Chapter 6: What it takes to be a martial artist.
Maybe I should train like everyone else, I wonder what the headmaster has in-store for me. As I begin to sway my body into a jokingly okay fighting form, one of the things I notice is Master Shikan making something at the apothecary table. I wonder if it's for me. I noticed that everyone's body posture was back to themselves again. But I couldn't help from fear that making that pose was a mistake to do, I have very little training for this. Maybe I should stay a gatherer. It's probably an easier path. And plus what if they think I'm hostile. I began to go back to a standing pose but I was caught. One of the mushrooms zoomed towards me with a fighting stance either to train me or to knock me down. Seeing as I'm so small I would never be it's training match. So maybe it liked my form. Maybe I should repeat after it.
From there I began to understand it wasn't a hostile fungus but one out of curiosity. They might all have just found it curious to see a different species of fungi. What if I'm a rare sight for them or something haha. Maybe these guys spend hundreds of years in this dojo without ever seeing the light of day. At least it isn't stuffy here, actually the air is quite clean for what I expect of a room full of stinky mushrooms. Maybe my smelling sense is just nulled out from the change in body, I'll have to look into that. Who knows, probably won't find a clue about it. probably not. I might need someone to show me how to use this stupid eye. Stupid narrow vision, where is the manual when you need one! System come on, that's your cue. What a lazy system I'll have to upgrade that someday too.
As I begin to wonder more, the other fungus makes a move. He is trying to show me a dance or something, maybe he is showing off or something. So many steps why is it so complicated how am I supposed to emulate that.
With deliberate movements the fungus moved through the imaginary battlefield, executing its kungfu with a blend of elegance and power. Each strike and block carried a poetic rhythm, narrating a tale of courage and determination. With each beat I notice the wind getting stronger and stronger around each strike.
Maybe one day I'll be that strong but for now I sloppily imitate a striking pose. The other mushroom stops in its place realizing I'm not its opponent. I didn't even get the first move right, the shame washing over me. I wish I just waited in the cave like a good mushroom.
Master Shikan comes back over to me laughing with joy "Already shadow boxing at your age, you might be already developing hyphae eyes." Coming at me almost fully out of my perception like a gentle breeze almost unnoticed; murmuring to himself. That was a frightening speed. Maybe he was testing my reflexes seeing as I'm still in a striking pose.
"I still have to send word out, Prachk, you'll be going out on this one, it's a week's travel there and back, so make sure to pack up. I won't be sending the young one he is going to stay here and train for the birthing season and he has an eye to see this is a curious one you'll have to find the Chambers of Escrall" as he says that a larger mushroom stumbers over almost too delicately "Yes, Master!" "Make sure you take a real blade with you, I don't want you coming back all mulched up" "Yes, Master Shikan!" Then they trail off over to a map on the wall. I take this time to sneak away to the meditation area. Where I find a mushroom of equal size to me and sit on it cross legged. Haven't been able to do that for years. As I find my mind slipping back into my consciousness I notice myself stiff as a sleeping mushroom could be. I guess with this down time I can check out my status again. Master Shikan turns to another group of mushrooms "I need you to head out and capture a couple young Coleoptera" "Yes Master"