Chapter 14.

PART 1.

Both boys are walking out of a clothes shop, where they were measured for their school uniforms. Just in one year, both of them have outgrown their previous uniforms.

“That tape always itched.” Complained Josh, while Raven laughed.

They both have come in the market to buy the things which they would need for their next school year, which will begin in about a month.

Their friend is missing though, and both boys know why. “What do you think he is suffering right now?” asked Raven.

“I don’t want to think.” Josh shivers. “It is bad enough that we doubted him once, and he has been dragging us with him to his morning training. I rather not think about what he is going through now.”

“At least he didn’t take his near kidnapping that badly.” Said Raven with a serious tone.

Josh nodded, as they both walked to their mothers.

PART 2.

“So, back for my wears already?” the man was saying.

“True. You always supplied me with clothes which could stand a lot of punishment.” Replied Zeko with a chuckle. “The material which you use for your clothing is excellent for enchanting, of course; that is another reason.”

“Would the boy need some too?” asked the shop owner.

“Yes. Do measure him would you?”

“Of course.” The shop owner leaves to call one of his assistants.

“Listen kid, they’ll measure you inside, but I will be here, waiting for you. don’t panic.” Said Zeko, dropping a hand on Hatori’s shoulder.

Hatori smirked. “I never panic.” He said with complete confidence.

Zeko gives him a flick on his forehead. “I see you’re getting overconfident. I must fix this.”

Hatori was just about to take his words back, but the assistant lady quickly dragged him inside, and his words died on his lips.

While Hatori is being measured inside (an experience which is sure to vex the boy, all that prodding, twisting and turning will surely get on his nerves) Zeko planned the conversation which he will need to have with his apprentice later today.

He often indulged his overactive brain before a difficult conversation like this. Otherwise, he would just pace restlessly, something which he doesn’t like to do.

‘Now, if only he were to be old enough to duel with me, I would explain everything in that fight.’ He smiled at the images his mind conjured of an older Hatori dueling with him.

Training soldiers, dueling people, bluntly offering your opinion when asked for, are all easier things than having a difficult conversation.

‘What Munshi used to say, it is all in your head. Just come out and say it.’ He thinks to himself, as Hatori is brought outside of the shop, looking haggard.

The assistance were cooing over him, calling him their most disciplined customer. Zeko just shook his head, and departed with his students for lunch, since their clothes will be delivered to the castle when they are ready.

In the lunch shop, Zeko finally decides to broach the topic of their impending trip. “Listen kid, I’ve got something to tell you.”

“What?” Hatori stopped scarfing his face off on food.

“We’re leaving in a few days, we will be traveling around, and I will be training you during this trip.” Said Zeko.

“You mean I won’t be going to school like my… friends?” He hesitated before calling them friends. He still doesn’t know when they would decide that he is not worth their time, and decide to leave him to spend time with other, more interesting kids.

“No. quite frankly, your time would be wasted there.” Said Zeko. “Not only do you need to catch up to your peers, you need to be better than them.”

“Is it about the kidnapping?” Hatori asks.

“Yes, that as well.” Zeko confirmed. “You see, you’ve got a target on your back, kid, did you hear about the Magecraft and Sorcery Academy?”

“I heard it mentioned once or twice, but only as an academy.” Said Hatori.

“That is its full name. While it is the place for studying advance magic, it is one dangerous place. Students die there regularly. It wouldn’t surprise me if someone decided that killing you would be a great idea there, or to just plans to torment you.” Zeko always gets weary just by the thought of the cruelty displayed by the kids there. “Unless you have the right knowledge, and strength, you will be a sitting duck.”

Hatori sighed. “So when are we leaving?”

“In few days. Don’t worry, I’ll bring you back here once in a while, but we won’t be staying here.”

“Oh, okay then.” He went back to his lunch.

“I can’t help but notice how well you’re taking this.” Commented Zeko, finishing his lunch.

“It always has been like that with me.” Hatori takes a sip of his juice. “I was sent on a blind special school, then I was admitted on a normal school, where I was often kept isolated from other kids.”

“What do you mean by blind schools?” Zeko asked, not expecting anything good.

“They are schools for kids like me. I'd rather not talk about it more than that, if you don’t mind.” He finishes his juice with a large gulp.

Zeko nodded. Then he realized that Hatori wouldn’t understand that, so he said, “No problem kid.”

He started to respect his student more, as he didn’t throw a tantrum at all, which was the thing bothering Zeko before this conversation.

PART 3.

Zeko was thinking about how exactly he could test the natural reaction of his student in a fight. He needed to know this information before their trip started. Just when he was about to go and talk this out with Hatori, (which would take all the fun out of it for him), he found a most wonderful opportunity.

“So, you beat him in wrestling?” a kid was asking Avinash.

“Totally. He couldn’t even move. I completely controlled him.” He bragged.

‘Amarnath’s kid.’ He remembers how both boys don’t get along with each other, though the prime minister himself hasn’t said anything about it. ‘This is a great chance. I should take advantage of it.’

Suddenly appearing before the kids, and taking too much enjoyment in their startled yelps, Zeko dropped a hand on Avinash’s shoulder. “I heard what you were saying kid, you sound tough!” Zeko stroked Avinash’s ego.

Avinash smiles. He knows of Zeko’s reputation, and he also knows that Hatori is learning from him. If he thinks that he is tough, then Hatori has no chance against him.

“However, I do hear that you were put on the floor by my student. Isn’t that true?” The smile disappeared from his face.

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“That was just a fluke. It won’t happen all the time; your student was lucky, master Zeko.” Said Avinash, giving Zeko every respect.

Having a beef with his student is one thing, but angering the Bloody Fox is an entirely different matter.

“You sure about that?” asked Zeko.

“Yes, I’m entirely sure.”

“Well then, look.” Zeko pointed to the walking Hatori, who was with his two other friends, coming towards them. “Why don’t you prove it? I’ll keep watching.”

“What?” Said Avinash. This is too confusing for him. Usually, his mother always tells him not to get in fights with other kids. And yet, here is an adult, who is offering to watch while he picks a fight with his student.

Sensing that the boy needed some more nudging, Zeko added some extra words of encouragement. “Just don’t hurt him too badly. I do want my student to be able to tor—I mean, train tomorrow.” Zeko congratulated himself in his head for catching his slip.

His words did the trick. “Don’t worry, master Zeko,” said Avinash brimming with confidence. “Your student would be fine, though his confidence might suffer a little after this.” Laughing in anticipation, Avinash saunters to Hatori, and exchanges some words with him.

Zeko walks closer along with the boy to whom Avinash was bragging earlier. “Besides,” they finally could hear the words, “I think master Zeko would prefer me over you.”

“What?” Hatori said in surprise. “Why would he prefer you?”

“I heard that your magic has been woken up.” Zeko made a note in his head to find out who leaked that information. Sure, his awakening process was rather spectacular, but no one should have known why it was like that. “And despite that, you still haven’t produced a simple light.”

“I don’t think he’ll train you.” replied Hatori. “After all, he has seen me putting you on the camel clutch.”

Just like that, they both locked up. Zeko immediately started to note Hatori’s natural reactions. ‘Hmm. He is taking advantage of his natural bulk, compared to Amarnath’s kid.’

Avinash is naturally strong for his age, but he isn’t doing physical training like Hatori is. So, Hatori didn’t have any trouble taking him to the floor, and after flipping him on his stomach, applying the camel clutch.

‘Hmm. So, he favors grapples. Not a bad idea, especially since striking gives his opponent a chance of dodging. Until he starts his sensory training, this would do just fine.’ Zeko steps into the role of responsible adult, then, and asks with his authoritative voice. “What’s going on here?”

Hatori immediately let go of Avinash, making his face hit the floor. He got up from his back, stepping on his hands accidentally. “Nothing.” He said with a straight face.

“Boys,” he said to Hatori’s friends. “Take him to his room.”

“Yessir!” they said quickly, and grabbed him and ran away.

Zeko lends a hand to a groaning Avinash. “You were good kid,” he complimented. “Just work on your footing some more.”

“You mean it?” Avinash is thrilled to hear those words of encouragement. Wrestling is very important to him.

“Yes.” Zeko provided a few more pointers, and then walked away.

“So,” his friend said, “Should we go to dinner?”

“Yeah, yeah let’s go.” Said Avinash, not wanting to discuss what just happened.

PART 4.

Zeko has received the reply to the letter which he wrote his friend a few days ago, requesting some pointers for Hatori’s training.

> Dear Friend Zeko,

>

> As you know me, I am not much for beating around the bush. So, I shall get on with my point.

>

> First, get your student in a habit of sensing things around him at every time. You should start him immediately when he learns to reach for his magic, and is able to use it for some purpose. The deep mastery of magic is not required for this.

>

> Second, once he has learned to do that, you can then train his reflexes in any way you want.

>

> One final thing to note is that this will remain to be his primary way of making his way in the world, until he modifies himself in the future. This is the case with all those children who are born with some deformity in our world.

>

> -Munshi.

‘Blunt as always.’ Zeko smiled.

PART 5.

“Say whaaaaaaatttttt!?” Raven and Josh screamed, just when Hatori was done telling them about Zeko’s plans.

After remaining quiet, and waiting for the people to look away from them, Josh asked in a much more normal tone. “You’re not serious, are you?”

“I am.” Said Hatori.

“What about the school?” asked Raven.

“Oh yeah. You do get to skip that, right?” Josh immediately brightens up. “Maybe I should get myself in an apprenticeship with Zeko too.”

“Yeah, and then you’ll just end up doing the same things in the morning all day long.” Raven quickly poured water in the flaming ambitions of Josh.

Josh slumped. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“But look at this in other way. You won’t have to come with me in the morning exercises anymore.” Reminds Hatori.

“Oh yeah!” They both jumped in joy after hearing that.

“We’ll miss you though.” Said Raven quickly.

Hatori hesitated. “I will miss you two as well.” he whispered.

“Wait,” Josh said then, interrupting the emotional mood. “That must mean you must live with him all the time.” He said with horror.

PART 6.

“So you’re leaving today?” asked Porus, putting the cup of tea down on his desk.

“Yes.” Zeko replied simply.

The king sighed. “Just don’t torment the kid too much.”

“As if. I might joke about that, but you know that I never did anything like that to any of my students.” Retorted Zeko.

“Yes, yes. Just pulling your leg.” The king smiled, and dismissed the Bloody Fox.

PART 7.

While Zeko was talking with the king, Hatori was waiting with his friends on the doors of the castle. He is currently passing the time by tapping on his magic, and producing simple lights. Though this is the kind of thing which his friends can do with a snap of a finger, they were still happy for his progress.

He has recently started to tap on his magic, and slowly started to mold it for his purposes. He was able to do it fast, since Zeko made him meditate a lot. That came in really useful, now that he thinks about it.

Still, he would rather not sit in one place until his legs start to sleep.

Zeko comes out of the castle. “Ready to leave kid?”

“Yeah.” He shook hands with his friends. “I promise, when I come back, I will have some tricks up my sleeve.”

“We’ll wait.” Said Raven.

“In fact, we’ll develop some of our own. Won’t we?” said Josh.

“You’re right.” Said Raven with a laugh.

After waving at his friends, he left with Zeko.

(End.)