World of Taroo

by Jimmy Eriksson

  Gon called out some names and also Sophia’s. They all got ready and everyone else took a couple of steps back. The monks walked over the bridge and had all taken off their robes. They were wearing white pants with red belts and were looking well-trained. They came over to the other side and all bowed their heads down to Gon as they then knew him to be the master. He nodded to them and the monks stood ready to begin the fight.

  Gon sat down on a log and told those he picked out to fight well. He knew Sophia wouldn’t let him down so he just smiled to her giving a nod. The first fight began, and both fighters tested each other which showed that it was clear the monks were good fighters. They used martial arts that were very fast and unleash many strikes for the student to block. The first monk was delivering many punches and when the student tried to kick, he got the monk’s leg behind his knee to be taken down. He got two more hits before he was able to move back to safety. The monk might be fast but his strength was less than his opponent. The pupil had an idea and moved forward towards the man with much confidence. As soon as he tried to punch, the monk was ready to counter strike but as he did, he left himself open. He took the chance and delivered a hard kick on the side of the body. He then hit him in the leg and then with two punches in a row, he equalised the fight.

  The monk was clearly taken by surprise and everyone was cheering around. The monk was again hit when the student then got in another two strikes before the monk could defend himself. First win to the school and Gon thanked the young man who just recently joined his school. The following two matches were both won by the monks and then Sophia was ready to fight. She had pressure on her to win and she warmed up good. The monk was bigger than every other monk and he smiled to her as he expected it to be over fast. She didn’t let him think that for long because as soon as the signal came, she struck him hard on the chin when he tried to grab her. He looked surprised at the young woman that was then again coming towards him. He blocked a hard kick and then slammed his hands on the ground that just missed her. She was able to kick him on his hip and he was again surprised on how strong the young woman was. He eventually got a hit in when she tried to block but went through the hands hitting her.

  With him being so strong, he was able to grab her hands and lift her to slam her on the ground behind him. She narrowly escaped him grabbing her again and rolled to the side. The big monk was very fast for his size and as she got up, he was able to kick her down again then held her down with his foot. Gon was always having an eye on the fight and even if he looked calm, he was ready to stand up to take on the fight himself if he saw it getting over the line. Sophia was trying to get out from the push of the foot and made an effort to kick his leg several times to try to get loose. He laughed as he blocked them and said she should give up but she gave her full strength and used her leg on the back of his knee causing him to lose balance. She was able to get up finally but he grabbed her and pulled her against him. He squeezed her and told her he could crush her easily so she should give up right then. She struggled to get free and when he hugged her tighter, she got fed up and took aim.

  She pulled her head back and pushed it forward towards his nose so hard that when she hit it, the people around could hear it break. The big man let go and screamed loudly while backing away from her. Sophia would not lose the chance and took aim for him. He looked up just as she jumped towards him and had little time to react. She kicked him in the chest once then turned around in the air and kicked him again in the same place with the other foot to push herself away. The impact clearly hurt him, and he began to breathe faster. She then ran towards him but as she was ready to kick him in the side, he swung his arm to block and used the other one to swipe her legs. She fell and he got closer to trying to finish the fight by striking her down when she was on the ground.

  Sophia took aim and kicked her herself up towards him quickly pushing away once more when she hit him making a back flip to lands on her feet. She stood ready again but a monk declared her the winner. The big monk who everyone thought would be angry simply bowed to her and accepted that she won without any problem. He then walked away with a smile and Sophia looked relieved and bowed back to the monk while taking praise from the others. They cheered loud and she smiled as she walked back to her father. She sat down and looked at the next opponent that was ready to begin. Her father put his arm around her and said he knew she got injured on the side of her body. She put her hand over the side while he told her he was proud of her for being so strong and never giving up. She felt happy to hear him say that because she wished to be as strong as him. He gave her a kiss on the head then turned to the final fight.

  The last fight was fought by Gon’s pride student, Wame, and the match did not go on for long until he stood victorious. Gon had trained him well and he had the highest ranking in the school. The dark voice told the monks to move back and let in the new people to face the last challenge. Gon walked in front and had Isabel behind him. She wondered if the monks would keep their word, hoping they didn’t have to walk all the way down again. They walked for thirty minutes and came to an open area in the mountain. As soon as they entered it, they could see the monastery that was located over another bridge naturally made in the mountain.

  The monks stood in front of the way to the monastery and some of the pupils would have to stay in the path going through the mountain but they still had a great view over the open area. Everyone was quiet and was looking around and soon, the dark voice spoke again. The voice said to be able to cross the last bridge to reach the monastery, they must send the best fighter against the monastery’s greatest fighter in another first five strikes. Gon knew it was him everyone expected to fight and he didn’t let them wait so he moved out on to the open area right away. He stood ready and looked at the monks around him. They started to move out of the way and suddenly, someone in a hooded cloak and black clothes emerged. He was taller than Gon and looked strong even if the clothes were hiding his body as well as face. He greeted Gon who did the same then the tall man took his place on the open area in front of him.

  They both stood ready and it didn’t take long until the masked man moved quickly towards Gon. He struck incredibly fast and almost hit Gon when he was blocking. He tried again but this time, Gon returned the punch and could as well almost hit the man. Gon then attacked and the man had to defend from the attack. He struck and make the man block more than himself in the fight for entry to the monastery. Gon pushed him to walk backwards and tried to take control of the situation. He soon found out how good the man was when he got one kick blocked and the man moved forward. He somehow forced his fist past the hands of Gon and on to his chest with another punch hitting the side of the body.

  Gon focused all his strength to force the man away and was able to give a strike to the chin of the man. The man moved back and as he moved around, Gon could not help to think he recognised the style but had no time to think more on it when the man attacked again. Gon knew he had to win and was ready to take charge of the fight. The man struck and Gon grabbed the arm to push it down then kicked the masked man in the back of the knee so he fell down. The man got loose fast and rolled away to end up on his feet once more. He kicked Gon who blocked and had to block several times because the man was very fast to deliver heavy kicks.

  Gon had no problem despite the man being stronger than the usual opponents he met. He was able to grab the leg and moved fast forward to kick the man so he fell back on to the ground again. He rolled on the ground and Gon was then one hit away. The man walked around and studied Gon carefully then. He spoke and said it had been a long time since he saw Gon. Everyone quieted down while looking at the man standing still and wondered who he was. Gon looked at the man and thought he recognised the voice but couldn’t believe it as it had been so many years since he heard the voice.

  The man took off his mask and when he did, several of those that used to live in Shetana knew who he was. Even Sophia knew who he was from the arena scrolls being sent to the sch
ool every year. Gon looked at the man who he once fought and who gave him something that helped him in the search for revenge of his wife. Master Tiger was standing in front of him and he looked like he had become an even mightier warrior with a lot more muscles than before. He was older than Gon but his body looked like it hadn’t aged at all. Tiger told Gon he was honoured to fight him again. Gon nodded to him in a respectful manner and Tiger asked Gon if he was ready.

  Gon brought his hands up and walk forward. Tiger let a kick go as soon as he was close enough, and they both began to fight hard. The students from the school and even the calm monks from before then cheered loud. After some hard strikes that were all blocked between them, Gon got the chance to finish the fight. He grabbed Tiger and threw him on the ground but when Tiger hit the ground, he landed on his feet first and also still holding Gon. He pulled his legs towards Gon and kicked him in the stomach. He let go just as he hit Gon while landing on his back. He used his strong legs to jump up and land on them straight again. Gon backed up and then the next person that got in a hit was the winner.

  Gon walked around and so did Tiger but never dropped their eye contact. They watched each other and with a fast movement, they both ran towards each other. They both struck hard and both blocked the incoming punches. Everyone watching the fight was then seeing a master class fight where no strikes were hitting because the other person was blocking them. Sophia and Isabel were cheering loudly and the pupils were happy to finally see their master at his best. The fight continued for a while and didn’t end until one of the fighters decided to take a chance. Gon thought the fight could be won and had looked for holes in Tiger’s fighting technique. He had found none but he knew Tiger wanted to win as he lost before. He suddenly let his guard down and Tiger saw it.

  When Tiger struck on the unprotected area, Gon was ready and turned his body just before getting hit. Tiger was seeing too late that he had fallen into a trap and was not fast enough to pull back the hand. Gon could strike Tiger on the chest and move out very quickly. Much cheering on his side again and Tiger looked at Gon with a look of disbelief. He began to laugh and clapped his hands with a happy smile on his face then walked up to Gon to shake his hand. Master Tiger said he had appreciated the opportunity to once more fight him. Gon told him he, as well, had enjoyed the fight. He then said they must sit down for a conversation because he was interested to find out about his story of how he ended up there. Tiger promised they would and then he looked away towards the direction of a few rocks.

  There was another man coming out and he turned out to be the one with the dark voice echoing through the mountain. He said Gon and those that followed him were welcome to stay at the monastery now that they had proved themselves. Tiger was given his mask back by Isabel and he greeted her as well as Sophia. On the way to the monastery, Gon and Tiger were talking. Sophia also had some questions and also wanted to know why he lived in the mountain. Tiger told them that he left for the mountain and the monastery because he wanted to train to become better than he’d been before. He punched Gon on the shoulder and said he would have to train harder and they laughed together.

  Inside the monastery, the high monk, Yama, was welcoming the new arrivals. He had heard about the cursed army and Gon wondered if the soldiers would be able to come to the mountain. Yama said that the army had stopped in the Domoro Land for the time being searching for something but that many people were assembling to attack Kemi. The night came and the students of the school had been placed in the east corner of the big monastery. Gon, Tiger and some other master monks were having a conversation together. They talked about the army and the Alumrylite stones that seemed to cause the current trouble.

  Gon still knew very little about the magic stones and only had the book he found in the wagon to go on. He still could not believe he never knew there was a book hidden in the wagon and that Senji had hid it so many years ago. One of the monks asked about the book and Gon gave it to him after calling Isabel to fetch it for him. Yama said he used to live in Redonia and the knowledge master, Hoseki, that was giving advice to the leader of the Redonia’s army, was actually an old friend he knew when he was younger. He said the magical stones were purposely kept as a secret since they were so powerful and only some in the Redonian kingdom had all the full details about them. He was worried that the shadow stone was not studied enough before being used and said he didn’t know if the power of the magic could be broken.

  Gon asked how the high monk, Yama, knew Kemi was in the Domoro Land and he said there was a hidden cave in the mountain chain that could only be reached by climbing it. The cave looked over the whole mountain and there were other monks in other mountains close to the kingdoms. The person living in Domoro Mountain talked to all the monks around the land by sending birds with messages. He showed the paper brought by a bird in the morning of Gon coming to the mountain. Gon read the note and wondered why the army was digging in the mountain.

  According to the note, the army was working day and night by digging in search for something in the mountain. Yama had a feeling why they had stopped in the Domoro Land and left a short while. He brought another book out that had a very old cover and was terribly broken. The monk said he brought the book out from the study hall last night after remembering it. He said the Domoro Land didn’t used to be full of water and he read from the book about a land hidden in the mountains that had a desert. A few settlements by some thieves that hid away from anyone chasing them were all that were there. He said that in the end of the war over the growing Redonian island some people stole several magic stones to hide them across the lands. The monk said he figured the water stone would be buried in the Domoro Land somewhere as it turned to a land plenty of water rather than a land full of sand. He also said there was still a desert right outside the entrance of the Domoro Land named Shamo which Gon already knew about.

  The monks there knew a lot about how it used to be, as the monastery was built there during the time the land was changing. Yama also added that before the land changed, the closest small town was inside the desert that it got its name from. It was next to the monastery but it was abandoned after the land inside the mountain chain started to fill with water. The sand outside started to became loose and created quicksand that had claimed many lives throughout the years with bursts of sand coming out in various places. Gon understood then that someone must have hidden the magical stone in the Domoro Land and Kemi was trying to find it to use it against her enemies.

  Gon asked if he knew where the Alumrylite stones were originally from and Yama thought a little. He said he remembered hearing the magical stones came from an island that had a giant crater in it. He didn’t know where the island was but there was an island that had been covered with wind and hard waves for as long as he had known. The mist surrounding the island made it a dangerous place to go to but something told him the magical stones would be from there. Tiger said he knew about the island as he, with some others, tried to reach it on an exploration trip when he was young. He said they had to turn back when it turned out to be too hard to continue and they risked capsizing.

  Tiger always wondered what was on the island and why it always was impossible to visit. There were legends about a people living there without any contact with other countries. Yama said that the island was a few days from Redonia and if the island was the one that harboured the magic stones from the beginning, it was possible that the kingdom of Redonia got them at one point while visiting the island. Gon wondered if Redonia would have all the stones that were on the island and Yama said he didn’t really knew. It was much information that was old and perhaps Redonia held the magical stones within their walls. He said that he did believe the island held many secrets because he knew the Redonian fleet had many ships that patrol around the island. Yama remembered hearing the fleet didn’t let anyone get close with a big ship because it would get destroyed by the sharp rocks that were everywhere.

  Tiger agreed and said that when he went there, they al
most were hit many times by the sharp rocks that were hard to see under the water. Even with a small boat, it would prove hard and the sea around the island was continuously wild even if the rest of the ocean was not. After talking about what had happened in the lands and about what they had seen the Alumrylite stones being capable of, they found the book was actually a great source of information. It told about the different abilities of the Alumrylite stones but some of the text was impossible to read because it was mixed with an old language of Redonia. No one at the monastery spoke it and Yama said there were few people still able to read the old language of Redonia, and his old friend, Hoseki, was one of them. He believed the book might have been part of the library of the Redonian kingdom and someone must have stolen it from there.

  They could see from the drawings that putting different Alumrylite stones together would bring a variety of magic. Tiger wondered where the light stone was and also the strange last Alumrylite stone. ‘There seemed not to be any information about it ever surfacing anywhere in the countries,’ said Yama. He had read many books in his time and even when he lived in Redonia, he rarely heard about anyone ever mentioning it. His friend, Knowledge Master Hoseki, never spoke to him about the Alumrylite stones either. He knew only pieces of the information but he did know the Redonian kingdom had many secrets.

  Gon wondered why the magical stones were never known to the countries other than Redonia and Yama said the magic stones were held by the kings and queens of the lands in secrecy of invaders that might try to steal more of the magical stones. They probably hid the fire and wind stone deep in the castle that was the biggest in Taroo. They would have done everything to subdue any rumours about the magical stones’ existence and after time, a lot of the information became lost. Only a handful of books had ever found themselves outside Redonia but many were in the royal library, he knew for sure. Gon wondered why the Grasoll Land never knew about the magic stones even when they had one so close to them. Yama said that the Grasoll Land’s rulers had been thought to be foolish and sometimes stupid to the other countries or kingdoms. He, himself, was never impressed by the late King Lenchi and had hoped for Kemi to become a much stronger ruler.