Episode 13: Practice Makes Perfect: Part 2

Punch!

Kick!

Sweep!

Jump!

Breathe!

Repeat!

Ven is drenched in sweat, and his legs feel like they are on fire. For the past two weeks, he has been repeating this same routine with Enishi every day for hours on end.

When he isn't punching, kicking, sweeping, jumping, or breathing, he is meditating.

His breath control has improved significantly, even though he has yet to create a flame from his body. The Ranking Ceremony is only two months away, giving Ven enough time to learn how to control his ability.

At least, that is what Enishi hopes.

“Break. Time to meditate,” Enishi orders, signaling for Ven to stop.

The two are training beside Lake Nyr, which stretches north and south through the Meridian Forest. It is also the infamous lake where Kia nearly killed Enishi for making fun of her.

“Whew!” Ven exhales, wiping the sweat from his brow.

He sits down beside Enishi and closes his eyes, entering his meditation stance.

“How do you feel?” Enishi asks.

“Good. Honestly, the exercises feel easy now.”

“That’s good. Now breathe. You know the drill.”

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

The two sit in silence for nearly thirty minutes, listening only to the gentle sounds of the lake.

“That’s enough for today,” Enishi says, standing and brushing dirt from his pants. “We’ll continue tomorrow.”

“Same exercises tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

Ven sighs. “Enishi....Show me.”

“You've had enough breathing and jumping?”

“Yes.”

“Wrong answer.”

Ven immediately stands and snarls. “Enishi, why are you stalling?! The ceremony is in two months and I still haven’t even created a flame! How much longer are you going to drag this out? I’m sure Lox has already mastered four new techniques by now!”

“I do not care. You are not Lox.”

Ven clenches his fists. “I could be if you would actually train me!”

Enishi laughs. “You think I’m not training you?” He shakes his head. “Fine. You want to play with fire? Fine.”

Suddenly, flames engulf Enishi’s body. Ven immediately takes a step back.

Enishi raises his right palm, forming a small ball of fire about the size of a baseball. “Hold this.”

Ven’s eyes widen. “Wait, what?”

Enishi throws the fireball.

“AGH!” Ven rolls out of the way just before the flames hit him. “What the hell is wrong with you?!”

Before he can finish speaking, another fireball flies toward him.

Then another.

Then another.

Ven ducks, jumps, and twists his body, barely avoiding each attack. “Enishi! Stop!”

“I thought you wanted to play with fire!” Enishi teases.

“How am I supposed to catch any of these?!”

“By sticking your hand out!”

Enishi forms another fireball, but this one is different.

He charges it.

The flames grow larger and larger.

Ven slowly backs away.

“Enishi...” He looks at the massive flame. “That thing is the size of a soccer ball!”

“I don't know what that is,” Enishi replies. “Catch this and I will.”

Ven's eyes widen.

“Here it comes.”

Enishi throws the fireball.

The force behind it is so powerful that Ven swears he feels the ground shake.

His instincts take over.

Kia's voice echoes in his mind.

"You are a pillar. When you defend, you plant your feet and hold your ground. No matter what."

Ven plants his feet and raises his arms, just how Kia taught him.

One hand protects his face.

The other prepares to strike.

The heat from the incoming flame turns his vision red.

Wait for the right moment.

Then strike.

NOW.

Ven screams as he thrusts his hand forward and catches the flame.

The moment his hand connects, everything goes silent.

Enishi tilts his head.

The massive fireball slowly shrinks.

Until all that remains is a small ember resting calmly in Ven’s palm.

“YES!” Ven jumps up excitedly. “I DID IT!”

He tosses the flame between his hands, amazed.

Enishi claps. “Not bad, kid. I guess you were more ready than I thought.”

Ven grins. “See? I told you I was ready.”

“Now throw it back.”

Ven’s smile quickly disappears. “...How?”

“Breathe.” Enishi steps closer.

“Imagine that you are the flame. Control it. Regulate your temperature. Slowly raise your body heat until the flame responds to you. The difficult part comes when you release it. Air feeds fire. If you give it too much energy, it will grow beyond your control.” Enishi looks at the ember. “The more you practice, the easier it becomes.”

Ven nods in understanding.

“Now try.”

Ven takes a deep breath. He focuses on the flame. Slowly, his body temperature rises and the ember grows.

“Good,” Enishi praises. “Nice and controlled.”

The flame grows larger.

“Keep going.”

Ven increases the heat.

The flame becomes the size of a soccer ball.

“Okay. That's enough.” Enishi takes a step back. “Throw it.”

Ven nods. “Here goes!”

He pulls his arm back and launches the flame. But at the last second, he pushes more power into it.

The flame grows.

And grows.

Until it becomes the size of an exercise ball.

“Oh.” Enishi's eyes widen.

Ven freezes. “...Oh?”

Enishi stares at the incoming fireball.

“Oh shit.”

“Enishi!”

The flame struck Enishi.

A deafening explosion shook the area, sending smoke and dirt billowing into the air.

“ENISHI!”

Ven sprinted through the cloud of smoke, coughing as he searched frantically through the haze.

“Are you okay?!”

A voice answered from somewhere within the smoke.

“I’m just peachy.”

Ven froze.

As the smoke slowly cleared, Enishi came into view. He sat on the ground, completely covered in soot. His hair was a wild, disheveled mess, and his face was twisted into an expression of pure annoyance.

Ven stared at him.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then he burst out laughing.

Hard.

“That was not funny,” Enishi muttered, spitting a bit of dirt from his mouth.

Ven only laughed harder.

To Ven’s surprise, Enishi didn’t seem particularly bothered. In fact, there was the faintest hint of amusement in his expression.

“That’s enough for today.”

Ven wiped the tears from his eyes, still struggling to catch his breath. “Worth it.”

Enishi let out a long, weary sigh. “Children.”