Ch 5 The Basics of Mantra

The sun that was starting to come out, loomed over the training field. In the training field one could see a young man that looked older despite being at the young age of 11. His hair was a spiky but neat gray-black color, his body thick in build, and his eyes a dark shade of grey. This was Jock.

Jock got up early to make sure he wasn't late, ate some of the jerky he got the day before and left. Jock wasn't a prodigy so unfortunately he didn't master the Paper Arts after trying to learn them for a few hours, but some progress was being made.

Which brings Jock to his current location. A private training ground that Greg and his team uses nearby their shop. This made Jock's mind and heart race, thinking about what he could do with the power of Mantra once he learns it. Could he infuse the power into the six styles he was teaching himself? It seemed worth a shot.

As Jock was eagerly anticipating being taught the basics of how to use Mantra and what he moves he would polish using his newfound knowledge, Greg was talking to the team he was leading and would be introducing Jock to.

"Is this the new guy?" A short girl, Marlyn, said, evaluating Jock.

"Yeah, I believe he has potential." Greg replied.

"Even if he has potential, he obviously is younger than twelve. I can't feel his awakened talent." A sturdy guy with wolf tattoos, Belwin, pointed out.

"So? We started younger." Greg promptly responded.

"It seems like you won't change your mind on using him for our squad?" A large chested, tall, and bourgeois looking woman spoke out.

"I believe he would be more useful than any other chump we could pick at the moment." Greg firmly said.

"I can see the basis of your confidence, and I won't stop you or oppose of him being added to the team. I trust your eyes enough to pick out the right talent.

However, I won't permit this new member to drag our feet. We still have a plans, and I won't allow someone to come along that would be deadweight." Grugas, the vice leader, of the group spoke out.

"I'll make sure he's ready when he needs to be." Greg responded affirmatively.

With that, Greg left the outpost that overlooked the training field and talked to Jock.

"To stay with the group, you are going to have to grow rapidly within a short period of time, are you ready for this?" Greg solemnly asked Jock.

"That works even better for me, I want to grow strong as soon as possible." Jock responded affirmatively, with confidence.

"In that case, I will teach you the basics of Mantra, listen closely." Greg stated.

Jock moved closer, with excitement on his face.

"Mantra is the way we channel power through our bodies. By using the words our ancestors have provided, we can channel power through a set route. For example, when you train you would do the full chant, but if you want a specific effect, you have to chant the mantra in your head, while you imagine the power from the chant moving to the part of your body you desire." Greg explained.

Jock understood pretty quickly. It's like controlling your body to move around in a room without hitting anything. Just replace your body with an 'imaginary' energy source, and 'the room' with the human body.

"Now I will do a demonstration and explain the basic use of Mantra." Greg stated, calmly closing his eyes, and focusing on slowing the Mantra energy he was channeling.

In Jock's eyes, Greg just started to be very still all of a sudden, then a blue light visible to the eye was slowly moving from Greg's chest area to his arms and legs.

"This is the most basic use of Mantra, by coating your muscles and skin with Mantra, you can break the limits of the human body." Greg carefully explained.

Jock understood but had somewhat of an odd question.

"So, when you're referring to Mantra, is Mantra referred to as an energy and a technique." Jock was clearly a bit confused about Greg's use of the word 'Mantra'.

"Mantra and the use of Mantra is very secretive past a certain point. Due to this, people started to use the strategy of just referring everything that is related to Mantra as Mantra to confuse people who knew nothing about the use of Mantra." Greg explained.

Jock understood. It's basic cryptic speak. One word having multiple different definitions to throw people off. It makes sense.

"The only reason why people in this place learn Mantra is because this city is special." Greg added on.

"Special?" Jock inquired. However, Greg didn't further explain.

"Next, it's up to you to practice the basic use of Mantra. As soon as you can coat your arms and legs with Mantra, you will be able to join our group on the missions. Until then, your stuck practicing." Greg slowly explained.

"I won't let you down" Jock quickly replied.

"I'm expecting good news soon." Greg smiled and walked away.

Standing alone on the training field Jock felt a bit sad that he couldn't join the group yet on their missions. He was still too weak.

'It's time to push myself harder.' Jock thought. It was now or never; this was his chance to learn about the outside world a little more. Jock had a sneaking suspicion that his starting point wasn't a backwards place. Especially after Greg calling this place a city when it looks like a town.

'Oh well, with strength, knowledge on where I am will come.' Jock was confident that things were looking good for him at the moment.