125 5.14 Realm of Mind, Unite! (1/2)
As we both entered our meditative statuses, we both were standing in front of furnace with a large smelting pot, a bellow, an anvil with a large hammer next to it and a mould for a katana.
”Welcome to my Realm of Mind, Sensei. Don't worry, our minds are connected and we won't get lost. However, this would be taxing for you since this is your first time. Here, time seems to move slower than usual and 3 hours here would be equivalent to our time in the real world. Don't worry, this is not my first time entering here but it's a definitely a first time I brought a person together with me.” I explained carefully to Hiko-sama so that he understands.
He nodded his head as he was shocked beyond his wildest imagination as he looks around the place.” So, this place is where you think if anything and it materialises in front of you?” he asked and was feeling peculiar to be transported into this Realm of Mind. He thought that I was just joking with him when I motioned him to enter the small bedroom.
”Yes, Sensei. Anything that u had contact with in the past would appear here. This is called visualisations and the first time entered here was sparring with 2 opponents during a hand to hand close quarters combat. I don't need a real person to spar with and even I killed the opponent, it will be a fragment of my memories. However, you alone would not be able to enter unless I invited you in first.”
”Wow...! Unbelievable! In this case, I could show you some sword fighting arts and I will pass them to you. How if I were to spar with you here?”
”If I spar with you here, any wounds, mortal or superficial would be impacted in our real world, Sensei. It is better to deal with enemies that we formed through our minds, in that case, we won't suffer any dangers at all.”
”OK, I understand a little of what you said. So shall we start?”
”Sure, Sensei... You can see the bellows right? It's needed to pump air regularly to heat up the furnace high enough to smelt these pieces of metal. Come and help me to pump those bellows since you already feel refreshed and full of energy.”
”As you wished, Himura. I sure am feeling super refreshed after the shower and my body felt rejuvenated. You haven't had yours right?”
”Not yet, but will do after this. C'mon Sensei, let's work the bellows up.”
”Alright then... Let's go...!” Hiko-sama replied as he helped to work on the bellows slowly. The hot coals in the furnace soon heated up as air passed through and heating it up every time and the coals glowed to a higher temperature every time the bellow was pumped.
I placed the smelting pot in place and I placed all the weapon parts on the coals first. When it turned red hot, I used a tong and dropped it into the smelting pot and adjusted the pot to be the right centre of the furnace and adjusted its position. Now the smelting pot was buried halfway inside the bed of coals. I took over from Hiko-sama as I pumped at it using short midway pumps in order to work up the heat.
The smelting pot was the same colour as the bed of coals and the contents inside began to melt slightly. ”I need more power to the bellows,” I thought to myself as I pumped it at full force. I visualised at the bed of coals that was turning very bright red at this moment and the contents of the smelting pot inside seem to slowly melt.
I concentrated my visualisation and soon as I took breaths the same rhythm as the air that travels from the bellow. Every time I pulled the handle of the bellows I breathe in and when I pumped, I blew my breath through my pursed lips. This way, I was channelling my chi breathing from my chakra points right into the bellows and into the bed of coals.
After some time, a gurgling sound came from the smelting pot as the contents had totally melted and it is time to pour the Molten metal into the mould I had designed earlier on.
With the watchful eyes of Hiko-sama, I picked a big clamp-like tong and removed the smelting pot from the middle of the furnace. I then tilted the pot slowly over the mould and as soon as the contents were poured, it sizzled a bit and steam rose in the air. Once I had filled the Molten metal inside the mould I set the smelting pot back in the furnace.
”It's time to get back to our real world. This Molten metal would take some hours to set in the mould so there's no point to wait here. We can do something else.”
”OK, lead the way Himura,” replied Hiko-sama as he trusted me as I slowly awoke myself from my meditative state and nudged Hiko-sama on his thigh to stir him up from his state as well.
He slowly opened up his eyes and saw he was back in the small bedroom. There was no furnace or any of the tools he saw before me. He looked at me in amazement and started to nod his head and placed his hands on my shoulders.
”You really are something, kid. I'm proud of you being my disciple and all and I am sure your stepmother was proud of you too.”
”She never has seen me do this, I think. Since you had placed so much trust in me, one day I will let you see something that you might not have seen before in your life. One day, Sensei... But I need you to get used to the shock as seeing things seen in my own everyday life that you had never seen before.”
I replied as I stood up and went to take some fresh air outside as the heat I was feeling earlier was a bit too much. I had never worked in a Blacksmith before, but this body of mine did so I have to get used to it.
Hiko-sama followed me to the furnace and brought a small kettle of green tea with 2 cups and the balance of the food from last night.
”Tell me more about yourself that you had never told to anyone before. You had never failed to surprise me and I believed every word you say even though you may try to bullshit me.”
”Haa...haa...haa...Sensei, you sometimes are so naive. I won't explain to you but I'd rather show you instead in my Realm of Mind. So tell me first, what are your plans for the day, Sensei?
”Doing nothing, of course. I better wait around for you to bring me back to the Realm of Mind and see you worked on the katana that you had moulded earlier.”
”You wanted to get back in so fast? It would take one hour here, how about this... Maybe I bring you into the Realm of Mind and then you can teach me your sword moves? It's hard to practise here since there is not enough space and the space behind the house needs to be cleared if you intend to make this place a dojo.”
”That's right, you are, Himura. Why don't we enter your Realm of Mind after lunch and after a short nap? It's not close to lunchtime and there would be lunch delivered from the inn and also from the sake house right?”
”Yes, Sensei... There's going to be deliveries later to this house so we will go to the Realm of Mind after a short nap after lunch.”
”Ok then, you do your activities first while I go to my secret chamber,” he said and walked into the house. Earlier he used to call it his secret storage room but he now calls it his secret chamber. Well, as long as he is happy to call it whatever he wants.
Since I had done my tasks for the day, I looked for some gardening or farming tools around the house but found none so I asked permission from Hiko-sama that I would be wandering around the village for a while to get acquainted with my surroundings.
Hiko-sama gestured me off and I changed into my blue coloured kimono, my white hakama and wore my zori as I went out of the house. I had just washed my face earlier when doing my laundry and put off my shower later in the evening.
I asked for some direction from the passing villagers as I went from one household to another and getting to know my way around Hiko-sama's comrades as tomorrow would be the day I start to do the general cleaning of their houses.
Their doors seemed to be shut and when I reached Kami-sama's house, the sliding door was open and I could see him smoking in front of his terrace.
”Hey, kid! What are you doing at this time of day? You started to do cleaning yet?”
”No, Kami-sama, tomorrow is the official starting day. I'm here to familiarise my way with the rest of your comrades' houses. By the way, can u ask a favour from you?”