Turns out, l wasn't worthy to hold such magnificent power for my own. Sucks thinking about it, gifts were like another term for magic, but not sorcery like. Imagine having a gift to shoot fire ball or summon a tsunami, but it's only a dream now.
Well, technically. In order for me to receive my gift was to wait till l turn seven. It wasn't that long, l guess l could hang tight and stay patient. You know the saying, "Good things come to those who wait."
Hold up, wasn't my main objective of reading through the book about learning swordplay? The sub-topics did include sword introduction, atleast something l could immediately learn is here. Now, let's get to reading.
What are swords used for? Those capable of wielding a sword and maintaining movements with their core, can reach a state of flow. Swords are used by swordsman, it signifies protection and hope, where their pride rest on a steel blade.
Firstly, a sword isn't a toy, but mans greatest weapon. To be able to swing one requires intense training, wether the sword is big or small, our swordplay defines our strength. Not only is training our body important, having a balanced stamina keeps our body prepared for movement.
Secondly, divine energy is required to maintain our steps, techniques and flow.
Thirdly, a swordsman has a wide range of domain, depending on the mystery of divine energy, an average swordsman has a range of two metres to counterattack. Perfectly mastered swordsman have a range of thirty metres. A domain is needed when activating sword techniques.
This concept seems easier enough to understand on your own, my divine energy and strength need to synchronise, that means, it has the same method as controlling divine energy. A singular point of the mouth, then the pouring process, that enables the movements.
One thing l understand about divine energy, the effects depend heavily on flow range, just as it said about sword techniques needing a domain. Release... that's another point to add, though l'm not entirely sure, l could be wrong for all l know.
Enough small talks, let's see what it says about techniques.
Sword techniques come from different variations passed down from generation to generation, from generation "Z" to generation "O" They were originally called brunches, after a while, the council of judges renamed it to variations, for whatever reasons. The brunches included: Zerion, Slypha, Cipher, lgnis, Axiom, Valor, and Oblivion. These seven generation sword techniques, also known as the techniques of creation.
These weren't techniques randomly taught by anyone, they were techniques passed down from the clan members.
Now, that sucks even more. This book is basically useless if l can't do anything, gifts, till seven, sword techniques, clan techniques. I'm already frustrated by those facts, l don't think my parents come from super cool clans like the one's mentioned in the book. Asking is no problem, but l can't have them see a two year old asking about clans and techniques, it would seem totally awkward and creepy.
But wait, this book's titled, "first generation" it only states about the first creation of sword techniques, there was a possibility that this book contained something relating to the first generation. And of course l went deeper into the pages until l found what l was looking for.
Zerion.
The title of the next chapter.
That was it, the manual on performing sword techniques from the first generation. I didn't hesitate reading through all the context, it was long and boring, but this was an opportunity of a life time. The instructions were clear, l just needed the movement and raw strength, the first generation sword technique required more focus on the mind ( something l was good at for once in this book) Flowing flower, the technique titled. A technique that needs calculation on the precise choice of domain.
Before we jump, domains were classified as body circle, an area or territory where our body can move freely, easy to understand, right?
Honestly, what l'm learning today really boosted my understanding about my new world, the fate of the world hangs on the supply of divine energy, divine energy is then converted as regular energy transferred to the formation of gifts. This energy can also be used in maintaining the rest position of weapons, like swords. With all this knowledge, l think l could pull of the first generation sword technique, flowing flower.
I held my wooden sword, not knowing any iconic stance, l moved my chest closer, taking one step forward, and my sword pointing at my door using my right hand.
Immediately after, l focused on bursting out my divine energy at the cage, feeling the burning sensation again, divine flow through my veins. My thoughts weren't about bursting my cage only, but opening another mouth at the point of my sword. Easier said than done, my divine energy just leaked out, no flow took place at the position of my sword. Then l focused again, maintaining my energy to a bare minimum, the energy reached the point of my right hand where an entry point was created.
I felt it.
My body and sword became one with energy, slowly opening my eyes, l could see the flow pattern of my divine energy. It was sort of fluffy and liquid-ish, l couldn't explain. Then came the real thing, flowing flower.
A yellow circle was formed below me, it might've been the domain, a pattern was created on the floor, a zigzag pattern. Taking another step again, my entire body surged with immense divine energy, my body begun moving on its own in a zigzag pattern, l couldn't control it. What the hell was happening?
Before l could utter another word, my sword touched the ground and created an explosion that made a huge bang. Getting caught from the broken floor, l fell on my face pretty hard, severely injuring my skull.
Ouch.
"Arthur!" Mother yelled, arriving at my direction sobbing uncontrollably.
I messed up big times, but did l really perform a sword technique on my own? That was insane and cool at the same time, though it nearly killed me.
※※※
It was my body's first time experiencing that much output, l hadn't realised my flow burst open pouring out a ton of divine energy. The difference between the sword and body could be defined as "different operating system" my body produced energy transfering it to the sword, the burst of energy was due to maximum output.
Crazy right? I need to understand the fundamentals of balancing energy equally, my current situation was like balancing a brick and a feather. I wasn't consciously thinking about the end results of how much pressure applied at the wooden sword.
My sword even broke at the process, might've been the energy pressure.
"I won't end here."
Father occupied my room, l needed to find another location to practise the sword technique, l can't have them seeing a two year old being aware on swordplay, it would completely mess everything up. When they asked me about the incident, l immediately started sobbing acting like the victim, so both my parents thought something heavy might have fallen, which wasn't true.
Luckily, we had another room behind the empty library, l creeped through and resumed my training. I paged through the book searching for answers like exam was due.
Landing on the spot, the book describes the first generation swordplay on balancing equal power. The amount l put in should be the exact amount released, maintaining a lower input would result in a lower output, the amount of energy on the sword should be within its capacity value. For example: the sword l used probably contained more divine energy than it could handle, if l adjust the amount then it wouldn't have exploded.
The problem is limits.
It isn't like l have infinite energy, plus l'm only two, my cage has a lower capacity currently.
So, l took out a stick which l found outside, l couldn't find a proper sword so l guess this could help. I just need to think about the value capacity, flow, and level of input, focus.
Stretching out my hands, l felt the burning sensation, slowly moving at my body, it reached the exit point. The energy covered itself with the stick, my hands begun vibrating, l couldn't maintain a sturdy focus till l lost control. The energy overwhelmed me until the stick got destroyed in instant, my hands hurt from that little explosion.
I failed again....
A month had passed, my eyes fixated on the stick l was gripping, going full concentration clearing my head with images of rivers and a peaceful grassland.
Balancing the amount on both body and stick, my energy surged at a lower rate taking single step forward, then l released more causing an overdrive. Then the stick exploded to smithereens, l knew l wasn't capable of balancing the amount, once my domain forms and l take a single step, everything backfires.
What was l doing wrong?
Did l not balance the energy? Did l not focus enough? Was my domain a problem? Did l take a step to fast? Do l not have enough divine energy? What am l doing messing up so much?
Think, think....
...
That's it!
Three months had gone by. I wasn't going to give up on learning "flowing flower," practise makes things better, not perfect. If l kept my mindset of wanting everything immediately then it'd be like bringing my impatient old self, l need to stay cool. Good comes to those who wait, this world needed that, if l rushed my training then l might lose myself in the process.
Along these long months that felt like forever, l came with a simple conclusion of my lack of control, l wasn't physically fit. Yes, l never trained my physical body, l was so focused on immediate results that l forgot the main principles of swordplay.
In those month time, I've been exercising frequently to keep my body prepared, running around the house, doing five push ups, and lifting bricks, my body's too small to be handling grown-up training, l'm a grown-up myself mentally. Realising that my small-slim body won't be much help when handling a real sword, nor have total control on flowing flower technique.
It wasn't like my body was ready yet, l've been swinging a stick time to time getting the right precision on my focus, my parents were still not aware of my secret training, l don't know when l'm going to tell them, surprising them as l master the first generation sword technique, flowing flower, would make them praise me. I don't know if it's legal for a child my age to be practising with the sword in this world.
Focus. Conscious. Control. Strength. Energy.
That's probably what I need more practise in, hence, l won't give up training till my body crumbles on the ground. That was a crazy line, this tiny body isn't fit for intense and cruel training.
Another three months had gone by, standing inside my room stretching out my wooden stick, the "first generation" book flapped opened, maintaining total concentration, my body burning with divine energy.
"Just like l practised," l whispered, having a deep breath.
I produced a lower input to create a lower output, the stick vibrating uncontrollably, l didn't lose my focus, my body and stick had a balance of divine energy. Yellow light formed a circle beneath my feet, a surge of divine energy pumped my body as l increased the input alongside the output, it was clear everything balanced.
I took one step forward.
My body instantly propelled by the intense energy behind me, taking one step left and right, moving in a zigzag pattern. My legs hurt, the turns were accompanied by divine energy, it was heavy, felt like the mountain was on shoulders.
"Shoot!"
For some reason, my output kept rapidly increasing, it was becoming unstable, my cage would run low if l wasn't maintaining it, no. It wasn't time to stop, unlike the last time l was now able to lift my stick in the process of the zigzag.
"Here...!"
Aiming for the bed, my left leg lost control of divine energy causing my entire body to slip, it was to fast that l couldn't process my surroundings my heart was pumping in fear as if lightning struck, before l knew it, the stick touched the ground causing an explosion that sent me falling on the ground to hard.
Ouch.
My biggest problem wasn't technique or flow, divine energy started this ruckus, which pissed me off. It was obvious l still lacked control, my body isn't ready to wield such power, l need more time. For now, l needed help, l can't do this alone, otherwise.....