Chapter 6 - Azell Zestringer (6)

He a strange person.
The fact that he was still alive looking like that was amazing, but if one paid close
attention, there were other strange things about him. His accent was weird. He
sounded like he was from a far away place, and his inflection was a bit different. At
times, he would use old-fashioned vocabularies. Moreover, his reaction to spoken
words were strangely slow as if he didnt understand what was being said.
I dont think his ear is damaged.
Any ways, he was most definitely a practitioner of Spirit Order. He had a hard time
believing it, while looking at his exterior, but he might be an expert who attained a
relatively high mastery.
Giles asked his aide.
How is he doing?
He hasnt done anything out of the norm. After he ate, he went to rest. However,
there was a surprising incident.
What is it?
I was told he has rapidly changed after eating lunch and dinner. He used to be
emaciated, but now he looks a bit skinny.
What? Really?
Yes. Everyone is gossiping about it. They think its some strange magic.
That is curious. I should go meet him.
Should I go with you?
No, Ill go by myself.
After the conversation, Giles exited his office and he went towards the medical
barracks, where Azell was staying.
Army doctor Rick, its Centurion Giles. Do you mind if I enter?
Come in.
After hearing Ricks reply, Giles entered the barrack. However, unlike what he had
expected, Rick didnt greet him. He was distracted and he looking at the wrong
place.
He followed the others gaze, and before he knew it, Giles eyes opened wide.
He saw the sight of Azell upside down with his shirt off. He was doing a handstand
with one of his right finger, while three small round stones were stacked beneath
his finger. In this state, he was doing a pushup.
In a couple hours time, his body had unbelievably filled out, but his body didnt
show much muscle. Since he was so skinny before, his muscle tissues had died
out. (TLN: catabolized muscle tissue)
It was surprising he was able to do this act with that body. After reaching a certain
level as a practitioner of Spirit Order, one develops superhuman strength and
sense of balance. Therefore, it wasnt surprising to see him doing a push-up while
doing a handstand with one finger. However, he had stacked 3 small round stones
on top of each other, and a small shift in balance would make the stones slip. He
had never thought about doing this.
I want to try it.
When Giles came in, Azell stopped doing the push-ups, and he flicked the finger he
was balanced on. This caused the 3 stones to scatter in different direction. His
body turned in a circle and he was able to land his body lightly.
Ooht-cha.(TLN:sound of exertion, like a grunt I guess) Centurion Giles.. No,
should I call you Sir Giles?
After hearing Azells words, Giles was surprised again. Wasnt he entirely different
from his morning appearance? His voice was different, but his blue eyes and the
burning red color of his hair was the same. If these physical attributes didnt match
then he wouldnt have thought it was the same person.
Giles spoke, while hiding his unrest.
Call me as you like. You arent my subordinate.
Then I will call you Sir Giles. Its shorter.
Thats fine. Any ways, thats a pretty fun training technique.
I had a memory of training this way. My body is in a rough shape, so its difficult.
Azell complained, while he looked at his body with discontent.
How were you able to recover you body in couple hours?
I ate and drank a lot. If one provides what the body needs then the body recovers
quickly.
It is hard for me to believe that is the only reason. When a person is weakened,
one cannot accept a lot of food at one time. They would probably have to eat slowly
and gradually recover their body?
Of course, one has to have enough digestive ability, and control over the state of
ones body. Sir Giles, you havent experienced an extreme situation like me, but if
you did, wouldnt you be able to do the same thing? Fundamentally, Spirit Order
practitioners learn to control the rhythm of the heart. If so, wouldnt you be able to
control the circulation of the blood or your sleep state?
Spirit order uses the pulsation of the heart as the source of power. Every time the
heart pulses, it vibrates the spirit ring and the resonance causes the magical forces
to move.
If one learned the Spirit Order then he will have a technique thatll manipulate the
beat of his heart. While standing still, if he wanted to, he could make his heart beat
crazily fast or beat slow as if he is asleep.
Giles asked a question, while being amused.
Do you mean to say you are able to extend the technique to manipulate your body
to that degree?
Of course. If you can manipulate your hearts rhythm then you should be able to
manipulate every part of your body. Unlike regular people, as a Cord-rope master,
you should be able to use this method to control your body.
You are right.
Giles nodded his head.
Even though he accepted it, the transformation of Azell was miraculous. He
couldnt believe a human could change so drastically. Even if he was a practitioner
of Spirit Order, wasnt this simply too amazing?
It had been a long time since his heart beat rapidly. Giles looked directly into Azells
eyes and spoke.
Hmmm. Azell Zestringer, would you spar with me?
From behind, they heard an intake of breath. Ricks face stiffened.
Is he out of his mind? Just this morning, he was about to die and now a knight is
requesting a spar?
He only thought this. As a healing expert, it would be unforgivable for him to say
this out loud.
However, Azell smiled.
Sure. If I face off against another Spirit Order practitioner then it might help me
recover my memories. However, my condition is a bit of a mess so I might not be
able to be a proper sparring partner?
Its been 220 years since the period of time he was active, and he was curious as
to how much the knights had changed. In what ways did the Spirit Order and sword
techniques improve? Also, he wanted to know what level of standards this periods
knights had?
Therefore, in Azells perspective, he wholeheartedly welcomed the sparring request
by Giles.
Of course, Im not going to ask for an intense sparring session from someone who
just got out from the sickbed. Instead of using the body, let us spar through
showing appropriate techniques as a Spirit Order practitioner. Would that be ok?
If that is Sir Giles intent then Im fine with it.
Sparring didnt mean they had to fight with swords. There were other ways to battle.
Spirit Order had various ways to spar.
Giles spoke.
Then let us meet again tomorrow after lunch.
After Giles left, the frowning Rick asked Azell.
You are really going to spar against Sir Giles?
Yes. I can move my body well, so there should be any problems?
Sir Giles is young, but his skills arent ordinary. No one really knows about it, but
he isnt a joke. Im warning you.
I already know about it. That is why I chose a sparring method where we cant hurt
each other. So please stop worrying.
Jeez. You are a patient, but you are being boastful in front of a healing expert.
Do I still look like a patient?
Azell curled both his arms to bunch his muscles, and he took a pose. However, his
flesh was full of water so it didnt bulge at all. (TLN: flabby)
.
Rick started staring at him, so Azell looked away in embarrassment.
Shit. Wait a few days. Ill show you some wonderful abs!
If gaining muscles were that easy, then all the men in the world will be muscular.
Rick snorted. Azell volleyed back.
Do you think another person could gain this much flesh in one day?
No one probably.
I was able to do it. Within couple days, Ill be able to bulk up.
.
Rick was loss for words when he looked at Azells attitude, which was full of
confidence without any basis.
Azell smiled smugly while asking a question.
So how old is Sir Giles?
He should be 19 this year?
Hes only that old? Ah, he does look very young, but still.
It hasnt even been half a year since he joined our outfit. Still everyone
acknowledges his skill.
During that time, even though Giles was a Centurion, he participated in patrolling
the Balan forest to learn about the troops work. He displayed himself to be an
earnest person.
Then he showed excellent skills dispatching monsters, and his fellow soldiers were
impressed by his actions. At first, they werent thrilled to have a rookie knight as a
superior officer. However, they all had accepted him and followed him now.
Our troops fight against monsters quite frequently so skill is valued. He was
earnest and skilled, so he was immediately acknowledged.
So thats how it is. He has achieved a lot for a 19 year old. How is his skills
compared to the other knights?
Im not too sure about that. He should be around the middle. If he is able to act as
the Centurion for our troops then he cant be average. The other knights arent
normal.
Of course, they are like that. The troops constantly get threatened by monsters,
and fight against them. (TLN: the knights are strong b/c they are constantly fighting
near the forest)
Azell slightly narrowed his eyes.
I want to see the other knights For his age, it is a great accomplishment to
become a Cord-rope master, but I have no idea about this periods appraisal
standard.
In Azells time, Cord-rope masters werent rare.
The Dragon Demon king Atein and his army was a disaster that threatened the very
existence of mankind. In front of them, the humans had to struggle desperately.
Numerous warriors died daily, and only the strong survived.
The lack of military strength forced many to share the secret techniques they had
had hoarded. If someone looked like he had some aptitude, then they freely shared
the secret techniques.
The quality of knights became noticeably better than before the Dragon Demon
War.
However, even in his time period it was rare to see a 19 year old surpass the level
of Cord-rope master. According to Azells memory, there were less than 10 people.
However, if I add one more year then the number doubles. (TLN:19 vs 20 yr old)
That one year difference made an enormous difference.
Hmm. I guess Ill have to find out about it slowly.
He put away the question he was thinking about for a moment and he started
exercising again. He used his other arm. Of course, he stacked three stones and
while doing handstand with one finger, he started doing pushups.
Rick was struck dumb by this sight, so he started mumbling to himself.
Jeez. You are doing some amazing things, but Why can I only think of you as a
weird guy?
Azell could only laugh at his words. He resumed exercising without saying a word.