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Topic Started: Dec 14 2016, 01:13 AM (493 Views)
syphl

Jia-ying was excited. She had looked it up and there were several clubs she could join to learn how to fight or use weapons. Both the Kendo club and the Mixed Maritial Arts club practiced in the dojo and she could approach the club presidents to ask if she could join. She had gotten their schedules and decided to go to the Kendo club first.

It was mid-afternoon, and the warm rays of the sun were streaming through the trees as Jia-ying made her way to the dojo. There was a quicker route there but Jia-ying liked to take the longer path cutting through the woods and approaching the other side. The chirping of birds resounded through the trees as Jia-ying walked along the path, enjoying the tranquility of the woods.

The path circled and as Jia-ying rounded the corner, she stopped in surprise seeing a girl sitting on the grass under a tree.

Jia-ying hesitated, not sure if she should disturb her. But then a thought occurred that she might be injured or hurt so Jia-ying mustered up some confidence and approached her hesitantly. "H-hello," She said a little timidly. "Are you okay?"
Edited by syphl, Dec 14 2016, 01:58 AM.
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Kyrielite
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コンセントにチンコ突っ込んでしびれ死ぬといいわ!
Posted Image "....."

The idea of a tranquil state in which action flows naturally is central to many martial arts. It is an entire branch of thought, supported by a myriad of concepts and words to remind the practitioner. Meikyo Shisui - Clear Mirror, Still Water. Heijoshin - A steady heart and mind. Mushin - Emptiness of mind.

Posted Image "....."

Leaves fell about in the autumn air.

The image of a swordsman sitting in seiza under the trees as the leaves fall about is a well known trope in fiction, but the basis was still simple and practical. Remove distractions and see not with eyes, but with one's self. The sensations of the world about are filtered, and removed, until you see what it is you need to see.

Such is practice for achieving the state of en empty mind. However, the concept is not something readily understood. Mushin was not merely the absence of thought, but rather a wholeness of fluid thought and action.

Properly, it is a state where thoughts do not wander, and act as needed. It wasn't some mystical state as many often portray it, but a simply, daily, practical process anyone can achieve under the right circumstances with proper motivation.

When one thinks about it, driving is difficult when you actively think about the process. Push the accelerator, shift the gear, check your speed, look for pedestrians, look where you're going, check for other vehicles.

To actively think about such things makes the process more difficult. People simply learn to act and go forward, with hardly a thought to the process, becoming as natural as walking or breathing.

The difference was simply that it was about using a sword instead of driving a car.

A person approached.

"H-hello," She said a little timidly. "Are you okay?"

Posted Image "....."

It wasn't that she wasn't paying attention, as much as for the moment, the person did not immediately matter. The task at hand was following the movement of the leaves, until a lone one fell at just the right distance ahead...

Posted Image
With practiced grace, the horned girl rose up and drew the sword, cutting it mid-air with barely a disturbance to the others. A moment later, the sword was returned to the scabbard in a ritual repeated by so many others before.

Posted Image
"My apologies," she said, opening an eye to her visitor "I was finishing my practice for the day. I'll go now if it's bothering you."
Edited by Kyrielite, Dec 15 2016, 05:27 AM.
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syphl

Ji-ying stood still, watching with wide eyes as the girl withdrew her sword; her movements graceful and fluid and then in a swift motion, she had cut the leaf cleanly and returned her sword to her scabbard and all this in barely over a second.

"W-wow." Jia-ying stammered, not believing her eyes. "That was amazing!" She realized a second later that the girl had mentioned leaving and she backed up, waving her hands in front of her. "Oh no! Please don't! I thought you might have been hurt-so-I-excuse me. I'm sorry for disturbing you." She bowed apologetically, feeling flustered and nervous for some reason. It was just she had never seen such skill with a weapon before.

Suddenly her desire to join the kendo club seemed like a silly thing. She wouldn't learn skills like these from a school club. Hell...was she even capable of learning to this degree of perfection?

"U-um...i-if you don't mind me asking," She noticed for the first time the girl had horns. How unusual. What was she?
"Where have you learned the sword from?"
Edited by syphl, Dec 19 2016, 07:20 PM.
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Kyrielite
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Posted Image
"Oh, a little here and there..."

It was close enough to the truth that it would suffice for an answer, she thought.

Despite being the homeland of a myriad of martial arts, surprisingly few people from Japan actually still actively studied and practiced them in any meaningful way. Though a topic of interest, many tended to avoid the more combative forms (the arts) and instead studied the more meditative ones (the ways).

Though similar, the ideas behind kendo (the way of the sword) and kenjutsu (the art of the sword) were sufficiently different that for the most part, she generally avoided involvement with the school's clu-..

Ah, right.

One of the pathways to the dojo was neaby wasn't it?

Well, se thought, that would probably explain the girl's interest. Better to clear things up now then, rather than letting it get more awkward.

"Ah, apologies." she said with a bow "I'm not actually really part of the kendo club if that's what you're thinking, so I can't really help you with them."
Edited by Kyrielite, Dec 21 2016, 07:23 AM.
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syphl

"Ah, I see..." She faltered. She had wanted to say that the girl seemed much too skilled to be part of a school club but that seemed inappropriate.

She gave the other girl a tentative smile and bowed lightly, "Kirihara Jia-ying." She introduced herself then quickly added before she lost her nerve, "Your form is beautiful." She paused a second before admitting ruefully, "Unfortunately my knowledge of swords and forms is quite limited. Though I really want to learn as much as I can!"

She fiddled her fingers then asked a little breathlessly, "C-Could you perhaps teach me how you did that? The way you moved, the arc of your sword, it was magnificent. " She probably sounded like a gushing school girl but if she did, she was unaware of it. Jia-ying was desperate to learn and it seemed fate had dropped someone in her lap who really seemed to know what they were doing.
Edited by syphl, Dec 30 2016, 02:26 PM.
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Kyrielite
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"I suppose?" she said noncommittally "It's not exactly something you learn overnight though..."

It didn't really need to be said.

You had to first build a foundation of basic skills, then worked from there. Mastery of the sword wasn't normally something you pick up on a lark. Even with the absorbed skills of a heroic spirit, her own technique was a pale imitation of the original.

Just a hollow copy with a similar form.

That was why she practiced. To one day improve enough to give true form to the techniques that the hero had entrusted to her.

"Besides that, most of it isn't really that practical these days..." she trailed off

Which was to say, society these days tended to frown upon techniques that were developed for 'killing' rather than 'discipline.'

"And really, it's not exactly all that special either."
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syphl

"I-I know, " Jia-ying said in a small voice when Meiya said it wasn't something you learned over night nor that it was practical these days.

For Jia-ying, however, she wanted to learn all that she could. Whether she could use it or not, was not as important to her. However, learning it right was something she was passionate about.
So when Meiya said it wasn't special, her mouth dropped open in disbelief and astonishment before she managed to say, "I have never seen anything that perfect before. Not even in videos."
The desire to learn was so great that she clapped her hands together in front of her face and said, "I'd be in your debt if you teach me, please!"

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Edited by syphl, Jan 21 2017, 08:31 AM.
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Kyrielite
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What else was there to say?

She could refuse she supposed, but it was hard for someone like her to refuse an earnest wish like that. Still, it wasn't exactly like teaching someone how to operate a computer or some other useful life skill.

Posted Image

Meiya sighed, and took another deep breath.

Perhaps it was the desperation in front of her that made it hard. She'd remembered that feeling, and hated every moment of it. Perhaps it was the pure simplicity of the way she just asked.

Perhaps I just have a terrible soft spot, she thought.

Posted Image
"If you really want to learn, I won't stop you." she said, finally, if noncommittally "But, I need to make sure you understand what you're getting into."
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syphl

Meiya was hesitating and Jia's heart sank. Would the girl refuse?

Hope began to build up again as the pause went on longer indicating that Meiya was considering it. Jia waited with bated breath for her answer.

"If you really want to learn, I won't stop you." Meiya said, finally, if noncommittally "But, I need to make sure you understand what you're getting into."

Jia's whole face lit up with joy and she bowed low, saying happily, "Yes, of course! I'm ready to learn no matter how hard the training is!" She then straight up, face still alight as she inquired, "What do you need to know? "
Edited by syphl, Feb 4 2017, 03:58 PM.
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Kyrielite
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Posted Image
"..."

Well, at least she was enthusiastic about it.

But enthusiastic students did not always make for the best ones. All too often, they were too focused on wanting to learn something, missing entirely the point of what it was they were learning. Misdirected, it was far too easy for them to screw up, often in the worst possible ways.

Still, she'd agreed, and that was that. Magi, though liable to twist their words, and bend them. Sometimes, enough so that they could bend them in a circle. But they never broke them.

...I hope I won't come to regret this.

Meiya took a deep breath.

Posted Image
"Then, let's start with how patient you are." she said.

"I'm actually done for the day. Please meet me here tomorrow at..." she took a moment to think about it. "...Five o'clock in the afternoon. I'll ask for permission to borrow the dojo after they're done with it."
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syphl

"Alright!" Jia-ing gave a bow. "Thank you so much. I won't let you down."

***

The next day, Jia-ying sat on the steps of the dojo, quarter to 5, waiting for Meiya. The whole day had gone by in a blur because she had been waiting for her lesson with Meiya.

To say she was excited to begin, was an understatement. This would be her first lesson with somebody who was a pro. Her chance to learn with someone who could actually teach her something valuable.

She couldn't wait to start learning how to use a sword!
Edited by syphl, Feb 26 2017, 01:56 AM.
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