(Part 3)
10 YEARS AGO, SUMMER MONTH 1, DAY 28, SAMURAI COUNTRY NAGASUKE.
And so, Skrylla Yokuta’s days passed by, and 3 weeks too, at the Small Scale Gathering of Oniga which was the end of the 1st Spring Month and its 28th day in the Samurai Country of Nagasuke.
[1]
During this month, his literacy classes where in the mornings, he began adding his Breathing Practice right after his workouts which were now at night, and in the afternoons, he helped them hunt by scouting and being their eyes, while in the evenings he had his Cauldron baths with addition of supplements to keep his improvements non-stop.
Always though, he remembered to keep his distance.
Sometimes, he even wondered if what the Mistress has said was really true; at his rate would he only begin cultivation in 2 years?
Every day was Aperture Opening Powder, every end of week was Muscle Activating powder.
“Today we are heading out.”
“Okay, it was nice knowing you.”
She sighed in her heart.
“I mean, you should come with us.”
He paused and grabbed the hilt of his sharpened wooden sword.
“Why”
She scrunched her brows to speak but someone else did.
“It will help you, of course.” Gejiro, a boy in his late teens with short spiky hair and a Short Sword hung on the small of his back, continued in his rich baritone.
“Besides, if you want to do what you spoke about then you need strength.”
“I’ll walk my own path.”
“Arrogant runt, what makes you think you can make it on your own?”
“Me and my buddy were doing just fine, thank you.”
Hashna Drisnyl Tsuoyo-ya slapped the back of Gejiro’s head so hard, he face-planted to the floor.
“Skrylla Yokuta, I spoke about helping you till you begin cultivating as recompense.
Allow me to pay my debts.”
“Hey,” this gentle voice belonged to Jin another one in his late teens.
His ash hair reached his neck, stopping there and like Gejiro he also had his weapon – a rough looking Jian – strapped to the small of his back.
“You are free to follow your heart.
We are truly sorry for what happened, but this is the way forward.
We can help you a lot.”
“How so?” Should he go or not?
What would a Samurai do.
Buddy what do you think?
“He is not wrong; we are headed to Bghorsk an Intermediate Gathering.
Think about it, there you can get a lot for your family.
And along the way, you’ll get experience and knowledge for your further travels, or if you wish to return back.”
Releasing his grip on the weapon as he remembered his mother saying something about risk and rewards, Gejiro finally stood up from the ground as Skrylla Yokuta began walking forwards.
“Let’s go.”
“Are you going to get a new Sword?”
He grumbled because he did not like the thought of separating himself from his buddy but Gejiro saw it as arrogance and wanted to stomp him.
“I’ll think about it.”
Gejiro thought the boy was lucky that the Mistress was around as he sneered and then raged his cloudy thoughts away.
Over the first few days, Skrylla Yokuta kept diligent to his training, Breathing Techniques, Visualization and cauldron baths although he always slept away from their proximity and he kept hugging his weapon. This chapter was copied from novelping.com without permission.
The Mistress still tired reaching out but it was to no avail.
Why did he hold grudges so closely?
The 3rd day since they had left out of the Small-Scale Gathering of Oniga with him, he brought along his entire set of equipment although most were tucked into his CavityBracelet except for knives he became adequate at throwing over his time at Oniga which were strapped underneath his clothing.
They moved in teams and Drisnyl Hashna Tsuoyo-ya made sure he was in hers’, taking the position of lookout; his frame perfect for hiding in trees as she had seen his grace when he climbed them.
“What do you like?”
He thought for a bit, “My Sword.”
She paused as Gejiro rolled his eyes, in looked at him in surprise and Karin laughed.
“So, you like your training?”
“I like training with my sword.”
“Okay, it is settled then.” She pointed to the other 3 that had left with her out of the village.
“Gejiro, Karin and Jin will supervise your training.
They will switch between each day.”
“Sounds too easy.”
Now, Gejiro wanted to kick his head off his neck.
“What do you mean?” She ruffled his hair so that he almost missed his next step.
“Do you know not know how strong these 3 are?”
“No, I have been swinging swords since I was 5.
What you ask for sounds too easy.”
“How could you carry a sword at 5?”
“We started with sticks, then planks, then weights to iron and finally steel.
But the weight was proportional to my bone age.”
She paused before continued to press on.
“You know they all cultivate, right?”
He blew air, “you don’t understand.”
“Explain, wise one.”
He frowned because he would have to speak a lot but he took a breath and began.
“At 5, we went during the 1st month of spring to a mountain village.
There I was to battle 10 opponents, street rats all at least at the age of 10.
When we got there, my mother gathered them promises she fulfilled if they won of which she kept to her words.
And so, waves of 2 came at me with 3 minutes in between their approach.
I lost dearly, but I gave a few purple bruises too.
“At 5, 3 months later, it was 5 opponents, in 4 sets making 20 in total.
Same time duration.
Another 3 months and it was 30.
The next was 40.
Every year it increased and only seized when the numbers reached 100.”
Gejiro arced a brow in disbelief, Jin furrowed his brows and Karin was unsure if he spoke the truth.
“My first victory of 50 percent was 2 months after the numbers capped at 100.” He shook his head then laughed.
“They also kept on getting tougher, though.”
“How so?”
“Well, the 1st time it was gloves and brass knuckles, the 2nd time wooden cudgels and maces, and brass knuckles, the 3rd time wooden staffs and poles, the next was Swords that were wooden too.
The following year had spiked knuckles and fashioned, portable catapults, the next was spiked wooden cudgels and maces, then wooden throwing stars sharpened to a point.
Following was everything from since that year began including sharpened pole arms, knives and wooden bows; both traditional and cross.”
“The year I turned 7, they had sharpened swords and everything from before including needles.
Following that, traps were added, I fought in the night instead and other varieties were made for each consequent one.”
Everything was quiet.
“Did you ever win 100%?”
“Yes, the final one.
That is, the one of last year’s 2nd Fall Month.”
Jin frowned and turned to him.
“Is your mother a Masochist?”
“What is a masochist?”
Gejiro laughed as Karin tried to form the words, but Hashna Drisnyl Tsuoyo-ya cut him off.
“What about your father?”
“He left us.” Frowning hard he continued, “I hate him.”
There was another silence before Gejiro broke it with a snort.
“Anyone can come up with such stories.”
“I don’t need to prove anything to you.”
Jin sucked in air and began to clap, “ooooh.”
Gejiro wanted to speak again but the Mistress threw a rock that bounced off his head and made him trip which resulted in Skrylla Yokuta laughing.
“That would mean that you were not truly hurt when you were maltreated by my people.”
“No, I only missed time with my buddy, lost time I could have been helping my family and lost time that I could have had better days.” He puffed his chest.
“Buddy, these people are ignorant ones.”
The Mistress laughed and nodded.
“Well then, how would you like to rectify it?”
He thought for a while as Gejiro rubbed his head with a scowl.
“The first day in the early afternoon could be I vs.
Jin and Gejiro, that same evening could be I vs Jin and Karin, and the next day early afternoon could be Jin and Gejiro.
This training will involve me being stationary and simply defending.”
The Mistress frowned as she was trying to make sense of this.
“Then, evening of that 2nd day we would start again with Jin and Gejiro against me but it would be me doing the attacks.
Then we follow the same routine until the 4th day where it would be all 3 but I would be defending while they attack for early afternoon and early evening.
The 6th day would be the other way around with me on the offensive.
On the 7th day, I would be left to accept everything I have gained.”
Gejiro looked happy as he could finally pay him back but the Mistress added her addition while sternly looking at him.
“No Ko-jin would be allowed of course.”
Skrylla Yokuta shrugged, “off course.”
“When do you want to start.”
“Next month.”
Gejiro smiled and beg an whispering to Jin.
But Jin slapped the back of his head.
[1]
March 28th