Forms in Smoke

The smoke of burning incense drifted through the small dojo. Eddies of air swirled the smoke into small spirals before settling again. Despite the chill air, sweat trickled down Roland's body as he moved slowly, precisely through the forms. He kept things in check, using only the water and air forms. Flowing grace, smooth transitions from one position to the next, absolutely no hurry, the movements as inexorable as a river, and as light as a kiss from a breeze in summer. You spent too much time in here, practicing, perfecting your art. And while you may be smooth as silk in here, when it comes to talking to people who aren't fighters themselves, you're rather hit or miss.
 
"I know. That's why I come back here."
 
To hide away?
 
"No. I do it because everything always returns to one." As he says that he indeed returns to the beginning of the form, resting for a moment before moving into the next. "I never really thought about those kinds of things."
 
You've always been so absorbed in your training that you never let yourself even consider.
 
"Exactly. I always focused on being the best student, the best martial artist, the best son I could be. I didn't allow room for anything else." Fast movements are easy. A kick that snaps out and back can be done a hundred times before it starts to burn. But one that takes ten seconds to fully extend and retract works the muscles to near failure after only a few, and tests balance just as hard.
 
But things have changed now?
 
"It's been almost seven years since he left on the expedition. And it's taken till now for me to start understanding the other lessons he was trying to teach me." The smell of the sandalwood incense permeated the room, keeping his mind calm and focused after years of training. "There were always some things that I was slow to learn." He laughed and moved into "Wind upon the grass" form.
 
So you move into the one that emphasizes bending over rigidity. Are you finally ready to learn the other lessons? That inside voice chuckled.
 
"No time to start like the present. And, I don't know, maybe something could be there, or maybe I'm just not used to really good friendships. And this could go either way."
 
You did find her passed out in an alley that first time you met.
 
"I did. And I remember her snarling at me the second time when she learned my uncle is a Ranger-Colonel."
 
She was so pissed. They both seem to laugh, both the inside voice and the outer one. In the moment of the laughter he lost balance and stumbled, catching himself before sprawling.
 
"It took me weeks before I got her to trust me enough to get within ten feet of her. She's always afraid that I'll out her to her mom, or haul her in. But I'd never do that."
 
People are free to make their own choices, and we cannot make them for them. We can only offer comfort when needed, and protection when we must. As he used to say.
 
"Dad was always full of little quotes of wisdom like that." It had been over an hour of slow movement through the sequence of forms, and the exertion now left him sweaty and exhausted, but with a much clearer mind.
 
So what are you going to do?
 
Roland thought for a moment, watching the smoke drift on invisible currents. "Wintertide is coming up. I think I'll do something for that. Not sure how she'll take it, seeing as she's not used to people just liking her for her, and not looking to just use her. But I can't help but just be nice."
 
You remember what she said around the pond, don't you?
 
"I do, which means I need to head out soon." He looked at the time and realized just how late it was. "Okay, maybe tomorrow."
 
You're starting a new skill from scratch. And this one involves close contact with people. You up for it?
 
"Dad said that I needed to be worthy. That I needed to prove myself and know myself before I'd be ready to learn the last thing he had to teach and he'd come back. And I can't be truly myself if I don't try. I've put aside this part of myself for too long. Time to take a chance on the unknown." He felt the voice inside nod, then go quiet. Roland took his time cleaning up the little dojo and putting things back where they belonged, the stick of incense having given up it's last. He bowed in reverence toward a small shrine that looked out upon the dojo before walking out. The chill of the night bit into his skin as he stopped at the railing and looked up and west. "Miss you dad. I know that, wherever you are, you're keeping people safe, like you did me. Maybe when you get back you'll come with siblings for me." His laugh lightly echoed across the stone and wood of the house and surroundings. "I'm trying to become the man you were, the man you wanted me to be. I only hope I can be half the man you are." He watched the stars, what ones he could see that weren't drowned out by the lights of the city. "Maybe we're looking at the same stars right now, like we used to, right here. I love you dad. Good night." A shower and bed awaited him, and he certainly wouldn't keep them waiting. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day.