The New Winds

Following her experience with the Mantis, Sasaiko makes her way to the dojo refectory for her meal. As she sits to eat, she thinks over the day's events--and her suboptimal performance so far.

Another joined her at the table with a soft grunt. Saburo bowed once to the Toritaka and considered offering her condolences. Earth was an element that he dreaded performing in, and that he knew all too well he would need to do soon enough. However, deep down he also knew that that sort of cold comfort only drew attention to the matter, and that was always a way to put himself in a bad mood, so... he went with discretion as the better part of valor.

"Toritaka-san. You are looking well this morning." A grunt, and his gravelly voice never really did much to inspire confidence in his words. But still, thy are there. "I believe athletics is this afternoon, is it not?" Best to focus on other topics. Yep.

Sasaiko returns the bow.

"Your performance was commendable, Asako-san. And, yes, I believe we are getting some physical training this afternoon."

She shrugs somewhat.

"I will do what I can, though I know others are better suited to such than I."

"Air... is a deficiency of mine. I must address those deficiencies before I can shift back to where I feel most comfortable." He was pretty strong in the viewpoint one way or another. He needed to get to the water and Earth before he could ever turn back to Fire. "I believe that neither of us is expected to stand out in an athletics competition, but I expect we will see you perform to your best. I... will be happy to complete this exercise."

She nods, takes a bite, chews, swallows, and adds "I had thought to start strong. It did not work as well as I had hoped. I have to wonder if the coming exercise will be similar."

"It is my understanding that the expectations of each of the daily exercises will probably flow along the same lines. They are verifying our skills with each of the kami, so I do not expect significant changes. None of us have been permitted access to more specific prayers to my knowledge." A shake of his head. "Earth, I admit, is not a study that I look forward to. My sensei has informed me of my deficiencies in the element. I do not expect that lesson to go even as well as that which Air did."

"My school emphasizes Earth, so I was...rebuked for arrogance, I suppose."

She eats a bit more.

"It is perhaps the lesson to take from this morning, for us both."

He considered that for a moment and then nodded. "There is a certain lesson in that. I am aware my family has a certain... reputation among other shugenja lines. There is a difference, in the end, between saying 'much is expected of myself' and 'I expect to accomplish much.' The kami are always listening to us." A bite, a chew, a swallow. He looked like was chewing thoroughly but not even tasting it. "Still, I expect you will be stronger tomorrow for it. Every misstep that I walk away from is fuel for the fire of the next day."

"One can hope so, but is it not better not to misstep?"

"It is better never to misstep," he admitted, grunting. "But my existence has been filled with them. Even here, my meditative stances at the morning kata were unacceptably inconsistent. I could not center my focus as I did here today. Each failure, I must reconsider everything I have done to that point, to ensure that it does not happen again." Which, admittedly? Was too demanding for this stage in his career. Failures were going to happen, but he refused to let himself relax on it.

"I am unfamiliar with your tradition. You mentioned a focus on the Earth. You are trained by the Toritaka, yes?"

"I am. Not completely, of course, as none of our cohort are, but yes. And like our Crab neighbors, we tend to emphasize the Earth--and for similar reasons, as it happens."

"Ah, then your people specialize in sealing and banishing. A very good and valid purpose to put the Earth to, if you ask me. It has always been one of the greatest strengths of the elements. Purification and the power of Jade." He felt, just by her saying that, that he had a better understanding by far now than he'd had before. It was a highly specialized methodology, but he could appreciate it nonetheless. If you had to specialize, it needed to be worth it.

She nods.

"And one that pulls from a number of areas, of course. Part of why I value the experience the Lady Ruby is offering us; I have had the opportunity to learn much, but the concentration of diversity here has...promise."

She takes another bite.

"No matter how much effort one might have put into trying to be ready for every inevitability, they do seem intent on testing just how prepared we really are." He actually chuckled a little at that. "The Lore lessons that we took the first day, for instance. One might argue those were all basic things you would expect all samurai to strive to know at least a little of. Nobody passes gempukku without being asked a few questions of them. They seemed simply satisfied that they did not need to teach us them in the end and could focus on other topics."

Sasaiko gives her own little puff of laughter.

"I'm glad. I don't know if I could sit for much remediation."

She smirks a bit for a moment, then shakes her head. "But that's probably arrogant, and I shouldn't do it."

"Considering that the majority of us passed that examination with flying colors? I would not say it is too much arrogance. For the most part, the participants were selected well for the breadth of their studies at least." His chuckle faded a little. "However, I am hoping that there will be lessons on finer elemental theory. Since it seems that the lot of us can handle matters such as theology and war, we might get into some of the more esoteric. I have need of certain familiarities that I wish to expand upon if I can find time with Asako Himeko-sama."

It was, perhaps, better to say that the Tensai had expectations, and therefore so did he.

Sasaiko nods.

"I should like to get some time with her, as well. If I am to have a chance at magistracy, as I hope to do, consulting with one as adept with the law would be helpful."

"I am told she is expert in a few of the studies and lores of the kingdom, not the least of which is that of legal proceedings. It certainly would not be a poor use of your time if you caught her attention in tomorrow's lessons." Frankly, he expected every single shugenja among their fellow students to be angling for that if they could possibly get the time.

Sasaiko takes another bite.

After, she adds "I think I shall have to make the attempt."

"In this, I wish you luck. If you can manage to draw that attention there might be considerable gain and preparation for you. Certainly, if you intend to assist as yoriki to begin with for a magistrate in hopes of the post yourself, it is a skill that will help." He had little interest, but it was at least passingly useful on principle. Never hurt to learn the law.