Chapter 15: Training the Giaths
It was the early rays of a Monday morning, soft heat kissed upon the skin of the red-haired villagers who were up early doing good work, fixing up holes and fortifying weak sheds and houses, laying brick paths to connect all sides of the land together. The villagers worked effectively for they had more energy now than the average, given that Mineral Qi flowed through their Meridians due to the infused food they ate.
Far away toward the north gate which separated the Giath Sect from the Ploughing Sect, the young Guard watched earnestly, tired from waking up in the morning and simply bored out of his mind at the profound lack of things to do. “Guess I am a professional people-watcher now, all I ever do under the instruction of elder Guard, is Watch the Giaths. That said, they seem to be improving, they look less skinny from this distance, perhaps I am just seeing things, the Giaths I spoke to yesterday were rather chirpy and looked stronger, less emaciated – am I really seeing things? I become more suspicious the more I watch them operate. Somethings going on, that’s for sure!”
Whilst the young Guard at the north spied upon the Giaths, the Giaths, busy like ants, continued with their tasks, but not all Giaths were working today. Toward the South were the many hills that eventually lead to the Greater and Grand housing, there was a secret event going on in these hills. Training!
Tar, among many of the men of the village, including Ge were listening to Zar closely as he educated on the knowledge he received from the book, Lee was slightly less interested...
“Sure is nice up here, good view of the Southern Region of the Lesser Lands.” Pondered Lee outloud to Ge who was sitting right next to him.
“SHHH! I am listening to Brother Zar!” Whispered Ge in reply.
“He’s just speaking nonsense; you don’t believe that stuff, do you?” Lee whispered back.
“Of course I do! If not for Mineral Qi, do you think those potatoes you so love would be capable of growing to the degree they did?”
“What if it was just the luck of nature? Hmm?” Replied Lee.
“Nature does not create miracles; only does it preserve balance...” Replied Ge wisely.
“Well, I have to see it to believe it!” Replied Lee turning to listen to Grand Elder Zar but only in an aloof manner.
Zar hearing some muttering looked toward the location of its occurrence, his hearing now a little better than usual, he managed to grasp the gist of what Lee was sceptical about.
“Perhaps some of you are sceptical about this Qi business, you have the right to be, I am already thankful that as many of you showed up for today's training. Seemingly, most if not all of the men of the village are here, and Greater Mai is too – the only woman. I may eventually task you, Mai, with the teaching of the women of this village, what say you Dear Sister?”
“Yes, yes, fine by me. I am simply happy to be here, I have observed the miracles of Mineral Qi, and I am curious enough that I wish to learn it!”
“Good, good!” Continued Zar. “Now, as I was saying, perhaps some of you are sceptical of Mineral Qi, it may interest you that beyond our province, Qi is a great and valuable mystery - in my conversations with Po, the old trader I mentioned some few days ago, he elucidated my ignorance, telling me that if anyone knew the secrets of Qi, they could become extremely wealthy and respected. By me teaching you this art, not only will you possess greater abilities, you also must pledge secrecy to never reveal it to anyone if you adventure beyond our small and humble sect. Yes?” Zar asked, awaiting confirmation from his small audience.
“YES!” Replied the men, Tar the loudest, Lee the quietest.
“Lee, come up here - I will do a demonstration of Mineral Qi on you...” Lee, hearing this looked at Zar in a perplexed manner, thinking that Zar was about to make a fool of himself since Lee would not pander to his drama-show. “For this demonstration to work, I will require you, Brother Lee, to simply hold your two hands out palms up, I will place my palms above yours - I simply ask that every 5 seconds, you describe the sensation happening in your palm, yes?”
“Indeed Grand Elder, I understand your request and oblige humbly.” Lee said poshly as he laid his hands up with a sarcastic smirk, thinking nothing at all would happen, Lee watched Zar with great concentration – 5 seconds passed. “I feel nothing as of yet.” Zar begun commentary.
“Dearest Brothers, at this moment I have released the most foundational Qi, otherwise known as Mineral, Earth or Rock Qi, out of my Lower Dantain in an incredibly small amount, once released, it flows through my Meridians. For those who are unaware, the meridians are the channels or flow-ducts that Qi flows through, imagine then, a pipe with water moving through its membrane, in such the same way, Qi flows through the pipes of the meridians. Do you feel anything as my hands lay over yours Greater Lee?”
“Negative, Grand Elder Zar.”
“This of course is sense making, for I have yet to allow the Mineral Qi out of the meridians into the atmosphere. Qi flows through meridians but will stop at the space between the body and the atmosphere, in other words, Qi does not flow beyond the body unless you open a ‘gate’ or ‘door’ if you will, this gate is something by which you get an instinct for. When I applied Mineral Qi into the plants which we grew, I allowed M-Qi into the Meridians and created a slight pore such that it could flow out of my hands into the plants, if you were to allow the Mineral Qi to rest in the Meridians Pipes for a while without leaving into the atmosphere, it begins to ‘seep’ into cells, filling them with vitality. I do not expect you to recall this or comprehend this at the current moment, lived experience will nourish you far more than intellectual explanations. 169Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYehaOjtWSn
Now, observe, for I will allow Mineral Qi to leave the Meridian Pores of my own palms, the Mineral Qi will surround your hands, in 5 seconds, tell those around you how you feel Greater Lee.”
“I do not feel anythi- ouch, what’s that? Grand Zar... OUCH! GRAND ZAR! OUCHHH! STOP!” Greater Lee yanked his hands away from the vicinity of Zar's palms and walked back shocked by what just occurred. “I don’t believe it! What trick did you just do?! Explain yourself!”
“Greater Lee, had I not explained before, were you not listening?”
“Qi is just a LEGEND! A FABLE! Grand Elder! IT CANNOT be REAL!” Lee shouted in reply!
“Would you like me to demonstrate again Greater Lee?”
“Quite frankly, I wouldn’t - I will just observe today, I won’t take part, my hands feel tingly...”
“Very wel-” suddenly, clapping arose from the crowd, bedazzled by what had just occurred and Zar smiled proudly.
Tar intervened during the clapping, “Well, that was most impressive – how exciting, we will be learning this Mineral Qi, yes Zar?”
“Indeed, over the course of the next 2 months, you will reach a similar level to me, Greater Lee, if you are done being sceptical, you ought take part! Let us begin today's lesson of building and consolidation before the morning rays become too potent.” Zar begun teaching in the very same way he learnt, just with more intimate aid when his peers were struggling.
Far, far away at the North Gate, one of the villager ladies was chatting with the young Guard. “Alone today?” Asked the Greater Lady Giath..
“Yes, unfortunately, where’s the males of your group?”
The Greater Lady thought for a while, recognising that it would more than likely be a terrible idea to tell him, composed a quick lie and replied. “They are, uhm, having a meeting with our Village Head.”
“Who is your village head? I have yet to meet him.”
“He is, uhm, erm. See, I don’t uhm, I don’t think I should tell you that. Why do you ask such questions, who is YOUR village head hmm? Bet you won’t answer that young Guard!”
“Oh, of the ploughing sect? Easy, everyone knows him, he’s Grand Elder Peat, very fat, old and gluttonous, eats enough food to feed a family, hate that guy.”
“Why do you hate him so?” Asked the Greater Lady Giath.
“Hmph, he was the one who initiated the order that a random young Guard must be perpetually stationed in observing the Giaths, or in other words, your sect. Why? I will never know, we don’t get told much, my Elder Guard probably knows, that overly authoritative man, wish I could flick a berry up his nose when he was not looking...”
Greater Lady giggled and replied, “You don’t like your job, eh?”
“Well, you could say that...” Replied the young Guard. “Say, whilst you are here, why is it that all of a sudden, you Giaths became healthy enough to rebuild your village, not only that, but you are also growing new crops and I have observed that your crops seem to grow quite well even though your soil is not great.”
“My, you are nosey!” Replied the Greater Lady Giath.
“Oh, Ms Giath, don’t be closed lipped, come on, won’t you let me in - I have nothing better to do other than get the daily gossip...”
“Well, I can tell you this, things have indeed improved – perhaps nature is finally on our side. With that, I must get back to work ploughing this other row of rice.” The Lady Giath than begun the pattern of walking, digging and planting whilst the young Guard with slight perversive thoughts watched her very slim but somewhat attractive figure move.
End of Chapter 15:
[Author Here: Sorry for being on an hiatus, Zargiaths Ascendence to the Realm of the Gods will now CONTINUE!]
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