Manna/Story
A Hero's Beginning
| Bond | Lv. 2 | Reward |  Dough ×100 |
|---|
Dum-dum! Dum! Dum-baddum-dum! Dum-dum! CLASH! — Let the show begin!
"Grab your stools and take the front row!" At the sound of the gongs and drums, people start flooding in, converging from every street and alley. A golden gust of wind moves through the crowd. It leaps, flips, then sticks a perfect landing in an uncontested best viewing spot for the movie.
The old projector clicks and clatters as the thick film reel begins to turn, casting scenes of places, people, and events onto the screen. These films usually tell tales of wandering heroes protecting the weak and fighting the wicked with their martial skills, of how bravely they step forward to defend their homes and families in times of crisis, and how bittersweet and memorable their journeys end. To the audience, these stories feel distant because the comforts of modern life make it impossible to truly empathize with the struggles of harder times. But at the same time, the audience is pulled in through intimate frames that render them witnesses to every beginning, middle, and end of the tales.
Young Manna would always grab a good spot and watch with her eyes glued to the screen until the credits rolled. Among the many fantastic scenes, there was always an actress who didn't get much screen time, but whose fight scenes were absolutely spectacular. Whenever she was on screen, Manna would focus even harder, tracking her every move. Her flawless punches, clean kicks, and stylish spins... Manna had a feeling that one day, the actress would become the brightest star on the silver screen. And so, without even realizing it, Manna started imitating her martial arts moves and expressions.
"Hi-yah! Wing Chun, I await your instruction." Through diligent, persistent viewing and imitating, Manna learned to perfectly execute martial arts moves such as the Asking Hand, Seeking Bridge, and Vertical Punch, even without any professional instructions. Meanwhile...
"Please let us welcome the undisputed champion of martial arts cinema..."
A Hero's Change
| Bond | Lv. 4 | Reward | Dough ×200 |
|---|
Manna likes working at this teahouse because it's the only old shop left that still plays corny, old-school martial arts flicks on a clunky TV in the corner. The actress on the screen still flawlessly executes her Asking Hands, Seeking Bridges, and Vertical Punches... even when no one's paying attention to these old relics playing on loop in the background of the bustling teahouse.
"Manna! Dishes to table 5, please." "Coming!" For a time, life feels like it'll manage just fine without these old flicks. Manna would still live the exact same way, kept busy during work hours and spacing out in her free time...
"Hot water coming through!" A waiter weaves through the crowd, carrying a pot of piping hot tea. In his hurry, he slips, and with a jerk of his arm, sends the pot of scalding tea flying through the air. He watches helplessly as it heads straight for an innocent customer's head— Before anyone has time to react, a gust of wind moves through the crowd, leaps, and flips to catch the steaming teapot with perfect form.
The teahouse is silent for a few seconds, then erupts into thunderous applause. "Nice moves!" The crowd goes wild. The person who caught the teapot looks just like a star... Wait a minute... Manna takes a closer look, and sure enough, it really is her — the legendary martial arts star who had announced her retirement.
However, even after the praises and appreciations from the crowd, and after the excitement has died down, no one here recognized her as the superstar of that bygone era. Just as she's about to slip away unnoticed, Manna swoops in and places herself right in front of the star. "You... you're that famous martial arts actress, aren't you?" The lady smiled. "You're the only one who recognized me." Manna never thought she'd actually get the chance to meet her personal idol up close one day. Despite her age, her perfectly executed moves and extraordinary presence feel like she'd just walked out of the screen. Manna knows that she hasn't changed a bit...
"I really like you and your movies." Fighting her anxiety, Manna confesses her admiration. "Those martial arts movies?... A shame. I don't actually like them that much." Manna stares in shock as the star crosses her arms coldly, looking down at her fan with a dismissive sneer. "Why?" The why is supposed to be a demand, but it takes all of Manna's just to force out a hoarse whisper. Meanwhile, the star maintains her arrogant posture and holds out a hand toward Manna — the Wing Chun Asking Hand stance, and taking that stance means... It's a silent exchange between martial artists. Manna's heart sinks, and her body moves before she can speak.
A Hero's Rise
| Bond | Lv. 6 | Reward | Dough ×300 |
|---|
"Hooh!" "Hooh hyah!" "Hooh hyah — hah!"
Manna strikes the wooden dummy with all her might. She's still working at the teahouse, but she no longer spaces out during her free time. Whether she was commuting, taking a break, or clocking out after work, she's always practicing to improve her Wing Chun.
The actress that she "used to" admire didn't just walk away after defeating Manna in one move. Instead, she shows up like clockwork every day at the teahouse where Manna works. Still, no one else recognizes her as the former martial arts superstar. Only Manna knows that this "big shot," who has gone from her favorite to her least favorite person, comes to the shop every day with intent. She'd order a pot of Pu'er tea and a basket of peach buns, and just observe Manna all day long.
All this, just to exchange a few moves with Manna after work. The first time, Manna was taken down in one move. The second time, she was still taken down in one move. Same with the third, and the fourth. "Zero progress" is how Manna would rate her performance. So, she just has to put more muscle into it... "Hi-yah!" Bang! Crash! And once again, she's completely defeated by the superstar in just one move. "Wing Chun isn't about brute force."
She's never said anything to Manna after their first spar. Manna frowns and glares at her in complete defiance. Surprisingly, the perpetually-arrogant actress smiles at her ruffled young opponent. Manna doesn't understand her smile. Is this what they call "acting skills"?
Naturally, she continues to visit the teahouse, provoking Manna, and delivering crushing defeats right after. Over time, just hearing an order for "Pu'er tea" and "peach buns" is enough to incite a fiery rage in Manna's heart. She desperately wants to "win," even when she can't quite figure out where this defiance came from. Without professional guidance, she can only rewatch those martial arts movies and study the spars frame by frame. She'd watch and lose, watch again and lose again. The cycle continues... Until one day, she finally realizes the secret in the fight scenes she knows inside out. "Wing Chun isn't about brute force," she concludes. Her superstar had told her the solution from the very beginning.
"A pot of Pu'er tea and a basket of peach buns." Today, her order was ready even before she sat down. "You're not challenging me today. I'm challenging you." The actress looks up and sees a completely reenergized Manna. She smiles in return. "The pleasure is mine."
"Hooh...!" Bang! Manna blocks the first strike. "Hooh hyah!" Pow! Manna blocks the second strike, too. "Hi-YAH!" The third strike comes... Boom. In the end, just like always, Manna loses.
Of course, she's still frustrated by it. Manna clenches her fists, unsure where to unleash this fire burning her up from inside. Suddenly, she feels a warm hand over her head. Manna looks up in shock, and sees the superstar wearing a familiar, gentle smile this time. She unties the red tassel from her wrist, one that Manna knows by heart. It was the symbol of her most famous role. Then, the superstar gently ties it to Manna's hair. In that moment, Manna finally sees those calloused, trembling old hands.
"I quite like martial arts movies now."
"Because you have freed me from being their 'undisputed champion.'"A Hero's Action
| Bond | Lv. 8 | Reward | Dough ×400 |
|---|
Manna takes her candidate number and finds a seat in the corner of the audition room. The place is filled with people, and the lively atmosphere makes her heart leap with excitement.
"Candidate 76, Manna." "Present!" "What's your specialty?" Manna strikes a clean Asking Hand stance. "Wing Chun." The crowd starts whispering.
"What is Wing Chun?" "I think it's some kind of kung fu? There were old martial arts movies about it, if I recall correctly." "That was ages ago." "Does anyone even watch those movies anymore?"
These discouraging whispers make Manna nervous. She feels them shake her body, disrupting the perfect stance that she's fighting to maintain.
The director speaks again. "Do you... have any other specialty?" Manna freezes under their judging gaze. Her mind completely blank. "N-No." As expected, her honesty earns her the response: "You can go now, thank you. Please wait for our call."
It's to be expected, of course. Manna knows. But just before she turns to leave, she looks resolutely at the entire crew in front of her and speaks: "I... love martial arts movies, and I want more people to love them too! That's why I'll work hard to become the best actor I can be, and show everyone that martial arts isn't dead." Silence fills the room as she speaks these words from the bottom of her heart. "Thank you for giving me this opportunity." With these polite parting words, Manna turns confidently and walks away.
Martial arts movies are the hallmark of an era. In other words, they are a thing of the past. Audiences are drawn to newer, trendier stories as they gradually leave these played-out tales behind. With the retirement of the final generation of actors capable of performing authentic moves on screen, these movies have also taken their final bow. But Manna refuses to just stand by and watch her favorite thing fade from the spotlight. Because her personal idol never gave up... So she won't give up the fight, either.
Ring, ring— Manna's phone rings just as her palm lands a strike on the wooden dummy.
"Hello, Ms. Manna. We're calling from the ██ production crew and..." Time and time again, being told to "wait for a call" had always ended in rejection for her. But this time...
"We'd like to invite you to join the cast of our upcoming martial arts film."