The storm quickly ends after the four men leave. Everyone exits and goes home to sleep the rest of the night, although I doubt anyone went to sleep after what just happened, especially me. I sit in my room and think about the element of wind. I was so curious as to what it can do. So I tested it out.
I stood up and lifted my right arm at a 90 degree angle. I spread my hands wide and I close my eyes. In my imagination I pictured it, A forceful gust of wind bursting from my hand. I felt it, the wind slowly gathering in the palm of my hand waiting for me to release it. I open my eyes quickly and a huge blast of wind sends me flying to my wall. "Huh...so that's how that works".
After completely destroying my room I heard a knock on my door. I get up with and aching back and open the door. "Chief...glad you didn't have a heart attack". The chief ignores my words and gives me a huge hug. "Never thought you would resort to hugs as a way of bribery"I say jokingly. the chief tilts his head to look behind me
"I can see you've been practicing." I quickly slide over to cover up his vision of the mess
"what are yo- what are you talking about?" He starts rustling through his pouch
"Gale in school we taught everyone about meditation, a way to connect with yourself on a deeper level" he hands me a piece of paper with drawings on it.
"Yeah what about it" I accept the paper and roll it up.
"Beyond meditation there's also cultivation"
"cultivation?" i ask curiously hoping he would get to the point already. Man this dude is really getting old.
"yes, while meditation allows you to connect with yourself, cultivation will allow you to better yourself. In other words continuous improvement." I sat there waiting for him to say this was a joke.
"So cultivation would allow someone to get stronger"
"yes but it will take Time and effort"
"thank you chief you really didn't have to." The chief smiles
"I know, if it wasn't the right thing to do I sure as hell wouldn't have done it." he says with a smug look on his face, praising himself.
The chief leaves and I open the paper and begin to read. "What the heck. "Step one: know who you are, step two: know your surrounding, step three: gain control of your body" I am not in control of my body?...am I-" I close the paper before i start thinking too much and lay on my bed. Without even knowing it I had fallen asleep.
I woke up the next morning with a loud stomach. I slowly step out of bed and walk to the kitchen to eat breakfast. I open the fridge and grab pancake mix and eggs and begin making breakfasts. After eating breakfast I walk over to my mirror and look at my messy hair and clothes that I've had on since yesterday. I walk over to my closet put on my blue and white Hanfu and wrapped the long sleeves with lines of white cloth. I head outside to breathe some fresh air for some strange reason it was super quiet.
I head over to Alizehs house but she wasn't there neither was her family. After checking her house I went over to the chiefs place and he wasn't there either. I got quite nervous and sad. I really wanted to say goodbye to everyone but no one seems to be here. I start wandering while in a sad train of thought. "GALE" I heard shouting ahead of me at the gate. I head over to the crowd waiting for me.
"What are you guys doing?" I never understand them
"we're here to see you off you brat show some respect" Says one of the villagers. But why?
"You guys didn't need to I was gonna come to you guys"
Alizeh pulls up a bag filled with food and a knife as well as a map. "Oh really? So apparently you don't need food and directions to live then" she says pulling the bag towards her "wait wait wait" I grab the bag and bring it to me
"you contributions are greatly appreciated Ali" I say jokingly.
The chief starts to cry "man I'm gonna miss you, you damn brat" he says coming in for another hug.
Alizeh back's away and me and her give a little chuckle. "I'm gonna miss you guys too" I say backing out of the chiefs hug. I start walking out the gate "goodbye guys" I wave and turn back around. Even though I wasn't looking I could feel Ali's tears ready to come down her cheeks. I turn around one more time "oh Ali don't worry I'll definitely come and visit" I say giving a little wink. Finally her tears started coming out not only hers though mine as well.
And just like that a pathetic kid like me with no parents and trust in no one left what little of a life he had left.