Learning the Breathing Method

Night. The woods behind the village. Xilutaiya stood quietly with her eyes closed in a moonlit clearing among the trees. Silver moonlight fell upon her, lending a faint halo to her hair and dress—tranquil and a little sacred. First she slowly adjusted her breathing, gradually seeking out the hidden pulse of blood within her body, then let herself sink into it step by step, until her breathing, heartbeat, and consciousness moved as one. A strange sensation spread through her whole body. The state of every part of her body gradually surfaced in her mind. From the feel of her skin, the presence of her muscles, and the working of her organs to the faint sound of her blood flowing—all of it grew clear bit by bit. She had never felt her own body so vividly, as though she were taking possession of it for a second time. Fresh, delicate sensations came from every part. At first it felt strange, but she quickly grew used to it, and it sharpened her perception and improved her control over her limbs. Then Xilutaiya opened her pale blue eyes and looked up at the leaves on a branch not far above her head. Her fingers slipped deftly into a gap between the leaves and plucked an unripe fruit from the dense foliage without touching a single leaf. It was a wondrous feeling. It was like a game of table tennis. When your opponent hits the ball over, you know you ought to return it, but your wrist does not always keep pace with your eyes. Sometimes you swing and miss, or you cannot be sure just where on the paddle the ball will land. Brain: I think I can return that ball. Hand: No, you can't. But now that her perception and control of her body had improved, she could, within an instant's reaction, precisely place the ball on a given spot of the paddle and better control the force, producing unexpected results—backspin, reversed spin, or even stranger techniques. Breathe... adjust the frequency... sense the rhythm of the blood... synchronize and sink in. In the sea of her consciousness, the dense, fine network of blood-red lines completed another cycle, and the attribute power in her blood rose faintly in the process. ('Breathing Method' completion +6) After finishing the cycle, Xilutaiya eased her breathing and came out of that strange state. Now a faint soreness reached her from all over her body. She could only train this far today, or she would accumulate hidden injuries. She checked her progress. [Breathing Method lv.0] (Blood Law): An ability not yet fully formed. Current progress (24/100). Today she had completed three cycles of training, and her progress had risen by 12, 6, and 6 respectively. At that rate, it would take about another week to master it completely. Finishing her Breathing Method training, she picked up the wooden sword she had left under the tree. Recalling the basic techniques Frien had taught her during the day, she practiced her swings. At first her movements were slow, and she kept adjusting them so that her force flowed more smoothly. Here the benefit of the Breathing Method showed itself: because her control and perception of her body were stronger, she could sense the subtle differences between one movement and another, and use those differences to keep correcting herself. If an ordinary person learned swordsmanship without a qualified instructor, the most he could manage was a rough imitation of the movements—form without substance—and he would find it hard to truly grasp the basics. In the end it would come down to a kind of performance swordsmanship. With a qualified instructor, combined with real combat and constant correction, years of hard work might slowly yield the way of generating force and the techniques best suited to oneself. Only after growing thoroughly familiar with them and engraving them into muscle memory could one become a master swordsman. The process took five years at the shortest, or more than ten at the longest. 'Basic Swordsmanship' proficiency +12 Basic Swordsmanship lv.0: A skill still being learned. Current progress (36/100). After one full round of practice, Xilutaiya felt rather tired. She blinked and checked her progress, thinking that if she worked harder she would probably reach Basic Swordsmanship lv.1 tomorrow. Oh, that was right—her [Appraisal Eye] could not see other people's accomplishments in skills and techniques; it only showed her own progress. Perhaps she would have to raise her attribute rank before the ability could be strengthened further. Today's gains were already considerable. Satisfied, she put away her sword and walked with light steps toward the little house where she was staying. She pushed open the door, through which a little lamplight showed, and went in. Taliel was still awake, sprawled at the table and staring listlessly at a candle. Only when Xilutaiya entered did she jerk her head up, her eyes filling with delight. "Tiya's back." After two days together the two had grown much closer, and at the girl's request Taliel had begun addressing her casually, no longer using honorifics. "Mm." The girl nodded, came over to sit in the chair across from Taliel, stretched out her legs, and gave a small stretch, the slender curve of her waist showing fully. Her languid manner gave off an indefinable charm without her intending it, and Taliel stared a little blankly. "Hm? What is it?" Seeing Taliel sitting motionless, Xilutaiya waved a hand in front of her and tilted her head in curiosity. Her silver hair and blue eyes were especially lovely. "Nothing." Taliel bit her lip lightly to clear her head. "Did Tiya just finish practicing the sword?" After dinner together earlier, Tiya had told her she was going out to practice. "Yes. I'm wandering out in the world now, so it's better to learn some means of protecting myself." Xilutaiya folded her hands on the table and rested her head lightly on one arm, gazing at the candle burning quietly before her. "Tiya works so hard." Taliel was not nearly so diligent herself; she lost interest in everything after a few minutes, and if something was dull and boring she found it very hard to keep at it. So she admired people who could endure boredom while they studied—her elder sister Wenni and Tiya both happened to be that sort. Encouraged by Tiya, Taliel decided she would study the Breathing Method properly tomorrow too. If she really learned it, that would be amazing—even the big lads in the village wouldn't be able to beat her. At the thought of that scene, Taliel nearly giggled to herself, though in Xilutaiya's eyes she looked a little silly. What is this child thinking about now? Xilutaiya shook her head and leaned on the table to rest. She didn't much want to move now, but she still had to bathe later. Ah. ... Afternoon of the fourth day. The clearing in the woods. Xilutaiya and Taliel sparred with wooden swords, and crisp clacks of impact rang out again and again. Bang, bang, bang... The two wooden swords struck each other now and then as they swung. They engaged again. Xilutaiya nimbly adjusted her footwork, lightly dodged Taliel's attack, then turned her blade and flicked the wooden sword out of Taliel's hand. The flung sword arced through the air and stuck slantwise into the grass. "Whoa, what technique was that? My sword just flew out of my hand all at once." Taliel was curious and excited. "That... I just did it on impulse." In truth Xilutaiya couldn't say why she had done it either. Inspiration had simply struck; she felt that doing so would send the sword flying and that she could do it easily, and the movement had happened naturally. "Tiya's amazing~" Taliel praised her sincerely. In these few short days together, Taliel had clearly sensed that Xilutaiya was very clever and exceptionally talented, quick to learn anything. "Can you teach me, Tiya~" She had begun to learn how to act spoiled in front of this girl. If the other young men in the village saw her like this they would be astonished, for normally Taliel was much like a boy and even got into fights now and then with others her age. "I can try." The girl thought it over and decided to give it a try. "Great!~" Taliel picked up the wooden sword again and slowly practiced the way Frien had taught. "No, that's not how the force goes in this movement." The girl shook her head. Though it looked similar, Taliel's execution was far off in the details. "Hold still. I'll adjust you." She walked over, took hold of Taliel's arm and forearm, and corrected her one small movement at a time. "Like this..." ...(Taliel's 'Basic Swordsmanship' proficiency +1) "Yes, straighten your legs, put your waist into it..." ...(Taliel's 'Basic Swordsmanship' proficiency +1) "That's it. Watch my movement..." ...(Taliel's 'Basic Swordsmanship' proficiency +2) About two hours later, Taliel sat under the tree, exhausted, her wooden sword tossed aside. "Hah, hah, I'm so tired..." Though she complained of fatigue, her eyes were full of excitement and thrill. "I think I've found a few tricks. Tiya's amazing—you teach even better than Sir Frien!" She meant it sincerely. The girl beside her was rather pleased too, and gathered her dress to sit down lightly. "Practice like this for another five or six days and you should have Basic Swordsmanship down." Taliel's swordsmanship proficiency had gone up 17 points in all today; her current progress was (24/100). "Mm-hm! \(^o^)/~" If she'd had the strength, Taliel would have shouted for joy. "I'm going to tell Grandfather—I can be a great adventurer from now on too!" As a child she had heard no end of Grandfather's thrilling exploits, and she could recite those stories by heart: "Helped a noble clear the corrosive slugs out of the city's underground sewers," "Climbed Wind-Howl Mountain to burn out a nest of gray-feathered vultures," "Fought a poisonous lizard in the forest." Even now there were still a few dark green poisonous-lizard scales in Grandfather's cupboard. "Tiya, listen, my grandfather went to so many places back then..." Full of enthusiasm, Taliel began telling the girl about the old village chief's glorious feats. "It really does make you long for it." Looking up at the bright sunlight filtering through the leaves, Xilutaiya imagined that sort of exciting adventuring life as well—like the countless games she had played before, whose monsters, mazes, and battles were always so captivating. If she had the chance, she would like to travel around too, using missions as an excuse to take a good look at this vast, wondrous world. ; The seventh day. Xilutaiya was by now a familiar face in Linden Village. Nearly every villager knew this unusual girl—so beautiful, so gentle and kind—and was fond of her. Had they not known the vast gap in status, many a young man would likely have come forward to court her, competing with one another. "All right, you've trained about enough." Carrying a wooden spear, Frien walked slowly past the group. "The two of you who trained best have already mastered basic swordsmanship and spearmanship. The rest of you, if you haven't got it, can ask them later." He turned on his heel and swept his gaze over the crowd again. "As for the 'Breathing Method,' there's no need to force it. If you truly can't manage it, eat more and train your strength and agility—that will strengthen you too." Of the young people taught this time, only Xilutaiya had learned the Breathing Method. "I leave tomorrow. If your strength improves later, come find me at Three Towers Town. Those who pass my test can join the patrol, and if you're stronger still, there will be a place for you in the cavalry under the Baron." Compared with ordinary work in the village, the patrol's pay was much better, and there were a few fringe earnings besides. The cavalry were the backbone of Baron Holin's forces, tasked with handling all manner of emergencies in his domain, and now and then they even received rewards from the Baron. "Is Sir Frien leaving?" one of the trainees asked. "That's right. I set out tomorrow." He nodded and planted the butt of the wooden spear in the ground. "I've been resting up here for a week and my broken bone is more or less healed. It's time I went back to report to the Baron. As for that 'Crimson Wolf'—I know you're all worried it will come back." "But I can't stay in the village forever. After all, I'm responsible for the safety of the roads between the villages and towns in the Baron's domain." "I believe that with the village's barrier in place, it won't rashly attack again. If you're still uneasy, go to the Adventurers' Guild in Burnt Stone City and post a bounty notice there. I expect someone will come and deal with it." "All right, that's it for training today. Dismissed!" After the group dispersed, Frien sought out the silver-haired girl at the back, and the two talked under a tree. "You're headed for Burnt Stone City, Miss Xilutaiya, is that right?" "Yes, Mr. Frien." The girl's voice was soft and lovely. "On my way back to Three Towers Town I'll be traveling the same road as you for a stretch, but at Riverstone Town we'll have to part ways. From there you can travel with a caravan and continue on to Burnt Stone City. The markets there are thriving and many people come and go, so you should be able to find some clues." "Thank you for the guidance, Mr. Frien." "No need for such courtesy. You saved a number of my men that day—I should be the one thanking you. Here, this sword is for you." He picked up a short sword he had prepared beforehand from behind the tree and handed it to Xilutaiya. "Take it. Use it to protect yourself on the road. The village blacksmith couldn't make a sword this good." Taking the sheathed short sword, Xilutaiya thanked him again. [Fine Iron Sword] (Quality: Good): Forged from wrought iron with skilled craftsmanship; currently well maintained. Drawing the short sword from its wooden scabbard, Xilutaiya gave it a swing. It was somewhat heavy, but she could use it well enough. "You're not strong enough yet to use too heavy a sword. Fortunately you've learned the 'Breathing Method.' Train with it, and your stamina will gradually catch up—you'll be a match for a sturdy young man your age." Frien was quite satisfied with this temporary student of his. "If you go further and reach the second stage of the Breathing Method, many a strong soldier won't be able to match your burst of force or your speed." "As for the third stage, I don't know the details. But I've seen those knight lords; their strength lets them easily toss a boar or a lion bigger than themselves, and they can crush a man's bones with hardly any effort." "I see." Xilutaiya nodded, saying she would train hard from then on. "I imagine you don't know anyone in Burnt Stone City. Here's a letter of introduction from me—you can give it to Miss Mailin at the Adventurers' Guild. She's a distant niece of mine and we get along well; she should be able to help you." "There, no more thanks. If you get the chance later, come find me at Three Towers Town. It's where Baron Holin's castle stands, and I'm stationed there most of the time." Although Frien told her not to thank him, warmth and gratitude still welled up in the girl's heart. What he had given her might not be precious, but it was all things she urgently needed right now, and it solved a great many problems. "When I have time, I will certainly visit you at Three Towers Town." ... The day of parting was almost at hand, and that night Xilutaiya found it hard to sleep. She had finally grown used to life in the village, and now she must go to another unfamiliar place. But as Frien had said, staying in the village forever made growth difficult and there were not enough resources either; if she wanted to find opportunities, she could only go somewhere larger. Turning over slightly in bed, the girl gathered a little of her hair up to keep it from bending under her. In these few days she had also learned how to manage this beautiful but troublesome long hair. On the other side of the room Taliel lay on the wooden boards snoring, occasionally mumbling a few unclear words in her sleep—something about fighting monsters and eating good things, it seemed. Xilutaiya had grown used to this by now. Tomorrow—tomorrow she would set out. She raised her hand and looked at her slender, delicate fingers, and some information surfaced in her mind. First came the Fate Board, wreathed in invisible threads and giving off a soft glow. At its center was the [Sleeping Girl] with its silver vine-patterned border; of the three empty slots below, one was now filled, and there appeared a card with a pale red border printed with fine dark red veins, like blood flowing in silence. Within the card was a hazy, indistinct black figure whose outline resembled the girl's, and inside it a pale red heart beat to a strange rhythm. Several blood vessels spread from it into the black figure, and now and then threads of bright red flowed out and in. [Breathing Method lv.1] (Blood Law): Uses breathing to regulate the flow rate of the blood, thereby driving and enhancing the strength and reaction speed of the whole body. The ability places demands on the heart and body and cannot be used for long periods (recommended no more than 1 minute per day). (Completion 56/300) Even after learning the Breathing Method, her completion still rose steadily every day; in another dozen days or so she would reach [Breathing Method lv.2]. This puzzled Xilutaiya somewhat, because according to Frien the further along you went the harder it became—you might train the same cycles as always and see your progress not move at all. For that very reason, Frien's Breathing Method had been stuck at the second stage for nearly ten years. Never mind, no point thinking about it. Her understanding of attribute power was still limited, so she probably couldn't work out the reason; she would have to explore it later. As for the swordsmanship and spearmanship she had been taught, she had a decent grasp of them now. Basic Swordsmanship lv.3: The basic techniques of using a sword, the foundation of combat. Current progress (125/900). Basic Spearmanship lv.2: The basic techniques of using a spear, the foundation of combat. Current progress (246/300). She had learned these two especially quickly, and while teaching Taliel she gained some progress herself. She just didn't know whether there was a limit—after all, however impressive basic swordsmanship became, it was still only basic swordsmanship. With all this, Xilutaiya touched the scabbard beside her bed, and at last felt a measure of security in her heart. Phew. She should be able to sleep well now. Tomorrow she would set out for Burnt Stone City. Lying on her side, her body slightly curled, silver-snow hair slipping over her neck and shoulders, at some point she slipped into a peaceful sleep... (End of chapter)