System Break

High in the trees there was a small cosy cabin. It was built on two levels, one where you could sit, chat, draw or eat. And the top level was all pillows, blankets and sheets. While Reyas and Kysandre shared the tent on the ground Gisael and I slept high above them.

She had just drained the dragon for the second time that morning, and I lay on my back breathing in the fresh forest air. 

"Dawn breaks," she said.

"Tell me about the Qi Sage," I asked.

Her hand snaked across my chest and her fingernails scratched me gently. "To me it is just stories. Mother will tell you; she is given secrets passed down from Mother to Mother."

"The Qi Sage taught the races of the islands to use Qi. He is revered by the Qizhu, Mogui and us – the descendants of the Alfar."

"So he came before the cataclysm?" 

"Yes."

"What else?"

"I do not know much else. It was said that he could see qi, like you."

"Oh, I see. So that's why Mother thinks we're alike. We can both see qi and I said I would train everyone."

"Yes."

"Why is it a secret?"

"That is what she must explain. She told me a hundred times to ensure it is kept a secret."

I smiled, rolled onto my side, and kissed her nose. "Really? Mother nagged you?" I enjoyed the expression on her face.

She bared her teeth. "We go train now." She wiggled off the bed and jumped down onto the lower floor. I followed as gracefully as I could.

Talila gathered the guardians and apprentices and there was Ailen, Reyas and Gisael. Kysandre was with the artisans who were measuring her for clothes and organising a home on the ground.

"Follow," I said and headed west until we arrived at the spot I saw yesterday.

It was a rocky patch with a few large boulders and a small pond. The canopy opened up and beams of light shone through to the forest floor. Early in the morning the mist hung in the air and it smelled divine.

I wore my antler mask, stood on a boulder, and addressed them.

"I do not like this, but for now we must keep a secret from Kysandre. She is not to know I can see qi, which will make this training harder while she's around."

"When I dream-walked I learned a few things. We can all develop qi-abilities, tree-run and qi-arrow are what comes naturally to us. And Reyas can use what I call qi-body techniques – strength, speed, agility and stamina. She can also warm her body and keep it from freezing in the high mountains. She does this without thinking. But I can see it."

"By studying Reyas I learned how to use the mountainfolk's qi-body techniques. I even learned a couple of partial techniques from the trolls we fought. I call them qi-stitching, its where I stitch up an open wound and I practise it on my leathers when I can."

I pointed at them and met their gaze. "You can learn these techniques too. Some people learn faster than others, but anyone can do it. It's simply a matter of freeing yourself from what you thought you knew and hard work."

Reyas said, "Explain like you did before. That helped a lot."

I nodded. "When you use your innate technique, its like breathing. Do you think about breathing most of the time? No you just do it. Do you have to think to make your heartbeat?" 

"This is how it is for you now and qi-techniques. But like breathing you can think and change how you use your qi. But I learned more when I was dream-walking. I learned it is best not to push your qi, do not force it. You have to encourage it and let it flow."

"Do we sit and meditate?" Ailen asked.

"Don't be stupid," I said. "We are at our best when we move through the forest and let it guide us. For Reyas, it is when she climbs a mountain or runs."

I moved to the pond and filled a water container. I picked up a nearby stick and said, "Watch the water run down this stick."

I poured a trickle. "Gravity will do its work and the water naturally flows down the stick. It doesn't fly off and only drops when it reaches the end. This is like qi-speed. Your leg is the stick and your qi is the water."

"You just need to encourage your qi to leave your core, flow through your streams and down your legs. But to do this, all you need to do is remember the stick. Imagine the qi flowing over your legs. It will do the rest."

"For our first exercise we will run through the forest all day and while we do you will imagine your qi flowing over your legs and lending you speed. Ask it. Plead with it and imagine it. Imagine you are rushing to save someone, and you need the speed. Try anything and see what works for you. I will watch each of you and let you know how you're doing. I'll be able to see the smallest progress."

I looked at Reyas. "You will learn qi-strike."

I looked at the Guardians and said, "Go. You think I can't find you and catch you?"

They all ran except Gisael.

"We'll start with your fists first. When Gisael learned it she imagined she was protecting the glade and fighting a troll. I think it works best when put yourself into a fight or flight frame of mind."

"Tricking myself?"

I nodded. "You'd be surprised how easy it is to talk yourself into bullshit that simply isn't true. On my old world we call it visualisation and used it before battle. We trained in scenarios until our actions became second nature instead of a considered reaction."

"I think I understand." She grinned wickedly. "So a troll is going to rip your dragon off, and I will save it."

"That's horrible," I said and covered my groin. "But whatever works for you." I pointed to a fallen tree. "Use that log, punch it like it's a troll with a weird fetish."

She laughed and began. She confirmed what I already knew, Gisael and Reyas were talented. Although small she got results immediately.

"Great," I said. "I can already see your qi move. You want it to condense in your fist when you punch the troll. Even better if the condensed qi leaves your fist when you strike. Keep at it I'll check on you later."

I looked at Gisael. "You first." I followed her lithe form. Since we were in the forest she had ditched her leathers and I enjoyed her naked curves in their natural habitat. Her qi made small movements to her legs as she ran.

"Good, you're amazing as usual," I said.

True to form she did not react to my praise. She kept running and imagining some emergency to encourage her qi. I followed her for an hour, and she'd made some progress already.

"Okay. Keep at it, whatever you're doing is working," I said, "I'll go find the others."

I had fun hunting Guardians in the forest all day.