"Choehabu, why are you here?"
In front of me was Instructor Kim from school. In the same black Martial Arts Uniform he wore at school. He stood in the center of the dojang, confused at seeing his lowly student applying to join the Hunters.
I lightly shake my head and reply, "I was told to come seek you out by one of the clerks. She gave me a note and everything."
Instructor Kim holds his hand out and I give him the note. He looks over the note, flipping it over, flipping it back, before handing it back to me. He then says, "If it says I am to examine you, then I shall examine you. Get into whichever martial arts position you want."
"Thank you, Instructor Kim." I say while bowing and then getting into position. I look at the weapons surrounding us and ask, "Could we use the practice weapons, or is that off the table."
Instructor doesn't move from his position while saying, "You may use whatever weapon you want. I shall stay unarmed."
"Really? Alright then." and with that, I headed towards the left wall. There were hundreds of practice blades and spears, axes and even daggers. I look for a few minutes for something like the Wodao I was using during practice, what I had called a Bastard Sabre before I was told its actual name. Was a funny conversation that.
I finally find the practice Wodao and get into position, six feet between me and Instructor. Somewhere, a bell rings and the match starts. I lunge forward with and overhead strike, aiming for his neck. He lightly moves out of the way and then sends a light kick to my neck.
I shift my left leg and torso to block the kick which sends a shock through my body. Instructor then took my legs out from under me with another kick. He then finishes by stopping a punch a inch away from my face.
The exam ends, and Instructor Kim says while standing and turning away, "You have not passed. Give that note back and don't return until you're more experienced."
I stand up and ask, "Could you reexamine me, but this time I use Gi?"
Instructor Kim shifts his head a little before asking, "Are you sure, you can use Gi?"
"Sure as the sun rises."
He takes a deep breath and turns around, getting into his stance. "Then I shall reexamine you. Release your Gi before we start."
"Thank you, Instructor Kim."
I then snap my finger seven times. On the seventh snap, the nearly black red Gi haze, glides over my skin. I take a deep breathe, hold it for a moment, and then release it. I then get back into stance and the bell rings.
I don't charge this time. I slowly approach, keeping my practice sword's point aimed at Instructor's throat. My sword is only ten centimeters away from Instructor's throat when he makes a move.
A kick towards my temple comes out fast as a whip. I barely block it in time before he kicks again towards the left knee. Shift the blade down and block his kick. A punch contacts my plexus, knocking out the air. Another kick, this time taking me off my feet.
Blurry images get processed through my eyes, shifting and turning. The world doesn't correct itself for a minute. Once the minute is done, I can actually see, and I see Instructor Kim unimpressed.
I try to stand but nearly throw up, so decide against it. Instructor Kim starts speaking, "Your Gi is the weakest I've ever seen, not even a novice has this low level. How did you even manage to get this?"
"I got it, from... something. One day, it just, happened."
I had almost told the truth just now. From the way Dracula acted when I told him, it was something big, something that only a few should know.
Instructor Kim saw the hesitation with my words, but didn't press it further. He instead asked a different question, "Choehabu, do you know what Gi is?"
"Isn't it, an offshoot, of Life Force?"
He shakes his head slightly, "Not quite. While what you say is true, that is not the true meaning or understanding of Gi. Gi is a energy that all living beings have, from the lowliest of insects to the mightiest of Dragons. Everything that is alive, has Gi in some way.
"The reason I'm telling you this, is because the way one activates their Gi is the same across the species-al board. How you unlocked yours, is different. So how you develop yours will be different."
He then gets into a fighting stance six feet away, "Now, let's continue."
"I'm still wearing from that kick, can we take five?"
Instructor Kim nods his head then sits down.
Once those five minutes are up, I stand up, get into position, and the exam starts once again.
I then spent the next two hours getting examined, going from defensive to aggressive to defensive again. By the end of those two hours, the final round, I was barely able to hold my sword. The tip kept lowering even when I tried to keep it from doing so.
So, the last bout began. Instructor kicks towards my head as his first move. I block with shaky hands holding my shaky sword. Another kick to the mid section. Another block with shaky hands and now, wavering mind. Kick, kick kick, block, block, block.
After blocking an axe kick, I swing the sword around my head and towards his neck. It lands true and the bout ends, resulting in my victory.
I give Instructor a light smile before exhaustion overtakes me and I fall to the ground, nearly unable to move. Barely able to think. I slowly close my eyes, letting my consciousness sink into the wide river of thoughts.
-
Instructor Kim looked down at his student. He then touched the area where Choehabu had hit with his practice, wooden-wodao. Bringing his fingers back, he saw a light crimson sticking to them.
Upon seeing his own blood, Instructor Kim started to chuckle before speaking to himself, "I have just found my greatest disciple."
He looks down at Choehabu, seeing how he's asleep, Instructor sits down and starts to think about what unique colour of Gi, was red.