Hard Work Never Fails

Habu was raised by a poor uneducated farmer. Poor they were but they never begged nor wished for help. Habu's father often preached to her the virtue of working hard and how with hard work, even a person with no talents could surpass a genius. Life was tough growing up with a single parent, more so as a farmer but they were happy. Habu grew up to become a beautiful woman but she was content with working the fields instead of seeking better opportunities for an easier life. She would have lived a simple farm life and might even have gotten married at some point in the future, if the events that night did not happen. Awoken by the commotion in the night that disturbed the harmony of the song of the crickets, Habu went out to see what was happening. Was it a stray tiger that had broke into the barn? Or was it a random drunkard who had simply lost his way? More thoughts filled her mind as she headed out to see what had caused the commotion. Could it be a snake that had entered the coop? Was her pet monkey making a ruckus again? What greeted her when she reached the entrance of her house was a far more terrifying sight. Her father was surrounded by shady men. "Hand over the secret manual, or we will have to take it by force and if that happens, we will be taking more than that!" Exclaimed their leader as the group leered at Habu lustily. The will to protect his child took over Habu's father and he started posing his slightly chubby body into the form of menacing panda. "You can take my child, over my dead body", proclaimed Habu's father calmly. For the next five minutes, Habu watched dumbstruck and in awe as her father danced around the men and took them down one by one. Unfortunately, the leader was an equal match in terms of skill and power and after defeating his minions, Habu's father was slightly overwhelmed by his last opponent. Summoning the last of his strength, he managed to perform a deft counter and deliver a devastating strike, killing the enemy. Being sure that his daughter was now safe, Habu's father collasped. Before he breathed his last breath, he handed an old tattered book titled, "Teachings of Sen" to Habu. "This is a secret manual passed down by your great grandmother, she was one of the legendary monk's students... You will learn much from the newly reopened monastery in Seringale..." Habu's father struggled to finish his words. "Remember my dear daughter, hard work never fails..." The old man closed his eyes and went away peacefully as the last words escaped his mouth. Tears ran down the poor girl's cheeks as she mourned the death of the only kin she had. After giving her father a proper burial and paying her last respects, Habu decided to head to the monastery in Seringale to learn more about the secretly secretive secret manual's secret secrets.