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And thrust.



CRSSSSHHHOOOOM!!!

There was a milisecond pause as their palms struck the wall simultaneously, releasing their energies upon impact and traveling through it like a projectile shockwave. The wall suddenly exploded as the wave of energy violently shattered the granite in a burst of their combined spirit energy. Maximos' ability to mimic movements had caused the two of them to strike in perfect tandem, enhancing the strike overall. With the additional special properties of their respective arms, the rock was broken with such a force that even Tenkai was surprised at the outcome.

Unlike the Tekkouha, which was a technique Tenkai developed based off of his training, the Tenha Goushou Ha came directly from his training. Head-Priest Mugetsu had taught it to him as a means of using his spirit energy in close combat, capable of exorcising lesser demons and reducing weaker undead to ash. Even if Maximos' spiritual pressure had different properties than a monk, Tenkai could tell how powerful it was and could only imagine what sort of effect it would have if that attack was used on another.

Tenkai could only hope Maximos would put such a technique to good use in the future.

From their ending position, Tenkai turned his head to the Shadow and nodded approvingly. It was the first time he had actually taught a technique of his to anyone, and he was amazed at how well Maximos learned.

Of course, they wouldn't be standing around for long as a din of shouts and curses rose from behind them. Their combined technique had worked a bit too well, and chunks of rock and dirt rained down around them from the wall they had just shattered. The dwarves were scrambling around comedically, shielding themselves from the falling rocks. A few chunks of ore fell in the cart while the rest littered the floor.

"Oooohkay, lads, tha's enuff," said Ranulf, waving his arms as if to call some sort of time-out. "Aye think we're done here, no more mine-pickin'. Jus' load 'em up n' move 'em out. Hooo...if ye hit tha' rock any harder, ye'd collapse the whole mountain, if ya ken me."

Obviously Tenkai and Maxi weren't strong enough to do that, but they had gone a little overboard.

"Oh," said the monk with a bit of a laugh. "I apologize, we'll get back to work."

"Tenha Goushou Ha," said Tenkai simply. "The Heaven-Breaking Rigid Palm Wave."

Tenkai found importance in naming techniques where many found it useless. Giving something a name gave it a base for familiarity. Words made concepts tangible to the mind, easily accessed by memory. To identify a technique with a name was to bridge the gap between willpower and muscle memory. Between Shinkage-ryu, Hazanken and his own personal style, Tenkai had an overabundance of named techniques.

"Of course, for your rendition, you could always give it another name if that's hard to pronounce," he said with a smirk.

When asked about payment, Tenkai almost paused to think about it. Payment hadn't necessarily come to his mind. He didn't know as much as he would have liked about Maximos, but he considered him a friend. Tenkai felt he was someone he could trust, even though he wasn't entirely sure if they shared the same goals. Still, there was nothing that led him to believe Maximos was any sort of malevolent soul, and his almost childlike innocence with regard to many things reinforced that. Besides, he was responsible for saving the lives of these miners by slaying the gaki. Perhaps it was the right choice.

"Don't worry about repaying me," said Tenkai. "Instead, pay it forward and use what I've taught you for the good of others."

Tenkai wasn't sure how Maxi would take that, but he left that thought to his own understanding.

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Once the mining was finished and the next morning came, it was time for the monk and the shadow to get going. Maximos had already paid more than enough with his deeds to be worth the prize he sought...the precious "black jewel steel" that only Toshio Kurogane produced. Once outside the mountain pass, the old man once more handed the carefully-wrapped parcel of steel to Maximos with his gratitude. His grandson Toshihisa and Ranulf the dwarf were there as well, ready to see them off.

"I thank you from the bottom of my heart," said the old man with a bow, "I hope Hidemitsu uses that steel well, as any smith of the Soshu school would." Toshio then broke his formality for just a second. "And send that little brat my regards, hm?"

Tenkai merely smiled and nodded, amused at the though of the old man's familiarity with the smith Maximos was running this errand for.

"Ya did fine work, lad," said Ranulf, patting Maximos on the shoulder. "Oh, n' ye dinnae do too bad yerself, Mr. Cleric." Ranulf still wasn't exactly sure what Tenkai was, but even the word "cleric" was hard for him to say about someone who did what Tenkai did.

"I hope you have a safe journey home," said Toshihisa.

"Yes. Well met," replied Tenkai. "I wish you all good fortune in your endeavors."

Once the two of them had been on their way, the old man and his companions would wave them off. Tenkai returned the wave, and no doubt Maximos would do as well. The monk would have parted ways with him at this point, but he was headed to Sigil as well. Seeing Maximos to his destination would be the proper thing to do. Besides, something about Maximos' quest had piqued his interest.

"So, Maximos," said Tenkai as they walked along the path heading out of the mountains, "I remember Toshio mentioning the Soshu school. Tell me...why are you running an errand for a Soshu swordsmith?"

"A new sword?" said Tenkai, "My, my..."

Tenkai knew little about Maximos' true nature, but there were things Maximos probably hadn't realized about Tenkai either. He was a swordsman, just like Maxi, but Japanese swords were his specific area of expertise. He knew about Japanese swords and their famous lineages, even if he himself wasn't a swordsmith.

"And a blade made from a smith taught in the Soshu method at that!" he remarked. "The Soshu school is a very famous style of Japanese swordsmithing started by Masamune. He's regarded as one of the best swordsmiths to have ever lived."

Tenkai wasn't exactly sure of it, but if Maximos had any familiarity with Japanese swords and sword collecting, there was no doubt he would have heard of Masamune. Among the many artifact swords in antiquity, the most famous swords were those forged by gods and other sorts of divine beings. Others were made by dwarves and elves, races that held a deep connection with old deities and forces of nature. But Masamune was human, and yet the blades he forged were just as famous and potent.

Tenkai knew well of this, for the smith who made his blade, Muramasa, was often contrasted with Masamune.



"I have heard of Sigil," said Tenkai. "In fact, that's where I'm heading right now. I guess we're both going the same way, aren't we?"

((Not sure how to handle the next part. Should we have you post in Sigil and I take it from there, or should my next post take us to Sigil and you reply to it there? It'll be slightly time-paradoxed since Tenkai's already in Sigil doing something.))