“Hang in there.” A fellow newbie practitioner told Lee Jun seeing his saddened face.
Lee Jun smiled back. ‘Even if the instructors hate me the people are very kind and nice!’ A simple kind statement from a disciple lifted his spirits. ‘That’s it I am going to show these masters I am just as stubborn and won’t go anywhere!’
However within a few days, Lee Jun’s fresh determination burnt out. The lectures were becoming more and more philosophical and topics he could no longer relate to without actual practice. If he tried practicing anything in secret, other disciples would report him.
‘What the heck…when will they teach me anything…’ Lee Jun wondered while listening to an instructor talk.
“Fear the sword but do not overwhelm you, balance will lead you through life.” The 1st instructor stated. “Weapons are most fearsome, but it is when you fully grasp that fear will you be truly able to overcome fear itself.”
Most of what the instructors spoke sounded like mumbo jumbo since Lee Jun never got to practice it with anyone. Lee Jun also didn’t really understand why was there so much focus verbal lectures versus the actual training, it almost felt like he was going to school. Disciples had to divide their training into three parts; lectures, practice and self-training. Lee Jun was only allowed to attend lectures and watch training. Practice was completely forbidden. Chung Il had specifically instructed the instructors and other masters to not allow him practice; only watch.
Lee Jun looked walked out of the lecture. He wasn’t sure anymore whether he wanted to continue. ‘Is this also some kind of a test?’ As he walked around the dojang in dismay, he found himself in front of the pond. ‘I wonder where Ji Woo is?’
After a bit of asking around, Lee Jun finally found Ji Woo training along with other disciples. She was the only female amongst all the disciples in the dojang. Seeing Lee Jun approach, Ji Woo stopped practicing warm up and went to greet him.
“Ok everyone take a break! DO 20 LAPS around the dojang!” She shouted out to the disciples.
‘Taking a break is 20 laps around the dojang?’ Lee Jun chuckled at the thought… ‘…wait a second…is she an instructor?’
“Are you an instructor?” Lee Jun asked suspiciously.
“Yes.” Ji Woo said with bit of surprise and then drank water from a water fountain. She wiped her face and sat down on the grass outdoors. “I have been training here since the age of six, so it has already been 8 years. I am still a junior instructor though… How is your training coming along?”
Lee Jun wanted to ask her why was she training here from the age of six but the sudden change of topic left him disheartened. He complained to her how Chung Il was making him listen to lectures and watch others fight but not practice anything.
“I don’t know if this is punishment because I never cleared the test?” Lee Jun said the exasperation. “Master Roi Lee said it was because you begged them…”
“I didn’t beg them.” Ji Woo interrupted to clarify. “I did not even ask them. I did scold them for allowing it to go for so long. But not once did I ask them to reconsider. I maybe like their daughter however there are some rules that they will not even bend for me. If they decided to test you, they will test you and if they decided to accept you, they have accepted you.”
“But…” Lee Jun tried argued back.
“I believe in them and if Chung Il says it is part of training then you should take it seriously.” Ji Woo spoke with assertiveness. She was not offering any sympathy or a solution like Lee Jun had hoped when he was seeking her out.
“…” Lee Jun kept silent, ‘her too?’
“I believe there is a reason why he has asked you to do what he did. You must have faith in the masters.” Ji Woo spoke with complete confidence. Her words revealed her absolute trust in her masters teachings, they also outlined that she might have had the same questions about their methods when being taught by them.
“I understand”, Lee Jun said as he got up. “I will do my best.” With that Lee Jun turned back to attend lectures.
Just as he was leaving, Lee Jun stopped to ask, “There was one more thing that was bothering me. Why did you tell me stop?”
“…”
“About not talking about professional gaming?” Lee Jun reminded her.
“Ah!” Ji Woo exclaimed, she had almost forgotten about it. “I have only heard about it so I am not sure if this is what happened but a lot people came to the dojang when they learnt Lee Hyun trained here.”
‘Isn’t that a good thing?’ wondered Lee Jun.
“However by then these people were only think of making money in VR gaming. They did not care about actually training their body. Once they learnt the techniques, they would quit the dojang. The masters did not like such half-hearted disciples. From what I learnt, they felt betrayed since they considered them as disciples but they were considered as mentors. There were also other problems like how they didn’t want character names like Geomchi 632 or they did not want to play Royal Road with the older masters and practitioners. When their true intention was revealed, they learnt the way of the sword for such a low reason, the disciples vowed never to take on another professional gamer as their student again.”
‘Oh boy..’ Lee Jun thought. He wasn’t a professional gamer but that was the career that he seriously wanted to pursue. Furthermore, his real intention was to overcome his fears and get back into the world of gaming not to learn the ways of martial arts.
“I should be getting back. Please keep what I told you to yourself. The masters don’t like the history of the dojang being divulged around.” Ji Woo bowed politely and returned. “ALL OF YOU PICK UP THE PACE OF I WILL ADD ANOTHER 30 LAPS!” She shouted out to the disciples as she returned.
‘Scary…’ Lee Jun’s only thought. He too returned to attend with new found seriousness his lectures thought within he was slightly in turmoil for having such impure reasons for joining the dojang. He was unsure whether he should talk to the master about it or not. However, for now he decided to listen to the instructor.
“The Sword starts by gathering strength and is only taught to those that reach for it and grasp it.” The instructor stated. “When using techniques of any kind there has to be fluidness in those actions.” He swung his sword and it cut with the air through such great power that it sounded like a whip crack.
“The trick lies in fluid movements. You must be as flexible at the wrist to do this. So I want you all to take this position and practice 100 swings.” The instructor ordered. “Lee Jun you too. Master Chung Il wants you to begin practice. He must have a lot of faith in you to allow you to hold a real sword so early on…”
‘Fuck…he had to say that…’ Lee Jun grabbed the sword and began swinging it. It was heavy and his hands were small making it harder for him to hold. His arms were also not used to lifting weights; to suddenly practice with a real sword was at best tiring. After swinging it a few times and getting used to its weight and grip, Lee Jun decided to go for the technique. The key was in the movement of the wrist. Using least amount of energy, all he had to do was recreate the whip like fluid flexibility and slash through the air. Holding the sword with both hands, keeping his back slanted, Lee Jun raised the sword above his head and slashed down diagonally.
*SWISH* The sword made the same cutting like sound as the instructor did. Though it was not as loud, it was perfectly imitated technique, so it reproduced the similar results with lowered power.
Everyone in the room was staring at Lee Jun. Many of the disciples in this room were at least 10 years senior to Lee Jun and had at least 5 years’ worth of training. To see someone so much younger and lesser experienced than them reproduce the same effect as the instructors lit a fire under their belly. They too focused on getting their movement right rather than just blindly waving a sword.
“Wonderful!” expressed the instructor as merrily watched each of his students trying to get each swing right. He was in particular impressed with Lee Jun, who inspired the others to try their hardest. “Chung Il was right in picking you. He really believes in you. You truly are cut out for this. I did not think one so young would appreciate nuances of the sword technique, but you have done justice to the masters. Please continue working hard.” He whispered to Lee Jun.
That was pretty much breaking point for Lee Jun. No one had ever put so much faith in him before and he certainly did not want to betray the people. He decided that it was best if he was honest. After the practice, Lee Jun scurried along the hall ways to the four masters resting room. After a polite knock on their door, Lee Jun entered inside. All four masters were present and were accompanied by other instructors as well who seemed to be updating them about student progress.
“Yes, Lee Jun?” Chung Il asked. He was wondering why Lee Jun turned up here all of a sudden. Was it to thank them for allowing him to finally practice?
“I didn’t come here to be a disciple!” Lee Jun shouted with tears welling up in his eyes.
The whole room froze some of the instructors sighed as if this was not the first time that this had happened.
“Then young man what have you come here for if not to train?” an instructor in grey asked.
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
Lee Jun didn’t know whether to tell them or not to but in the end he wanted to continue playing RREV so he answered “ I-I came here to learn how to face my fears…”
“Yes, we know.” Roi Lee said. “You are being bullied at school. It is normal to fear someone stronger than you. That is the natural order of things.”
“No…it’s not the bullying. There is something else I fear even more…” this line only served only to strengthen the instructor’s curiosity.
“What do you fear young one?” an instructor in blue asked.
Lee Jun put his head down and muttered “I fear failing…”
“…” Nobody in the room was sure what to say to console the child.
“It is not just failing…but whenever there is a wall too big for me to climb, I crumble under my own expectations…” Lee Jun said with his head lowered and tears dripping down on to the carpet.
“Isn’t that why you are here? To become stronger?” Chung Il asked.
“Yes…but there is a game I want to conquer…I want to be a professional gamer.” Lee Jun said it. He finally confessed his true intentions for joining the dojang.
“Which game?” Choi Jong asked as he sipped his tea.
“Royal Road Elementarem Vim.” Lee Jun said.
‘Ah…Lee Hyun’s game…’ everyone in the room thought.
“Then why are you telling us this?” Ma Song asked.
Lee Jun then narrated what Ji Woo had told him and how he felt guilty about having such impure reasons for joining the dojang. Upon hearing his explanation, everyone in the room burst into laughter.
Lee Jun was completely confused. He was no longer crying but turning red in embarrassment, he did not understand what was so funny about this.
“Is that all?” Chung Il asked.
Lee Jun nodded.
“I am sorry to disappoint you but we don’t have anything against professional gamers. It is just that we are against those who don’t wish to learn the way of the sword seriously. I think we should clarify the story with Ji Woo as well.” Chung Il said as he looked at Roi Lee and Ma Song. “We were upset since a large number of disciples quit training after giving up on just basic practice. We truly wanted to help them reach their goals however they shared no such ambition or drive to reach that goal. We were just disappointed that they caved in so early. As your teachers it is part of job to want our students succeed in their respective goals. The truth is as long as you don’t forget the teachings and strive towards your goals, we will happily support you.”
Lee Jun was blushing tomato red with embarrassment. He vowed to kill Ji Woo when he saw her next time.
“Is element...vim such a difficult game that you must practice in dojang to succeed?” Choi Jong asked.
“There is a monster in that game. Something so purely evil that training is necessary if I need an iota of a chance to win against it.” Lee Jun’s body trembled slightly as he recalled Theodore’s death.
The instructors and masters stared at the boy seeing his trembling hands they thought ‘what monster could invoke such fear in a boy?’
“Tell us more.” Requested an instructor.
Lee Jun looked at them partially amazed expecting them to laugh at his fear. Little did Lee Jun know the Geomchis had originally joined Royal Road as a way to hone their way of the sword and martial arts. It was only natural for them to be curious about another VR game. No less a game by Lee Hyun; their comrade. Lee Jun explained the game; some of the instructors who had played it a little also added details and narrated their own experience as well.
Remembering the times they went questing in Royal Road brought a smile to the four master’s faces, the boy reminded them of their days rescuing women and children from beasts in Royal Road. Choi Jong fiercely smiled at Lee Jun and said “There’s nothing to worry about in RREV. For now please continue practicing, I am certain you will be able to overcome the mental block that is preventing you from entering VR. We will also make certain you receive more mental fortitude training from now on.”
After Lee Jun left the room. The instructor in blue went outdoors where the disciples were practicing and called out to them. After they gathered, he asked them, “Who here knows about RREV?”
“Elementarem Vim?” asked a disciple. “Never heard of it.”
“Isn’t that a VR gaming title?” spoke another.
“Yeah it’s something like a rage amongst professional gamers.”
“Isn’t it the game that master Lee Hyun developed?” asked another.
“Yeah…it is! I think this game is the successor to the original title Royal Road.”
“We used to practice on Royal Road…till it was taken offline…masters never forgave Lee Hyun for that.” Said a disciple with a frown.
“That is because, they lost all their stats?” Another said.
Ji Woo raised her hand. “I have played Elementarem Vim.” She didn’t want to be dragged into the gossip chain the disciples had going on.
“Come with me then, they want to see you.”
Ji Woo entered the room, to see that all four masters were seated and their respective retainers accompanying them. ‘Is this some emergency meeting?’ She wondered.
“Please explain everything about RREV that you know. Many of the instructors here have only played a few minutes in the game and we would like to know more about it.
Ji Woo was still very much puzzled with what was going on with the sudden burst of curiosity in RREV. Nonetheless, She explained the basics of RREV, “… The basic elements are fire, water, air, and earth. It would be easier to think of them like our branches: the passion and destructive force of the sword like fire, the fluid movements like water, the calmness in the tense moments like air and the indomitable strength of the earth. There is also Life for healing and Force for powerful movements.” As she continued to explain the classes the masters eyes lit up. After her explanation was finished they sent her away not answering any of her questions why they wanted to know the details of RREV.
“She explained it so much better than that boy” Roi Lee commented.
“That is because she has adequate training. She could see the relation between the practice and the game.” Ma Song proudly replied.
“I see the game is made that way… he set it up perfectly for us as an apology for not coming to Ahn Hyundos funeral; as expected as our late masters successors...he knew we were still upset about that.” Chung Il’s eyes blazed with passion.
The other three nodded; RREV’s layout of basic elements was definitely an apology from Lee Hyun to them.
‘He probably made the game for us so that we can journey with our respective branches of students and conquer that game.’ Each master thought. ‘kukukuku….’ They all wore a stupid smile on their face believing that Lee Hyun thought so dearly of them.
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The next day all the disciples were gathered to the central grounds of the dojang.
“Listen up students, it is important apply what we learn into daily lives. Hitting a pole with your sword will not up your skills but killing monsters will.” Roi Lee announced.
The disciples looked at each other confounded. Nobody knew what was happening.
“From this day forward, we will hold part of the training in Elemenatrem Vim. Our classes in the different continents; the Choi Jon and I along with the strength instructors will be teaching in the earth and fire continents, Ma Song and the technique instructors will be teaching in the water continent and Chung Il and mental fortitude instructors will be teaching in the Air continent. In addition to this disciples and instructors alike are encouraged to find their own path of training in the game.”
“Lee Jun, we will show you that there is nothing to fear in Royal Road” the Roi Lee shouted out. Unfortunately, Lee Jun was at home then and did not hear Roi Lee’s declaration. He looked away from his tablet and sneezed. He had a slight cold and his muscles were sore from all the practice yesterday.
A disciple called out and cheekily asked, “What will we call ourselves in the game?”
The masters smiled only one name came to their mind, they shouted out in unison, “Geomchi!”
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Authors Note:
1. Happy reading!
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Connect to Royal Road – Elementarem Vim next Chapter?Side StoryNo
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