2 ch2
Time seemed to fly by whether it was due to the numbness that comes from knowing you will never see loved ones again or from Ivy and him trying to learn the techniques that their parents left them. Morty didn't care.
Instead of dwelling on what he had lost he tried to focused on what he was learning instead.
The first thing he learned was that some techniques focus more on what you can physically do. While others relied more on what you could do with your chi, ki, chakra, spirit, magic, mana, will????… ok Morty was not sure of the right word for it. So instead of confusing himself, and because he knew all the words meant something a little bit different, he decided he would just call it energy, at least for now. Regardless of whether or not, physical or energy was the central focus a technique required the use of both forces in harmony in order to master any technique.
Since he had no idea how to use the energy he focused on the more physical parts of the techniques.
While Ivy had the opposite problem, being in a body comparable to a three year old human. Trying to compare herself with her brothers six year old body was very frustrating especially since she was two, almost three years older than him. So she focused on the energy aspect of the techniques which depended on her ever expanding mind.
So instead of arguing like most siblings would. They were impressed with each others strong points and humbled themselves enough to learn from each other.
When Marianne first witnessed this she was thankful that some good came out of her spouse's deaths. It might just be enough to help her kids get through the worst that life would throw at them.
So for 2 hours each day the children would first focus on the martial technique. With the unimaginative names strike, evade, block, and counter.
***
(Strike a rudimentary martial art including how to move every muscle in the body for the most effective strike possible. They were simple to learn, and adaptable to a myriad of circumstances. Advanced stage of the technique taught one how to focus all of one's physical might and energy into devastating effect from any striking point, including channeling it through to ones weapon. Being a general style the principals of the technique would be applicable to any other style. The weak point of the style was that it was so simple and well known that it was predictable.
Evade used mental technique to read the opponent attacks and get out of the way. The technique started with exercises that developed ones awareness, flexibility, and quick reaction. A master learns energy manipulation to both slow one's sense of time and to speed up ones reaction. The weak point of the style is that it is hard to predict something you either don't understand or have not seen.
Block creates a solid foundation so one can take a hit without being knocked prone, and focuses on enduring pain. Block is broken up into five actions deflect, give way, hold fast, advance, and absorb. Deflecting directs the force of an attack elsewhere lowering the damage taken. Give ground allows one's opponent to waste their energy as they advance, instead of one's own. Hold fast is to take the full attack mitigating the damage the best one can. Advance can disrupt attacks weakening the damage taken and sometimes preventing them from happening. Absorb the most advanced defense technique allows one to take an energy attack and use it to strengthen oneself. The weakness of blocking is one always makes a sacrifice, of pain, stamina, or health.
Counter can only be used after you are attacked and is often used in conjunction with block or evade, involving a quick technique or a grapple. It is a complicated, tricky and risky skill to get good at. Because if one fails to hit with a counter, one is left wide open. A master at countering can counter energy attacks and even reflect the energy back on one's attacker.)
***
After an hour break and some breakfast. the children would spar focusing on Ivy's elemental techniques, she would do her best to teach Morty about how the energy created techniques like; plant growth, entangle, nauseas strike, paralysis glare, and earthen wall.
To Ivy's great astonishment teaching what she knew to her brother and answering his questions helped her improve her techniques more then just using them on him. Not that she would ever tell him that. after all It was too much fun toying with younger biger brother.
Meanwhile Morty was learning a tremendous amount and swearing to himself "When I get married I need to find a girl that does buffs, because debuff's suck." Then breathed deeply trying not to hurl from Ivy's nausea strike.
***
(Plant growth focuses nature energy into plants causing them to grow multiple times faster and stronger depending on the users cultivation level. Area of effect is a 10x10meter area increased by 2x2 meters per rank with it rounding up to the nearest of 10x10 when advancing realms. If one is skilled with the technique they can guide the plants to grow as they desire. an example is directing plants to weave together to create a barrier. a skilled cultivator can also cause mutation to occure from other elements. An example is fire weed that bursts into flames when damaged.
Entangle focuses nature energy into a seed causing it to grow exponentially in size and strength. Plants die after one minute multiplied by rank rounded up to 5 per Realm. Area of effect 1x1x1 meters per realm. Skilled cultivators can affect the shape of the area and allow the plants to take on Mutations of other elements. An example shocking entangler send mild electric current through entangled opponent disrupting concentration.
Nauseous strike evolving technique focuses poison energy directly into opponents body bypassing natural defenses. Severity of energy increased by rank. Deadliness of energy increased by realm. A skilled user can add mutations to energy changing side effect of poison. Example icy dread strike causes enemies to shiver uncontrollably and feel as if they are freezing.
Paralysing glare sends poison energy into enemy as eyes meet causing momentary slowed reactions. Strength and duration dependent on deference in cultivation level. Skilled cultivators can deceive others as to the cause of the effect and cause mutations to energy changing side effects. Example quicksand glare causes opponents to feel as if they are moving slower as if going through quicksand.
Earthen wall use earth energy to move local dirt into a 1x10x10 meter barrier. Area increased per rank and doubled per realm. Skilled cultivators have more control over shape and density, of wall. A simple technique easy to combine with other techniques. Example earthen wall and freeze technique can be used to create cold rooms to preserve food.)
***
After Morty got untangle from weeds and settled his stomach. They would go with their mother to their Grandfather's farm to help with chores.
Like most boys his age Morty was given comparatively energy intensive chores, delivering messages, and miscellaneous jobs the adults did not want to do. Like collecting eggs, and since he was small for his age he always ended up with Birtha the evil Chicken, or Jasmine the evil goose, or being chased by a flock of Evil fouls. What Morty just could not understand is why birds hated him so much, he got along great with the ryding lizards, the grumpiest goats, heck even the meanest wolves would roll over for petting. But those infernal devil birds… hrrrmmm
Meanwhile Ivy would help take care of the children, which often ended up with confused parents. Walking in to see a three year old changing diapers, reading stories, and handing out snacks to a group of kids up too twice her size. The weirdest part was that all of the kids acted as if the three year old was the center of their world.
After a long day of work they would return home for a late meal.
Then the children would practice their movement techniques for 2 hours. As Marianna took care of the house and other adult things like finances (shuder).
Ivy had two, Leaf step and her new Spiderstride. After realizing she would be able to walk on the ceiling she started wearing pants under her dresses, and swore to herself to find a way to keep her dresses in pristine order even while upside down.
When Morty bemoaned not being able to learn how to walk on ceilings. Ivy quickly offered to share the technique saying "think of the fun we will be able to have!".
While Ivy had a wistfully perverted look on her face. Morty envisioned painting a dragon using its fiery breath on a portal, on his bedroom ceiling. Then dreamily said "that would be awesome!"
So Morty practiced Spider stride and Perfect servant.
Morty did not like that Perfect servant was a slave technique, but as Ivy read it to him and explained the exercises behind it he noticed that Perfect servant, assumed that whom ever used it was already a slave… except for the colorful remarks like, a skilled practitioner of the art is able to hear one's master whisper from hundreds of kilometers away and arrive to serve within seconds. Most were creepy so he swore to erase those parts, once he could read well enough to find them.
***
( Leaf step a mysterious technique that allows one to move with the grace of a leaf in the wind. Basic plant based movement technique. Allows user to draw plant energy in air, Improves dexterity, and improve perception towards air element. Best for combined air and plant cultivators.
Spider stride a technique created and passed down by the Dark Mother. Bloodline movement technique allows users to walk on gravity defying surfaces, detect disturbances to threads created by user, and move as silent as a spider. Improves synergy with dark, and poison techniques. Best for combined dark and poison cultivators.
Perfect servant movement technique created by the Dark Mother to ensure her thralls were neither seen nor heard, while staying close enough to serve her every whim with speed and grace. Master level elementless slave technique increases strength, speed, dexterity, perception, aura suppression, presence suppression, poison resistance, and memory. Best for thralls, and loyal retainers.)
***
Then baths followed by an hour of meditation on their futons. As the youngest Morty often fell asleep. Which allowed Marianne to pick him up and tuck him in bed. All the while whispering with Ivy. Whether their talks were about training or just spending quality time together, they were both happy to have these moments together as mother and daughter.
Then Meg Beekeeper showed up, and things changed.
Meg was a beauty with long black hair, eyes as black as coal, and a very, very pregnant belly. As she sat at the table succinctly eating every crumb off a plate. While berating Marianne, the kids were ignored as they came in from their morning practice.
"What does a pathetic copper rank one healer know about how to raise a proper witch of plant and poison cultivation?"
Marriana was so flustered with the attack all she could do was rely on her manners and try not to react. She flailed, for as she held her tounge, and listened to this usurper try to take her daughter, tears swelled in her eyes.
Meg gave an indignant sniff then continued her verbal attack. "That's right you know nothing. I am the new high priestess of the Wolf spider Coven because Elizabeth her paternal mother has passed it is my right. No, my responsibility to take Ivy with me to make sure she is properly trained, "
Finally noticing the children Meg glared at Ivy then said "Ivy you heard me go and pack your belongings we are leaving at once." Then Meg carefully lifted herself out of the chair and started to prepare to leave.
When she was about to verbally start attacking Marianne again she noticed that Ivy had ran over to her mother and was quickly whispering in her ear.
Infuriated Meg stomped over and grabbed Ivy's wrist. "You little brat. You will obey when I give you an order."
Meanwhile Morty was having none of this grabbing the nearest thing he could find to defend his Mother and Sister he attacked while screaming "THIEF, BRIGAND, MONSTER!!!" Having only spent 9 days training in strike. It was more luck than skill that allowed him to make a critical strike.
So when the neighbors arrived having delayed only long enough to grab a weapon and find the source of the screaming. They were surprised to find a strange woman throttling Morty screaming "You monster how dare you shove that broom up my aaahhhhgggg."
Seeing that the woman's water broke several of the women started screaming for boiled water and the midwife. Meanwhile all the men had magically disappeared.
The closest midwife was Marrianna. So with a frustrated sigh knowing what the law required of her, and the dept that Meg would owe her. She asked one of the women to take care of the food she had just prepared, then take the children to her father's farm to help him and went to work.
While Ivy who had already whispered to her Mom everything she had to say and figuring out of sight was out of mind, quickly grabbed what she needed and left the house. Morty was in a far less optimal position.
For In Mortys befuddlement of just what in the limitless realms was happening? He was not quick enough to escape. Meg in her rage had grabbed onto his wrist with an iron grip and was cursing his name. (It was on this day that a legend started of a six year old boy fathering a child.)
By the time the women were aware that Meg had a deathgrip on the boys arm. It was too late for Morty, he would be stuck there for the entire 14 hours of frustratingly difficult childbirth.
Morty tried everything he could think of to avoid the horror of what was taking place in front of his very eyes. He asked to be knocked out, he asked to have Megs arm removed he even tried to gnaw off his own arm.
Marrianna was not having any of that nonsense she splashed him with a bit of cold water and told him that since he was there he might as well be useful, so he better pay attention to what she taught him and do as she said.
With great remorse Morty did as his mother instructed.
14 hours later Meg was unconscious, Marianna, had barely managed to make it to her room and Morty who only saw unspeakable horror when he closed his eyes. Was holding three healthy screaming boys. Whom because of the myriad of women that had been in and out of his house throughout out the day was convinced that it was his salome duty to name them. Since that was something different to think about, he thought about it.
After a while and much thought he named the boys after a group of his childhood heroes, these heroes were honest hardworking and loyal. That and they had survived being tossed into a hellish inferno which was just awesome. Hence the triplets were named Shadrach Meshach and Abednego.
Throughout the long night despite not wanting to, Morty pondered on what he had experienced, and came to four important convictions.
First he would never ever ever poke a women in the bum again. It just was not worth the trama.
Second if that is how babies came into the world mothers deserve far more respect than people give them. Though that doesn't mean that the line of acceptable behaviour would change. "hurumph".
Third, despite the horror of the last 24 hours, he found the art of healing to be fascinating. Both in its strangeness and its potential.
Last, and perhaps most important of all he decided someday he would like to be a Father. But first he would have to grow strong enough so that when he had children of his own he would have enough power to shake the foundations of the planet. Because he would never want his children to go through the loss he had these past days.
With these thoughts, three diaper changed, and bottle fed boys, Morty fell asleep just as the sun was rising for a new day.
