When the dinner finished, the Deshik children quickly stood gathered the dishes and started taking them into the kitchen.

“You two don’t worry about washing. Come back in here so we can get this over.”

Spirito squeaked with his excitement. They’d shown him the offers during dinner but refused to let him open them. Not until the meal was complete.

Shasis set her stack of dishes into the sink and grabbed his armload full. They both hurried back and there they were. Lying across the table, are five white square envelopes.

Spirito looked at them, then at his Da and Mama. “Which one first?”

Latik leaned forward with both elbows on the table, and her paws beneath her chin, looking on. “I don’t know, but they may not accept you if you don’t open one soon.”

Shasis snickered.

Salor grinned.

Spirito rolled his eyes. He reached out and tapped the one closest. “This one.” His claws quickly damaged the sticky fold and flipped it open to pull out the folded heavy card. As he traced a claw over his name on the front, someone cleared their throat. He didn’t even know who. He opened the card and read the brief message.

Dear Mr. Spirito Deshik,

We are pleased to extend this invitation to you for an exclusive training session on the revered Way of Chu. We are pleased to invite you to an exclusive training session in the revered Way of Chu. This special training session will take place at the Proev’l Grounds in Hall 4, and the esteemed Doha Gudak will offer expert instruction.

Event Details:

• Date/Time: 7 AM First Day of Admittance
• Venue: Proev’l Grounds

We believe your participation will benefit from this unique opportunity to deepen your skills and understanding under the guidance of Master Gudak. Your presence will confirm your interest. 

Doha Gudak

Spirito’s mount was gaping wide as he reread it silently. He looked up at everyone and they were nodding. “So, I’m accepted?” He handed the card to his father.

Salor nodded. “In the way of Chu. That’s excellent son.”

“Doha Gudak was there when I attended. He is an excellent master, and might even have increased to third rank by now. Very impressive, little brother.”

Spirito grinned.

“And the others?” His mother asked, gently.

Spirito grabbed another, ripped it open, and slipped out the card. He flipped it open and gasped.

“It’s another invite to train in Fac with Doha Bellin.”

“Hot damn. That’s my son. Two ways. I’m so happy for you, Spirito.”

“That’s amazing, Spirito. Just remember, you don’t have to accept both. But it’s an honor, regardless.” Shasis grabbed her brother and shook him by the arms with excitement. “Two invites put you right up there with the best.”

Spirito frowned at the other cards. He handed the Fac to his father and grabbed a third. He lifted his eyes from the open card and panted. “It’s…it’s an invitation to study in the Way of Tao with Doha Nellik.” 

“Tao, that is the green guild, yes?” Latik threw the question toward her husband.

Salor nodded, drawing a deep breath and blowing it out deliberately. He watched Spirito turn the card over and then went back to read it again. He jumped when Latik poked him. “Umm. Yes, dear. They study energy and concepts of mind and body. I’m sure there’s more to it, but I’m not altogether versed in it. We can go to the training center tomorrow and talk with the trainees or graduates to learn more. The academy always provides as much information as possible in all the ways. But I wouldn’t venture much on Tao, being as similar as you’d wish to the ways of your Red Clan Spirit. Still, Tao is extremely… health-based.”

“What is Cen like Da? And Sune? Doha Aliq says I am to train in Cen and Sune with him.” 

Latik gasped and held her paw to her chest.

While Salor was talking, Spirito had opened the last two invitations to find the elder Doha Aliq invited their son to explore peace and spirit. Salor was dumbfounded and speechless. Just the idea of getting five separate invitations was unheard of. But his wife was beyond herself as she realized her son was being invited to study so in many areas.

She held out her paw, and Spirito handed over the cards he still held. She scanned the information, and the cards shook in her trembling grasp. When Spirito returned from his tour, his mother sat him down and made him share his entire day. Doha Aliq caught her attention because she’d felt him more philosophical. Yilta asked Spirito so many questions about his run-in with Doha Aliq sensing this Doha was much more profound. Now her eyes glowed with excitement. Everyone knew she was very pleased long before she stood and grabbed Spirito and hugged him fiercely.

****

“What is his next move?” Salor questioned after they’d sent him off to bed.

“Well, it’s not like he can study five ways,” Shasis commented with a small frown.

 “Why not? If he chooses to explore those ways, he will take them on as he does any challenge, one claw-length at a time. At least if he studies more than just fighting, I believe he would move toward his full potential.” Yilta murmured, her voice full of satisfaction. 

Salor wanted to argue that he may never use most of that training, but his wife’s remarks brought him up short. He worried over the Skaveen reading that held one too many pathways for Spirito to follow. Spirito was bound to follow as a protectorate. The boy was training to do just this thing. He was deep into Fac and might reach a first mastery level within another two years. But if he dedicated more time to studying subjects other than Fac or Chu, was he spending his time wisely? He could definitely learn more and be prepared for whatever came. The more Salor studied Chu and its relationship to Fac, the more he understood their connection. One or the other often aided in how he solved issues when he’d been more active in the protectorate role. In what way would learning five different ways teach someone? 

“He would need too many years,” Shasis murmured.

“Really? And does he not have those years? He is nine. He won’t graduate until 15 and even then, he can continue with additional years to attend training until 18. At twice his age he can find mastery over the five ways if he so chooses. He has been training in Fac and Chu for two years now.” Yilta contradicted her daughter.

With surprise, Salor nodded in agreement with his wife. “He will master the first level of Fac and possibly Chu faster. That leaves him four or more additional years to master the other three. And if I know him, he will buckle down to do what he sets out to finish. The training of all seven ways has strong connections, Shasis. His studies could only give him more weapons, tools, and knowledge.”

“But Da, the cost of staying so focused, to train in multiple ways, could seriously burn him out. The academy is rough enough with just academic work and training in one way, much less trying for five. Five? It’s unheard of. What if he fails?”

Yilta and Salor looked at each other and back at Shasis. “Failure helps to shape you. You know this. How many times did you need to practice accomplishing the back leg scissor kick technique? Why did you continue learning? It was something you were determined to learn. You were obsessive about it. You failed so many times. And one day, it was a part of your skills,” he concluded.

Yilta gave a small smile. “I couldn’t say it better myself, except to share that failure is the first step in finding success. But to not try is a false step toward defeat. If he does not try, he will never know what he can do. And to bid him to not try, we put ourselves in his way of success.”

Shasis looked at both of them and sighed. “I wish I had a special little clutch slogan to hand back to you about the makings of a man, but I’ve only ever dealt with raising the prince and that is not going as I planned. So, I will leave it alone and let my brother choose his own path.”

Yilta tilted her head and frowned. “Can either of you tell me more about Tao, Cen, and Sune studies?”

Shasis spread her paws and grimaced. “Tao is for Growth. They teach a bunch of -ologies, like Biology, Psychology, and physiology, along with genetics and natural studies. You’ve probably given him a head start in that area as well. His learnings would touch on the controls of energy and how to conserve or spend it.

“Cen is the study of Spirit,” Salor said, wiggling his claws, intimating a spookiness between them. Essentially, it involves the study of religions, mysticism, theology, and related areas. It’s very otherworldly mooglty-gooblty in areas that I cannot understand. And it allows students to grasp concepts from different cultures to know how to interact.”

“Sune is the study of peace.” Shasis followed when Salor finished. “Which I don’t believe hurts anyone involved with the royal family to study. It’s the exact opposite of conflict, which Fac and Chu studies learn, early on. And delves into politics, economics, and law. As well as history and culture, education and ethics, and gender studies. The Sune way is somewhat promoted in the core studies, but Sune studies dig much deeper.” Shasis sat back and stared at the nearby wall. “I’ve been thinking it might help me to talk with a Sune Doha to see if this might aid me in my protectorate role. Some of the king’s constituents have often hindered me with their challenges to political policies and legal frameworks.”

Salor nodded. “It just might be beneficial, Shasis. It may help you understand the key roles of the royal persons that are affecting specific areas. Goodness knows we have had many policies change since I served.”

“I don’t think you’d recognize it anymore, Da. It is no longer a haven for those that provide protection. We are a minority, and the politicians are limiting our actions every day. I truly worry when Spirito is bonded, if he is bonded, and must enter the realm of politics in such toxic areas.

“No doubt his advanced training will enable him to find the best paths to tread upon,” Yilta said, as she ran her claw over the script of her son’s name on the envelope lying on the surface of the table.