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Opening of a Chrysalis
Planet Itan
Infinity Kwan Yin Nunnery
Order of Kwan Mary, Saint of Infinite Compassion, Sub-Order of the Order of Eo.
Ester’s attention refocused as her mind’s state moved from deep meditation to the awareness of her present. She felt her body float down and come into contact with her meditation mat, as it was not uncommon for high attaining monks or nuns of the Order of Eo to levitate during deep meditation. She performed the aura washing ritual but to no avail; she was still deeply troubled. She was resolute. It was now time to for her to move on.
She thought about what she was going to say to her Mother Superior as she prepared for this last meeting between them. As she rose from her meditation mat, she stretched her legs, then bent over backward, her body was lithe and supple from many years of Qi Gong, Xin Wu Shu and Mahaprana Yoga practice. She performed her personal kata to help steady the torrent of unsettling thoughts. When she was done, she removed her meditation gi then donned her nun’s robes. As she left her austere quarters, she placed her habit on her head, looked into the mirror on the door and adjusted it perfectly.
Mother Superior’s personal quarters were no different than Esters except that her quarters had a few more rooms to allow a nun of her stature in the Order, space to hold personal audiences with her staff, pupils and other visiting dignitaries. Her attendant nuns ushered Ester into Mother Superior’s personal meditation hall. They closed the doors to leave mistress and pupil alone.
Mother Superior levitated lazily at the front of the meditation room. Her gentle weary eyes followed Ester as she entered and bowed in the way customary for her Order. “Welcome my dear one”, she murmured. “I see that you have come to a decision?”
Ester lifted her head then nodded. She marveled at the way Mother Superior’s awareness made it almost unnecessary to explain herself. “Yes my holiness, I have… would you like me to explain?”
The much older woman gently shook her head, “My dear, no explanations are needed… I just hope that when you have experienced life outside our nunnery’s walls and find the folly that you seek, that you return and continue your spiritual growth here.” “As you go out into the universe to purge yourself of these distractions, please remember that all is Dao and eventually we must return to it.”
Ester lifted her eyes to meet her mistresses, “I promise my holiness but I don’t plan to return.” A tear rolled down Ester’s smooth cheek.
Mother Superior cackled, “Oh, my you are so determined… but you shall return, it has been foreseen. My dear protégé you must leave but I will wait and you will return!” She hovered closer to Ester, reached out her delicate hand and wiped the tear from her cheek. “You may go now dear one!” Mother Superior turned and floated out of the meditation hall, leaving Ester with storm in her heart.
Infinity Kwan Yin Nunnery
Order of Kwan Mary, Saint of Infinite Compassion, Sub-Order of the Order of Eo.
Ester’s attention refocused as her mind’s state moved from deep meditation to the awareness of her present. She felt her body float down and come into contact with her meditation mat, as it was not uncommon for high attaining monks or nuns of the Order of Eo to levitate during deep meditation. She performed the aura washing ritual but to no avail; she was still deeply troubled. She was resolute. It was now time to for her to move on.
She thought about what she was going to say to her Mother Superior as she prepared for this last meeting between them. As she rose from her meditation mat, she stretched her legs, then bent over backward, her body was lithe and supple from many years of Qi Gong, Xin Wu Shu and Mahaprana Yoga practice. She performed her personal kata to help steady the torrent of unsettling thoughts. When she was done, she removed her meditation gi then donned her nun’s robes. As she left her austere quarters, she placed her habit on her head, looked into the mirror on the door and adjusted it perfectly.
Mother Superior’s personal quarters were no different than Esters except that her quarters had a few more rooms to allow a nun of her stature in the Order, space to hold personal audiences with her staff, pupils and other visiting dignitaries. Her attendant nuns ushered Ester into Mother Superior’s personal meditation hall. They closed the doors to leave mistress and pupil alone.
Mother Superior levitated lazily at the front of the meditation room. Her gentle weary eyes followed Ester as she entered and bowed in the way customary for her Order. “Welcome my dear one”, she murmured. “I see that you have come to a decision?”
Ester lifted her head then nodded. She marveled at the way Mother Superior’s awareness made it almost unnecessary to explain herself. “Yes my holiness, I have… would you like me to explain?”
The much older woman gently shook her head, “My dear, no explanations are needed… I just hope that when you have experienced life outside our nunnery’s walls and find the folly that you seek, that you return and continue your spiritual growth here.” “As you go out into the universe to purge yourself of these distractions, please remember that all is Dao and eventually we must return to it.”
Ester lifted her eyes to meet her mistresses, “I promise my holiness but I don’t plan to return.” A tear rolled down Ester’s smooth cheek.
Mother Superior cackled, “Oh, my you are so determined… but you shall return, it has been foreseen. My dear protégé you must leave but I will wait and you will return!” She hovered closer to Ester, reached out her delicate hand and wiped the tear from her cheek. “You may go now dear one!” Mother Superior turned and floated out of the meditation hall, leaving Ester with storm in her heart.
There all monks. Monks have no 'mother superior'. If a monk is your teacher, you call him/her Sifu or master. If its a monk of high station, Master (name). And he who be at the very top, "Grand Master Monk". No mother superiors!
Good read, I cant wait for more :-)
Blade:
monk
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English munuc, from Late Latin monachus, from Late Greek monachos, from Greek, adjective, single, from monos single, alone
: a man who is a member of a religious order and lives in a monastery
nun
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English nunne, from Late Latin nonna
: a woman belonging to a religious order; especially : one under solemn vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience
Now get back to your own story :p
Blade:
monk
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English munuc, from Late Latin monachus, from Late Greek monachos, from Greek, adjective, single, from monos single, alone
: a man who is a member of a religious order and lives in a monastery
nun
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English nunne, from Late Latin nonna
: a woman belonging to a religious order; especially : one under solemn vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience
Now get back to your own story :p
Nice to see bladeguy here is as annoying in the forums as ingame, specially considering none of the stuff we write in here about anything in the universe (Itani orders, akanese planets, Union customs) is canon and most likely will be overridden when the Devs decide to expand on the backstory of these factions, so arguing "no no this is supposed to be this way and not that" is stoooopid.
Interesting story, by the way. I've seen that nun ingame; I wonder what she's up to?
Interesting story, by the way. I've seen that nun ingame; I wonder what she's up to?
She has a storm in her heart that can only be tamed by LeberMac!
Haha. Seriously. Kickass story. MORE!
Haha. Seriously. Kickass story. MORE!
Planet Itan
Xin Natan Chudug Weapons Training Hall
Yi Bai Dharmatala Monastery: Order of Eo
As Grand Master Zher Ser Wu strode into the training hall, he cast a wary glance across the line of twenty monks and nuns in front of him. For the early pre-dawn hours of the morning he was very spry for his age of 375 years. His stride was limber and more strut than stride. He rarely smiled at training sessions and was less humorous when a pupil made a mistake. As he demanded perfection, his discipline was meted out as easily as he stirred the cup of tea he held and sipped while he watched his students train. Though his students usually trained with low powered Khola HoZong, the famous Itani mechanized armor, he wore a drab and worn gi. When a student felt a disciplinary bare handed slap from him on their Khola, the student could feel the blow’s sting as if their skin was bare.
Daifu Wu stopped abruptly in front of Ester, and then smiled. “Ah, Xiao Ti Tali, my favorite pupil, it is a pleasure to see you again in this great hall!” For his stature of barely five feet tall, his deep voice boomed across the hall.
Ester, encased in her Khola, saluted her teacher by clasping her right fist in her left hand, hands held in front of her chest. She then bowed deeply. “No Daifu,” she answered. “The pleasure is completely mine!” “I have returned to complete my training.”
The old man looked at her kindly, “Xiao Ti Tali, I have heard rumors that you have become Ka Soan, a cast out nun, is this true?” Ester replied, “No this is not true Daifu, I have told Mother Superior that I am Wu Soan, a nun who has left willingly. I feel the need to help our nation and fight in this war against our ancient family. I cannot erase the memories of my past lives in my mediation, I must avenge those who have suffered.”
“Very well,” Daifu Wu replied. “Let us begin our final training then.”
In the six months that Ester trained with Grand Master Zher Ser Wu, she learned to use the Khola HoZong effectively. She learned how to use the suit’s built in weapons that included a micro version of the Neutron Blaster 3 and a tractor/gravity beam. Her movements in the suit became so fluent that she could perform her personal Kata perfectly. She was educated in the ways her Khola interfaced with her psychic powers and finally how the suit further integrated into piloting space ships. Before she completed training, she was further tested twice.
Xin Natan Chudug Weapons Training Hall
Yi Bai Dharmatala Monastery: Order of Eo
As Grand Master Zher Ser Wu strode into the training hall, he cast a wary glance across the line of twenty monks and nuns in front of him. For the early pre-dawn hours of the morning he was very spry for his age of 375 years. His stride was limber and more strut than stride. He rarely smiled at training sessions and was less humorous when a pupil made a mistake. As he demanded perfection, his discipline was meted out as easily as he stirred the cup of tea he held and sipped while he watched his students train. Though his students usually trained with low powered Khola HoZong, the famous Itani mechanized armor, he wore a drab and worn gi. When a student felt a disciplinary bare handed slap from him on their Khola, the student could feel the blow’s sting as if their skin was bare.
Daifu Wu stopped abruptly in front of Ester, and then smiled. “Ah, Xiao Ti Tali, my favorite pupil, it is a pleasure to see you again in this great hall!” For his stature of barely five feet tall, his deep voice boomed across the hall.
Ester, encased in her Khola, saluted her teacher by clasping her right fist in her left hand, hands held in front of her chest. She then bowed deeply. “No Daifu,” she answered. “The pleasure is completely mine!” “I have returned to complete my training.”
The old man looked at her kindly, “Xiao Ti Tali, I have heard rumors that you have become Ka Soan, a cast out nun, is this true?” Ester replied, “No this is not true Daifu, I have told Mother Superior that I am Wu Soan, a nun who has left willingly. I feel the need to help our nation and fight in this war against our ancient family. I cannot erase the memories of my past lives in my mediation, I must avenge those who have suffered.”
“Very well,” Daifu Wu replied. “Let us begin our final training then.”
In the six months that Ester trained with Grand Master Zher Ser Wu, she learned to use the Khola HoZong effectively. She learned how to use the suit’s built in weapons that included a micro version of the Neutron Blaster 3 and a tractor/gravity beam. Her movements in the suit became so fluent that she could perform her personal Kata perfectly. She was educated in the ways her Khola interfaced with her psychic powers and finally how the suit further integrated into piloting space ships. Before she completed training, she was further tested twice.
So..you got a Chinese twang to this eh? ^^
Everyone knows that english people were seriously misguided however. Besides, the itani be martial monks. So be up and sweeping my reasoning aside.
When I see any "reasoning", I'll be sure to do so, never you mind.
Now hush, I want to hear this tale unfold...
Now hush, I want to hear this tale unfold...
Planet Itan
Testing Arena 8
Yi Bai Dharmatala Monastery: Order of Eo
Ester heard the last two autobuckles fasten themselves as she donned her Khola HoZong, the Itani power armor. The last six months of Khola training with Grand Master Wu had been grueling. Training days started before dawn and ended late in the evening. After the first month of basic exercises and physical training, most of the training was sparing with her other classmates, except for sleep, the only clothes she wore was the Khola. She felt she was ready for the first of her last two tests.
As she entered the large domed testing arena, her wary eye assessed her test environment. Her steady gaze found three massive statues at the end of the arena bearing the serene expressions of the Orders holy ones, Eo, Eilon, and Oernon. Even through her suit’s biofilters, she could still smell the pleasant odor of the incense that was offered to the memories of these peaceful men. Below the statues, stood Daifu Wu and 16 of his closest disciples ready to administer the first of the two ordeals that was to be her final test. . She used her suit’s tractor/gravity emitter to lower herself into the arena’s pit, a larger depressed area with sheer high walls. Now at the bottom of the pit, she looked up at the ceiling and high in the center of the dome were several large opaque spheres that hung suspended like a bunch of grapes. She faced her Master, saluted him then bowed signifying her readiness for the test to begin.
Daifu Wu smiled at Ester, and then nodded to his disciples. At that moment, three of the spheres floated down from the ceiling then popped open to reveal their deadly contents. Ester was facing three Serco battle guises.
The Serco was adept at creating these genetic abominations. The guises that Ester was about to fight had been produced from human, feline and reptilian DNA. Though they were slightly smaller than a human, they were cunning and ferocious. The fingertips of their hands ended in sharp claws and their micro-cephalic heads were in contrast to their large gaping mouths full of sharp fangs. Looking into their reptile like eyes, they were far from human.
Ester didn’t think twice about blasting the first guise with her shoulder mounted neutron blaster 3. The guise’s head simply carbonized then became a cloud of ashes as its carcass hit the arena’s hard floor. Using the tractor/gravity emitter, she crushed the second guise by making its molecules too heavy for life, all before it had a chance to leap at her. As the last guise circled her, Ester looked into the eyes of the beast. She could feel her awareness infuse into the head of the beast, and then she thought about unbearable fire and heat. The last guise grabbed its head as blood oozed from its ears, eyes, nose and mouth, collapsing in a dead heap. Ester almost didn’t realize that four more spheres descended from the ceiling.
As these new spheres popped open, four larger abominations stepped out and circled Ester. These creatures were the latest in Serco cyber/genetic guise technology. Standing well over eight feet tall, these abominations had four arms, what was to be their chest held arachnid eyes and a large orifice, again featuring several sharp snapping fangs. These beasts had a secondary head between its massive shoulders bristling with cybernetic implants, its skin was thick chitin, very much like a crabs. In unison, these beast rushed Ester as soon as they were steady on their feet.
Ester’s awareness readily split into three parts as the beasts leapt on her. Her first awareness used the tractor/gravity emitter to repel two of the large guises. Her second awareness rapidly aimed and fired the neutron blaster, splitting the first guise in two. Her last awareness deployed the vibro-blades attached to her forearms. With a quick well-placed kick and wide sweeping blows, she dismembered and disemboweled the second massive guise as the vibro-blades made short work of its thick shell.
The remaining two guises hopped to their feet then circled Ester. When she tried to shoot one with her neutron blaster, it quickly dodged the blast. When she used the tractor/gravity emitter to crush the second guise, its great strength allowed it to move without hindrance. She tried to probe the other’s mind but found that the cybernetic circuitry quickly blocked this type of attack. The guises suddenly pounced on Ester. She used the gravity emitter to vault her into the air, but felt a sudden jerk as the first guise grabbed her ankle. The Khola cushioned her fall to the floor as the guise slammed her down. The second guise leapt on her and was pummeling her helmet with two fists while its other arms restrained her. The first guise then tried to pull Ester’s neutron blaster off her shoulder.
Ester realized this opportunity. As the first guise was trying to pull the weapon off of Ester’s Khola, it was mortally surprised as the weapon glowed to life and split the beast in two. Twisting her arms, which were in the grips of the second guise, she activated the vibro-blades. The blades instantly sliced off the guises fingers, then found its chest-mouth full of vibro-bladed arms, quickly cutting through the beast’s teeth and viscera.
Although the test lasted less than 20 minutes, Ester stood up slowly from the fight winded. She shook off the blood and offal, which stained her suit of armor then saluted and bowed to her Master. She jumped out of the pit then walked the rest of the way to her quarters. Instead of the usual nocturnal meditation, she pushed herself out of her armor and flopped on to her meditation mat and fell fast asleep.
Testing Arena 8
Yi Bai Dharmatala Monastery: Order of Eo
Ester heard the last two autobuckles fasten themselves as she donned her Khola HoZong, the Itani power armor. The last six months of Khola training with Grand Master Wu had been grueling. Training days started before dawn and ended late in the evening. After the first month of basic exercises and physical training, most of the training was sparing with her other classmates, except for sleep, the only clothes she wore was the Khola. She felt she was ready for the first of her last two tests.
As she entered the large domed testing arena, her wary eye assessed her test environment. Her steady gaze found three massive statues at the end of the arena bearing the serene expressions of the Orders holy ones, Eo, Eilon, and Oernon. Even through her suit’s biofilters, she could still smell the pleasant odor of the incense that was offered to the memories of these peaceful men. Below the statues, stood Daifu Wu and 16 of his closest disciples ready to administer the first of the two ordeals that was to be her final test. . She used her suit’s tractor/gravity emitter to lower herself into the arena’s pit, a larger depressed area with sheer high walls. Now at the bottom of the pit, she looked up at the ceiling and high in the center of the dome were several large opaque spheres that hung suspended like a bunch of grapes. She faced her Master, saluted him then bowed signifying her readiness for the test to begin.
Daifu Wu smiled at Ester, and then nodded to his disciples. At that moment, three of the spheres floated down from the ceiling then popped open to reveal their deadly contents. Ester was facing three Serco battle guises.
The Serco was adept at creating these genetic abominations. The guises that Ester was about to fight had been produced from human, feline and reptilian DNA. Though they were slightly smaller than a human, they were cunning and ferocious. The fingertips of their hands ended in sharp claws and their micro-cephalic heads were in contrast to their large gaping mouths full of sharp fangs. Looking into their reptile like eyes, they were far from human.
Ester didn’t think twice about blasting the first guise with her shoulder mounted neutron blaster 3. The guise’s head simply carbonized then became a cloud of ashes as its carcass hit the arena’s hard floor. Using the tractor/gravity emitter, she crushed the second guise by making its molecules too heavy for life, all before it had a chance to leap at her. As the last guise circled her, Ester looked into the eyes of the beast. She could feel her awareness infuse into the head of the beast, and then she thought about unbearable fire and heat. The last guise grabbed its head as blood oozed from its ears, eyes, nose and mouth, collapsing in a dead heap. Ester almost didn’t realize that four more spheres descended from the ceiling.
As these new spheres popped open, four larger abominations stepped out and circled Ester. These creatures were the latest in Serco cyber/genetic guise technology. Standing well over eight feet tall, these abominations had four arms, what was to be their chest held arachnid eyes and a large orifice, again featuring several sharp snapping fangs. These beasts had a secondary head between its massive shoulders bristling with cybernetic implants, its skin was thick chitin, very much like a crabs. In unison, these beast rushed Ester as soon as they were steady on their feet.
Ester’s awareness readily split into three parts as the beasts leapt on her. Her first awareness used the tractor/gravity emitter to repel two of the large guises. Her second awareness rapidly aimed and fired the neutron blaster, splitting the first guise in two. Her last awareness deployed the vibro-blades attached to her forearms. With a quick well-placed kick and wide sweeping blows, she dismembered and disemboweled the second massive guise as the vibro-blades made short work of its thick shell.
The remaining two guises hopped to their feet then circled Ester. When she tried to shoot one with her neutron blaster, it quickly dodged the blast. When she used the tractor/gravity emitter to crush the second guise, its great strength allowed it to move without hindrance. She tried to probe the other’s mind but found that the cybernetic circuitry quickly blocked this type of attack. The guises suddenly pounced on Ester. She used the gravity emitter to vault her into the air, but felt a sudden jerk as the first guise grabbed her ankle. The Khola cushioned her fall to the floor as the guise slammed her down. The second guise leapt on her and was pummeling her helmet with two fists while its other arms restrained her. The first guise then tried to pull Ester’s neutron blaster off her shoulder.
Ester realized this opportunity. As the first guise was trying to pull the weapon off of Ester’s Khola, it was mortally surprised as the weapon glowed to life and split the beast in two. Twisting her arms, which were in the grips of the second guise, she activated the vibro-blades. The blades instantly sliced off the guises fingers, then found its chest-mouth full of vibro-bladed arms, quickly cutting through the beast’s teeth and viscera.
Although the test lasted less than 20 minutes, Ester stood up slowly from the fight winded. She shook off the blood and offal, which stained her suit of armor then saluted and bowed to her Master. She jumped out of the pit then walked the rest of the way to her quarters. Instead of the usual nocturnal meditation, she pushed herself out of her armor and flopped on to her meditation mat and fell fast asleep.
Planet Itan
A simple monk/nuns quarter
Yi Bai Dharmatala Monastery: Order of Eo
It was two weeks since Ester’s last test. Since then, her Master did not talk with her nor did he debrief her on whether or not she passed. The day following her last test, she spent in seclusion, resting and meditating. The days and weeks following her test, Daifu Wu’s first disciple told her to help teach the new monks and nuns the basics of using the Khola HoZong. She was also told that her next test was coming soon. Ester was growing impatient with Daifu Wu, as she wanted to leave Dharmatala and explore the rest of the universe. She was resolute to leave the next morning if she did not hear anything from her master.
That evening, Ester packed the few belongings she had and readied herself for the long journey to the Deneb system. She placed her satchel near her quarter’s door then sat on her mat to begin her nocturnal meditation. As she sat, her awareness focused within and she felt the energies of her body course and flow. In the early hours of the morning, she was startled when her quarter’s door opened and Daifu Wu standing in the doorway. He beckoned her to follow him.
She followed him outside the monastery to a clearing in the rainforest that surrounded it. Daifu turned to her then spoke quietly. “Xiao Ti Tali, this is your last test, you will either pass or I will bury you here.” His face turned dark and his eyes then glowed red. Ester side stepped his first attack, then quickly countered with a kick that only found air. She blocked a flurry of her master’s punches then again side step a kick, only to find that it connected to her knee, bringing her down. She rolled on the ground then kicked up into a stance, only to find that she was now fighting two people, both of them looked like Daifu Wu.
Her awareness split, as one awareness blocked and parried blows from both assailants, the other awareness tried to find a way into one of her master’s mind. In finding the mind of her attacker, her awareness could not find a way in. She tried the other attacker; it was if there was no mind there at all. She was perplexed and desperate as her body was starting to tire from the fight. When she feigned from one of her attacker’s blows, the other attacker connected with a kick and sent her sprawling.
She quickly leapt up from the ground only to be surrounded by two more Daifu Wu, bring the total number of her attackers to four. Thoroughly shocked at her master’s powers, she fought back as best as she could. Although she was fighting four attackers, they were less strong than the first single attacker. Somewhere in the pit of her mind was a nagging thought. It started as a soft whisper then became a loud shout, making her suddenly laugh out loud. At once all her attackers stopped attacking, then their numbers doubled then tripled. She was surrounded in a crowd of Grand Master Wu. They started applauding her and as they applauded, their numbers diminished till there was only one Daifu Wu. He smiled, saluted her then bowed. In a blink Daifu Wu disappeared and slowly the jungle clearing melted away before her eyes and as her awareness came back to her body, she found herself still seated on her meditation mat, alone in her room.
Ester heard a soft knocking at her apartment door. She rose from her mat then opened the door quietly. Daifu Wu was waiting patiently outside with two of his closest disciples. Ester greeted her master then stood aside as they glided into her room. Grand Master Wu smiled sadly. “Xiao Ti Tali, you have done so well, it will be sad to see you go.”
“Daifu, a part of me wants to stay here but the larger part wants to go out and experience the universe,” Ester replied. She looked down, “I hope I could return Daifu, when my wanderings are completed, but if I don’t, please know that I have always looked to you as a father.”
He embraced her then said, “Xiao Ti, I’ve had many daughters but none as bright as you!” He then placed a four-foot long object in her hands. “Take this, child, this will always show that you have been connected to me. Also, you know that we shall always be connected and that your students will also have a connection to me.” He gently touched her cheeks with both of his hands, and then touched his forehead to hers. Ester felt her mind link with his and they shared each other’s memories.
In the bright morning sunlight, Ester walked quietly to the rail station near the monastery. She boarded the train and found her seat. Suddenly, she remembered the long object that her master gave her. She quietly unwrapped the object, and then gasped, it was a vibro-Kwan Dao that was Daifu Wu’s signature weapon.
When her train arrived at the spaceport, she quickly disembarked. Ester boarded the next space elevator to Armand’s Dilligence the space station that handled space traffic in the direction of Deneb. At the space station, she was issued a Govbus then flew to the Itani-Serco boarder.
A simple monk/nuns quarter
Yi Bai Dharmatala Monastery: Order of Eo
It was two weeks since Ester’s last test. Since then, her Master did not talk with her nor did he debrief her on whether or not she passed. The day following her last test, she spent in seclusion, resting and meditating. The days and weeks following her test, Daifu Wu’s first disciple told her to help teach the new monks and nuns the basics of using the Khola HoZong. She was also told that her next test was coming soon. Ester was growing impatient with Daifu Wu, as she wanted to leave Dharmatala and explore the rest of the universe. She was resolute to leave the next morning if she did not hear anything from her master.
That evening, Ester packed the few belongings she had and readied herself for the long journey to the Deneb system. She placed her satchel near her quarter’s door then sat on her mat to begin her nocturnal meditation. As she sat, her awareness focused within and she felt the energies of her body course and flow. In the early hours of the morning, she was startled when her quarter’s door opened and Daifu Wu standing in the doorway. He beckoned her to follow him.
She followed him outside the monastery to a clearing in the rainforest that surrounded it. Daifu turned to her then spoke quietly. “Xiao Ti Tali, this is your last test, you will either pass or I will bury you here.” His face turned dark and his eyes then glowed red. Ester side stepped his first attack, then quickly countered with a kick that only found air. She blocked a flurry of her master’s punches then again side step a kick, only to find that it connected to her knee, bringing her down. She rolled on the ground then kicked up into a stance, only to find that she was now fighting two people, both of them looked like Daifu Wu.
Her awareness split, as one awareness blocked and parried blows from both assailants, the other awareness tried to find a way into one of her master’s mind. In finding the mind of her attacker, her awareness could not find a way in. She tried the other attacker; it was if there was no mind there at all. She was perplexed and desperate as her body was starting to tire from the fight. When she feigned from one of her attacker’s blows, the other attacker connected with a kick and sent her sprawling.
She quickly leapt up from the ground only to be surrounded by two more Daifu Wu, bring the total number of her attackers to four. Thoroughly shocked at her master’s powers, she fought back as best as she could. Although she was fighting four attackers, they were less strong than the first single attacker. Somewhere in the pit of her mind was a nagging thought. It started as a soft whisper then became a loud shout, making her suddenly laugh out loud. At once all her attackers stopped attacking, then their numbers doubled then tripled. She was surrounded in a crowd of Grand Master Wu. They started applauding her and as they applauded, their numbers diminished till there was only one Daifu Wu. He smiled, saluted her then bowed. In a blink Daifu Wu disappeared and slowly the jungle clearing melted away before her eyes and as her awareness came back to her body, she found herself still seated on her meditation mat, alone in her room.
Ester heard a soft knocking at her apartment door. She rose from her mat then opened the door quietly. Daifu Wu was waiting patiently outside with two of his closest disciples. Ester greeted her master then stood aside as they glided into her room. Grand Master Wu smiled sadly. “Xiao Ti Tali, you have done so well, it will be sad to see you go.”
“Daifu, a part of me wants to stay here but the larger part wants to go out and experience the universe,” Ester replied. She looked down, “I hope I could return Daifu, when my wanderings are completed, but if I don’t, please know that I have always looked to you as a father.”
He embraced her then said, “Xiao Ti, I’ve had many daughters but none as bright as you!” He then placed a four-foot long object in her hands. “Take this, child, this will always show that you have been connected to me. Also, you know that we shall always be connected and that your students will also have a connection to me.” He gently touched her cheeks with both of his hands, and then touched his forehead to hers. Ester felt her mind link with his and they shared each other’s memories.
In the bright morning sunlight, Ester walked quietly to the rail station near the monastery. She boarded the train and found her seat. Suddenly, she remembered the long object that her master gave her. She quietly unwrapped the object, and then gasped, it was a vibro-Kwan Dao that was Daifu Wu’s signature weapon.
When her train arrived at the spaceport, she quickly disembarked. Ester boarded the next space elevator to Armand’s Dilligence the space station that handled space traffic in the direction of Deneb. At the space station, she was issued a Govbus then flew to the Itani-Serco boarder.
Good stuff! I know it's been a couple years but if you are still playing, I'd like more!
Yes, I agree. More..
The original writer is... around.