บท 20: CHAPTER 19 - BLINDFOLD
The sun was beginning to rise. Its golden rays reflected on the hair of an enthusiastic boy who was already so wide awake, making his jet-black hair sparkle with golden light.
' What a serious student!! You must be expecting this training so much to have woken up this early. How sure are you that this Arthur guy was being serious?' Raphael's voice sounded in Lucian's head with a giggle
'Really?? did you have to dampen my spirit this early morning? You couldn't wait for a second more??' Lucian said, looking sullen
'Of course not! Haven't you heard? Early morning discouragement works better than the latter.' Raphael responded, sounding so meaningful
"....." Lucian's lips couldn't stop twitching. Yes! It has now been confirmed...Raphael's main purpose in his life is to annoy him. Confirmed...confirmed...The painful thing was that he couldn't do anything to him...If he banged his head into the wall, would that kill Raphael??
Lucian wore his clothes and headed out of his room. He coincidentally met with a loud knocking on the door. Not looking bothered, he saw his mother going for it. He already knew who was behind that door.
Anna opened the door and was met with Nate's glowing face and wide smile.
"Good morning my favorite aunt.." Nate greeted happily and scurried away inside.
For a moment Anna was taken aback. Nate never visited early in the morning. She turned around and saw Lucian, he also looked as prepared and active as Nate and was heading toward them. She squinted her brows. What were these kids up to??
Nate had already walked up to Lucian with jolting buttocks, looking so happy.
"Aaah...little god, the heavens have finally been captivated by my handsomeness. They knew you couldn't function without me so they decided to show you mercy..."
"I can't function without you???"
" Relax...I know you're feeling shy to admit it. But between the two of us, the one who can't function without the other is you... It's ok I won't tell anyone..." Nate said looking like he was the most trustworthy friend in the world.
" Yes, Grandpa. Grandpa, indeed if you go, this young and good-looking one won't be able to live on. Grandpa you won't leave right??" Lucian said, sounding like a child speaking to an old man.
"...???..." Who was his grandpa?? Was it him?? Did this handsome face look like that of his grandpa? Nate was completely speechless.
Anna chuckled at their bickering. " Alright boys, what is going on?? You both look like you're heading somewhere."
" Mother it's nothing, we are going out to practice," Lucian answered her.
"This early?? I thought your practice was in the afternoon." Anna said narrowing her eyes.
" We had to change it to early morning now. The afternoon sun is so hot, that I almost had a heatstroke yesterday. " Nate said exaggeratedly stretching his body.
" You two are up and about so early?" a voice came from behind, causing the three to turn their heads. It was Liz.
"Well...your boys are going out to practice their way into being your knight," Anna said with a giggle.
"Hahaha...alright alright my knights, go ahead...aai..let me pack breakfast for you both before you leave." Liz went to the kitchen and made them some breakfast to take along.
Lucian and Nate headed to the place where they had their practice yesterday and were surprised to see that Arthur was already present with his long sword, swinging it back and forth. His moves were swift and accurately beautiful.
'Looks like the guy took you two seriously, how intriguing.' Raphael said, seeing that Arthur seemed to be practicing while waiting for them.'
'You think everyone is like you...' Lucian said
'Hey, how am I? Little lass, am telling you, am the best you can ever have...." Raphael said feeling like his pride was being trampled on.
Lucian ignored him.
"You're late..." Arthur said seeing the two boys. Though...he sounded strict, he was glad they came.
"You should come earlier than this tomorrow, preferably before me" he continued.
"And...what time is that??" Nate asked.
"I don't know...but it should be before I arrive.."
"..." Lucian and Nate were both speechless. Was he being serious?
"Alright we'll start our training, but both of you will need this," he said and handed them two pieces of a rectangular-shaped fabric with elastic straps attached to them.
"What is this?" Lucian asked, he couldn't see what it was.
"A blindfold. Since you can't see, the training will look unfair. To make it seem a bit fair, you would both put on this blindfold. From henceforth, whatever training you have on this ground, will be done with your blindfold on. You can only depend on your other four senses from now on." Arthur said
"But little god's other four senses are better than mine...Won't I be kissing trees the whole day if I walk with this blindfold??" Nate said, feeling at a loss.
Lucian chuckled
"Yes, so that's a disadvantage from your side. Though it may seem a little unfair. This is your chance to improve your senses. If you have control over all your senses, you are never at a disadvantage. So while Lucian learns to control his, you learn to develop yours." Arthur explained explicitly
"Now put on your blindfold..." he commanded
The two wore their blindfold and there was total darkness afterward. Nate could see nothing but darkness. He shivered, he had never liked the dark. Lucian could no longer see any aura or life force. It was just total darkness. Somehow it reminded him of his beast. He didn't like it either.
From now onwards, you're my two blind students. Now I have to say this. If you are learning swordsmanship because everyone is learning it, or because it looks good, then swordsmanship is not for you. But if you're learning it because you want to protect and keep the people you love and yourself safe, then you're good to go. This is the only reason that can make you keep persevering, no matter how hard it gets."
" Now, to work with your four senses perfectly, you need to be able to interact with nature; wind, water, fire, and earth. For our first training, we will be running a few laps. I will lead and you will follow. All you have to do is listen to the sound of my footsteps. Wherever the sound goes, you follow. If you fall, rise. If you hit a tree, come back to your senses and keep running. For your information, I run pretty fast, how you catch up is your problem." Arthur spoke with indifference.
So cruel... Nate thought, did he think they were bush rats?? Although he thought the training was quite cruel, he wanted to persevere. That was the only way he could fight alongside Lucian.
In Lucian's head, he was thinking similarly. Although his senses were good, he had always depended on seeing the auras and life forces of living things to move about. Never had he thought of using his other senses. Though he felt the training was a little too harsh, he was much more concerned about Nate, but he knew his friend had to improve too. They had to improve to fight together. Hence, he was willing to give it a shot. He will get stronger, he will learn to control his beast. In that way, he would never hurt Nate, and he would never hurt his mother and grandmother. He would get stronger and protect them.
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