“Four more laps” Commanded the well dressed figure enjoying a steaming hot coffee. It was Saturday morning and training was going well… at least it was for john Barrington.

Myles would have protested but he knew this was for the best. He would only benefit in the long run. Besides, the overwhelming need for oxygen and the increasing urge to vomit were preventing him from making anything more than some wheezing noises. Myles breakfast relocated itself upon the grass next to the path.

“Myles, what did I tell you not todo before training”

“You told me not to eat breakfast.”

“Right, and what did you do this morning”

“Eat breakfast”

“I’m glad you understand, make it six more laps”

“Fuuuuuck” Myles wheezed out as he set about completing his self appointed mentors instructions.

The John Barrington training method consisted heavily of cardio and then proceeding to initiate combat with real-time critique.

“Punch like this not like that.

“You should have blocked that.”

“You should have blocked this one too.”

“You should be getting off the floor a lot quicker that that.

“If you can weaponise vomiting against you enemy I’ll allow it, if not stop.”

Wiping the sick from his mouth Myles rose to his feet.

“How long did I last this time” He asked

“Just under a minute, you are doing better.

John swept the legs of tired wheezing opponent out from under him.

“Why do you hate me?” pleaded Myles as he looked up at a grey morning sky.

“Quite the opposite, you are in my top three apprentices of all time” John reached out a hand and picked Myles back off the grass. “If you were wondering about my methods, you learn fighting by fighting, the fancy techniques can be acquired later after you know how to throw a punch and take a punch, in fact call me Mr. Punch. Most martial arts bear little resemblance to actual combat and right now you need experience in drag out dirty cheating brawls a lot more than rote memorisation of a kata.

A front kick to the chest reacquainted Myles with the ground.

“I suppose putting a Billunben in a joint lock would be an act of futility” Mused Myles who was delaying getting back up so he could have a bit of a lie down. However even the weather was against him as grey sky turned into rain.

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“Don’t worry you will still encounter plenty of human shaped things… And a cult or two usually crops up every few decades, so some actual humans to play with. But more often that not the suit makes regular humans a non-issue. It’s just a pain in the butt to deal with a large gang of zealots. Right now however, the biggest threat to you are the fae.”

“I think you are the biggest threat to me” Said Myles as he dragged his aching body over to the water bottles and slaking his thirst. “come on, one more round.”

Moving first, Myles closed the distance and led with an elbow to the face of his teacher. John Barrington dodged the blow and landed one of his own to Myles’ ribs. Gritting his teeth, Myles pressed on attempting to kick out a leg but was gracefully evaded. John proceeded to lay a beat down on Myles keeping him on the defensive until an arm was grabbed and clung onto.

“I thought I said we are not bothering with that stuff ye…”

John’s commentary was cut short my Myles, with an unwavering grip on John he landed a successful headbutt.

“Arrrrrrgghhfuckbuggeryarsenobs” Exclaimed John, Holding his possibly broken nose. “My nose is bleeding.”

“Tilt your head forward and breathe through your mouth”

“I’m pretty sure I need to tilt it back”

“You may be old and wise but my contemporary first aid knowledge is at least dated post Renaissance”

“I know, I just don’t want to get blood on my shirt, it’s bespoke tailored”

“Then why the bloody hell did you wear it for a fight” said Myles who was dressed in a very old scruffy grey T-shirt and track pants in suspiciously good condition.

“I didn’t think you were capable of hitting me yet”

“Rude” “Said Myles “Here have a tissue” Myles handed over a pack of Kleenex and watched John stuff the whole lot under his bleeding nose. “Come on, my house isn’t far, I’ll get the kettle on.”

A short brisk walk later the pair walked past several atrociously parked Volvos and a large black van to arrive at Myles’ small but well managed home. Tea was made and served with the good biscuits since john was a guest. Problems arose when the tire owner of the house took a dislike to John.

“He’s hissing at me again” said John worriedly.

Charlie Murderpaws had initiated a series of guerrilla attacks against the visitor.

“Sorry, John, I forgot he doesn’t like strangers, always trying to warn them off, give him this.” Myles handed off a small bit of chicken for John to mollify the ginger cat with.

Though John nearly lost a finger the cat decided that people offering him chicken could not in fact be strangers and could be safely ignored. He stretched to give everyone a good view of his arsehole then strolled off in search of something warm to sleep on.

“That cat is a menace” marvelled John at the tiny apex predator. “You know cats are one of the few creatures fae regard as a credible threat. That’s why my trigger took the form it did, I wanted them to fear me…. But that thing, how did it get so mean”

“Hey, Charlie is a sweetie, he is just a bit… wary… I found him outside as a kitten, so he has always had a big feral streak… Oh and then when he was young he was attacked by a dog, there was blood everywhere and the vet bill was horrendous!”

“That sounds horrific”

“Fortunately it was a big Alsatian so it pulled through in the end. Poor bugger won’t come down this end of the street anymore. If you think I’m joking, I had the bill framed, it is right behind you”Myles pointed to the space behind his mentor.

“Nice try apprentice, You will have to get up a lot earlier in the morning to catch me out”

If John Barrington had turned around, he would have seen a framed bill for various veterinary services revolving around stitching a dog back together. Charlie Murderpaws had not been named for shits and giggles. While the well dressed older man was currently the most dangerous ‘cat’ in the house and defiantly the one with the most weapons, it was not by as big a margin as he imagined. John sipped his tea and dunked a digestive unaware of his tenuous position.

“Suit yourself” Said Myles fully aware of John’s tenuous position. “Anyway, back to the topic of training… Are there any classes you would recommend that could supplement my time spend getting trounced about the park?” Myles opened his notebook ready.

“Mixed Martial Arts” John answered. There was this gentleman in China who challenged and kept beating masters of kung-fu. Made the Chinese government have an absolute shit fit. Why learn all the fighting styles to pick out the useful bit when someone already put the useful bits together especially as we need you fighting ready ASAP.”

“Next question” Said Myles as he scribbled notes down. “What do you know about the woods in Stonebridge?” He had been putting this off for a while, but if john could shed some light on the weird things in his past Myles needed to ask.

“About as much as any woods, why?”

The abridged version of Myles childhood was conveyed to his Mentor, including mentions of his grandfathers odd behaviour and a bonus student adventure with a bag of fish and chips.

“Your mother is single you say.. is she an attractive.” The pack of digestives hit John Barrington smack in the forehead. “As I was saying I had a feeling you may have been a sensitive, by that I don’t mean you are prone to having a weep. You pick up on what I like to call otherworldly bollocks.”

“So aside from having mysteries ancient weapons found in mine shafts be fond of you, what does being a sensitive mean?”

“Most of you still can’t remember properly. But in a way you do, just on a very instinctual level. Some outliers remember more, sometimes a lot more. That would explain your Grandfather. This is were those cults I mentioned usually spring from. Guys at the top who see it all and a bunch of followers who just know they are right in their gut.”

“I don’t suppose you would be willing to go on a class outing and investigate sometime? Call it bonus training?” Myles put it out there as a long shot not expecting much, but to his surprise.

“Fine, but if you mother is hot I get to ask her out on a date” said John Barrington

Biscuits were nearly thrown. But a sneaking Charlie Murderpaws closing in on John would be justice enough for Myles.

“Actually Stonebridge is not far from here we can make a day trip of it today, I can drive us, but I will need to pick someone up along the way. A stray fairy would be a good introduction for them.”