Another Choice

Chapter 12-Martial Arts

Haneul nodded and left to the woman bathing place while Tal Tal went inside to men's bathing place. Haneul quickly take a bath and changed her clothes. She went to the yard and took a bown and an arrow. She started practicing while she wait for Tal Tal to arrive. She tried to shot the arrow to the target a few times, but she kept missing the target. The arrow she shot even didn't reach the target and just fly off and hit the ground. She is getting frustated because she kept failing. She can only hit the target once since yesterday. theTal Tal that seeing her from far can see that Haneul is getting frustated.

He went beside her and started lifting her arms and said, "You need to make your arm straight and firm. Your arms are shaking when you shot the arrow. That's why you always miss the target."

Haneul nodded and tried to fire another arrow, but this time she tried to makes her arms as straight and firm as she can. She tried to pull the string of the bow with all the forces that she had. Finally, she shot the arrow straight to the target. She really hopes that this time, she can hit the target, so she won't disappoint Tal Tal. Her hope really comes true, the arrow she shot really hit the target and right on the middle. Tal Tal smiled proudly looking at her progress.

"Great job! As I told you, you really are talented. Continue to practice! But, only until lunch, after finish come to the back yard, I'll train how to hold a sword." Tal Tal said and left her.

Haneul nodded and continued to train her archery skills. She is progressing even though sometimes her arrow still doesn't hit the target. But, at least she did better than yesterday, she is able to hit the target a few times. Until noon come and she is having her lunch alone because Byul, her little brother is riding around the capital again with Jadan. She ate her food quickly because she can't wait to have her first training using a sword with Tal Tal. After finished eating, she went to the back yard where Tal Tal awaits for her.

"Come here." Tal Tal ordered her while handing her a wooden sword. "Let's see what you've got. Try to attack me with everything you can!"

"At-attack you??" Haneul asked not understanding what Tal Tal had just said.

"It is alright, just try to attack me." He replied while holding his sword is ready.

Haneul is kind of hesitated for a moment, but she rushed in front while holding up her sword upon her head. "Here I come!!" She shouted while she tried swinging her sword to Tal Tal's neck. But, Tal Tal easily avoids her and moved to her left causing her to fell to the ground. Haneul got back up and started swinging her sword back again towards Tal Tal. But, Tal Tal avoid it again. She is getting pissed off, but she tried to be more careful now. She measured up her chance and now tried to target Tal Tal's arm to make him lost his sword. But, again Tal Tal easily avoids it and even knocked her off in her stomach with his sword's hilt and making Haneul fell off to the ground again. Tal Tal takes her hand and helps her back up.

"You seem to have greater talent in archery rather than sword skill. You'll need to work more in your sword and fighting skill. Have you learn any martial art before?" He asked after seeing her poor fighting skill.

Haneul shook her head and replied, "Never, I only being taught how to do simple house chores and how to read and write."

Tal Tal sighed and said, "It is alright, then we need to work hard on your martial art first. Put away your sword, I'll teach you how to fight without the sword."

Haneul nodded and threw away her sword. "Strengthen your arm and your fist. Move your right to the front. Make your leg as steady and firm as possible. Now prepare yourself."

Tal Tal kicked haneul's waist and make her immediately fell. She hissed in pain and wonder why Tal Tal did it. "I told you right, make your leg as steady and firm as you can. In fighting, the first thing that really important is how you defending yourself from the attack. Now, get up, prepare yourself!"

Haneul got back on her feet, trying to make both of her legs as steady and firm as she could. Tal Tal kicked her waist again, but now her hand move in reflex fending herself from his kick. Even though she still fell to the ground, Tal Tal was impressed by her reflex. Haneul hissed in pain, getting kicked in the waist is bad enough, but now her hand also got kicked.

"Your reflex is pretty good. I guess you have a talent after all. Can you continue?"

"I can." She replied and assuring to herself that this pain is nothing compared to her torture before. She got back up and again she got kicked and fell to the ground. But, each time Tal Tal kicked her, he can felt that her legs is getting more steady. Haneul is getting frustrated because she kept falling to the ground. Tal Tal noticed it and started to change his training.

"Enough, with strengthening your legs! Now, follow my guide. I'll try to punch you and I'll teach you how to block them."

Tal Tal throws a punch straight to Haneul's face and stopped right before it reaches her face. Haneul was startled,'He is so fast.' She thought, she can't even see his movement.

"The most important thing in the battle is your observation skill. You'll need to have sharp eyes and no matter how fast they are always try to keep an eye on their movement."

Haneul nodded and Tal Tal held his arm,"Strengthen your arm and open up your hand, prepare to catch my fist!" Haneul was nervous, but she tried to strengthen her arm and both of her legs, so she won't fall when Tal Tal punch her. Tal Tal threw his fist to her and she caught it. Haneul was startled of his strength and her body moved a step back when he threw his punch towards her.

Tal Tal sighed and said, "I'm not even my full power yet. You really need to work at your strength first. From tomorrow this will be your routine, at the dawn, you'll run around this mansion for ten times. It will increase strength your legs. After you finished, you can clean up yourself and have breakfast. After it, you'll train your archery skill until noon. After it, you can have your lunch and went to this yard and have your martial art training with me. We'll finish your training at dinner time. After dinner, I'll teach you battle and other common knowledge at the library. We'll study until 10 PM and after it, you may rest at your room."

Haneul gasped hearing her tight schedule that starts tomorrow. But, she has no choice rather than obeying him. After all, there is no easy way to become strong. She has a promise that she needs to keep, she'll grow up strong to protect Byul. Once she is strong enough, she won't let anyone hurt him anymore as the rebels do.