Post by darthlunchbox on Oct 29, 2019 13:09:52 GMT -8
Cade sat with his legs crossed on a tatami mat. The room was dark and cool; only one candle in front of him was lit. He had been trying to perfect one of the techniques his uncle had taught him, but he couldn't quite seem to get it right. He focused on the candle, the flicker of it almost entrancing him and opening his mind. He closed his eyes and let his mind drift. He could almost hear Granpa Morita's voice in his head....
It had only been a few weeks since Cade had joined his grandpa and begun his training. He was striking at a heavy bag hanging from the ceiling. "Use your shoulders more boy. The power from the punch should flow from your body down the shoulder and through the fist." Cade rest himself and punched again. The bag rocked back much more dramatically this time as the boy felt the difference of a properly thrown punch. The older man nodded in approval, "Very good. Again. Now, as a member of the Jaguar school you have to understand that we do not set ourselves above the people we protect. When we are not training we work the land beside them. We help them haul their goods from place to place. We are trusted members of the community and we don't stick out in the crowd; which makes it harder for our enemies to determine who we are and where there are unprotected spots to strike at. When any one of the farmers or workers could be one of us... it creates paranoia once they figure that out. Sometimes it even deters attacks all by itself. Not often... but often enough. Dangit boy that's not how you kick. Use your body weight to..."
A younger Cade, soaked in sweat, stood before 4 barrels of sand. He was punching down into a barrel, shuffling over and doing it again, back and forth, switching hands at every barrel. His hand met the sand and only penetrated so far before it stopped and he had to press his weight into it to make it go the rest of the way. He was gasping and grunting wih every punch. A willow switch popped against his back, "Faster boy. You have to build up speed and power if you ever want to master the Jaga Burst. Again. Faster."
The boy redoubled his efforts as his granpa paced behind him. "The Jaguar school is about being underestimated. To be underestimated you must first have some power to hide, Cade. Jaguars are ambush predators, and like the jaguar we ambush our foes in the middle of a battle. We let them think we are weak, that they have us cornered... and then we RELEASE our power and overcome them. Often the battle hinges on this burst of attacks; you need more in your corner than simple punches and kicks no matter how well you use them."
Granpa Marita held out his hand to Cade, "Take a moment of rest and watch as I do it." Cade stepped back and wiped sweat from his forehead watching his grandfather intently. The old man bowed his head for a moment and then called out, "KIAI!" before punching down into the first barrel. His fist and arm disappeared up to the elbow in the sand. He pulled his arm out again. Cade watched as the old man bunched his muscles and punched with his right arm this time, "KIAI!" with a burst of motion almost to fast to see, his fist easily burst into the sand. Over and over, back and forth three times, every punch accompanied by the shout. He stopped and held out his arm as if to say, now you. Cade sighed and took his place back in front of the barrels, "KIAI!"
* * *
It had only been a few weeks since Cade had joined his grandpa and begun his training. He was striking at a heavy bag hanging from the ceiling. "Use your shoulders more boy. The power from the punch should flow from your body down the shoulder and through the fist." Cade rest himself and punched again. The bag rocked back much more dramatically this time as the boy felt the difference of a properly thrown punch. The older man nodded in approval, "Very good. Again. Now, as a member of the Jaguar school you have to understand that we do not set ourselves above the people we protect. When we are not training we work the land beside them. We help them haul their goods from place to place. We are trusted members of the community and we don't stick out in the crowd; which makes it harder for our enemies to determine who we are and where there are unprotected spots to strike at. When any one of the farmers or workers could be one of us... it creates paranoia once they figure that out. Sometimes it even deters attacks all by itself. Not often... but often enough. Dangit boy that's not how you kick. Use your body weight to..."
* * *
A younger Cade, soaked in sweat, stood before 4 barrels of sand. He was punching down into a barrel, shuffling over and doing it again, back and forth, switching hands at every barrel. His hand met the sand and only penetrated so far before it stopped and he had to press his weight into it to make it go the rest of the way. He was gasping and grunting wih every punch. A willow switch popped against his back, "Faster boy. You have to build up speed and power if you ever want to master the Jaga Burst. Again. Faster."
The boy redoubled his efforts as his granpa paced behind him. "The Jaguar school is about being underestimated. To be underestimated you must first have some power to hide, Cade. Jaguars are ambush predators, and like the jaguar we ambush our foes in the middle of a battle. We let them think we are weak, that they have us cornered... and then we RELEASE our power and overcome them. Often the battle hinges on this burst of attacks; you need more in your corner than simple punches and kicks no matter how well you use them."
Granpa Marita held out his hand to Cade, "Take a moment of rest and watch as I do it." Cade stepped back and wiped sweat from his forehead watching his grandfather intently. The old man bowed his head for a moment and then called out, "KIAI!" before punching down into the first barrel. His fist and arm disappeared up to the elbow in the sand. He pulled his arm out again. Cade watched as the old man bunched his muscles and punched with his right arm this time, "KIAI!" with a burst of motion almost to fast to see, his fist easily burst into the sand. Over and over, back and forth three times, every punch accompanied by the shout. He stopped and held out his arm as if to say, now you. Cade sighed and took his place back in front of the barrels, "KIAI!"
* * *
The wind blew across the wall of the plateau in the middle of the desert. Cade clung to the side of the cliff, carefully setting one foot into a crevice before levering his other one up to find a hold. He reached his right arm up and levered himself up to the next ledge. It was wide enough to rest on, so he took a moment to sit and catch his breath and let his trembling limbs rest. He took his water bottle from his belt and took a sip as he looked out over the seemingly endless desert vista before him. His Granpa's voice filtered down from above him, "Focus you ki into your limbs boy! You have to learn to augment your speed and power! You had your breather now come on, boy."
Cade replaced his water bottle and carefully pulled himself up to a standing position, deliberately not looking down. He thought about what his granpa had said about how to move ki and to focus it through his body. "It's your ki, boy. It comes from your body; all you need is the willpower and control to shape it to your needs. Need speed? Will your ki to help you move faster. Need power? Same. Need to shoot at a distant enemy? Fling a ball of your ki with a force of will. You can shape it anyway you can imagine and any way you can bend it to your will boy. Just takes practice."
He leaned against the wall and pressed his forehead against the warm red stone. He willed his ki to flow into his tired arms and legs to revitalize them; he felt a bit more steady almost immediately. He pressed himself to do more and extended claws of ki from his fingers. He reached up and sank them right into the stone Wow... that is dang handy. He started up the cliff side once more, claws digging in easily. He almost didn't need footholds, but he practiced caution. Granpa Morita had always told him Big headed fools die early. Or Pride cometh before the fall as papa would have said. Cade had almost made it all the way to the top when he felt his flow of ki fading out. He was only 5 feet away... so he bunched his legs under him and jumped up, half his body clearing the top. He barely managed to get his torso over, with his legs dangling over the abyss for a few dizzying seconds. He managed to roll the rest of his body up onto the top of the plateau and just lay there, feeling exhausted.
His grandfather strolled over casually, "I see you made it boy. You demanded too much of your spirit at this point in your training, that is why you feel so exhausted. Still, that was damn impressive, that trick with the claws. You will get stronger with your ki in time and learn more fine control but I am proud of you boy. Now let's go to the other side and take the stairs down." Groaning and grumbling a bit under his breath, he followed his granpa.
Cade replaced his water bottle and carefully pulled himself up to a standing position, deliberately not looking down. He thought about what his granpa had said about how to move ki and to focus it through his body. "It's your ki, boy. It comes from your body; all you need is the willpower and control to shape it to your needs. Need speed? Will your ki to help you move faster. Need power? Same. Need to shoot at a distant enemy? Fling a ball of your ki with a force of will. You can shape it anyway you can imagine and any way you can bend it to your will boy. Just takes practice."
He leaned against the wall and pressed his forehead against the warm red stone. He willed his ki to flow into his tired arms and legs to revitalize them; he felt a bit more steady almost immediately. He pressed himself to do more and extended claws of ki from his fingers. He reached up and sank them right into the stone Wow... that is dang handy. He started up the cliff side once more, claws digging in easily. He almost didn't need footholds, but he practiced caution. Granpa Morita had always told him Big headed fools die early. Or Pride cometh before the fall as papa would have said. Cade had almost made it all the way to the top when he felt his flow of ki fading out. He was only 5 feet away... so he bunched his legs under him and jumped up, half his body clearing the top. He barely managed to get his torso over, with his legs dangling over the abyss for a few dizzying seconds. He managed to roll the rest of his body up onto the top of the plateau and just lay there, feeling exhausted.
His grandfather strolled over casually, "I see you made it boy. You demanded too much of your spirit at this point in your training, that is why you feel so exhausted. Still, that was damn impressive, that trick with the claws. You will get stronger with your ki in time and learn more fine control but I am proud of you boy. Now let's go to the other side and take the stairs down." Groaning and grumbling a bit under his breath, he followed his granpa.
* * *
* * *
Out in a recently harvested field, under the mid day sun An iron haired man stood studying his slender dark haired student. His gravelly voice growled, "You've come a long way, Cade my boy, but today we are gonna work on something that could make or break you. The ability to surprise you enemy is largely being able to..." the old man disappeared and reappeared beside him palm already moving to pop him in the back of the head as he finished, "be where they don't expect you to be."
Cade rubbed the back of his head and looked at his granpa reproachfully which drew a chuckle from the old man, "Boy you are being taught to ambush your foe; don't get cocky and forget your foe might just be stronger and smarter than you. They're just as able to lure you in and do the same things to you if you ain't careful."
Cade nodded, "Yes granpa... how did you do that? Just appear over here when you was over yonder?"
"It's not an easy task Cade, and it might be too much for you at this point in your training... but you can still learn about it. So you'll know the theory and can puzzle it out if something happens to me." He held up his hand to forestall the younger man's protests, "Ain't no use in pretending it might not happen. We fight often enough that it will eventually. You are my finest student, boy. So do this old man a favor and shut your mouth and listen."
Cade reluctantly closed his mouth and stifled his protest. His grandfather started instructing him, "You know how to use your ki a bit now. Blinking about is a dead useful thing to learn; I do it by imagining my ki letting me step through it to where I want to be. It is a little disorienting at first. I would not be surprised if you... lost your lunch... the first time. Let's start. Let's your Ki soak through your body, feel all the power of your spirit and start to focus it..."
Cade closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling his ki...
Cade rubbed the back of his head and looked at his granpa reproachfully which drew a chuckle from the old man, "Boy you are being taught to ambush your foe; don't get cocky and forget your foe might just be stronger and smarter than you. They're just as able to lure you in and do the same things to you if you ain't careful."
Cade nodded, "Yes granpa... how did you do that? Just appear over here when you was over yonder?"
"It's not an easy task Cade, and it might be too much for you at this point in your training... but you can still learn about it. So you'll know the theory and can puzzle it out if something happens to me." He held up his hand to forestall the younger man's protests, "Ain't no use in pretending it might not happen. We fight often enough that it will eventually. You are my finest student, boy. So do this old man a favor and shut your mouth and listen."
Cade reluctantly closed his mouth and stifled his protest. His grandfather started instructing him, "You know how to use your ki a bit now. Blinking about is a dead useful thing to learn; I do it by imagining my ki letting me step through it to where I want to be. It is a little disorienting at first. I would not be surprised if you... lost your lunch... the first time. Let's start. Let's your Ki soak through your body, feel all the power of your spirit and start to focus it..."
Cade closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling his ki...
* * *
Clay pots dangled from ropes tied to the rafters in the warehouse they had commandeered for training. His granpa stood before the 7 pots in a row, "Today we work on controlling yourself when you flicker. Set the pots to swinging and observe." Cade obediently hurried forward and sent all the pots swinging with firm pushes before he quickly retreated and watched intently. The old man ran his fingers across his mustache as his serene brown eyes studied the pots movement. All of a sudden his body flickered and he flashed appearing next to each pot, his alternating fists bursting the pots with bright green explosions of ki. In half a moment he was at the end of the row, turning back to Cade. "Let's hang some more pots so you can try. We'll see how many you can work up to today."
Cade starting hanging more pots at the beginning of his granpa's devastating course while the older man started at the other end. Soon they had the course reset. He took his place at the end of the pots and waited while his granpa set them to swinging. He stood stock still watching the movement of the pots and trying to reach out and feel where they would all be. Granpa's voice skated over the void he had tried to put around his mind, "Remember, it's all about control, Cade my boy. Precision trumps power here; as the precision becomes better you can add power."
Cade took one more breath and turned his ki loose directing it to flash him forward... He made contact with the first pot... CRUNCH! FLASH.... CRUNCH! FLASH... FLASH... CRUNCH! FLASH... CRUNCH! He reached the end of the row and turned back... he had managed to destroy three more of the pots, but had missed 3 of the 7. His grandfather smacked him on the back, "Not too bad, boy. We'll get you there. The important thing is you CAN DO IT! I am so proud of you; your mother never managed to get the hang of this part. Let's go take a break."
Cade starting hanging more pots at the beginning of his granpa's devastating course while the older man started at the other end. Soon they had the course reset. He took his place at the end of the pots and waited while his granpa set them to swinging. He stood stock still watching the movement of the pots and trying to reach out and feel where they would all be. Granpa's voice skated over the void he had tried to put around his mind, "Remember, it's all about control, Cade my boy. Precision trumps power here; as the precision becomes better you can add power."
Cade took one more breath and turned his ki loose directing it to flash him forward... He made contact with the first pot... CRUNCH! FLASH.... CRUNCH! FLASH... FLASH... CRUNCH! FLASH... CRUNCH! He reached the end of the row and turned back... he had managed to destroy three more of the pots, but had missed 3 of the 7. His grandfather smacked him on the back, "Not too bad, boy. We'll get you there. The important thing is you CAN DO IT! I am so proud of you; your mother never managed to get the hang of this part. Let's go take a break."
* * *
The worn training dummy stood before Cade and granpa Morita. Its stuffing was hanging out in places but it was mostly sturdy even if it needed occasional repair. His granpa was pacing behind him and his voice had taken on his familiar lecturing tone, "When you strike, you push your key out of your fist while trying to make an explodin' light. Imagine your key snapping out... will it to explode into a flash. Go ahead boy, start trying."
Cade concentrated his ki and punched the dummy, trying to release the power at the same time. A weak burst of light and a sound like a child's snap firework came out. His granpa's voice, "Again. More power. More focus."
He did it again; and again; and... again. Finally, he felt a surge as he hit and blue light burst forth along with a ear splitting CRACK. "Very good! Now do it again."
Cade concentrated his ki and punched the dummy, trying to release the power at the same time. A weak burst of light and a sound like a child's snap firework came out. His granpa's voice, "Again. More power. More focus."
He did it again; and again; and... again. Finally, he felt a surge as he hit and blue light burst forth along with a ear splitting CRACK. "Very good! Now do it again."
* * *
Cade opened his eyes and took a deep breath before picking up the candle. Standing he found his way to the light switch and turned it on to reveal the practice dummy in the middle of the floor, now even more worn. It's time to put it all together. He blew out the candle's flame and sat it on the floor before approaching the well worn and familiar practice dummy. He spread his feet and centered his ki. He... flickered forward. As he flickered around his target his punches flashed out, blue lights exploding with each hit, boom, boom, boom boom... with a final BOOM the body of the dummy finally gave out, a hole bursting through its torso. He stood catching his breath for a moment before he sensed a presence behind him. A gruff voice whispered, "Knew you could do it boy. Proud of you."