I've been giving it my all but not in speed. You're going down… Father. In a blur, I move. From the wall, to right in front of his face. His pupils instantly dilate.
My fist hit something hard on Brother Sabantu. It landed but it also pushed me back. The impact shut my eyes from the dust.
When they open again, I'm far in the air grabbing for anything to slow down my fall. I can't see Brother Sabantu.
There's nothing I can do to land safely but curl up with my back facing the ground; this'll definitely hurt…
My butt lands first, without any energy left the rest of my body betrays me. I fell a few steps from the wall. My head first slammed on the ground and then, into the wall. At least I'm resting against the wall, ehe. My legs feel numb. I turn to look at Brother Sabantu, I can barely make out his silhouette through the dust cloud. Did I hit him that good? I could tell it surprised him.
"Haha!" It's Brother Sabantu. The dust stops then slowly falls to the ground. He looks fine, even his face is okay. He's just that stronger. "Champo! Come help this lycan boy up." I lost, dammit! "Don't you dare beat yourself down! I am a Brother of The Faith—
"Yes Father," Champo says reaching us.
"Hehe. It's good you're here son. This lycan boy here, no…Yori, has beaten me in today's training. Absolutely amazing I say." What? I try to force myself to stand up to correct him. Look at me! He looks just fine. He doesn't even have dust all over his clothes like I do.
"Stop moving, I'm here to help you stand," Champo tells me letting me use him as a crutch. I don't have the energy to project my voice.
"Tell him I didn't win."
"You want me to correct him? Do you see how happy he is that someone beat him… Father hasn't been this happy in months." That doesn't make any sense. Nothing here makes any sense.
Champo takes me upstairs to Hewlett and I's room. "You look like you were in a rodeo," Hewlett says.
"What's that?"
"Never mind, set him on his bed," Hewlett tells Champo.
"Huh?" asks Champo. Hewlett sits still before nervously pointing to my bed. "I can't hear a word you say sometimes you know that?"
"Just set me on my bed and leave."
"Don't talk to me like that just because you're older. I should've left you by the stairs but Father was still watching me," Champo shoots back, dropping me.
"Hey, do not drop him like that," Hewlett shoots out.
"I said, I can't hear most of what comes out of that mouth of yours. Only father and whatever he is can. So, speak up or don't say anything at—
I punch him. My left-hand wobbles in the air. What have I…
"I thought I sent you to help today's victor up to his room," Brother Sabantu narrates. He grabs me by the nape and tosses me on my bed. "And you should know better. We'll be training again in an hour. Seems you have the energy to spare. Hewlett!"
"Yes Brother Saban—
"How did you let this happen on your watch? You're the oldest here but how does a lycan end up punching my son?" Hewlett didn't do anything the only problem here is Champo.
"But he didn't—
A sudden squeeze in my lungs tells me to shut it. What did Brother Sabantu do to me? The pressure relaxes as soon as start struggling to breathe.
"Stay out of this Yori. I can handle this," reassures Hewlett.
"I thought I was the one you were talking to," Brother Sabantu cuts. Why does he sound serious?
Hewlett falls to one knee. "My sincere apologies," Hewlett announces. I can clearly see amaka all around him. It looks denser than anywhere else around this room. Brother Sabantu must be doing this. But how?
"Can you see this much now?" Brother Sabantu asks. His eyes still fixed on Hewlett who's kneeling between our beds. Who's he—
The heavy pressure from before slams my head into the bed. Holding me still. "Yeah-I-see-it!" I manage to blurt out. He relieves the pressure on Hewlett and I.
"That was a demonstration of amaka manipulation," Brother Sabantu dictates. That's cool and all but I can't sit right cause of my arms and my butt's facing the ceiling. He turns to me. I notice Champo trying to hold in a laugh behind him. Stupid Champo. "The super naturals coming after you know how to use this and you don't." That's changes things big time.
"Excuse me, Brother Sabantu." I notice Hewlett too. Wait… why's he holding in a laugh too? Do I look funny? "Uhhm…," what was I gonna ask? "Uhh, manipulation, amaka, I'm a lycan. Right! Can a lycan like me use amaka?"
Brother Sabantu pauses, then bursts out in a laugh. Champo and Hewlett join in too. "My goodness you're hopeless. I know you look stupid right now but I didn't think that's what your brain runs on too," Champo blasts out. I knew it! I new I look stupid but what was it he said after? My legs hurt so much.
Their laughing dies down, Brother Sabantu adds, "Yes Yori. Even as you are now. It's possible to use amaka." He smacks Champo behind his head and then says, "You should have explained better to him the first time!"
"But you were there Father," Champo argues.
"What do you mean by that? It actually sounds like you don't want to be here. Go down stairs and bring me the beer I left in the training floor. This lycan's punch has a burn to it," Brother Sabantu orders. Burn, what is he talking about.
"Yes Father," Champo answers.
Brother Sabantu stays silent for a while. "He's gone. Now listen up you two!" Why so loud though. "I'm sorry about my son," Brother Sabantu lets out in a voice softer than I've ever heard from him.