Master Of None

”Hello there! I’m walker as some of you may have heard. Your kind teacher Otis has given me permission to pose a little challenge.” The young trainee warriors were surprised by walkers sudden intrusion on their training. Some looked excited but hearing that Otis gave permission they fell in to fear. Otis was notoriously tough on everyone he trained, it did make them stronger, yet it didn’t stop how torturous it was.

” This will be pretty simple, I’m going to create a target similar to a monster we battled early this morning. Your goal is simple, break it to pieces by any means necessary. Sound good?” The trainees looked much more confused now...that was it? Had Otis gone soft and let someone nice take over. The slight glimmer of hope began to bloom in them.

Seeing the trainees smile and nod at the seemingly easy task walker touched the ground. The earth began to rise. Large hands made of earth formed, pointed claws on the end. A mouth open in a screech showed sharp teeth. Two earth clubs formed in each hand, the intimidating greater ice imp took on earth form in all its toughness. The trainees were stunned, a monster he had fought earlier this morning? That was a giant snow imp!

Otis took note of their face and decided a bit of instruction was needed. ” yes this is known as a greater ice imp, it’s rare but does come down from the mountains in the winter. We had some trouble with it this morning but managed to crush it. This earth version is probably slightly weaker than its real defense but should pose some fun challenge.” There it was the evil glint in the eyes of Otis, the look that made the trainees fear rise. Whenever he had that look they knew they would be too sore to walk properly the next day.

”Alright alright let’s not tell stories just yet. Like I said the goal I simple break this and you win.” This looked intimidating but the trainees knew it was just earth, they could break it.

The largest of the trainees crouched to the ground their leg muscles visibly tightening. Like a slingshot fired the trainees speed was impressive, in a moment he was about to slam in to the earth imp target, however, that would be too easy.

Walker had prepared himself raising his hand, the air began to bend to his will gathering behind it. The second the trainee had given up sire footing on the ground he knew what to do. Whipping his hand down the air behind it rushed forward colliding with the trainee. Naturally the trainee without solid hold on anything was flung back tumbling until he found himself sitting on his but bewildered. ” and here I thought you might actually touch the target.” Walker was shaking his head in disappointment.

Two other trainees saw this moment to hit the target themselves, the two had slower speed but looked to have punching techniques ready. Seeing the two approaching walker waited a moment, their attacks were heading to opposite sides of their target. The blow would most definitely crack the earth imp target. With a tap of his foot an a little mana the earth clubs the target held angles backwards and the two trainees punch them instead of the earth imp targets main body. Small cracks webbed from the clubs but the target wasn’t harmed at all. The next gust of wind sent them tumbling just the same as the previous attempt.

Any lingering hope that this would be easy had been snuffed out of the trainees. Instead it was replaced by the steeled will to destroy their enemy. This trait had been hammered in to them over and over by Otis and now reared its head.

They began to attack in turn increasingly faster as they adapted to walkers knock-backs. The hits in the clubs ever increased causing more and more cracks to form. However they still couldn’t touch the real target.

The first trainee had prepared to jump again this time watching for an opening. Seeing that walker just used the wind they released the pressure leaping low to the ground. The speed was more intense this time yet the result was much better. Both clubs crossed to block the attack, the damage had been building more and more and unlike the previous hits the clubs shattered in to pieces of stone and dirt. This was their opening the target was wide open.

Every single trainee able to rushed the target, walker didn’t make a move. Otis saw the triumphant smirk in walkers eyes and knew there was something more. The trainees attacks landed at the same time shattering the target. The imp fell apart as water rushed out soaking them completely. Washed off their feet walker placed a finger in the puddle now encompassing all of them, activating this elemental manipulation skill the water began to freeze leaving a thin layer of frost over every trainee.

” Hmm you know Otis, it would seem your trainees rush it a bit too much. Not a single one imagined the opening was a trap to freeze them all in place. Imagine if it was acid, or even fire, ooo what if it was an explosion.” The trainees who were now shivering slightly were horrified, what if this was real? They could explode!

” Ahhhh well they are young, good things this wasn’t anything that dangerous.” Standing a bit taller and taking a deep breath Otis shouted, ” go home clean up and think about a solution to the trial you faced today. Tomorrow I expect everyone to have a plan of action of what could be done differently, along with the best one to beat an opponent that has high defensive power.” With his words the trainees began to stand, so slid a bit on the ice but managed well enough.

” Sorry about the ice let me help a bit.” Walker used some mana to draw fire from a cooking area nearby. The flames snakes in the air meting the frost leaving only a puddle. The shivering slowed in the trainees bodies. ” that’s better, no go get dry!” The trainees themselves were speechless, they had just gone against someone who manipulated earth, air, water, and fire! How crazy was this. Could they even survive outside the walls of monsters like him roamed around?

Slowly but surely the trainees come back to their senses and left on their way to their winter igloos. Today may not have been the insanely tough training they were used to but instead they had been challenged mentally. This was a very strong lesson to think before they acted.

Seeing them leave walker glanced at Otis, ” so what did you think of my training, up to par?”

The look on his face showed it all, Otis was impressed with the direction walker had taken. ” I prefer more forceful methods but I’ve got to say you may have shaken their brains a bit. Hahaha I’m not sure they will be able to think at night for fear they may run in to a master of the elements.” Clapping walker on the back Otis pushed him towards the square to see the elders. Otis wasn’t much of conversation due to his laughing at his own joke too much, but Walker didn’t mind.

It would seem the second the trainees left they had started to spread gossip about walker using four elements and that the morning hunting party defeated a greater ice imp. A fair amount of adults had shown up around the square chatting and constantly glancing at Otis and walker.

Some feigned that they were trying to trade and others seemed to just plainly stare. The elders were seated by a small fire as they often were drinking a strong herb tea. Every once in a while one would speak and other would nod or shake their head. It would seem the inter workings of the tribe were slowly pondered every day.

The pair approached the fire waiting for the elders to take notice to be polite. The one eared elder was the first to take a look at them and soon finished his conversation with the others.

” I see you’ve managed to make it here, I take it the little tamer and the harpy are in good health?” The other elders didn’t spare much of a glance but their ears twitched as the swayed the response.

” yes we returned and quickly put them to rest, elders. The pair had some hardship today and will most likely rest in to tomorrow. After they had awoken, we spoke to them about what had occurred. The two needed their space to process it all together, family deserves privacy but I believe they will be up and moving tomorrow.” Walker wanted to blurt out and ask about the greater ice imp body but knew things needed to be taken in turn.

Brushing his chin the one eared elder then spoke, ” I’m glad they are safe and have been healed. It is always tough for family to be injured, we feel it in our tribe as well.” A momentary pause reflecting on the statement he continued, ” we heard you’ve all brought back an interesting harvest, care to tell us about it?”