The Movement Technique

"How do you like our small town, Anna?", great uncle asked upon my return. "Rather quiet to be sure, but also a bit boring. Though I met with uncle Aran, he proposed to teach me a sword technique. That's why I'm back so late", I replied. "Hehe, that old goat couldn't wait to test you out, aye? He is a good teacher, but are you sure you don't want to learn from your father or mother?", great uncle asked.

"Well, uncle Aran will teach me only one sword technique. He also mentioned a lack of movement technique, and that is something my father can help with. By the way, where is he?", I inquired. "I assume at the smithy, or perhaps someplace else. He was quite popular around here, so people will pester him for a day or two. Anyway, you must be hungry. Tina will prepare something for you soon, just relax for now", he replied.

My great uncle's chairs and furniture were rather comfortable. This made me wonder whether my parents liked uncomfortable things. "By the way, I wanted to ask something. Just a while ago, we created a Formation course in the North. It's really fun and popular with kids as well as adults. Perhaps I could make something like that here, or rather just outside the city? Youngsters would love it and have something fun to do", I proposed.

"Hmm, I'm not really sure what you mean. Can you explain in more detail?", great uncle asked. I explained how we used Formations to create the slides, tunnels and whatnot, through which people flew without any input from their part. "Heh? You made something like this in the North? That's really interesting, though we don't really need that kind of a thing", he replied.

"Why not? I mean, some fun isn't a crime, right?", I asked. "Of course it isn't. That wasn't my point. Our youths need proper training. If we give them such a course, they will slack off even more and we don't want that. Strong warriors are required in the Endrosian Empire. Otherwise, we risk being attacked, or simply have no means to properly defend ourselves… I can propose something else. What if you actually make that course, as in with real obstacles. The youngsters would be able to practice, and against Formations at the same time. This would be a valuable experience for them", he replied.

"Well, it's possible for sure. Actually, that would be even easier to do, it's just… I kind of wanted to make it fun, not like another training ground", I said. "Hehe, I know kids here much better than you do, Anna. Once they get that course you described, they'd squander their time on it. Just like I mentioned before, the Endrosian Empire is not so peaceful and safe. I don't know about the North, but perhaps the situation is different there", he explained.

Great uncle was right. Sedon was a huge city, whereas Savala Town was just that, a town. Not comparable to Sedon in any way. "Hmm… My friend Tara once said that training with others can be fun. Perhaps I can make it fun, and challenging at the same time?", I asked.

"Hehe, you really want to make that thing, eh? Alright then, I'll allow it. Just make sure it is challenging, and doesn't obstruct our farms or lines of defence. I'm looking forward to seeing the completed course… Oh right, if you need some help, let me know. Though we don't have anyone who knows Formations here, so I doubt we can be of help to you", he finally agreed.

With great uncle's approval, only a plan of the course was required. Of course, I had to find a suitable place too, but that had to wait until the next day. The Endrosian Empire was much different compared to the North. There were loads of plants everywhere, water wasn't such a rare commodity, nor required Formations to purify the water. That also meant I could use Water Element for my little course. Wind and Earth Element were also ever present, that alone would allow me to work with pretty much all basic Elements.

While my course was taking shape on a piece of paper, I heard a subtle "Knock, Knock…", on my doors. "Anna, why don't you join us?". The voice belonged to my mother. "Sure, I'll be there in a minute", I replied. Once I joined others downstairs, my mother berated me a bit. "We came here to rest and visit our family, sweetie. You don't have to work. Taking a rest once in a while is good as well".

"I know, mom. Though lately, I've had little time to focus on my Formations. This place is great to try some new things out, so I'm not complaining. Besides, this will be useful to others as well. Why not do it while we wait for the ceremony?", I replied. She just shook her head, then invited me to have a seat next to her. "My little daughter is too hard working. Alright, just make sure not to overdo it like in Sedon", she added while we cuddled.

My father came back shortly after I joined everyone downstairs. Moreover, he brought a brand new wedding ring with him. "I must say, that ring doesn't look so bad. You said this is Obsidian and Lunite?", great aunt inquired after taking a look. "Yep, pretty much. I'd be here sooner, if not for Gerond and Paul. I shouldn't've said anything about those new ingots. Well, the good news is that your armour, weapons and whatnot, will become much better in the future", he explained.

"Heh? What did you teach them exactly?", great uncle asked, interested. "You know Purified Steel for instance, right? Well, there is a way to make it twice as tough. If you add some additional ores to the mix and follow specific instructions, you will get Pure White Steel. Moreover, the ores required aren't expensive either. Anyway, other than that, I met with a few other people. By the way, where is Kara?", father replied.

"Oh, she left the town for a while to collect some herbs… I think? She sometimes visits villages close by, so she might be in one of them right now. Want me to find out?", great uncle asked. "If you can send her a message. I wouldn't want her to miss the ceremony", father replied affirmatively.

"Sure, I'll try to contact her… You really taught her a lot though. She became a great doctor, her medicine is really great you know?", great uncle added. "Kara? You never mentioned her, dad", I asked, a bit suspicious. "She's my student, or rather the inheritor of my Art of Medicine… Fox, would you mind not staring at me like that?", father replied.

"By all means, tell us more. Somehow you never mentioned a student named Kara to me either", mother said, with a tinge of anger. Father walked over, picked her up and said, "Are you seriously jealous of my student? You are kind of my student too, right?". Mother didn't let go so easily, so father kissed her before taking a seat with her in his arms.

"My wife is jealous… This makes me a bit proud, hehe. Anyway, just like I mentioned, she is my inheritor in the Art of Medicine. Her potential was really great, therefore I decided to give her a chance. No need to be jealous, she is my student, and student alone. I didn't have any feelings for her, you happy?... She didn't disappoint me at all, if what you said is true, Finch", father explained. "Heh, can't say you are wrong about her potential. Since Olav, her father passed away, she took great care of this town. We owe her a lot, but you will see when she returns", great uncle replied.

That whole student-teacher talk reminded me of something. "Dad, uncle Aran said you can teach me a movement technique", I said. "Hmm… Your mother taught you about balance and senses, right? That is already one step towards a movement technique. Aran is teaching you about the rhythm, correct? That can be used for a movement technique as well. Combine all three aspects, and you will receive a movement technique", he replied. That wasn't something I expected to be honest. "So, you want to teach some Kara woman, but not your own daughter?", I asked, annoyed.

"Seems that Kara is much more important to you, than we are led to believe", mother chimed in. "Guys, seriously?... Alright, if that's what you want. You want my movement technique? Then you have to learn how to move with nature. That's the first movement technique I created, and it's called the Natural Path Technique. In order to master it, you must be able to analyse the whole environment around you, and use it to your advantage", father replied.

"I just have to use my surroundings to my advantage? That's not a movement technique", I replied. "Is that so? Follow me then", father ordered. He took me outside the town before asking, "What do you see around you?". "Well, mostly plains. Further up is the Great Forest. I guess there are a few trees and shrubs here and there, but that's pretty much it", I replied. "Alright, see that tree over there? I want you to run there as fast as you can, alright?", he pointed at one of the trees in the distance. "I'm not sure what you want to prove, but alright", I replied.

"Are you ready? Go!", father exclaimed, before I rushed straight towards the tree. This took me less than a minute, but didn't prove anything really. Father appeared next to me, "You did it in fifty-two seconds. Now, this was your top running speed without any technique, right? If you knew my movement technique, you'd be able to do it in about thirty seconds". "How can my speed increase so much?", I asked, surprised.

"That's simple. Your movements were inefficient and all over the place. You stepped onto any part of the ground, because you chose the shortest path. Your speed suffered many times due to terrain and wind. Hence such a big difference. If you mastered my movement technique, you'd be about twenty seconds faster", he explained.

"...You still think this is not a movement technique, right? That's just running from one point to another, how is that a movement technique. Am I right?", he asked. 'Well, yea. Getting from one point to another a bit faster, is not really a movement technique', I thought. "That's where you'd be wrong. This can be used during a battle, though it requires much more than knowledge of the environment. Honestly? I developed that technique to run away. That was its primary focus at the start. Sounds cowardly, doesn't it? Well, you'd have to survive in order to battle another day. I couldn't care less if someone cursed me for running away. I get to keep my life, instead of losing it like the last idiot in the world. With time though, I learned to apply my movements in battle", he explained.

"Let's say this is a movement technique, how do I learn it?", I asked, still unsure about the whole thing. "Anna, you don't believe your own father. This alone tells me you don't really want to learn it. Why should I teach you anything, if you don't believe me?", he asked instead. "Don't be angry, dad. I simply don't understand how this can help me", I replied. "That's why I told you to figure it out by yourself. The technique was tailored by me, to suit me. Even your mother has her own movement technique. I didn't teach her, or anyone else. This requires a lot of sacrifices, and I'm sure you will not be able to make such sacrifices", he explained.

"Then what am I supposed to do?", I asked. "I told you, didn't I? Your mother already taught you the basis of a movement technique. Use your balance and senses to your advantage. The sword technique Aran is teaching you, involves developing a rhythm. Combine those three to create a technique. There's no other way to explain it. Try a few things out, let your body dictate what is right and wrong", he explained.

"Alright, I will try… If you and mom could do it, what's stopping me from doing it? I just have to work hard, right?", I said. "That's my daughter", he said while ruffling my hair. "Let's go back, it's already late", he added before we returned to the town.