บท 14: Training
In a grassy area, with the din of the nearby waterfall and rustling of leaves, a rock was floating unsteadily, not supported by anything visible. The rock was hit by another rock, making it hit the water with a splash.
"Ya! You evil king should return to where you belong!"
A voice interrupted this monologue, "What are you doing playing around again?"
The young boy playing turned to the person talking but didn't reply. However, his face was enough to show his disdain, 'Why do you think I'm doing this? I'll have to play with myself since I don't have anyone to play with here.'
"Ok, enough of that." The old man was not mad. He thought that the child was the same as his grandson. "Hmm.. How about I give you a reward if you managed to do what I tell you to?"
The young boy still had the same look, "What reward?"
The old man smiled, "I'll ask your father to let you join their hunt once I deemed you capable enough to go outside the village."
A light lit up in the boy's eyes. An adventure! Then he really will have a lot to brag to his sisters. But this boy was not easily baited. He was used to his sisters playing a prank on him.
"What will be enough for you to allow that?" the boy squinted his eyes at the old man, thinking he'll see any untrustworthiness from the other.
This made the old man smile wider, 'They really were the same. Children were getting smarter, huh.'
"As long as you can control your 'mist' and shield yourself from the strong 'haze' outside long enough for your father to take off his shield on you when they have to hunt, then I will allow you." Before the boy could interject, the man continued, "You might say that I will only talk to your father to allow you but we will show them your power, that you can survive outside, so my permission should equal theirs too. And you have to promise not to go too far from where your father is or where they asked you to stay. There are some places in the forest that is safe."
Upon thinking of these conditions, the little boy was satisfied. Standing up, he held his right hand out to the old man with a determined look, "Let's shake on it, old man."
"Hmm.. I have another condition." The boy waited for the old man to continue with his hand still raised. "You have to call me 'Master'."
This made the boy waver a little but he nodded and raised his hand firmly. The two shook on it.
"It's a deal, Master."
___
These last few weeks that Ling was training with him, Shaman Matnaad noticed that the boy has difficulty concentrating and supressing his emotions as well as his 'mist'. It was common for most children but this one was more troublesome since his power to heal was usually associated with expressing one's emotions.
Today, the two were still near the waterfall, the old man standing in the grassy area with his hands behind his back, looking at the small figure under the waterfall, meditating.
This old man had difficulty finding a waterfall that doesn't have enough pressure to wash away a figure this small. They finally found one the hard way.
Suddenly, rocks the size of an apple fell from the top of the waterfall, hurtling down to the closed-eyed figure below. Sensing the incoming rocks, the figure dispersed his supressed 'mist' to hit the rocks.
The 'mist' exuding from the figure were thin beams accurately hitting the rocks, resulting to these deviating from their paths.
After a few hits, the figure was satisfied with his prowess and relaxed again.
"Concentrate!" Suddenly, the shout from the nearby land made him lose his concentration.
"Ow!" Something small hit his head which further broke his concentration. He wasn't able to notice that small rock so it manage to hit him in the head.
"That's enough! Come here!"
"Yes, master!" A dejected voice followed the command. He really thought he will be able to get them all this time.
When the boy finally stood in front of his master, the old man spoke, "Ling, you know your error by now. You should control yourself before relaxing from this training. Let's continue this again tomorrow."
Because of his healing ability, the bump in Ling's head was gone and the two proceeded to walk back to the village. Despite the improvement in his abilities, Ling still questions to himself why the training was so brutal. 'How come I never saw other kids or adults with a few bumps in their heads?'
After another few months, Ling got better at controlling his 'mist' and meditation. With the start of their four-year-old class's 'mist' training, many had seen that one boy was better than the rest. They also knew that he was the chief's son training directly under the Shaman Matnaad.
Right after his class, Ling was excitedly running to their training ground, a lot different from his previous attitude of wanting to play with his age group.
When he saw the figure waiting for him, Ling ran faster until he stood in front of the old man again like the last time.
"I talked to your father and some of the hunting leaders." When he heard this, Ling beamed, eagerly waiting for the good news.
"Tomorrow, they will bring a few of the ten-year-olds to their hunting...," the sudden pause made the young boy's smile waver, "and you will be joining them."
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