Advanced Shaasskah - Bahama Turner

[Bahama Turner]

Timestamp: Kuras in the first cycle of Ioannes in the season of summer, era two of the current pattern, XI post Fractum in the Darkening ages, of the Mageocracy of one Julos the mad.

Kuras had finally come, the countdown had been on since seven brightenings ago when he had signed up to take part in, he had been awake as the first signs of mornings approach had been in the air, starting the brightening with a cup of tea as he usually did, it served to remove the last tendrils of sleep clinging to the sides of his vision, the first sun had still yet to rise, the horizon was beginning to show signs of orange, he still wasn’t required to beginning his first lesson for at least two hours and the idea of a quick swim appealed greatly to him, jogging his way out of the city walls, downstream of the Falls enjoying a very brisk bathe in the waters, before finally looking up to discover that dawn had been replaced morning indicating that he better make his way to his prior appointment.

Entering the Co7BI for the second time this cycle, he made his way past Srriderr settling in for his usual post noticing a candle its first mark gone, the next wax band ready to disappear into the wax catcher. Making his way up the stairs and into the room marked as 206. Walking in he saw the back of a man, like he had been at his own place of residence he worse loose simple clothes, the hat the should have been left in the rice patties still on his head as he peered out the window, turning with a smile on his face. He had trained Bahama in Shaasskah at an intermediate level, however Bahama had looked very human, since then he had changed his appearances to his natural form, this fact had been sticking on the young Dracon for a few brightenings now, how would Jin accept this? Well he was just about to find out.

“Serale master Turner, its good to see you here to further your training in Shaasskah, I hear you have recently completed Basic short sword at the institute, congratulations, Hana spoke to me after you had mentioned the lessons we had completed together, I must admit I was surprised to find out you were a Dracon, its impressive you can maintain such balance when you appear human.”

Right into it, Jin had taken the change on face value, some people took people for who they were, Jin had taken him for who he was and for that he was grateful, surprised that Jin had managed to fit the fact in idle conversation the young Dracon was relaxed by Jin’s mood, replying as he made his way into the room. “Serale Master Jin, I can’t wait to possibly further my training in Shaasskah. I had gotten so use to appearing as a human that I had adjusted to the new posture, I must admit using my natural was initially difficult, but I have readjusted quite well and have discovered that a tail is amazing for balance.” Bahama Smiled which Jin returned, before he resumed talking.

“Advanced Shaasskah is much more demanding than its predecessors, the basic body conditioning that we could cover over several lessons, now requires months to develop, your dedication is paramount, without them you will simply not be able to complete this training, Shaasskah uses mind to defeat our concepts of matter, unshackling us and teaches our bodies not what we think what we can do, but what we are truly capable of. Of course new techniques are taught but not after allowing yourself to stretch your limits will you be capable of them.”

The smile on his face still earnestly existed, his eyes however matched the tones of his speech. It was deep and thought provoking, but Bahama was eager to learn and the raising of the bar was why he was here and he was not contempt to remain at an intermediate level, he reply was almost immediate and just as earnest. “That’s why I’m here Master Jin, and I’m ready to learn.” Shaasskah had already changed him in many ways, it had provoked him to not view life the way he use to, he had recognised his own mental changes in the way he acted and the way he generally thought, changes he believed to be for the better.

Jin appeared pleased with the answer as his smile broadened, and he spoke again. “Very well, now I hope you have kept yourself in practice Master Turner, it has been several months since we completed you training, please give me a demonstration of what you recall.” Making his way to the centre of the room he positioned himself in the centre casually waiting for the young dracon to attack him. Bahama had sparred with Jin on a previous occasion, it had been the final test to see if he was worthy of Intermediate Shaasskah.

Removing his Girdle belt the young Dracon was ready to begin what would be an intensive sparring match. Walking onto the mat getting into an offensive stance and giving Jin a nod he was going to proceed, Jin courtly returned it, signalling that the match was on. Approaching Jin from his left he began a circle on Jin gradually spiralling in, until suddenly it changed as he suddenly leapt using his left leg to propel him at his opponent aiming to get a hit his instructor with his left arm, but Jin saw the attack coming and dodged aside ready to take another attempt. He dint have to wait long as the young dracon span his body again to face his superior and coming out with some high punches trying to lift Jin’s defences as he attempted to knee Jin around the stomach, but again thwarted as Jin blocked with his own leg and used the momentum of his other foot to eject himself from the close quarters, a smile on his face and a raised palm for him to continue the bout.

The physical activity had began to warm his joints, the physical locomotion loosening up his body his tail lazily swing side to side, flexing his wings to allow them the opportunity to move he again attained an offensive stance, this time when he came in started with a kick to Jin’s side, closing the gap as he brought his leg down another series of punches followed but again Jin’s superior ability kept him out of harms way, trying something new Bahama leapt into the air preparing to push off Jin’s body with both legs to temporarily separate the combat, but as he kicked out, Jin sidestepped and managed to get a hand in on Bahama’s legs holding them both up as the rest of the Dracon’s body fell to the floor unable to retrieve his legs to stop his fall.

The bout went on like this for several minutes, Jin slowly worked in more and more attacks of his own. The intense session was testing for Bahama, every now and then copping a move that would see him on the ground when he left himself open.

One final time Bahama found himself on his back after attempting another aerial attack and finally Jin called and end to the encounter, perspiration on both their faces, Jin picking up the hat Bahama had actually managed to wack off in one of his brighter combinations, again the dracon rose to his feet but it was clear the sparring match was over.

Nodding his approval to the Dracon he said “Very good Bahama, you have defiantly been keep your skills sharp while you have been away, your confidence has defiantly increased and your skill has become more practiced.” But as you realise this is only the beginning and I hope you can realise why so much conditioning awaits you.” Bahama nodded, and since he had stopped a fair few of his muscles were already beginning to tighten and there was defiantly more than one tender spot under his scales.

[Bahama Turner]

Looking at the young Dracon Jin continued where he left off. “Dexterity and endurance are vital parts of Shaasskah we rely the ability of our bodies, constant exercise is good to keep your body at a certain level, heavy exercise will slowly develop certain areas of the body but there are certain things we can to do enhance that development.” pausing for effect to let that information sink in he continued. “Exercises like repeating a task will hone skill, for example when you were jumping the bar, as well as developing the skill you are also learning to apply it, but there are other exercises that do not develop the skill only the background ability.” Again pausing, but this time Bahama attempted to complete the sentence. “Like the hand conditioning with the rocks?” Jin not offended by the young Dracon’s input replied, “Correct, all the balancing exercises are other examples, while that exercise has no practical use it dies ultimately enhance your body to achieve other tasks.” Theory and background knowledge while generally obvious, actually hearing them always helped to grasp a concept.

“The next few cycles will almost exclusively be dedicated to this, like intermediate Shaasskah you can take a lot of what you learn and do it in your own time, the more you dedicate yourself the larger chance you have for success, now lets begin with some stretching.” walking closer to the dracon he gestured for the dracon to place his foot onto his clasped hands, doing so Jin held the leg before bringing it higher and higher until it became physically uncomfortable for the dracon, holding the position Jin added the extra task of forcing the dracon to grasp that extended leg again having to hold until Jin released him and did the same task with the other leg, after awhile going back to the other, and it continued on, Jin slowly trying to raise the angle each time.

The lesson proceeded with several similar exercises, having to lay on his back and then for an arch, his legs and feet the two anchor points, again the task was to hold the position, this particular exercise would alter to where he would do this from standing up, forward and sideways splits were other new exercises, while he was nowhere near the floor practice would slowly change that.

Other previous tasks brought themselves into the mix, leaping a bar from a set point one of them, however the young dracon now had to wear weighted items around his waist, legs and arms, these items also carrying over to the a device that was similar to the log that was utilised, however this one was raised and attached to a structure using well oiled bearings, its ability to suddenly shift was far greater than the original item and with the weighted items on his limbs as he was instructed to attempt moves the moving of the greater weight would test his ability to balance harder again.

Most of the morning was consumed by these physical activities, it was a culture shock even to the physically active Bahama. However the physical tasks turned into a ’warm down’ routine so he wouldn’t stiffen because of a sudden pause of activity and the lesson took a different turn. Like in his Intermediate training tea making was an exercise to calm down and clear thought, the exactness of the routine, and the mind clearing aromas served their purpose to reflect on what have been covered thus far.

The remainder of the Brightenings lesson was to focused on enhancing another part of Shaasskah, the ‘Knife Hand’ technique. More conditioning would be focused on the subject, a large bowl that was similar to the one Jin used in his home was another feature in the room like its predecessor it was filled with rocks, however this time the rocks and undergone far more than simple heating in the sun, they had had been heated over a fire, while it had long burned out the rocks had held the heat well, while not scorching to the touch the heat was more than uncomfortable, moving the rocks around under the added pressure of heat was extremely testing, and he took the pain as a means to an end, by the end of the lesson the hands felt softer after the initial testing, however even after a few brightenings that would change, a few cycles the difference would truly be noticeable.

But he had walked out of his first lesson tired to the bone… It was going to be a big three months.