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Post by Daisuke Takemitsu on Jul 17, 2012 17:29:02 GMT -5
"So... Where are we going again?" I asked Vash as we walked. I was tired and hot, but after being told that it was time to train, I didn't want to stop moving. Anxious to contact Tarran and learn how to use my lunar abilities, my increasingly tired steps had an ever so light spring to them. "Something about a quarry, right?" If I remember correctly, Vash said that this place we were heading to would be a great area for me to begin my Lunar Knight training.
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Post by Vash, the Angel's Moon on Jul 17, 2012 17:42:18 GMT -5
"The Calx Quarry," I told him. "It's a center for the mana of this country. The Roccians hold it as sacred; it's also got a gorgeous view of the full moon, but since it's dawn, you won't see it today. It's also very out of the way - it's not worked anymore and hasn't been for three hundred years, so generally, people only come here on pilgrimages. In case your powers go out of control, this is a good place for that to happen."
I smiled, sat down on a jutting chunk of rock. "Find someplace to sit. The first part is easy, but it's mostly mental, so you'll want to be comfortable."
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Post by Daisuke Takemitsu on Jul 17, 2012 17:56:40 GMT -5
"Right." I find an odd looking half-pillar of stone jutting up from the ground and jump on top of it, making myself comfortable. "Alright, ready! Tell me what I need to do." I say with a smile, both happy to be sitting down and anxious to begin.
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Post by Vash, the Angel's Moon on Jul 17, 2012 18:05:30 GMT -5
"First - this is going to sound like a silly question, but, do you know how to meditate?"
Meditation is the technique of contacting the spirit; contacting the spirit is the first step in contacting any kind of outside force. Meditation, therefore, is the basis of magic. That was what I had been taught when I was first learning to tap my powers; that was what I hoped to teach Daisuke now. The power the Lunar Knights held was only tappable through the spirit, just like any other magic, only more so.
I took a deep breath. This might be a longer lesson than I had experienced with 'Guo and Rin.
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Post by Daisuke Takemitsu on Jul 17, 2012 18:11:53 GMT -5
I frown a bit. "Not in the least. I've never had need of meditating back at the arena. My days were wake up, eat, fight, eat, fight, eat, sleep; with the occasional bar excursion of course..." I say the last part with a slight chuckle, before trying to be serious once more. "But you probably don't have to worry. Living in that arena had other benefits, such as turning me into quite the fast learner. So teach away!" I say, trying my best to put on a convincing smile.
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Post by Vash, the Angel's Moon on Jul 17, 2012 18:22:23 GMT -5
I raised a finger. "Meditation isn't about being fast," I said. "It's about being patient. Meditation releases awareness of the outside world, and instead, focuses the mind inward on the soul." I took a deep breath. "Everyone meditates differently. 'Guo meditates through rituals; Rin... to Rin, meditation is just as natural a state as consciousness. I'm going to teach you the way I was taught." I smiled. "It's about focus and concentration; I learned to control my breathing, and the rest of it followed from there."
I sat back. "CLose your eyes; take a deep breath, and count as you breathe in; hold your breath for a count, then exhale for a count. Allow yourself to lose contact with the world around you, and focus only on your breathing."
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Post by Daisuke Takemitsu on Jul 17, 2012 18:39:31 GMT -5
"Alright... So..." I try performing the steps that Vash told me to, but didn't feel very different. "Am-Am I doing it right? I don't feel very different than I was a minute ago..." I blabber, breathing oddly and at different intervals. Instead of losing contact, I just kind of felt... Silly.
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Post by Vash, the Angel's Moon on Jul 17, 2012 18:54:30 GMT -5
"It takes a while to perfect," I told him. "Try it with sevens for now. A count of seven in, hold for seven, out for seven. And concentrate. It's not easy, especially for someone who's never done it before."
And would give me time to think of another technique if this one didn't work.
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Post by Daisuke Takemitsu on Jul 17, 2012 19:08:39 GMT -5
"Ok..." One... Two... Three... Four... I began to count again, breathing slightly off course, trying to keep up concentration. "Ugh, this is tougher than I thought for sure..." I say, reaching into a backpack I brought with me and pulling out a bottle of sake. I take a huge swig and sit back, much calmer. "Ahh, that's much much better..." I mumbled before taking another swig.
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Post by Vash, the Angel's Moon on Jul 17, 2012 19:11:51 GMT -5
I sighed.
Any suggestions?
All Knights have their own pace. Surely, Brother, you of all of us would know that, considering the number of them you've trained.
I sighed again.
"Maybe we should come at this differently.... Dai. When you fight, in the arena, what does it feel like? I'm sure it takes a lot of focus, a lot of concentration. I've heard from other fighters that when two strong men face each other, it's as if they can hear each other's thoughts."
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Post by Daisuke Takemitsu on Jul 17, 2012 19:29:58 GMT -5
"Ah, fighting..." I say with a slight sigh. "It's an amazing feeling, as much as I hate it. Feeling the fluidity of my movements and my instincts take control of me... It's a hateful bliss." I said, taking another swig. "Luckily for me I was drunk half the time. I didn't have to feel the pain, and watch my opponents feel the same... The alcohol felt it for me. Released me from my fate for even the shortest time..." I said, remembering all of my fights over the years. "It's odd. I told Rin i never wanted to hurt people, but yet I was forced to. And to this day I've only killed one man... But I digress." I say, frowning at my memories. "Fighting, unless you're a drunken fighter like I am, does indeed take a lot of concentration and focus. Although, I've never heard someone else's thoughts. Probably cause it was very rare that an opponent would match me in strength." I finish, taking another sip.
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Post by Vash, the Angel's Moon on Jul 17, 2012 20:43:59 GMT -5
"Hmmm. I want you to think back to that feeling. Not the hateful part - but if it was amazing, there must be some part of it you liked." I chuckled. "Personally, I hate fighting, and illing people, as well - but there must have been some kind of peace in the eye of the storm, if you liked it." I nodded. "I don't know much about you, Daisuke. Tell me - what makes you the happiest? Some activity. Something that makes you feel the closest to who you are. Whether it happens in the heat of battle, or in some kind of art, I need you to think of it. You don't even have to tell me if you don't want to. Just think of how that makes you feel."
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Post by Daisuke Takemitsu on Jul 17, 2012 22:12:37 GMT -5
"Hmm... What makes me happiest..." I began to think to myself as I emptied the sake bottle in my hands. "The only times i'm really happy are when i'm with Rin or when i'mmm... Drinking." A sudden realization came over me, causing me to turn around quickly and start rummaging through my backpack. "Hey Vash, do you drink?" I asked, taking out a couple more bottles of sake.
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Post by Vash, the Angel's Moon on Oct 21, 2012 16:37:20 GMT -5
I nodded.
"Sometimes. But drinking interferes with concentration, so we'll have a friendly drink after we're done training."
Rewards? Would that work? I sighed.
Patience is a virtue, Brother.
I'm trying.
Then I thought of something.
"You said you're at your happiest when you're with Rin, right?" I asked. "Do you have a particular memory of a time when you two were together, something you can recall pretty well?"
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