Dawning Skye

592 Shinobi Potential(Part Four)

Genie hadn’t been expecting Skye to attack right away, nor Tidas to do it in synchronization with her. They moved together surprisingly well, but it still wasn’t good enough to get a hit in on him. Genie jumped to the side with ease, then sidestepped Tidas as he tried to land another hit.

When he had dodged Tidas, Skye was right at his other side. She kicked as she spun on her hands, hoping that a low strike would catch him off guard. Genie jumped into the air, and spun around to kick an incoming Tidas in the jaw.

As he stumbled back, Skye tried to get Genie the second his feet touched the ground. She swung at him with enough force to knock the head clean off of a regular person, but Genie had easily dodged it. She swung again as Tidas regained his footing, and came at him from behind.

With a cheeky grin, Genie jumped up, and kicked Skye and Tidas simultaneously. He landed gracefully as his students practically skidded across the ground, then lept back to their feet. They ran at him again and again until they were panting from their efforts.

Genie’s clothes were barely wrinkled by the time he had called for a short break. Skye and Tidas were bent over, catching their breaths when Skye’s head shot up. She stared at Genie with a scrutinizing gaze before an indignant expression crossed her face..

“Ya didna even use yer magic on us, did ya?”

Genie smirked; “I almost did. You two are quite fast, but you’re also predictable. Many wouldn’t be able to keep up with your speed, but the attack pattern that you follow is too easily perceived. Any mage with experience will have a way to counter you two if you continue on like this.”

Skye looked down at the ground while Tidas tried to explain away their movements as a tactic. Genie cut him off mid-excuse, and lectured him on the dangers of relying solely on his magic too much. It was a familiar admonishment, although the subject was slightly different.

“The most powerful people in the world wouldn’t be considered so if they relied on their magic as much as you two do. Magic is a part of you, but it’s not the most important. Having all the power in the world wouldn’t matter at all, if you don’t have intelligence to pair with it.”

.....

Tidas felt like he was going to chip a tooth as he clenched his jaw, trying to keep himself from saying something regrettable. Genie was thoroughly explaining their shortcomings, but he wasn’t being demeaning about it. Which made the observations sting all the more.

Since Skye had started training and fighting, there hadn’t been a problem she couldn’t overcome. But the sheer number of mistakes she’d made while fighting him pricked at her pride. She was ready to join in with her husband on justifying their ‘fighting style’ when the shinobi that Skye had fought dropped in from nowhere.

His face was still covered, but Skye could tell that his features showed fury underneath. He bowed to Genie, then made a motion with his hand. After a quick nod of approval from his master, the ninja spoke with a deep, weathered voice..

“Master Jin’s reputation speaks for itself. It is illogical to think that you two could win against him as you are now. Understanding your own limitations is required to be deemed a competent soldier, let alone a shinobi. If you cannot take what Master has said for the help that it is, then you are unworthy to be His students.”

Both Skye and Tidas stayed quiet for a long moment while they mulled over the ninja’s words. They were true, but it still stung at their pride as the harsh realization of their limitations hit them. Skye was obviously deep in thought, but Tidas looked almost disheartened.

Feeling like the point had finally sunken in, Genie smiled softly at them; “Hao is right, but you two are still leagues ahead of most I select for training. That is why I believe it will only take a few months for you both to reach your current potentials. Do not feel disheartened. Take this opportunity, and learn as much as possible..”

“So by the time you two return to Alcon: you will be an army unto yourselves.”

Tidas was astounded by the difference in their fighting capabilities. He knew that Genie would most likely best him, but he thought that he’d at least had a slight chance. Especially with both him and Skye attacking.

“How did you counter us without magic? We’re Tanks! You shouldn’t have been able to keep up with our movements,” Tidas remarked with a furrowed brow.

“If I had been using my eyes to track you two, then you’d be correct. The average human has more senses to utilize than just sight. That’s all I did,” Genie replied with a shrug.

“That makes no sense unless ya were using yer Wind magic,” Skye interjected.

Genie smirked; “I don’t need my magic to hear Tidas’ heavy breathing, or your frantic footfalls. And I certainly don’t need my magic to feel your intent.”

The last comment was directed at Skye, who was clearly upset with him. He didn’t understand why, but thought that he could get her frustrations alleviated before they talked. Otherwise, the chances of their conversation being productive in any way became nonexistent.

Genie was expecting her to blow up at him in some way, but so far, she had simply sat in a contemplative state. The occasional glare oamd quippy comment was far from her usual explosive temperament, it made Genie hesitant to try and incite her ire, but he’d known Skye long enough to understand that her stewing on an issue was worse.

Predictably, Skye glared at him as she said; “I stated me intent at the beginnin’. Twas yer arse I wanted ta kick, and I’m still gonna do it. It just....might take a wee bit.”

Genie sighed; “I know, and I could feel it when you came close to me. Humans have the same survival instincts as animals, we just don’t usually use them. A shinobi is never meant to carry personal feelings into an assignment for exactly that reason..”

“If your target knows that you’re there to kill them, then the chances of you succeeding become almost nonexistent.”

“But we’re not here to become assassins,” Tidas commented.

“Correct, but you Are here to gain the skills of one,” Genie replied; “And that means training like one. How you apply the knowledge afterwards is up to your discretion, but my job is to Properly teach you, so that is what I shall do..”

“Which is why I ordered you two here, and intentionally treated you like novices: you are ones. Until you pass my course, you two Are students. And will follow whatever directions I give you. Or I won’t train you.”

Tidas sighed with acknowledgment, but Skye stood in front of him with a scowl; “As long as those orders are reasonable. I dinna care who gives’em: I willna follow orders I think will endanger me family.”

Genie kept his expression placid; “So you do not agree to follow my rules?”

“I’ll follow yer rules, I just willna guarantee ta follow all yer orders,” Skye shot back, knowing that he was trying to trip her up with semantics.

A small grin slowly stretched across his face as he replied; “Good. Blanket authorization is never a good sign. If you feel an order is wrong, then you should voice it.. And listen to those under your command when they tell you such concerns. This isn’t part of being a shinobi, but a good leader in general.”

“Can we stick with one type of life advice for the day, please? I can only take so much,” Tidas commented as he ran his hand through his hair.

Genie laughed a bit before he had them position themselves farther away, to fight again. When he gave the signal, Tidas ran at him without hesitation. As he came right up by him, Genie stayed rooted, making Tidas slam his feet into the ground to stop.

As he went to fall forward, Genie caught Tidas, and kept him on his feet. Tidas glared at him as he straightened up, and said; “Are you crazy?! Why didn’t you move?!” I could’ve killed you!”

“...That’s highly unlikely,” Genie replied with a smug expression; “As Skye pointed out, I haven’t even used my magic yet. If you want a chance to win, then you need to come at me with Controled intent.”

Genie has glanced back at Skye as he’d finished speaking. She pulled a face at him, which was better than the icy glared she’d been shooting at him since they’d arrived. As he stared at her, Genie wondered why she hadn’t attacked him with Tidas..

“Are we gonna go again?” Tidas asked.

“If you two don’t need a longer break.”

“I think we can manage a wee bit longer,” Skye stated as she bent her knees, and readied to attack.

“Hold yer horses! Food’s here!” Peggy yelled as two servants followed behind her carrying oversized picnic baskets.

Skye had immediately ran over to her, kicking up dust when she skidded to a stop, and asked what she was doing there. Peggy had given an obviously false excuse, but Skye didn’t actually care about the lie.. ‘She probably just misses me..’

Although she was half-right, Peggy also wanted to check up on Genie and Tidas. It had been years, but she could still recall the unreasonable jealousy that the prince was capable of when it came to Skye. Even after so many years, they still bickered over Skye like back in the day.

Knowing that trouble would be afoot without her presence, Peggy had budgeted time to bring them all lunch, and check up on them at the same time. She didn’t like to see Skye fighting with her loved ones, and she had been furious when she’d left that morning. As the three walked over to her, she directed the servants to set up the wool blanket for them to sit on.

“You do know that we can take this to a table,” Genie commented as he stared at the uncomfortable seating option.

Peggy quirked an eyebrow at him; “What’s the matter, Genie? Dinna wanna sit wit us? Is yer butt too fragile fer the ground?”

“...No. I just don’t see why we have to sit like children when there’s a perfectly good table over there-”

“Oi, come on, Genie. Dinna be a baby about it! Just park it, and enjoy the food wit us,” Skye chimed in as she grabbed one of the trays that the other servants had brought.

Genie grimaced slightly; “You’ll understand when you’re older. It’s not easy to get down on, and up off of the floor.”

“Tis nae issue fer me, and Ima nearly twice yer age,” Peggy commented with a cocky grin.

Genie half-huffed, half-laughed at the old servant; “You don’t count, Peggy. You’re tougher than many shinobi I know.”

“Says the world-acclaimed assassin with a bad butt,” Skye quipped.

The banter went on throughout the whole meal, and even a bit passed that. Hao, the shinobi that was lingering on to make sure everything was alright, was surprised to see his master joking along with them. It was rare to see anything but a poker face expression, and Hao began to understand why his master was so soft on them; comparatively speaking.

Once everything had been repacked and cleaned up, Peggy readied to leave, but stopped upon hearing the conversation between the three. Her heart dropped as she whirled around, and protested Genie’s next training assignment. They’d been arguing about continuing their sparring match with him, and Genie was insisting on pausing it momentarily..

“Why?! We’d just started to get warmed up,” Tidas stated.

“I think he’s worried he’s gonna get his delicate wee arse kicked,” Skye quipped cockily.

Genie sighed heavily before saying; “My ass is perfect, thank you.. I need to see something before you two continue with me.”

“And what’s that?” Tidas asked a bit snarkily.

It was what Genie said next that had Peggy whirling; “I need to see you two fight each other before we continue. I want to see how serious you two can get..”