Jian - Tadaima!

[02:03] <Earthflame> Jian yawns, tired from the long day of walking with a heavy pack. He was disappointed he couldn't go back with Rei... The weeks by the lake had calmed him greatly, and he'd been sleeping better... But he still couldn't entirely let go, couldn't get past the itch in his veins. Still, he smiles as he reaches his home.
[02:05] <~Deedles> As the door opens he's hit by the smell of food being cooked, followed by his mother peeking out of the kitchen. "... Jian." she greeted him with a faint smile. "How was the training?"
[02:08] <Earthflame> He smiles. "Good, but tiring... I couldn't match your Wave Cutter. Even on the last day, I couldn't see the lake bottom." He shrugs off the pack, setting it just inside the door and stretching.
[02:27] <~Deedles> "It isn't all about power, but I'm certain you'll get there some day." Lifen assured her son with a nod before heading back into the kitchen. "Just keep training hard." she glanced at him seriously "Cause even though girls can stay over I don't want to see any slacking from you, alright?" she waggled a finger at him as she spoke.
[02:31] <Earthflame> He smiles. "I wouldn't think of it, mother. I still have a lot of work to do... Did you hear the news from that new arrival, Xi Feng?"
[02:34] <~Deedles> "No, I haven't. I don't imagine it's being spread around outside of the village heads." His mother replied, looking slightly inquisitive. "Why?"
[02:35] <Earthflame> "She had news of the Dancing Sword Clan... That it was still divided. Yamato Takamoto does not have a firm grip over it, even now."
[02:37] <~Deedles> Lifen's eyes widened, and then she looked thoughtful as she nodded "Makes sense, it was a radical change to the clan, and not everyone would want to use their training and power for ill."
[02:40] <Earthflame> "Our primary goal is still seeking the Spirit Sanctuaries... But if I can, I might be able to redeem the Clan... Or at least support an open resistance."
[02:55] <~Deedles> Lifen smiled softly at him "I know you will redeem them, Jian. You're strong."
[02:59] <Earthflame> He bows his head to her. "Thank you, mother... I will make you proud."
[03:00] <~Deedles> "You already have." His mother said as she moved up to him, laying a hand on his cheek. "You've been trained well, and you've grown into a good man."
[03:12] <Earthflame> He smiles at that. "...I still have much to learn." He sighs. "...I wanted to ask you about my father."
[03:13] <~Deedles> She peered up at him "What do you wish to know?" she wondered
[03:15] <Earthflame> "...How did he cope with it? With... This?" He raises his left hand, pulling the bandage aside to reveal the wound. "...I've barely been able to sleep. I've felt revulsion at the power in my own blood... But Ziulong said I need to learn to accept it. How did he feel about it?"
[03:17] <~Deedles> "The Yin Yang blade is a blade of two sides, two opposites. Your father knew and accepted this. As the Yin Yang blade was his so was the Corrupt and Enlightened part of him." Lifen told him calmly as she rested a hand on his shoulder. "He said 'You can't be yin and yang if you only have one or the other. You can't achieve balance and harmony if you do not have both.'"
[03:18] <Earthflame> He nods. "...So the blade holds Enlightened Chi too..."
[03:19] <~Deedles> His mother nodded "It does." she confirmed
[03:19] <Earthflame> He takes a deep breath. "...I doubt I will achieve balance without accepting one half." He lowers his head a bit. "...It is hard."
[03:20] <~Deedles> "Why?" Lifen asked him
[03:21] <Earthflame> "There are so many people who..." His left hand tightens. "...The rage, the bloodlust. Most of the time I can restrain it, I can understand it and control it... But there are people who are so foul, who have hurt so many people... I Want to let it loose..."
[03:22] <~Deedles> "If it's just on the people who've done evil and unforgivable things... How is that a bad thing?" His mother continued to ask
[03:23] <Earthflame> He looks up at her. "...What if I lose control? What if I release it, and can't pull it back?"
[03:26] <~Deedles> "If you're not sure then you have to learn. Your father used the corrupt to empower him when he needed and wanted it, but he always kept his eyes on what was most important." She squeezes his shoulder gently "His clan, his family, me, and you."
[03:28] <Earthflame> Jian sighs, leaning in to hug his mother. "It's so much power... I gained a lot of control at the lake, but it's almost overwhelming. My strength was always precision and speed, not overwhelming strength."
[03:29] <~Deedles> Lifen wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tight and close. "You'll get used to it, I know you will, just don't fight it. Keep control of yourself, but don't push the newfound power away."
[03:30] <Earthflame> He closes his eyes. "...At first, I hated Corruption. I hated it all the more when I realised it was inside me. It's strange, to try to accept it after all that. It's the same power which is tearing our country apart. Even if it Can be used for good."
[03:32] <~Deedles> His mother pulled away as she looked at him seriously "Jian. Hating Corruption because of what some people use it for is like hating a sword because there's evil people using them for ill."
[03:32] <Earthflame> ...He blinks, and stares at her. "...I had never thought of it like that."
[03:33] <~Deedles> Lifen faintly smiled at that "Well, what are mother's for?"
[03:34] <Earthflame> Jian laughs a bit, and smiles at her. "I can't even begin to list all the things you've done for me..."
[03:35] <~Deedles> "One day you'll have children who'll tell you the same thing." His mother told him simply as her smile widened.
[03:37] <Earthflame> He blushes a little bit, and rubs at his cheek. "Maybe..."
[03:38] <~Deedles> "No mister, I definetly want grandchildren, even if I don't want them just yet." She waggled a finger at him.
[03:39] <Earthflame> He blushes more deeply. "Mother!"
[03:40] <~Deedles> Lifen looked amused "Oh, you're so easy to tease." she shook her head "Maybe I should of taught you more about girls too..." she mused as she rubbed her own chin.
[03:40] <Earthflame> He pauses, and mumbles. "...It might not be too late to start..."
[03:45] <~Deedles> "Well then, there is a lot to learn, so shall we get started?" She smiled as she pulled him over to the dinner table.
[03:45] <Earthflame> Still looking embarrased, he nods. Yes, please..."