Namaretsu: a form of martial arts characterized by graceful, dancelike movements and lightning-fast, deadly attacks. Although pressure points are important to all forms of unarmed combat, they hold an even greater role in namaretsu techniques. Students of namaretsu at Balamb Garden are taught not only about human pressure points, but those of other creatures as well. Because of this fact, Marecia Katari was not surprised to find that she would be learning about the pressure points of a caterchipillar in the day's lesson.
Her pale complexion sharply contrasted with the straight, jet-black hair that reached down to her waist; slightly slanted black eyes and a long-sleeved black gi completed the ensemble.
Marecia split her attention between the sensei, who was busy pointing out specific spots on a paralyzed caterchipillar, and a strip of black leather about one inch wide, with large metal studs placed along its length. She was holding it in one hand; her other hand held a small tool, with which she was making small adjustments to the strip. After a moment, she nodded and put the tool away in a pocket somewhere on her gi. Then she wrapped the strip of leather around her right wrist and secured a latch; immediately after, the sensei called on her to identify the five most effective pressure points on a caterchipillar. Mar stood up and walked to the front of the classroom; on her left wrist could be seen a piece of leather identical to the one on her right. When she reached the front, she pointed out the requested pressure points, naming them as she did so. "One pressure point is here, at the connection of the brain and main dorsal nerve. The use of this pressure point will paralyze a caterchipillar for up to an hour; slightly more force causes instant death." Mar pointed out four more pressure points and explained them, then sat back down.
"Very good," said the sensei. "Now, you're all going to spar with a caterchipillar. These aren't powerful specimens, so you don't have to worry about getting badly wounded. However, they're not defenseless, so don't think they can't hurt you." He turned and exited through one of the doors in the room (there were two). Muffled chattering began while the sensei was out, and ceased when he came back in, pulling a large cart piled high with paralyzed caterchipillars.
"I don't want to see any of you using para-magic; that includes drawing as well as casting. This is meant as a test of your namaretsu abilities, not your ability to use para-magic." Several students sighed, but the sensei ignored them. He motioned for the class to move to the walls, and then arranged the motionless bugs (seven in all) around the room.
"You will be arranged in groups of two. One last thing: don't kill the caterchipillars, just disable them." The sensei put his students in groups and had each group move to a caterchipillar. When everyone was in position, the sensei went around, casting Esuna on each caterchipillar as he came by. As each caterchipillar became mobile, they took a moment to regain their bearings and then attacked.
Marecia's partner was a boy about her age, named Karl. Although slightly clumsy, he wasn't all that bad at martial arts. As their caterchipillar charged, they both assumed defensive stances, ready for the attack. Marecia ducked down, then rolled backwards as the brightly colored creature rushed over her; before it could react, she pushed up and back with her legs, throwing the caterchipillar towards Karl, who lashed out with a spinning kick. The kick connected, and the caterchipillar uttered a shrill cry as it crashed to the ground. It wasn't out yet, though.
As Marecia flipped backwards to a standing position, the creature righted itself and leaped at her. She let it hit her, then reached around and pressed the spot she had pointed out just a few minutes before. The caterchipillar collapsed, limp, but still alive.
"Very good, you two," said the sensei as he walked over, staying a safe distance away from the groups that were still fighting. A few other groups had also disabled their caterchipillars by then, but the majority of the class hadn't.
The sensei picked up Marecia and Karl's caterchipillar and took it to the back room, as he had with the other finished groups'. While he was doing this, Marecia and Karl went and sat down against a wall to watch the remaining groups finish up.
After about ten minutes, the last of the groups finally defeated their caterchipillar. The sensei took it to the back room, came out, and closed the door. Then he looked at a clock hanging above the other door.
"All right, that's enough for this lesson," he said. "Class dismissed."
The students got up and filed out the door into a corridor of Balamb Garden. The students who hadn't eaten yet headed towards the cafeteria, hoping there were hotdogs left, while those who had eaten before class went off to do their own thing. Marecia was one of those who had woken up early enough to eat breakfast before, so she made a visit to the dorm room she shared with Shera. There she changed clothes, putting on a gray sweatsuit. She sighed when she caught sight of the room's dirty laundry basket: it was overflowing with dirty clothes.
"Shera forgot the laundry again," Marecia said to herself as she dropped her gi on top of the pile. "It would probably be easier if I just washed all of it myself, but…" she sighed again, and looked at Shera's side of the room. Things were scattered everywhere in that area: books on the floor, bed unmade, clothing hanging from a chair…in short, it was a mess. In comparison, Marecia's side was every parent's dream: clothes neatly put away, bed made, things properly organized on shelves and in drawers.
"I guess it's just her nature," Marecia said after a moment. She got up and exited, closing the door behind her.
Shera and Marecia shared a living room with five other pairs of students; luckily, their schedules tended to be different enough so that no more than five people were in it at once. At the moment there were only two, Marcus and his roommate Zack. They were playing a game of Triple Triad, and at the moment, Marcus seemed to be winning.
"All right, my Ifrit flips one of your Bite Bugs, so I have three cards and you have one. Just a few more turns and this game will be – oh, hi Marecia."
"Hello, Marcus," she replied. Marcus noticed her clothes and gave a warning.
"It's really cold today. I wouldn't be out running if I were you." Marecia's reply was matter-of-fact. "I like the cold." She began walking towards the door, then paused and turned back towards Marcus. "If you see Shera, could you remind her that it's her turn to do the laundry?"
"Sure," said Marcus. Marecia exited, and he went back to his game. Unfortunately for him, Zack had just played a card that flipped Marcus's three, putting the score at five to zero.
"Dammit!"