116 Surprise after surprise! (1/2)
The clouds in the sky benevolently gazed down on the shiny prow of the ship, as it made its way slowly and steadily forwards.
Below deck, the rhythmic beat of the drums rumbled outward. 'Boom, boom. Boom, boom.' it rang as I stood over it bare chested, my shirt tied to my waist.
Barts sat on a corner, sweat pooling off her forehead as she attempted to keep pace with the rest of the folks around her, her side only making do because of Fawkes' steady and reliable presence. But still she persevered, on her first day on the ship she had complained bitterly, on the second she had wailed piteously, and on the third she had silently accepted her fate.
Of the crew, only Sorren had a pass, too injured to do so he made do with his own coping exercise on deck.
Rein groaned loudly as he slumped forward, the grueling exercise proving too much for him. His red hair matted limply on the side of his temple as his pants drowned in the sweat that he let off. He groaned and panted, yet was unable to move.
Angella walked up to him, patting his shoulder before calmly and easily lifting him up and placing his gasping form at the side.
”You alright there, red hair?” I called out cheerily as I looked at him. He gasped as he caught my eye, flipping me off before resting his back against the wall.
I paid him no mind, only paying attention to the drum in front of me and the apt rhythm of my rising and falling arms. Slowly the pace of the beats slowed, the thick drum membrane vibrating softly as it quaked less and less.
With the beat the crew began to slow, their arms resting safely and slowly at their side as I stopped. Fawkes breathed deeply as he looked around, his eyes caught mine before he nodded.
The calming beat controlled their rhythm, the rumble of each beat controlled their intensity. With how the exercise had repeated itself over the past few weeks since we had entered the calm belt, there was no surprise that it had served its purpose.
This was a method that I had discovered back when I lived on the island with dad, it helped people learn to tune themselves well with their Haki. Already most of the crew had a preliminary understanding. Even the complete rookies on the ship, Rein and Barts had managed to grab onto something!
Rein, regardless of how weak he was now proved to be a true talent. He had already awakened Observation Haki! At least enough to predict anything within a three feet radius around him!
”Ok gang, this session of rowing comes to an end! The afternoon session shall belong to Scipio, Angella and me! Disperse, Fawkes prepare our lunch!” I called out, with a loud roar of approval welcoming my decision.
With a swift look at Terrick I walked behind the red hair, hooking my arms under his armpit and lifting him off his feet. Fawkes did the same from the other side. With quick steps we ran to the stairs amid feeble protests from the man we ran into the kitchen and depositing him on a chair.
Within the next three minutes the entire crew had gathered, Angella had gone off to gather the absentee doctor in the time it had taken the rest of us to dry off.