Mesyo Mahas (2)

Before they began, Dirai gestured for Riniock to sit. Despite his earlier excitement, a tone of seriousness now dominated his demeanour. His intensity was subtly conveyed, his dark complexion and foreign origins lending an air of mystery to his presence.

 'I need to ensure,' Dirai began, 'that your intentions to learn Mesyo Mahas are genuine.'

 'They are,' Riniock replied without hesitation, his voice steady and resolute.

 'And that you won't quit halfway due to a passing whim or external distractions.'

 'I'm fully committed to mastering this combat art,' Riniock affirmed, his determination clear.

 Relief softened Dirai's features. 'To be honest, I must teach this course to complete my aspirant qualifications and advance to the next rank.'

 Riniock's eyes lit up at this revelation. The prospect of one day becoming an aspirant himself intrigued him. If teaching a course was part of the qualifications, he wondered what subject he might excel in enough to instruct others.

 'I need at least one student and a minimum of five lessons to be eligible for promotion,' Dirai continued.

 'How long have you been waiting for this opportunity?' Riniock asked.

 Dirai sighed, his expression tinged with frustration. 'More than half a year.'

 'Couldn't you have taught something else?'

 Dirai shook his head. 'It's not that simple. But we can discuss that later. For now, can I rely on you to attend these five lessons?'

 Riniock nodded without hesitation.

 'Excellent!' Dirai said, pulling out a form with a renewed sense of enthusiasm. 'Fill this out, and we'll begin immediately.'

 Riniock took up a quill and began filling out the form Dirai had handed him. He carefully recorded the required details: his name, family name, age, and current standing at the college. At the bottom, the form required an odh print – a unique identification mark – to verify his formal agreement to participate in the lessons.

 'Done,' Riniock said, standing as he handed the completed scroll back to Dirai.

 'Good. Now that we've settled the formalities, we can begin.'

 Dirai led Riniock to the centre of the clearing. The training ground was expansive, its sandy soil free of obstacles. Encircled by trees and rocks, the area's open heart was ideal for their purpose.

 'In my province's traditions,' Dirai began, 'the instructor of Mesyo Mahas is called a nazeetar, while the student is referred to as pra'mati. You will follow this custom as well.'

 'Yes…Nazeetar Dirai,' Riniock replied, his cheeks flushing slightly with embarrassment as he spoke the unfamiliar title.

 'Excellent. As my pra'mati, it is my duty to inform you of both the advantages and the challenges that come with practicing Mesyo Mahas.'

 Dirai lowered himself to the ground, prompting Riniock to follow suit. Once seated, Dirai adopted an unusual posture – similar yet distinct from the stance used by maegi to draw odh from their surroundings.

 'You're familiar with a maegi's anatomy, I assume?' Dirai asked.

 'I am. Took Professor Telian's class.'

 'Good. Then you know that maegi circulate odh through conduits that connect their vessel to their viscera, limbs, and other organs, correct?'

 Riniock nodded.

 'Mesyo Mahas was designed specifically to counter maegi, although it can also be effective against non-magickal opponents nonetheless.'

 'Designed specifically to counter maegi?' Riniock echoed, intrigued. 'How so?'

 'It's easier to show you than explain.'

 Dirai focused for a moment, extending a single finger before him. A faint glow formed at its tip. Without warning, he tapped Riniock on the shoulder blade, just above his armpit.

 The touch was gentle, devoid of any pain, leaving Riniock puzzled.

 'Feel anything?' Dirai asked.

 Riniock shook his head.

 'Try casting a spell with that arm,' Dirai suggested.

 'Alright,' Riniock said, stretching his neck as he prepared. Concentrating, he attempted to summon a spell. However, no matter how intensely he focused or how genuine his intent, nothing manifested in his palm.

 'What's going on?' he asked, his voice tinged with alarm.

 'Your body doesn't realise it yet,' Dirai explained, 'but I've disrupted the odh circulation to that part of your body. Until the seal is released – which is an immensely difficult task – you won't be able to cast spells using that arm.'

 'That's... incredible!' Riniock exclaimed, his amazement uncontained.

 'A mahasar holds a significant advantage over a maegi,' Dirai said confidently. 'Master these techniques, and I guarantee no peer of yours will stand a chance against you.'

 Riniock's smile turned sharp, his eyes glinting with a hint of mischief.

 'Then please, nazeetar,' Riniock said with genuine respect, the once-awkward title now flowing naturally from his lips. 'Teach me the art of Mesyo Mahas.'

 Dirai raised a finger, halting him before he could get too carried away. 'Patience, pra'mati. As I mentioned earlier, Mesyo Mahas is volatile. Reckless use can have devastating consequences. At best, you may permanently disrupt your odh flow. At worst? You could implode due to blockage.'

 'I-Implode?' Riniock echoed, his knees weakening as unease crept into his voice.

 'Exactly. That's why your first task is to learn how to block your own odh flow. When performing techniques from Mesyo Mahas, your odh must be entirely still. Even the slightest movement within your conduits could cause irreparable damage, potentially crippling your ability to use odh forever.'

 'I need to stop my odh flow entirely?'

 'Precisely. Before you became a maegi, odh flow didn't exist within you – it was normal. Now that it's active, it functions like blood, moving without conscious effort. Stopping it is akin to holding your breath – something you must learn to do deliberately.'

 'And how do I do that?'

 'Watch and learn.'

 Dirai sat in focused silence, demonstrating the technique. Though Riniock couldn't see the inner workings of his nazeetar's body, he sensed the subtle shift. Dirai stilled his odh, trapping it entirely within his vessel. No trace of it flowed beyond.

 'Did you catch that?' Dirai asked, his calm demeanour unwavering.

 'I think so,' Riniock replied, though uncertainty lingered in his tone.

 'Good. Practice it over and over. We won't proceed to practical training until you've mastered this fundamental concept.'

 The next five hours were gruelling.

 Though Riniock eventually managed to stop his odh flow whilst seated, that was just the beginning. To ensure he could execute the technique in any situation, Dirai had him run laps around the training area, practicing the blockage as he moved.

 The intensity only escalated. Dirai threw objects at him and cast harmless yet irritating spells to mimic the unpredictability of real combat. As if that weren't enough, Riniock was forced to maintain his odh blockage whilst enduring sudden strikes from Dirai at random intervals – a test designed to eliminate distractions and fortify his focus under pressure.

 By the time the session ended, Riniock was drenched in sweat, his clothes dirt-streaked, his hair a dishevelled mess. Bruises dotted his arms and legs, but his determination remained unshaken.

 'You've done well, pra'mati,' Dirai said, nodding with approval. 'Tomorrow, you'll be ready for the next stage of training.'

 Out of breath, Riniock leaned heavily on his knees, barely able to form words. 'Thank…you…for the…lesson,' he panted.

 The following morning, Riniock arrived at the training area bright and early, his excitement bubbling beneath a mask of composure.

 He was ready for whatever came next.