Hobbies

Ryven hadn't forgotten Regi's advice that he seek a new hobby as a means of aiding his recovery.  Recovery seemed a deceptively benign word for the process of having to both come to terms with the suffering his Other persona had sown all over the cluster, and also with how to move forward with the basic foundations of his psyche altered irretrievably.  He still experienced some memory loss.  There were numerous portions of his past that were simply voids he could never fill.  Other memories were simply isolated flashes of memory devoid of context.  Ryven wasn't sure which was more disconcerting, vast stretches of time he couldn't recall or recollections he could not explain.

All of this is why he was half an hour into his training regimen, practicing his martial arts skills, honing his body into a weapon, but also seeking the solace that is found in discipline.  He was not in as good of shape as he used to be.  Months of Dark Ryven's excesses had softened his body and eroded at his previously honed edge.  His reflexes were slower than before.  Yet, he had gained something he had been lacking when he had carried around the toxic baggage of the Other.  As he practiced his technique, he found he could channel his energy through each strike with more ease than he ever had before.  During his training, he could clear his mind, focus, and throw himself completely into each strike, block, and kick.  His body was sluggish, but his mind was quick.  If he could bring his flesh back into top condition, he would likely be a better fighter than he had ever been.

Of course, he couldn't stay in his training room forever.  The duties of Imperial Outlaws' diplomat were rather constant.  It seemed every time he turned around there was another diplomatic incident he had to sort out.  His trips to the training room and the outlet it provided for exorcising his frustrations were his refuge.  He made a mental note to try to make it to the room more often.  Finishing off his routine, more than a little winded, he made his way out of the training room and into the adjoining showers, finding even more comfort in the warm cleansing comfort of a post workout shower.