'An interesting contrast', the man muttered to himself looking up at the clear blue sky. And the man, Ghen, was absolutely correct. The clear sky looked perfect. It was in stark contrast with the ruins of a once beautiful meditation site Ghen now found himself occupying.

Ghen was lying on the roof of the remains of a small hut, a building now falling into decay. It was once a small meditation hut in times long past, but was now a rotting mass of hardwood with flecks of sky blue paint still visible every here and there. The hut was surrounded on one side by thick, sand filled water and on the other by a thick forest consisting of many dead trees.

The reason behind this tormented place?
Man. Or one man in particular. A man forgotten to the depths of time who wished for enlightenment. He'd found this place, at the time a paradise, and built a meditation hut right in it's heart. The troubles began when he decided to make a sandy shore for the small lake. The lake consumed the sand, and then some of the Earth around it. Not only did this turn the lake into a natural snare, it also poisoned the nearby forest which relied on the water of the lake for sustenance, not only killing the trees, but also sending any local wildlife elsewhere. Rocks from the eroded earth around the lake had also found their way into the salt trap now, adding to the lifeless appearance of the area.

Ghen sat up and then flicked his fringe out of his face, his unruly black hair shimmering in the sunlight. He slid onto the dry cracked earth beneath him, a smile on his unpredictable face. He was one who could appreciate this place for what it was, as well as it what it once was. Despite his appreciation of the scenery, he was here for one reason only. To sharpen his skills against a worthy opponent.

Ghen called Void to his right hand, the sword flickering with an aura of nothingness. He stood facing the woods, his back leaning lazily on the wall of the hut. He gazed at his sword. And his smile grew.