Heart of Dorkness Bane Three - Training

Bane Three - Training

Bane Three - Training

I nodded, then took a small step forward and shifted Felixs shoulders. Like this, I said. You dont want to hunch forward when you punch, even if it gives you a bit more range. Itll throw your centre of gravity forwards, and then soone can sweep you off your feet or just grab your wrist and tug you towards them.

Oh, Felix said. She stepped on the spot, then lowered her hips a little while her arm returned to her side. She breathed out, then punched forwards. In that sa mont, a burst of air shot out past her fist and blew across the courtyard.

It wasnt exactly a powerful blow, but I dont think Felix was putting her all into it. That was much better form, I said.

Felix learns fast, Es agreed.

The three of us had, after a couple of days back at the castle, found a spot to practice in. It was one of the larger balconies, a few floors above the ground level. It overlooked the ocean-side of the castle, with so of the active volcanoes to the west. It made for a nice backdrop to our training sessions.

She does learn fast, I agreed.

Of the three of us, Felix was probably the one that took to the more martial part of cultivation the easiest. Es was... a very good friend, and not soone I wanted to insult by implying that she had two left feet and the coordination of a drunk butterfly. But she was very good with spellwork and could unleash huge spells with barely any focus at all.

I was sowhere between my friends. Not as good as Felix with the physical stuff--though I still had more experience and knew more counters and moves than her. And I wasnt quite as strong as Es with spellwork--though I had a few more tricks up my sleeve still, and Es wasnt very good at any magic that wasnt surprise-based.

Can you do it again? I asked.

Felix nodded, reset, then ran through the simple motions of a quick straight punch. Felix was sohow really elegant when she was moving. Maybe it was the natural attunent to Joy magic that helped, or maybe it was sothing else entirely.

Well done! I said.

Felix laughed as she bounced back to a more normal stance. Thanks! This is a lot more fun than reading.

Hmph, Es and I hmphed at the sa ti.

Felixs speed with learning how to fight was inversely proportional to her speed with learning how to read.

Whats the next trick? Felix asked. She jumped on the spot a few tis to unlimber herself so more and threw a few punches against the empty air.

I dont think any of us really have the basics down, Es said. She gestured to the side of the balcony, where a stack of books was left next to a backpack that Es had taken to lugging around. A few of those were books about various martial arts from the library.

Most elents had an art attributed to them, one that so old sage sorts said better encapsulated the emotions and sort of thoughts one had to have to be able to use the magic associated with that martial art.

Joy magic was open and quick, so the martial art tied to it was filled with big gestures, little hops and twirls, like soone doing a happy dance, but more gracefully.

Surprise magic was sudden and fast and hit hard, so the martial art around that was the sa, filled with single blows that were ant to use the artists entire strength in one hit.

I found that it worked on paper, but only for so emotions, and even then I thought that a lot of the weirder rituals and such tied to the martial arts were all superstitious nonsense.

Moms own Dark magic had a few very old martial arts tied to it. They were weird though. There werent a lot of punches and kicks, but instead a whole heap of moves that were made to help you get untangled or grapple soone. The only attacks were aid at an opponent that was already subdued, like hitting the eyes, ears, throat and groin of soone that was grappled.

It was mostly a run away first kind of martial art, which I found weird.

At least it was easy to practice. I just had to find a monster, then keep avoiding it.

You girls seem to be coming along nicely.

Emse and Felix both jumped and gasped before they turned, wide-eyed, towards Mom who was standing a few paces behind .

Hi Mom! I cheered before running over for a hug. I hadnt filled my daily quota of hugs (which was as many as I could get) and so I figured there was no ti like the present to get more.

Mom patted my back a little awkwardly. I might have given her heck about being shy in front of my friends, but that didnt change how embarrassed she was about showing affection in front of others. Hello, Valeria, she said. Youre all hard at work today?

We are, I agreed. Felix is really getting the hang of the forms we have in the books Es and I found, and and Es arent too bad either!

I see, Mom said. Nonetheless, I have the impression that this self-taught curriculum isnt as effective as you might think.

How do you figure? I asked. Es was usually the one with a million and one questions, but she was still very shy around Mom, so I filled in for her. Also, I was curious too.

While I dont enjoy so of the more... traditional and dogmatic parts of a more formal teaching in the martial arts, there is great value in having an instructor present.

Could you teach us? I asked.

No, Mom said. While I keep myself in good form, I never found much joy in teaching that kind of art.

Aww. Did you have a teacher?

Mom shook her head. I learned things the other way. The path that doesnt require books or guidance.

Oh! Can we do that too? I asked.

Mom smiled, and I suddenly felt very nervous. I was hoping youd ask that, she said. Her hand rose, and she snapped her fingers.

I stepped back as her shadow lengthened, then darkened until, finally, a long limb rose out of the black and landed onto the stone balcony with a sound like a bag of rice being dropped to the floor.

The monster rose and rose out of the pit that was Moms shadow until it disconnected itself entirely and stood a step behind and to the left of Mom. It wasnt the biggest monster Id ever seen, just a big lumpy fellow, with a squashed head and big bulging arms.

Aww, whos this cutie pie? I asked.

You think that things cute? Es hissed.

I glanced back at her, then gestured to the monster. Cant you see it? With his big boy arms, and that squished little face?

Thats not cute! Es said.

Anythings cute if you want it to be! I retorted.

Girls, Mom said, and that put an end to the discussion--for right then. This is Strongel, a monster I made this morning, specifically to give you real experience against a foe.

Uh, I said. That sounds like it might hurt.

Thats one of the greatest ways to learn. To face adversity and challenge. You find that you need to improve, or you will fail, and failure is never an option.

Mom, youre worrying .

Mom smiled, big and proud. Good. Enjoy your training, girls, and do bathe before dinner. I dont enjoy eating while slling others. Understood, Valeria?

I felt my cheeks warming. Mom, that was once.

Yes, one ti you didnt bathe for a week.

Mom!

Mom sniffed. I will see you all soon. Good luck. she stepped back and disappeared, sinking into the sa shadow that the monster had co from.

That was a neat trick, I said.

Strongel roared, and I was distracted about my musing on Mom and all the magic she was hiding from as the monster surged forwards and swung its fist at .

I jumped away, but I wasnt going to be fast enough!

Then Felix grabbed my arm and rolled back, pulling out of the path of the monsters fist. We landed on the ground with twin oofs before both of us started climbing back to our feet.

Es scread, and the day got even brighter as she unleashed a huge burst of electrical fury into Strongels side.

The monsters hair poofed up, but it didnt seem to do much more than that.

Oh boy, I said. Okay, okay, we can do this.

Strongel turned towards and grinned.

Probably.

Your mom must really want us to get stronger fast, Felix says.

I guess so, I said.

I had the impression that maybe Mom took my declarations of wanting to beco stronger a bit more seriously than I did. Which, I figured, was really going to suck if Mom kept trying to help.

***