Chapter 15 - Break Time

The sun shone brightly in a cloudless sky as Allendrie napped under a tree. He awoke, yawned and stretched, then stood and grabbed an apple from the tree. He looked around and saw Zara and Toriban sitting a few yards away, talking. Allendrie began to eat the apple, looking around at the woods around them. "You know, this was a great idea Toriban," he said between bites. "A few days rest here will be good for us."

Toriban looked over at Allendrie. "This isn't for your benefit, Allendrie. We've only stopped so that I can train Zara to sense ki. It wouldn't hurt you to use this time to train as well." Allendrie shrugged. Toriban sighed and shook his head. "I guess I really was a fool to think that the old, irresponsible brat-Prince had truly disappeared."

Allendrie shrugged again, and then finished the last of his apple. "Ok, I'll go and practice. I'll see you two later." Allendrie walked off into the woods and was soon out of sight.

Toriban shook his head again and turned back to Zara. "Alright, then. Do you think you understand it, Zara?"

"Yes, I think so."

"Good, now let's work on your technique. Show me that punching move that you use."

Zara stood up and channeled her spirit into her fist. "What should I aim for?"

Toriban stood up as well. "Hit me with it. That is the only true way to test it." He crossed his arms across his chest and braced for the attack. Zara fired a blast of spirit through her fist. Toriban was struck dead center in the chest and slid back across the ground about a foot.

"Well, at least we don't have to worry about your aim. It's your power that's the problem. You need focus. With the level of control you're giving your attack, a good amount of energy dissipates before it even hits. And you hold too much back."

"But is there any way that I can quickly learn more focus?"

"Hmm... Well, as you likely know, in any of the schools of martial arts, you will learn that as you strike it is useful to let out a grunt or yell to help your mind understand that a great amount of effort must be put into what you are doing. It helps to focus your chi, your energy of the body. The same concept can be applied to the use of ki attacks. Using your voice is a way to help clear your mind. I use this in my attacks, only I choose to say the name of my attack to better help my mind to focus on the task at hand. Understand?"

"Yes."

"Then try it." Toriban returned to his ready stance as Zara drew her fist back. She focused her power into her hand, then punched forward, unleashing a great scream. The blast struck Toriban square in the chest once again, only this time he was flung through the air over six feet.

Toriban stood up slowly and looked at Zara in amazement. "My God. See what you had hidden? Wait a minute... You were still holding back quite a bit on that attack, weren't you? Amazing. But you have to promise me that you won't hold back like that in battle."

"I don't know if I can promise that, but I'll try."

"And don't worry about embarrassing yourself. You may think that you will sound strange, but remember, your enemy won't laugh at you if they're dead." Toriban moved to the tree where Allendrie had been earlier and sat down. "I think that's all for today. Work on your weapon combat tomorrow?"

"Yes, that would be fine. But we must reach our destination soon, or the enemy will have time to regroup their forces."

Allendrie suddenly rushed into the clearing, sword in hand. "I heard a yell, what happened? Are you two alright?"

Zara grabbed an apple and polished it on her robes. "We are fine. It was just a part of training." Zara grabbed another apple and tossed it to Toriban.

Toriban started munching on his apple. "I want you two to spar tomorrow. To test Zara's skills. For now, though, let's just enjoy the rest of this day. Who knows, it may be our last."

Allendrie sighed and sheathed his sword. "Inspirational as usual."

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Toriban drew a ring in the ground with Crimson. "All right, let's see how you can handle a weapon, Zara."

Zara and Allendrie stepped into the ring, each holding a stick the approximate length of their respective weapons. Toriban gave the signal to start, and they both ran towards one another. Allendrie started with an upward slash that Zara quickly blocked, then copied. Allendrie, being unable to bring his weapon to bear, jumped back, then went back on the offensive with a flurry of strikes that were easily blocked by Zara's smaller, quicker weapon. Allendrie allowed the strike-and-block routine to continue a short while longer, then feinted right. When she brought her weapon across to block, he drove his faux sword into her left foot. Allendrie withdrew a few feet.

Toriban looked at Allendrie with a look of acceptance. "Impressive, Allendrie. But your foe is still capable of attack. Zara, your foot is now rendered useless and you must either drag it or hop. Continue."

Allendrie brought his weapon across in a low sweep towards Zara's good leg. Zara jumped the stick, then struck out with her own. Allendrie turn-stepped right, and as Zara's weapon passed in front of him, he struck it with his own sword, slamming it to the ground. Allendrie kicked out at Zara's good leg, tripping her and sending her face first into the ground. Then he brought the point of his stick to the center of Zara's back.

Allendrie tossed his stick away and helped Zara up. Zara brushed the dirt from her robes. "It seems that you are the better with a weapon. But I believe I would be victor if it had been hand to hand combat."

"Well of course you would have. I have no formal training, and you would be able to attack twice as much as me." Allendrie pointed to where his arm once was.

Zara stuttered. "I .... uh, I'm ... I'm sorry."

Toriban started scratching out the circle he had drawn in the ground. 'We need to get going. Let's get rid of any evidence that we were here. We've still got a long way to go."