Toki's Tale

Inside the monastery walls was a sand garden, where the tiny grains were raked into intricate patterns.
A monk was carefully raking the last part into position when another Ettin hit it at high speed. As the sand sprayed up, the monk shrugged philosophically and started raking again.
In the centre of the sand garden was a large, flat rock. Atop this rock was a young Gargoyle, busy fighting an Ettin of the same age. Blow after blow met quick blocks, and Toki was beginning to be impressed with this one's fighting skills.
Distracted by this thought, the Ettin almost got a blow in, but she shielded herself with a wing.

The Ettin moved back slightly, so Toki lashed out with her leg and knocked him off the rock. Again the pattern was ruined, spraying the raking monk with sand
"Toki?" he said, starting to rake again. "You're only meant to win, not beat them."
Toki leapt off the rock and glided swiftly down to the path by the garden.
"Isn't it the same thing, Orae?" she said, playfully kicking and punching an imaginary opponent.
"I think it's time for you to go to the next level of Ensai..." Orae said, jumping over the entire sand garden and landing silently on his feet. Toki looked at him in amazement.
"There are many Ensai skills you do not know," he said sagely.
"Including jumping over great distances and breaking bricks with your head?"
Orae sighed and beckoned Toki to follow.

As they walked, the sand garden gave way to a large lawn. Around them were Ettins in blue silk habits, training against walls, boards and each other. In the corner was a group of older Ettins, dressed in black silk habits and headbands, fighting faster than Toki could follow.
"Who are those?" Toki asked, pointing at the Ettins in black, who promptly stopped and bowed.
"Those are the Laet," Orae said, "the most skilled fighters we have. It takes great skill and training to become one."
"I wanna be one. They look cool."
Orae sighed and led her back to the younger Ettins. He called one over and introduced Toki.
"This is Paetol," Orae said, "the best fighter we have. So far, at least."
The Ettin bowed and leapt back into a fighting stance. Toki bowed as well, and lunged forward with a kick.

Two minutes later Paetol was on the floor, Toki's foot pressing down hard on his head. Orae was watching with mild interest.
"It isn't fair!" Paetol growled. "She cheated! Ow!"
Orae looked up sharply at Toki, who had dug her claws in. She smiled sheepishly and took her foot off Paetol's head, not before giving it a little kick.
"You lost the battle because you were arrogant, Paetol. I knew Toki was ten times the fighter you were, and I knew I had to dispell your pride." Orae said, smiling.
"But she has wings!"
"And this helped how?"
Paetol floundered for words, gave Toki a harsh look and stormed off.

Orae left Toki under the supervision of a Laet, whose emotionless facade was rapidly dropping as she took on any Ettin who dared to come within five feet of her.
In the shadow of the monastery wall was a Norn with greying fur and orange eyes. He wore ragged leather which seemed decades old, though he managed to make it look threatening. In his mouth was a lit cigarette, which emitted small puffs of smoke occasionally.
"She's good," he said in a low voice.
"Exceptional, Rel." Orae replied.
"That too."
"We can only teach her so much, you know."
Rel took a long drag on his cigarette.
"When she's ready, I'll see."
Orae stood a little way back, away from the smoke.
"Those are bad for you," he said, casually.
The Norn flicked the cigarette to the ground and stamped it out with his boot.
"Can't help it. I got hooked on them at an early age. Damn pipe-smoking bearded landlord..." Rel said, trailing away into mumbled swearing.
"Promise me this, Rel," Orae said. "You must protect her. I do not want her to end up like her mother."
Rel stopped cursing and froze. He gazed over the Ettin's shoulder at Toki, then at the giant mountain range beyond the walls.
"I have to tell her. One day," he said.

In the darkness, a pair of eyes opened from their slumber. They were bright red, and glowed with unholy hellfire.
"She's alive..." a voice muttered in the darkness.

Chapter 1

Chapter 3