Master Doom
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The next day at 9:30 in the morning, Bruce arrived at the school gate right on time. A limousine was parked along the side of the parking line, and out stepped a man in his twenties with a jade-like figure, dressed in a white robe."Young Master Bayne, I am Nicholas Pércovich. I've been waiting for you for quite some time," Nicholas said, walking toward Bruce with a gentle smile.
This was a title Bruce hadn't heard in a while, and he understood something about the Doom Dojo's attitude toward him from this introduction.
"Please, get in the car," Nicholas extended his hand, and Bruce followed him, taking a seat in the back row.
The car slowly began its journey toward the Doom Dojo.
"My sister Jessica must have mentioned me to you," Nicholas said, breaking the silence. "I am a disciple of the Doom Dojo and, at the same time, the top of this generation. By the master's will, I was sent to invite you, Bruce Bayne, to visit and study at our dojo."
Nicholas turned to look at Bruce with his deep, black eyes and asked, "I sense a familiar energy in you, Young Master Bayne. You must be a psychic, correct?" Though phrased as a question, his tone was extremely confident.
"Yes," Bruce responded honestly.
Seeing Bruce confirm it, Nicholas's face broke into a bright smile. "Then you're definitely going to like the Doom Dojo," he said.
They continued talking for a while longer, and then Nicholas added, "My younger sister is in the same class as Young Master Dyane. You may have heard her name before."
Seeing Bruce's curious look, he continued, "Azalea Pércovich."
Bruce nodded. Azalea, a trainer specializing in Psychic types and a psychic herself, had a cold personality and was quite the lone wolf. Bruce already knew she was a Doom Dojo disciple, but he hadn't expected her to be Nicholas's sister.
The siblings, however, had different personalities. Nicholas came across as a courteous gentleman, while Azalea was like an iceberg that would never melt.
"It seems Young Master Bayne has heard of my sister," Nicholas remarked, noticing Bruce's reaction with a smile.
Then, with a serious expression, he added, "My sister is naturally reserved and has few friends. Since she started university, she hasn't mentioned much about it to our family. So, as her classmate, I hope you can look out for her, Young Master Bayne. I'll make it worth your while."
"Alright," Bruce agreed with a nod.
Before they knew it, the car was moving toward the outskirts. Bruce had done some research online, and he knew the Psychic Temple of Doom was located in a small town on the outskirts of the capital city, Metropolis. Technically speaking, this small town was the base of the Doom Dojo. Thousands of disciples lived at the Psychic Temple, forming a small town with fully developed infrastructure.
Soon after, the car stopped in front of a classic building. Unlike ordinary concrete structures, this one was built from pure wood. The wooden walls were filled with chaotic carvings and some twisted text, adding an air of mystery.
"Welcome to the Doom Dojo," Nicholas said, looking at the building with a big smile.
"Come along, Young Master Bayne," he said, gesturing for Bruce to follow.
Bruce nodded, stepping inside the Doom Dojo with Nicholas. Along the way, men and women in white robes appeared, casting curious glances at Bruce.
"All of the disciples at our Doom Dojo wear white robes, regardless of their rank," Nicholas explained proactively.
The two passed by several rooms, and the scene reminded Bruce of William's ashram. The disciples were sitting cross-legged in their designated areas, eyes closed in concentration. Most of them were accompanied by one or more Psychic Pokemon.
"Our dojo's disciples are split into two types," Nicholas explained. "The first are direct disciples, which is my category. We stay at the dojo all day, without attending school or working outside; we're tied to the dojo long-term.
"The second type are ordinary disciples. They pay to study here for a limited period, and their relationship with the dojo is purely transactional.
"My younger sister belongs to the second type, but her psychic talent is impressive, and she may eventually become a direct disciple."
Bruce nodded in understanding.
"Come, I'll introduce you to my master first," Nicholas said, leading Bruce to the main hall.
"Master, Young Master Bayne is here," Nicholas said softly, knocking on the door.
"Come in," a calm voice replied from within.
Nicholas opened the door, gesturing for Bruce to enter.
Bruce stepped inside, taking in the sight of the room. It wasn't large. A screen to the left blocked part of the view, while on the right was a closed wooden window. Directly in front of him sat an elderly man, cross-legged on a futon.
Sensing Bruce's approach, the elder opened his deep-set eyes, his mouth moving slightly as he said, "Young Master Bayne, it has been a long time."
"Master Doom," Bruce greeted respectfully.
The seemingly ordinary elder before him was Master Doom, the head of the nation's psychic school, a figure of great renown. Anyone referred to as "Master" was an elite trainer, excelling in their field and holding a high status in society. Though not an Elite trainer, this was still one of the most powerful and respected figures in the region.
Doom nodded calmly, standing from his futon. He looked at Bruce, his gaze reflecting a lifetime of experiences. After a moment, he spoke, "Your grandfather and I were once close friends."
Bruce was briefly taken aback, feeling the familiarity of this phrase.
"Back then, when he came to study at the Doom Dojo, there were thousands of disciples, yet I had the closest relationship with him. We ate and lived together," Doom continued. "Unexpectedly, things took different paths. He became an Elite, while I remain here at this small dojo.
"However, my invitation to you has nothing to do with him." Master Doom stroked his beard and spoke slowly, "I don't need to curry favor with him through you. My offer is based on an old friendship and the knowledge that Young Master Bayne is also a psychic."
Hearing this, Bruce recalled what William had mentioned.
"Two years ago, I invited your cousin to come here as well. Unfortunately, she wasn't very interested in psychic abilities and only paid a brief visit," Master Doom said.
He fixed his gaze on Bruce and continued in a serious tone, "I can sense the flow of psychic energy within you. It's quite remarkable."
Nicholas's eyes widened at this comment.
"Would you be interested in studying at the Doom Dojo for a time and learning the Calm Mind technique, along with some psychic skills?"
At that moment, Bruce asked a question. "Did my father ever learn the Calm Mind technique from you?"
"He did," Master Doom answered with a faint smile.
Satisfied with the answer, Bruce nodded and replied, "Alright, I'll learn from you, but I might not be able to stay long. I still need to attend school."
Master Doom thought for a moment before responding, "Then come each weekend."
"That works," Bruce agreed.
From Master Doom's answer and William's explanation, Bruce fully understood the Doom Dojo's intent: they were investing in talented psychics. The dojo offered to teach the Calm Mind technique and psychic abilities, hoping that those they invested in would one day bring prestige or favor back to the dojo. As John Bayne's descendant, Bruce was clearly a promising candidate.
A rush of thoughts passed through Bruce's mind, and Master Doom stroked his beard as he asked, "What do you know about Calm Mind?"
Bruce thought for a moment and replied, "Through meditation, you can train your spiritual power."
Master Doom nodded without commenting further, adding, "That's the Pokemon researcher's explanation of Calm Mind. But the key lies in the first four words: 'calm and concentrate.'
"To achieve Calm Mind, we psychics must embody those words. In meditation, we can perceive the hidden spiritual energy within the mind.
"After perceiving, we learn to mine and control it."
Master Doom placed his hands behind his back and explained, "There are many forms of Calm Mind, each with different names and techniques. Here in the Doom Dojo, we focus on Centralized Calm Mind."
"Centralized Calm Mind," he continued, "involves focusing all of your attention on a single point during meditation. This point can be an object, a shape, a sound, a meaningless word, a phrase, or even a breath."
Master Doom used a metaphor, "Picture yourself as a bird, flying high above, soaring through clouds, between mountains, looking down upon the earth. If you can do this, then you've mastered the Calm Mind method."
"After mastering Calm Mind, you can teach it to your Pokemon. This will allow them to exercise their spiritual strength and indirectly enhance their psychic abilities," he said calmly.
"However," he added, "it's more challenging for Pokemon to concentrate than it is for humans. For them, it largely depends on their innate talent."
Bruce nodded in agreement.
Between Metang and Kirlia, which would find it easier to concentrate? The answer was obvious.
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To be Continued
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