Grayell had gotten the fire going and looked up, then looked at the river.
Ah. Sorry about that. Too used to my own ways I suppose. If you'd like some more clothing, I can pick you up something tomorrow. Part of your training will be improvisation though.
Grayell stood up and looked down the river, hands on his hips.
I meant quite so pretty Serenity. I don't quite fit the bill. Now, I regard you as a trusted and very dear friend. It's important that you understand that this will be tough though. It will test your patience. The sword is more than an item, a weapon. It becomes part of who you are. But you cannot change the sword... therefore you must change yourself.
I won't ask you to damage your clothes, but you are going to be spending some time in the water.
He shot her a grin then, though it remained entirely friendly.
My sash is plenty long for you to make something functional. I won't ask you to compromise your modesty.
Grayell removed it from his waist and handed it to her.
I'll leave to work with that whilst I fetch some bamboo.
Grayell walked down the bank and then dived into the water. He surfaced after a moment and though the fast moving river swept him some 20 feet down, he reached the other side and dragged his bulk onto the opposing bank.
The sash he had given her amounted to some 8 feet long and 4 feet wide.
She couldn't help but chuckle while looking down, she almost couldn't believe it. Then again, she should have expected this.
"Alright, but you owe me some new clothes when we get back." she quickly snagged the sash from his hand, jerking her mouth from one side trying to hide a grin.
It used to be that she wouldn't stand for such a suggestion, nor even humor the idea. Something about Grayell, however, made her trust him and that he was really looking out for her benefit and not just trying to get a look at her appeal.
As she watched Grayell swim down the river, she prepared to change, an idea of what to do with the sash had already come to mind as she took it from him.
Stretching her arms out, she took a deep breath, held it, and raised her arms as she summoned the earth. A circular wall rose up all around her, only about 6 feet in diameter and 7 feet high. Enough to keep Grayell's eyes at bay if he did let his hormones get the better of him.
Satisfied with her work, she proceeded to remove her shirt and fold it neatly before setting it on the ground.
While oblivious to women's undergarments around the world, the women of Highever sported chest corsets, garments that only wrapped around the chest area of the body. It was better than the death hazard they wore before, and less strangling. It was made from sheep skin and was comfortable to wear, Serenity decided to keep this on.
"Now, let's see if this will work..."
Holding the sash with both hands, she took mental note of the measurements and how often she would have to wrap it around her body. From the mid section of the sash she began, putting it up to her breasts and starting wrapping it around, under her arms and using them as clamps at first to hold it when she had to fix something.
All around it went, and it covered the majority of her body minus the neck line going down to where the wrap began. To finish the job she was able to make a nice tight bow at the small of her back. Serenity had to wrap more than once at certain sections in order for it to fit properly and so the lady would be a little warm during the exercise, but her arms and shoulders were bare so that would let her be cool she thought.
Finally done, she let the earth curtain recede into its place once again and sighed to test her breathing in the new garment. It was a little tight but nothing she couldn't get used too.
Grayell had returned but had walked across a downed log on the way back, lugging a couple of long lengths of thick bamboo. He dropped off the log and onto the river rocks with a clutter of rocks, then looked up to see Serenity in her improvised bikini. He stopped for a moment, said nothing - and then hefted the bamboo back onto his shoulders and walked up the bank to where she stood.
Very nice. Very clever. Now, if you get too cold - and I mean dangerously cold - you get to the fire. I won't have you doing as I have and damn near drying. My cloak will be up there to keep you warm while you heat up, ok? I'll have some tea on as well.
You're to focus on your training, don't worry about the rest. But you need to know it gets cold in the river bed at night. Let me know if you get too cold, I'll be by the fire. That shelter should do you just fine though.
Now, for your first exercise.
Grayell takes his knife out and begins work. It takes a few minutes but is hardly a complex contraption. In the end, he has a length of bamboo with a length of cord looped at each end. it Measure some 4 feet long. A paddle of bamboo dangles at each end - not long, but enough to drag in the water. He hands it to her, it seems light.... for now.
Alright miss. You're to keep that on your shoulders. Your cross the river to the other side, turn and come back again. Your first task is to accomplish this 100 times. Again, if you think you are dangerously cold, you get out the water and get by the fire. This won't be easy, but this is the start of your conditioning.
I'm going to work on your shelter. You'll be wanting a good night's sleep.
Grayell smiles, stares at her for a moment... and then turns and heads toward the fire and her shelter without another word.
There a bit of surprise, a stunned look on her face even, when Serenity learned what her training would comprise of. It was just the first task alone and as far as she knew had nothing to do with sword fighting.
When she learned scales, arpeggios, and etuden on the piano it was to better her skill on the instrument and even improve her voice work. What did traveling back and forth between a freezing river have to do with sword play?
I hope this isn't just a ruse to get me drenched...no, no of course its not, he's serious
In truth she rather not get wet at all, especially in a running river of cold water. The lady mage wasn't even sure if she could perform 5 laps let alone 100.
She breathed in and out, letting her chest rise and fall to see if she would suffocate under her new cloth corset. It was fine, she made sure not tie it extremely.
Serenity got down on her knees to remove her boots, tossing them aside unlike her shirt. The skin on her ankles and feet got a sudden case of goosebumps with the air and knowing where they were headed in a moment. The lady stretched out her toes, not used to having them outside of their leather protection during her wake hours. While she was at it, Serenity removed the sword as well and placed it next to her boots.
Picking up the bamboo device, and holding it across her shoulders as instructed, Serenity moved to the edge of the river and contemplated whether it would be better to just slowly dip herself in; or jump right in. Neither idea seemed pleasing to her as it showed on her face. She was biting her lip and giggling to herself in disbelief at what she was about to do, with her arms outstretched to hold the bamboo stick.
It must have been over 5 minutes before she settled on getting on with it, knowing that if she kept being reluctant they would be there all week. Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly, Serenity jumped into the water.
"ITS COLD!"
There was a brief splash, followed by shouting exclaiming how severe the cold was. The councilwoman found that her upper body stuck out from the water, but it didn't help her feel any better from the rushing cold that was hitting her constantly now.
She couldn't move, and her teeth were chattering, she found that trying to walk would only make the cold bite harder. It was only going to get worse from here, and she hadn't reached the end of her first lap yet.
Taking a quick gulp of air, she dunked the rest of herself in the water to get the feeling all over her. When she rose back up her teeth were chattering even more.
"I...I have to...move...that..is the..only way....I'm going..to...get warm." she said to herself.
And so began the journey of her first lap across the water. A very very slow journey...
Her steps were deliberately slow, unable to take the cold as it seemed to get worse with every step. It seemed harder to her than she thought it would be to move across the water, as her pace was also due to the running water. She hadn't noticed yet that the bamboo was partly helping.
The strange sensation she got as the currents moved past her legs was relaxing in its own way, Serenity was just too focused on moving onward to really appreciate it. In her mind she wanted to catapult herself out of the water and by a fire already, using her earth magic to shoot her right out.
Serenity thought of many things to get her to move faster, the fact that if she did so it would be done quicker, food, fire, and perhaps a new set of clothing courtesy of Grayell if she pleaded enough. Though the last thought made her feel like a little girl.
The lady mage was only half way to the end when she thought of all this, still shivering from the cold.
Come on, I can't fail myself, nor Grayell this soon when I haven't really tried. If this is what it takes to learn the sword I will do it! If I can't even do one lap what good will I do with a sword?
Grayell was watching her but had started to fix her shelter. It had a raised cot and enough space for her to sit up, she should be quite comfortable. He'd have to build a small wall for him by the fire to keep some heat on him or he might not weather the cold so well. He knew of a good spot for some thick moss though and set off to fetch it. He kept in his sight at all times and soon enough, had padded the cot quite well. She'd need solid rest.
He hadn't the heart to tell her he was going easy on her. Just a little. But swinging around a blade and trying to stab someone was no way to learn. Her body would have to become familiar with correct form before she even thought of touching a blade. The cot done, he started on the roof and walls.
Later they'd need food. The river was plentiful with fish though.
Two laps, that's all she had done so far. Trying to keep her own pace while still dealing with an intense cold that didn't seem waver. It wasn't even evening yet when it would really start to chill. Her only upside was that she found herself becoming a little used to it already, given that she spent a lot of time alone just for these two laps.
Grayell had swam in the water effortlessly just a little while ago, how she wished she could do the same.
"What I'd give to be a water mage right now..."
She never cheated in an exercise before, but it did cross her mind as she was doing these. Serenity thought she would move faster if she hindered the strength of the current somewhat, raising a wall of earth along side her to help her move faster.
The councilwoman was ashamed of the idea, but the cold hurt her more than she originally imagined. Shaking it off she continued, encouraging herself not to leave the water until she done at least half of her work load, though it seemed impossible at her rate.
After 6 laps she was shivering a little less and only chattered her teeth when a brush of wind crossed her path, forcing her to submerge a little more into the water to avoid it. When she did this however she found what the bamboo was for, and hated Grayell slightly for it.
While she wasn't entirely weak, if she kept going she knew the bamboo would carry her away eventually, or at least drag her off course. At times it seemed to want to tug her away, specifically towards the end of her lap. She wasn't sure why that was.
After half an hour of starting the exercise she had only done 14 laps, her start being a fault for this. The shivering had stopped completely, Serenity's skin finally used to the water somewhat.
She wanted to get out already, but getting out to warm herself and then comeback seemed counter intuitive, as Serenity thought doing so would force her to get used to the water again each time.
Her stomach was starting to growl a little under the water, and thoughts of what Grayell would be preparing were filling her mind. Memories of exquisite dinners she once attended with all sorts of food flooded her, and her tongue recalled various flavors within short time laps, making her crave just about anything at this time.
Last Edit: Aug 31, 2011 15:27:39 GMT -5 by Serenity
Grayell had finished preparing the camp and was returning again from the bamboo grove. He had two more lengths of large bamboo and a longer, thinner one. He walked past the log this time though and instead, entered the water not 20 feet downstream from her. He didn't look her way, but started his way across, with the bamboo across his shoulders, arms resting over it.
He didn't walk face on though. Instead, he bent his knees, and took one long stride, his hips following his leg and turning his body side on with the water. He then repeated, his other leg coming through, hips turning and upper body now facing the opposite direction. He was larger than Serenity, but it took his far less steps and with seemingly little effort, reached the other bank and wandered back to the fire.
20 laps now, Serenity was reaching the end of her limit it seemed as it became tiring to drag the bamboo and walk across the water. If she had bent her knees like Grayell did the current would probably take her right now.
She just stood there at the edge of the river, still in the water. Her stomach was growling a little fiercely now but she ignored it. It must have been an hour when she started this exercise now and she was no where near half done. She must look like a beast of burden in the water she thought, trying to picture herself from a third person perspective as she stood there catching her breath and carrying a bamboo stick.
The urge to move on was colliding with her need to eat something, even though she couldn't get a taste in her mouth for anything. The thought of getting out of the water only to be chilled further by the wind made her shiver. At least there would be a fire.
Her break was almost causing her some stamina as the bamboo tried to float down the current, but she held on to it across her arms anyway.
Trying to think of something other than food, and when was the last time she had any, Serenity started again, making herself a goal to do at east 10 more and then 10 more afterward.
Serenity turned and came back once more and could see Grayell. He was stripped down to just a warp around his torso and was thigh deep in the water. His eyes were locked on something and he had fashioned a spear from the thinner length of bamboo.
A flick of his arm and a sudden splash of water and he laughed, pulling a fish from the river. He turned and walked to the bank, lifting up 2 more fish he had already caught. He looked back to Serenity with a smile.
Not that there was room for composure when you were waist deep in water, wearing nothing but a wrapped cloth, and dragging a piece of bamboo back and forth, but Serenity couldn't help herself and smile like a little girl when she saw that fish writhing around at the end of Grayell's handmade spear.
There...see..some motivation, get moving! she was telling her stomach.
She had done 30 now when Grayell caught that fish. Her legs were burning under the cold water and she swore there were several cuts under her feet. The water was so cold it numbed any sharp pain she might have felt while doing the whole thing.
The lady pushed herself onward, now dragging a bit. 40 laps after a motivational burst of what she thought was inhuman endurance, coming off her at least. This last stretch was the hardest to endure. Even though it was only half of what Grayell asked her to do, it was a personal marker for her before taking a break.
After her burst of speed she had fatigued herself, her legs now struggling a little to not be carried away from the current. The bamboo wasn't helping much either as it now felt like a person was physically pulling her down.
Her last lap was the hardest, "Come on...50.....we're almost there" she said to herself.
She dragged her legs as if she pulled an anchor behind her, and was straggling off course, forcing her to go back in place even if she didn't have to. Serenity was a little compulsive like that.
A sudden sting shocked through her leg, a cut she finally could feel as her foot heavily stepped on something sharp, a rock perhaps. She stopped for a moment and bit her lip, doing her best to shrug it off and continue onward in hope that the cool water will make it less painful.
Her steps were now slower than before, the cut on her foot biting at her with every step. It was as if the river was working against her she thought, reading her mind this whole time and impairing her goal. It wasn't going to beat her so easily.
She turned the river into her enemy now, and turned her anger against it, her rage fueling the last bit of strength she needed to move onward, grunting a little with every new step she took towards the end.
Serenity hit 50. It was a well deserved 50 and perhaps it took longer than she would have liked, but Grayell was standing by the fire and called to her.
That's 50 miss. You're fish is ready by the way.
It seemed he had been counting the whole time, but more importantly, he held up his cloak which he'd kept by the fire for her. He was smiling, she obviously wasn't about to get an earful for not completing all 100. After all, the sun was getting low in the sky and it was starting to get cooler.
Her arms ached when she removed the bamboo. The tool was tossed over the edge and hit the ground with a short clatter. Slowly she stretched them out, trying to relieve the tension on her shoulders as well.
It was difficult to move them at first, but after a couple of winds the lady found that she could at least raise her arms up and down slowly. Good news for her stomach. However, she couldn't pull herself up out of the water when she tried, there was a pain that disabled her from doing so with each try. Giving up she simply asked the earth to raise her out of the water, where she collapsed and rolled over to the ground.
A mud angel could of been made if Serenity moved her arms. The ground felt good to her, and at the moment didn't care that Grayell's sash was getting dirty.
"Its mine for the moment anyway..."
It wasn't a 100, and it was getting dark now. Grayell would forbid her from finishing the rest. Serenity was disappointed in herself, not having the strength to do what was asked. She was always able to do what was required of her for her studies. This was something entirely different, but her pride was hurt.
Shaking her head, she slowly got up, but not before tightening up the sash again. The wind reminded her that she was soaking wet and hugged herself, shivering as she made her way to the camp.
Her legs ached as well, more so than her arms and under her cold skin they burned with exhaustion. At the camp she nearly fell on her knees when she reached the fire, eager to get warm. Serenity began to rub her wet hands together and smelled the fish.
"I'm sorry Grayell, I'll do better next time I promise."
Grayell looked at her with an expression of surprise.
Ah... you're kidding me right? Slow it down Serenity, I'm not trying to kill you. Here.
Grayell waddled over and then pulled his cloak around her. It was very warm, having been heated by the fire. He pulled it tight in front, brushed her wet hair from his face with his hands. Her lips were almost blue, quivering.
You're damn near hypothermic. Didn't I tell you to get out when you were cold? Dammit woman...
He had a cross expression on his face but behind that was sincere worry and concern. He poured a cup of tea for her, steaming off the fire.
Here. You drink this slow alright? We need to get you warm. No arguments.
Grayell scooted behind her and slowly eased himself into position on the ground behind her. His legs were either side of hers and he pressed his cheat to her back, his arms folding up and onto her shoulders, rubbing briskly.
You don't do something this foolish again. You should be sorry that you've damn near killed yourself.
He was scolding her, but his worry came through in his voice. The tea coupled with his body heat and the heat of the fire should bring her core temperature back to normal within a few minutes.
Serenity was still shivering, but was warm enough to feel that her face was red. She wasn't expected to be cuddled like this and the moment became a little embarrassing for her. The heat from his body and shoulder rubs wasn't helping as much, if only because she was still wearing a wet garment.
Chuckling a little, she shifted away from him for a moment and untied the sash. Unwinding now, Serenity tossed the muddy thing away and she still wore her chest corset. It was as pale colored as her natural skin.
"Try to resist undoing the back would you?" she said grinning and shaking her head a little. She scooted herself back against Grayell and drank from her tea to feel the hot liquid run down her cold throat. It helped bring warmth through her whole body.
"I'm stubborn, always have been, at least when it came to work and goals I set for myself. Of course, studying academics, magic and music were much easier to do than walking through a cold river."
Grayell kept rubbing his hands on her, trying to warm her as best he could. It would be close to dangerously cold within an hour or two and having her wet and half frozen could be a terrible scenario.
I don't need you to be stubborn. It's admirable, but you also need to know your own limits. The purpose of the exercise isn't to complete it, but to learn from it. If you rush through it, you simply wont. Tomorrow, we'll mix it up a little... and you WILL take breaks to warm up miss.
Grayell pulled the cloak tighter around her, but looking down saw her feet.[/i]
You cut your feet?
He sighed.
Serenity, you're an intelligent and gifted woman. But something like that could kill you out here. You're..... naughty.
It was apparent he'd stalled and chosen that last word, but it made him smile. She was starting to warm and he was starting to relax in return. After a few more minutes, he rested his chin on her shoulder instead of his hands and lazily wound his arms about her waist.
Hm. Much better. You're shelter is very warm by the way, you're sure to sleep well. I'm quite jealous actually, I remember when I made it. Fish is definitely done... we should eat.