Chapter 3- cont.

“So, you made it!”

Aya had just emerged from between the trees. She was drenched, soaked to the bone. As it was, it did rain in the village. She was just glad she had woken up before the storm to muck out the Queen's horses. The Captain, John, knew she had been watching him for a while, and although he had an overwhelming urge to make a quip about her matted down hair, saying that if she was going to be late, she might as well have cleaned herself up a bit, he understood that it was important for her to gain confidence before he could tease her. She was so broken, and yet, she was only a child. He needed to find out what happened behind those cold, stone walls, what happened to make her like this.

He’d been stretching for a while, and Aya noticed he was more flexible than anyone she’d ever seen before. He was very limber, even with his armor on. It was almost enchanting.

“Well?” John’s voice shocked her, “Are you going to stretch or just stand there?”

Aya blushed and sat down next to him, trying to mimic his body. Involuntarily, John began to chuckle. Aya’s face was now a burning tomato red and tears had begun to form and prick the corners of her eye.

John noticed, “Aya, there’s no need to be embarrassed here, not with me, anyway.”

Aya looked up as John continued speaking, “Here, you can be free. In this place, the outside world doesn’t exist. It’s just you and me. I’m going to teach you as well as I can, but ultimately, it’s up to you to take advantage. Let me show you.” John bent his right leg in, stretching out his left, “Make a mountain, then climb it. See, this here,” he gestured to the bend of his knee, “is your obstacle, your mountain. But it’s also a part of you, meaning only you can overcome it, so, push it down with all your might.” Aya watched, enthralled, as John grabbed his left thigh, his hands ‘climbing’ their way toward his foot. As he got closer to his ankle, the mountain slowly fell. Then, John grabbed the middle of his foot, his forehead to his left knee and his right knee entirely flat on the ground.

Aya gaped at John, “Is it really that easy to move mountains?”

John smiled, slowly rising with perfect posture, “With enough practice and training, yes. It’s all about knowing yourself and pushing your limits. You have to just,” John paused, musing to himself. “You just have to keep pushing forward.”

Aya nodded enthusiastically, then copied John’s stretch, “Make a mountain, then move it. I can do it,” she mumbled to herself.

“Aya, you can open your eyes...you did it!”

And so, the first day of practice went on as such. John taught Aya about the anatomy of the human body, its limits, and its miracles. He gave her a strict diet, a list of morning, afternoon, and evening stretches, and hope. He added a light in her otherwise dim life. She had something to look forward to each day in that clearing, something even her grandmother couldn’t take away. After all, she was the one who had mandated it.