Of Heroes and Villains

Participants: Matthew Bland & Connor Hawke
Open/Closed: Closed
Location(s): Undisclosed martial arts training grounds
Time of Day: Noon
Weather: Sunny
Summary: The anniversary of one of Ja Zaki's master's most famed victory approaches. He risks travel to see her on this most celebrated occasion.

Ja Zaki stepped out of the tree line that protected him and allowed the high sun to bathe him in its warm rays. As the sunlight washed over him Matthew lifted a hand to meet the light and guard his eyes though he stared right into the blazing orb in the sky. He enjoyed the feel of the foreign warmth on his skin, his trek there had largely been through jungle and the towering trees did an adequate job at keeping the light of the sun from filtering through. He had at long last arrived at his destination and he now stood at the precipice of Wu Zhao's compound. 

A section of jungle had been carved out and replaced by small huts. The place was a small village now, devoted to raising, molding, and training martial artists whom the revered Wu Zhao saw as worthy to learn her ways. Matthew Bland had set upon her camp a long time ago, the grounds had grown considerably since then, he noticed. Matthew wore a red shirt draped over his shoulder, it had long been removed as the heat of the jungle had led to sweat, and green camouflage pants tucked into dark wheat colored boots. The shirtless African moved through the camp very much aware of the eyes that followed him along the way. Back in his time spent as Wu Zhao's student he had been at it alone, training under the grueling sun for hours on end with no rest under her wicked tutelage with nary a comrade to lean on. Sensei had told him it would make him tougher, and he believed her. Look at her now, presiding over a plethora of students.

The centre of the compound was where he found her, sitting upon a square beneath a brightly colored umbrella. She looked peaceful, much less stern than when he'd known her. And she looked old. But strong.

"Xiānshēng." Ja Zaki addressed as he bowed before the woman dressed in her long robes. He dropped the duffle he carried with him and bowed in reverence. 

"Welcome, Matthew Bland." Her voice was coarse but clear.

"Ja Zaki."

"Matthew." And with that it was final as she shifted her gaze to finally meet Matthew's own. Her hazel eyes bore into him for a lingering second before she nodded and Matthew stood fully again. 

"I was not expecting my most troublesome student to pay me a visit. Are you in hiding? I will not harbor fugitives and bring foreign fighting to my home."

"Of course not, technically. I know the time of year and I only wish to celebrate you. Even the life of a wheelon* can be paused on occasion." Matthew smirked as he gathered up his duffle bag once more.

"So this has nothing to do with you losing Buredunia?"

"Nothing at all."

"Fine, you may stay for the festivities tonight." Wu Zhao gathered herself and beckoned for Matthew to follow, "This way."