Is this destiny?

That afternoon, Sarah was in front of the exercise dummy, listening to the instructions from Master Hollow: "You hit with an intention to hit."

Sarah's expression showed that she does not understand. How else is she supposed to hit someone (or something)? With an intention to miss? "What does that mean?"

"You don't have an intent to hurt people." He shook his head when he saw that Sarah is still not understanding. Seriously... In this aspect, Aiden is an easier student. He can grasp from looking or from verbal instructions. No matter how quickly Sarah catches on, she needs a practical demonstration followed by a detailed description.

"Watch…", he assumed a fighting stance and delivered a blow to the dummy. There was a distinct dull sound of a palm hitting the hard wood. "This is what you do.", he explained.

"You should do this…" His next hit on the dummy produced an ear piercing sound of wood cracking and the dummy fell apart in several pieces.

"That is the difference between wanting to hit and wanting to destroy.", the old man clarified. "Unless you strike with an intent to destroy, damage from your hits is easily nullified. Just by retracting a fraction at the right moment, your destructive attack is reduced to a scratch. My disciples saw that after exchanging few blows with you. Your enemies will see it as well."

Sarah understood what he said. That explains why her attacks didn't cause any damage! How embarrassing.

But even when she is angry, she wants her opponents hurt, immobilized, unable to fight back. She never fought anyone with an intent to destroy… to kill.

Master Hollow saw from Sarah's expression that she is troubled. He touched her forehead with his index finger while explaining: "This is something you need to work on in your mind. Without a resolve, your limbs will not listen. Your kind nature shows in the way you fight, and I applaud it. But your enemies will not be kind to you, and they will take advantage of it." He patted her shoulder lightly and walked away.

Master Hollow watched Sarah while she contemplated his words. He can only hope that she grasps the meaning behind his words. Because Lebedevs and Voronins are not random street thugs who know only few tricks. They are practicing from young age, and they will attack with an intent to kill. If she does not change her mindset, she will lose… more than just a fight.

Sarah wondered if this is that trigger that Aiden mentioned previously. Unless she finds something she wants to fight for desperately, she will not unleash her full potential. Is that it? How come Stella didn't tell her this? Is it because Stella wanted her to come up with this by herself? Or because she didn't want Sarah to develop destroying… Sarah paused at the word 'destroying'.

Few times Sarah rampaged and fought without a care how much she will hurt her opponent. Actually, she wanted to destroy the person in front of her. Can she summon that feeling when needed? The only thing she remembers from that time is bloodlust and that she was unable to control herself. She does not want to experience that again.

…

Sarah and Aiden prepared dinner together. Aiden taught her how to skin a rabbit. Sarah was half repulsed and half mesmerized by it. The fur part came off in one piece! The inside was icky, but Aiden explained that it should be dried first.

Master Hollow and his disciples were happy to hear that they can keep the fur.

Aiden spent the night in the food storage cabin and knows what ingredients are available. He was checking out the goods in stock before Sarah arrived.

Sarah watched Aiden skillfully clean and cut rabbits into smaller pieces, apply various herbs and wrap everything into previously cut thermal blankets. He placed those shiny wraps into few inches deep hole and covered it with dirt before pulling burning wood on top of it.

"Mylar melts on 260 degrees Celsius, that is why it should be away from open flame...", Aiden explained to awe stricken Sarah his use of the thermal blankets when there are no other cooking equipment and you want to keep your food dirt-free.

At that moment, she thought that Aiden knows everything. Her Greek God is amazing.

He enjoyed the way she looked at him. And he would kiss her, but Master Hollow was watching them.

Sarah helped Aiden clean and cut potatoes, carrots and parsnips he brought from the storage room as well as a variety of dried herbs, and she watched as all that mixed into a pot while becoming a quail stew.

Haru helped by being in charge of the rice which was cooking on the side. He didn't want to come near Aiden. Haru considers him as his personal jinx. But Master Hollow insisted that he should be near Aiden in order to get over his grudges. How can he get over it if he is fed dogfood from those two all the time? He can hear them whispering and giggling suggestively while exchanging amorous glances. And they even kissed few times!

That evening they all enjoyed delicious dinner.

Jesse was pleased that everyone praised him for catching the ingredients and Aiden and Sarah got praises for preparing them.

They all bonded around fire while exchanging stories.

Sarah was very interested to hear that all four disciples were kids, under ten years old, orphans, abandoned on the streets and Master Hollow took them in when he noticed them begging for food during his travels.

At one point he had ten disciples staying at this place, but over the years most of them decided to go back to civilization and try their luck. Master Hollow taught them to read and write besides martial arts.

Jesse understood that this might be the trigger why Master Hollow decided to help them out after hearing stories about Sarah and Aiden. Two of them are helping others, just how Master Hollow is.

Sarah and Aiden were surprised (pleasantly) that no one discussed sleeping arrangements.

…

"Are you sure that it's OK for both of us to sleep here?", Sarah asked when Aiden closed the door of her cabin. She has to ask because she knows that if it's not OK, he is the one getting the punishment.

"It's either here or the storage one… I prefer here. The bed is not the best, but it's better than sleeping on potatoes.", Aiden responded honestly.

Sarah had to agree with him.

Aiden paused and placed his hand next to his ear, listening carefully.

Sarah looked at him with anticipation. She can tell that he is up to something, and she is eager to find out what.

"What is it?", she whispered after some time.

He placed his index finger over her mouth, indicating her to be patient.

"The hot spring is calling, and I must go.", he said with a straight face.

She burst into giggles.

"Don't laugh. It said that you should come as well.", he added while enjoying seeing Sarah happy.

She didn't reject the idea. "Let's make sure everyone is in bed before we head out."

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