The afternoon air was heavy with the lingering scent of steel and sweat. Ravenshire's training ground stretched wide beneath the canopy, the clearing ringed by old trees scarred with years of practice strikes. Birds called distantly, but the four figures at the center of the clearing were still, each radiating a quiet anticipation.
Hunnt, Corwin, and Elara had gathered at the usual spot, while Pyro perched lazily atop a low branch, tail swishing with mischief. The air still seemed to hum with the memory of their first united hunt. The Emberclaw Raptor's crimson hide, its broken claws, the pounding of its charge — all of it remained vivid in their minds. For Elara especially, the image of her companions moving in impossible ways burned behind her eyes.
She lowered her bow slowly, her voice breaking the silence. "I've been thinking… how did all of you move so fast during the hunt? You seemed… untouchable. It was almost like magic."
Corwin's sharp eyes shifted to her. His lips curved into the faintest of smirks. "You mean the Rokushiki."
Elara repeated the word, tilting her head, her tone questioning and uncertain. "Rokushiki…?"
Hunnt grinned, crossing his arms with a nod. "Yes. And I think it's time you learned it too."
Her mouth fell open, a mix of awe and disbelief flickering across her face. "Really? You'll teach me? Do you know how shocked I was watching you all fight? I was envious. I wanted to move like that, but I thought it was beyond me."
Hunnt chuckled, shaking his head lightly. Pyro's whiskers twitched as he leaned forward from his perch. "Nyahaha… Master, looks like someone's finally admitting it, nyaah! She wants to keep up!"
Elara's cheeks flamed red, and she spun toward the Palico. "I am not—! You're impossible!"
But Pyro had already leapt lightly away into the leaves, his laughter echoing through the branches as the rustle of leaves gave away his retreat. Hunnt only sighed with an amused smile. "He's like that whenever you train. Get used to it."
Hunnt turned to Corwin, giving him a subtle nod. The silent DPS straightened his shoulders, hammer slung lightly across his back. His expression softened slightly — not often, but enough to signal the weight of the moment.
"Rokushiki," Corwin began, voice calm, deliberate, almost like the rhythm of a hammer striking steel. "It's a set of combat techniques. They let you move faster, evade cleanly, or brace against attacks most fighters wouldn't survive. There are several, but you'll start with the basics: Soru, Kami-e, and Tekkai."
Elara's eyes widened as she repeated them under her breath, as if committing them to memory. "Soru… Kami-e… Tekkai…"
Hunnt stepped in, his tone firm but encouraging. "Since you're our long-range fighter, you don't need all three. You'll focus on Soru and Kami-e. Kami-e will save you if a monster rushes too close, and Soru will let you reposition — or escape — to find the best angle for your shots."
Corwin nodded, stepping into the clearing. He set his hammer down with a heavy thud, freeing his body to demonstrate. He slid into a low stance, feet shifting lightly across the dirt. "Soru is about acceleration. Compress your strength into your legs, then release it in a burst. It's not about running — it's about explosive movement. Quick dashes, abrupt changes, vanishing from one spot to another."
He moved suddenly, his form blurring as he covered a short distance and stopped in an instant. The earth scuffed beneath his boots, dust rising in small clouds.
Elara's jaw slackened. "…That fast?"
Corwin gave only a curt nod, then straightened. He bent his body slightly and rolled his shoulders as he demonstrated again. His torso flowed like water as he shifted aside, his weight slipping past an invisible strike. "Kami-e is different. It's flexibility. You don't resist attacks head-on — you flow around them. Your body bends, twists, rolls, avoiding the full force. The trick is letting instinct guide you, not panic."
Elara clutched her bow tightly, determination flashing in her eyes. "I… I want to try. Right now."
Corwin stepped back, gesturing to a row of trees. "Fine. Start with Soru. Short bursts. From one tree to another, then back. Focus on feeling the ground, your balance, your momentum. Not speed yet — form first."
Hunnt watched from the side, arms folded, eyes sharp. "Remember: always know your escape routes. In a hunt, position is life. Don't just dash — dash into a place where you can strike or retreat safely."
Elara nodded, taking a stance. She dug her boots into the soft dirt and sprinted forward, trying to compress her strength as Corwin had shown. Her form wobbled, feet slipping, arms overextending. She stumbled to a stop, panting.
Hunnt raised an eyebrow. "Too much force in your stride. Loosen your knees, then push off. Let momentum carry you."
Elara tried again. And again. Each attempt looked awkward, but each was slightly better. Dust clung to her boots, sweat trickled down her brow, but she refused to give up. By the fifth attempt, she managed a short dash that carried her cleanly to the marked tree and back, leaving only a faint blur in her wake.
Corwin lifted a hand, signaling her to stop. "Better. You're beginning to feel the ground. Next, Kami-e."
He gestured for her to face him. "Pretend a claw is sweeping toward you. Don't brace. Flow with it. Slip past the edge, don't fight the weight." He stepped in, swinging an arm in a wide arc.
Elara flinched instinctively, but then forced herself to bend low, rolling her body to one side. She stumbled at the end, her foot catching on uneven dirt.
Corwin shook his head. "Again. Don't flinch. Anticipate. Feel the attack's rhythm."
He swung again, slower this time. Elara twisted, rolling past, her hair grazing his arm as she flowed around the strike. Her body straightened, her stance balanced.
Sweat beaded across her face, but her lips curved into a faint smile. "I… I did it."
Hunnt smirked, pride showing openly. "You're picking it up faster than I expected. Just like we thought — focus and patience. That's what makes Rokushiki effective in real fights."
They drilled for hours. Soru across the clearing, Kami-e dodges against Corwin's measured strikes, adjustments from Hunnt, encouragement (and teasing) from Pyro when he chose to reappear. Each repetition honed her stance, her control, her instincts. By the time the sun tilted toward the horizon, Elara was moving smoother, faster, her body beginning to understand the rhythm of Rokushiki.
Exhausted but exhilarated, she lowered her bow and looked at Corwin, cheeks pink. "…Maybe… maybe I'll ask you to teach me the others later. If I'm ready."
Corwin gave a subtle nod, expression unreadable, though the faintest approval shone in his eyes. "When the time comes."
From his perch, Pyro purred loudly, tail flicking. "Nyahaha… Master, our archer's becoming quite the dancer, nyaah!"
Hunnt laughed under his breath, shaking his head. "That's enough for today. You've made real progress. Next time, we'll see if you can use it in a mock battle."
As the four of them packed up, the last rays of sunlight washed over the clearing. For Elara, every ache in her body was a reminder of her growth. For the team, it was proof that they were forging something greater than skill — trust, coordination, and strength that would carry them into every battle to come.
And as night approached, the forest beyond the training ground seemed to whisper of the hunts yet waiting for them.
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📖 Final Fantasy: The Unwritten
Step into the vast multiverse of Final Fantasy—where heroes, destinies, and untold adventures intertwine in ways you've never seen before.
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