The next morning I grabbed some beast meat and headed to Edjudan’s campsite. This time I was moving slowly. There were deep claw marks on a tree in front of me. Hmm judging by the shape and height they belonged to a small beast that had peeled away the bark swipe by swipe. After reading the compendium I knew that predatory beasts sometimes sharpened their claws on the trees; especially if those claws were formed from their elemental affinity. I took a deep breath and backed away from the area taking a round about way to the campsite. I looked around but Edjudan wasn’t around.
“Hey Old man where are you.”
“That is master you insolent tadpole.” I heard Edjudan reply from behind me.
“ So you are not stupid, though certainly a little naïve. Good to know.”
“ What who said I was stupid?” I said my forehead creasing.
“ Well you fought with the fire element kid, your breathing is shit, but you did avoid the beast territory. So, seems like you at least have the capacity to learn.” Edjudan’s tone was serious but his eyes were twinkling, at this point I knew replying would grant me a smack and a large guffaw from the old man. So I bit my tongue. “Nothing to say, good let’s get started.”
I took a horse stance and waited for instructions.
“Who told you to do that? Get over here.”
I stopped and walked over.
“Hahaha you sure took a few good hits, hmm this might work though.” Edjudan said.
A cracking noise sent shivers through my spine as I felt my nose being pushed around, my face was also repeatedly poked by hands moving so fast I couldn’t see them. Warmth spread through each point on my face, and I assumed my bruising was dissipating.
When Edjudan was done I felt good for a moment then I realized I could not take in a breath. My nose felt blocked and my mouth could no longer suck in air. I was panicking now, trying to gasp but being unable to do so. I felt a gentle tap on my head and looked at Edjudan my eyes wide and my face turning blue.
“Relax, clear your mind and breathe according to the way of Eternity. Focus on each nostril left then right, deep left breath, short right breath, short left, deep right.”
I was breathing now but I looked at the Old Man with a searing scowl. He glanced at me then start drawing a circle on the ground around 3 rods in diameter. I was afraid to start talking so I kept inhaling and exhaling.
“Hahha you can talk without dying tadpole, but this really is the best way to learn. Your breath needs to be like two circles like a figure eight the symbol for eternity, you were somewhat close the other day but not enough to gather any energy. This was the quickest method.”
His explanation caused my anger to melt away. The quickest way.
“ Fine, I need the quickest way, what do I do next." I said.
“ Patience, you are not eager for revenge that badly are you?”
I pondered the question, was I eager?
“Hey wait, were you following me this whole time?”
“Like I said naïve, but it seems you are not hopelessly stupid. Of course I was.”
The old man was standing there with his trademark smirk again.
“ I saw you do your daily work, I saw that teacher grab you, your poor breathing and that flame kid break your nose.”
I clenched my fists and was about to yell when I realized I was choking again. I quickly resumed my breathing method; calming my mind in the process.
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
“ Bwahahaha I like you better like this. Besides, I asked you a question, do you want revenge?”
My eyes went wide and without a second thought I nodded that I did.
“ Time for a lesson then” He pointed to the circle. “This circle is part of your training and it contains many lessons. The first of which is that every action someone takes is like a stone cast into a calm lake.”
He mimed throwing a stone in the circle and the ground itself inside the circle rippled with what looked like waves. Ignoring my surprise he continued.
“ Each action no matter how small carries its own ripple sometimes with unforeseen consequences. You could fight that boy and win. Down the road an enemy the boy may have defeated may then become the enemy that slays you. You may act cocky in front of a beggar and he could be an expert that ends your life. I am telling you these things because you yourself are a ripple of my actions and in training you I want to see what chaos and ripples you bring to the universes. You have more in common with that boy than you have differences and I assure you your nose would have needed to be broken regardless.”
I was pondering the point when I asked, “ So you don’t want me to take revenge?”
He stroked his beard “ It is more than that. I do not care who you slaughter. I just do not want you acting lightly. Just know each action taken carries ripples, not all of which can be predicted. Half measures ,like leaving an enemy alive, usually make for larger waves. Is your enmity so great with the teacher that you would kill her?”
I shook my head “Of course not.”
“ But you want to put her in her place, what if that makes her brother want to kill you; or makes her sneak into your house and kill your mother? From watching you I have seen the shadow you carry in your heart about inferiority. Your image is not your weakness but your strength.”
By this point I was trying to put everything together but was becoming increasingly lost in the labyrinth of Edjudan’s words.
“ There are benefits to appearing weak, being unnoticed and there are consequences to acts of violence and feats of strength. I do not ask you not to act, only to realize that all your actions ripple through the universe. Now that I have given my lesson I want you to walk the circle according to the Way of Eternity.”
My focus on the circle intensified and I tried to remember the odd mud walking and heel to toe movements as I walked the perimeter of the circle. My foot occasionally dug too deep into the earth or I was hit with a backhand if my movements did not contain a fluid uniformity. I continued this for the rest of the day. My body was dripping with sweat as the sun began to fade.
“Hmmm good enough for now, do this during your village chores from now on, you make walk a semi-circle. Come back here in 10 days.”
“10 days, what about the next step of my breathing, what about becoming strong aren’t you going to teach me something else.” I asked.
Then immediately started to duck reflexively but a slap still rung out and knocked me off my feet. After that I returned home and told my Mother I was tired after my long day of chores and was going to bed.