Ilm was doing the circular walk and threw a gust of wind at Pema. Pema nullified the attack by using her skill. Ilm launched a series of fire punches, but Pema pulled a boulder from under the ground and used it as a shield.
Ilm's force gradually broke the boulder. Pema used thunder at Ilm. But Ilm took the thunder and redirected it to her. She made tree roots as a shield.
They dashed to each other. Pema created metallic gloves and tried to punch him. While Ilm used rooky punches. Their force deflected each other. Pema jumped and rolled in the air. She landed an aerial kick at him. Ilm used the upper block technique boosted with fire.
They moved far from each other, taking a moment to think about their next attack. It was an intense practice battle. They were taking heavy breaths. Then Ilm saw one of the most amazing move from Pema.
Pema straightened her hands and collected water from the air. Drops of water were brought together and made icy knives. Then, she shot those knives like darts.
But Ilm was Ilm. His moves were aggressive. He was just beside the river, so he took the advantage. He brought large amounts of water from the river. The waves were greater than his height. He used it chaotically to stop the bubble darts and eventually created an oceanic move.
Pema unleashed fire like a dragon flaming. Water and fire clashed together leaving the place full of vapour and mist.
Zip… zip.
Thunder was shown. As the lightning in the clouds, their thunders were in the mist. Power met power; Pema's thunder collided with Ilm's thunder cracking the ground.
Pema created a tornado of fire. Ilm used his aerial technique and nullified the fire tornado. Then they were using normal martial arts. Eye to eye seeking the opponent's one mistake.
Ilm's improvement in battle skills was noticeable. Initially, Pema was in the trainer's position, but later it turned her seriously fighting against him. Perhaps, she wanted to become greater and see her full potential. While Ilm had a curious mind. He wanted to master all seven basic elements and learn advanced sects. It was like they were shaping themselves to achieve a greater goal or seeking perfection in their every move.
Qi attacks were useless here as the opponent was an expert. Ilm thudded the ground and showed his skill. He made lava from the ground. He attacked her with lava.
But she was more experienced than him. She created glasses out of lava and used them as daggers. Force met force. Glasses were broken and lava was cooled down.
It happened when people used their creativity after advancing the basics. After fully mastering seven elements, one could combine their knowledge and control complex elements like lava, ice, glass and even fabrics. And it didn't need Itti, Daga and Alur but Kata, performance.
Ilm used thunder again. He made a pointed gesture with the top fingers of his right hand. He was going to release lightning.
But before he could, Pema caught his top fingers and pointed her fingers before his neck. It was a warning position. Any move from Ilm and Pema would find him off guard. But—
Ilm was already ready with his fire fist. He was making a fist beside her waist with his other hand. The situation was locked here. No one could move now.
They smiled with mutual respect and became easy. Then they bowed to each other. The practice match ended. Ilm passed the practice match.
He was drinking water. He could feel the strength in his muscles. Fighting made his body hard. He looked at his mother and wondered how she could have her delighted and soft skin as she was mightier than him. Maybe, it is her blood, flesh and bones technique. Ilm thought.
It was when he noticed a movement in the bushes. He frowned at them and again watched the movement. Being curious, he got up and dashed to the bushes.
It was a little creature looking like a gecko but instead of hands, it had wings like bats. Everything made it look like a wyvern.
"Maa!" Ilm yelled being surprised. "A baby dragon!"
"What nonsense you're speaking." Pema came to him. She saw the creature and puffed out. "This is a gecko-drogo, one of Bodin's original species. It cannot breathe fire like dragons."
"Perhaps cause it's a baby; it can't breathe fire. When it will be an adult, it will," Ilm smiled.
Pema grimaced. "It is an adult gecko-drogo and it is its average size. Though it can bite you."
Ilm looked at the gecko-drogo. He noticed its big black eyes.
"Bite me? Oh, Maa, look at its eyes. How cute is it? How can it bite me?"
Ilm was going to brush its head. But as Pema warned, it could bite, so it bit Ilm's index finger.
AAAAAAA.
Ilm jumped up and started to spin his hand. "Get off from my finger."
"Now, call it cute," Pema mocked.
Gecko-drogo released his finger and flew to a tree.
"That's—" Ilm was surprised to see it flying.
"Yeah, their wings help them to fly from one tree to another," Pema informed.
Blood was dripping from Ilm's finger. It was a deep bite mark. Ilm groaned. Pema held his finger. And then, Ilm felt a strange comfort in his finger.
When he looked at his finger it was completely healed. It was a complete miracle. He turned his face to her being bewildered.
"Another speciality of Nawvara," Pema said. "When you will be a Tsuṃḍis, you will learn it after mastering blood, flesh and bones."
"So, that's why blood, flesh and bones techniques are important!" Ilm exclaimed.
"Yeah, healing is a creative move, just like controlling lava and ice."
Ilm again looked at his finger. No bite mark was there.
When they were returning to their new home, they took the way of the local market. It was Pema's idea to take this way. She wanted to see the locals of this planet.
It was a quite crowded market. People were engrossed in buying the usual fruits, vegetables and meats. But all edible things were a little different. Blue mangoes, red oranges, purple okras, hybrids of aubergine and potato, and other weird things.
Pema and Ilm couldn't even tell what type of meat was being sold there. The meats were completely yellowish. Although they were guessing some of them could be the local birds similar to ostrich.
Almost all shopkeepers had their robot assistants working as cashiers or testers. Even some shops had only robots, no human was there to watch.
Then they stopped at the centre of the market. It was a marble statue of a tall man. In the golden word, it was written- In the name of Sir Hrishikesh Bharata.
"It was—" Ilm gasped.
"Hrishikesh Bharata, my great-grandfather," Pema said.
"Your great-grandfather?" Ilm bewildered.
Under the statue, it was written—
In the name of Sir Hrishikesh Bharata
Hrishikesh Bharata (867 ANB – 945 ANB) was a great person who helped develop the Northeastern side of Pangea in Boduin (This side later became known as the region of Bharata). He was also a great scientist, industrialist and head of Paradise Industry from 899 ANB to 934 ANB. He possessed a kind soul, always sympathetic towards the needy people.
"There were many things," Pema said. "Those aren't mentioned here."
"What are those things?"
"During his time, Paradise Industry was the wealthiest company," Pema said. Then she said a little deeply, "And he designed a blueprint of affordable water producer."
"So he was the original designer!"
"Yes, he was disturbed by the fact that only upper people have access to clean water. So he engrossed himself to design that. But unfortunately, he didn't have access to a large amount of energy," Pema sighed. "He even made an application to the government requesting him to reallocate the energy. But the government answered there would be energy deficiency in space travel."
Ilm was thinking about his great ancestor, then he realised the next day was a special day.
"Tomorrow, Professor McWorld will officially introduce his invention to the universe," Ilm said. "If only Hrishikesh Bharata was still here. He may become successful at making an affordable water producer."
Pema tilted her head and said, "Or maybe… or maybe, he would end up like your grandfather. Being bankrupt."
She recalled her father and his half-mad condition. Her heart wrenched.
Bang!
Something like a bullet hit Pema's left shoulder.
"MAA!" Ilm cried.
Pema grabbed her shoulder; blood overflowed.