Sharjasanian Chronicles: Echo Of The River's Past

Lunarescent Storm Of Empowerment

"That's not very great, Li Yilang", an old Chinese man said. "You must do your best if you're even thinking about passing the test".
"I know", I said. "But I'm trying my best".
"Then do your best in the way that you can actually hold the bamboo stick the right way", the man said. "Look around you, Li Yilang. See those boys fighting with discipline? Why can't you be like them?"
"I'll keep trying, high elder", I said. 
"You better do", the man said. 
He walked away. 
I kept trying and trying for the rest of the day, until the sun went down. Day after day, trying to get a hold of the bamboo stick. When I finished my studies, I grabbed the stick to train my martial abilities. After six days, I managed to be able to hold it still and aim it. I was thrilled and excited. I wanted to prove the high elders of my clan that I was able to pass the test.

"High elder, I have come to show my martial power", I said, as the excitement slowly faded as I saw the bitter high elders.
"Show me what you've got, young one", one high elder said.
I inhaled and exhaled. I slowly raised the bamboo stick.
"Speed up, when battling an enemy, it won't wait for you to hit it", a high elder commented.
Pressured, I lost my grip completely. The bamboo stick slipped out of my hand, fell on the ground and rolled right in front of the high elders.
"Li Yilang. You lack the proper discipline and power for being worthy of our clan! You'll be punished for it with the sleeve of focus", the high elders said strictly.
And that would be my problem. The sleeve of focus is a wooden torture device that would be put around one's arm. It possesses sharp spikes that will cut into the soft skin of the arm when the wearer moves due to their lack of discipline. According to the high elders, this is the best way to teach kids discipline. I found it particularly cruel for young children aging between seven and ten. 

That's where I was. The sleeve of focus. My parents and grandparents were ashamed of me, therefore they kicked me out of the house for three days. I was panicked, I had no idea what to do. But by every focusless movement I made, the spikes cut deeper into my flesh. 
My mother would leave a bowl of soup and rice outside of the door every day, and that was all I got. While the spikes were cutting into me, I ate. Tears rolled over my body, but I didn't seem to care as I only felt hunger.
I only had two ideas in mind for the first two days: eat and then train. These sleeves were put on me for a reason, right? To teach me discipline. I grabbed the bamboo stick I held in my hand so often. Due to the pain, I immediately dropped it again. And again. But I kept trying. It was already midnight, the people from the village were all asleep. But I was here, silently crying while trying to hit the air with the bamboo stick. Hungry.

The next day, in the evening my uncle came to me. 
"Yilang, what happened to you?", he asked. "Are those the sleeves of focus?"
"Yes, uncle. It's complicated", I answered. 
"I know what happened, believe me. But look at yourself, you're a pretty smart boy. Just like me when I was younger. But I wasn't strong at all, compared to your father. He was a strong and respected fighter. I was a clever child. I'm unsure if you'll get this, but you should focus on intelligence. That's all I can say", he said. 
He then walked away. 
I took his advice in mind, and sat down to think about it. While still wearing the sleeves, I grabbed multiple books to read for the rest of the day before the sun went down. It started storming heavily. The wind was wild and the rain showered down on me. The full moon was shining bright through the dark clouds. I trained again. By focusing on techniques, I felt more powerful. I held the bamboo stick the right way and hit it with force.

On the last day of my punishment, I took a stroll in the forest nearby the village. I know I'm not supposed to come there, but I went anyway. No one looked after me, so it didn't matter. 
I looked at a tree. It shone in a bright light, its leaves were vibrant and luscious. Moss was growing all over it. I'm not sure why but I felt something. 
I then kept walking. I passed by a small spring. It was teeming with life: fish, crawfish, aquatic snails, salamanders. They all lived together. 
Could it be possible for humans? To all live together peacefully like these animals? I didn't know. Maybe. Maybe if we put aside our different ideas and worked together as one; unified we could. 

After that stroll, the sleeves were removed. There were awful scars on my forearms that will never go away again. They are named the imprint of irresponsibility.