The guide looked Ranma over in amazement, then
turned back to look at Genma panda unconscious some
feet away, sighed and bowed his head. So sorry young
customer but you fell in spring of drowned star being
first person to do so, I might add. The guide
finished exclaiming in barely contained awe. He then
directed the youth to follow him to his hut, Do not
worry though the curse is temporary and we can fix
it. He stated reassuringly. Ranma blinked at the
guide oddly for a moment, then shrugged, and followed
him several questions popping into mind.
After stepping through the door, Ranma looked
around the hut. It was almost one giant space with
the kitchen and bedroom divided only by a table
cutting the room into two. Only near the far end of
the hut was there a door that seemed to lead to
another room. The guide placed a kettle on the fire
pit, poured some water into it, and placed some
tobacco in a small smoking pipe. He then motioned for
Ranma to take a seat.
After Ranma sat down the guide turned to face the
young man and began explaining, Young customer and
his father are now among a long list of victims of the
cursed pools. The guide paused as he put a small-lit
stick to the tobacco-filled pipe and began taking some
slow puffs. The guide then turned to look out the
window of his hut onto the cursed valley of Jusenkyo.
Each pool carries with it the magical ability to
transform its victim into the shape or personality of
the original being who drowned in it. The guide
turned to look at Ranma, his thumb jerking outside to
where Genma panda was napping. Older customer fell
in a spring where a panda drowned 2000 years ago.
The guide moved slowly toward the table and began
to sit down next to Ranma. Now older customer is a
panda himself, he then gestured to Ranma, While
young customer
As the guide continued to explain, Ranma was
watching him closely something seemed odd about there
conversation. Then it hit the young martial artist.
Before the guide spoke in slightly broken Japanese;
now however Ranma could understand every inflection
and statement the guide made, it was freaking the
young man out a bit. Wait a sec. Ranma interrupted
the guide by holding up his hands, Why can I clearly
understand what youre saying? he asked staring
intently at the guide.
The guide looked very puzzled by Ranmas question.
He then lowered his head in thought for a moment.
Then he quickly raised his head and exclaimed quietly,
Ah yes of course that would explain it.
A few moments past and it became apparent that the
guide was caught up in his own thoughts. Ranma
coughed slightly to get his attention. The guide
looked toward the young man sheepishly before asking,
Young customer what language do you think I was
talking in?
Japanese. Ranma responded quickly, humoring the
guide who then shook his head. No young sir in my
excitement I was talking to you in Mandarin my native
tongue.
It took Ranma a moment to process that information,
when he did his eyes became wide with the realization,
But that means.
Yes young customer, the guide interrupted with a
smile, you have gained one of the star beings
abilities as described in the old account of him. It
was called the gift of tongues.
The guide then shifted his gaze back onto Ranma, a
serious expression on his face. He hinted that this
ability was granted by touch but I am not sure what
that entails exactly.
Ranma nodded, absorbing the information the guide
was giving him before looking back toward his host.
And the other abilities of this being such as flight,
ki blasts, and such what does the old account say of
them?
The guide paused in thought, Only sketchy details
along with an interesting poem he shared with the
Jusenkyo guide of the time. I have a copy of the
account if you want to look at it? The guide
inquired.
Ranma nodded his consent and the guide got up from
his seat. He headed through the only door Ranma saw
initially when he stepped into the hut. After the
guide had left Ranma turned his gaze onto his right
hand and wondered what other surprises lurked in store
for him as he flexed his fingers.
After what seemed like ten minutes, the guide came
back to his seat with a slightly old looking red bound
book. He placed the book down on the table, flipped
several pages to the middle, and showed it to Ranma.
While it was written in Chinese, Ranma was still able
to read it perfectly. He attributed this to his new
gift from the spring. He slowly read the paragraph
the guide pointed to in the book:
Take this simple lesson to heart
Emotions are where you should start
First comes joy unchained
Unbridled by anything
You soar with unseen wings
Next must come faith in oneself
Which must be endless to help
Relieve the burden of weight on yourself
Last but not least is the stuff of wrath
Though dark it maybe channeled righteously
It can light a just blaze for all to see
Nice but it seems a bit
cryptic. Ranma observed
as he turned his head toward the guide. Do you know
the specifics?
Before the guide could answer the kettle began
whistling indignantly trying to tell the two occupants
of the hut that the water was boiling hot now. The
guide excused himself, grabbed a thick circular cloth,
and laid it in the middle of the table. The guide
then went and grabbed a small piece of cloth and
grabbed the kettle by the handle. He placed the
kettle on the circular cloth and went through the
cabinets for two teacups and spoons. The guide set
one cup for Ranma the other for himself.
Not exactly, the guide began cautiously. That
was a poem left by the Star Being when my ancestor,
the Jusenkyo guide back then, asked about his powers.
The guide calmly sipped his tea slowly as he thought.
The rest of the work explains why the star being
came down to Earth and the events leading to his
drowning in the spring. He then pointed toward the
book, By the way thats a reproduction; I have
several of them feel free to take that with you on
your journey.
Ranma bowed, closed the book, and placed it aside.
He then turned back to the guide. Well you said
there was a cure, what is it? Ranma asked curiously.
The guide then took the cooled pot of warm water and
poured it on Ranma who sputtered as the water engulfed
him. Hey what ya do that for? He asked angrily
until he got a good look at his hand and saw they were
pink again. He quickly looked to the guide for an
explanation. The guide smiled and stated in broken
Japanese, Hot water reverse curse until splash with
cold water again.
-----
----------
A man earns the title 'Great' by having power and NOT abusing it.
-Old Persian philosophy
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