The Tales of the Argonauts: the Osorezu and the Hana (9-1)

Chapter 9: The Guide of Strength

The academy remained on lockdown for another week, and the events were postponed indefinitely. All this to prepare for the rise of the new Guide. After all, this was a cause for celebration as Kai was to be the first chosen for his position in a century. Additionally, the goddess Kurin was the deity of festivals, so it was befitting.

The arena was of a different breed. No longer was there a thick humidity in the air, but a festive mildness. The sandpit was no longer baking beneath artificial white lights, but the entire area was aglow with various shades of lanterns, all hung at the posts that would have held the intense stage lights and sound recording equipment. The smell of food and candles filled the air instead of sweat and leather. Of course, traces off the old arena still lingered, but this just made the festival feel more special.

Food and game stalls filled the area where the stands would have been. Some stalls also sold little trinkets, such as Kurin idols, strength necklaces and belts. In the sandpit activities were being held. These included football, lacrosse, capture the flag, and various others. The participants in these games, as well as the festival, weren't only from the academy, but from the surrounding towns, and sometimes even from across the country.

If one were lucky, they could find the soon-to-be Guide among the crowd. Kai was dressed in a beautiful dress of gold, with violet accents. It fell in pleats, but it was far from a uniform skirt. In fact, it was a Grecian dress, with a violet rope that sat tied at her hips and small leaves that wound over her arms and shoulders in a graceful manner that befit the new heavenly Guide.

Pualani remained by her side, dressed in a blue robe, similar in style to the King's. However, this robe bore no dragon, nor any gold. It was merely cerulean, with an iris hem.

The two friends stood out like sore thumbs. All others wore reds and oranges and yellows, for good luck. However, none were allowed to wear the colour of the Goddess Kurin, save her disciple herself. Pualani simply endeavoured to be different from the crowd.

It also was not difficult to find Shun, who wore a lime green double breasted shirt, accompanied by tan slacks. Kenichi wore a yellow outfit of a similar nature and Tara, who was only seen in passing, was wearing red. He scolded all but Kai and Tara for wearing the colours that they had. However, rumours began to spread about the group and their oddly coloured clothing. Some were complete fantasy, such as the three being companions of Kai for her spiritual journey. Others were that they were disrespectful and took the goddess for granted.

Kai persuaded them not to care and to simply go on with their day. She led them to a food stall at first, and got each of them a snack. She was fed for free, as well as Kenichi, Pualani and Shun, on her request. She then led them to a game stall where they played a replication of the rock lifting competition from the birth of Kurin. Kai refrained from this game, and Shun reigned victor by one stone.

It was at this time that Kai was called into the sandpit. There, she found a stage, accompanied by a low table. Upon this table was a violet wreath, which looked to be meant for her to wear as a crown. She flushed to this honour and almost refused to go up. However, Shun took her hand and pulled up through the sand toward the stage.

"But Shun! Look at all of these people!" Kai gasped out, attempting to wrench her hand from his. She was panicking. What if I trip? What if they ask me to speak and I fumble? I'm going to trip over my dress when I go up the stairs. What if it's not meant to be a crown but a necklace and I make a fool of myself by putting it on my head?

"Kai, hey," Shun nudged her shoulder, "are you in there?" She jumped, coming to life once more. Her hand held his tighter.

"Shun," she began, but was interrupted.

"Listen to me. Where are we?"

"In the arena," she answered.

"Where are we standing?" he asked.

"What do you mean? The sandpit." Her face began to scrunch up, confused.

"What do you do the best, Kai?"

"I don't know! What does this have to do with anything?" she hissed, squirming anxiously. Shun sighed.

"You're the strongest person in the entire academy. You fight better than anyone that I know. You've stared at a goddess in the face and risked drowning to save your opponent. I know you. If you wouldn't have been able to lift Kapena, you would have drowned with him." Kai's eyes went wide to what he was saying. "That amount of bravery will never be paralleled in my eyes. Now stop being a baby. You're stronger than this."