, allowing them to not only to attain the objects abilities forever. But to also add the souls former being to be absorbed into the the Finders soul. This allows the Finders body and soul to become stronger and lengthening their life Stage 5: Ascension: This stage allows the Finder to move his soul freely in the mortal plain. Once a Soul Finder has attained enough soul energy to break the bonds of his body. This form is also very vague in terms of concise traits. Each Ascended Soul Finder has his/her own ability specific to their soul. To most people it would take at least 1 year to reach the first stage of Soul Finding, being able to use all senses to locate Soul Auras is extremely hard. Let alone the first stage, Kama had in one moment reached the third stage of Soul Finding. This feat could be said to be impossible. To most Soul Finders it would take half a lifetime to reach the third stage. But to Kama when he was faced with such a situation, his bodys innate ability forced his senses to its peak. This had in turn influenced the soul within the Staff to come forth and help Kama in his time of need. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Ughhh mmm wha ahhh Kama began to wake from his sleep. Wait child, you have to take it slow, your body is in no condition to move yet Toa said to Kama as he placed his hand on Kamas shoulder to stop him from getting up. Toa?... ugh how why I was on a cliff when Koa, Anu! where are they!?! Are they safe? Kama shook free from Toa in desperation, which sent blinding pain through his whole body. Ahhh! Kama screamed in pain. Dont worry boy, your friends are safe. Kama let out a sigh of relief, and then he looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings. Toa where are we, and why are you here? How did you know where i was? As Kama began to slowly remember the events of the cliff side, and how he fell he could remember Toa. Toa as i was falling I saw someone save me, was that you? Toa grinned at Kama and said You really thought i was going to let my only pupil die!?! Kama looked at Toa incredulously So you were watching us the whole time and you did nothing?! Kama yelled at Toa with face showing that he felt betrayed by his Teacher and Guardian. If I had seen that the situation needed me i wouldve saved you three, and I almost did when that girl Anu fell in. But boy am I glad I waited because you showed me a fine show indeed Kama looked at Toa with eyes that seemed to show disbelief. So me and my friends almost dying was entertainment for you?! Kama said while slowly becoming angrier at his so called loving guardian. Toa seeing this retorted with a Boy! Dont get lippy with me, you went off and got yourself and your friends into the situation! So dont go blaming me for your mistakes, and own it yourself Toas words hit Kama like a freight train. It was true that all of this was his fault, and if it wasnt for his actions no one wouldve gotten hurt in the first place. Youre right Toa, Im Im sorry Kama said while looking down. Good, now rest up. Youre in no position to be moving After laying down, Kama looked at Toa and said Toa, Im worried about Anu and Koa, when will I see them? Why havent they come to visit me? Toas reply was firm and straightforward Dont worry about them, they havent visited because they think you''re dead. And thats a good thing, because when youre healed enough, were leaving to train These words shocked Kama, but before he could say anything Toa had left. Chapter 3 "A plan for the Future" It has been a month since the cliffside incident, and Kama has made a full recovery. This miraculous feat was attained by no small means. Kama, had nearly torn his body to pieces, and Toa was in no way going to let this boys body go to ruins. Through the art of Spirit Finding, Toa had gathered all of the plants that revealed a healing class soul. After countless hours of gathering and mixing medicinal herbs and applying them to Kama, the results showed were astounding. Because Kama had already haphazardly gone into the third stage of soul finding, he quickly absorbed the soul power contained in the medicines. This technique of infused soul medicine not only sped up the recuperation of Kamas body, but it also seemed to strengthen it too. When Kama finally regained mobility his body structure had gone through a drastic change. He had grown quite a bit, his muscles although still prepubescent showed definition, and his height and body mass grew as well. Two weeks ago Kama could be said to look like an average 6-7 year old 3 2 in height and rather skinny. But now, after breaking his body and then reforming it with soul energy he grew about 6 taller and looked to be about 7-8 years old. This transformation was a little hard for Kama to get used to. This was displayed as he awkwardly walked out of the thatched hut he stayed in for the last few weeks. Stumbling forward he tried his best to orient his new body. As Kama was getting used to walking again after being bedridden for so long he noticed Toa. Without hesitation Kama asked Toa, what happened to me? Why do i feel stronger like my body has gone through some crazy growth? Thinking that Toa would have the answer to everything, when Toa had replied I dont know, Its baffling to me too Kamas confusion intensified. When Toa looked at Kama he knew the boy was troubled at his new found body. Boy, I honestly dont know how you managed to grow this fast in the last few weeks. In fact I was resigned to staying here for a few months to help heal your body. But this this is unheard of, I have lived for countless years and i have yet to see anyone such as yourself. You had broken your body to pieces, and what shouldve taken months to recover you did it in just one. Toas words left a chill down Kamas spine. How is this possible, I was at the brink of death and now i feel like a new person stronger faster how? Kama said to himself. Toa overhearing Kamas muttering came up with an explanation It was the souls, Boy Kama looked at Toa with curiosity. To most people remedies and healing herbs mixed with enhanced souls although work well, they lack the ability to use these souls to their peak. The souls that are mixed into the remedies enhance the remedies themselves but not the patient. But as i was applying the soul enhanced herbs onto your body a curious thing happened The souls disappeared from the herbs but not dispersing back into the world no, they seemed to resonate with your body and willingly be consumed by your soul. Kamas thoughts were circulating like crazy. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Toa, will i be okay? I dont feel anything wrong but Ive never heard of this Kama was indeed a clever child, but his knowledge can only go so far. Toa too was at a loss for this situation. At most, a Soul Finder can only hold so much soul energy in their body. If the body of a soul finder does not have a body at peak condition and consumes too much soul energy, they would suffer enormous backlash. The backlash of over consumption of soul energy could be crippling, if not fatal. That is why Soul Finders very rarely consume outside energy, but instead cultivate internal energy, and in certain cases, only borrow energy. Kama do not worry, although the situation in unheard of i have seen no complications so far. It seems your limitations are boundless, and with some training your body can grow stronger not only from physical practice, but from what Ive seen, also soul consumption Toas words although still somewhat confusing seemed to put Kamas mind at ease. Thank you Toa i mean for everything Toa gave a slight smirk to Kamas words Dont thank me just yet, now that your body seems to be o.k. your training will start soon. That means no more horsing around, we leave this tiny Island tomorrow to go to Loa Toas words left Kama with wide eyes and an open mouth. Loa was the innermost island of the U shaped cluster of islands called Moku. Loa was not only the innermost island but i was the largest island in the cluster too. Spanning over 2,000 square kilometers it dwarfed a lot of the other Islands not only in size but in power. Loa boasted some of the strongest tribes in all of the islands and this was mainly due to the fertile lands they lived on. This island held so much wealth in natural resources that wars were fought endlessly for centuries until only recently. Internal conflicts within the island over hunting and water rights, and even conflicts between other lands wanting a piece of the island for themselves. It was through all of this that the tribes inhabiting Loa became ruthless and strong. The methods of training they made to strengthen the warriors of Loa were evident in the peace that they have held for the last century. One could say that it was out of sheer necessity that the tribes of Loa adopted warrior training. And one could also say, only true warriors were allowed to live on Loa. It is for this very reason that Toa is going to take Kama to Loa. Not to train him to be a warrior, but to train him to be stronger than those warriors. Chapter 4. "The Voyage" Toa the ocean breeze is amazing! I never knew traveling by sea could be so great Kama and Toa were on there way to the island of Loa. After Kama had recovered from his injuries he and Toa had began their preparations for the journey. It wouldnt be a very long trip just a few days worth of traveling. But because Toa had planned to train Kama for a long duration on Loa it was appropriate to prepare beforehand. Shut up boy, and come here yelled a bushy bearded man with arms the width of logs, and a stature so big he could be considered domineering. If not for it being a request from Toa, I would never let someone so inexperienced on the open water. If youre going to be on my vessel I want you working, and not daydreaming. Dont think because youre a boy that I dont expect you to pull your own weight Kamas face turned sour as he looked at the large man, than turning to look at Toa who was toward the back of the vessel. Getting to Loa from Polu was easier said than done, and having a boat wasnt something anyone could just have. Only the chiefs of tribes and certain individuals were allowed to own one. Most people only dream of owning their own and some are lucky enough to crew them. The act of making a vessel takes overwhelming time and meticulous planning. For most races around the world boats are pieced together bit by bit forming a hull and a deck and what not. But for these small islands in the middle of the ocean the processing of trees could be said to be inferior. These islands contain no metal ores like the mountains of giant continents. Instead they rely on super hardened rocks sharpened to a fine point to do there cutting necessities. Though the tools may be inferior, the materials used to make these boats could be considered the best in the world. The trees that grow in the forests of the cluster of islands are second to none. Called Waoku these trees grow to incredible feats. Bigger than most red wood trees, these Waoku trees span upwards to 400 feet, and span the width of about 80 feet. When one of these trees are felled in the forest, it could be felt around the whole of the island. Carved from this one tree, hollowed with inferior tools by many people and imbued with mana and soul power from each person who constructed it. The boats that traverse these waters could be the pinnacle of seafaring. This is also the reason why Kama and Toa are sailing with great speed to Loa. The boat they are on right now was a ship that was the length of 320 feet and the width of 100 feet. It was truly a sight to see, and Toa was the reason this vessel came to be. Not only was the tree that made this vessel huge, it was also heavily saturated with the soul of the land. Who else but Kama on this small island could find such a wondrous tree. The production of this boat was quite extensive. The tree being strengthened by the soul of the earth was extreme strong. The stone axes and adz used to chop these trees would break countless times.It wasnt until Toa crafted tools made from stones with the same earth soul properties, that they finally made some headway. This ship was one of the sturdiest you would ever find, and being that the wood was infused with an earth soul, its strength was even more astounding. Lono, make sure to teach Kama well. I have a feeling you will be surprised at how fast he learns Toa said to the bearded man. I still feel that heading to Loa is too much for this young fellow But if its a request from such a great man i will as you please Toa. He will learn as much as i can teach him on this voyage Lono is indeed domineering, but it isnt out of disdain towards others it is because he cares too much. He has boasted a crew that will sail through anything and not be harmed one bit. If he sees any weakness that could be the downfall of an individual he will not let them on his boat. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.I will have no wasted lives on any of my voyages! You do your work diligently and listen to my words at all times, and you will traverse the world without fail. Lono looked at Kama while speaking but the crew of men onboard gave a resounding KU! Kama looked around at the crew people all working lively to steer and check each rigging of the boat. Kama then looked back at Lono with a newfound respect. Lono, why do the crewmen say Ku! when they respond to you? Lono looked at Kama with a smirk Ku means to stand firm. To not only be vigilant, but to also take on any task undaunted by fear. On this small voyage it is my goal to teach you how to Ku Kamas voyage consisted of shadowing Lono and everything he did. From checking the riggings of the boat, to checking on the conditions of the crew and even steering the ship. To Kama this whole voyage was a great experience and like a sponge he absorbed everything he was taught. He showed so much improvement and understanding that it even shocked Lono. Toa where did you find such a gem. He moves about the the ship as if hed been a crewmember for years. Its hard to think that weve only been at sea for 4 days. Toa looked at Lono with pride Ive seen something in this boy, and I wish to lead him to greater and better things. This is only the beginning Lono, and I hope you will help me cultivate his strength later on as well To those words Lono looked at Toa with curiosity Interesting o.k. Toa show me what this kid is made of, and if I deem him worthy Ill personally guide him around the uncharted Punaola It was the 6th day of voyaging and Kama and Loa could finally see their destination. Toa its huge! look at that island! So many mountain peaks and what is that white i see on top? Toa couldnt help but chuckle at Kamas amazement. Dont worry Kama, youll have enough time to explore that whole island. Just contain yourself and well be there shortly Kama stared intently at Loa as it became bigger the closer they got to the island. Toa this island is so amazing I cant help but be excited. Look at those mountains and look at those clouds. I mean i have never seen red clouds befor When Kama was speaking, Toa was only half listening and was busy preparing his belongings for their departure. But when Kama said red clouds Toas expression changed to one of a foreboding look. When Kama noticed the change in the atmosphere of the boat he looked at both Lono and Toa who shared the same expression. Toa whats the matter both Lono and Toa looked at each other and began to chat amongst themselves. Toa whats going on? Why is everyone looking so anxious As Kama said these words he could see the crewman grabbing spears and other fighting implements from around the ship. Kama was getting more and more worried, and decided to pull on Toas hand to get his attention. Toa looked away from Lono and stared at Kama with a stern face. Kama we may need to delay our training for a bit, it seems the conditions on Loa are unacceptable for landing Toas explanations was too vague for Kama and he wanted to know more. But Toa were so close, why cant we just land? I dont see any change in the weather and the currents are steady Toa looked at Kama and pointed to the island. You see those red clouds Kama. Those arent clouds made by the gods, those are clouds made by man These words confused Kama even more. How could men make red clouds? Toa looked at Kama knowing that the young boy still didnt understand. Kama, those are the clouds made by warriors marching on the dirt. Judging by how much red clouds i see, If we land we will be met by hundreds of warriors, if not thousands Kama looked at Toa with a face of anxiety. The situation that Kama and the crew was in finally dawned on him. Chapter 5. "A warm welcome?" Lono, move forward with caution. If I sense any danger toward You, Kama, or the crew Ill give the word and we sail around the left side of the island and anchor off shore. Lono looked at Kama with a face of resolve and understanding. I trust you Toa Lono turned to his crew and gave each member their order as to what needed to happen if they needed to make a quick escape. As the crew moved toward the island of Loa they saw an incredible spectacle. Thousands of men and women wielding all manners of weapons from clubs to spears, and shark toothed blades and more. The numbers were so astounding that the crews faces all looked pale as they sensed their impending doom. *gulp* Kama looked at the multitudes of warriors men and women alike, and as he stared his mind went a little hazy. The fear seemed to trigger that defensive power hidden deep inside of Kamas mind. As Kamas heart began to pump harder the adrenaline in his system began to heighten his senses. As everything became super heightened Kama could see the auras of the warriors in the army they were approaching. A plethora of colors could be seen from the army, but the dominating color that was seen was red. I wonder what the colors mean? Kama thought to himself. As Kama gazed at the army with awe, he was oblivious of the stares he received from Toa and Lono. He does it without any problems, truly amazing Toa looked at Kama with amazement, his eyes showing astonishment but hidden within was hope. Hope that he could train the most amazing person under heaven. Astonishing Toa this youth is just a bag of surprises. I look forward to seeing him progress When the crew was but 400 meters from the shore, they could hear the chants and provocations of the army. The ground shook under the shear ungulation of the monster of an army in front of the tiny crew. It was too late to turn back at this moment and Lono looked at Toa with a little hopelessness in his heart. Why didnt Toa give the word to turn around whatever the reason, if it comes down to it I will fight. No way will i just let them take what is mine without a fight Lono looked at the army while secretly thinking this to himself. 400, 300, 200, 100 meters, as they slowly approached the army the crew couldnt hear anything. The thunderous army continued to strike fear into them with their chants and provocations. The roars from the army grew in intensity as they approached the shore. Than as if the roar of the crowd had truly defened the crew everything went silent. Not a peep could be heard a scary silence lingered in the air. Only the sound of the waves and the creaking of the boat could be heard. Than as if like Moses had parted the sea, the army split apart as a person walked through them. He was wearing a cape covered in feathers, and had a face that looked as if it was chiseled from stone. Covering his whole body from the center to the left side were tattoos, and as he looked at the crew his eyes flared with intensity. To the the crew this man was undoubtedly the harbinger of death to them. A few of the crew even wet themselves in fear. To most men this man could incite fear with just his presence and some of the bravest men would turn into cowards. But to one young boy, this man was something entirely different. Kama looked at the man with tattoos and what he saw was beyond his physical features, it was his soul. Kama could see an aura that was enormous, it covered his whole body and spread further out about 2-3 meters. This aura wasnt colored in the primary colors like Red, Yellow, Blue, Black, or White. No, the color that enveloped this man was Purple a light purple that seemed to Kama as Strong yet comforting. As Kama was awestruck by this individual Toa jumped off the boat and ran on the surface of the water straight toward the man. Toas body was like a blur and in just a few moments he was on the shore face to face with the man. Kama couldnt believe his eyes as he saw Toa and this Man stare at each other with faces emotionless. Through Kamas eyes he saw something unseen by everyone else on that island and in the boat. It was a battle of spirits. The mans aura flared, and his purple soul seemed to grow to about 4 meters from his body. But Toa was unwavering, his soul that he had hidden in his body through years of training, burst forth. It was an amazing spectacle for Kama to see. Toas souls aura was a Light but an Intense blue that moved from his body to about 6 meters out. After only a few seconds of this standoff that seemed like an eternity to everyone present, the man with the tattoos let out a thunderous laugh. HA HA HA! Toa my friend! As sturdy as ever. Toa let out a smirk Kanaloa you bastard, for a few moments out at sea I thought we were in for some trouble. But sensing it was you from about 400 meters away I knew otherwise Toa and Kanaloa embraced each other with a gesture in which they placed their foreheads together and inhaled (This is the act of sharing Ha or life essence) The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. It seems youve been busy here on Loa since i left you 6 years ago Toa said as he looked at the multitude of people. Ha ha, i thought it would be fun seeing your expression as you came in. I had this set up when Lei felt your aura about 20 kilometers away. It has been an eventful 6 years while you have been gone, and i wanted to show off my achievements. Toas expression became sour when he heard the name Lei but he quickly recovered and looked toward his boat arriving on shore. Come Kana I wish to introduce you to some people. Leading the man Kana to his group of people, Toa called out to Kama and Lono to meet Kanaloa. Kanaloa Id like you to meet Lono and Kama as Toa introduce the two, Lono stepped forward and looked at Kanaloa in the eyes. Both men stood at pretty much the same height but whereas Lono was big and burly, Kanaloa showed no speck of fat and every muscle was toned. After just a few seconds Lono and Kanaloa smiled and spoke I never knew Toa had a friend with such depth of strength and skill like you. I guess uniting all of these people here was no problem for you Lono spoke praising Kanaloa. Kanaloa reciprocated the greeting with I too had no idea Toa knew someone with your presence. I can tell that you are a man of the sea, and its shown through the muscles in your arms. No warrior on this island could match your arm strength... except maybe me Kanaloa smirked and looked at Lono. As the two giants of men were sizing each other up Toa decided to break the tension. Kana this young boy here is Kama. He is the reason why Ive journeyed to Loa from the island of Polu As Toa said this Kanaloas attention was shifted from Lono and he stared at Kama. As he studied the young boy in front of him he looked deep into Kamas eyes and his expression showed a moment of shock. Toa, this boy has reached the first stage! How long have you been training him? Toa smirked and responded with I havent started my training yet, Its natural talent or could it be beastly talent the last few words were spoken softly to himself. Good, good! come my friends. We go back to my village, Im sure you would like some rest Kanaloa gestured to Toa, Lono, Kama, and the crew. I would like to come, but my crew is from the water and we have other islands to do business on Lono looked at Toa and Kama and then finally at Kanaloa. Toa I leave you here with your friend Kanaloa, Ill be back at this shore at that time we discussed Toa looked at Lono and nodded. The two had discussed on the voyage of what Toa wanted to do with Kama while they were training. Toa had estimated how long they would be on the island, and Lono would come on that day no matter the weather, or his situation at the time. Kama, i expect you to learn as much as you can from these land beasts. But if you find that the water is more of your home, i will be back to take you as one of my crew. You showed promise on the boat, if ever you need a new way of life, my boat is open Thank you Lono for your guidance, and i will never forget the water and your teachings Kama looked at Lono with sheer admiration for his Teacher of the sea. When Lono looked at Kanaloa he smirked Next time you invite me i may take your offer. At that time lets prove whom among the two of us has true arm strength with this he flexed his huge arms. I look forward to seeing you weep in shame Kanaloa chuckled and turned around to lead the Master and disciple to His village. Humph! Cocky bastard Lono turned around and signaled his crew to ready the boat for their next voyage. That night Toa and Kama stayed at Kanaloas home in the village of Manuiki. It was a large village situated next to a river that lead from the forested mountains down a few miles to the ocean. Kama eat and sleep well, for tomorrow we start our training Kama looked at Toa with a slight feeling of trepidation. On one hand Kama was looking forward to learning the way of Soul Finding But on the other hand he was scared and unsure of this path he did not chose for himself. Ye Yes Toa, Im looking forward to learning from you Chapter 6. "Another Master" The Night of Toa and Kamas arrival was met with a festival of sorts. To Kanaloa, meeting with Toa again after 6 years was a good a reason to have a party as ever. He had all the festivities planned, food and drink were shared with the whole village. Laughter and merriment could be seen on the faces of the local natives. It was a beautiful sight to see except one problem. Toa was no where to be seen, and the reason Her name was Lei a beautiful woman standing at about 5 4 and with beautiful long black hair. Her face was accentuated with high cheekbones and beautiful pouty lips, and her body did not lack in any other place as well. A perfect woman to many mens standards but she did not have eyes for just any man. She was on the hunt for just one man, a man who did not revere her as anything special, but did not look down on her as just a pretty face. Toa where are you? Lei said with a pouty face, she had been looking forward to seeing Toa again for so many years and now even with her enhanced Soul Search, the first stage of Soul Finding she couldnt find him. Yes, Lei was indeed a Soul Finder and she was one of the top 10 Soul Finders in all of the islands of Moku. Standing as an accomplished 4th stager she was known through many islands as Demonic Eyes Lei. So named because she had absorbed the spirit of a King Falcon, a beast feared by almost every resident in the islands of Moku. The King Falcon was a huge bird, Its body stood upright at about 20 and when its wings are fully expanded the falcons wing span was about 50 in length. It could hunt and devour Demon Boar which on average weighed 1,500-2,000 pounds with just a sweep of its tallens. It truly was a King of the animals. But she managed to capture a King Falcon and assimilate its soul into her body. Attaining the sight, strength, and some of the abilities of the the King Falcon. What angered Lei at the moment was not that Toa wouldnt meet with her. No, It was because even though She had the enhancement of the King Falcons eyes along with Soul Search (which was child''s play to her) she could not sense or see Toa. Right at this moment Toa was hiding on the rooftop of one of the many thatched huts in the village of Manuiki. He was staring at a beautiful woman with both fear and longing. Doing his utmost to suppress and hide his soul aura, Toa couldnt help but utter to himself. Why did it have to be here of all places? She shouldnt even be on this island I left her on Pohakuiki island 8 years ago and now shes on Loa? Why do the gods hate and tempt me? Toa met Lei 12 years ago, he had met her by chance on one of the smaller islands in Moku. Pohakuiki is situated about 5 islands away from loa and 9 islands away from Polu. On this island, 12 years ago, Toa was already a stage 4 Soul Finder and as he was traveling and island hopping he came across a beautiful Woman. What attracted him to her was not the fact that she was an outstanding beauty (even though it did play a huge part) it was because she was in the middle of a brawl between 5 hulking men. In just a few moments the confrontation was over, the 5 men laid sprawled on the ground and in the middle was the beautiful woman triumphant holding onto a small club. To the bystanders looking at the spectacle they could only see a woman with a martial arts background. I mean, it would only make sense she was a martial artist, how else could she beat 5 men alone. But to Toa who was using Soul Search the first stage of Soul Finding, he saw that the small club she was concealing held a strong soul aura. With a smirk he looked at the woman with slight admiration. At seeing Toa smirk at herself lei felt a little angry, Is this punk looking down on me Lei thought to herself. Ive already had to deal with 5 thugs who wouldnt take no for an answer, and seeing this smartass look at me like i''m no big deal Leis thoughts became muddied and it was obvious that she didnt take well to Toas meaningless smirk. Admiration, was mistaken for condisention and Lei called out to Toa with a look of pure disgust You there, you think just because Im a girl Im no good huh?!? Step up if you think you can handle me better than these losers did. Toa was confused at the sudden situation. The hell is wrong with this chick as Toa looked at Lei with utter confusion he wrinkled his brow. Oh, too good to fight a woman? arent you a gentleman... you queer These last words broke the little patience Toa had left. Stepping forward he let loose his soul aura and stared at Lei unflinching. Lei was dumbstruck why the hell is a another Soul Finder on my island? After master died, I shouldve been the only Soul Finder on Pohakuiki? O.K. dont panic hes unarmed and hasnt pulled out a soul weapon yet. Ill subdue him and show him whos boss After thinking these shallow thoughts, Lei tapped into the spirit of her club and dashed forward at Toa with lightning speed. At the moment when Lei was about to strike Toa on the face, she was sent tumbling back, her right arm numb to the shoulder. After orienting herself, she sat up and looked at Toa with a shocked expression. In Toas hand was her soul weapon, and in just a few seconds Toa clenched his fist and the weapon had shattered. Every soul weapon is unique, made by fusing the soul with an inanimate object. This fusion isnt instant, and it takes years and years of constant use to attune an object to a soul. It is also only at the moment of the original user''s death that the object becomes a true soul weapon. The enhancement of the object by a soul makes most objects incredibly durable. That is why soul weapons can be found in pristine conditions all around the world even in corrosive environments. The only way to truly destroy a soul weapon is to break the soul inside of the weapon. This also is not an easy thing to do, only those with stronger souls can do it, and that just attests to that persons strength. F Fou Fourth stage Soul Finder The visage of Toa breaking that soul weapon will forever be engraved in Leis heart. You have talent, but you lack foundation. If you had been wiser, you would have used Soul Searcher to see that I am no meer third stage Soul Finder. Also, i wasnt looking down on you, i was admiring your skills AND I AM DEFINITELY NOT GAY! Lei still couldnt understand the situation she was in, and just stared dumbfounded at Toa. Seeing Lei unresponsive Toa picked up his belongings he had dropped before the standoff and turned around to walk away. Wait! Wait! Soul Finder please help me on my path, I was wrong to have called you those names and attack you. I lack a teacher as you can see, and I need help reaching the Fourth Stage. Please help me Lei called out to him as she slowly got up, her arm was still in the process of getting its feeling back. Absolutely Not was the curt response Toa gave as he proceeded through the village. Please Soul Finder, its my wish to be a peak Soul Finder to honor the memory of my teacher! These pleas fell on deaf ears as Toa strolled through the village. But Toas actions didnt detour Lei one bit, she had been training alone for the last couple of years and she couldnt make any headway in her training. she wasnt about to let this golden opportunity pass. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Soul Finder please... Soul Finder why not... Soul Finder if youre not queer, why not look at me?... For two days while Toa was in the village, Lei nagged him to no end to have him help her train. OY! My name isnt Soul Finder its Toa, and will you not leave me alone!?! Toa was indeed frustrated, badgered for two days and anyone would go crazy. Tee hee, I finally got you to talk to me Lei giggled as she revelled in her small victory. What must i do to make you leave me Toa asked in exasperation. The question is What can i do for you Toa, in order for You to guide Me on my way to the Fourth Stage of Soul Finding as Lei said this, she raised the skirt she was wearing up her outer thigh tracing her beautiful body. Toas face became beet red as he looked at Lei, then turned to look away. Ahem! Mam i dont even know your name and you dare ask me for a favor? Toa quickly changed the topic and Lei blushed awkwardly. What was i thinking? My name is Lei a third stage Soul Finder. I like walks on the beach, beating up idiots, and at night i like to lay nak OKAY OKAY OKAY! i get it, your name is Lei and you need my help Toas face became even more red as he thought of Leis last sentence. This girl is going to bring me to my knees Toa thought to himself as he looked at Lei. Over the next few months Toa and Lei had been inseparable, they ate, cultivated their soul auras, and slowly became friends maybe even more than friends. After 3 years of being on Pohakuiki with Lei, the duo had made up their minds to capture a King Falcon and have Lei assimilate the animal to become a true Fourth Stage Soul Finder or an Attuned Soul Finder. The plan that Toa and Lei had set up had worked and soon Lei would be known around the Moku as a Leader in Soul Finding. 4 years after Toa arrived on Pohakuiki he lay on a hammock looking at the stars. As he lay there a beautiful silhouette could be seen coming toward him accentuated by the moonlight. As lei approached Toa, she slowly rolled onto the hammock and snuggled next to him. Toa, its been 4 years since youve met me and yet you have not made a move? I know you love me, and I love you too Why dont you stay here and make a family with me? I know our lives would be happy Lei said this while hugging Toa from the side. Toa was indeed in love with Lei, and as he lay there in his hammock being hugged by lei, he could indeed die happy. Its true, I do love you, and it would be my greatest priviledge to be together with you for the rest of my life as he said this he looked deep into Leis eyes and kissed her on her beautiful lips.That night Toa and Lei made love for the first time, and fell asleep in each others embrace. That same night nngghh no no no Toa awoke from a nightmare that was so intense it flared his soul, and he awoke to a fully transformed Soul Search. His nightmare was of a man cloaked in leaves and who had a soul aura of pure darkness. It was the most heinous dream he had ever seen. The cloaked man was holding a beating heart in his hand pulled from the chest of his beloved Lei. The memory of that moment almost made Toa vomit in disgust. Im not strong enough to protect the things i hold dear, at least not from him not from my master That night Toa had left In the early morning leaving Pohakuiki and his love behind. Toa had felt that if he was around Lei, she would be in danger and He wasnt strong enough to protect her. (Flash to the present) Toa looked at his beloved with longing and then he made up his mind. To hell with my fears, my woman is in front of me and I wouldnt be a man if didnt make my move now. Toa jumped down and while suppressing his souls aura he stealthily made his way to Lei. When he was right next to her he quickly embraced her. Ah! lei gave a startled yelp and jump forward and quickly turned to meet her attacker. When Lei saw Toa she stared at him and soon a multitude of emotions welled up in her heart. Than with a smile she walked forward, and Toa opened his arms as to invite a hug. What happened next stunned Toa. As Lei moved within a foot of Toa she balled her fist and slugged Toa in the face. Unprepared for the strike Toa fell down on the ground and looked at Lei in shock. Toa you bastard you leave me in the middle of the night 8 years ago after I gave my heart to you. Not giving me an explanation for your disappearance, no word as to where you left*sob* I didnt know if you were taken, or killed *sob* After striking Toa and releasing all of the pent up frustration she had kept for so many years she began to cry. As Toa recovered from his shock and looked at his love with tears flowing from her eyes, he stood up and walked over to her. Toa quickly embraced Lei as tears began to flow from his eyes too Im so sorry I was weak am weak i didnt know if i could protect you. But so much things have happened in these last years that i am determined to protect everything i hold dear. Toa squeezed Lei in his embrace and Lei slowly calming down looked up to Toa eyes red from crying. Ive finally found you, and this time i wont let you get away, not this time... That morning Toa introduced Lei to Kama and as if a thought formed in his mind at that moment he quickly called for Kanaloa to join them too. Lei, Kanaloa, the reason why I am here is to train this boy Kama. At first I planned on training him myself, but after meeting you both I hope that you will help me too Lei and Kanaloa looked at Toa than at the boy, and said in turn Toa my friend, if its a request from you, I will give it my all. Its just that Im no Soul Finder, true I can tap the foundations of Soul Finding. But I, myself am just a warrior. What can I offer? Lei looked at Toa and said You need not ask... My love, your goals are mine and i will help you with all my power Toa looked at the his two friends and smiled Kanaloa, true you are not a Soul Finder But I need you not for your soul, but for your strength. Kama needs a strong body as a vessel for his soul and I need your help. Lei, my love, i need you to help me train Kamas foundation in Soul Finding. Your prowess in the first three stages are indeed second to none, and I can think of no one more suited to train Kama in this. The three masters looked at each other in acknowledgment, they would train Koa from the ground up to become unmatched. Kanaloa in Strength, Lei in foundation training of the first three stages, and Toa looking over it all and teaching Kama through the fourth stage. Chapter 7. "Forged in Fire" (Part 1) Kamas POV: These last few weeks have seemed like an eternity to me. Right from that moment I discovered my first soul weapon (by pure coincidence i remind you) and falling into that crazy situation. My life seems to have taken a turn down the path of a Soul Finder Ive always known that Toa wanted me to become a Soul Finder, but till only a few weeks ago i didnt even know what it was. Although i was thrown on this path without my choosing, i dont feel that this situation is bad. Its exciting, simply exhilarating seeing a whole new world unseen by the majority of the people around me My days after arriving on Loa and being introduced to my new Teachers could be considered Hell, absolute hell. In the morning i wake up and after eating with my teachers Im lead by Kanaloa to a huge mountain. We climb up, and once we reach the top than we start our training as Kanaloa tells me this I lose all admirations for him. Why? Because this mountain is huge! At least 60k in height. Um Master Kanaloa, what do you mean climb? Climb this mountain? -Kama Haha boy, you have to at least be able to climb this mountain to begin to learn anything from me -Kanaloa ... -Kama Also a tip for the future, if you dont make it at least a quarter of the way up today, you don''t eat. Now hurry up boy, if you want to eat tonight -Kanaloa Hell absolute hell, the mountain is at least 60k tall, that means today id have to climb at least 15k to eat a meal at night. 15k thats just too much, my masters do know i''m only 7 years old right?!? *Huff* *Huff* as I slowly progress up the hill ive not even gone 3k and Im at my limit. Its already midday and I still have 12k to go, Im thirsty, hungry, and the muscles in my legs are drained. On flat land maybe id be able to do 15k but not here, not on this mountain. The mountain is steep, the trees, the humidity is sapping my strength, and every now and then i find the loose gravel give way and i slide down a bit. Why? Why do i have to do this? Why do i have to suffer so much just to live? I cant help but curse my life for putting me in these situations I really do have the worst of luck As i proceed up the mountain the sun is starting to set and Ive gone maybe 7k. I cant make it, Oh.. Oh no ughhh. My eyes are starting to go hazy and my legs start to give way, this is it, Im going to lose conscious. As my mind starts to go blank, i see a huge shadow headed my way. I wondered why I saw no wild beasts while i was climbing the mountain. I guess they were waiting for this moment. Good bye life I HATED YOU! as I think this to myself i finally let the darkness consume my mind and I fall unconscious. Kanaloas POV: Its the first day of Kamas training and i have to thoroughly test him to his limits. Once i know his peak, thats where I know to start improvement. Kamas training schedule has me building his foundation. his body. To know exactly where to begin, i have to break him, I have to forge him stronger with each moment hes on this island. My first test is Impossible at least for a boy of his age. For Kamas first trial its going to be to Climb. With each step It will exert almost all of his muscles and because of the steep incline its even more strenuous. Added onto the climb is the distance, 60 kilometers. Its a massive undertaking for anyone, But only those with the perseverance to struggle, and claw their way to the top has the right to look down on others with pride. Of course i do not expect Kama to succeed, the point of today is not to purely strengthen but to break Kama. If he cant at least go about this with all of his might, he wont make it through my training. Its been about 8 hours into the first day of training and Kama has truly amazed me. To him, hes probably thought hes gone about 7-8 kilometers. But this mountain holds a peculiar aspect not known to outsiders To those who live here we call the forests on this mountain Forest of Purgatory. Why is it that we call it this? Because Its an optical illusion, those who travel inside can walk for kilometer after kilometer but the distances dont shrink. Of course this isnt true, the forest bends the light of the day making it seem that the distance to a certain location seen in the forest is closer than it appears. When in fact the location of that object is quite a distance away. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. To Kama hes probably thought hes done 8 kilometers, but his actual distance traveled is 16 kilometers. Its double from what he thinks and its truly a sight to see. He really is a gem, its hard to think this boy is but 7 years old. Oops, looks like this is it, yup ive finally broken him. Hes about to fall, i guess i should catch him and bring him back to camp. Hes deserves a break, and Im not heartless enough to leave a 7 year old kid in the forest alone. As I arrive in front of the collapsing Kama i go to reach out and catch him. But in that instance i feel a chill in the air, the Soul Aura around Kama flexes and shines. Its the first time ive seen this. At the moment Im not even attuned to the first stage of Soul Finding but its there i can see the manifestation of Kamas soul. Its stunning, Kamas soul is pure white, but as I look closer I see an astonishing sight, 4 orbs in the center of kama each a different color Red, Yellow, Blue, and finally black. At the moment of Kamas soul fluctuation, I move back reflexively. Because, at that moment i felt my body being drained of its strength. As i progressively moved back I see a peculiar sight, the forest seems to be drained of its vast quantity of soul energy. The flow of the energy was headed directly at the motionless body of Kama. It only lasted about 3 minutes but it was an incredible sight to see. Once i saw the phenomenon subside I cautiously approached Kama. There he was passed out sleeping like a log. You truly are amazing i exclaimed as i looked over the young boy. His body is exuding power, and it seems the muscles which should be strained to the point of collapse are astonishingly supple. There was no sign of muscle strain at all HAHAHAHAHA! Truly amazing, with this the sky''s the limit! Oh Kama you poor boy, If you had just lain there like a regular boy than my training would be hard. But now that i know you possess the means to repair your muscles faster than anyone or anything ive seen Kuhuhuhu Youre going to be forged in fire and put through hell When our training is over i will have built you the strongest body i can. laughing down the mountain i carry Kama to my village and let him rest for a while longer. And as he sleeps i retell the events that took place in the forest to Toa and Lei. Kamas POV: *Yawn* Its the morning after my first day of training, Im hungry but for some odd reason I dont feel tired. Yesterday my teacher Kanaloa had me climb a ridiculously huge mountain, and i was given the day to climb at least 15 kilometers But sadly i failed him, Im weaker than i thought. I took the whole day to go only 8 kilometers, I hope Toa and Lei dont look at me with disdain. I have to work harder from now on. As i look around its still quite early, so i decide to practice my Soul Search. Because Ive started training my body, doesnt mean i cant at least train my Soul. As i say this to myself i calm my mind and heighten my senses. But just as Im about to heighten my senses i receive a sharp a pain to my back *Slap* AHHH! i let out a surprised yelp as i look back to see Kanaloa wearing a huge smile and holding a wooden bowl. G-Good Morning Master Kanaloa as i say my greeting to Kanaloa he passes me the wooden bowl and says Eat up boy, today the training is going to be the same as yesterday! Were going to climb up that mountain and youre going to need all the strength you can get As i look at the food given to me my stomach growls and I devour the contents. It was just some pork and a few fruits but knowing the training today is going to be intense i dont want to be hungry while doing it. After downing the bowl and drinking some water Kanaloa smirks and leads me back to the base of the mountain. You know what to do boy, start climbing. When you reach about 9 kilometers up the hill you can come back down 9 kilometers, thats 1 more kilometer than what I barely squeaked out yesterday Yes Master Kanaloa I reply and proceed up the mountain, but as I go up I can hear Kanaloa chuckling. That bastard, well i cant disappoint Toa so Ill give it my all Surprisingly though i feel a lot better than how i started yesterday, how peculiar, maybe Toa or Lei gave me a massage while i was passed out. Whatever the reasons at least i know that this is the start of my new daily life in hell.