“I used it when I was ten,” she answered.
My ears sunk. “Oh.”
“Now, the most important part of any physical exertion is not getting yourself hurt. Thus, stretching.”
I watched as the blonde bent in half, touching her hands to the ground. I placed my stick on the ground and attempted to do the same, my hands hovering a few inches off of the ground.
“Next,” Kewyn said, continuing a regimen that she had obviously run often. By the time an hour had passed, I was sweating despite the cool autumn air and had discarded my coat.
“Take a break, get some water,” she said. I did so gratefully.
Walking up to the kitchen, I pumped myself some water and reveled in its coldness. Usually I was one for hot drinks, but for once, tea was second to pure, old-fashioned water.
“How’s it going?” Rio asked, walking in the front door.
“I’m tired, I’m sweaty and I’m wondering how my limbs are going to keep listening to me if I abuse them so much,” I answered.
Rio chuckled, helping himself to a glass of water as well. “It’ll get better if you keep at it.”
“It’d better,” I said, slumping against the washbasin. It was comfortably cold against my skin.
Kewyn walked inside then. “You ready to finish up?” she asked.
“I’ve never been happier to hear the word ‘finish’,” I answered, gulping down my water and following her back outside.
The night I slept like a rock, no dreams, no tossing and turning. As daylight crept in through the curtains, I felt like I should never move again. I sat up, muscles sore and aching. I would hate to know what they would feel like if Kewyn had not made me stretch for half an hour after we had finished.
That day I practiced with the staff again, and the day after as well. Rio was a little right, it did start to get easier, but then on the third day another challenge surfaced.
“Here,” Rio said, handing a brown-paper wrapped package to me.
“What’s this?” I asked, placing my practice staff against the wall and