Raikha lowered himself into a crouch. He inhaled deeply. He focused on slowing his heart rate. His hands, held in a loose, claw-like position, mimicked the branches swaying in the breeze.
His feet, barely lifting from the ground, glided across the earth, leaving no trace. He imagined himself as a wisp of smoke, carried by the wind, unseen and unheard. He shifted his weight, sinking deeper into the crouch, his body almost touching the ground. He closed his eyes, focusing on the sounds of the forest—the rustling leaves, the chirping insects, the distant call of a bird.
A soft thump landed nearby. Raikha's eyes flickered open, his perfect stillness broken. Lara stood just a few feet away, leaning against a tree, idly tossing a small pebble from hand to hand. She wore a smirk that seemed permanently etched onto her face.
"Still trying to be a shadow, mountain boy?" she drawled, her voice just loud enough to puncture the forest's quiet. "You look more like a startled frog ready to leap into a pond."
Raikha gritted his teeth, forcing his eyes shut again. He could almost feel her presence, like a fly buzzing just out of reach. He pushed deeper into the silence, willing her words away. He imagined the cool darkness seeping into him, the echoes of his rage fading.
"Oh, come on," Lara continued, and this time she moved, her steps unnaturally loud as she circled him slowly. "Are you stuck? Did your shadow technique freeze you in place? Maybe you need a little… encouragement."
She exaggerated a wide, sweeping kick, her leg slicing through the air with a theatrical whoosh, completely unnecessary for her form. Raikha's eyes twitched open again, glaring at her. Her movements were deliberately clumsy, almost mocking the fluidity he sought.
"What are you doing?" he hissed, abandoning his crouch. The moment's focus was gone, replaced by irritation.
Lara stopped, striking a comically rigid pose. "Just practicing my 'Loud and Proud' form, Raikha. Didn't you say you wanted to be seen? Heard? Wouldn't want you to feel left out in all that quiet." She winked, a glint of challenge in her dark eyes. "Unless, of course, you're afraid of a little distraction?"
Raikha didn't answer. Why does she disturb me while I'm training the Silent Shadow Form? he thought, annoyance simmering. So annoying. He had to remember. He recalled Sir Gantari's words, the calm, guiding voice in his mind:
"Raikha, the Silent Shadow Form is about becoming the dark. It's movement that is the sound of silence. Lower yourself. Feel the earth, let it draw out all tension. Your feet are roots, your body, an ancient tree. Breathe deeply, not just air, but the forest's essence. Let its dampness, stillness, and ancient whispers fill you. This is your canvas; shadows are your paint. Blend, don't just conceal."
Raikha began to inhale again, letting the words sink in. Okay, what else?
"Your movements must be fluid, like water. Hands like a predator's claws, loose and ready. Feet must glide, not lift. Imagine yourself as smoke, unseen, unheard. Leave no trace. Achieve mental emptiness. Silence your fury, your grief, your ache for retribution. These are anchors that bind you. Let them go. Let your mind become as clear and empty as the forest at its deepest, darkest hour."
Raikha closed his eyes again. A moment of peace.
Then, a sharp thwack! sounded just inches from his ear.
Raikha flinched, almost losing his balance. He opened his eyes to see a stick, about as thick as his thumb, quivering in the tree trunk right beside his head. Lara stood there, not even pretending to toss pebbles anymore, but now casually twirling another stick between her fingers.
"Oops," she said, her smile too wide, too innocent. "Did I disturb your deep thoughts? My aim's a little off today. Usually, I can hit a fruit fly from twenty paces." She took a step closer, tapping the stick against her chin. "But then, fruit flies usually move. You were just standing there, looking all... contemplative. Easy target."
She then bounced on the balls of her feet, then started doing a series of jerky, unnecessary stretches, her joints cracking audibly. Each crack, each off-key note, was designed to pull him out of his focus.
Raikha's jaw clenched so hard he thought his teeth might crack. The mental image of the tranquil, empty forest in his mind was replaced by Lara's infuriatingly cheerful face and her atrocious humming. He took a single, deliberate step towards her, his fists clenching at his sides.
"Are you done?" he growled, his voice low and tight with suppressed fury. All thoughts of becoming smoke, of fluid movements, were gone, replaced by a burning desire to just make her stop.
Lara blinked, her smile growing stronger. "Oh, am I bothering you? My apologies, oh great silent shadow master. I basically reasoned that some ambiance could be beneficial." Then she struck a ridiculous, over-dramatic fighting posture, complete with a silent, exaggerated roar, and burst into a fit of gleeful, mocking laughter. "Raikha, you seem as though you might explode! Does the form also cover that? The 'Internal Combustion' technique?"
From the edge of the clearing, Gantari watched Lara's persistent taunting and Raikha's simmering fury. The old master's lips curved slightly in a knowing smile.
From the edge of the clearing, Gantari watched Raikha's simmering anger and Lara's constant taunting. A faint, knowing smile formed on the old master's lips. He did nothing, apparently content to let their prickly rivalry grow.
Gantari came forward at last."Enough!" he said, interrupting Lara's laughter with a firm yet quiet voice. "While your individual endeavors are admirable, you will learn how to hunt together today."
Raikha scowled, suspicion growing instantly. But Lara cocked her head, intrigued. "There is a rare herb, the Moonpetal," Gantari continued, his gaze sweeping between them. "It's said to greatly enhance a silat master's senses and intuition. You will retrieve it from the Whispering Glades."
Raikha scoffed, crossing his arms. "A herb hunt? Sir, with respect, I need to master my combat skills. This feels like a waste of time. He just wanted to fight, to train, to channel his rage into something destructive. This felt… pointless."
Lara's eyes, however, sparkled with an almost predatory excitement. "The Whispering Glades? I've heard stories. A chance to truly test our skills, and explore the forest's secrets." She nudged Raikha with her elbow, a playful challenge in her smirk. "Maybe even find a few real shadows, eh, mountain boy?"
Gantari held up a hand. "This is not merely about finding a flower, nor about proving individual prowess. This is about cooperation. The Glades are dangerous, filled with wild beasts, treacherous terrain, and... other things. You will need each other. Your strengths must balance your weaknesses." His eyes met Raikha's, then Lara's. "Do not underestimate what lies within the Whispering Glades. Go. Return with the Moonpetal, and with your understanding of what it means to truly move as one."