Post by Aidan Daemon on Aug 1, 2016 19:50:06 GMT -8
Aidan escaped from the city just as it was reaching dark, climbing through the green scenery until he reached the old brown building. Looks just like I remembered it...truth is, it's been a good fifteen months since I've been here... Aidan thinks as he ascends the small steps that leads to the porch, kicking his boots off and opening the door to the dojo. Stepping inside, his eyes glance around the dark as he flicks a switch to his left, spilling light down onto the solid white floor.
Seems like I'm getting slightly paranoid...after everything that has happened, who can blame me? Aidan thinks as he shakes his head lightly at his own foolishness before pulling off his equipment and dropping it in the corner of the large room, before pulling off his jacket and the black vest he was wearing. He would then head over to the center of the white training floor, where he would sit down cross legged and close his eyes. I need to prepare my mind, my body, and my spirit, for the training which lies ahead... he thinks as he works on clearing his mind of all stray thoughts. Starting with the ones that were the most powerful to him. His beliefs, his thoughts on Maria, Sarah, his friendships, and the anger he felt at himself for having lost everything. His tense body would relax slowly and his breathing would become deeper and longer, as he fell into an almost dreamlike state. The room was soundless, and Aidan was in a state of complete relaxation, a technique he had learned long ago which would build one's stamina up quickly, regardless of how much he exerted his body. It was this state that the phrase, "mind over matter" came from, regardless of how tired or how much he pushed his body, in this state he could fight until there was nothing left for him to use, and he would simply just collapse. Although, it was something which he thought was handy, he hadn't perfected it in the slightest, on the contrary, he could only do it, in a soundless environment, and it didn't work for him in an actual fight. Probably because his mind was working in overdrive at those times.
He breathed in deeply and opened his eyes. Everything in the room seemed to have a sharper tone, and he felt better than he had in ages, as if he'd just awoken from a long sleep, and he wasn't the slightest bit tired. Not a single bone or muscle on his body ached. Climbing to his feet, he would hold his right hand out in front of him and his left behind him, assuming a fighting stance he'd tried to learn in his youth but could never fully master. The style focused mainly on gliding movements, something Aidan definitely wasn't used to, considering that he was a street brawler. Those monks...they wanted to show me this...but my old man was giving me too much trouble back then... he thinks as his hazel eyes lock dead ahead of him, as if sensing an imaginary target. He would step forward and swing several punches where his foe's stomach would be, followed by a punch his opponent's chin, before ducking under and attempting a sweep kick. Rolling back he would leap up, spinning in the air as he did so, and land a devastating roundhouse kick to his opponent's face, effectively putting them out of the game. His face showed his determination as he dropped down on his palms and extended his legs out behind him. He would begin to do push-ups at an insanely fast rate, doing them faster than he could count. His upper torso, slick with sweat as he pushed on.
"..56,57,58,59..." his progress slowed as he continued his workout, his blue eyes staring straight ahead with determination. I have to be strong...so I can protect everyone...and no one else has to get hurt.... he thinks as his hands tighten into fists and he continues doing push-ups.
After finishing the push-ups, he would roll over on his back, and begin to do sit-ups. One hundred...just like the push-ups...I have to get stronger...I have to! Aidan's own voice echoes through his head as he continues to do the sit-ups his face scrunching up in pain as they got harder and harder after each one.
"87...88.......89.......90..." he counted as his face reddened and his hands tightened into fists behind his head as he pushed on, ignoring the burning pain that shot through his stomach. When he reached, "100", he would collapse on the floor, breathing heavily. He stared up at the ceiling of the dojo, with a feeling like deja-vu. Have I been here before...in this very spot? Or was it when I trained under dad... he thinks as he stares up at the ceiling, folding his hands behind his head, as his breathing slowly abated until it was back to normal.
His mind went to the small girl he'd met earlier on the street. She looked very young, around 8 or so but her face had reminded him so much of the woman he'd been in love with. She said her name was Sarah.
Sarah..you remind me of Maria...maybe it's a sign...or a small token of salvation...trying to make me feel normal...It's people like that, that need to be protected. You weren't the only person to lose someone due to war..and I highly doubt you'll be the last Aidan...Remember, what the old man used to say? "Only the dead have seen the end of war." Be strong...not for yourself...but for her...don't make the same mistake like you did with Maria... he thinks as he gets to his feet and walks around the dojo, his eyes darting to the kendo sticks, they were used for practicing sword combat. He would pick one of the sticks up and twirl it around, showing off his swordsmanship, as he twirled the sword around and made a few quick slashes with it. Before jabbing it several times at another invisible foe. Once, he finished this he would put the sword back on the shelf he'd taken it from and head over to the door, which leads into the kitchen of the small house.
Spilling out of the dojo and into the kitchen, Aidan's eyes would dart around before they landed on a gallon jug of water, which he would pick up instantly, pulling the top off of it and raising it to his lips. Draining a quarter of the jug in one go, before lowering it and breathing deeply. Walking around the kitchen he realized that this place was nothing like his old house had been in the city. He kept very few homely items here, that included pictures. Only one was present, and it was sitting on a table, by an old sofa, a picture of Maria smiling with her arms around his neck. Aidan looked younger, and far happier than he had ever been since that time.
I think...that was the last time I truly smiled...
Seems like I'm getting slightly paranoid...after everything that has happened, who can blame me? Aidan thinks as he shakes his head lightly at his own foolishness before pulling off his equipment and dropping it in the corner of the large room, before pulling off his jacket and the black vest he was wearing. He would then head over to the center of the white training floor, where he would sit down cross legged and close his eyes. I need to prepare my mind, my body, and my spirit, for the training which lies ahead... he thinks as he works on clearing his mind of all stray thoughts. Starting with the ones that were the most powerful to him. His beliefs, his thoughts on Maria, Sarah, his friendships, and the anger he felt at himself for having lost everything. His tense body would relax slowly and his breathing would become deeper and longer, as he fell into an almost dreamlike state. The room was soundless, and Aidan was in a state of complete relaxation, a technique he had learned long ago which would build one's stamina up quickly, regardless of how much he exerted his body. It was this state that the phrase, "mind over matter" came from, regardless of how tired or how much he pushed his body, in this state he could fight until there was nothing left for him to use, and he would simply just collapse. Although, it was something which he thought was handy, he hadn't perfected it in the slightest, on the contrary, he could only do it, in a soundless environment, and it didn't work for him in an actual fight. Probably because his mind was working in overdrive at those times.
He breathed in deeply and opened his eyes. Everything in the room seemed to have a sharper tone, and he felt better than he had in ages, as if he'd just awoken from a long sleep, and he wasn't the slightest bit tired. Not a single bone or muscle on his body ached. Climbing to his feet, he would hold his right hand out in front of him and his left behind him, assuming a fighting stance he'd tried to learn in his youth but could never fully master. The style focused mainly on gliding movements, something Aidan definitely wasn't used to, considering that he was a street brawler. Those monks...they wanted to show me this...but my old man was giving me too much trouble back then... he thinks as his hazel eyes lock dead ahead of him, as if sensing an imaginary target. He would step forward and swing several punches where his foe's stomach would be, followed by a punch his opponent's chin, before ducking under and attempting a sweep kick. Rolling back he would leap up, spinning in the air as he did so, and land a devastating roundhouse kick to his opponent's face, effectively putting them out of the game. His face showed his determination as he dropped down on his palms and extended his legs out behind him. He would begin to do push-ups at an insanely fast rate, doing them faster than he could count. His upper torso, slick with sweat as he pushed on.
"..56,57,58,59..." his progress slowed as he continued his workout, his blue eyes staring straight ahead with determination. I have to be strong...so I can protect everyone...and no one else has to get hurt.... he thinks as his hands tighten into fists and he continues doing push-ups.
After finishing the push-ups, he would roll over on his back, and begin to do sit-ups. One hundred...just like the push-ups...I have to get stronger...I have to! Aidan's own voice echoes through his head as he continues to do the sit-ups his face scrunching up in pain as they got harder and harder after each one.
"87...88.......89.......90..." he counted as his face reddened and his hands tightened into fists behind his head as he pushed on, ignoring the burning pain that shot through his stomach. When he reached, "100", he would collapse on the floor, breathing heavily. He stared up at the ceiling of the dojo, with a feeling like deja-vu. Have I been here before...in this very spot? Or was it when I trained under dad... he thinks as he stares up at the ceiling, folding his hands behind his head, as his breathing slowly abated until it was back to normal.
His mind went to the small girl he'd met earlier on the street. She looked very young, around 8 or so but her face had reminded him so much of the woman he'd been in love with. She said her name was Sarah.
Sarah..you remind me of Maria...maybe it's a sign...or a small token of salvation...trying to make me feel normal...It's people like that, that need to be protected. You weren't the only person to lose someone due to war..and I highly doubt you'll be the last Aidan...Remember, what the old man used to say? "Only the dead have seen the end of war." Be strong...not for yourself...but for her...don't make the same mistake like you did with Maria... he thinks as he gets to his feet and walks around the dojo, his eyes darting to the kendo sticks, they were used for practicing sword combat. He would pick one of the sticks up and twirl it around, showing off his swordsmanship, as he twirled the sword around and made a few quick slashes with it. Before jabbing it several times at another invisible foe. Once, he finished this he would put the sword back on the shelf he'd taken it from and head over to the door, which leads into the kitchen of the small house.
Spilling out of the dojo and into the kitchen, Aidan's eyes would dart around before they landed on a gallon jug of water, which he would pick up instantly, pulling the top off of it and raising it to his lips. Draining a quarter of the jug in one go, before lowering it and breathing deeply. Walking around the kitchen he realized that this place was nothing like his old house had been in the city. He kept very few homely items here, that included pictures. Only one was present, and it was sitting on a table, by an old sofa, a picture of Maria smiling with her arms around his neck. Aidan looked younger, and far happier than he had ever been since that time.
I think...that was the last time I truly smiled...
