The sun hung low in the sky, casting long golden beams over the village. Tomorrow was the day every child looked forward to — the awakening of their martial spirit. For Ayan and Tang San, it felt like the eve of a great battle.
They spent the morning in the training yard behind Tang San's house, practicing the push-ups, squats, and running drills Ayan insisted would "make the spirit inside you stronger." Tang San followed along without complaint, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"You know," Ayan said between breaths, "once our martial spirits awaken, we'll finally see what kind of power we're meant to have."
Tang San smiled faintly. "And if I get something useless?"
Ayan smirked. "Then I'll still beat you in a fight — but we'll make you stronger anyway."
They laughed, but under the humor was an unspoken tension. The awakening would shape the rest of their lives.
That evening, they sat by the stream they often visited, the moon's reflection dancing on the water. Tang San skipped a stone without much focus, staring into the ripples. "What if we end up on completely different paths?"
Ayan lay back on the grass, hands behind his head. "Paths don't matter. Brothers stay together, no matter where they lead."
The night was quiet except for the chirping of crickets. Tomorrow, their fates would change — but for now, they were just two boys, bound by a promise, waiting to see what destiny had in store.