It was just a split second. A blink. A quick breath. A pebble falling. A shifting breeze just beyond the eyelashes of the young warrior-in-training. Perhaps it was the subtle odor of oiled steel. Maybe the startled chip of the sparrow. Whatever cue it was, had he stopped to think about it, the needle sharp spike would have pierced him had he not dropped to the ground. He would like to have thought it was a graceful, cat-like dodge, but it was more of a crash and a stumble. He looked up as he lay on his back on the moist forest floor, to see a thin steel spike piercing the tree where he stood a moment before. Time stood still but the attacker pressed in. Leaping from his place of ambush, the grey-veiled assassin leapt an inhuman distance in the air above and drew his finishing dagger, dropping to plant the weapon in the young mans chest. Scrambling for his own blade, the young warrior capably rolled backwards over his shoulder into a low crouch just as the attacker landed where he had lay a moment before. The two combatants faced each other for what seemed like an eternity but only a moment in time. Though only his eyes showed, the dark assailant’s eyes betrayed a grin as they looked at the growing pool of blood below the boy’s ankle. He could feel the warm trickle from his lower leg. Stunned, he had not realized the cut until this moment. How and when were a mystery, as were so many of the tactics of the dark ones. He tried to restore his focus. His mind began to swirl as spots appeared before his eyes. Poison. And, as if in a dream, he sprung from his crouch, as high as he might, to reach the branch twice his height above his head. He knew he had once chance, one hope, before he succumbed to the toxin. His leap was strong still and his off-hand found the wrist-thick limb. Fingers closed around it, his full weight came to bear and the boy knew it was too late. His strength would not hold. His vision faded to black and his hand lost it’s grip.
His elders had often told stories of the mysteries of time and eternity. But he had not understood it until he fell from that tree. It had been just seconds since the beginning of the attack. Like lightning had both combatants moved. But now, as he fell, his thoughts turned to his teacher. Kneeling side-by-side, near the mountain stream by his home, he recalled these words.
“You must keep going! Forget your sadness, anger, grudges and hatred. Let them pass like smoke caught in a breeze. You should not deviate from the path of righteousness; you should lead a life worthy of a man. Don’t be possessed by greed, luxury, or your ego. You should accept sorrows, sadness and hatred as they are, and consider them a chance for trial given to you by the powers…”
He crashed to the ground, blind and exhausted by the venom coursing through his veins.
“Keep going!” was all he heard.