User blog:ExdeathsBagel/Centaur Disciple WWYD by Spazerz

My morning training comes to end as the sun rises, making the cool morning a pleasantly warm one. I drink my glass of water as I enjoy the sounds of the nearby forest come to life. I love my little cottage. While I fancy myself as something of hermit I know this truly isn’t the case. I’m more introverted than independent. I live just outside of town and I still have to visit the market for food and medicine, not to mention I work there as one of the numerous assistance to blacksmith Andrey.

It’s a surprisingly well paying job, how else could I afford this little cottage in the clearing of the forest? You’d think working with a blacksmith would make me rather buff, but you’d be wrong. I’m built like a total twig but that suites my martial art style just fine.

Kyushu Jujitsu is a wonderful art, not of my own design of course, but one inherited by me from my master, Loudon, 3 years ago. He entrusted it to me before going on a journey of spiritual discovery, I have not seen or heard from him since. Though I miss him terribly, I practice and study the books he’s left me almost daily, eager to unlock their secrets and add to the art.

The art itself revolves around pressure points, energy pathways of the body all humans and mamonos share. Better than that, it requires no immense strength on the user, and if anything, the strength of the opponent can be used against them, which I adore. Though I initially started practicing striking the air and with meditation, a few Red Onis from the caves deep within the forest soon took interest and offered to help work with me for a night alone.

While I rejected the offer, I instead promised them a drink or ten at the local Inn given their love for sake and they obliged. While they eventually stopped coming word from them spread throughout the Inn and in every other week I’d get people asking to be my student, human and mamonos alike.

It was all the same, they would take classes for a few weeks then loose interest. I was beginning to feel what my master felt, he too struggled with getting students besides me, and though while I am certainly not worried of becoming too old to tach anytime soon, a part of me fears if all this knowledge I’ve been entrusted with will be lost. Still, I remain optimistic that one day I’ll find a pupil, one whom I, like with my master, can form a friendship with and learn the wonders of martial arts together.

A knock on my door snapped me out of my trance, at first I assumed it was someone down at the forge. Did I not have this day and tomorrow off? As I opened the door, I was shocked who stood before me, a Centaur. She had long blonde hair, was in simple clothing, and looked down at me with a calm expression.

“I heard you are Thomas. The young man with a strange martial art. Are you he?”

I smiled, “I am. Are you interested in learning under me? I’m flattered but why would a Centaur-”

“Prove it to me.” She simply said.

“I’m sorry?”

She didn’t say another word, instead walked back to my lawn and stepped into a fighting stance. It seemed like even female Centaurs, despite all their elegance and honor shared the blood lust of their long extinct male counter parts. Being a warrior race, I wasn’t too surprised, but still wasn’t about to jump into a fight without reason.

“Ma’am, if you want to be my student, we don’t have to fight right now. Come with me to the back and we’ll get started.”

She simply scoffed, “What’s wrong? Lacking faith in your prowess? I’ll only accept you as my master if you best me.”

“Then there’s nothing to discuss. I don’t teach that way. If you want to learn from me, come back when you’ve cooled down.”

I barley step away from the closed door before I hear it shatter in two, splinters sprinkling my back.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m going nowhere until you best me!” She says. She broke the door in one punch, while that would’ve normally scared me shitless I was too pissed to care. I was planning on having a relaxing two days but now this battle lusting Centaur had to ruin it.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Fine. To the back.” I say, doing my best to keep my anger back and cursing her out. I needed to focus.

<p class="MsoNormal">Once in the clearing we took our respective battle stances. I eyed her carefully. I was accustomed to the human pressure point anatomy, but not the monster half’s. I would need to bring her down to my level, no, she’d bend herself to reach me, better yet, grab me. I concocted a plan.

<p class="MsoNormal">Everything slowed down, the Centaur charged while I remained planted. The speed at which she was moving told me she wasn’t about to run me down, so I was right for standing my ground. Whether she strike or grabbed, I had a counter in mind.

<p class="MsoNormal">She came at me with a jab from her left, I step to her left and towards her, parrying the punch with my left at the last moment to make sure she was convinced she was going to hit me. Then came my open palm strike from my right hand to the left side of her head, over her ear. The side of the head is dotted with Gallbladder and Triple Warmer points, wood and fire respectively. Their element is what’s important here, so remember that.

<p class="MsoNormal">The strike was still too high for my liking, even though she bent down, fortunately, I was going to bring her down as she was stunned. I brought my left hand over her breasts, moving up to her collar bone and pressing in and down, triggering her gag reflex. Her entire body buckled, her horse legs bent as she was brought to eye level. Now with my right, I again delivered an open palm strike, this time over her right eye mostly over her eyebrow. That part of the face is covered in Stomach and Bladder points, earth and water respectively.

<p class="MsoNormal">The strength behind pressure points come from these points following what is called the cycle of destruction, I won’t explain it all, just know that in it, wood is strong again earth and water is strong against fire. Combining two pairs where one is stronger than the other is usually enough for a knockout, and that’s exactly what happened as the Centaurs body fell to her side, collapsing.

<p class="MsoNormal">I quickly began using acupressure to wake her up and fix the damage I done, it uses the same pressure points as Kyushu Jujitsu, just in a different order. Failure to fix points after damaging them can lead to health problems, not to mention slow recovering, and I needed her and ready as soon as possible.

<p class="MsoNormal">She awoke quickly, and once seeing me, quickly rose to her feet, staggering slightly.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Y-you bested me?” She said, her tone indicated she was still a little light headed from the knock out.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Yes, now pay for my door.” I say bluntly.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Centaur simply stares at me, before raising a hand to her face where I struck her. “I don’t feel a bruise, how is this possible?”

<p class="MsoNormal">I was growing impatient with her, “The martial art I teach doesn’t require much strength to pull off and as such won’t leave bruises. Now are you going to pay for my door or do I need to get the guards?”

<p class="MsoNormal">She simply stares at me for a moment, before suddenly kneeling herself, “Please forgive me, please! I’m sorry! I’ll pay for your door! I’ll do anything! Just please let me be your pupil!” Her voice was racked with sobs.

<p class="MsoNormal">The sudden mood shift took me off guard, and any anger and impatience I felt was drowned in a wave of pity. “Uh, don’t worry, I forgive you.” I was being sincere with my forgiveness. While I had a short temper at times I could forgive easily. Maybe the Centaur was just sick in the head? “In fact, don’t worry about the door. I’ll get it fixed.”

<p class="MsoNormal">She suddenly took my hand in hers, “No! I am a Gamesh, and a Gamesh is responsible for all that they do!” She suddenly broke down into sobs.

<p class="MsoNormal">A Gamesh, where have I heard that name before, wait, it couldn’t be. “A Gamesh? You mean the Centaur family that-” I stopped myself. If this Centaur was the only survivor of the butchering of her family years ago, I doubt she needed to be reminded.

<p class="MsoNormal">Gamesh’ are said to have been the strongest of all Centaurs; their martial arts abilities, chivalry and beauty gave birth to the legend of their family being decedents of the gods, and as such are popular as royal guards and knights for Kingdoms worldwide. The butchering of their family years ago caused many to grieve, though apparently one escaped, and here she was in front of me.

<p class="MsoNormal">Her weak nod and sobs were confirmation enough anyway. Any sort of anger I felt from first meeting her vanished. She’s all alone, I can understand how that felt, if only an inkling of it. I took her inside and gave her a glass of water to calm her down.

<p class="MsoNormal">She took a deep breath, “As you’ve probably figured now, I am a Gamesh. My full name is Mariah Alberta Gamesh, the last of my line. I have sought you for your martial artistry, and am glad to have found you.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I’m honored to have the opportunity to teach a Gamesh, but what would you have to learn from me?” I ask.

<p class="MsoNormal">“I wish to learn your martial art. Nay, I need to. The tales of it were true, how you can take down men and mamonos thrice your size and strength.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“The Red Oni’s at the Inn are exaggerating. While it’s good for taking out opponents stronger than you, you being a Centaur doesn’t leave much room for those stronger than you. The real strength comes from how you don’t need to exert yourself when using it, as oppose to many other martial arts.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“And that’s why I wish to learn it! Please be my master! I need to know your art!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“May I ask why?” While I’m not one to pry, I was always curios as to why others wish to learn martial arts. If she was going to say though, I’d be fine with it.

<p class="MsoNormal">She did giver her reason however, and it made my blood run cold, “Revenge. For the men that killed my family. They are called the Order, and for slaughtering my family, I will slaughter them in return. So please, be my master.”

<p class="MsoNormal">I stared into her pleasing eyes, “No.”

<p class="MsoNormal">She slammed her fist on the table in anger but she was still in control, otherwise she would’ve easily shattered it, “Please!”

<p class="MsoNormal">I stood my ground, “No. My martial art will not be used for vengeance. Have you not heard to old saying? Revenge is a dish best served cold.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Easy to say when you have nothing to be vengeful for!”

<p class="MsoNormal">I turned to my front door, “There’s that. And I know, that’s nothing compared to losing a family. But remember what I did outside in the backyard? I forgave you, and did not get the guards for the trouble you caused.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“You expect me to forgive my family’s killers?! You’re no martial artist! What you did was mere luck on your part!” She reached into one of her pockets. I braced for her to pull out a dagger, but instead she pulled out a bag of coins. “Here, for your door. I am a Gamesh after all.” She then walked out of my house without another word.

<p class="MsoNormal">I got my door fixed that afternoon, and over the course of the week, things became normal. Then one rainy afternoon, I got a knock on my door, it was Mariah.

<p class="MsoNormal">Along with being drenched, her body was covered in cuts. A broken straight sword was in her right hand. “Please,” she weakly uttered.

<p class="MsoNormal">I didn’t say anything, I took her hand and ushered her in my house as fast as I could. Even in her injured state she seemed surprised, but as I motioned her to my bed to lay down, she pulled back.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Hide me,” she said weakly.

<p class="MsoNormal">Before I could reply, a banging noise from my door echoed throughout the house. The door was suddenly kicked down.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Come on out you filthy horse, let me join you with the rest of your god forsaken family.”

<p class="MsoNormal">The man who stepped through was easily a foot taller than me and dressed in black leather than was covered in cuts. He turned to me and Mariah.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Ah, there you are you filthy cunt. Your mother must be missing you.”

<p class="MsoNormal">I stepped in front of Mariah, the man cocked his head and scoffed.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Step aside boy. No use protecting a dead clan. I’ve been tracking this beast for months and wouldn’t you know it, she came to me sword at the ready. I could’ve killed then had she not fled here, but now I can get the job done. How about this? You let me kill her, and I’ll give you half a quarter the pay my client promised me.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Cowards.” Mariah said behind me, “Are the Order to afraid to get their hands dirty even for me? They constantly need to send hitmen do their work.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Shut it. So how about it boy?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“No.” I say, standing firm between him and Mariah.

<p class="MsoNormal">The man simply shrugged, “Fine, what’s an extra body like yours anyway? No one probably knows you anyway shack squatter.”

<p class="MsoNormal">The man drew a dagger, which with his size looked more like a butcher knife to me, and lumbered forward. He nonchalantly thrusted it forward, I pivoted to the outside with my right hand on his wrist and my left covering his elbow, I twisted my hips to face him while bending his wrist down and bending his arm down and towards him.

<p class="MsoNormal">The resulting movement made it look like he slashed his own stomach and when I took a step forward, the knife went into his own ribs. The man grunted in pain before collapsing onto the floor, his blood spilling onto the floor.

<p class="MsoNormal">Mariah stepped forward and placed a hoof on the man’s head, “Tell who your client is or I’ll crack your skull like an egg.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Mariah, don’t.” I step to her, “Get off him.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“What? Are you just going to let him walk out free? Did you forgive him too?” She asked, her tone somewhat mocking.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Torturing him won’t give you the answers you need, go get some guards so we can take this man to a doctor.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Thomas, is everything all right?!” A group guards stepped through the door frame. As soon as they saw Mariah and the man underneath her hoof they drew their swords. “Centaur, step away from the man and come with us.”

<p class="MsoNormal">I could sense the situation was about to become volatile, “She was being chased by this man, he said he was ordered to kill her.” I say to the guards, trying to get the situation under control.

<p class="MsoNormal">Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mariah raise her hoof off the man, but the look in her eye told me she about to do something terrible. Knowing I wouldn’t be able to tackle a couple hundred pound Centaur out of the way, I instead grabbed the man and pulled him out from under her.

<p class="MsoNormal">Her hoof landed with such a force the house shook and she easily penetrated the wooden floor.

<p class="MsoNormal">While one guard quickly took the man and said he was taking him to the doctor, the other guard cautiously approached Mariah, sword still drawn. “Centaur, if you don’t drop your blade I will take you down by force. Please, relax and come with us.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Mariah raised her broken sword, “No! Your one of them aren’t you?! Part of The Order! Or maybe your just another lackey!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Mariah, please calm down.” I try to get her calm down.

<p class="MsoNormal">She glances at me, the look in her eyes tell me she’s all but gone and she puts imaginary pieces into place, “You, you’re one of them too aren’t you?! Of course! How else could he have found me?!”

<p class="MsoNormal">She charged at me, I just get out of the way of her stab. Instead of pulling the blade out of the wall, she instead lets go of it, wraps both hands around me throat, and lifts me off the ground. The guard behind her charges, but a swift kick from Mariah sends him crashing against the wall near the door.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Mariah,” my voice is raspy. I felt my strength draining, I knew there was only one thing to do, “You know what happened to the Order, right?”

<p class="MsoNormal">Her eyes spark a brief recollection and her grip loosens, if only slightly.

<p class="MsoNormal">“The Order was found guilty of genocide, the ones that weren’t imprisoned were executed.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“But some still got away!” She throttled me. “I won’t rests until they die!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Those ones were minor members of the crime, the ones who simply brought the Gamesh family into one building under the guise of a feast. They weren’t even aware they were part of the genocide and mostly pardoned.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“No! No! No! They are just as guilty as the killers. They will be brought to justice, and the sentence is death!” Her grip was weak, she dropped me and her knees buckled from under her. She began sobbing again. “My family. Mother, father, I’m sorry. I can’t bring your killers to justice.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Guards rushed into my house, led by the one who sent the man to the doctor, all with swords drawn and another doctor in tow. The doctor rushed to the guard against the wall, while the other guards cautiously approached Mariah, with a captain leading the advancement.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Mariah Alberta Gamesh, we’ve turned a blind eye to your actions for far too long. In your meaningless quest you’ve caused trouble throughout the Kingdom and have even brought a hitman too this man’s home! No doubt the response for inconveniencing another’s life with your bloodlust! You might not accept the fact that your family’s killers have been brought to justice now, but in the asylum you will. A pity the Gamesh family has to die with the last being a madwomen.”

<p class="MsoNormal">I stepped between Mariah and the captain. Mariah would never survive in the asylum, most people don’t, and the ones that do come out worse than when they went in.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Young man, please step aside. This Centaur is a danger to our society.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I know, but please, give me a chance to try and help her.”

<p class="MsoNormal">The captain titled his head, “What do you intend to do? After all that she’s down, you think she’s not beyond help?”

<p class="MsoNormal">I look back to her, a sobbing wreck, something a Centaur should never be. “I think I can still help her. Centaurs don’t respond well to the asylum, they learn through combat. I will teach her my martial art.” Her sobs suddenly stopped, “But in it she will learn how to forgive.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“You intend to train her?! That will only make her more dangerous!”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Please. Just give me a week. I promise she’ll have learned forgiveness in that time. I promise she won’t leave the premises.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s not much of a premises now,” A guard joked, a glare from the captain quickly silenced him.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You and her will be moved to a monitored facility while we sent people to rebuild the damage she’s caused. I will give you three days. Deal?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Deal,” I shook his hand, figuring that was the best offer I was going to get.

<p class="MsoNormal">My hands were bind as well as hers. I was led to wagon while Mariah was strapped to a weighed cart and was strapped with reigns. As the driver mounted her and she began to sob again, I felt a wave of pity and grief, most people didn’t know or cared behind what it meant to mount a Centaur. She must’ve felt humiliated as we were led through the rain.

<p class="MsoNormal">The monitored facility was a simple house outfitted from a soldier’s barracks, further out of town and near the dungeon. One the first day we met she was being ridden by a guard, reigns in her mouth and her hands bind.

<p class="MsoNormal">I gave the guard a stern look, “Get off her and undo her bindings.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Sir, this Centaur is dangerous and could hurt you if I do that.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“She won’t, and I need her free to work with her.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Just do it, Robert.” The captain said, he and a few other guards were leaning against the wall eyeing us like hawks.

<p class="MsoNormal">As he did so I turned to the captain, “I’ll need you all to leave too, as to better teach her.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“No can do, we need to make sure she doesn’t try anything.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“She won’t, please just give us privacy. The walls are concrete and the doors are metal, she won’t be able to-”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I don’t need to be reminded where I am young man, but maybe you do.” The captain walked up to me, “You are in a barrack, one we’ve generously given you to help ‘fix’ this Centaur, and you have the audacity to ask for more? Perhaps we should send this Centaur to the asylum after all.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Where do you get your swords from?” I ask

<p class="MsoNormal">The captain tilted his head at my off topic question, “What business is that of yours?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I work for a smith called Andrey. If he heard of any mistreatment of me I bet he’d be happy to hike up your sword prices.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Aye, I think I’ve seen him work there time to time. Surprised a skinny lad like him works at a blacksmith’s shop.” A guard said.

<p class="MsoNormal">The captain glared at him before turning back to me, “Everyone, out. If I see even a bruise on you or hear anything suspicious, it’s to the asylum with her.”

<p class="MsoNormal">As soon as everyone cleared out of the room, I walked up to Mariah, who was resting her heard in her arms propped up by the table.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Mariah,”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Why? Why are you doing this? After all I’ve done to you. And now I’ve been defiled by the guards, thinking they can ride me like some regular horse. I’m a disgrace to my family.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Mariah, you aren’t a disgrace to your family, you just need help. I’ll be sure to tell the guards to improve your treatment. To answer your question, I’m doing this because I want to help you. I’ve forgiven you for all that you’ve done to me, you just need help after all.”

<p class="MsoNormal">She looked up at me, tears welling in her eyes, “Thomas.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s okay, just let it all out. I’ll listen.”

<p class="MsoNormal">What followed was a long wail followed by sobs. She held me closed as she cried, mumbling about how she was sorry about her family, how what happened was her fault.

<p class="MsoNormal">“It’s not, you were the one closest to the exit right?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Yes, my mother told me to run as the fire broke out. I heard the sound of arrows whistling through the air just when I ran through. Don’t you see? I’m a coward. What sort of Centaur is a coward?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Listening to your mother wasn’t cowardly. You were just a teenage then right? You’re very brave to have survive on your own for so long. But think, do you think your family wants you to be consumed with revenge or do you think they want you to move on?”

<p class="MsoNormal">“To move on. But how can I? Not everyone was brought to justice.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“They were, members of The Order were hunted down and sentence to execution. Everyone else involved was either imprisoned for life or were imprisoned for a while. Many regretted their actions and have since lived in hiding.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“So that’s it? I’m just supposed to move on? You make it sound so easy.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I know it’s not, but I’ll be here to help.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Over the three days we made excellent progress, and I order the guards to treat her better lest they want to get their words and armor in the next town. They quickly complied. After the three days the guards took a vote as to determine if she was fine enough to not be sentence to asylum. It was a close 7 to 6 vote, the captain voting for asylum. As such, she was instead sentence to house arrests, and given that she had nowhere else to go, my house was chosen.

<p class="MsoNormal">What followed was weeks of training of my martial art and teaching forgiveness, not just for the men who killed her family, but also for herself. I saw her transform from a vengeance obsessed Centaur to something that surely resembled the legendary Gamesh line.

<p class="MsoNormal">She promised to carry it on, and she soon found a noble happy to wed her and bind his family with hers. She made me a guest of honor, even taking a moment in the festivities to announce to everyone that I was the man who saved her life and helped her recover. I was honored but honestly not used to the attention, and quickly humbled myself by explaining she helping herself and her strength were more important than my aid. She gave me a warm smile before continuing with the festivities. From I saw it seemed like it would be a very happy marriage.