TRAINING BEGINS

Six months later, Starfold building, training room.

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Dressed in a black gi stood a youth, his face marked with seriousness, while his eyes where covered by a blindfold, he brandished a long black staff in his hands, as he went through constant cycles on the basics of bojutsu.

Observing him were two figures, a woman and an old man, the woman was obviously our ever faithful Elizabeth, who poured some tea for the old man, which he received graciously, without ever taking his gaze from our young hero, as he went through the basics, a fact made most impressive however, as the man was blind.

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"You may stop now Lucifer" The old man said, as he took his staff in his hands and walked over to Lucifer.

"Yes master Stick" I say while removing the blindfold and placing the staff on my side, while doing a slight bow.

"Hahaha, no need to be so polite, I'm just an old man, here to teach you a bit about what I know" Says the old man will waving his hands in the air, yet you could see a warm emotion hiding behind his old blind eyes.

"I believe it to be proper ethic to show respect when one is seeking guidance, master Stick" I say while holding the spear to my side and staring at old man stick's face.

Stick or so he is called, is an elite grandmaster of various Asian martial arts, in particular Japanese ninja martial arts, the man is highly skilled in hand to hand combat, to the point of overwhelming highly competent martial arts masters in their own right, such as Daredevil and Elektra. Stick possess incredibly acute senses which he trained to compensate his blindness, successfully developing a radar sense, with which he perceives the world around him, possibly even developing a psychic ability sense impending danger to himself and others, do to this training. Fighting for most of his life against the Japanese criminal organization known as The Hand, he possesses untold experience in the use of violence and leadership, the last bit courtesy of his founding of the organization known as The Chaste. To top it all off the man is a master of chi and chi manipulation, it all sums in a word "Badass". All this being the reason why I spent quite a bit of resources in finding him.

"Wise words my child, yet it unclear who might end up giving the largest guidance to who in the end" Stick says in a warm manner.

This whoever causes my eyes to narrow 'So he can tell…'

"I will be in your care master Stick" I say in an equally warm tone, ignoring his previous comment.

"You have mastered the basics of bojutsu in but a couple of days since we last met, most impressive, you might just be the most gifted student I have had. But before we begin do tell me Lucifer, why do you seek strength? Why did you seek me out specifically to be your teacher, when you are obviously skilled enough to learn with any other, not to mention wealthy enough and why… no well I guess those where enough" Questions Stick, on the matter I could tell had been intriguing him for a while now.

Catching on to his last question, which I could mostly guess I decided to answer honestly, since as they say, build the bridge of trust and such "I seek to learn from you because I admire you, after all, it is not every day you hear of an extraordinary martial artist, that is also blind. Which gets us to your third question of how did I know about you, to which I can only reply the same as I was questioned, sometimes with enough wealth you learn about a thing or two."

Although a bit surprised at the answer, Stick is quick to respond in the same calm tone "Good things I hope"

"Extraordinary" I reply.

"As for why I seek strength…" I begin to say as I look at Elizabeth.

"What other reason could it be if not have what it takes to protect what is most important" I say with absolute clarity, while Sticks old blind eyes gain a trace of gleaming admiration.

Which is completely true, for over the months, constant baths and butting of heads, I slowly began to develop a deeper affection for the woman known as Elizabeth, until before I realized it, it turned to love, so now she is someone from someone I would protect, she evolved into someone I would definitely protect even if I had to kill for it.

'I swear it' are my thoughts, as I clench my fist.

While thinking this, I'm unaware that a certain old man has firmly decided, to help me achieve my aim, with as much a grueling training he could muster.

"Then put on the blindfold and let us proceed" He orders.

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Putting on the blindfold, the world goes dark. I take my staff with both hands and position it right in front of my body, to serve as a defense and an alarm.

"Concentrate on your breath. Lower it us much as you can, and concentrate on your other senses" Sounds a voice to my left as blow strikes my back and pushes me forward.

"Ah!" Taking a moment to readjust, I spin to the location where I was last hit, assuming the stance again and thrusting forward.

"The enemy will not wait on you, try to think ahead. You are blind not stupid" Says a voice on my left as a thrust is straight onto my rib cage, knocking the air out of me.

"Focus! Once you lose your sight, you're other senses takeover!" A merciless voice says while a blow comes to the back of my head before I could even recover.

"Trust not only your ears, try to feel the pressure on your skin, as your enemy approaches" A hit comes from my front and knocks me back.

"Your enemy is still somewhere around you, he has to be present to attack, he has to get close to attack, feel for it and respond"

"Don't swing where the voice is, swing where it is not"

"Control your breathing, guide the energy to your navel and then guide it to your senses"

"Focus!"

At this point I have basically been nothing but a rag doll in a storm of hits for practically three hours. Whether ankle, ribs, face, chest, back, all hit. But I begin to understand what he is leading to, so I focus all on defense, taking on the hits, while trying to sense the staff.

*Breath in* Breath out* It is just as he says, since the staff is a physical mean, I am able to feel it coming by relying on the air it displaces, which create pressure on my skin and by relying on my ears I can hear ever so slightly, the sound of clothes rubbing on skin, which I take as my cue to dodge.

*Wham!*

Still not quick enough, I'm reacting two slow, think ahead of your enemy not where the sound is, but where it is not.

*Wham!*

He is still around me I just have to concentrate on what my body is telling me.

*TSS*

'Behind me! Dodge!'

*Whoosh!*

It is then that just for a brief moment I'm able to feel the attack coming.

"Oh!" A surprised voice sounds behind me.

'Success!' I think will a victorious smile creeps on my face.

*WHAM!*

"The enemy will never relent their attack! Do not get distracted!" A sarcastic tone is carried by the voice to my side, as I lay sprawled on the floor.

"We are done for today, practice your basics as you move, get a feel of your surroundings and don't take of the blindfold until my next visit." Says the voice as it grows more and more distant.

Still on the floor, some ice packs are placed on me by a pair of tender hands.

"Young master, are you sure he is a good teacher? Look how beat up you are, you couldn't even defend. How can you even fight blind?" Says Elizabeth with clear concern in her voice.

Not one with the energy to fight, I only smile at her while giving an answer.

"Yup! He is the best!"