The morning sun pierced through the mountain mist, creating an ethereal glow that enveloped the training field. Castian stood at the center of the field, sword in hand, sweat dripping from his brow as he repeated for the umpteenth time a set of basic strikes Master Xun had taught him. His arms ached, his muscles felt like they were on fire, but he refused to stop. Each mistake was corrected with a stern look or a firm word from Xun, who remained standing a few meters away, watching every movement like a hawk.
"Your body moves well, but your mind is still scattered," Xun said, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.
Castian stopped, panting, and turned to face the master, confused.
"Scattered? I'm completely focused on the strikes."
Xun shook his head slowly and approached Castian.
"Physical focus is only part of the training. Your body follows your mind's instructions, but what about your heart? It is still dominated by anger. Until you learn to control that, everything else will be useless."
Castian frowned, irritated by the master's words.
"My anger is what keeps me going. It gives me strength to continue."
Xun raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms.
"And that's exactly what will make you vulnerable. Your anger is like fire—it can warm you, but it can also consume you. If you don't learn to control it, it will be your downfall."
Before Castian could respond, Xun turned his back and walked toward a large rock at the edge of the field. He sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and gestured for Castian to approach.
"Today, you won't train with the sword. We will sit here until your mind is as sharp as the blade you carry."
Castian hesitated, reluctant, but obeyed. He sat down across from Xun, mirroring his posture, albeit awkwardly.
"Close your eyes," Xun instructed. "Breathe deeply. Feel the air enter and leave your body."
Castian did as instructed, but his mind was restless. He thought about those responsible for the destruction of his village, the faces of his lost family, and the anger began to bubble up in his chest again.
"I can't concentrate," he admitted, opening his eyes.
Xun remained still, his voice calm but firm.
"This is natural. Your mind is used to being a storm. Controlling it will be the hardest part of your training."
Hours dragged on as Castian tried to follow Xun's instructions. He closed his eyes, breathed deeply, but his thoughts kept intruding. It was like trying to tame a wild horse. Every time it seemed like he was in control, something distracted him—a painful memory, a thought of revenge, or even the discomfort of sitting still for so long.
"This is useless!" he exclaimed, suddenly standing up. "How is this going to help me fight?"
Xun slowly opened his eyes and looked at Castian with patience.
"A warrior who does not control his own mind will be controlled by it. On the battlefield, your thoughts can be your greatest ally or your worst enemy. Now, sit down again."
Castian wanted to protest, but something in Xun's gaze made him obey. He sat back down, closed his eyes, and tried once more.
"Feel what is inside of you," Xun said, his voice a whisper in the wind. "Don't fight your anger. Acknowledge it. Allow it to be present, but do not let it control you."
Castian breathed deeply, following the master's instructions. He began to visualize his anger as a flame inside him—intense but contained. Over time, the flame started to diminish, and he felt an unexpected calm washing over him.
The following days followed a similar pattern. In the mornings, Castian practiced physical movements while Xun observed closely, correcting his posture and adjusting his technique. But in the afternoons, the focus shifted to mental and emotional control.
"The balance between body, mind, and heart is what makes a true warrior," Xun would say. "Without that, you are just an uncontrolled weapon."
At first, Castian found the mental training boring and frustrating. But as days turned into weeks, he began to notice subtle changes. His mind became clearer, his thoughts more organized. He no longer let anger overwhelm him as easily, and this reflected in his sword movements.
"Now you're starting to understand," Xun said after watching Castian perform a set of movements with a precision he previously lacked. "Your anger is still there, but now you control it, not the other way around."
Castian nodded, feeling a sense of pride. But he knew he still had a long way to go.
One evening, while they were having dinner in the small cabin, Castian decided to ask a question that had been on his mind for days.
"Master Xun, why are you so focused on emotional control? Have you faced something similar?"
Xun put his bowl aside and looked at the young man with a serious expression.
"We all carry our own demons, Castian. When I was younger, I was consumed by anger and the desire for revenge, just like you. It gave me strength at first, but in the end, it almost destroyed everything I had."
Castian leaned forward, intrigued.
"What happened?"
Xun sighed deeply before continuing.
"I fought in many battles, killed many men. But in the end, I realized that my anger didn’t bring peace, only more suffering. That’s when I decided to abandon the path of destruction and seek balance. It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary."
Castian fell silent, reflecting on the master’s words.
"So, you believe I can find that balance too?"
Xun smiled faintly.
"I believe you have the potential for it. But the choice will always be yours."
As the weeks passed, the training became more intense. Xun began to introduce exercises that combined both the physical and mental aspects of training. One of the most challenging involved Castian fighting against Xun while remaining emotionally calm.
"If you allow your anger to control you, you will lose immediately," Xun warned before beginning the exercise.
At first, Castian failed several times. Each wrong strike or poorly executed block made his frustration grow, and Xun took advantage of these moments to knock him down.
"I'm not fighting your technique," the master would say. "I'm fighting your mind."
But, over time, Castian began to improve. He learned to breathe deeply, focus on his movements, and stay calm even under pressure. His anger, though still present, no longer controlled him as it had before.
One afternoon, after a particularly difficult training session, Xun approached Castian and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You’re making progress, Castian. But remember: the control of the mind and heart is an ongoing process. Never think that the work is done."
Castian nodded, feeling a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction. He knew he still had much to learn, but for the first time, he felt that he was in control of his journey.
As the sun set over the mountains, he looked toward the horizon with renewed determination. Revenge was still his goal, but now he knew he didn’t have to be consumed by it. He had the power to choose his own path—and with Master Xun by his side, he was ready to face whatever challenge lay ahead.