Chapter VIII - Training

It had been over four years since Jack started training with Raijū. Their powers were really very different but the werewolf was a great mentor to the winter spirit. Jack was doing rather well at his training and slowly discovering new powers.

They trained in many spots across world, so to be prepared for any kind of terrain. Today, Raijū decided to be a little easier and train in a clearing in the woods, few kilometers from the cave. The perfect place to practice Jack's new power.

The werewolf looked carefully at his protégé.

Jack grabbed his staff and tapped the ground quickly as it gave of a icy blue glow, creating a very small pillar of ice in front of him.

The boy groaned and thunked his head against a tree.

"Even a little progress is still progress." Raijū said, tried cheering Jack up a little.

"I've been trying to do it for 2 months." The winter spirit groaned as he swung his staff over his shoulder. "This isn't progress. This ice pillar is a failure."

"You managed to create this pillar, now you just has to make it bigger."

"How?"

"Train by doing, Jack."

"You know, I remember when we first started all this training." Jack said leaning against his staff. "And you gave me this long motivating speech. You make it sound so easy."

"Everything is easy. After it is hard."

"What are you, a fortune cookie?"

"Maybe... I was a some great wise man of the mountain in a previous life." Raijū said as Jack take a step back to try again his new power, tapping a ground with his staff.

A bigger pillar of ice to sprout from under wooden staff. Jack did not have very long to enjoy his success as pillar broke into small pieces that fell to the ground.

"Intriguing." said Raijū, placing a hand on his chin with a look of contemplation. "I think it's time to start the next part of training."

He could feel Jack staring at him with curiosity in his blue eyes.

"Okay... which means what, exactly?"

"We're going to meditate." Raijū watched as a near-grimace twisted Jack's face, ignoring the speechless protests that boy's eyes was generating.

The werewolf had always know the winter spirit wouldn't be the type to love sitting still and listening to his own deep breathing. Admittedly, Jack knew how to clear his head and listening to the wind whispering in his ears. But meditation is something else entirely.

"Meditation is all about balance and calm, and the person that can keep balanced and calm in a heart and mind is the person that know themselves."

"So you're saying I have a problem with this power because of the loss of balance?"

"In three words, yes and no." Raijū replied, "The magic flows through us bodies, much like the water flows through the stream. And there are several spots where the magic swirls around before flowing on. Our inner "stream" should flow pure and clear. However, life isn't always easy, and bad energy tend to fall in the "stream". "

Jack didn't say anything for a moment. "And then our magic can't flow?" He finally asked.

"Yes. But, if your head clears, your magic will clear too. And make the magic flows. That's why we're going to meditate." Raijū watched as Jack followed his example and sat down on the ground, his legs crossed into the lotus position.

"Now close your eyes." He told the teenage boy, who only closed his left eye." Both of them, Jack. "

"How you know that I was peeping?" Jack asked, confused.

"I can feel you watching me." Raijū replied with out bothering to open his eyes. "All right, let's start with the basics."

~•~

The forest was a little vast, but the wind managed to find the secret spot that Sköll had told wind Raijū took Jack for their sessions... and it was so very worth it.

Raijū and Jack were sat at the ground, meditating peacefully with their eyes closed. The wind stared, watching the pair of them breathing softly and deeply, relaxing. Their arms were outstretched and their fingers were held in a particular gesture, their thumbs pressed against their finger.

Breathing in through his nose and out through his mouth, Raijū remained perfectly still, in touch with his inner zen. Jack was a little less connected to his inner voice. But the wind had never seen him so focused and relaxed... Raijū's method had really done wonders to help spirit. Wind was grateful that the werewolf had took Jack under his wing.

"Are you feeling relaxed, Jack?" Raijū asked.

"Yes." The winter spirit said, contently.

"Have you purged your negative thoughts from your mind?" The man spoke softly, looking over at his protégé.

"Yes." Jack replied, sighing.

"Are you prepared to try your new power, again?"

"I was born ready." Jack opened his eyes and got up from ground.

Raijū nodded. "Do it."

The winter spirit raised his staff over his head, sending powerful ice magic energy through the hands to the wood.

Instantly, Jack's mind was filled with the image of the ice pillar. It half smooth surface, those beautiful blue-white color, it cold and hardness, that long shining shape... not to mention those gorgeous frost on the ice.

A smile formed on Jack's lips, then tapped the ground activating his power as a large pillar of ice rose under him.

"WHOOOOO!" The boy cheered as he flew in the air before he called the wind to fly by riding it. Then he landed on top of the pillar and slammed his staff to the ice, sending his magic inside it.

A slanted pillar of ice rise from a side of the first pillar, fast it took shape of dizzying spiral. Jack slide down the ice pillar, landing back on ground.

"Well, practice really makes perfect." The winter spirit said as he grew a smile while Raijū walked to him.

"I have to tell you, I'm very impressed." The werewolf places a hand on his shoulder and Jack can't help but beam proudly.

Jack give his mentor a small smile as the wind blow. "So what's next?"

Author Note: Thanks for reading. I'm open to constructive criticism if you have any.Feel free to leave a comment