"Little god, why are you smirking?? you don't think am joking, are you? Am telling you, I will not learn it unless you're learning too." Nate said, pouting his lips like a child, thinking Lucian wasn't taking him seriously.
" Alright... I know you're being serious. Besides, it's a good excuse to cover up for your laziness in learning swordsmanship."
"...."
Nate was speechless, he is being really serious this time.
" But Nate, even if I want to learn it so badly, am blind. I wouldn't know where to direct the sword. What if I hurt you in the process? How would I see the skills you would display? Sigh... It's pointless" Lucian said looking helpless.
" Blind my ass... The number of times you've kicked my buts so accurately is more than I can count. If you're considered blind, then those with walking sticks don't have eye sockets. And I still haven't forgiven you for all that kicking. My buts still hurt every time I look at you. If you can kick my butts so accurately no matter how hard I try to dodge, then definitely, you can learn swordsmanship" Nate said with a sullen face. Little god was blind?? No way. He had never seen him as a blind person.
"....."
' although your little friend looks silly, he's right. I've always told you, you're not blind. The difference between you and these humans is that you see what is inside, and they see what is outside. Though I have never seen your situation before, I think it is unique. And even if you were to be truly blind, it's still not a hindrance to learning swordsmanship. Swordsmanship is not just about having sight, it's about how you can tune your other senses into your sight. You have heightened senses which grow every day. This shouldn't be difficult for you.'
Raphael interjected.
' How come you never asked me to learn it, if you knew I could' He had never mentioned anything about learning swordsmanship. All he did was teach him how to control the beast within.
' I didn't think you were ready. I figured you needed to learn to control your beast first. But I think it's good to start learning swordsmanship. Though I don't know what that little friend of yours can teach you, a little silly action from both of you, might help to relieve my boredom. Living in this knucklehead of yours is not easy. But don't worry, I'll chip in some lessons to make it look less silly.'
'Thank you, we'll do our best to grant you an exciting show' Lucian replied with twitching lips.
"Alright...So when are we beginning this training?" Lucian asked turning to Nate.
"Tomorrow should be great. I'll train with my dad in the morning, and come fetch you here in the afternoon, so we can train in the woods. You will have to inform your mother first" Nate replied feeling excited. Though he didn't like learning swordsmanship. He was going to put in his all, as long he was doing it with Lucian. And besides, they were going to be in the woods. He loved the adventure and feeling there.
"Won't you get tired? I mean... training with your dad and me....won't you feel exhausted?" Lucian asked with creasing brows.
"Exhausted? .... Me?? I am fine as long as my stomach is constantly filled." Nate said with confidence.
Lucian chuckled, shaking his head. This foodie.
" Tomorrow afternoon it is ..." Lucian assured.
They chatted a bit and played with the rabbits Lucian was rearing at the back of the cottage. Nate left when it was getting dark and promised to be on time the next day.
It was finally left with Lucian and Anna alone in the cottage. Liz had gone out of town a few days ago to sell the hand sewed cloaks and clothes she had made herself. She didn't have to move out of town to do that, but the people in their town refused to purchase anything from them because they believed they were a cursed family. Buying from them will bring them bad luck. So Liz and Anna had no choice but to find income elsewhere. Liz volunteered to go out and do the selling herself because she said she knew the outside world better than Anna did.
Also, starting five years ago, Anna was being sorted after. So she had to remain in hiding.
In the cottage, Lucian informed his mother about his decision with Nate to learn swordsmanship. Anna agreed but with the condition that they come back before it's dark.
She knew Lucian had always wanted to learn swordsmanship and she didn't want to be a hindrance to any opportunity he gets to learn it.
That night, Lucian kept thinking. Although it was just a little training with Nate, he was still anticipating it. He finally fell asleep late only to be dragged into that dark golden whirlpool again. In front of him once again was a boy that looked exactly like him but with golden eyes. Surrounding him, was a dark force mixed with what looked like fire.
His aura was so strong. It felt like anything would be dead the moment it laid its eyes on him. without speaking, the boy rushed towards him and held his head. The scene looked like he was trying to fuse himself with him, and Lucian kept struggling to push him away. But the boy was a thousand times stronger than him. While he kept forcing his way in, Lucian kept feeling defeated.
'Lucian! Don't let him in, you won't be able to handle it. Everyone will be in danger. You need to fight it ' a voice in his head spoke. It was mixed with a little bit of fear and seriousness.