Chapter 05 – Training!

[Mariette]: We are the only people who are candidates to be selected to Mehm Academy (free riders. haha) from this village.

[Me]: So?

[Mariette]: I have promised myself to be the strongest one to go there. So I had fought every single contestant and there is you here now.

[Me]: So what?

[Mariette]: We have to duel and see who is the stronger.

[Me]: Mariette, your logic is flawed. You do not have consequential order of arguments lined up rather you are acting upon your emotions. I hate the idea of tournament. I do not like fighting against humans in cases such as these. Especially a girl like you.

[Mariette]: What do you mean “a girl like you”? Ha! I am worth thousands like you. Now accept the challenge!

[Me]: I will not. But if you come again in three days I may change my mind. Take it or leave it?!

She put her hand under her chin and began to think.

[Mariette]: I will see you in 3 days.

She turned towards the door. Left the house. My mother told me she was a sweet girl. Lei was begging my mom so that I clean my room today.

The next day, mother woke me up early. I told her what was going on. She did not reply. Just asked me get dressed, we were going to travel for few hours. On the way I learnt that we were heading over to Nurs. It is a mountain village. It’s so cold over there that in summers at nights when they sleep they wrap themselves so much that we do not do that in winters back in our village. After few hours of horse riding we reached Nurs.

My mother did believe in supernatural stuff. I believe in God too. But she was a little bit in the extreme side of belief.

Nurs was a big village, but not so much occupancy in comparison to lands that it had. Most probably attacks of the beast men from north has its effects on its congestion. I do not remember which house we did enter but I remember there were a lot of people inside the yard as if waiting for somebody. One by one people on queue were entering the house and left smiling with some kind of hope. Our turn came and we entered too. The room had an ancient feeling to it. Even the walls were covered with rugs and carpets. They designs on them which I could not recognize. Suddenly music began [http://youtu.be/xIGzSCGJLvw?t=44s]. From the opposite side of room smoke blew up and an old woman appeared. She was in lotus position. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked at mom.

[Old Hag]: Come dear, come close to me.

Mom smiled and looked at me and we began to walk towards old hag (I knew she was fishy).

[Old Hag]: Aslan, do not be afraid. Come closer. You may not know me, but I know you very well. I am not going to hurt. I will tell you what awaits you in future so that you should be prepared for good or bad that has to come.

[Mother]: Aslan, come on sit in front of aunt Cumaja. [Old hag was not related to us or to our tribe in any possible way, the word aunt was used as in politeness]

I walked with my mother following me. Came close enough to Cumaja. Sat in front of her. She looked at me and said.

[Cumaja]: Don’t you want to know?

[Me]: … [Didn’t responded to her to see what was she up to, but I assume she thought I was impressed enough]

[Cumaja]: Give me both of your hands.

I put my hands forward and she took them.

[Cumaja]: I see… I see… [She was moving her body like a snake to right and left]

You know when you stand on a valley in hot weather and a cold breeze passes by you and you get a cool feeling as if some type of pleasure. I felt something like that through my hands. She was sending her own mana to my body. I got her trick. It wasn’t mana absorption but kind of measuring mana deposit of the person in front of you (Good God, I was happy that I had read about basic mana stuff).

She released my hand…

[Cumaja]: I felt the power. It all depends on you. Your future is a bit blurry. It may be good or bad but either way it will be easy for you if you nurture yourself. Do not…

I interrupted her.

[Me]: You are good at mana recognition. You are a professional. But I thought you are going to tell me about my future, what you are telling me is useless as of now because tomorrow Shaman Hitomi will teach me practical way rather than BS what you spurting.

[Cumaja]: Blasphemy. Sacrilege.

[Me]: Really? You have a good knowledge of vocabulary. Would you mind explaining what charlatan means?

My mother was shocked.

[Cumaja]: I curse you. By the God, I curse you. Listen to me kid, when you reach 21 you will disappear. You will not see face of your kid. Just disappear. I curse you!!

[Me]: Haha. What a scene. Make me disappear now rather than giving me another 8 years of time.

I stood up and turned towards mom.

[Me]: This is why poor are poor. Because we spend money on things what we do not need. I will use my hands to mold my future. Let’s go!

I took my mom’s hand and we left the house. Took our ride back home. Mother did not talk to me about that day.

In the morning of the third day I woke up early and left to shaman’s hut. Hitomi and Aiki were waiting for me in front of the hut.

[Hitomi]: Are you ready?

[Me]: I am not going to drink that second time…

[Hitomi]: Haha… No, we are going to train. Overall it will take a week. In that time I can offer you all my knowledge.

[Me]: Hahahahaa… [I was laughing.]

[Hitomi]: Are you taking me lightly?

[Me]: No it’s just I can imagine what face Mariette would will make when she comes my house today.

We hopped on Aiki and it flew towards…

Next: Chapter 06 - The sword does not...

Do not forget to play the music, the youtube link is provided, to read and enjoy the setting.