บท 6: Travels V
I made it to the place where the rumours said strange roaring sounds were heard. It was amazing. There was indeed a Chinese Fireball there. The Dragon was of course the apex predator of his region, so there weren't any other big magical creatures to be found, other than the other Chinese Fireball. But I know that by following the Chinese Fireball, I will eventually meet more magical creatures since she will have to eat.
The Fireball, a female in this case, was scarlet in colour and smooth-scaled, with a fringe of golden spikes around its snub-snouted face and extremely protuberant eyes. He weighed between two and four tons.
Its name was derived from the mushroom-shaped flame that came from its nostrils when angered, along with the large mushroom-shaped flame it could shoot from its mouth.
The Fireball was aggressive but, unlike other dragons, it was more tolerant of its own kind, and would sometimes consent to share its territory with up to two other dragons. Which is why there were more than just this female in the region.
They were also said to be very fast and clever, which I can confirm. At least the one I was observing was very smart. I could tell that she knew I was here very early on. I didn't use any concealment but it was still impressive. She didn't do anything and waited for me to act. She acted as if she didn't know I was there, which speaks for its intelligence.
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I met a few wizards and witches over the months I stayed there. They were the ones dealing with the Dragons, should they attack humans. It was necessary since the Chinese Fireball's diet was carnivorous and it preferred pigs and humans. I communicated with the Chinese wizards and witches and learned a lot from them about how to handle the Chinese Fireball and how to act while in its presence.
They told me about the different magical creatures that were in the area and where to find them. That was how I got my hands on a Zouwu. I admit that I used the technique I knew from Newt Scamander. He was a very talented Magizooloogist after all.
Over time, I came to understand that the wizards and witches who were taking care of and watching over the Chinese Fireball wouldn't ever allow me to take one with me. So I had to get creative. And I did. The same day that I asked them, whether I could take one of the Chinese Fireball's eggs with me and they declined, I used the Disillusionment Charm and made my way towards the Chinese Fireballs. There I transferred the two Dragons to my home.
When the wizards and witches found out the next morning that the Dragons had disappeared, they of course suspected me. But there was one small problem ... I was long gone by that point. I dipped into my 'Home' and used it to open a door farther away from there. I didn't want to deal with them as I had already learned everything from them that I could, using Leglimency.
I opened the door back to the real world about two to three days of travel away from their position and continued my travels.
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As I was making my way across China, I came across a military camp. I observed them while they were training in their martial arts. This had to be some of the first uses of Chinese martial arts.
The earliest references to Chinese martial arts are found in the 'Spring and Autumn Annals'. 5th century BCE, where a hand-to-hand combat theory, one that integrates notions of "hard" and "soft" techniques, is mentioned. In martial arts, the terms hard and soft technique denote how forcefully a defender martial artist counters the force of an attack in armed and unarmed combat.
I thought about it for a while and then decided on the spot to attend this training. I was the Ultimate Human and that meant I could learn everything humans could, which includes martial arts. So this is a good way for me to start this part of my life. And so, that's what I did. I don't exactly look Chinese, but that doesn't matter to a wizard. I simply used a minor human transfiguration on myself, to gain the correct skin tone and the typical facial structure.
Then I went to apply to join the military. It was rather easy in this small town to apply to the military and after using some mild Leglimency and a confundus charm, I was given the lowest rank and assigned a bed where I would sleep for the foreseeable future.
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In the first year of my life as a soldier, there were some basic drills combined with knowledge about the geography of the surrounding towns and the structure of the military. Everything was kept small and we, the soldiers, were told to follow orders and that was it. I didn't care for any of that and only focused on learning and progressing my martial arts.
The instructors were more than impressed with my progress. The training included armed and unarmed combat. For armed combat we were taught the basics of melee; bladed, polearms, blunt and ranged weapons.
The blade's weapons included swords and knives. Polearms were either a spear or a guandao, depending on what you chose or which unit you belonged to. Blunt weapons were staff for now.
Ranged weapons included the bow and arrow. That was it for the basics. Those who were either more skilled or had higher positions had the privilege of learning more martial arts and different kinds of weapons. I was one of those talented individuals. To be precise, I was known as a monster in our unit. I had such monstrous talent that the higher-ups took notice of me, rather quickly.
I was given special privileges and had to take tests to see how special my talents truly were. I aced everything and after a while, I got so good, that learning a new weapon became a rather simple thing for me. It was an amazing time for me. It was a time when I rarely used magic and only focused on martial arts. I could feel my body was made for this.
Every time, I was sparring with a fellow soldier or an instructor, I could feel my body asking for more. I was longing for the feeling that came from a successful battle and a newly mastered weapon or Gong fu as it was called.
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This process went on for two years. After that, one of the generals of the army took notice of me. I was transferred to another unit and placed into the protection unit of the general. I was called into the tent for us to finally meet and when we did, I had to smile. I knew this man, there were a lot of memes that came out of his words.
"So you are the famous talent that I have been hearing about.", he addresses me as I enter the tent.
"I am unsure, if it is me, you have heard about."
"Hm, no I am quite sure it was you. Do you see yourself as talented?
"It depends on who you compare me with."
"I see. Do you enjoy fighting?"
"Yes."
"Do you enjoy killing?"
"No."
"You don't like to kill? Are you afraid of it?"
"If I have to kill, then that is that, but I don't take pleasure doing it."
"I see. What do you think of the upcoming war?"
"I haven't thought about it."
"Do you believe that you are worthy to have the position you are supposed to get?"
"Worthy? Why do I need to be worthy? Am I skilled enough, would be the better question, I think."
"And the answer?"
"I think we shall see in the upcoming fights."
"... Very well. From now on you are going to be one of my close protectors. You may call me Sunzi."
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I was called many times after that first time to talk to him. He wanted to learn about my character and find out what made me tick. I couldn't tell him that I was a wizard and that this was only a part-time thing for me to learn martial arts.
It was impressive to meet Sunzi or Sun Tzu as he was known at the time he was alive. During our talks, we tried to test each other many times. My intellect made this possible. He was very smart and as I found out, he was already thinking about writing his knowledge down. He told me that I would be the first one to get his notes when he was done.
I stayed longer than I wanted in the Zhou Empire. Over the years that I stayed there, our faction got into many smaller fights. I worked my way up the ladder, even though I didn't want that. I had planned to leave shortly after I learned the martial arts. But my friendship with Sunzi stopped me from doing that.
However, it came the time, when it was time for me to leave. Sunzi grew older and I used magic to appear as if I were as well. So when the day arrived, that Sunzi died, I was sad about my first friend's death in this life. But I also understood that immortality wasn't just a blessing, but a curse as well. I would have to meet new friends or create a family. My idea of creating a magic school came to mind again.
It was a good idea, but before I would do that, I wanted to complete my journey across the world. I still had so much to see and so many people to meet.
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I left China and travelled towards Korea, where I looked for a Demiguise. Again I made use of Leglimency to acquire information about the magical community. I just wanted to get as many magical creatures as I could and a Demiguise was just part of that.
It was the perfect thing for me to do after the loss of my friend. Just as he had promised, he gifted me with the first version of his book 'The Art of War'. I placed it in my library in my home. I hadn't stopped practising magic over the years. As my position rose, I was granted certain privileges and among those was my own house and garden.
I practised Occlumency to sort out all of my knowledge and control my emotions. My skills never degrade, no matter how much time passes, so that was good. I didn't spend too much time in Korea until I found a Demiguise. It was a funny little guy and I took him to my home, where he could enjoy himself.
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After Korea, I crossed the sea and went to Japan. Here there were I was looking for a Kappa and a Hoo-hoo. Although I wasn't sure about the Kappa honestly. I didn't care for it, so I decided to go with the flow. If I found one, then I'd take it and if not, then not.
In Japan, I also stayed a while longer. I enjoyed the culture of Japan and also I admired the Samurai who would come in the 12 century or so. But the art of using a Katana was something I didn't yet know, so I wanted to learn that.
I was in no hurry. The years spent as a Chinese soldier and then guard of Sunzin put things into perspective for me. As an immortal, there is no need for me to rush anything. I will practice my magic and grow stronger anyway, there is no need to rush. So I took my time and joined many different dojos all across Japan.
I learned Jujutsu literally translates to "soft skills". However, more accurately, it means the art of using indirect force, such as joint locks or throwing techniques, to defeat an opponent, as opposed to direct force such as a punch or a kick. This is not to imply that jujutsu does not teach or employ strikes, but rather that the art's aim is the ability to use an attacker's force against him or her, and counter-attack where they are weakest or least defended.
And swordsmanship. There were differences.
There was Kenjutsu, which literally means "the art/science of the sword". There was Iaijutsu, approximately "the art/science of mental presence and immediate reaction. There is Sōjutsu is the Japanese art of fighting with the spear. And finally, Naginatajutsu is the Japanese art of wielding the naginata.
I enjoyed myself during this time and continued to practice magic in between learning these martial arts.
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