No experiment is too dangerous! That's science!
Ayami
414
POSTS
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17
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Female
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Robosexual
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Elfen
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971PL
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12,525z
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330 Dragon Coins
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Living Tide
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Played by Ray
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Administrator
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Post by Ayami on Feb 4, 2021 22:36:02 GMT
The old woman's movements were merciless, she opened her eyes to see Tomina's immediate shift from silent plotting to panicked instinct. Oh the halfling tried to block, and she did succeed in grabbing hold of one cup...But Aya was using both hands to grab. Just as Tomina reached for a cup Aya immediately splashed her with the next cup that was grabbed, ending the match unceremoniously."I must admit...Your strategy was solid, learning how your opponent operates is viable information. Habits, techniques, limitations. All of these things can change the tide of battle in your favor even against a far stronger enemy. However you wasted too much time testing the waters without being prepared for a counter attack and simply relied on the mercy of the one going on the offensive. Information matters little if you are immediately incapacitated. Let's try once again."The matriarch waited for Tomina to recover from the ordeal before nodding, motioning that it was time to begin from the start. Round two was already under way! Once more Aya closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, not letting it escape her lungs...Not yet at least."Micaela Inoue...Oh neat! She sounds super wise!" The elfen smiled brightly, giving Atsuko a happy nod."I can't wait to meet her and see what your home is like, too! Must be pretty nice if mine's similar!"... Poor Ayami simply didn't know the kind of environment the monastery sat in, but as an islander the bitter cold was an absolute killer to the inventor. She was never good with frigid temperatures, they simply caused her to freeze up...Figuratively. It was perhaps one of her most damning weaknesses, and one she wasn't likely to overcome any time soon. Still...With any luck the knight's preparation would allow her to withstand.The elfen winced as she watched the match unfold, and before anything could even be said...It was over."Oooh...Gramma's ruthless alright. Don't give up Mina, you've got this!"She cheered the hybrid on, hoping that Tomina wouldn't lose face despite the loss in the first round. There WERE two more rounds to go after all. Two more chances at grasping victory against impossible odds! The young water user was intent to watch every single round to their conclusion, cheering her friend on the whole time without fail! Atsuko Tomina
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"Rumia, please. I'm trying to train."
Atsuko
419
POSTS
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18
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Female
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Lesbian
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Saiyan
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579 PL
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5,034z
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109 Dragon Coins
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Albino Saiyan
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Played by Amord
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Administrator
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Post by Atsuko on Feb 4, 2021 22:57:50 GMT
Atsuko gives a calm nod as Ayami comments on the type of person Micaela must be. " She is. She's got an amazing handle on Martial Arts, Ki... A few other things, too. She helped me with something that was pretty dangerous." , she briefly explains. But really, her attention was being drawn more and more to the match between Aya and Tomina.
She already spotted where Tomina had failed. Collecting information was the right move, but then the Hybrid panicked and acted out of desperation. She should have taken more time to think before rushing in. Still, she couldn't entirely blame her either. Aya was doing a good job of playing mind games right now. But there was something she kept noticing consistently.
The old woman's breathing pattern changed whenever she was starting a match, when she was in the middle of it, and whenever she started responding to what the opponent was doing. She gently taps Ayami to get her attention. " Pay attention to Aya." , she then gestures to the master." I noticed it a few times already. Her breathing changes. Watch what happens when Tomina makes her move." , the Knight pointed out. She had already gotten a few hints, but now it was starting to stick out to her plain as day. There was something that Aya was doing to bring about an intense focus.
Even if she didn't know the ins and outs of the technique as explained by the matriarch, she could start sliding all the pieces together to figure out how it worked, and start moving to replicate it herself... Naturally, that would be a long and very involved process without guidance.
But this was a hint as to how Atsuko performed so well in her studies and her training. She was able to pick up things like this with surprising speed. All she needed to do now was confirm her theories. Unfortunately, that meant Tomina was the guinea pig of this debacle... Ayami Tomina
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"Interesting. Come at me!"
Tomina
291
POSTS
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18
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Female
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Bisexual
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Hybrid
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445PL
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56,483Z
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208 Dragon Coins
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The Wild Flash Fire
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Played by Nothost
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Senior Member
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Post by Tomina on Feb 4, 2021 23:12:24 GMT
“Tch! Then I’ll just have to jump into the deep end!” That figure of speech was probably the worst one Tomina could have used, considering Tomina had never jumped into the deep end of a pool. The only time Tomina had “swam” was when Lucy chucked her into the Ocean that one time they visited the beach. Although she didn’t really swim so much as fly out of the water in a panic. Regardless, she couldn’t afford to panic here.
So she knew now the comfortable distance she could extend before Aya would act. Once again, she slid her hand across the table. Less hesitantly than before. She stopped it just before the halfway point. Then thrust her arm out, aiming to grab the cup closest to her. At the same time, swung her other arm in an arc, trying to time it so that she’d be able to intercept whatever counterattack came her way.
She also was aiming to hit Aya as low as possible and would attempt to simply tip over the cup when she grabbed it and let momentum do the rest. She already knew Aya was faster than her. There was no possible way she could do any fancy maneuvers. She was just going to have to throw the knife straight at the heart.
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No experiment is too dangerous! That's science!
Ayami
414
POSTS
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17
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Female
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Robosexual
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Elfen
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971PL
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12,525z
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330 Dragon Coins
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Living Tide
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Played by Ray
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Administrator
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Post by Ayami on Feb 5, 2021 0:21:31 GMT
And so round two had begun! Tomina was already making use of what she learned in the previous round after giving a determined declaration! If she was going to dive into the deep end then Aya would just have to remind her of where her skill level was. Tomina was aiming to fake Aya out...But the old woman remained motionless, not even once reacting. But once the hybrid reached out rapidly the matriarch listened for the motion, and in the very next instant she exhaled and launched forth with a counter attack, placing a hand firmly on top of the cup Tomina was aiming for, pushing her weight onto the cup to keep it planted onto the table.
She felt the air shift as the half breed rushed in an attempt to block off counter attacks. The elderly master pulled another feint, reaching for a cup and then immediately lifting her hand away, grabbing a new cup at the end of the table and throwing the water out in a sideways arc! If the two onlookers hadn't fully figured it out before, chances are they were sure to do so now. Aya opened her eyes once more, looking at the half-saiyan."You're already improving. But you've still got a large gap to cross. One more time."The old woman gave a nod, allowing Tomina to open up the third and final match with her next moves. Yet again Aya closed her eyes calmly, and took in a deep breath of her, filling her lungs.Ayami gave a nod, entranced by the woman the albino saiyan was describing. This Micaela sounded incredible, not different at all from her own grandmother. If there was anything else to be learned maybe this former knight was the one who could teach it?The water elfen was about to speak...But Atsuko interrupted, patting her shoulder to get her attention and whispering. ... So there was something special Grandma was doing now...Something the young inventor had failed to notice. How could she have missed it? Every time the match started the matriarch filled her lungs...And every time her opponent made a move she exhaled. Was there something to this trick? Odd...Grandma Aya had not once told the elfen under her charge of any kind of skill involving breathing, but it was clear this was being done deliberately, all in an effort to increase focus and detection.
In that moment the knight wasn't the only one running theories in her mind. Ayami too was hard at work both watching how the elder master worked, and what benefits this technique held, as well as how exactly one achieved it...If it was a family skill then the inventor was bound and determined to not just learn it, but master it!!! It was time to pay attention...She blocked out all outside interference and watched only the two opponents locked in a war of tea cups. If there was something to be learned the water user was going to absorb it like a sponge. Atsuko Tomina
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"Rumia, please. I'm trying to train."
Atsuko
419
POSTS
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18
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Female
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Lesbian
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Saiyan
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579 PL
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5,034z
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109 Dragon Coins
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Albino Saiyan
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Played by Amord
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Administrator
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Post by Atsuko on Feb 5, 2021 1:11:41 GMT
That beautiful counter by Aya told Atsuko everything she needed to know, or just about; something about the way that the old woman was breathing enhanced her ability to react to the subtle shifts in the environment. Right down to sensing the intent of your opponent. The Albino Saiyan had a rough idea of what to do now, but all that remained was actually putting it into practice. Without trying it, it was all just a theory.
And no matter how sound the theory was, it wouldn't help her get through this particular trial. " So, is that it...?" , she mumbled as she tried to make sense of it. Unfortunately no matter how much she wracked her brain, the answer wasn't going to come to her. Still, it wasn't the first time she had to learn by doing; Ki was practically the same way. Information could only help you so much with it before you just had to bite the bullet and try.
This technique seemed to be much of the same. It was because of that reason however, that Atsuko wasn't voicing her thoughts aloud. It was untested and unproven, and she didn't want to set up either Ayami or Tomina for failure if she ended up being wrong. Plus how crazy did it sound anyway? 'Try breathing like she does and maybe you can react like she does.'" This training is pretty interesting." , she finally comments before keeping her focus squarely on the final round that was about to play out for this particular match. Ayami Tomina
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"Interesting. Come at me!"
Tomina
291
POSTS
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18
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Female
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Bisexual
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Hybrid
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445PL
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56,483Z
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208 Dragon Coins
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The Wild Flash Fire
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Played by Nothost
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Senior Member
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Post by Tomina on Feb 5, 2021 1:41:33 GMT
Tomina felt frustration knawing at her as she was splashed again. She knew Aya's general strategy. She liked to capitalize on her mistakes. Tomina had a fondness for throwing people off their game, which usually led to an opening. The problem was, she was restricted to the rules that Aya had set up. If this were normal circumstances, she'd try to bump the table with her knee to throw Aya off her guard. But that would defeat the purpose of the training and Tomina knew it.
Once again, Tomina just stared at the table, trying to think of some kind of strategy. A vein was popping in her forehead. She just couldn't figure out what to do. Although maybe that was the point. Perhaps she wasn't supposed to succeed right now. Which would be its own level of frustration. Finally, Tomina decided to try to go for a few feints, and then aim splash while defending herself. She used her right hand to mount an offensive, trying to move around the cups. Her left hand she kept raised in front of her in an attempt to block whatever came her way. Tomina attempted to move around 4 cups while aiming for another low strike with the 5th switch attempt.
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No experiment is too dangerous! That's science!
Ayami
414
POSTS
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17
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Female
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Robosexual
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Elfen
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971PL
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12,525z
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330 Dragon Coins
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Living Tide
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Played by Ray
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Administrator
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Post by Ayami on Feb 5, 2021 3:14:42 GMT
Tomina began to move quickly, her strategy was...Unexpected. She had begun to wildly shuffle the cups in her attempt at a powerful feint, just as Aya had done in round one. However, rather than freezing up and giving in to panic, the matriarch sat silently, listing to the shuffle of the cups, hearing each clatter and clack as they were removed from the table and replaced. The old woman leaned in closely, her eyes remaining shut as she simply focused on the sounds which rang out. Her movements were still like a gentle river, unshaken like a mountain. One. One cup was moved. Two...Two cups were moved. Then three, and four. And finally...Five. Five wasn't being moved to a different spot, she heard it lift but not lower again! Aya's left hand shot out like lightning and covered the top of the fifth cup Tomina raised, it was the very first sign of life the master had displayed this entire round.
And she wasted no time capitalizing on it, she reached for a cup but then switched to another at the last second!!! But rather than splash the hybrid, Aya moved it and reached for a third cup before pulling another feint! She let it fly without even a moment of hesitance, this one was the real attack. All of this had followed up in the brief second after she had blocked Tomina's own feint. And with this the round came to a close. Aya bowed respectfully to the halfling."You performed spectacularly, don't let frustration cloud your mind. You tried to copy my own strategies, and I see you would have succeeded against even my best students."Aya handed a towel to Tomina, and then stood up from the table, moving to stand in front of all three of them. She cleared her throat, looking between them. Ayami just...Hopped excitedly, grinning like she had solved a puzzle."And now I believe it's time to reveal to all three of you the secret I have kept throughout this entire exercise, and the reason I was able to stay ahead of all of you. Some of you may have already noticed, but if you haven't..."A slow deep breath filled up her lungs, and she held it there, blocking out all outside interference for only a moment. She closed her eyes and listened for the sound of Ayami's shoes thumping as the heels lifted and dropped. When the sound of the elfen's feet lifting reached a certain point, Aya exhaled and immediately swept her cane outwards to knock Ayami off her feet! It happened in an instant and succeeded effortlessly!"W-WHOOA-"Ayami fell back onto her butt with a thud as she impacted the tatami flooring. Instead of reacting with shock, anger, or surprise, she simply gave an excited gasp."You're gonna teach us how to leg sweep?!"The matriarch sighed."No Ayami."Aya composed herself for a moment before continuing to speak."To outsmart all of you I used a skill my family has called "Deep Focus". Even Ayami has yet to learn of this because I felt it wasn't the right time for her to know it. It is the first step to achieving the deeper levels of our family's school of martial arts, but for now you will not be learning those. Instead you will learn Deep Focus, and you will master it."So that was her secret...That was the meaning behind the old woman's actions and why she did what she did. Ayami finally had the missing pieces in this puzzle. She grinned, standing up and brushing the seat of her pants off."So how do we do Deep Focus? I wanna learn so I can follow in your footsteps!"The elderly master smiled a little at those words, shaking her head a little."First you must inhale. Inhale deeply, inhale so that the air fills your entire body, through your torso and into each and every one of your limbs, feel the flow of blood raise as the air improves your circulation...And then hold it. Hold it and block out all other distractions. Focus only on the air around you, and the sounds carried by the air. If you must, you can close your eyes to improve concentration. When you feel the air shift, and hear the sounds of movement...Then you exhale and strike!"This instruction only hyped the inventor up and had her...Rapidly inhaling and exhaling, doing it completely wrong and only causing hyperventilation."SO! ha...How...hah! How do we...hahhhhh...Learn how to do this?!"The old woman walks over to a sliding door and pulls it open, revealing the ponds they had seen earlier when they first arrived."Follow me and I will tell you exactly how. ... And dear?"Ayami grinned, still trying to ...Breath into her limbs."Yeah?"Aya raised her hand to motion for the elfen to cease what she was doing."Stop that. You're going to get dizzy and pass out." Atsuko Tomina
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"Rumia, please. I'm trying to train."
Atsuko
419
POSTS
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18
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Female
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Lesbian
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Saiyan
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579 PL
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5,034z
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109 Dragon Coins
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Albino Saiyan
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Played by Amord
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Administrator
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Post by Atsuko on Feb 5, 2021 3:36:56 GMT
Tomina was trying to adapt to the strategies showcased by Aya, and it certainly wasn't a bad try either. But there was more to it than simple actions taken. Like the matriarch stated, it would be enough to throw anyone else off of their game. But this all but confirmed it; somehow and some way, the old woman was using pure reflex alone to respond to her opponents. Or... That was the Knight's ongoing theory anyway.
Aya ended up explaining a little more about the technique at hand, and started with a live demonstration on Ayami. That movement was so fast that Atsuko couldn't even track it! " Hm?!" , she was able to keep track of Aya's power, but it only helped her to see the aftermath, with the Elfen's legs being swept out before Ayami was simply sent crashing to the floor.
... The Mechanic asked if it was a leg sweep that they were going to be learning. " How would a leg sweep apply to the training we were just doing...?" , she comments and then sighs a little. Still, Ayami's heart was in the right place. She was eager to learn.
And they would be learning about an impressive ability called Deep Focus. Atsuko listened intently as the master began explaining how to perform this technique. She gives a calm nod out of understanding once the speech is finished... Ayami seems to be a little TOO eager to try and learn this, though. She was just hyperventilating instead of taking deliberate breaths that would help her concentration.
The Saiyan follows along as Aya begins to take them to a new area, presumably to practice this very technique. Along the way, the matriarch also tells Ayami to stop breathing like that. " Haha... You can't fault her for how eager she is, I suppose." Still, she was definitely ready to start practicing Deep Focus. To that end, she used the brief pause in everyone moving from the room to the outside to take a deep breath, and close her eyes. From there she tried to enhance her senses as deeply as possible.
Going into this, she didn't expect to be able to do anything with it until she had tried and failed plenty of times... But she was just trying to 'feel' when one of the others started moving. Ayami Tomina
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"Interesting. Come at me!"
Tomina
291
POSTS
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18
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Female
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Bisexual
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Hybrid
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445PL
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56,483Z
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208 Dragon Coins
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The Wild Flash Fire
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Played by Nothost
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Senior Member
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Post by Tomina on Feb 5, 2021 4:12:16 GMT
She really had tried everything she could think of. But in the end all that she ended up with was a wet face. She begrudgingly accepted the towel from Aya, wiping off her face the best she could. She listened to Aya as she did so. She looked at the old woman with surprise at her praise.
“Er… thanks.”
She had tried adding a curveball to the technique. But it hadn’t been enough. What surprised her though was that she received higher praise than even Atsuko. They both ended up being splashed though, and Atsuko had used her own unique strategies each time. Was that praise warranted? Well, she wasn’t going to argue it. She walked back over to Ayami and Atsuko, then turned to look at the old woman.
To her surprise, Tomina learned that the breathing itself was the secret to Aya’s dominant performance over all of them. Which caught her off guard. She had noticed her close her eyes and focus. But Tomina thought she was doing something entirely different. She chuckled at Ayami’s shenanigans.
“Sometimes enthusiasm is all you need sis.”
Tomina followed Aya. After a minute she brought up something that was nagging at her. “Aya… sensei? Does breathing really do all of that? I really thought you predicted my movements by sensing my Ki. My best friend at the orphanage I was at could do that. She called it “sensing the flow.” I could almost never hit her when we sparred. is this deep breathing an offshoot of that?”
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No experiment is too dangerous! That's science!
Ayami
414
POSTS
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17
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Female
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Robosexual
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Elfen
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971PL
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12,525z
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330 Dragon Coins
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Living Tide
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Played by Ray
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Administrator
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Post by Ayami on Feb 5, 2021 19:42:52 GMT
Ayami grinned excitedly as her breathing finally slowed back down to normal, she gave the other two a nod."Never doubt the ingenuity of experimentation 'Suko!!"The firey half-saiyan had a question, one that was quite fair, and allowed the master to impart some more information to the trio. The matriarch stopped dead in her tracks, looking back at all three of them and speaking calmly."It's not just a matter of simply breathing. Deep Focus is controlling one's breathing in order to heighten the natural senses. In that essence breathing is simply a step involved in activating Deep Focus. Think of it like...A fighting stance. Certainly you can throw a punch from an idle stance, but if your body is aligned correctly first that punch will carry far greater strength. Deep Focus carries the same concept. It isn't just breathing. It's breathing in a certain way to achieve greater power. It is...Advanced Breathing, I suppose."The old woman shakes her head in response to what Tomina said regarding ki, and she continues walking out towards the pond."No, Deep Focus is entirely different, although...Similar in concept. With Deep Focus you do not sense someone's natural energies to try and predict their movements. ... You sense the air around them. Ki can be concealed, and in turn conceal someone's intent."Aya lowered her ki down to almost untraceable levels in order to prove a point, she then immediately pivoted on her right foot, turning to swing her cane at Tomina. She stopped mere inches from striking the hybrid. Although it was clear hitting Tomina wasn't the goal at all. - It was pointing out that by hiding your ki you could hide the natural telegraphing that came with attacking."But by sensing the flow of the air around your opponent, they can NEVER hide their movements. The very nature of the world around them will always betray their plans. By the time you've mastered Deep Focus you'll be able to tell when they're moving, how quickly, and the angle at which they intend to strike."Aya withdrew her cane, returning it to her side and resuming the slow walk.The young inventor balled her left hand into a fist and smacked it against her right hand's open palm, signifying that the idea struck her."I get it! That's how you sensed Tomina was trying to tip the cups over right? Wow!!! You can tell all that just from the way her arm moves the air?"Aya gave her grand daughter a firm nod, continuing to speak."But sensing is only half of what Deep Focus allows. Deep Focus also boosts your body's circulation ten fold, allowing for physical feats that would likely be considered supernatural to the unprepared mind. It is just a short burst, but by mastering Deep Focus you'll slowly reach a point where you can release those "Short bursts" more consistently. My father and our ancestors were able to use Deep Focus without ever releasing it, and I myself am on the verge of reaching this level of control. One day you three will reach that point as well."The water elfen was only becoming more and more excited by the prospect! She shook her fists up and down rapidly, eager to get into learning this skill right away."Great Grandpa knew how to do it constantly?! Even when he was sleeping?! That's rad!!! I'm gonna reach his level then, just watch me!"The matriarch laughed softly, shaking her head."Ever the eager young sprout aren't you? Well, before you can master it you have to achieve it first. Or in terms that are easier to understand...You have to learn to walk before you can run."Finally they reached the pond, and the elderly master stood next to it, pointing at it with her cane.The master reached into her pocket and extracted three blindfolds, handing them to each of the girls."Take a seat on one of the stones, and then put on your blindfold. From there I will explain what this exercise entails, and just how it will teach you the beginning steps of Deep Focus."Ayami excitedly hopped across the stones over to her "favorite stone" as if she were playing a game of hopscotch on a playground..."Dibs!"She then sat down on the stone, assuming a crossed leg sitting posture. She rested her arms on her lap, watching her grandmother for only a moment before she placed the blindfold over her eyes, tying it tightly in the back to ensure none of the outside world leaked in through any gaps. Aya and Ayami both waited for the other two to get into their proper spots and assume their own sitting postures. With that done Aya would begin to speak once more, stepping over to a gong that had been placed near the pond underneath a gazebo."I want you to attempt the steps I informed you all of, I want you to try to reach Deep Focus. It won't come to you immediately, but don't become frustrated by it. Simply close your eyes and enter a meditative state. Block out outside interference. While you attempt to access Deep Focus I will be striking each of you from random angles and directions. Since you are blindfolded you MUST rely on all other senses to stop it. Don't even think about using ki sensing, my natural energies have been concealed.
If you manage to access Deep Focus you will be able to sense the air around my movements and act accordingly to block my strikes. At least...In theory. This exercise is a balance of focus and sensing. My strikes act to break your focus, but you must persevere through to achieve the right mental balance to reach your true potentials. The exercise will begin once I've sounded this gong. Steel your bodies...Let go of reality. Fall into the void and you will reach your goal."With her last bit of wisdom imparted on the trio the old woman waited only a few seconds to allow the three of them a "grace period" to prepare their minds...And then taking hold of her cane's grip tightly, Aya swings the end of the cane into the gong, causing the sounds to echo out across the entire yard. All of this to signify that the first steps to Deep Focus were beginning now. Atsuko Tomina
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"Rumia, please. I'm trying to train."
Atsuko
419
POSTS
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18
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Female
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Lesbian
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Saiyan
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579 PL
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5,034z
|
109 Dragon Coins
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Albino Saiyan
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Played by Amord
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Administrator
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Post by Atsuko on Feb 5, 2021 20:42:30 GMT
Predictably, Atsuko was nowhere near the level necessary to be able to replicate the Technique on a whim like she was trying to. She could certainly hear everyone talking; but sensing their intent and their movements was another matter entirely. Eventually, the Knight relents for now and resumes breathing normally. She opens her eyes, and listens as Aya explains how Deep Focus works. About as expected, it was more than just taking a deep breath and hoping for the best." I've heard of some stories like this. It's often described as "killing intent." Although it appears that this goes beyond sensing even that kind of feeling from someone else..." , the Saiyan commented. The master then demonstrates her point by very nearly striking Tomina all while keeping her power suppressed. Of course, the Hybrid wasn't hit. But it showcased the point excellently; this wasn't just a matter of Ki Sensing. That could certainly serve as an advance warning.
But what about those actions that weren't necessarily heavy on Ki? Deep Focus seemed to be the answer to that kind of question. Naturally however, that was only one part of the puzzle. As this state allowed one to move and act with much greater physical capability than before. Undoubtedly this would prove advantageous in a battle, especially if you needed to be stealthy... Not that Atsuko favored the idea of having to strike her opponents silently, but it was an option.
Sometimes you had to keep an open mind for battle. If it meant keeping people safe, that power being used in that way would be worth it. But now, it was time to actually put all of this into practice; they would need to learn how to even access the state at all before they could move onto mastering it and using it practically. When the old woman produces three blindfolds, the meaning becomes clear. The Knight accepts one of the blindfolds and makes her way on top of one of the stones as instructed.
She sits down with crossed legs, and then begins to tie the blindfold to herself. The master then begins to explain the exact purpose behind this exercise... So they had to enter a meditative state and keep that focus, while attacks were headed towards them. More than just that, though. The goal was to eventually defend themselves." You said that we are to stop your attacks, I assume that means we must do so while remaining seated on the stones? So our movements will have to be very controlled in order to succeed..." , the Saiyan inquires.
Whether she was answered or not, she would then begin to slow her breathing as she enters a meditative state. This was the easy part for her; meditation was something she did daily. Most often after training, and especially after a battle. She considered it important in order to reflect on her progress, and remain aware of her standing. In this case however, she wasn't even focusing on that.
The point of this exercise was to just give yourself over to a 'flow'. As if awakening yourself to the atmosphere around you. When the gong is sounded, Atsuko takes a long, deep inhale... And then she waits. Ayami Tomina
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"Interesting. Come at me!"
Tomina
291
POSTS
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18
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Female
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Bisexual
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Hybrid
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445PL
|
56,483Z
|
208 Dragon Coins
|
The Wild Flash Fire
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Played by Nothost
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Senior Member
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Post by Tomina on Feb 5, 2021 21:37:56 GMT
Tomina scratched her head, looking at Aya with confusion. “So it’s different? But isn’t it hard for you to suppress your ki in the middle of a fight? And how can breathing allow you to sense the air around people?”
It seemed strange to Tomina that breathing could do all of that. But she wasn’t going to question someone with years of experience in technique. And yet it was hard for her to accept for some reason. The more Aya described its capabilities, the more unbelievable it seemed to Tomina. Ki involved using inner energy to accomplish tasks. So how could breathing make that big a difference?
Tomina froze when they got to the pond. Her face pale as Aya told her what she was going to have to do. Of all the things she would have to do with training, it had to be water. Tomina had prepared herself for harshness in this training. This was not what she had been expecting. She gulped, then took a blindfold from Aya. She made her way onto the stone that was closest to her and sat down as instructed. Then put on the blindfold.
When Aya struck the gong, Tomina took a deep breath and tried to clear her mind. She was not going to think about panicking and possibly losing her powers. She was not going to think about how she couldn’t swim. She was not going to think about doing an exercise where she was going to have to take attacks without fighting back. And she certainly wasn’t going to think about what happened at the orphanage fear and frustration got the better of her.
Wait, if she wasn’t thinking about it, why were all these thoughts swirling around in her head? Tomina noticeably tensed up. No, no she definitely wasn’t thinking about them. How could she be?
“Clear mind… clear mind… if you keep your cool you won’t fall into the water. And won’t have to worry about not being able to swim. Shit! Come on Tomina!”
Unfortunately, her mental process was stuck in a loop. It kept on circling back to her own insecurities. Deep down she knew that this was going to be a harsh session for her.
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No experiment is too dangerous! That's science!
Ayami
414
POSTS
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17
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Female
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Robosexual
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Elfen
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971PL
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12,525z
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330 Dragon Coins
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Living Tide
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Played by Ray
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Administrator
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Post by Ayami on Feb 6, 2021 0:39:53 GMT
Ayami grins, her eyes concealed by the blindfold as she hears Atsuko speak. She couldn't resist commenting on it."Killing Intent"? I think I felt that one time when I didn't do the chores Gramma asked me to."Aya furrows her brow, interrupting the water elfen."Ayami, Shh."The matriarch stopped her grand daughter from speaking, and before she began to act, Aya answered Atsuko's question, simply to make it clear to all three of them what was required of them. She would humor the albino saiyan on this much at least."That is correct. You must act with complete control. As for you Tomina...That is something I cannot explain through words alone. You will know when you finally achieve Deep Focus."That was the last thing Aya said as she then entered complete silence. The trio would be left to wonder in silence just what exactly was happening next. ... Provided they weren't focusing in any case. Atsuko was the first target. The old woman leapt out flying above Atsuko and swinging her cane downwards as she passed, aiming a strike right at the albino saiyan's right shoulder. With the strike launched out Aya landed on the other side of the pond safely, turning to look at the result before setting her sights elsewhere...Tomina. The fire wielding hybrid. She had a lot of problems underneath that tough exterior. The matriarch didn't know the details, but she could tell that well of trauma ran deep. She already knew that training Tomina to use Deep Focus would take a miracle...But she wasn't going to fail her students. She hadn't before and she didn't intend to now.Another launch forward as Aya aimed herself towards Tomina. The old woman arched her cane back behind her and performed a spinning strike towards the half blood's side, spinning like a wild corkscrew. With her attack launched she continues to fly across the pond and land on the other side, once again turning to look at the results. Without wasting any time at all she launched out for a second attack on the hybrid, this time aiming a strike at the side of her face, once more landing on the other side regardless of whether or not the attack connects. Her very next target was her own granddaughter, she drew the cane back behind her and slid one foot behind her...Inside Ayami's mind the elfen had dropped into a self-imposed "void"...It was all dark around her. Total darkness. She tried to empty her mind...Empty out everything. She had thrown away her hearing, her sight, her sense of smell...
"C'mon...C'mon...Focus on your breathing...Focus only on breathing!"
She took slow...Deep breaths, trying to fill her lungs up as much as physically possible. "Breathe into all of your limbs..." that was what Gramma had told the trio. But no matter how much Ayami tried she didn't feel "air in her limbs" like had been described. Her eyebrows lowered into a troubled expression...She put all of her effort into this. All at once, the black void flashed red! A sharp pain at the inventor's side! She had been struck by her grandmother. The void started to disappear as she was about to lose her "meditative state"...
"No! No not yet!!!"
She grit her teeth, focusing harder as the inky void returned to her mind. She knew if she wanted to learn Deep Focus she had to look past the pain, she had to learn to let that pain roll off of her like rain on an umbrella. This wasn't just a matter of "I want to learn"...It was a matter of "I HAVE to learn."
"The people of Penguin Village need me to do this! I can't watch them suffer!"
Aya stood on the shoreline once more, having just struck Ayami. She called out to the three in a calm voice."Imagine a balloon filling with air. You must fill the balloon to it's breaking point, but without popping."The water elfen grit her teeth harder as an imaginary image of Penguin village burning filled the empty void in her mind. It only held to remind her of what failure would mean if she couldn't learn Deep Focus...
"I can't accept this!!!" OOC Note: Speech in italics denotes inner thought. Atsuko Tomina
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"Rumia, please. I'm trying to train."
Atsuko
419
POSTS
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18
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Female
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Lesbian
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Saiyan
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579 PL
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5,034z
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109 Dragon Coins
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Albino Saiyan
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Played by Amord
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Administrator
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Post by Atsuko on Feb 6, 2021 1:04:35 GMT
Entering a meditative state was the easiest part of this whole exercise for Atsuko. The only thing she paid attention to was her breathing. Things had fallen silent aside from a few ambient sounds. This only aided her in her endeavors to focus. The light breeze, the trickling of water. It was very peaceful here, and perhaps unintentionally, that allowed her to focus on her surroundings even without her sight, or the use of Ki Sense.
It's not as though she could map out everything around her. But it let her notice the subtle shifts... Most importantly, the not-so-subtle ones. Evidently Atsuko had become the first target, and she could hear the wind suddenly intensify, as if someone was moving with great speed right at her. The Saiyan reacted by leaning to the left, making sure to keep her balance as well as she could. This proved difficult, especially when trying to react to something she couldn't see, but she KNEW it was fast.
She manages to avoid the full brunt of the attack, but the cane does glance her arm and her side due to the downward arc. The Knight takes a single sharp breath from the suddenness of the pain, but soon regains control over her breathing. Atsuko redoubled her efforts to enter her collected meditative state once more. One way or another, she had to be able to hone her senses. If she was the first target, then the other two would be next.
So she needed to focus on how the environment changed as Aya attacked. She was not the target now, but perhaps she could still feel those errant changes even when they were aimed at another. It ends up working, as she is able to focus on what can only be described as a great whirling. It crossed from one side to the other, and then came back around, far less 'chaotic' this time, a single strike?
Just as suddenly as before, another rush to the senses. Cloth billowing in the wind, a blunt instrument whirring through the air. Finally, she hears the words of the master once more. The Saiyan begins to take the instructions to heart, now imagining a balloon filling with air. Coming so dangerously close to popping, but... It held.
She resolved only to think of this. Allowing her mind to wander at this critical juncture would lead to immediate failure. Ayami Tomina
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"Interesting. Come at me!"
Tomina
291
POSTS
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18
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Female
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Bisexual
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Hybrid
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445PL
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56,483Z
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208 Dragon Coins
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The Wild Flash Fire
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Played by Nothost
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Senior Member
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Post by Tomina on Feb 6, 2021 1:26:42 GMT
Tomina let out a grunt as she felt the cane slam into her side. It almost knocked the wind out of her, but she managed to keep her balance. She tried once again to breath deeply. But the swirling thoughts in her head just wouldn’t go away. She let out a cry as the cane smacked her face. Tomina toppled off the rock and landed face-first in the pond.
She scrambled to her feet as fast as she could, letting out a gasp for air. She didn’t throw in the towel though. She once again sat down and tried to clear her mind. She closed her eyes, her brow furrowing. Although now it was even harder to do it. In addition to everything out, she was now dripping wet. Her clothing clung tightly to her skin, and her long hair was now stuck to her back, due to how heavy it had become.
"Balloon, Fill like a balloon. I'm filling it like a hot air balloon. The flames are carrying it higher. The flames..." A blazing fire filled her mind. Screams rang in her ears. Tomina's body trembled. Faint traces of smoke began to rise from her. Embers began to form around her and fall into the water. Aya likely didn't realize that she had picked one of the worst analogies she could have possibly used. Making Tomina think of fire inevitably made her think of the most significant one of her life: the one she started that consumed her orphanage.
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