Garden Of The Abyss

Chapter 53 - Next Level

"Don't look too excited. She's been out on a special quest for a few months, but she's finally back, I got her in on this last night! Actually, I think I hear her coming now."

Sora turned to face the sudden rustling of the foliage behind him.

--"She"?

The weight of each footstep rumbled the ground, shaking the limbs of the surrounding trees as birds fled through the sky. Just from the sheer weight of each step, he feared what this new mentor might be like--a total giant was all he could expect. He waited in anticipation, feeling his skin cave into his own fear as sweat left his pores.

"Yo~!"

A slightly rough but unmistakable female voice called out as the figure became visible, pushing past the maze of green. She was fairly tall, definitely a head taller than him, but still shorter than Sora by a bit. The first thing he noticed was her physique--it would've left even the greek gods ashamed of themselves, he clearly counted six, well-defined abs chiselled onto her stomach. She was a booming presence in her own right, especially with her bright, white smile--but there was no way her footsteps should've been that loud.

"Ren, meet Brahmi! Believe it or not, she was a professional MMA fighter in the U.S--that kind of makes the two of us kindred spirits, huh?"

"I believe it, one-hundred-percent."

Ren said with a deadpan expression, there wasn't a doubt in his mind about her being a fighter.

"So this is our guy?"

Brahmi walked over to Ren with her hands against her sturdy sides. She circled him, inspecting every inch of his body, which luckily for him, was clothed. The female brawler made him hold his arms up as she squeezed each bicep, causing him to blush like a shy schoolgirl--trying his best not to let out any weird noises.

"Not bad, not bad, looks like you've already given him a good base, Sora."

Brahmi smiled, patting the boy's shoulder. Each time she lowered her hand against his shoulder, he felt the force reverberate through his body as if being struck gently by a hammer. Now that she was so close though--he got a good look at her. For being a professional fighter, there was barely a blemish to be seen on her. She had slightly curly brunette hair that cascaded her back like curls of a royal carpet, her bangs veiled her forehead, emitting the natural aroma of flowers—it seemed so meticulous, yet it was obviously her natural style. Her watchful, pale green irises, reminiscent of the morning dew that carried the beginning of days, were somehow both gentle and fierce, watching him as if studying his nature.

"Looks like you've got an eye for true beauty, kid," Brahmi said jokingly, noticing his watchful gaze, "being a skilled fighter like me, I managed to avoid getting any permanent damage to my holy mantle here."

As natural as her beauty may be, she was an intimidating presence to be near. He had trouble enough speaking to girls as awkward as himself--so a woman who exudes this much pure confidence was a different beast entirely.

Watching as she marched side to side with her minimal outfit in the form of black combat shorts that made movement come easy, he could only wonder what she had in store.

"Well, I'll leave him to you. I've got something I've got to attend to, so I'll be back later--try not to break him."

He watched in horror as Sora walked away, waving his hand before disappearing into the treeline. Alone, face to face with the newly acquainted Outlander, he stood in silence.

"Come on, kid, I'm not going to bite."

"I...okay."

Ren let out a small breath, frankly he was too nervous to put up any sort of objection, complying with the whims of his new mentor.

"Let's get this thing started then! Show me a jab," Brahmi smiled brightly, oozing with enthusiasm.

He had never been in an actual fight throughout his entire life, but he had at least thrown some punches after watching them be performed through media. At the very least, he didn't have exactly zero experience. He brought both of his fists up, just in front of his jaw before sending his right fist through the brisk air.

"Ya' got the rough idea down, kid, but that wouldn't hurt a fly!"

"Eh?"

"Here, watch me--I'll show ya'!" She adjusted herself, getting into her stance swiftly as if it was as natural as breathing for her. As soon as she raised her fists, the look in her eyes shifted completely, losing all frivolity as if she was honing in on prey.

"Hya!"

As her fist extended forward, the air hissed as if her jab had sliced it apart--moving fast enough that it looked as if her fist had never moved forward in the first place.

"So fast…"

"Did ya' get that? Try following what I did," Brahmi placed her hands on her hips.

Amazing as it was, as a total newbie, he wasn't able to notice the subtleties in her own stance--only taking notice of her remarkable speed and power.

"...Alright," He nodded his head.

The moment he got into his stance, she intervened--swiping his foot out from underneath him, causing him to nearly fall over.

"What was that for--?"

"Your footing is totally off!"

He looked down at his two feet, planted down firmly against the soil below. Nothing seemed wrong with the way he was standing to him, both of his feet were facing forward naturally.

"That type of stance will only make it harder to avoid an aggressive opponent, it really only works if you're confident in your own aggressive power--which you aren't. Keep your left slightly turned and your right facing shifted outwards."

"Right...okay, I think I've got it."

He muttered as he shifted his footing, finding the right placement as if fitting a piece into a jigsaw puzzle.

"One more thing--you're far too rigid. You're standing there like a statue, bend your knees a little."

"Alright...like this?"

"Exactly! Now show me that jab!"

Once more, he launched his bawled fist through the air. It was easy even for him to feel the difference in power and speed this new stance granted him, feeling as if every muscle in his body worked in tandem to throw that singular jab.

"That was much better! Now give me one-hundred more of those!"

"Yes, teacher!"

When you struggle to grasp a concept, being forced to learn it, to study and ingrain it into your body, can be an excruciating process. However--the opposite also held true. It felt as if every jab he threw, he grew that much more.