"Stop it! I'm serious Dex!"
Alphonse's voice rang out over the streets of his neighborhood. At only 8 years old, he was already taller than most of the other boys on his street - most of the other human boys anyway.
"Leave me alone you guys! I'm not doing anything!"
Alphonse ducked as another rock went whistling by, followed by the mischievous laughter of his two bullies: the Flex brothers. Here in the heartland, Quick-Flex aliens were not an uncommon sight, often settling down and living among humans even in somewhat racially homogeneous areas. And as luck would have it, two other brothers lived right up the street from the Eldrics' house. Dex and Rex Flex, the two meanest children around, and they were now chasing Al down the street, pegging him with rocks.
"I'm gonna tell Ed and he'll beat you up!"
"I don't see Ed! He's not even here! Throw another one!"
Rex was a mean spirited child. The children redoubled their efforts, slinging rocks as Alphonse made a break for the treeline.
Somehow, every rock seemed to barely miss, as if the young lad could sense them coming and make sure he was out of the way. As he ducked into the bushes, he even caught one of the stones with a deft movement of his hand, placing it gently on the ground before he vanished into the woods behind their houses.
"Concentrate! You are listening to the pebbles, you must feel their movement!"
Master Jian skipped another smooth stone across the pool of water, to the small wooden post in the center where Alphonse balanced uncertainly, blindfolded and barefoot. The stone skipped up and caught him in the shins, nearly causing him to fall into the water.
"Why do we have to do this? I don't understand why I'm balancing on this post."
The old master took a deep breath, as if contemplating the answer and regaining his patience all at once.
"Life is about balance. When you learn to balance your inner energies, you will succeed in these arts. You will learn to dodge the pebbles, even catch them, all without using your external senses. Senses can be deceptive!"
At this he threw a stone at Alphonse's ribs, knocking him cleanly off the post. He sat down cross legged and waited while Alphonse recovered and pulled himself out of the pool. Sitting next to his master, the young pupil removed the soaking wet blindfold.
"What if I just can't do it?"
The master sighed again. "That thought is your only obstacle. Remove your limitations and you will see the true extent of your power. Now again! This time do not listen for the stones, reach out with your mind!"
Alphonse, weary yet determined, waded back into the pool toward the post...
Master Jian skipped another smooth stone across the pool of water, to the small wooden post in the center where Alphonse balanced uncertainly, blindfolded and barefoot. The stone skipped up and caught him in the shins, nearly causing him to fall into the water.
"Why do we have to do this? I don't understand why I'm balancing on this post."
The old master took a deep breath, as if contemplating the answer and regaining his patience all at once.
"Life is about balance. When you learn to balance your inner energies, you will succeed in these arts. You will learn to dodge the pebbles, even catch them, all without using your external senses. Senses can be deceptive!"
At this he threw a stone at Alphonse's ribs, knocking him cleanly off the post. He sat down cross legged and waited while Alphonse recovered and pulled himself out of the pool. Sitting next to his master, the young pupil removed the soaking wet blindfold.
"What if I just can't do it?"
The master sighed again. "That thought is your only obstacle. Remove your limitations and you will see the true extent of your power. Now again! This time do not listen for the stones, reach out with your mind!"
Alphonse, weary yet determined, waded back into the pool toward the post...