Chương 13: Zen Martial Arts
Reston and Radmun cutted down the demons on their path, they can manage to pierce through with their tandem. Currently they were getting close to the town hall and the ferocious swarm of demons were within their sight. Reston cleaved the demons going into their paths, while Radmun fired upon them with his magic arrow.
Radmun grinned upon Reston. "Give me a foothold." Radmun said.
Reston nodded and crouched.
Radmun sprinted fast then hopped and landed upon Reston's back, "Body Enhancement Spell!"
With his body glowing and power surging, he leaped upwards like a spring. He got propelled unto the air continuing to soar into the sky, he found himself stopping and now above the buildings. He readied his bow then conjured a larger arrow made of flames and nocked it. "Cast! Solar Ray." He fired upwards and the magic arrow whizzed by above the town.
When it got close to the town hall it stopped on the air then glowed brightly like a sun. The demons stopped their activities and they cocked their heads, they squinted their eyes upon the glowing fire sphere.
"What the hell?" The elite demon with a scythe said.
The crimson glow slowly faded then it spew out a rain of flaming arrows, it showered upon the demons drastically dwindling their numbers. It pierced through their bodies easily causing them to fall, the demons were helpless and could do nothing but to accept their fate. After it died down, many bodies were splayed upon the ground.
The elite demon with a scarf traced its source and their he saw a mage with a bow, he glared upon the mage. "What's the meaning of this? I thought all mages were taken care of." He said disgruntled.
The demon with a scythe sighed. "I'll take care of him."
The scarfed demon stomped his foot heavily, the impact cracked the ground and the air around him were in turmoil. It startled the demons around him. His eyes were about to burst from anger in any second. "Hold your ground, I'll deal with this myself." His voice seethed in rage.
The demon with a scythe sighed. "Woah scary."
***
Radmun let out a scoffing laugh as he fell, when he reached the ground he rolled to soften his landing.
Reston smiled as he stared at Radmun."Not bad." Reston said.
Reston turned his eye into the sky, his face frowned when he noticed something was coming, he grabbed Radmun quickly then dragged him away as they leaped from their spot. Just in time something smacked upon the ground, like a meteor that hit the land, it billowed a cloud of dust on the area. They could have been harmed if not for Reston's instincts.
Radmun got startled. "What the?"
Reston tightened his gaze and hoisted his blade. "Prepare yourself it's an elite demon." He said with a serious tone.
After the dust have settled down, the demon revealed his burly body, and his neck had a scarf, his eyes were searing in rage, his presence alone wavered their confidence. "You did well on killing a good portion of my men, you rats!" He hissed.
Radmun snickered as he readied his bow. "Where are the four?"
The demon grunted. "I can take both of you myself." He rose his arms then his fingers transformed into sharp gleaming blades.
***
In the past Celina was taught by Herdis on how to wield and swing a sword. She wasn't that excellent, however, she was slightly better than your common city guard.
Four years ago...
The breeze of mellow air swayed the fragile flowers, the sun shone fairly upon the grassy garden on which both peacefully sat upon. The thirteen year old Celina sat upon a rock, she had a bored look as Herdis were displaying his sword skills. They were surrounded by a broad white walls made of glossy marble, it reflected a thin beams of sunlight unto their faces.
"Many people often ask me, what's the point of swordsmen and soldiers if mages are powerful and convenient?" Herdis said.
Celina shrugged, her attention pale. "I don't know, to protect the mages?"
Herdis laughed as he gripped his stomach. "We are being looked down by many people and seen as a fodder, but let me tell you something little girl, there is more power inside the body which could go toe to toe against mana." He said, then halted his sword poses and approached her.
"Now then, let us train, grab your weapon."
Celina stucked out her tongue. "Why do I have to train? I'm a mage, pointy blades scare me."
Herdis chuckled. "What are you talking about? As the only daughter of the Light Guardian, by tradition you need to learn how to wield a blade. If not for the pay, I wouldn't have left Thesur just to come in the Light City."
Celina looked away. "I wanna go to my friends and play, swords bore me. Learning spells with Teacher Gamiz is more fun."
Herdis sighed as he scratched his head. "Then what do I have to do to have you train with me."
"Just tell my father that we're done training, I hope he'll give you, your payment." She said.
"Young Miss, yeah, money is part of this, but I also have a pride and honor. I won't allow it. Now we have no time to waste." He came close to her and offered her a sword with a shorter blade.
She reluctantly grabbed it, she shuddered as she lifted it up. "It's heavy." She whined.
"That's because you're not giving it all, listen you have to hold the blade over your chest until you're comfortable to hold it." Herdis said.
Celina pouted with an annoyed snort, she stood up from a rock, then slowly rose it to her chest, her fragile arms trembled as she maintained it on the air.
Herdis smiled. "Good, now let me tell you something about the Zen martial arts, long time ago humanity have no way to defend themselves against the demons. Thus they peered into their bodies and discovered a source of power which is called Zen. Even to this day they are being used by men who have no hope of being a mage. However it requires a patience and discipline, only few have managed to master it." He then approached the rock Celina sat on earlier.
"Well just watch." He closed his eyes, relaxed himself, he position his sword above his shoulders, then when his eyes popped open he swung in lightspeed. The stone infront of him was smoothly cut into two.
Celina was amused, she drew her curious eyes closer to the sliced stone. "That's actually cool."
Herdis laughed proudly. "That's the power of Zen, but Zen is not an entity like mana it is a state of being. The principle is collecting your inner strength within you, then in a split second release it. The secret to this is mental fortitude, that's why everyday you have to train." Herdis ceased speaking for a moment, he turned around and grabbed a fist sized stone, then showed it to her. He continued. "Listen, it's your turn."
Celina pouted. "That's impossible."
Herdis lifted the edge of his lips. "If you train hard nothing is impossible."
Herdis tied the stone with a thread unto a branch then hanged it. "Listen, you need to slice this stone using the techniques of Zen, mana is forbidden. But first you have to learn how to meditate."
Afterwards Celina meditated, and Herdis accompanied her by standing beside her. "You need to visualize that you are gathering strength. He said.
Celina closed her eyelids tight, she sat quietly on the grasses with her arms upon her legs. After a moment, the surroundings was defeaning in silence and nothing was happening, she opened one of her eyelids "I'm bored." She said.
Herdis sighed. "Listen, you're father said you are not allowed to see Prince Chester if you won't train."
Celina's cheeks flushed, her eyes wide open as she was in a state of dazed, "I would do anything to talk to him again." She said as she squealed from excitement.
Herdis laughed. "Geez, you teens are so fixated on your feelings. Remember, if you can't slice this stone for a week, you won't see him. Well then, I have to buy a drink." He turned around and strutted away.
Celina smiled as she visualized their future together. "He's the most dreamy and handsome man out there, I can't wait to get married with him. Well, then I have to do this." She clenched her fist.
Three days passed.
She closed her eyes gathered her strength then swung it upon the stone, the stone teetered on the air but it remained unaffected, only scratches were found on its surface. She pouted and sneered. She dropped the sword and sat with a disgruntled look. "Ugh, this is annoying."
Herdis approached her from behind and patted her silky white hair. "Listen you have to try harder."
Celina shook her head. "I'm tired and its boring."
Herdis crossed his arms, thinking, he then smirked. "Maybe if you can master this, you will be allowed to see the Prince." He said.
Celina lolled upon him. "I asked my father yesterday he will allow me to see my dear Chester, even if I won't train."
Herdis then tapped her shoulder and sat behind her. "Anyway listen to me, do you think this Prince likes you?"
Celina had an eyes riddled with uncertainty, she got hushed for a moment, thinking then she spoke. "I don't know."
Herdis laughed. "As a guy, we like girls who are strong and talented, maybe if you train and learn Zen, you might impress him and he may fall in love with you. Got it?" He patted her head.
Celina then nodded as she mustered a wide smile.
Herdis chuckled. "Then I want to see you meditating."
On the final day of the week, Celina smiled as she stared tightly upon the stone, she shutted her eyes, then after opening, she quickly released a fierce swing upon the stone. The stone got flung but were restrained by the string, thus its swayed to and fro like a pendulum.
Celina sighed in dismay. "I still can't do it."
Herdis had a sated face, he clapped his arms. "Alright you pass."
Celina had a quizzical look.
Herdis went to the dangling stone and inspected it up close, he noticed there was a shallow cut that ran halfway through. "This is actually a major improvement, okay just continue your meditation and see me for the next month."
***
Celina smiled as she wistfully remembered those old days, but after those vibrant days she was haunted by grim memories, filled with sadness and despair, she gritted her teeth as it was painful that she couldn't even afford to recall any of it. "That damn person, I'll kill him when I see him!" She gripped her blade tight.
As they ran on their path, they then ceased when a huge and fat demon about two person high stood on the center of the road. It ambled around like a clueless ape, and it would be frightening for the normal folks.
Celina can't afford to waste the mana she borrowed, she thought of using her Zen on this one, though it wasn't as good as her magic spells but she had no choice.
"What? Humans?" The demon said. As he came close to them, it had a rotund belly and its shadow loomed over the group.
She then posed to strike by pulling her blade close to her waist, she took a deep breath, then when her eyes popped open, in a flash, she dashed through the demon like a comet with a swing of a blade.
The demon yelled in anguish as the side of its body leaked in blood. "Ugh!"
Celina gazed back, she sneered. "It wasn't deep enough."
The demon turned to her, then he closed the gap between them. "Damn you! Human!"
Celina took a deep breath again, but she couldn't focus, the incoming demon wrecked her concentration. "Damn it!" She hissed.
Turner leaped close to the demon, he rose his knife then plunged it deep unto the bleeding wound of the demon. The demon screeched in pain, and he extened his arm to capture Turner.
Turner quickly leaped to the demon's back, and he continued stabbing the demon, however he only inflicted a shallow cuts. "This guy is quite tough." He said.
The demon whirled and swayed his arm upon Turner, his body got slapped, he got flung and thus he pumelled unto a wall.
"Water Shot!" Shiela rose her arms upon the demon, her palms released bullets of liquid that struck the demon's chest, it bruised the demon and the demon became more annoyed. It was now heading to Shiela's and the boy's path.
"Anyone help." The boy said worriedly.
"My knife isn't effective against that guy, damn it." Turner on the sides said.
Celina rose her blade, upon facing the demon's back she saw a clean opening. She sprinted towards the demon as she pulled her sword posing to strike, when she got close, she tried to concentrate and in a split second she lunged her blade into the demon's back. She took a deep breath, planted her foot then shoved it deeper hoping it would hit his vitals.
The demon groaned, and spat blood, it then collapsed with its face first upon landing on the ground.
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