[ Mountains, Star City Outskirts ]
At this time, Thea didn't know that Malcolm's classroom was still recruiting students—or that her father had told a big fat lie to cover up the reason for his injuries.
She was walking steadily up a mountain path. The beautiful woman with long black hair was truly talented at finding remote places—this one was even more isolated than the previous grove. It had taken Thea forever to locate it. Thankfully, she'd woken up an hour early, or she might've been late.
Surveying the surroundings, she noted the lush vegetation and the sound of flowing water nearby. It was, quite frankly, picturesque. This place could easily be described as a hidden gem: mountains, clear streams, and serene air. Someone had definitely worked hard to find such a tranquil location near Star City, an industrial sprawl battered over the years by Queen Consolidated's legacy of steel and smog.
Compared to the ominous gloom of Malcolm's woodland training ground, this place was positively charming. Does this mean I've passed the entrance test and moved up to junior high? she wondered with a smirk. From Dad's boot camp to Lady Shiva's finishing school?
Tapping into her heightened perception, Thea quickly located the woman standing not far ahead, her back turned to her. Lady Shiva had her arms folded behind her, and her waist-length black hair flowed gently in the mountain breeze, soft and cloudlike. For a moment, Thea found the sight a little mesmerizing.
Her awe was abruptly broken when Lady Shiva began reciting a Chinese poem, her accent oddly graceful yet unmistakably foreign.
"The sun sets over the mountains..."
Click. Thea nearly tripped over a loose stone. In such an elegant setting, shouldn't the poem have been something like "Willows curling in pond mist"? Even elementary schoolers know that line! Way to kill the moment, lady. Your icy elegance just plummeted five degrees.
Eyes lowered, Thea replied evenly in Mandarin, "The Yellow River flows into the sea."
"Oh, little Thea! I didn't expect you to speak Chinese. That's wonderful!" Lady Shiva's expression brightened with genuine surprise, like a long-lost traveler finding home again. Her usually distant demeanor softened noticeably.
Of course Thea knew mandarin good enough because in her past life, she was a businessman who deal with chinese clients often and now she fought the urge to hit her with a tongue twister and simply nodded solemnly. Her silent expression said, Can we skip the small talk and get to the actual training?
Lady Shiva nodded approvingly. This girl wasn't arrogant or flighty. Praise didn't faze her. Criticism didn't either. Very interesting indeed, she thought.
"Since you're studying under me, I suppose we're bound by fate. You know my title, and now it seems you understand my language too—that's perfect. I'm Chinese. My Chinese name is Sandra Wu-San. 'Shiva' is a title I have given to myself."
Thea was stunned. Sandra Wu-San? What kind of awkward alias is that? Sounds like something you'd report to neighborhood watch. Who filled out your registration paperwork—an intern? She decided to ignore the questionable alias. "Lady Shiva" had a nicer ring to it, and it even had a "Thea" vibe to it. Easy to remember.
Unaware of Thea's internal commentary, Lady Shiva continued in a calm, even tone. "I saw your fight last night. You're clever—able to outmaneuver strength with strategy. But it's not enough. You're not using your full potential. Do you know what your advantage is?"
Half a year ago, Thea would've shrugged, but today she had an answer. "My perception? I've tried to push it as far as I can. Please teach me, Master."
"Very good. Recognizing your own strengths and weaknesses already puts you ahead of 90% of the population. I'm liking you more and more," she said with what could technically be called a smile, though it remained chilling.
"Perception. Black Arrow should have spoken to you about this. I'll share my experience.
"Everyone has perception—some more, some less. Animals can sense earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. That's pure instinct. But humans, immersed in modern chaos, have dulled their senses. Only by returning to nature can we rediscover this gift."
Thea nodded in understanding. Malcolm had said something similar to her before, though it was entirely possible he had simply repeated the original words of the Ra's al Ghul.
Though he emphasized returning to oneself. Shiva, on the other hand, focused on returning to nature. Maybe that was the core difference between the two masters.
Different philosophies, same goal. Neither was entirely right or wrong. But compared to Ra's al Ghul's emphasis on fighting for breakthroughs, Lady Shiva's approach felt more... Thea-compatible.
"Today's class won't teach techniques," Shiva declared. "I want you to take your first step back into nature. Stand beside me and feel."
Thea complied, standing in the exact spot Shiva had previously occupied. The first thing she noticed was the wind. Geez, it's strong! Am I going to get blown into the valley? I barely weigh a one hundred and fifty pounds!
"Close your eyes. Feel the wind," Shiva said, pulling out a strip of cloth and wrapping it over her own eyes.
Feel the wind? Losing vision sends the brain into chaos. It took Thea a moment to realize this was already the start of the lesson.
She focused. "Southern wind, about level three. Gusts up to level four. Some bird calls... but I can't ID the species."
"Not bad. You are talented. I break perception training into four stages."
"Stage one: listening to the wind. Stage two: hearing the birds. Now, we begin stage three: insects. Sit down and remove your clothing."
WHAT?! Thea's brain screeched to a halt. Take off my clothes? Is this some secret art of seduction? Images of a scene flashed in her mind of a romantic training montage—like Aragorn and Arwen sparring in Rivendell. Was some Gollum about to jump out and ruin it?
"Don't zone out. Off with it," Shiva urged, unaware of the mental theater playing out in Thea's head.
Fine! Lady Shiva is a woman anyway. Nothing to hide. I can handle this. Shivering slightly, she reluctantly began removing her coat.
"Why so shy? Aren't Europeans and Americans supposed to be more open than Asians?" Shiva asked curiously, noting Thea's trembling hands.
"That's a stereotype! There are plenty of modest Americans—and some really bold Asians too! It's personality, not geography!" Thea finally snapped, keeping her eyes shut but unable to hold her tongue any longer. Body writing? Seriously? Let's not go there!
For the first time, Shiva let out a small, amused laugh. "Alright, alright. It's a personality thing. And hey, I never said remove your underwear."
WHAT?! Why didn't you say so earlier?! Thea scrambled to pull her underwear back on. This woman's got a poker face but a devil's sense of humor! Suddenly, Malcolm's dark training ground seemed far more wholesome. At least it didn't include accidental strip sessions. Birds and blossoms are fine, but sincerity will get you into trouble here!
Despite the awkward moment, the atmosphere between them warmed. A bit of mutual understanding settled in.
Shiva no longer stood like a statue. She found a tree stump and sat, quietly watching from a distance.
Thea sat as instructed, using her coat to cover her already cloth covered eyes. The wind, now cold against her bare arms, drowned out all other sensations. Her thoughts scrambled under the chill. Her mind was filled with nothing but cold.
The birds, the insects—everything else vanished.
The real training had only just begun.
To Be Continued...
---xxx---
[POWER STONES AND REVIEWS PLS]