"Look how much you`ve grown, Enril. And what happened to your hair?" His mother hugged him the moment he entered the house, then patted his spiky hair.

　　"It`s been this way for a while. My Maneuver pushes it straight up, and now it stays this way. Zelek shaves the sides for me. I like it this way," Enril explained with a faint smile, though tears welled up in his eyes moments later.

　　"What`s wrong?" She pulled him close. "You`ve just come from battle and the worst you`ve suffered is a damaged robe and missing shoes. Shouldn`t you be celebrating? What`s troubling you?"

　　Between his sobs, Enril managed to utter, "Has no one told you the true results of the battle? If it weren`t for the Council, I wouldn`t be able to show my face to you for days."

　　"No, son, all we`ve heard is that Patriarch Xing announced a festival tomorrow. What happened out there?" His father asked.

　　"Elders&they&d-d-di&" Enril slumped to his knees. He broke down, and his mother held him as he cried.

　　His father grabbed a chair and sat nearby. "Enril, I`d like you to hear what I have to say," his father said. Enril nodded on his mother`s shoulder. "I think I can assume what the Elders did. You need to understand, the Elders did what they felt was necessary. This is the first time you`re experiencing grief. Unfortunately, you will experience this many more times in your life. Each time, it marks the end of a chapter." His father paused for a moment. "However, it also marks the beginning of a new chapter. New adventures, journeys, places, people, and relationships. All new things that are good and fun. You don`t have to understand these words now, just know, in time you will heal. The weight of grief may never fade, but you will become strong enough to bear it, just as you`ve grown strong enough to be the pride of the clan." He placed his hand on Enril`s shoulder. "Your parents couldn`t be more proud of you, son."

　　Enril`s tears were interrupted by an echoing slam from the neighboring house. He broke free of his mother`s embrace and rushed outside to find Zelek stomping down the road. "Brother, wait, what`s wrong?" Enril tried to dry his eyes.

　　"They don`t get it. They don`t understand what it`s like to have blood on their hands. It`s our fault they died. We`re responsible for it. If we had just been stronger." Zelek raised his head and shouted at the sky. "Why did Heaven bless us with this talent if we can`t save anyone." He stopped and looked around, a worried look on his face.

　　"What`s wrong? What are you looking for?"

　　"Did you hear that, Brother? A bell rang." Zelek continued to search.

　　Both sets of parents rushed out of their homes and retrieved their sons. They tried to comfort them, but the wounds to their hearts were too fresh.

　　In the East wing of the Foon territory, Xing stood in the center of the tiled arena. He donned formal robes, green with silver trim and a golden sash. "I want to extend a warm welcome to everyone in attendance. Today, we celebrate many things. It is with a proud heart that I can announce the Phizen threat has been squashed. We can walk with our heads high." He raised a fist to the air and cheers erupted from the surroundings. As he lowered his fist, the wind swept across the crowd silencing them. "It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you of the price we paid for this victory. First Elder Heles and Seventh Elder Winryu sacrificed their lives so that we could see another day. Without them, none of this would have been possible. We honor their memory and celebrate their lives, for they would want us to find happiness in this time of mourning." He raised a fist again and the entire crowd cheered.

　　Matriarch Di Yu stepped forward, adorned with the same clothing as her husband, and the crowd silenced. "Allow us to introduce three new heroes to the clan who, alongside the ultimate sacrifice of two Elders, played a vital role in achieving this victory. Please, hold your applause until the end. As I call your name, step forward. Foon Zelek." Zelek walked up the stairs into the tiled arena. New robes had been provided to him for this occasion. They were identical to the Patriarch`s and Matriarch`s but trimmed in bronze. He stood one step behind the two.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

　　"Foon Enril." Enril was clothed the same as Zelek. He strode into the arena and stood one pace from Zelek.

　　"And last, our greatest hero of the day, Foon Jun!" she announced. Jun darted to his spot in the arena, standing shoulder to shoulder with his father and waving as the crowd erupted into cheers. Enril and Zelek both shrunk back, shadows crossing their faces.

　　Xing silenced the crowd again. "I`d like to highlight some of the remarkable feats accomplished by these brave youths. They`ve far transcended what I thought possible of Seekers their age. Jun, my son, you made your clan proud with your display yesterday." Xing turned to the crowd and spread his arms wide. "I witnessed his incredible talents, his strength and determination, masterful control of riken, and his overwhelming power first-hand. With him at my side, we defeated Phizen Dango in mere minutes. The battle between Dango and I would`ve lasted for an hour without Jun. His accolades don`t end there, though. After fighting beside me, he sought to relieve the Elders of their burden and assisted them in defeating a second member of the enemy`s group. His body must house a tiger. Please, let Jun hear your love and adoration." Xing raised one of Jun`s arms in the air. Jun`s face reddened as he soaked in the cheers and applause of the crowd. The clamor of the crowd grew to deafening levels. It took five full minutes of shouting and cheering for the crowd to settle down.

　　"Now, let`s turn our attention to these two boys." Xing walked to the two boys who had inched to the edge of the arena and hung their heads. "Let`s start with the shocking news." A grin spread from ear to ear on Xing`s face. "At just sixteen years both of these boys are our newest Expressionists." The gathered Foon members responded with oohs` and ahhs` upon hearing the news. "Moreover, together they fended off a Seeker even mightier than myself until our late Winryu arrived to assist them in securing victory. As First-Step Expressionists, they withstood a Third-Step opponent. They are truly dragons in boys` bodies. Enril and Zelek rightfully deserve your praise and honor, so let them hear it, Foon members!" Xing raised an arm of each boy into the air as the crowd erupted into shouts and cheers once more. Neither boy raised their head to face the crowd.

　　Jun and Di Yu slunk away from the arena, and Jun grumbled, "You`d think those two were his children or something."

　　"If the clan didn`t know how strict Xing is about monogamy, I think he`d claim them as children of concubines," Di Yu snarled.

　　As the crowd continued to roar and rave, Xing forced both boys to give him their attention. "I know you`ve been through a lot, and this is a tough time. Please, try to relax and enjoy tonight." He smiled at them and patted their shoulders before joining the crowd for drinks and food.

　　The celebration seemed endless as alcohol and food were passed around, shared in merriment and joy. The Foon Clan hadn`t experienced such a joyous celebration since Xing`s ascension to the Expression Realm. Enril and Zelek found the first opportunity early in the evening to slip away. They found refuge at Winryu`s empty residence, sitting where they sat as children in the courtyard.

　　"Long time since we`ve been here, huh?" Zelek asked as he traced his finger in the dirt.

　　"Hard to believe we goofed off here for so many years, and he put up with us without complaint. Sure, he was stern, but he cared for us." Enril looked at the empty home.

　　A bell rang, and this time Enril heard it too. They both stood and faced the courtyard`s entrance. "Very perceptive. I came to offer you both some words." Madam Yun stepped into sight from the shadows. Both boys bowed and greeted her by title. "You bemoan the righteous power you`ve been granted. You`ve entered a realm of power that most in your clan can`t fathom. What more could you desire?" she asked.

　　"Is that even a question? Yesterday was proof we do not hold righteous power. Brogle had power. If we were like hi-" Zelek began.

　　"What if I told you Brogle had no more than two years to live?" Yun interrupted. Both boys stared in silence as she continued, "Yes, he ingested an herb known as SeekersBane. It grants incredible power in return for crippling your lifespan. In essence, he took a shortcut to have temporary power. Is that what you desire?" Both boys responded with a confident no`. "If strength is what you desire, I suggest you seek it. When a stranger offers you advice, don`t dismiss it as a fool`s ramblings. Pay attention to everything around you. Opportunity finds people like you, the ones chosen by Heaven." Yun turned to walk away. She peeked at the boys out of the corner of her eye. "Oh, and don`t be afraid of leaving the Vale. When the time comes, the outside world is dangerous, but rife with opportunity." With another ring of a bell, she vanished in a blink of light.

　　"She`s just like Sect Master. Appearing and disappearing on us. Why do people do that?" Zelek groaned as he sat down.

　　"SeekersBane? It`s both a treasure and a curse wrapped in one herb. How interesting&" Enril pondered.

　　"Brother, when we go back to the sect I think we should take separate jobs. With two of us working we can gather twice the reward. The faster we grow, the better." Zelek slammed a fist into the dirt.

　　"Yes, I agree." Enril sat next to Zelek.

　　 They spent the night reminiscing about their childhood. All the shenanigans they had pulled on Elder Winryu, the times he would spout about being born unlucky, and many more fond memories they held in their hearts.