Symbol of Justice

[Nine-Tails927]

((For those who want a bit more detail, read Unknown Hero, as this will be a Prequel to the story starring Aurora. Also, reserved for Yuji until said otherwise))

Aurora Shonryu was called a lot of things in her life; Rookie, Paladin, Apprentice, Successor, and several disturbing ones that will not be named at this time. But there was two that she was both proud and honored to be; Mother, and The Symbol of Justice. This is how she came to be....



Whack!

Bam!!

Thud!!!

That would be the sound of a rookie getting her butt handed to her by her combat instructor.

Aurora, age 19, is nearing the prime of her youth, with her golden blond hair, recently cut back a lot so that it wouldn't get in her way during fights, the build of a runner, and a chest that wasn't too big, but not too small either, which got her a lot of looks from the other trainees, most of which either disturbed or scared her; disturbed from the men and scared that the women might do something to her for being more endowned than them. That didn't mean that she was soft or stupid; as top of the females in both brains and, surprisingly to the men, brawn, she was well on her way to succeed. Now if only she could have a few friends for a change, then denying the instructors trying to bribe her with a passing grade for a 'good time' would be more bearable. Unfortunately, this was one of those guys, using advance tactics instead of the ones that the trainees were supposed to be facing up against for the simulation.

Another whack to the head sent her to the floor, and the female students laughed as they were dismissed; even most of the boys were ignoring her in favor of their beliefs that women were only good for being preaching Sisters that had nothing to do with fighting. Aurora had gained the respect of a few of the men, but they wouldn't dare risk the instructor's wrath or they would also become his 'punching bag'. "Ugh, I swear I feel violated when he does this, ever single time..." Aurora pulled herself up and walked/limped out of the room and down the many halls to the nurse's office.  

[Yuji jr]

A few years ago...
A house fire had lit up a town, the building falling in on itself. In one room, two parents already gone from the room caving in. Only a few feet away in a room just opposite was a crib with a small baby within it... and that baby looked up to a stranger that appeared through the doors, unaffected from the heat. She stepped up and cocked her head to the side. The smiled down at him she reached down and picked up the child. This day was the day I lost my parents, and I was to die. Instead, I was erased from the world and placed back with a symbol on my back at a orphanage. Still to young to know what had happened. That women... she was like a twelve year old... she had wings... she had long blond hair. But I never heard her voice. I would remember it always as I stepped out in current time. Finally leaving both the orphanage and such behind me. My name is Darrick... and although i don't know all the answers I seek, I know that I have Faith, that I will find my purpose. Or maybe even better find the person who saved me that night when I was a useless small child. I'm human... and I'm sure I have a lot to learn, but I'm free...

Currently...

Darrick chuckled at the fight. He had come a little ways, but not quiet far from when he left the orphanage. His faith, that feeling in his mind, soul and gut, had lead him here. He was to learn to fight, and learn the beliefs of many it seemed. He didn't seek becoming a perfect warrior, or a paladin, or under any title exactly. He just felt he needed the knowledge how to however, even though he couldn't put it in words on how he felt it. He had never met the women, he was the newest around here right now. There were many he didn't know, he was picking up traits and studying people carefully though.
He was only 18, and alittle different then others. Instead of using his time to train, he would sit, meditate, or as he would put it, drift off. But he was called upon, and he wasn't ready. It didn't take long for him to find himself too headed to the nursery, not bad for a second day. Already with a broken arm it felt... eh he would be alright. His faith told him he would make it through this, he would pick up on they usful skills and move on. He stepped into the nursery and looked around, a completely new area for him, "umm..." he replied letting anyone there know he had entered, "I think I messed up my arm."  

[Nine-Tails927]

Yuji jr

The nurse turned to see the boy standing there, already tending to Aurora's minor bruises as she smiled at him. "Broken arm? I'll be there in a moment child..." This was Mother Teresa, veteran of the Church who preferred to use her skills in healing the injuries of others instead of causing them, and knew that Aurora was having trouble with most of the instructors. At the rate they were going, they would be damned before they let someone like the beautiful and kind Aurora out of their reach.

"Alright child, now remember to take the leg easy, and here is a stamp with my order saying to take it easy." She handed the young woman the paper with her seal of approval and went over to Darrick. "Now, this is your first time here? Good, now listen carefully; I'll be able to heal you right up, but only if you accept the power into you, otherwise it would rebound and make it worse..." Her hands had a shroud of gold around them as she brought them to the broken arm, slowly so he could have time to accept the foreign energy into his system.  

[Yuji jr]

He blinked, unsure how what he was feeling was working exacly. "is this... magic..." he asked. Well what was magic anyways? He wasn't so sure. Either way it was defently healing his arm. "Can... I ask how you do this?" He replied feeling his arm.  

[Nine-Tails927]

Yuji jr

"You must be new here if you don't know this. Well, it's more of using our life force and converting that into power, or for some people like me, healing. I have enough control over my life force that I can keep healing minor wounds all day and only get a little tired. But don't worry about me; I'll recover what was lost with a moment of rest.... and done. Don't try to over use that arm or I'll be seeing you here again sooner than I would like." As she was explaining, the Mother had finished up with mending the bones back into place, but they needed time to fully recover or else it would break again. "Here's a note with my seal on it, the instructors will understand. Now I need to get some fresh bandages, so you two stay here until I get back..." With a warm smile, she walked on out of the room, leaving Aurora and Darrick alone in the room.

Aurora, being the somewhat bright and peppy one, figured that she could at least get to know her temporary cell-mate. "Hey, I'm Aurora Shonryu."  

[Yuji jr]

He looked to the girl. He blinked a moment before responding, "... I'm Darrik." He replied as he looked around, "I have a feeling i'll be here often enough." He mumbled mostly to himself. Asura may have been able to tell already, that he wasn't used to being near people, or even having converstaions. He was shy to put it bluntly.  

[Nine-Tails927]

Yuji jr

She giggled at his blunt opinion and moved herself to be on the bed next to his, looking out the window with a sigh. "Well, as far as I can tell, you might be if this is your first time here. But as a lot of people say; what doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger. So what if you get a broken arm? It'll get tougher until it breaks steel!" She shouted the last part with humor and pointed at the ceiling, like she was making her point to the world. After holding the pose for a second, she broke down laughing.

"You know, I like you. I'm surprised that you haven't tried to hit on me yet." After she calmed down to giggling fits, she reached a hand for him to shake. "Come on.. you know you want to.... give in." She whispered loudly the last part like she was trying to control his mind, despite failing horribly at it.  

[Yuji jr]

He stared at her. Hit on her? Why would he hit her, she hadn't threatened him. As she held out a hand to him he stared at it, unsure what he was suppost to do. Was this a test, he wasn't ready for a test this early into starting. He just stared at the hand, then his low voice came out, "I... do not understand what your asking me to do?" He thought about it though, wait he seen others do this before on his travles. He finally reached out and carfully took her hand, "like this?" He asked lowly.  

[Nine-Tails927]

Yuji jr

She looked confused about his hesitation until it somewhat hit her; was he perhaps shy around other people, and she was pushing him away? Their hands shook for a bit then parted away. "Sorry, you must be new and not sure on what to do around here; kinda forgot that Mother said that." She laughed weakly scratching the back of her head. "HEY! How about we train together? This way, I'll have a punching bag Partner, and you can get some experience with fighting. Besides, a final test is coming up where the veteran members will come along and choose who will become Paladins. And I plan to be the best of them all!!" She somehow quickly stood on the bed and showed him a V with her hand, winking as she was somehow surrounded by little hearts and a stray ray of light from the ceiling.  

[Yuji jr]

The girl... she was... energetic. That much he now understood. But she was basicly doing something she felt was right. He hesitated, but he would need a helping hand to get used to things. He needed skills for whatever his faith would take him next. He gave a nod, "As long as I can follow my Faith." He replied in low breath. He glanced over at the doorway, "You seek becoming a Paliden then." He nodded and looked down. A smile appeared, faint, but still there. He then looked to her, "it's good to follow a goal then." He no goals. And he wasn't sure if he should envy her or not. Scratch that, now that he thought about it, he did have a goal. To find who that girl was, on that one spechal night. But it was on his to do list, Faith would guide him there. THe feeling in his gut would steer him in the right direction. And he would develop whatever skills he felt he would need in life as they came to him. Apparently He wasn't only here to lean how to fight, but also to gain some people skills. Maybe gain alittle trust while working beside someone, to see what that was like. This could be good for him. Then he asked, "what weapon do you use?"  

[Nine-Tails927]

Yuji jr

Aurora gained a smile that could outshine the sun and hopped down onto the ground like she wasn't in there for injuries a few minutes ago. "I mostly trained in swordplay; been a Shonryu tradition for a few centuries. However, since the Church thought that having sharp pointy objects would be bad for rookies to screw up badly, everyone below the Elders and Arch Paladins (those whom have performed great deeds that would be recognized by even the heavens.... well, at least that's what the Elders say.) are to use weapons that would manifest from our very soul, depending upon the person's personality. Even the minor details to it can tell someone a lot about the wielder. However, again, that's also restricted from the trainees, and those who pass can attain one. Which is the first of my many smaller goals before the ultimate prize."

She shook off the far off look in her eyes before getting back to the subject at hand. "In any case, the standard weapon we're restricted to is a hammer-based weapon, either one-handed with a shield or two-handed. And I personally use the heavier brand."  

[Yuji jr]

He nodded, "that should mean your strong then to swing a heavy object like that around." He looked down, "... I wish to use a blade. A long sword, but I wish to train myself into wielding it with one hand." He held his hand up to stare at it, "but if hammers and shields are all they offer here, then this place isn't for me after all." He looked again to the doorway, it was clear he couldn't make eye contact fro some reason, like he was afrade too almost. But yet there were so many mysteries that Asura would need to learn about this stranger. Why a long sword? He's never even picked up a weapon before now. Did he plan on just walking out of here, if they wouldn't train him in that skill? Why? Surly there were many mysterious and questionable aspects of this man as he placed his hands into his pockets in thought...  

[Nine-Tails927]

Yuji jr

"You too?!" Her smiled evolved into a predatory grin. "Then I think I know just how to get some practice without having to use a real weapon, at least for now. Wait right here..." She bolted out of the room for a few minutes, then came skidding back in, her boots squeaking across the floor. In her hands were two odd sticks in the shape of samurai blades. "These should help. Even though I favor the heavy, I can still use a one-handed blade with ease, and I can teach ya." She seemed determined to figure out the enigma that was her new friend.  

[Yuji jr]

He took on of the wooden blades. He started to swing it around in one had, twirling it, and even trying to get a few strikes into the air before nodded, "these are infact too light. It will off balance me when I got to use a real one later, but I guess the point is to learn what strikes to make, and when to strike." He nodded to her, "where can we go to practice?" He said this with a razed brow while placing the sword on his shoulder. The same board like expression on his face never left however, but at least now she had his attention. Luckily his swinging arm wasn't the only that got damaged before. So he was handy capped right no so what, so was she.  

[Nine-Tails927]

Yuji jr

"We can head on over to an empty training field, I think 13 is open right now." She grabbed his sword hand and dragged him along with her to the empty field with ease, letting him fly behind her like a rag doll. How people can have spurs of superior strength besides a life-death scenario, no one has been able to explain.

The Academy there has 21 training fields, 5 are reserved for when instructors are giving out demonstrations, 10 are available to put on reserve, another 5 are open to everyone, and the last one, "Ground 0", is a myth of a training ground, where supposedly the Angels of Judgment trained the First of the Paladin order to continue their work of spreading peace and justice. It's location, however, was lost to history.

Moving right along, Aurora made it to the training ground and looked at Derrick, who was on the ground finally after being dragged for a 1/4 of a mile in the span of 15.34 seconds. "Come on, we're here. Oh yea, and you were correct when you mentioned about the weight difference. As my grandfather said when he was training my mother, 'If I have to tell you where to put your sword, then you haven't been paying attention.' In short, if you don't learn the basics, then you can never truly master a weapon."