19 Chapter 15: The Principle of Flowing Energy - Part II Re-match (1/2)
The next day as I arose from my sleep, I awoke to the sight of a huge wolf. Curled up at my foot end, there she laid. Completely at peace even twitching her paws a little.
”She must be dreaming.”
Not wanting to wake her up I decided to move as quietly as I could, what I didn't know was that she had dropped her pillow. Stepping outside of the bed I slipped on it falling right on top of her.
*Yawn*
”Morning master, you are up early.”
”I couldn't sleep, have been thinking about what I could do to improve. So excited for today! Can't wait to try out the things I came up with.”
As we both had awoken, we decided to get ready and prepare for the training of today.
Arriving at the dining hall we saw a familiar face.
”Chiara! You here this early as well?”
”Eager to learn more, I see? well... I always appreciate someone driven by desire.”
Chiara chuckled as she finished her breakfast.
”Meet me at the Training Quarters when you've finished your breakfast fledglings, I'll be waiting for you.”
Leaving us be, she had but a quick glance back at us as we enjoyed our food.
After a while, we finished up and went to meet up with Chiara to continue our training. Walking through the hallway towards the training quarters we noticed more people heading in the same direction we were headed. Opening the big doors it became clear, a huge group of students was preparing to train under the guidance of their teacher.
The same woman who taught Chiara and also handpicked her to teach us. The woman greeted all the students.
”Goodmorning students, I see you all came well prepared, today we will be training one of our basic principles, the gathering of energy from outside our bodies and streamlining it from within enabling us to use this in combat.”
The teacher opened her hand and showed her students the flow of energy that gathered around it.
Within seconds the energy ignited in a mesmeric flame.
Just when I thought I recognized the way she gathered energy I heard someone from behind.
”Great isn't she? Let's start our training fledglings.”
Turning around Chiara leaned back against the wall behind us, she must have been itching to start waiting so close to the entrance.
”Today we will do the same as yesterday, both of you will be sparring against me, one on one. But before we do, let us go over the basics. You see, a warrior is nothing without its foundation.”
”So, where will we be training?”
”Not to worry, I have prepared a smaller field for us today, if you would follow me please.”
Leading the way, it was only a short walk before we arrived at the room next to the training quarters.
”Seeing as how we sparred yesterday, you do know how to punch, kick, block and dodge. The four basic moves anyone has during close combat. But... there is a fifth element part of the basics. Magic...
Or energy. As we Martial Artists like to call it,
at least that's what we rever to when using magic.
For today we will follow the example of my teacher as I teach you how to gather energy. After explaining and finding out for yourself we will be doing the same as yesterday. ”Sparring.” Meaning I want to reverse the order. Yami, you will go first and Michael, you will be going last. So for morning practice, you both will be trying to manifest the energy around you.”
”Yes, Madame!!”
We yelled in unison, slamming our fists together and bowing down to show our respect towards her.
To understand the principle of flowing energy I must tell you a story. A story about life and the energy flowing within every single living organism.
You see, energy comes and goes, never staying in one place. Or at least that is true for most people.
Like how a flame can't dance on wood without oxygen or how water can be gentle, yet when falling from a waterfall can even break rocks.
Fish that swim up these waterfalls need energy too, how do they conserve, gather and use theirs?
Or perhaps like how lightning always finds a target to strike, swiftly sticking down the ground it touches.
You see, everything in life flows in harmony with one another, you only need to learn how to become one with it.”
Chiara sat down showing us the energy around her.
Flowing ever so slightly the energy around her gradually began expanding and moving towards her.
”You see fledglings when the energy becomes yours to the command we can even do this.”
Chiara made her arms glow as she struck down on the ground with open palms cracking the floor.
We couldn't believe our eyes. Dumbfounded as I may have been, this made me think of the magic crystals.
”This makes me think of magic crystals, might you have some Chiara?”
”Hahaha, no. Those are only for those who can't summon upon the energy themselves.
Here at the Martial Novices, we learn how to use our bodies as weapons, this includes utilizing our own magical abilities by the use of flowing energy.
Now... sit down, focus and try gathering the energy around you. I will only allow you to spar once you have mastered gathering energy.”
Yami and I nodded to each other and sat down.
Breathing in deeply and exhaling gently as we gathered our thoughts.
”Now, close your eyes and feel your surroundings without moving, this is needed to sense the energy around you.”
We did as instructed, but after a while didn't feel much. It must have been easy for Yami, she had an expanding aura that attracted energy around her. Thinking about it it was to be expected as she, like her previous leader, got exposed to large amounts of magic essence. Slowly but steadily it moved towards her, making her glow a little.
Suddenly the warmth began to surround me too as I felt energy slowly flowing towards me it entered my body and spread throughout my being.
”I know you have been to the Mages Ember Michael, there you received a crystal to use, but here we channel within ourselves finding our own unique magic from within. Look deep within yourself, open your hand and let the energy flow through it revealing your energy.”
Yami her hands opened up, showing small sparks of lightning jumping between fingers and spreading through her arms and legs.
”Extraordinary!! Normally it takes weeks, months even to master this, but you... you actually manifest your energy the same day it has been taught to you.”
Chiara said surprised and shocked by what she saw.
Now it was my turn, I closed my eyes looking deep within my being. There I saw it again the flame from within, this time a different color than before.
Or rather, if it had color at all... The flame was pitch black. Reaching out to the flame something struck down from above, lightning... the dark violet thunder struck down to the ground surrounding the flame while it cracked towards me.
I opened my hands in disbelief, the words of the scaled blacksmith where correct, the crystals really had bonded with me, although different than before there they were, both magic abilities.
I opened my eyes to see my arms completely covered in cracking lighting similar to Yami, only to find that flames burned in the palms of my hands.
”Wow, I knew master was amazing, two types of energy while Yami only has one...”
Yami her ears flopped down on her hair, being envious of my results.
”You have amazing lightning energy Yami, I could feel your energy from here, the blue lightning suits your eyes.”
I said jokingly unaware of the element my energy represented.
”I must correct you there young fledgling, it appears Michael does have multiple abilities, but he has only one elemental energy. Darkness... yours, on the other hand, is Pure Lightning. That in itself is exceptionally rare.”
Well, now that you have experienced how to gather energy I want you to keep it flowing, this way you'll get used to your element, this will also allow you to find different ways to use it in battle.
”Let us eat lunch before sparring. I always say one can perform better on a full stomach, haha.”
We followed Chiara to the restaurant to be positively surprised. The entire look and feel had chanced in under a few hours. Before pure white pillars held up the ceiling and walls filled the area as waterfalls gave off a soothing and calming atmosphere.
Now roots had been climbing up the pillars as they spread their small branches throughout the ceiling.
Birds happily sang their song as they met up at the top of the ceiling. The waterfall from before now had small bonds decorated with the branches ad flowers grew out of them. Truly a magical way to wake up to.
The menu was different as well, first milk with cereal or yogurt and croissants with jam and cheese, now bread with meat, cheese or another delicacy. Even pancakes or pasta could be found.
As we enjoyed our lunch nothing much had happened as we eagerly awaited the first moment of using the energy within us.