An Eye Opener. Ashe's Guidance to Reno

The Chapters of Reno’s Inspiration

(here)

Just realizing that this town was bigger than he imagined. Reno decides that for once in his life, he'd go out and see the world for what it truly was. The teen had grown tired of watching every event from the side lines, only pondering when it would be the day that he leaves the life of a typical Non Participating Civilian.

"Wow, this place is colder than before... Maybe it's the hour?"

The world felt different, now that he was experiencing it all on his own terms.

So, he ventured on to the shops, to find anything worth the bargain.
(Reno)

Looking into the shops, he had to browse from the upper floor down to the bottom section of the tower. He came across some old books, many of which were for magic, something he had frowned upon.

He shook his head,"THe art of the coward. Always either running or using some kind of trick to hide and slow someone down... A real man, fights with their fist and will! But, who am I to talk right?"

He sighs.

"Oh well, maybe taking a book of two might help to understand all of this madness. I'll stay away from the magic but, I can at least learn how to fight with just what's on my body instead of what I can grab from spells."

He tossed the Tom Broker a coin or two, adding up to twenty, all for the arts of unarmed combat and the arts of energy.

"Though I hate magic. Energy seems rooted and grounded to the human spirit."
(Reno)

Looking deep into the flame. Reno got himself into a fighting stance, one that was very poor at that due to his lack of fighting experience. So it all came down to one major thing, and that would be his training.

Having no true idea as to how he would conduct it, the boy began throwing jabs into the air to test his speed. His fist was not a proper one but his determination was there. "Ha!" Reno unleashed a quick jab into the flames, touching it barely and retracting his left fist as a way to put some pressure onto himself.

"Alright!" The lad was excited to just train on his own and so he continued. He punched once, twice and up to fifteen times. But of course, because he was a rookie at this fighting thing. Reno did not have the stamina to do the average one or two hundred punches a day, and so, he was already tired.

"Ugh, that was rough, I'm starting to see why people prefer magic. Probably isn't so taxing on the body... Nah, I won't use any of that yet. I'll uh, do push ups I guess.."

So young Reno got there on the ground, where it was warm and the snow had melted. Performing a set of ten push ups with his little arms, trying to bulk up. He had one thing on his mind and that was to become a skilled hand to hand combatant.
(Reno)

Reno was not tired, but his arms were not ready for training just yet. So he stood up, thinking that maybe it was a good time to work on his legs.

Truly, he did not know where this would take him, but, doing something was better than doing nothing.
(Reno)

Feeling the flaws of his stance, Reno began to make some adjustments. He was no expert, so he could only do what felt natural and what he observed from street fights amongst other civilians.

He looked over at the group of people talking, and so, being inexperienced. He did what most prideful teen would not.

Ask questions.

"Hey, I don't mean to be rude, but, am I doing this whole fighting stance thing right?" He holds his unstable looking Irion Fist stance. His feet too far apart and his arms hardly even guarding his face. And his fist, well his thumb was held between his fingers which is actually a safety issue.
(Reno)

He was not at the least disappointed. He did after all expect there to be a low supply of unarmed fighters. So he gave them a respectful response.

"I'll try and find him, Dun right? Thank you for answering.---"

He paused and turned towards Lira. She was giving him some feedback, much he could use in the coming weeks of training alone. He was thankful but would keep it to himself, so he nods and continued to make these adjustments.

Reno shifts himself from left to right, forward and back, trying to move in a way that a boxer would. He needed to work on his footwork, and so he was teaching himself by purposely causing himself to fail in order to find flaws.

If he fell onto his ass, he would adjust so that his feet would not tumble over one another. If he punched himself in the face from retracting too fast then that would add onto his lesson of control. Reno would continue this little cycle of his for a reasonable time, not hours or days.No, just a thirty minute practice.
(Reno)

Bored beyond his mind. Reno did not want to just leave this spot quite yet, so he continued to observe for the most part. He kept to his dedications, at least for now, shying away from the arts of true magic and trying his best to hone the art of the Iron fist.

"Sometimes I wonder, at what point do people consider you a magi? Are we born destined to become one or does it just happen to the lucky few?"

He couldn't grab ahold of the concept. All he cared about was becoming the best that he could be, not what anyone else desired him to be. It was somewhat of a selfish ideal but it was what made this journey worth it for Reno.

As this lad saw it. He was a simple human, the average joe trying to fit in and keep up with the many changes of this very dangerous yet. Thrilling world.

"Know what, a few more punches wouldn't hurt. I should be able to throw a hundred a day... But damn does punching the air or anything makes a guy tired."

Reno needed a sip of water and the pond or snow wouldn't be that source.
(Reno)

Feeling frustrated that his clothes were holding him back a bit. He makes his right hand into a fist, saying to only himself.

"Maybe my training would be worth something if I had decent clothes!"

Reno had to pause, taking a moment to just relax. He knew that there was no point in rushing it. He was simply human, he knew and acknowledged this but, it would only be natural for someone without much guidance to feel a little hopeless from time to time.

"Am I crazy to think that something as plain and frail as fist could match up to all the spells that could melt a guys face off?" It took him some time to consider a few things.

But he was hard headed.

"Nah, willpower holds dominion over all else. If I'm giving up this early then I'm doing it wrong." Reno did not leave the typical life of a civilian just to play in the snow. He wanted to show his peers what it would be like, to keep true to your humanity and hone the potential of the body rather than only rely on that of the spirit.
(Reno)

Panting hard and now standing victorious. Reno waved his fist at the now dead Frospup, "YEah! That's right! You will remember this day as the day where Reno! No surname yet! Defeated your sorry butt!" He yells at the body of this beast.

He looks back to see the dragon like creature still heavy on his tail and so. Reno went back to his lessons, thinking on the skills he learned. "Heavy right, I can land it but... That's a beast, not a man. Those monsters... They have tough skin!"

He was shaking in fear.

"Can I really do this? Are my fist strong enough?" He swallowed his spit and rushed forward. "Come get some then! Ugly beast!"
(Reno)

Panting heavy and on his knees after entering the cave. Reno smiled, "I did it. That beast couldn't even do what it was born to and kill me? Hehe...Yeah... I'M THE DOMINANT ONE! You hear me nature?! Me! Reno!"

He looks around but still, no Ryan... The kid was dealing with so much just to find a guy who might not even exist for a few coins.

"No, this is only the start of my road. I got this... Yeah."
(Reno)

Finding Guidance , Reno’s Eye Opener To What Magic Is

Looking down at the boulder, Reno took the time to think. He wondered, if his notes were guiding him in the right direction. But to measure his progress, the young lad would focus, taking on the Iron Fist stance, so that he could try and harden his own skin.

It was difficult even with the book to guide him. He felt lost, but not totally. Just that he would have obtained such skills faster if he had someone to help him learn. But for now, Reno tried to spread the iron properties of the art to his entire body. Just as his fist were hardened, he wanted the rest of his body to be the same way.

However, he was unsure if this was possible for someone like him. He was weak compared to everyone else. He looked down on weapons but even if everyone fought without them. Magic, and racial advantages were more than enough, and because of this. He needed to improve, somehow.
(Reno)


[21:14] Reno says, "Agh..."
[21:15] Heidi Augustus says, ". . Careful, kid. Rocks hurt."
[21:15] Reno says, "This book says something about hardening the fist like iron."
[21:16] Ashe Lieyan says, "You know, generally step one to learning magic is meditation and focus, not punching rocks."
[21:16] Heidi Augustus says, "Try forming your mana over your fist."
[21:16] Heidi Augustus asks, "Ouranos, wanna head to Moonfall for a bit?"
[21:16] Ouranos exclaims, "Lead on!"
[21:16] Ouranos whispers something.
[21:16] Reno says, "I'm not interested in magic, not too much of it anyway."
[21:16] Ashe Lieyan says, ". . ."
[21:17] Ashe Lieyan says, "What you're trying to do is a magi fighting stance."
[21:17] Ashe Lieyan says, "It won't work without magic."
[21:17] Reno asks, "Even if I train my body? I'll still need magic?"
[21:17] Ashe Lieyan says, "Probably."
[21:19] Folding his arms. Reno needed a moment, for this was a difficult thing to take in.

"I always dreamt of being a worthy fighter without tapping into magi but, at this point. It feels almost impossible... After all, you were there right? When those guys were fighting?"
(Reno)


[21:19] Ashe Lieyan says, "I was..."
[21:22] Ashe walked up and took her hat off her head, unlike others in Theria, steam didn't come from her breath as she exhaled, it simply radiated off of her, her entire body warmer than should be in this climate. A hand placed on top the boys head.

"It is impossible." The words came out cheery almost. "But I can teach you fire magic to help even the playing field! If you want.~"
(Ashe Lieyan)


[21:25] Though he was hard headed, he was willing to listen. "Fire magic? I don't know much about it but..."

He sighs, "Please hear me out... All my life, I've seen guys twice their size struggle to feed their families. Because magic had taken over and made it pointless to hire non-magi born men... Are us humans really that weak without the use of magic?"

He looks up at Ashe, "I don't know where it would take me but, if it won't take me away from using my fist in combat. I'll be happy to learn miss."
(Reno)


[21:32] "Unfortunately magic is a reality of the world, young one." She nodded. "I've never been without it personally, but none the less I see your strife, I understand it."

It reminded her of the Order and their self-righteousness.

"Non-magi shouldn't be so readily frowned upon, there should be others to protect them and hold them up, to balance their injustice." A flame conjured from her hand easily, without her breaking focus. "With magic you can be the one to hold that burden, to fight for those weaker than you."

A wide smile creep across her face.

"And I'll gladly teach you everything you need to know to do so.~"
(Ashe Lieyan)


[21:38] With eyes amazed by the flame. He couldn't help but feel the empowerment coming from her speech. "You're kinder than most magi.--- My name is Reno. Just Reno, I don't know where this road will take me. But I trust you," said the inexperienced teen.

"I'm sorry I misjudged every magi in existence, including myself."

He smiled back. "If you're going to teach me. Can I have your name at least? I don't know where I am with all I've learned from the unarmed martial arts book, but maybe you can fill the gaps?" He was certain that her teachings would perfect his unarmed combat journey.
(Reno)


"I am Ashe Lieyan, of the Flame-Keepers. It's a pleasure to meet you, Reno." She noted and gave him a thumps up. "First things first we need to work on mana control!"

A wide smile turned into an even wider one.

"Your mana circuits are kind of like your brain, they learn to be a certain way and get better with practice! You may be using martial arts inspired by Magi, but you aren't really using them until you're using mana."

She walked out to the field nearby, sitting down cross legged.

"And to use mana, you have to communicate with it, which requires focus and connection with it, which must be formed with meditation and other focusing exercises!" Another nod as she clapped her hands together and rolled up one of her sleeves, red tattoos up her arm and assumingly all along her body. "I personally never went through this part cause of my blood-line and rune tattoos, but you'll be far more powerful than me if you master your mana-circuits without runes."
(Ashe Lieyan)



Raising his left brow, young Reno continued to observe and follow Ashe's movements. She preached meditation early on and he could only figure that this would be the primary method of training. He was intrigued by her tattoos for the most part.

It was a curious sight, "Are those markings something to be passed down through your family?"

He wanted to poke them, just to see if they were the source of her heat. "You're like a walking torch, but, is that because of your runes? Or did you do some type of exercise that makes your body heat up?"

Unsure as to how meditation worked, he looked his new found teacher in the eye, waiting for the next step. Perhaps it was best that he left certain books asides. So he placed his Energy Magic book onto the rock alongside his Unarmed Iron Fist Book.

"If I'm learning something new, I need to have a clear mind right?" He was distracted by the idea of flames. Could they hurt? Was the only purpose of fire to destroy? Many things ran through his mind, because he was being human with such concerns.
(Reno)

She smiled and stretched while sitting there on the ground.

"I come from a family of naturally attuned fire magi, the tattoos were given to me at a young age to ensure I was the most potent I could be."

She nodded.

"The warmth comes from them and my fire magic, that much is true. I actually am rarely cold!"

Amber hues watched as he discarded the energy book.

"I'm not teaching you fire magic just yet, but the foundations of what we learn to day will help with any of the learnings you pursue in the future."
(Ashe Lieyan)


[22:27] Still staring at the Lieyan descendant. Reno gave a slight gaze to his book of Energy magic. He couldn't help but think of it as a chain holding him back right now.

"It would still help, if I pushed aside all distractions... I want to know something, will we always meet up here to train?"

In a way, he was interested in magi now. But he had many steps to complete before he could even call himself a student. "Like this right?" He sat down with his legs crossed as she did. He was trying to copy her every move, at least for this day. Where it would take him?

Perhaps a new discovery or new method to accumulate magic into the arts of hand to hand combat. "Average people, they inspire me, but what inspires you? How did you get this far?"
(Reno)


[22:56] "Peace." She stated alone, spacing it before continuing. "I seek Peace. It drives me to defend others and to mend wounds. It drives me to lead the Flame-Keepers. The world is a complicated place, young Reno, there's more to my philosophy and drive, to be discussed another time. For now let's sit and focus on your inner, focus on channeling your mana. It may take time to do it properly, take your time, consider it nap!"

She then did the same as she instructed, her runes glowing faintly and mana flowing around her. Ashe stayed like that for a while before leaving, the boy likely either falling asleep or dedicating to their practice enough to allow her to wander off.

"Good luck.~" She'd chime quietly as she strode off. The kid likely unknowing of it, focused on training!
(Ashe Lieyan)


[23:00] Now closing his eyes. Reno tried to meditate, although it would be the very first time for him, it wasn't something he'd pass up. After all, it was apart of his training.

"If that's how you view it. Then I'll be honored to have a teacher like you... I just want to be capable of putting up a fair fight, magic or not." He continues to meditate.

However, like Ashe, he began to doze off. He lacked the discipline to stay awake. He did not have it just yet, but he felt the progress slowly coming along. For now, the kid 'meditated' in dream land where he thought he had the most focus.
(Reno)