Practice makes perfect my father had always said. However sometimes it wasn't the case with others. That's when I decided to start teaching myself. I wanted to make sure the children of Awa'atlu we're trained for the elite rather than being poor in battle. I started teaching when I turned 14 while I was in the middle of learning about the Tsahìk with my mother. I adored teaching the children back then but now I have a different class.
"Azula? Are you up yet we're getting impatient!" I heard a child speak, one of my students. She trotted in with two other of my students following in with her.
"Was I taking too long?" I laughed as I held my students hand. I had been just finishing up some weaving for new traps when they had arrived, "your never patience enough Zàra" I scuffled her hair up making sure the other two students followed me.
Me and Zàra were like sea and sand almost. She was like a second younger sister to me. We all approached the last of my group. There were only 5 children I taught. The others were so excited to me that they all started talking about their mornings to me.
"Ok ok I understand we all had a good mornings. Now who wants to practice some diving?" I asked them as they all got excited.
During practice I felt a hand on my shoulder. I twisted my head around to see Neteyam. He was already wet from his lessons.
" got bored of them so quickly?" I asked jokingly to start a conversation.
Neteyam gave a chuckle "no not yet, I just wondered where you were?"
I simply pointed to the diving children. I was so proud of how much progress they had made with their training so far.
"I'll be done soon, the children have asked to go for some rides" I couldn't help but smile, "they need a world where it's safe. I'll meet you in the shallow over there."
I pointed to where he had first learned to ride and Ilu. It was my responsibility to train Neteyam separately since Tsireya had Lo'ak. We both trained Kiri and Tuk together so it would be easier.
It had been a while after I took the children for a quick ride on our Ilus, I found Neteyam waiting for me at the place I had told him to wait at. I told the children to go home as I approached Neteyam waving my hand at him to signal I was coming over. He stood up and climbed into the water from where he was on the sidewalk. I disconnected my queue from my Ilus as I dismounted her. Payiva is her name. Meaning water.
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"How long have you exactly been waiting here?" Moving a strand of braided hair out of my eyes. I questioned Neteyam as I stayed at him.
"Only a few minutes I've done some breathing exercises while I waited though," his sharp accent replied to me, "Tsireya's also taught me some sign so I'll be able to communicate underwater now"
He acted like an excited child when stories would be told. I called for my Ilu again as he did the same. His brain learned quickly, quicker than the ordinary students i taught and trained up. I connected my queue to my Ilu making a strong and deep tsaheylu between us two. My brain commanded for my Ilu to move forward slowly controlling its every move. I made sure Neteyam kept the same pace as me. He tensed a bit as we quickened the pace, although he would need to tense up a bit when we go he would always do it in the early stages of going fast.
"Let your body loose a bit, put more trust into your Ilu or you'll never be able to master riding in the sea. When we go under put one arm under the Ilus neck to steady yourself then get in the position I'll be in" I instructed as he noded still holding onto the almost rein like handles.
I signalled to Neteyam I would be going under. He needed to prepare early before diving in. SWOOP! I went under the water looking at the vibrate colours of the coral. I looked behind me to see that Neteyam was doing perfectly ok. He was even able to get into that position I was in. I smiled at him as I fastened up.
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My Ilu clicked and yiped excitedly as I felt the exaggeration of freedom travel through my veins. I looked round expecting to see Neteyam behind me but to my surprise he was by my side. He wasn't tense but he was relaxed, secure and doing everything perfect. Doing a barrel roll I dove down deeper as marine animals swam by small and slightly big. Neteyam soon caught up as I slowly rose to the surface gasping for air.
"Your learning to breathe and to have more trust in yourself and the Ilu!" I said proudly as Neteyam's head piped out the water.
He gave a slight chuckle with him being proud of himself too. He had came a long way especially since he had to move homes and he had to learn new ways.
"I better get to see where Lo'ak is... he might be getting too crazy over your sister" I couldn't help but let out a little giggle as I saw him swim away on his own.
