[b][center]Broken Empire[/center][/b]

[i]Thirty years ago...[/i]

Wu Zhou jabbed the tip of his sword deep into Kang Xu's gut. Kang Xu immediately came to a halt, looking down in disbelief. The ferocity and rage in his eyes vanished as fear filled his irises. The wounded man let out a whimper as he fell to his knees, clutching the blade in his hands. Blood began to gush from the wound, spilling out of his clothes and onto the golden surface beneath him. Kang looked up at his friend with a grieving expression, and Wu looked back with a shaken stare.

"It didn't have to end this way," yelled Wu, trying to make himself heard over the roaring waterfalls and heavy winds. "We were meant to protect our emperor, not [i]kill[/i] him! I never wanted to do this to you Kang... but you forced my hand..."

Kang's breathing became steadily agitated and Wu knew his dear friend was taking the last breaths of his life. "You... wouldn't have... understood," Kang's words were shaky and unclear, but he never finished. Blood began gushing from Kang's mouth, flying out onto the Golden Bridge the two had been fighting on. Wu shook his head and pulled the blade from Kang's gut, then drove it through his chest, straight through his heart. For a moment he would see life in Kang's fading eyes, but as the blade pierced the heart Kang instantly died. His limp body toppled over the side of the bridge, plummeting into the bottomless lake below...

[i]Present day...[/i]

Master Wu's eyes shot open. His old body ached from tossing and turning all night. He was in his quarters, in Dragon's Peak Temple. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to forget about the dream. It was a horrible part of his life, but it was necessary and the spirits seemed to want the old man to remember it for all time. He pulled the covers from his body and stood up, sliding on his robes and reaching for his walking staff.

Today was an important day. Not only was a fresh batch of new students coming in, but the Five Dragon Generals were returning to discuss important business with Wu, the headmaster of the Dragonguard. A large force of the Dragonguard had also made there way to the temple to report on their findings. The Imperial Empire was at peace and had been at peace for thirty years, and yet Master Wu sensed that these were dark times. A looming threat covered Kin Sun in an invisible shadow, and he could feel the day coming when that shadow would reveal itself and cast the land into darkness forever. He and the Dragonguard had been hard at work trying to uncover whatever they could, but had turned up nothing so far.

He exited the main building of the academy and walked into the courtyard. The courtyard was a stone area in the temple where the students often gathered throughout the day and sometimes sparred; it was filling up with the waking students. Surrounding the courtyard were various buildings in which the students slept in. On the south end of the courtyard, however, was the kitchen, were the temple's cook, Shu Min, lived and fixed food for the students. If one walked a path to the northeast end of the temple they would arrive in the Tranquil Gardens, a place that was quite and perfect for meditation; looking our into the distance one could see a lush river valley that extended from the bottom of the mountain and outwards into the distance. On the west end of the temple was a large square area that extended off the side of the mountain; it was here that Master Wu and his senior teachers taught the newer or less-experienced students; looking southwest from this area one could see the entire Imperial City in all its glory. There was also the scollroom, it was a sort of library with both ancient and new scrolls where students could learn and entertain themselves.

Master Wu caught sight of Zhen Ji, one of his preferred students. She had been at the academy for almost five years now, master the style of the Hidden Lotus. She was a thin, beautiful figure, very graceful in her movements, but she was deadly and quick as well. Zhen's gaze landed on Wu and so he waved over to her. She made her way to his position and bowed in his presence. "Today is going to be a busy day for me Zhen," Wu told the woman.

"I know, Master, I know. I've already woke Shu Min up and he's fixing the breakfast as we speak," Zhen Ji told Wu. "Oh! The Five Dragon Generals arrived just minutes ago, I think they're over in the gardens... I could fetch them-"

"No! I will go to them. You should go get some breakfast; try to clear the students out quickly and get to training, I am sure my generals want a meal as well."

Zhen Ji bowed to her master, "yes Master." She turned and headed off to the kitchens to prepare herself a meal. Master Wu made his way to the northeast end of the temple, towards the Tranquil Gardens. It was located down a small path and through a gate, as it needed to be away from the noise of the temple. He passed through the wooden gates and made his way into the beautiful scene. There were exotic flowers growing in the ground and hanging from pots. In the center was a small pool of water with lily-pads in it.

"Our Master has finally arrived." Xia Min approached Master Wu and bowed before him, as did the other four generals. The Five Dragon Generals were the strongest and wisest of the Dragonguard, personally chosen by Master Wu himself. It was composed of Xia Min, Jen Yun, Huang Li, Gujin Okami, and Zhou Bao Zhong. "Well," Xia Min said, "shall we get started?"