Limits. Limits Chapter 147

My days looked monotone again . I woke up, practiced and ate then read a book before going to sleep . Like this, almost two weeks pa.s.sed . I made some improvements with my improved Natural Path skill . The prints that I was leaving were not as deep anymore . This suggested to me that my initial thoughts were correct . Everyday, I strived to get better at it and implement the theory behind Illusionary Path into Natural Path skill .

The relations with Laly dropped a bit . She came couple of times to chat but I simply said "I'm busy" . She stopped bothering me when I was training and only came in the evening . I also managed to master the Long Range Shooting skill . I decided to call it that way, when I mastered it . I was now able to choose any target that was about 300 metres away and hit it every time . Although not all arrows were hitting the dead center of my target, about half of them did .

With my archery practice completed, I went to Laly and said "I'm done with that technique . I have 100% accuracy now . What is the next technique in line?" . She looked at me a bit coldly and said "I will show you" and we went outside . She took out her bow and said "Next technique is Rapid Shooting . Watch me do it" . She pulled out one arrow, notched it onto the bow and shot it almost immediately . She immediately pulled out the next arrow, shot it and so on, until 5 arrows flew through the air and hit the same target . She said "This is Rapid Shooting . When you master it, come back to me" and she left .

I didn't care if she was happy with my approach to her or not . She showed me what was next and I didn't need her for anything else . I chose a target that was about 100 metres away . I wanted to start easy in the beginning but I also planned to later increase that range to 300 metres . 'If I'm able to hit my target at 300 metres, 5 times in a row every time, this should be considered as mastering that technique' I thought to myself and started my practice .

This technique was actually much harder than shooting a single arrow . I had much less time to think about stuff and therefore my aim was all over the place . I thought 'I should do it slowly first . When I adjust myself to multiple shots, I can always increase the speed of shooting . This way, I will progress much more easily compared to doing everything at once' .

With that in mind, I started shooting again . I did it slowly as I wanted to get the feeling for it first . With the archery practice taking all of my afternoon and a bit of evening, I ate my late dinner and returned back to the cave . I was too tired to read that day, I simply went to sleep . In the morning, I resumed my practice again .

The daily grinding resumed and another two weeks pa.s.sed . I got used to the Rapid Shooting and was now able to shoot 5 arrows continuously at the target located 100 metres away . I decided it was time to move on and practice on a target further away . The next step for me was, 200 metres . I tried shooting continuously but because I had little time for predicting the natural behaviour at my target, most of my shots missed again .

'I have to slow down again . With some more grinding at slower speeds, I should be able to have a 100% accuracy' I thought and continued my practice . In the evening, I read the Corporeal Structure book . I was already at the 5th chapter . The 4th chapter was about Bones . Mostly about bone structure and possible defects . The book also explained the weakest and strongest bones in human body . The leg bones are some of the toughest bones in human body for example . These bones are supporting the whole weight of a human and are very durable . On the other hand, the spine is one of the weakest bone structures . If the spine is damaged, it can leave the human paralysed or even lead to death .

The 5th chapter of the book was about Vital Organs . This included heart, liver and lungs . It described their anatomy as well as possible defects . The chapter also explained different methods of checking the state of the organs in a human body . Those ranged from the colour of the urine to frequent coughs and occasional pains . 'The information in this book seems really basic but at the same time, I didn't know about half of these things' I thought after finishing the 5th chapter of the Corporeal Structure book .

I laid down in my bed comfortably and closed my eyes . Laly was no longer in my room . She would be there when I wake up in the morning but she didn't visit me anymore . I had nothing against that either . It was creepy and annoying that someone watched me as I go to sleep . Past those couple of weeks, I've been also able to translate a few more words from the Dark Traveller's Ancient Language .

The words Ra, Fhin, Trevas and Proh could possibly be translated as "Yes", "Now", "To travel or Travel to" and "From" respectively . I knew that Trevas must've meant "Travel" as I already figured out the word Trevak, which meant "Traveller" . The other words were harder to figure out but I believed them to be translated correctly .

There were still loads of untranslated words but I wasn't about to give up . 'With time, I will be able to completely translate whatever that Dark Traveller is talking about and then who knows, maybe I will be able to figure some stuff about the figure from my dreams' I thought and fell asleep .

When I woke up the next morning, I saw something unusual . Laly was not there in her sleeping state, after what I a.s.sumed a night of absorbing my aura . 'Well, not my problem . She said not to worry and I shall do just that' I thought and went outside the cave . The 3rd modified diagram I practiced every morning also improved my body a bit past those couple of weeks . I was now able to last 5 minutes while in the pose .

Although I was happy, I was also a bit stunned when I reached the 5 minutes mark . 'It seems I hit some kind of wall and I'm not able to progress even one second past the 5 minutes mark . This is weird, it never happened before' I thought . My thoughts then continued 'Normally, I could strain my body to last that 1 second but when I reach that 5 minutes mark, my whole strength collapses pretty much . Does that mean I don't have enough strength to continue?' .

Me lacking strength to continue was possible but I decided to train that diagram every morning anyway . 'I may not be able to progress past the 5 minutes mark but it still helps develop my hidden muscles due to the pressure the pose creates' I thought and started my practice .

With that and my breakfast out of the way . I focused on my skills next . My Natural Path skill was also improving . I managed to leave more shallow footprints in the snow . The footprints were still visible but the depth was at least half of that when I started . 'This improvement is not bad at all . With some more training, I should be able to leave no footprints at all or very faint ones' I thought .

There was one problem though . Although this method would allow me to leave no footprints, I wasn't stealthy due to those erratic and quick movements . 'When I master this part of the skill, I should work on the stealth part . If I'm able to accomplish that, I think that my Art of Stealth will become the most advanced art I possess' I thought and continued running like crazy . My days looked monotone again . I woke up, practiced and ate then read a book before going to sleep . Like this, almost two weeks pa.s.sed . I made some improvements with my improved Natural Path skill . The prints that I was leaving were not as deep anymore . This suggested to me that my initial thoughts were correct . Everyday, I strived to get better at it and implement the theory behind Illusionary Path into Natural Path skill . The relations with Laly dropped a bit . She came couple of times to chat but I simply said Im busy . She stopped bothering me when I was training and only came in the evening . I also managed to master the Long Range Shooting skill . I decided to call it that way, when I mastered it . I was now able to choose any target that was about 300 metres away and hit it every time . Although not all arrows were hitting the dead center of my target, about half of them did . With my archery practice completed, I went to Laly and said Im done with that technique . I have 100% accuracy now . What is the next technique in line? . She looked at me a bit coldly and said I will show you and we went outside . She took out her bow and said Next technique is Rapid Shooting . Watch me do it . She pulled out one arrow, notched it onto the bow and shot it almost immediately . She immediately pulled out the next arrow, shot it and so on, until 5 arrows flew through the air and hit the same target . She said This is Rapid Shooting . When you master it, come back to me and she left . I didnt care if she was happy with my approach to her or not . She showed me what was next and I didnt need her for anything else . I chose a target that was about 100 metres away . I wanted to start easy in the beginning but I also planned to later increase that range to 300 metres . If Im able to hit my target at 300 metres, 5 times in a row every time, this should be considered as mastering that technique I thought to myself and started my practice . This technique was actually much harder than shooting a single arrow . I had much less time to think about stuff and therefore my aim was all over the place . I thought I should do it slowly first . When I adjust myself to multiple shots, I can always increase the speed of shooting . This way, I will progress much more easily compared to doing everything at once . With that in mind, I started shooting again . I did it slowly as I wanted to get the feeling for it first . With the archery practice taking all of my afternoon and a bit of evening, I ate my late dinner and returned back to the cave . I was too tired to read that day, I simply went to sleep . In the morning, I resumed my practice again . The daily grinding resumed and another two weeks pa.s.sed . I got used to the Rapid Shooting and was now able to shoot 5 arrows continuously at the target located 100 metres away . I decided it was time to move on and practice on a target further away . The next step for me was, 200 metres . I tried shooting continuously but because I had little time for predicting the natural behaviour at my target, most of my shots missed again I have to slow down again . With some more grinding at slower speeds, I should be able to have a 100% accuracy I thought and continued my practice . In the evening, I read the Corporeal Structure book . I was already at the 5th chapter . The 4th chapter was about Bones . Mostly about bone structure and possible defects . The book also explained the weakest and strongest bones in human body . The leg bones are some of the toughest bones in human body for example . These bones are supporting the whole weight of a human and are very durable . On the other hand, the spine is one of the weakest bone structures . If the spine is damaged, it can leave the human paralysed or even lead to death . The 5th chapter of the book was about Vital Organs . This included heart, liver and lungs . It described their anatomy as well as possible defects . The chapter also explained different methods of checking the state of the organs in a human body . Those ranged from the colour of the urine to frequent coughs and occasional pains . The information in this book seems really basic but at the same time, I didnt know about half of these things I thought after finishing the 5th chapter of the Corporeal Structure book . I laid down in my bed comfortably and closed my eyes . Laly was no longer in my room . She would be there when I wake up in the morning but she didnt visit me anymore . I had nothing against that either . It was creepy and annoying that someone watched me as I go to sleep . Past those couple of weeks, Ive been also able to translate a few more words from the Dark Travellers Ancient Language . The words Ra, Fhin, Trevas and Proh could possibly be translated as Yes, Now, To travel or Travel to and From respectively . I knew that Trevas mustve meant Travel as I already figured out the word Trevak, which meant Traveller . The other words were harder to figure out but I believed them to be translated correctly . There were still loads of untranslated words but I wasnt about to give up . With time, I will be able to completely translate whatever that Dark Traveller is talking about and then who knows, maybe I will be able to figure some stuff about the figure from my dreams I thought and fell asleep . When I woke up the next morning, I saw something unusual . Laly was not there in her sleeping state, after what I a.s.sumed a night of absorbing my aura . Well, not my problem . She said not to worry and I shall do just that I thought and went outside the cave . The 3rd modified diagram I practiced every morning also improved my body a bit past those couple of weeks . I was now able to last 5 minutes while in the pose . Although I was happy, I was also a bit stunned when I reached the 5 minutes mark . It seems I hit some kind of wall and Im not able to progress even one second past the 5 minutes mark . This is weird, it never happened before I thought . My thoughts then continued Normally, I could strain my body to last that 1 second but when I reach that 5 minutes mark, my whole strength collapses pretty much . Does that mean I dont have enough strength to continue? . Me lacking strength to continue was possible but I decided to train that diagram every morning anyway . I may not be able to progress past the 5 minutes mark but it still helps develop my hidden muscles due to the pressure the pose creates I thought and started my practice . With that and my breakfast out of the way . I focused on my skills next . My Natural Path skill was also improving . I managed to leave more shallow footprints in the snow . The footprints were still visible but the depth was at least half of that when I started . This improvement is not bad at all . With some more training, I should be able to leave no footprints at all or very faint ones I thought . There was one problem though . Although this method would allow me to leave no footprints, I wasnt stealthy due to those erratic and quick movements . When I master this part of the skill, I should work on the stealth part . If Im able to accomplish that, I think that my Art of Stealth will become the most advanced art I possess I thought and continued running like crazy .