The martial art that he was learning was vastly different from the ones he already knew, yet there were parts that were familiar at the same time. When he practiced, he made a concentrated effort to reign in his speed, in order to keep pace with the other students. Evidently, this was affecting his performance, for he was approached by the Master one night.
“Why do you hold yourself back, Liam-san?” he asked.
“To keep pace with the others.” Liam responded, in broken Japanese.
“Do not worry about the other students. Holding yourself back does you no good.” the Master responded.
“What if I hurt someone?” Liam asked.
“Wounds can be mended. By holding yourself back, you hurt only yourself. Come now, it is nearly day. You must sleep.” he stated.
Liam nodded, and went back to his room at the monastery, getting rest before showing up for practice the following day. The vast majority of the other students had been practicing much longer than he, and several were mages, he’d been able to determine. Keeping the sensei’s words in mind, he practiced. Colorful flesh over tight muscles stretched out and back in the katas, faster than the other students could keep up with.
Others stopped to watch him become a blur of motion. The mages tried to keep up, using their magic to aid them, but it didn’t always work.
Liam didn’t notice. He got lost in the rhythm and flow of what he’d learned so far, and stopped only when the Master appeared in front of him.
“It would seem we have some things to discuss.” he said. The look on his face was stoic, but inwardly he was impressed with the speed with which Liam could so casually move, as well as his dedication to his studies in such a short time.