A week passed with Mitsuki training under her mother Ai to master the states of Water.
"Let's break from studying Water for a bit" Ai said after the week was over.
Prince Asante, Mitsuki's father walked in just at that moment.
"Prince, I think it's about time you took over Mitsuki's training" Ai said.
"That's about right. There are a few things I intend to teach her anyway" Prince said.
Mitsuki walked towards her Dad.
"I'm ready to learn" she said enthusiastically.
"It's about time I taught you a bit more about your affinity for Time. Today, you shall be learning about Trigger Events, a very important aspect of Time" Prince said.
"Trigger Events? What's that?" Mitsuki asked curiously.
"Do you know what Prerequisitory Waves are?" Prince asked.
"A Prerequisitory Wave is a Wave that is necessary for another kind of Wave to manifest. They can be considered 'Parental Waves'. A Wave that brings forth another Elemental Wave" Mitsuki explained.
"That's an excellent explanation. For instance the Prerequisitory Wave for Fire is Earth. Fire is usually born out of Friction amongst Earth Particles. The Prerequisitory Wave for Water is Fire though they are also Rival Waves. Temperature determines the various states of Water. The Prerequisitory Waves for Wind are Water and Fire. These two elements when fused give birth to gases. The Prerequisitory Wave for Lightning is Wind since Lightning can only manifest when there is Friction amongst particles of Air. The Prerequisitory Waves for Earth are Fire, Wind and Water. The ability of Water to cool down Temperatures causes elements present within Wind to solidify. The Prerequisitory Wave for Light is Fire. Light is usually emitted by sources of Heat" Prince explained.
"But following that order, the order of the Primordial Elements is all mixed up" Mitsuki noted.
"You noticed. Well for now, consider this and the topic of Primordial Elements two separate things. You may have been taught that the interaction of the elements isn't linear or absolute but rather cyclical and fluid" Prince explained.
Mitsuki nodded.
"But what has this got to do with Trigger Events?" Mitsuki wondered.
"There is this famous saying amongst Archers, 'To every action, there is a preparatory action as well as a likely result'. Trigger Events revolve around this saying" Prince said.
"I don't get it" Mitsuki looked slightly confused.
"A Trigger Event is an omen of sorts that foreshadows the occurrence of another event. For instance, the Trigger Event for Summer is Spring. The Trigger Event for Autumn is Summer. The Trigger Event for Winter is Autumn and the Trigger Event for Spring is Winter. Thus the season where flowers begin to bloom is the Trigger Event for the Warmer season of Summer. The season where leaves begin to fall is the Trigger Event for the colder season of Winter" Prince explained.
"I see, sorta like the Ancient Saying, 'When the longest Shadow faces the West, it's morning. When the longest Shadow faces the East, Night approaches and when the Shadow is at its shortest, it's Noon'" Mitsuki realized.
"Exactly, you're beginning to get it. It's also like that saying, 'When the Tiger crouches with its Tail lifted high into the air, beware for it's on the Hunt!'" Prince said.
"I think I'm beginning to get it" Mitsuki realized what her father Prince was getting at.
"These sayings are all Ancient Sayings meant to teach the descendants of these cultures to read omens that mark transition periods. It's a principle also very useful in combat for instance in battle, just before an opponent charges at you, what do you think their preparatory action is?" Prince asked.
Mitsuki shut her eyes and visualized an imaginary opponent. She could see the opponent crouch partially and begin to focus energy into their toes.
"The opponent crouches and focuses energy into their toes just before a charge attack" Mitsuki realized.
"Good, now visualize an opponent about to deliver a horizontal kick. What is their preparatory action?" Prince asked.
Mitsuki shut her eyes and visualized her imaginary opponent preparing to attack with a horizontal kick.
"The opponent basically aligns himself in a half-circle stance with the kicking foot aligned to the rear and the pivot foot facing their adversary" Mitsuki realized.
"And if they were to attack with a double heel dropkick from above?" Prince asked.
"The Trigger Event would be when they fold their knees to allow them to complete their somersault" Mitsuki realized.
"Armed with this knowledge, you now possess the ability to counter so tell me what you'd do in these three cases.
"For the charging opponent, I'd sidestep to evade their charge and let their momentum propel them onwards while simultaneously breaking their balance with a footsweep. For the horizontal kick, I'd leap back to evade letting the momentum of the kick carry the opponent's foot away from me, then I'd step into the opponent's range and break their stance. With the double heel dropkick, it would be best to avoid taking a direct hit since the opponent will not only be relying on the force of the kick but also on the force of gravity. A sidestep should be enough to evade. The next likely Trigger Event would be when the opponent lands in a crouching stance. If I can step in and break their stance before they initiate a low kick, I win" Mitsuki realized.
"That's the power behind the knowledge of Trigger Events. They grant one the ability to preempt and negate an adversary's attack before they can complete it" Prince explained.