The Musafir
Training for Kana
KANA SHRUGGED her shoulders. “I read a lot of literature while in the horse-drawn carriage. Then I guess, it would be more polite to call Kakanda this name. Is Kakanda holding me back who just went to bed just to ask this?”
The mantle shook slowly. “Not. I'd like to take you to practice for tonight, but I don't know if you or not.”
Kana's eyes suddenly widened. His body rose quickly from his bed. “Yes! I have been waiting for you to train me for a long time! Let alone early night like this, midnight I am willing. Come, come.”
“Good.” Mantingan stood up from the bed as well. He walked to the window before opening it. Letting the dry wind of the night bring the cold of the dry season into the inn room.
Kana gulped her saliva when she saw the darkness of the forest outside the window. With a terrified look on her face, Kana asked Mantingan, “Kakanda .. You didn't mean to...”
“I think this room is too narrow to practice martial arts. So, we should try it outside.”
“Kakanda, it's already night. What if we run into some rogues out there? Isn't that going—”
Cana had not yet finished her words, Mantingan suddenly pulled her out the window, flashing towards the forest. Kana screamed loudly even though her voice was just a faint sound. Brought wind.
Mantingan stopped at a large hilltop. After making sure there was no sign of danger around her, Mantingan lowered Kana from her sling. The boy shivered violently, either due to the cold night air or precisely by his own fears.
“Kakanda, this place is too pitch. I can't see anything other than the storm!” Kana screamed half hysterically.
“You do not make excuses, the full moon is clearly hanging in the sky.”
Mantingan pointed at the full moon that was emitting a silvery radiance above the sky. Kana gulped back her saliva.
“Kakanda, you have sinned by taking me into the forest like this. What if we are sought by a group? Or, what if the group suddenly needs us?”
Mantingan turned to point in a direction far below the hill. The ones he pointed at were points of light among the dark sea of the forest. “You are again making excuses, our distance with lodging is not too far. If something happens to the entourage, we can easily realize it and get there in a matter of fingers.”
Kana's getting restless. Although the pitch of night was not very clear, for the full moon was emitting its beautiful silvery light, but Cana still felt herself covered in darkness among the threatening distress.
The mantan did not understand the way the boy thought. He felt that this night was very beautiful, especially they were on top of a high hill so they could enjoy it even more. However, Kana actually responded with excessive fear. The mantan felt the need to change the attitude of the boy, who from fear to courage.
“We just go home, Kakanda, I forgot not to bring the sword....”
“No need to worry.” The mantel held out a long flat object to Kana. “This, I brought your sword.”
Mantingan had indeed had a breath of Kana's sword before she flashed out the window. He knew that Cana would have reasoned that his sword was left behind, but in the course of training, using a stick instead of a sword was not a problem.
“Are you still scared, Kana?” The man asked casually.
“No, I guess it's not.” Kana answered with a lie, obviously he was still scared half to death.
“Now, look around. What do you see?” The mantel asked.
Swallowing her fear, Kana replied, “I only saw the shadow-covered trunks of trees, Kakanda.”
“And tell me honestly, what did you think while looking at that?”
Kana was silent for a moment. Does he have to be frank that he imagines a subtle creature hiding behind a tree trunk? Does Mantingan, the warrior he used as a guide, have to listen to his fears?
In the end, Kana chose to be straightforward. No matter what the Mantingan will consider it like, after all that is the reality. “I imagine the subtle creatures behind the big tree trunks there. Or the night animal that was foraging, or the existence of the magic swordsman who did not want to be disturbed at all, or something like that I mentioned. This is my honesty, kakanda. All I'm saying, is reality.”
Mantingan nodded his head several times before saying, “Good if you can admit it. You have accepted all the shortcomings. I'm putting a little bit of pride in you. But right now, you are nothing more than a weak and frightened honest boy.”
Kana's face turned bad. He had not expected before that Mantingan would bring out words that hurt his feelings.
“I intend to turn your fear into courage, your weakness into strength, but not necessarily turn humility into pride. But that's what I'll do if you agree.”
Kana could sense that Mantingan was not playing around with his words. The young man seemed to be sincerely wanting to change Kana's vices, without expecting anything from her. So Cana's chest was filled with excitement.
“I obviously agree, Kakanda! Teach me the knowledge you have, I will obey under the guidance of you!”
The mantang shook his head slowly. “It is wrong if you consider myself so tall. The science I have learned is not mine, even though I made it. It was Gusti's possession. Maybe you think this is just nonsense from ignorant people, but you will realize it yourself someday.”
“I was wrong!” Kana said based on her sincerity. “I'm sorry, I don't think your words are just nonsense. You're not a fool, I know you have a lot of knowledge. Then share a little with me.”
The wide smiling coat. “Your words are almost right.”
Kana gulped her saliva, feeling in vain had studied many literary works. In front of the much more clever Manten, he could not wrinkle.
“This time, I'll teach you a little bit about swordsmanship. Forgive me, maybe I can't teach you another science until we're apart. For in order to protect yourself and China, you must at least master the knowledge of the sword. For other sciences, you can learn them after arriving at Champa.”
Kana nodded her head and said steadily, “Because maybe we will never see each other again, I will study the knowledge that I will give you in earnest. Now, give me that knowledge.”
