The past month was anything but easy for Siu. It was not because of the pain, the fractures, or the torn muscles. Those could be fixed with the Sect's medicine, readily available, there for the disciples to use... if they could afford it. What made it hard was keeping his head in the right mindset, not giving in to the greatest allure: a nap. By the start of the third week, it was way too hard to get out of bed. He felt his legs shaking, his mind screaming at him to lie back, skip a day, sleep, just ten minutes more if anything... But he couldn't. He had to continue because he knew that if he gave in once, he would give in a second time, then a third, and start heading down a slope that caused so many other disciples to find themselves stuck. And maybe stuck forever.

  Every day was a battle with himself, ignoring the callings, whether from his pillow or his mind, making up arguments to justify why it wasn't a big deal. He always had to say no, no matter what. It wasn't any different at the end of the last morning either. Leaving the dormitory before dawn, arriving at their usual training square, Elder Thane was already there and waiting. Once again... Siu couldn't help but wonder... Does he ever sleep? Because if he did, no one had proof of it, that was for sure.

  “Stance,” Thane said simply the moment Siu stood before him.

  There was nothing else to do, so he obeyed, flowing into the posture that had become as natural as using his breathing technique by now. His front foot lifted lightly, then his whole body turned, arms forming the loose arc of wings. The moment he was ready, the baton in Elder Thane's hand came down, without warning, snapping through the air. A month ago, it would have landed right across Siu’s ribs, dropping him, causing him to lie on the stone floor, gasping for air, coughing up blood. But now, his forearm curved with perfect timing, and the baton slid across his sleeve, diverted by the soft circular motion. It was not all, as Siu’s elbow shot forward through the new opening, that struck the space where Thane’s chest had been before he shifted aside, dodging him.

  Once again, the baton was coming, but Siu was ready. Utilizing his own momentum, he reacted, deflected, and then counterattacked again... Another miss, of course. It was like that, Elder Thane dodging and throwing strike after strike, counting how fluently his disciple could string his movements together, utilizing all the base stances, incorporating them into his Crane-form. He never told him he could do that... yet... the boy managed to realize it and utilize them to their fullest. He was a natural...

  Just as Elder Thane thought that, Siu bent his waist, swayed while dodging, and then curved his body just enough that the Elder's jab met nothing but air. By now, Siu was no longer simply reacting to the attacks that he was throwing at him; the boy could read the twitches in his muscles and calculate the trajectory of his upcoming strike. His eyes finally tracked not just the baton but Thane's shoulder, the wrist, the minute tension in his stance, where his foot was facing for a better leverage... All without being instructed to do so.

  And because of it, for the first time in years, Elder Thane felt himself pressed. Of course, he was not in danger; he was limiting his speed and power to Siu's rank, but... Being on his level made him realize the boy was dangerous. His calculations were like seeing into the future, and his predictions felt like he knew where Thane was going to strike before he made the decision himself. Since he became an Elder, he had trained thousands of disciples in the public forms of the Sect's basic martial arts. And, in the past two centuries, none had grasped any of the forms so swiftly... Those who did were people who had already had knowledge of other arts and, later on, became high-ranking members of the Hollow Song Sect.

  Of course, Siu knew nothing of this as Elder Thane hid his amazement behind a scowl, amping his speed and power. The next instant, without warning, his baton blurred, whistling down at Siu with a renewed intensity. Yet, his body flowed aside, redirecting, his counter flicking toward Thane’s ribs... again. It surprised him so much that he barely twisted in time to avoid the clean hit.

  "..." Elder Thane said nothing, but he wanted to ask: What was that? But... instead, he just kept amping up his pace.

  Once again, he struck at him, faster, weaving in sudden feints by now. Being at that speed, facing something Siu had never experienced with the Elder's current mastery, he almost fell for it the first time, his counter snapping at empty air. But then his eyes sharpened, realizing he was duped, barely dodging... But by the next feint, he saw it before it could succeed. His counter pulled back an instant, feinting against Thane's faint, waiting for the true strike, and when it came, he was already there, prepared to force it aside and to counter...

  Inwardly, Elder Thane cursed, wanting to laugh because he had meant to expose the boy’s impatience, but instead he had revealed his adaptability. He even thought about letting him land a hit... But no... That would be too much. He doesn't need to inflate his ego. So, instead, Elder Thane shifted his rhythm... again. The baton now hammered Siu with a rhythm that mimicked the Red Fang, but twice at its usual speed, more than what Nue would be capable of. He attacked him with chained strikes, the next always coming from the end of the previous, each meant to overwhelm Siu and crush him, quite literally. Although it was just an imitation, as Elder Thane had never trained the Scarlet Fang Sect’s looted technique, one that was acquired by the Sect when they destroyed their opponent, he had seen it enough times to mimic its moves and ferocity. At his cultivation stage, copying someone as weak as Nue was not a significant challenge at all.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Siu recognized the change in a snap, and his breathing reverted to his basic technique, while his stance adjusted, resetting his rhythm to adapt to the new one. The baton came toward him once again, but this time, its trajectory curved, like a predator’s swipe with its claw. It made Siu's arms still, circling at the snapping point, redirecting and guiding the force away from him, using Elder Thane's momentum to his own advantage. But... This time, he was unable to counterattack. Just as he finished, Elder Thane lunged at him in a way that should have knocked him sprawling to the floor... Yet Siu managed to move away at the last moment, gaining distance and dodging the leg sweep that followed his attack, hopping and jumping backwards for more space, eyes still on the Elder's body, without blinking.

  Thane’s respect deepened at Siu's choices, though his face remained as cold as stone. He had seen disciples panic under this quick and unpredictable rhythm shifting. He had seen them break their stance and try to flee, which was different than dodging and gaining distance to break your enemy's chain of attack. He never turned his back towards Thane or opened himself up... He held his ground, even if he was being cautious.

  The last thing that remained was to test Siu's reaction to something he had never seen before. With a kick, Elder Thane lunged himself up into the air to close the distance, coming down at Siu with full speed, along with a downward strike that was as sharp as lightning. He saw the surprise in his eyes, but it was without fear. He saw as Siu's mind calculated the possible outcomes, how he bent as a split-second decision, the arc of his body being perfect, the baton sliding harmlessly past him. And... He had already identified the issue. Elder Thane couldn't shift position before he would land! In that instant, Siu's elbow darted upward, the attack aimed directly at Thane’s solar plexus, wanting to push all the air out of his lungs. If it landed with enough force, it would be a knockout move...

  Sadly, Elder Thane was someone who could defy that rule. Suddenly taking a breath, his aura intensified, and his leg pressed down on pure air, as if tapping his feet on solid ground, easily dodging mid-air, aiming a quick slap at Siu's lower back to make him kneel.

  It would have been the end of it... It should have been. Yet, the boy, the moment he realized that Elder Thane's body managed to defy all he had calculated, instead of panicking, he dove forward, rolling away the strike, coming at his blind spot.

  "That's enough!" Elder Thane lowered the baton at last, watching him roll out of it, crouching as he faced him, gasping for air, and prepared for another dodge.

  Hearing his shout, Siu immediately relaxed his muscles, standing back up as he bowed, his chest heaving like crazy, sweating more than in any of their previous training sessions.

  “You’re... improving,” Thane said after a brief consideration, not wanting to overshare his honest thoughts, making sure his voice gave nothing away. “But you’re not ready.”

  "I know," Siu accepted the words with a simple nod, once again surprising him, as Elder Thane expected some kind of angry retort that he didn't acknowledge how much he had improved from nothing to his current level. "I have issues with expecting the unexpected. I thought I got you multiple times, just to be proven wrong." He sighed, looking embarrassed, as he rubbed his wet hair and smiled sheepishly. "I need to learn that I can only think of victory, after I indeed land a proper, knockout hit..."

  "Exactly." Thane nodded, although he wanted to say something else, because he was surprised by his answer... again. "But that part will improve as you gain experience. No training can prepare you for an actual battle. Nothing can do that... Out there, when the laws of our Sect no longer protect you, the duels are nothing like training... especially not the scuffles against fellow disciples."

  "I..." Siu murmured, watching him with rapt attention, "I understand... But I never thought of it that way. But I see... Elder Thane, did you fight a lot?"

  "Depends on what you call a lot." He chuckled, crossing his hands, watching the young man, "But yes, I fought... enough. I still fight; whenever there is a mission I undertake for the Sect. Don't think, just because one becomes an Elder, they are exempt from missions... The real tasks start exactly then!" He laughed, shaking his head, "You will see what I mean after you become an Inner Disciple."

  "I hope it will happen sooner rather than later."

  "Don't be too eager." He warned him with a strict voice, "The mortality rate between Inner and Core disciples is the highest."

  "What...?" Siu blinked his eyes in surprise, almost reeling backwards from the revelation.

  "I lost some good friends while walking this road..." Elder Thane sighed with honest sorrow, shaking his head, "Being part of them means you are part of the Sect, for real. Your tasks often take you outside, and the world can be dangerous. We safeguard ours, as best as we can... but that doesn't mean invincibility. Never forget that, Siu. Never think that there are no better or stronger people than you... Or you will learn that there is always someone who is just... better."

  "I will remember that, Master Thane," Siu answered, cupping his hands and bowing deeply.

  "Don't call me Master!" He laughed, slapping his shoulder with a force that almost made him buckle, "I am not qualified for the post, I mean, I haven't accepted disciples yet. Nor will I, I think. I am allowed to teach the Outer Disciples, but more than that? No. I am not at that level."

  "How can that be?" Siu asked, honestly surprised, "Your teachings are on point, Elder Thane."

  "There is more to learn than how to brawl, kid." He smiled finally, looking into his eyes, "Properly guiding a personal disciple... It is a unique position. One, that I am not capable of doing... Not yet."

  "Elder..." Siu answered, watching his face, forming a small smile, "I think, this time around... You are underestimating something. Respectfully... I disagree."

  "Heh, someone thinks he knows more than his elders, huh?!" Thane laughed, slapping his back again, this time making him stumble forward, but catching his balance at the last moment. "Go! Rest. This will be enough for today."

  "Huh? We are already done?"

  "Yes. The duel is not going to be easy. Go... Let your body rest a little and refocus your mind. If you lose... I don't know you."

  "Don't worry, Elder Thane!" He saluted, his face determined, "There is no way I am going to lose that fight."