Sliding across the floors, the students were paired off, seventeen groups and one alternate were spread out, each was to do the proper reaction to the opponents move without releasing energy.
Standing a few feet from Hana was Hoji. He punched out with no energy toward her right kidney. She stepped to the side and brought her right arm to meet his head. Hoji countered with a block and left handed blow to the abdomen. Hana took a step backward and slashed with her wings to block. The exposed wings were sharp like a serrated shield, Hoji's next attack put him toward the business end of their tips and the match stopped.
They pulled back and started again.
The morning was filled with drills and mock sparing, practical application would be attempted weekly and after lunch, students would move on to specialty training sessions, each developing their own professions and utility. Some preferred to only practical training, focusing entirely on the goal of growing stronger, while a select few specialized.
Crafting was important, knowing the difference between a lump of Iron and a lump of Celestial Metal was extremely important. The difference between a beautiful flower and a poisonous herb was the difference between life and death, discerning eyes were a necessary trait.
Hana listened to the instructor while she repeated her lessons and got use to the methods of movement. This week they were learning to dodge. She saw many different ways to avoid hits, the mock sparing matches had no blood shed, only sweat.
Hoji's tongue was difficult to dodge and difficult for him to control. He was told not to actually strike her but with the distance, it was a bit uncontrollable. Hoji showed respect the few times it happened. He wasn't intending to strike at Hana, when he did, he felt the brunt end of her feathers and fine cuts appeared on his tongue. Hana made a grabbing motion and then a throw. Hoji moved appropriately and swapped sides with her, keeping the simulation going.
It was training, not a battle. To cheat would only cheat themselves, he followed through and even gave himself a bad landing.
"dedicated" Hana smiled, turned and wielded her hammer.
"dedicated, hell yeah dedicated!" Hoji pulled a mace from storage and met her strike evenly. There was a loud ringing noise in the arena.
Instructor Melar yelled out. "Who told you to use your weapons, put them away. Fifty Laps, lets go." She pointed at the pair. They put their weapons away and started to run around the edge of the arena.
1, 5, 10, 15, 25, 45, 50 laps passed and they returned to their spot. "SWITCH!" the instructor called out when they were finished and everyone rotated partners.
Hana was standing in front of the next core disciple, he was a dwarf. Hana thrust her palm out toward the top of his head.
"What's that suppose to do?" He leapt and struck back, she turned like she had done before but her left foot switched mid rotation and kicked at his knees. He bent sideways then appeared a step to the right.
"Oh? Interesting!" Hana watched eagerly, studying his movement technique. It reminded her of the way her father moved but not as fast. She wasn't all too impressed but she could build on what she had already seen. Hana directed her momentum into her legs, pushing from the soles of her feet and tucked her wings to remove drag from the air. She was heavy in the robes and slipped.
Student's started to laugh but Hana got back up. "Sorry, these robes are heavier than I thought." She chuckled awkwardly, rubbing her head. Hana got ready again, her posture changed. She sent out a left jab and watched the Dwarf spin to the left, his stoke was a weapon movement, a cleaving motion to swipe up from below. Hana leapt into the air and exchanged positions with him.
It wasn't a bad way to spend her morning, she felt limber and alert. Lunch came sooner than expected, the Instructor called out to the new group of disciples. "You five, come with me, the rest of you, off to your lessons. You will go see the Elder Council, they will help choose your profession. Don't worry, you'll make your own choice, but you will make one. Follow me."
She led them along a path into another stairwell that led to a hallway. That hallway led to a breezeway and into the Main Castle. Five Elders sat around a large buffet table, spirit foods and meat were on every platter, wine in every glass. "Ah, our new students. Please, come, sit."
There were ten pillows in two rows directly in front of the Elders, the group knelt on the first row and greeted the Sect Elders.
"Enough formality, we must find your path and we cannot measure you desire. We have a truther among us, they are bound to the honor of the sect and unable to tell a lie. Should you deceive yourselves even slightly, we will know and help guide you along. Now, tell me, have you decided what you would like to do outside of training to become stronger?" Elder Terrins used a water technique to lift the glass of wine and take a sip. "You." He pointed toward Zet, "What do you want to do as a profession?"
Zet stood up, "I want to eventually be part of the Emperor's Guard, to join my Uncles in Battle."
Elder Olear clapped. "Resolute, I like this one. I will offer you the chance to join the Stealth Corp. We will see if you have what It takes.."
"He lies to himself, he chooses to be by family for fear of unrealized potential. Fear, it destroys all. Are you so frail? Hmmph. Choose your death alone, do not drag the sect down with you. He deceives himself. Zet, I believe you when you say you wish to join the battlefield but your heart is not in it. You should not resent this finding, nurture it, channel it into what else." Elder Caylaer flipped her dress out of the way and stood up.
She walked over to Zet and placed her hand on his head. "Send him to Harris. Perhaps the Dragon King needs him more, his heart tells me he wants to be useful, The Mountain City forge complex. Zet will become a blacksmith and harden himself, perhaps one day, he can choose to be on that battlefield."
Elder Iilaa started to chant, a bright orb of green and yellow took shape. She poured its contents into a vial and passed it over to Zet. "Take this to Harris, he will know the rest."
Terrins pointed at Iccess, "You?" He didn't feel like repeating himself and just waited.
Iccess spoke quietly and without much pause. "I want to fight. I want to fight stronger people."
The other Elders all had the same expression as Terrins. 'Strength, hmmph.' Each of them scoffed and wanted to give him an earful.
"He means it, there is no doubt in his words." Elder Caylaer stopped their chiding and walked over to Iccess. She dove into his mind and then explained. "I believe there is a place for him with the Stealth Corp, he is confident, General Guzhe always appreciates that quality."
Hoji was next, when Elder pointed he stood up, bowed and spoke. "I want to learn formations, our clan does not have elders with this knowledge. In exchange of our customs, I have come to learn."
The Council was mostly impressed with his honesty and demeanor. Iilaa looked him over with a discerning eye. "Then it shall be with Windstar, he is not far from here. The Alchemy department has a branch for spellwork and formations, they would welcome a fresh recruit."
"He will fail." Caylaer strutted over, her attitude was not pleasant but she never lied. She put her hand on his forehead and searched through his soul. "Hmm, he speaks the truth.. but I do not see the resolve." She slapped him. "Do you want this for yourself, or because you believe it is owed to another?"
"Elder Caylaer, I mean no disrespect." Hoji seemed embarrassed. To be slapped in front of the others, he would carry the shame. "I choose this road because it is necessary and it is what I want, perhaps my heart is not in it, like Zet." he humbled himself, a truther would never believe anything else.
"Hmmph." Snorting, Caylaer pulled a booklet out and passed it over. "I will not approve, but your choice is your choice. Will you still insist?"
There were hidden meanings in her words, she didn't hide it. Hoji read over the booklet's contents. It showed the statistics and death margins for several formations. Hoji's conviction soared, he felt renewed in his goal and answered, "Yes, I will insist. Fail or falter, I will never give up."
Elder Caylaer sat back down and looked over at Hana. 'Strange girl, she's barely blinked.'