Tiana

High upon a mist covered mountain, a large temple stood. Many had ventured there to learn, but few actually accomplished this task. Others came for spiritual enlightenment, but left feeling more in the dark then when they arrived.

The masters at the temple took training very seriously, and hand selected those they felt worthy. It was a difficult task to select, but to the chosen ones, they soon learned why so few were selected.

A small child was born near the temple long ago, and frequently ventured near the front gates. She would peak through the cracks in the gate, and watch the masters at work. She mimicked the masters, shouting aloud and slashing her stick around like a sword.

One day she was in the height of battle with her shadow, when a man appeared behind her. She was so engrossed with her make believe fight, that she backed right into him, and was startled. The man was of medium height, and looked very old. He was dressed in the robes of the masters, and smiled when she looked up at him.

"What is it that you are trying to accomplish, little one?" asked the man. He looked at her with kind eyes.

"I am going to beat every enemy I face" said the young girl, still breathing hard.

"You do not need to fight to do that little one" the man responded.

The girl looked at him curiously for a moment and then said " I didn't say I was going to fight them, just beat them".

The man looked surprised at her answer. "What is your name little one?" the man asked her.

"My name is Tiana" answered the girl, pointing her stick at him playfully.

He pondered a moment, and then asked her if she would like to see the inside of the temple. After that day, Tiana returned many times to the temple. She got to know most of the masters, and would sit for hours watching them practice and teach others. After being there so much, Tiana began to stay the night on occasion, and eventually came to live at the temple.

Tiana would surprise the masters by duplicating their moves and repeating their words. They watched her closely. Some of the other students would tease her due to her being a woman, or for sitting and watching for hours on end. But Tiana never got angry with them. She had learned to control her emotions and remain calm under the most difficult circumstances.

The masters began training Tiana in all of the arts. She learned to read different languages, cast magic spells, hide and walk without being noticed, and most of all she learned to use a katana, almost as well as the masters themselves. She learned to move so fast and quiet, that she could toss a grape in the air, cut it in half, and replace her sword in the sheath before the grape hit the ground.

Her favorite past time was practicing with her katana, but she also loved to read. She would read books from all over the world, and in all different languages. She would study books on all sorts of subjects. She was by far the most accomplished student that temple had ever seen. She decided not long ago that she would try out her teachings by traveling to far off lands. She decided to leave the temple to travel abroad for a time, but lives there still, and trains there often.