Kita In Wonderland

Chapter 2 - The Rabbit Hole

Leaving the Hex Den, Kita took her time going through the twisted exit tunnel, until she found the enchanted boulder blocking the way outside. She held up one hand, thinking and basic incantation firmly in her mind.

The boulder disappeared, allowing her onto the beach, outside. Its pale sand and dark waters weren't contrasted at all by the towering stone cliffs enclosing the area, nor the cloudy gray sky. Even with the portal in the sand, marked by the Zyrean Emblem with four flames around a four-tipped star, it created a monochromatic scene.

Despite the bleak view, Kita found it homey and relaxing. She stretched, still a bit sore from training.

"Kita?"

Kita turned back to the entrance, and Seyber strolled out.

"You're not going on that mission?" Asked Kita.

Seyber shook her head. "Jem, Timbur, and Leiyt for just a couple of scorpios and something small? I think they can handle it. Are you still on for training?"

"Of course!" Kita replied.

Kita went further down the beach, then used the edge of her sword to draw a large ring in the sand. Once Seyber stepped in, she unsheathed her two crystalline daggers.

"Now, let's test these skills," Seyber teased.

With that, the sparring match began. Seyber was very quick with her small blades, but with some extra focus, Kita was able to keep up. By staying on the defensive side, carefully maneuvering her blade, she was able to block Seyber's fast -though quite light- hits. After a long and aggravating parry, when Seyber attempted a forward slash, Kita used her blade to twist it down, unbalancing her. She then quickly swiped her foot, making her stumble, then landed a fake hit on her neck.

"Wow!" Seyber remarked. "That was a clever maneuver, and a clean slice! What were you even talking about, back there? You're getting a lot better!"

Kita took a deep breath. "I'm glad you think so, but for some reason, I just don't see the difference between my skills, moons ago, and right now. It all feels the same."

"If it's all the right moves, 'same' is good," Seyber remarked. "You want to make sure you always have it right, and firmly memorized, to the point it's just like instinct. Either way, that swordsmanship looked fine to me." She crossed her arms. "You know, Leiytning was right. You set very high goals for yourself."

"I don't understand what's wrong with that," Kita murmured.

"Well..." Seyber sighed, "I should say unrealistic goals. I think he was trying to say that it's alright for you to have an ultimate goal. However, you keep wanting to jump straight to it instead of taking the time to realize your other accomplishments."

"What do you think I should do, then?" Asked Kita.

"You already got that answer, silly," Seyber replied. "Remember, be patient, 'focus on your progress, not its end.'" She giggled, "Just look at where you are now. You've only been out here for a few moons, and when you first came to us, you were a scrawny, untrained girl that had no chance of defending herself. That was one of the reasons you got to stay, simply because you posed no threat. Now you're feinting me, and holding your own against the daily vermin."

Kita faintly smiled. "I guess so..."

"There, see?" Seyber remarked. "Here, I'll even give you a better milestone. Decapitate that dummy in three or fewer hits. Even a lightweight warrior should be able to cut through that branch, with enough force. When that's done, make one a little harder, and so on until your big goal is in reach." She laughed, "Of course, joking aside, I think the ones you said back there were a little far-fetched."