In the Gemlands, in what’s been named the Emerald Territory, in the grand city of Highpine, there was a man named Jimid Fistsinger. If it were not obvious, he was known around the city for his great hand to hand combat capability, his love of the fight, and incredible respect and admiration of those that challenged him. Indeed, if you asked any opponent he faced, they could not deny that he had shown them great dignity, even if they had the intention of murdering him. You see, Jimid was a kind person who would volunteer at soup kitchens ran by followers of Didis’ and participate in charity demonstrations of his capabilities to raise money for government committees that weren’t receiving as much support from The Council. There was none in Highpine who would dare say that Jimid was a good man. Because of this, the public granted him his privacy.

	All except one. Sophi, a young orphan girl who was incredibly suspicious of Jimid and his capability. She knew little of fighting, but of what she did know, she was certain that his capabilities must be aided by some sort of magic. So, on a day after one of Jimid’s performances, she followed him outside of the gates of Highpine. At first, she hid among the crowds of merchants and travellers. But they soon went along different roads and the crowds thinned to the point that it was only Jimid and Sophi. She ran off the path and watched Jimid from the trees of the Irosea Woodland that ran along the main road from Highpine to the town of Water’s End. Soon enough, she found him wandering into the Irosea Woodland, pulling back thick bushes and stepping over fat roots deep into parts of the forest that Sophi had been told never to enter.

	She struggled to keep up with him, but never lost sight of the man. He walked for what felt like hours to her, until the smell of a salty breeze and sight of the Goldhead Sea came into view. He stopped at what she determined to be a shrine with a spectacular silver leaf floating above a wooden stand. Jimid knelt before the leaf and bowed his head and for a few seconds only the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves was present and Sophi felt a peace that she had never felt before overcome her.

	Soon, though, Jimid called out to her.

	“Come out, child. You must have many questions,” he said, not moving away from the monument. She stayed still, though, afraid of what might happen if she were to be found out.

	“It’s okay child. The leaves watch over you here and nothing but peace courses through their beings,” he continued, now staring directly at the tree that Sophi was hiding behind. Still, she didn’t move and began holding her breath. But in the blink of an eye, Jimid appeared before her, his face uncharacteristically stoic. She let out a small squeal and tried to strike him, but he blocked her fist with his palm.

	“The only violence in this wood shall be those of words. The forest will show you,” he said and made his way to the shrine. With his back turned, she lunged at him. But before she could reach him, a gently floated in front of her and she crashed into it as though there were a wall between him and her. He paid no mind to her surprised yell and continued on his way. Sophi got up, slightly disoriented, and felt in front of her. There was nothing solid there and the leaf that she had seen had fallen to the ground. She got up, amazed, and followed with reluctance, but curious as to what would be revealed here.

	He once again knelt in front of the shrine and patted the ground next to him. But Sophi, being a non-believer, stood. This was of no consequence to Jimid and he continued his silent worship until the girl spoke up.

	“What the hell is this? This isn’t a religion I’ve seen practiced in Highpine,” she said, clearly growing impatient. At first Jimid didn’t respond to her and this irritated her. But she knew that whatever force was in the trees, it would stop her from physical violence.

	“It is the forest. And unlike any who see my gifts, you are not in awe of them, not fooled by them. Which is why you’ve followed me here, to this special place. Or at least, that’s what your mind believes. In truth, it was the forest calling for your return,” he said.

“What are you talking about? Nothing called me here. I was just trying to find out what kind of tricks you were pulling and what disgraces you were enacting upon the Monks of Highpine. Now that I’ve found out about your magical involvement, I’m going back to-”

“To what? Even if you tell, none would believe you. And on top of that, the intertwining of magic and hand to hand combat was not forbidden. It’s simply a forgotten art. Or more importantly, an art forbidden by those in power to prevent another tragedy,” Jimid said. It was the first that Sophi had ever heard of such a thing.

“Long ago, before the Two-Thousand Year war, when Highpine was a small town of citizens still etching out comfortable and efficient ways of living, there existed a school of fighters who were able to manipulate the arcane presences around them and combine it with their bodies to unleash frightening blows. To balance this deadliness out, the practitioners lived docile lives and participated in acts of charity and kindness.