I'm Gonna Make a Man Out of You!
Summer 2021, Week 2
Thursday evening
Akira Kakimoto's Home, Lakeview
Isaac Crysentine
It was the evening after the first AERI meeting in the police headquarters, and Isaac was in Mr. Akira's backyard once more. The two had discussed the new AERI initiative, and whether or not Isaac was a part of it. "I guess you could say I'll have a heavy hand in it." He said with a heavy grin, as he started to get the hang of blocking and dodging through the practice sparring match with his teacher.Akira Kakimoto
"Young Isaac, you must be very careful. You have potential, as I have told you, but you still have much to learn. If you had to fight Bolt again, I am still not sure if you would be ready. You must continue training, especially if he does something like... this," the teacher brought a kick which he infused with ice to harden the impact down on the young fire user, who had no idea what to do except barely managing to dodge for his life. The impact on the ground created a small yet sizeable and deep crater, one which surely would have broken several bones and organs. "You are getting better, Young Isaac. Before you would have stood there and attempted to stop it, but now you know when to dodge and when to fight. Good, good. Again." The man kept coming at Isaac, using all sorts of little water tricks that provided mobile yet powerful blows. "Concentrate. Focus on all my movements. Keep you field of vision clear. Become one with your power."Isaac Crysentine
That's so much to do at once. But he knew he was getting better. Slowly and surely, he was able to train himself to see and focus and simply understand more. He was still a novice by every means, but the foundational skills he needed to advance were becoming ingrained in his young mind. With every attack Kakimoto threw at him, at least half were either dodged or blocked by Isaac by some form of his own fire. If I can learn to not take hits, I can at the very least not die as much as I did last time. The time passed, and Isaac was starting to become absolutely exhausted while his teacher seemed like he was just getting started. He focused and steadied his breathing, and after a few breaths he had it back under control. With his teacher just standing there, Isaac said "It's my turn."Akira Kakimoto
Let's see what he's got. To the old man's surprise, Isaac moved with a greater speed - not by much, but noticeably faster - than before, and as he got closer Kakimoto saw why. The young man was using his fire to propel himself forward with greater momentum, and he was starting to charge his fists and legs with fire themselves. I suppose this is him getting serious now. Just as Kakimoto brought his water whips down to throw Isaac off course, Isaac dodged a sudden but propelled movement of his own. Just like that, he was now incredibly close to Mr. Akira and was not propelling himself through the air. Just as his Fire Fist was about to slam into the old man's side, the teacher brought his hand lower and blocked the attack with a flash of multiple water entrails, drastically halting Isaac while the rest of his teacher's body moved to respond and absolutely punish him into the ground. "That was good, Isaac. Still sloppy, but good. Better than before. Come, again." He saw the young man get back up, ready to attack once more and spar with much closer combat than Isaac had ever dealt with before.Isaac Crysentine
By the time struck 11:00 pm, Isaac was once again on the ground. Though he wasn't as beaten as the previous training session. Between the last session and now, he had been focusing more on himself and looking inwards, not only to his power but his emotions, his feelings and goals and ideals. He had decided he was going to be a hero, and this training was just a steppingstone he had to get through. He meditated as much as he could, letting himself become the unwavering flame he told himself he would be. It was this unwavering flame that readily stood back up, ready to spar with their teacher once more before he was once again cut off.Akira Kakimoto
"That is enough for today, Young Isaac. Come back next Tuesday and Wednesday. I am very busy the next week or so with work, and you will be very busy with your new AERI friends. I am sure you will be fine until then." The old man let his water whips disappear beside him, and soon he was on his way back inside to his house.Isaac Crysentine
"Wait! I have a request. Do you think, just maybe, one of my AERI friends could join us next time for training? They need it more so out of any of us, especially if they're joining the team." Even more so than me, which is saying something.Akira Kakimoto
The old man stopped in the middle of his steps and turned around to look at the young man. He stared at him as he considered the request, letting his stare sink into Isaac's heart. "Yes." Is all he said, before turning back around and leaving Isaac alone in the backyard. Training for the day was now over.
Type
Record, Historical
Medium
Digital Recording, Text
Authoring Date
July 1, 2021
Authors
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