The two new friends walk down a path from Vijetar, now with their new friend, Wake. They all do their own thing as they walk, Atheno biting his nails, Von twirling his fingers in his big hair, Wake fiddling with a coin. The three stop as they meet the end of the path, confused. Usually there are huge wooden signs at the end but there is just a hole in the ground, it seems like it was taken away. In front of them are four paths, the three look at each other, sighing.
" Do any of you guys have a map? " Von asks. Atheno shakes his head, while Wake swings his bag over to in front of him, checking, and then shaking his head as well.
" Well you have a compass right? " Atheno inquires
" Yeah but whats a Compass gonna help us if we dont have a map. " Von replies. Atheno nods. A lightbulb appears in wakes head, mentally. An idea brews in him.
" Well how about we just split up and see where it takes us? " Wake brings up the idea. Atheno and Von look at eachother, chuckling.
" Yeah, that would be smart if it wasn't turning night and we all knew each other's temataka signs. Plus you don't even have temataka. " Atheno replies. Wake sighs, a little embarrassed his plan wasn't accepted. Wake looks around and then his eyes curiously dart to something. He points towards it, as the other two look in that direction
" Hey look! " Wake says, pointing to what seems like endless hills. A feeling of nostalgia and remembrance lights up in Atheno, he had gone here in his cultist days but still does not remember the way to Shukoyoshi. The three walk to the countless hills before sitting down on one of them.
" Im pretty sure these are called the.... Uhhh.. " Atheno puts his finger on his chin, scratching it as he tries to remember what this is called. Von and Wake look at each other, shrugging.
".. Oh yeah! They're called the Gizard hills. " Atheno snaps his fingers.
" Cool. Lets set up camp. " Von says. The three do their own thing while setting up camp, Von with the fire, Atheno with the beds, and Wake putting some raw meat on a stick over the fire. The three ate well, ignoring the fact the meat on the outside was burned because Wake did leave it on for a while, not knowing that black flames burn more but still the inside was good. Von curiously wonders something about Wake.
" So Wake, you don't have temataka but you know witchcraft. How is that? " Von asks. Wake gulps on the last piece of meat he was chewing on before replying
" There's this witch in a nearby town, i'm pretty sure it's not the one that Atheno comes from but still nearby. Anyways I was visiting there for some herbs and spices right? Since I'm really interested in anything I visit her hut and she teaches me a hypnosis technique. Thing is though, and I only am really realizing this now, she never taught me how to undo it. So even though I know witchcraft, I only know one thing and that's it. Not even how to undo it. " He says.
" Well now you do know how to undo it, but we just need to make you learn temataka. '' Atheno adds.
" I guess. Is it hard to learn? " Wake asks, curiously.
" Well for me it was kind of easy but hard as well. The only hard part is awakening it but after that it is smooth sailing. Just hard to kind of progress without inspiration y'know. " Von says, Wake nodding. Wake looks at his chest, wondering if he will have good potential.
" Is there any way for you to see if I will have good temataka? " Wake asks. Von squints his eyes, watching Wakes untapped temataka aura flare around him. It isn't as big as Vons when he was at the dojo, but it still is significant.
" Yeah you have an aura, you just need to learn how to tame it. " Von says. Wake wonders, how could he do so. The three spend the rest of the night getting to know each other. They learn more about Wake, and his origins. He does know a certain extent to fighting, having knowledge and being a student of Muay Takai. However he doesn't really enjoy fighting. He wants to but he hasn't tapped into that yet.
The three slowly wake up, seeing how the flames are still lit and even the same size, not getting smaller. Von opens his palm and makes a fist, feeling that he has gotten a tiny bit stronger from using temataka while he slept. Von looks at Atheno, seeing how Atheno doesn't even have a temataka aura. Von is impressed by Athenos level of being able to suppress it that much but he wonders how strong Atheno really is. Wake stretches, looking at the two as they talk about temataka. Wake zones out, staring in between the two before getting brought back to reality.
" Hey Wake, want us to teach you temataka? " Atheno asks, getting up.
" Duh! Of course I do. Let's start now! " Wake says, excitedly.
" Sure, but who do you want to learn it from? We both learnt it different ways. I learnt it by using a physical temataka awakening but Atheno learnt it by meditating. " Von says. Wake is confused, he doesn't know the difference so he smiles,
" How about both? I'll get the best from both worlds then. " He replies. The two look at each other, shrugging and nodding at each other. They first start off by using Vons method.
" Ok so first things first, put out your dominant arm. Then squint your eyes, aim your eyes towards your hand, and just try flexing your arm without y'know flexing it. " Von says. Wake is confused but he does it. He continuously flexes his arm, as Von watches and Atheno meditates. As the sun slowly dances across the sky, it starts to become sunset. Von watches, realizing that he was lucky and was in a place that had no time basically. As the night comes, Von lights up the campfire again, continuing to watch Wake. Wake continues to do it, the mistake repeating over and over. After most of the day passes Wakes arm drops and he lays down on his makeshift bed, groaning.
" How long did it take you Von? " He groans. Von exhales, realizing his method may take too long.
" 16 days. "
" WHAT?! YOU EXPECT ME TO DO THIS FOR THAT LONG?! " Wake sits up, flabbergasted.
" Well thats only considering that I was purely in-experienced at that time. I had no fighting experience really, and no knowledge of temataka. My mentor was really good however. At Least you have fighting knowledge though, it could increase your drive to get it more. " Von says. Wake lays back down, looking at the levitating Atheno who is still meditating from the morning.
" How long did it take for you Atheno? " Wake asks.
" 5 days, not including sleep. " Wake and Von both look surprised, especially Von. How come he took the harder method then. Well to be fair he is really strong because of it, but he still doesn't know the depths to Athenos power.
" Yeah sorry Von but I think it's the better option for me to do the Athenos method instead. " Wake says.
" That's fine, but you should still practice mine. It could help with physical temataka. " Von shrugs before laying down in his makeshift bed. After an hour, Atheno joins the two sleepers, slumping out.
Von wakes up, he realizes the time they have wasted so far, and he doesn't know how long he has left till he can rescue Hie. He starts to pack up his stuff, taking away the fire and immediately the two take up from the morning breeze.
" Are we leaving already? " Wake rubs his eyes
" Yeah we have to. I don't know how long the kidnappers will stay in one spot for. We need to hurry up. " Von says, clapping his hands as the two get ready as well.
" But what about my Temataka training? " Wakes groans
" We'll have to do that in Shukoyoshi, I'm sorry Wake. " Von says. Wake sighs, nodding in understandment. As they walk, Wake gets another one of his genius ideas. He quickly jumps onto Vons back.
" Hey what are you doing? " Von asks
" I'm gonna meditate while you carry me. I can get some training in then. " Wake smirks. Von sighs. As they walk, Atheno guides Wake into the meditation.
The walk to Shukoyoshi continues, as they go up and down the hills.
YOU ARE READING
True Fantasia
Adventure*QUICK DISCLAIMER* (I put it as mature because there are some bloody parts and some strong language later in the book but there isnt any sexual stuff) This animanga inspired action novel follows Von and his outgoing goal to save his former bestfrien...
