NANA

I didn't want to leave my family unguarded while I was helping out Grandfather with the garden, but I didn't want them to worry for me as much I worried for them. I decided to go anyways, changing my mood on how I approached the training and work. Sure, it was hell, but I wanted to do better. I wanted to be better. 

My wounds still hurt obviously, it only being a day after the incident. It luckily wasn't on the news, because they had either decided to classify the situation or they didn't get the memo. My identity would be safe, for a little bit longer.

This time, instead of inhaling and exhaling heavily like I always would, I did my best to control my breathing, keeping it silent while I was running. Saving my air, my muscles were able to function much longer this time instead of letting it all out, allowing me to pick up speed at the end. The wind rushing through my hair felt good, my black tresses trailing behind me.

I also decided to get rid of the gardener's uniform, since it was stiff, agitating, and itchy. I started to wear a sports bra, with a beige cotton tunic on top, tied with a traditional sash. My pants were also much more breathable, being an umber brown, the edges closed to create a round edge to it almost. I also tied my hair back, making it easier to work, and wore my running shoes, which were already soiled a lot at this point.

Controlling my stopped, spinning on my heel to create a small cloud of dust, in order to break my momentum without falling over. I spun around, landing on two feet, my knees bent, about shoulder's width apart, releasing my claws, my body in a fighting stance. The contorted muscles at my waist caused pain in the gash, causing me to sprint my eyes, which seemed like I was focusing on my sight.

My grandfather stood a little distance away from me, watching, as if this was my final exam and he was marking me. He at first had a look of a scowl, as if he was deducting marks, then finally nodded in approval.

"Does that mean I'm done?" I asked. It seemed like so little for training.

"Nana, you have only passed the test to start the training." He let out a soft growl. "Your real training begins now." 

And I thought that this week's training was already hell.

***

I'm pretty sure my overall workload tripled, because now he had added parkour, as well as quick thinking and sparring to my basic running and jumping. I now had to climb steep ledges, practice kicks and clawing methods, as well as how to orient myself and keep a good pace while running with an object in my hand.

"Now, break this wooden board in two." he ordered me.

"Huh?" I asked in surprise. It was about three quarters of an inch thick, if not than a whole inch. 

"We will start with a simple palm strike." he gestured to the palm of his hand, making a pushing motion with his hand facing outwards. "You try on this board."

I struck the board, yet it didn't break. My elbow was hurt in the process, and I yelped, wondering why.

"Use the force of your whole body, not just your arm. Create momentum." he hissed.

My eyes widened, remembering how I had leaped through the window last night, twisting my body to force myself in that direction. I nodded, twisting my hips, locking my shoulder and elbow, but not fully. In a sharp motion, I brought my palm to the board, breaking it into three pieces, the centre one hitting Grandfather in the chest.

I gasped, taking a step back. "I'm so sorry Grandfather! Did I hurt you?"

He let out a few coughs, then laughed. "You have more strength than you think you do." With that, he picked up two more boards, lining them up, the grin on his face disappearing in an instant.

"Now break these two at the same time." he told me. I figured Aaron could break at least five or six at the same time. Aphmau could even perhaps break four.

Nodding, I braced myself in a balanced stance, repeating what I had just done. I broke the first board, only in two this time, and make a small crack in the second one, which Grandfather fully snapped in half with his hands.

"You have the right idea, but you need more strength. Find where it is on your body." he told me, his eyes narrowing. He turned to the pagoda, then to the mountains behind it. "I want you to go the top of that mountain. From here to there, and I will time you." he told me as if this task was nothing. I gawked at the mountain, which was at least four times the height of the pagoda, and the pagoda was at least sixty to seventy feet in height. I gulped, spotting a path, jogging up it.

There were small crevices I had to squeeze my body through once more, or else I had to climb over them, pressing against the rock walls, forcing myself upwards. the rocks were rough and sharp, and soon enough, I had red palms, and even a blister on my right one, from the splinters of breaking those boards.

I still had to continue up the mountain of course, and so I did. I soon came across a gap, a small but roaring river in between, big enough that it could carry a person down it, the pressure of the water killing them. I didn't want to take the risk, so I climbed up to a higher ledge, jumping across from there. I landed sharply, in a way that caused me to lean back a little. I had to use my hands, bursting the skin completely on my right palm, taking off the skin on my left one. Forming fists to help reduce the bleeding I hoped, I continued up the mountain, tiny drops of blood following me.

About seven minutes later, I finally reached the top, choking on how thin the air was. I gasped at the view, noticing how the view was from up here. The pain even left for a little from how awestruck I was. It was then I realized..

..I had to get back down of course.

Groaning to myself, I went back the way I came, crossing that gap with the river more easily since it was downwards now.

I lost control of my running near the bottom, tumbling down into a roll, Grandfather walking up to me.

"Tsk tsk tsk." he shook his head. I groaned. Eighteen minutes.

***

The day after that was Sadao's burial. Everyone was at the garden today, and after the ceremony, everyone left except me, since I had to continue my work. I was surprised that the clan who opposed us still hadn't come yet to attack, and I suspected I did more damage than I thought I did on their warehouse. And for some reason, my insides bubbled with excitement when I thought about it. How I had done something, and it was challenging, and how I pulled it off by myself. 

I realized that I was more capable than I thought I was. I just needed to be determined.

After all, Lucinda's task is going to take a month and a half, with rehearsing and all of that other stuff a play has to it.

I had bandages my hands, the cloth weaving in between my fingers, covering my wrists as well. They were like fingerless gloves, but woven. My fingers were stiff to move, the blisters still stinging, but I was told to climb up and back down the mountain once again. I had a vague idea of the path, so I managed to finish quicker this time; it was only by eight seconds though.

And so for the next month and a half, almost two months, I climbed the mountain. Again and again and again. There were days where I would have to climb it in the morning, as well as at night. All while working at the garden, I trained, cooked for my grandfather, helped cook meals at home with my brothers and sisters, catch fish by the shore, and go on shopping trips. My grandfather would often dismiss me early on Saturdays, so I could get extra sleep since I barely had any shuteye during the week. I knew he cared for me at least.

I struggled a lot within the next sixty days, but without realizing it, I became more independent. 

And all my hard work paid off two months after I started climbing the mountain.

***

TWO MONTHS LATER (After she started climbing, so she's been there for two months now)

I took a deep breath. Looking way up at the mountain, I had this feeling of confidence, but also hope. I dug my feet into the soil, readying myself, as my ears and tail twitched from the cold wind. I heard my Grandfather's voice, telling me to proceed. His voice disappeared in a blur as I dashed up the path, extracting my claws, my vision increased from the slits.

As I approached the small gaps and openings, I didn't break my speed by doing side jumps against the mountain's walls, swerving my body to make it through the narrowest of the cracks. I knew a bend was coming, so I clawed the mountain with one hand, having an anchor while I ran upwards in a semicircle. 

Releasing my claws from the rock, I knew the river was coming up, so I picked up my speed, sprinting towards it. as I approached it, I finally took a running leap off the edge. The landing was higher than the take-off, so I did a roll landing, which I had learned after many failed attempts of scaling down the mountains.I slowed down, but only a little bit.

More obstacles came, like how there was a thicket of pine, and instead of going through it like I had before, I climbed the vines that were on the side of the the thicket, buying me more time. Pulling myself upwards, using my overall strength, I overcame the ledge, continuing my trial.

I finally reached the top, clawing at a piece of fabric that I was asked to bring up there on my second run. It was quite large, and an indicator that I had combed the full mountain, confirming I didn't cheat. Then, instead of going back the way I came, I jumped off a different ledge, that was about four meters, using the slope and the soft moss to break my fall. Adjusting the angle of my vision so I could see where I placed my feet, as well as where I was going, avoiding loose pebbles that could cause me to lose my balance.

I reached a large ravine, with a fall that was about one hundred feet. The gap I had to cross was about ten meters, and I knew that if I failed, I would die.

Of course, I was already down this path, and using almost all the energy I still had, I leaped upwards, grabbing a vine, cutting it loose with my claws. I plunged downwards, but crossed successfully, where the rest was sliding down gravel and adjusting my posture every now and then. Then, as I approached the bottom of the mountain, the knots of the ends of my bandages came undone. The undid themselves, slowly unravelling from my hands. Though it was strange, I didn't pay attention to it. I broke my momentum with another jump, spinning on my heels in order to stabilize myself. Then I looked back.

The bandages were gone, off my hands, sitting a few meters behind m in the soil, now just clumps of fabric. 

Grandfather approached me, taking the fabric I had grabbed, inspecting it. He nodded in approval, and perhaps surprise. Usually, back then, when I climbed up and down the mountain, it took me eighteen minutes. Now, because I had found a much faster and much more dangerous way, the other half of my time was gone.

"Ten minutes." my grandfather smiled at me. "Look at your hands Nana."

I looked down, and I no longer had the smooth hands of a kawaii anime girl, but the calloused rough hands of someone who had worked hard, and was independent. My palms were no longer delicate, but soft, yet still firm. I no longer felt pain in them, and with this, tears fell from my eyes onto them, crying at my accomplishments.

I fell on my knees, not knowing how I had done it. Time flew by so fast, that I was unaware of it. I felt as if it was a week, when it was eight weeks.

I looked up, wiping my tears with my sleep, Grandfather holding four boards.

"Try breaking them." he gestured to them, lining them all up for me.

I knew that this was the final test, for this part of my training of course. I was scared. Had I really finished? Was my best run on the mountain only a fluke?

Taking a deep breath, I twisted my body in almost a violent gesture, as my palm flew through the wood, shattering it into several pieces. There were fourteen pieces of wood after I had broken them, and my stance was unchanged, the palm of my hand only a quarter inch from gazing my grandfather's kimono.

"Nana..

you have much more strength than you think you do."

***

Okay I'm going to go to bed cuz it's like midnight but I felt really motivated so Ahhhahaha why brain am I motivated at night? If there's any errors it's because I'm too tired to correct them.