26 Memories Of The Past 1 (1/2)

”Hyah!” A small boy, the age of 7, clumsily swung a wooden practice sword around as he trained in a wide-open field.

The kid's footsteps were sloppy, in fact, there were numerous times where he slipped over his own feet; his coordination was a mess, yet he continued with his practice all the same.

Off to his side were five teenagers, nearing the age of adulthood. They sparred together, sharing pointers with one another. Occasionally, one of them - wielding a slim practice sword - would rebuke the child like a master to their disciple.

The others laughed and teased, showing off their own movements which, while not perfect, held their own style of fluidity.

In the distance, an elder stood alongside a couple, watching the child with wide smiles. The elder was an old man, donning a simple light-blue robe. The couple consisted of a handsome man in his mid-thirties, he had a head of light blue hair and blue eyes, and a pretty woman who had short brown hair and steady green eyes, revealing a capable bearing.

The old man spoke, ”Hehe. Only three more years before he'll test his bloodline awakening.”

”Father, what stage do you think Icrin will be able to awaken his bloodline to?” Questioned the handsome man.

The old man paused, pondering his thoughts before smiling brightly, ”I'm not sure, Ced. As he's the grandson of I, Astrona Krose, I'm sure little Icrin will give quite the surprise. Maybe he'll be able to awaken his bloodline to the fourth stage!”

”Eh? Even I only managed to awaken my bloodline to the third stage, awakening the third stage isn't likely, let alone the fourth.” Ced shook his head exasperatedly.

The pretty woman immediately refuted Ced, ”Hmph, my dear Icrin will easily surpa.s.s you, with or without a higher staged bloodline.”

Hearing her tone, Ced gave way, raising the white flag of surrender in panic, ”Yes, yes, of course my dear, Faline. At the end of the day, he's 'our' dear Icrin, so I naturally hope for his success as well.”

”Hmph! However, we need to adjust his training. I don't think his att.i.tude is fit for one who walks the path of the sword.” Faline spoke bluntly.

Ced flashed a smile in agreement, ”Hmm. Let alone I, even Phu noticed that - you can almost see the frantic tears in Phu's eyes, haha! Anyways, Icrin lacks the steadiness of the blade... So, what do you propose?”

”Naturally, he should adopt my family's technique - walking down the path of the bo staff. My Sil family is small enough as it is. At the least, let me impart a technique unique to my family onto Icrin; he already has your Krose bloodline and techniques engraved in his future after all.”

Before Ced could even respond, Astrona's old laughter chimed in, ”Haha, Brilliant! With our Krose clan bloodline and techniques, coupled with your Sil family's masterful controlling technique of the bo staff, Icrin will surely have a bright future ahead of him!”

In the distance, Icrin came to a pause as he looked towards his family, before his friends urged him on in laughter; he continued in their direction excitedly, ”Mother, Father, Gramps! How'd I do?!”

Astrona erupted into cheers, ”Brilliant, my grandson! Absolutely brilliant!”

”You did good, Icrin. Perhaps one day, you'll match me in terms of strength, maybe handsomeness as well. Heh- Ah! ” Ced joked before yelping in pain, Faline having stepped on his foot.

Her smile beamed, ”As they said, you were brilliant. Keep working hard, and you'll surpa.s.s your father easily.”

”Really?” Icrin asked, a pair of dark blue eyes lighting up like stars

Faline pressed on mischievously, ”Of course! However, what do you say about switching to a different weapon?”

Icrin pouted, ”Huh? Am I not good enough to use a sword?”

”Uh? Of course not! But I have a special, unparalleled technique from my family; it's meant for the bo staff, not the sword. Don't worry, the bo staff is a fascinating weapon, and I'm sure you'll love training with it!” Faline spoke, her green eyes blossoming into deep fanaticism.

”Oh, I'll give it a try then....” Icrin nodded his head obediently, a slither of doubt in his mind.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Almost two years pa.s.sed, the now 9-year-old Icrin was training in the same wide-open field as before. Rather than practicing with a sword, however, he was portraying a nimble technique as he wielded a long, light brown bo staff.

Icrin swung the staff rapidly in a complex manner before slowing down, returning his style to one of simplicity. For almost two years, he placed all of his focus on comprehending the profound meaning behind the Bo-Sil Technique, the special technique from his mother's family, the Sil Family.

He allocated a portion of his time every day to the bo staff, training with all his energy, until one day when he finally felt a trace of the core meaning behind the technique - the idea of being ”born of the forest”. Immediately, Icrin closed his eyes and kept swinging the bo staff around his body.

There was a special kind of charm as the staff danced around his body, slithering gracefully like a serpent. Sometimes, the staff moved in a speedy, yet steadfast manner before suddenly transitioning to a style that seemed slow and calm - if not for the aura of dominance that emanated from the staff. There was a constant cycle as Icrin smoothly transitioned back and forth between the two styles.

Naturally, time waits for n.o.body; and so the day and night cycle continued unceasingly.

Astrona, Ced, and Faline watched over Icrin protectively, even forming a type of barrier around the proximity, preventing others from nearing him.

The reason was simple, Icrin was experiencing a special type of epiphany - a sudden enlightenment. He seemed to have merged and become one with the bo staff and vice-versa.

”You see that, Ced?! I told you, my dear Icrin has an absolute affinity with my family's Bo-Sil Technique!” Faline boasted joyfully as she clung tightly onto Ced's arm.

Ced smiled wryly, ”Yes, 'our' dear Icrin is very talented and hardworking, but please stop pinching me in excitement.”

Aged laughter followed, ”Haha. See that? I told you! Any grandson of I, Astrona Krose, isn't ordinary!”

”AH! Father, my wife pinching me in excitement is one thing, but d.a.m.n! Why are you doing the same exact thing? And you're using so much more strength! Agh! The two of you are just like ticks! Ai. You and Faline are more similar to each other, than you are to me, and I'm your own son!” Ced expressed a soliloquy in indignation, his existence disregarded by those around him.

Astrona shook his head begrudgingly, his eyes looking towards the distant future, ”Stop whining, especially on such a joyous occasion! And don't forget, Icrin is nearing the time for his bloodline awakening. Only one more year....”