Rejang Illesaih School of Martial Arts
"Samarsam, you ought to relax your fist while punching in order for it to be effective."
An elderly man instructed to a youth with his knuckles saturated in blood. The sound from punching the sand bag echoed through out the oriental designed atrium of deities carved out of lime stones rested undisturbed covered in talismans while herbal scents quietly burned next to them. The youth obeyed the elder's order, his muscles became less tense; he took a deep breath in and exhaled as he threw his fist into the sand bag. In that instant, just after the youth drew back his fist, the bag made a long ripping sound and finally tour apart. Samarsam was only 12 at that time, his father Shankara's reputation as a Wing Chun master depended on him to succeed. Legend says that Wing Chun was first introduced by a women monk who observed the moves of a crane and a snake skirmishing. If the arm is tensed, maximum punching speed cannot be achieved as the biceps will be opposing the extension of the arm. For Samarsam, this was a hard concept to grasp. Why relax and throw a soft fisted punch when you want to damage the opponent as much as possible? It was already high noon at the Rejang Illehsaih School of Martial Art in the South Eastern prefecture of Biscotti Republic. Children that were just playing out on the street heard their mother calling for dinner and headed back home. Crows cried from the telephone polls while the sun was gradually setting down into the mountain casting an enormous shadow on the town as a result. Lamp light began glowing in every houses and smoke emerged from the chimney. In Samarsam's neighborhood, all buildings positioned along the north-south and east-west axis connected by beautifully decorated pathways. These passages served as shelters from the sunshine during the day and provided a cool place to rest.
"OK son, that's enough for today, make sure you practice the Biu Tze forms also; it's essential for short and long range combat, but make sure you use these forms only in emergencies." Said Shankara
"Yes father, "Biu Tze doesn't go out the door"!" Young Samarsam answered with a bright expression on his face.
Soon, Shankara walked out of the entrance gate painted vermillion with copper door knocker on it telling Samarsam: I'm going for a walk, be right back. Samarsam looked at his bleeding knuckles and went inside the house in search for band aids. Multitudes of red columns stood upright supporting the tall ceiling. The cold wind coming from the house entrance brushed against Samarsam's wound. He shivered a little and closed the door by sliding the wooden panel sideways. Then he opened a cabinet in his mother's room where medicines were usually stored. He first drew the bottom drawler, but he didn't find any band aids, so he decided to move on to the one on top of it, but suddenly the door slid open and Noir, his mother, came in to the room. She stopped half way of the door's threshold and looked down at Samarsam.
"My dear child, are you looking for band aids? Well, we first need to sanitize those wounds on your knuckles…" Noir said in hesitant manner, but that stoic expression on her face never changed. She gently sat on her knees and took out a small carton of disinfectant tissues from the top drawler. Samarsam flinched a bit when the tissue made contact with the open sours, but it was soon over when Noir trimly began wrapping the wounds with a role of band aid on both hands.
"… It reminds me of the time when I used to work for Princes Leo as one of the three elite Imperial Guard Unit in the Galette Lion Dominion. When I was training with Commander Dalkian from the covert-ops team years ago, oh boy, you have no idea how many times I got injured…" Noir said nostalgically while packing the first aid kits.
"Mother, I know that you used to be the member of IGU, but what about my father?" Samarsam asked curiously.
"This dates back before the monarchies in all three kingdom obtained the ability to thoroughly summon heroes from another dimensions. Your father possessed the power of the Great Solar Stance. Then one day, Adelaide Grand Marnier, the Hero King scouted him as her side kick. Your father refused at first, but he gradually accepted her offer and they both fought against the force of evil together in the name of righteousness and justice. Although, these days fell short when Demon King Valeri appeared. His terror spread through out all the three kingdoms of Flonyard and beyond causing havoc where ever he walked. So Adelaide together with your father confronted the Demon King in a battle. When the battle reached it's climax, they weren't able to defeat the Demon King hence, Adelaide's only solution was to seal him along with her and your father. At the end, with much sacrifice, the Demon King was sealed off once and for all." Noir stood up from the tatami pavement and faced the other way towards the door.
"But mother, if father got sealed off along with the Demon King, then how did he got out? And what happened next?" Samarsam begged for explanations, but Noir replied softly:
"I'll tell you the rest of the story tomorrow. For now, let's have dinner; shall we? Your father also invited Uncle Cinque and Aunt Rebecca over to join us."
"Uncle and Aunt are here? How pleasant!" Samarsam snickered in joy.
When Samarsam and Noir arrived at the guest table they heard chattering from the entrance gate. Samarsam rushed to them excited leaving Noir behind.
"Welcome back father! And hello Uncle Cinque and Aunt Rebecca!" Said Samarsam filled with rhapsody.
"Samarsam, how have you been kido? Boy, you sure grow up fast." Cinque said as he rubbed Samarsam's straight brunette colored hair that covered his head down to his neck.
"Hey there Suma-chan! Long time no see! I brought some gift for you from the capital of Pastillage. Hope you like it!" Rebecca handed a package enveloped in a pink veil to Samarsam.
He then tenderly untied the node on the cherry blossom textured veil and pulled out the content from the package. A wooden box appeared, Samarsam opened the lid impatiently.
"A fountain pen! Is this really for me Aunt Rebecca?" Samarsam was astonished, for he never received such remarkable gift before in his entire life. He held the pen high in the air overlapping the moon as he was gazing its smooth metallic surface.
"Sister Rebecca, isn't he a little too young for a fountain pen?" Shankara placed his hand on Samarsam's shoulder.
"Don't worry father! I'll take good care of it, I promise!" Samarsam cautiously placed the pen back into the box. He was filled with utter joy since he knew that his father will never buy such thing as a gift except for paper notes or pencil box.
"It's OK Shan-kun; I think Sama-chan's old enough to handle a pen. Isn't that right?" Rebecca followed.
"Yes Aunt!" Samarsam answered with a warm grin.
"Alright everyone, come to the table, dinner is served!" Noir called out to the crowd carrying the last plate of xiao long bao dumplings. When Noir arrived at the table they all took hold of their chopsticks and began eating.
"Noir darling, did you cook all this by yourself? It's sure impressive." Shankara asked as he took a nibble of a fried tofu previously dipped in soy sauce.
"Yes…, but the lamian noodle was a gift from our neighbor… it's funny because we keep on getting gifts today! Do you agree?" Noir answered coyly and everyone on the table laughed.
"I-I can cook too you know? E-Even more, I can cook better than Noir! That's a fact!" Rebecca commented in those tsun-tsun manners. Noir gave a death stare towards Rebecca as if she was saying: Bring it on…
"But Rebecca… you burned the entire salmon this morning for putting into the oven for too long, remember?" Cinque interrupted and Rebecca's face grew red with steam puffing out from her head while squeezing her right fist so tight that the vein itself inflated. At that instant, Rebecca threw a furious punch towards Cinque, hitting him in the left jaw causing blood to gush out from his nose as he went down. Everyone stood up checking out on Cinque who was twitching on the floor hemorrhaging from both his nostrils and mouth.
"Rebecca… don't you think that this was a little too… harsh?" Noir said troublingly.
"Absolutely not! This brat better think twice before opening his mouth next time!" Rebecca crossed her arms and howled at Noir.
"Uncle Cinque, are you alright?" Samarsam asked.
"Sorta…" Cinque answered stuttering as his fingers convulsed.
"Wow, Sister Rebecca that was one burly blow for a person who practices Water Boxing kung-fu." Shankara said admirably clapping his hands.
"Of course… I mean, did you hear what he just said about my cooking? T-that was such a lie! N-not true at all…" Rebecca's tsun-tsun attitude never seemed to wither. Shankara giggled and tidily placed his chopstick on the table.
"Sister, could you do me the honor of sparring with me after Brother Cinque be given medical attentions he needs?" Shankara reached out his open palm pointing the atrium as an invitation for a friendly duel.
"It should be alright Shankara darling I can take care of him." Noir concluded after a brief analysis on Cinque's current physical condition.
"Good to hear, Sister please, this way." Shankara rolled his sleeves over as he approached the atrium. Rebecca swiftly followed him after taking off her coat. Her physical manifestations, same as Noir, were rather childish despite of her age. After a concise stretching session they both got to their fighting posture. Shankara's stance was entirely center lined with both of his arm sticking out in front of his chest relaxed. Rebecca's stance, however, was different in a sense where she bends down her right leg sinking her entire upper body while the other leg was stretched out on front. Rebecca also made a swirling pattern by whirling her arms rather marvelously in the open air. Samarsam was observing the duel vigilantly while munching on the last piece of steamed rice dumpling. Shankara began approaching to Rebecca at first with his right arm still in front, but left hand side elbow kept low to cover the front midsection of his body. Rebecca then suddenly sprung forwards kicking her right leg aiming Shankara's solar plexus, but he swiftly grabbed her foot and twisted. As a result, Rebecca barrel rolled, but she lifted her left foot off the ground attempting to kick Shankara at the side of his head. Shankara then deflected Rebecca's turning kick with his open palm and swiped his legs backwards. After the move, Rebecca made a faultless landing and got back to her previous stance.
"Horizontal Whirlpool Kick, very imposing…" Shankara complimented.
"I'm also desperate to see your "sticking-hands" technique too, Shan-kun!" Rebecca anticipated.
"Well, you will get it now, I promise!" Shankara shuffled his feet forwards engaging into Rebecca's range of defense. Rebecca began throwing rapid open palm hits by churning her arms encompassing around Shankara in effort of striking his vital organs, but all the attacks were successfully negated with Shankara's "sticking-hands" technique which is protecting his/hers centerline while attacking the opponent's centerline. When Rebecca attempted to kick him away, what ended up happening instead was Shankara kicking her leg back in before reaching her waistline. As Shankara started chain punching, she got on to her defense stance. The punches were way too rapid that Rebecca could barely keep up with its motion. Big drops of sweat flushed down from her forehead, Rebecca was seeking for a chance, for a chance to send Shankara away flying to the other side of the atrium with her "Water Spring Foot". As time passed by Rebecca noticed the decrease in speed of his chain punches. Now! Rebecca instructed to herself and energetically kicked her leg high targeting Shankara's neck. Rebecca was confident in knowing that this kick will mark the finale to her glorious victory over Master Shankara Lobpa. On the other hand, Shankara saw the incoming kick and simultaneously moved towards Rebecca hence, at the time her foot reached the height of Shankara's chin he was already only an inch close to Rebecca's chest.
"..Eh?" Rebecca whispered confused and uttered at the same time.
Then Shankara positioned his right foot behind Rebecca's left foot which was on the ground and grabbed her right leg by the hip then pushed her over with his entire body.
"Hyyyyaaaaaaaaa!" Rebecca screeched as she tumbled down on to the floor. Shankara combined both of his hands and smirked.
"Well, that was a pretty good exercise after a delicious dinner, don't you think?" Shankara shallowly bowed when Rebecca resisted from her eyes bursting out into tears.
"B-b-b-but, I-I was supposed to the best *sniff*, t-there's no way that I just *sniff* lost…" Rebecca said covered in dust. Then Cinque, who recovered from the injury rushed to Rebecca.
"Rebecca! Are you alright? You hurt?" Cinque asked anxiously while holding her upper body up crouching down with her.
"I'm fine Cinque… Thank you…*sniff*" Rebecca replied sobbing. Shankara also approached to them.
"Sister Rebecca, I'm sorry if I went too rough on you, please forgive me." Shankara apologized.
"It's alright Shan-kun you truly are the Wing Chun Master of BiscottiRepublic." Rebecca cheered up, smiling softly at Shankara.
"Thank you for your kind words Sister and I appreciate your visit today. I hope you enjoyed it." Shankara smiled back with combining his hands together.
"Of course! Cinque and I totally enjoyed it, right Cinque?" Rebecca asked to Cinque with a chunk of ice attached to his inflated cheek rhetorically. All he could do was reluctantly nod "yes".
"Well, have a good night you two and see you tomorrow. I'll call a rickshaw for both of you; don't worry it's all on me." Shankara signaled one of the house servants, but Cinque and Rebecca strongly refused.
"It's alright Shan-kun, we can walk home, plus it's not that late." Cinque said hugged Rebecca close to her.
"Alright, if you say so… we are still in our 30th anyway, right?" Shankara said rather sarcastically. Then all of them cracked, except for Noir and Rebecca, both of them stared at Cinque and Shankara heatedly
When Cinque and Rebecca left the house Samarsam dashed to his father.
"Father, Father! That was amazing! Was that your Great Solar Stance? I want to practice that also!" Samarsam hopped around poorly imitating Shankara's earlier stances.
"Great Solar Stance? Son, who told you about this stance, speak up boy!" Shankara looked sharply into Samarsam's eyes.
"But… mother told me that you used to fight with a Hero Queen before you got sealed off together with the Demon King and…" Before Samarsam could finish his sentence Shankara interrupted with his eyes closed facing the entrance gate.
"I heard enough, now go take a bath and go to bed…" Samarsam didn't question his father's command and went inside the house.
After Samarsam fell asleep, Shankara and Noir sat at the guest table inaudibly illuminated by the moonlight peering from the window. The only sound out there was zephyrs feebly blowing the branches on the weeping willow and the crickets hiding in the grass thrashing their wings together.
"Did you tell Samarsam about the Great Solar Stance?" Shankara broke the silence.
"Yes, why?" Noir said serenely as she took a sip of tea from the cup.
"I thought we agreed to not to tell him about the Stance? He's still too young, too naïve to obtain this knowledge!" Shankara looked directly at Noir's face leaning his posture forward.
"Someday, Shankara, someday Samarsam will search for your missing past since he is already growing inquisitive asking questions about you; it can't be helped. And when that day comes, where your son discovers about your past, which will also consequently lead to acknowledging the existence of The Great Eclipse Scroll; what will you do? Will you be still alive to warn him about the risk when following The Path of the Great Eclipse like you did once? You know better than anybody else about the hazards which lay ahead of you in that Path!" Noir grasped Shankara's hand that was on the table.
"It's better for as to give him caveat while we can rather than him end up destroying himself or others with that power." Noir stood up and walked over to Shankara's chair were he sat in quandary.
"Noir, you have grown wise my wife, I remember you being more innocent..." Shankara then finally held Noir's miniature hands pulling her slim waist closer to his chair accommodating her to sit on his laps open legged.
"I remember you being more tolerant and open-minded my husband…" After Noir was done with her sentence Shankara delicately pulled her shoulder closer to his chest and at the moment, both of their lips touched.
This wasn't like that immature kiss they done years ago when they were young. Shankara recalled the memory of him encountering Noir for the first time. It was in that bamboo forest, where he was petrified for over 3,000 in a form of youth, lying on dirt hopeless in an abandoned shire. Then she came, tearing the talisman off of Shankara's forehead, liberating him from that what it appears to be an eternal hell. Young, just as Shankara himself were, but gorgeous. On that hot summer day, when the sun was high up in the sky, Shankara fell in love with her.