The first skill he learned from the two of them was repair, which he knew would be incredibly useful.

He had carved new boomerangs every time one broke on their journey, and although it increased his skill, it took time, and it was an inconvenience when he didn’t have all his weapons.

The other skill he learned was dodge, a defensive skill.

“Alright, your first lesson will be in not getting hit.”

Flicker picked up a wooden sword and attacked.

His attacks were just slow enough that Dali could dodge them about ten times out of fifty.

Eventually he gained the dodge skill.

“Perfect. Now we can start training in earnest. Dodge is an active skill, but one that you have to be able to activate passively. If you need to shout ‘Dodge!’ every time you use it, you’re a failure.”

All night he attacked with the wooden sword. When morning came, Dali was allowed a little bit of rest.

“Wake up, wake up.”

Flicker wanted to show him something.

He led Dali to the village square.

“This is the site of your morning training.”

“Are we going to fight here?”

Dali had grown accustomed to the madness of his various teachers.

“Of course not. I will not be your enemy.”

“Then who will?”

Part of Dali had a rather strange feeling that he did not actually want to hear the answer to his question.

“Is it not obvious?”

Dali swallowed.

He still remembered the last time someone asked him that.

’Please don’t say the guard,’ he thought.

’Please don’t say the guard.’

“It’s-”

Dali couldn’t stand it.

“If you say it’s the guard I am leaving right now.”

“The guard?” Flicker mused.

“That’s not a bad idea.”

Dali glared at him.

“But maybe next time.”

“Today your enemy is everyone here.”

Dali stood there and gaped.

“How is that better?!”

“Don’t worry, they won’t fight you.”

“You said they will be my enemies.”

“Yes. Your goal is to run through a crowd without being touched.”

“That’s- that’s impossible.”

“I can do it.”

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Well you’re-”

“I can do it without being seen either.”

“Even so-”

“While blindfolded.”

“How stupid do you think I am?”

“Extraordinarily.”

[p=center]* * *[/p]

One short demonstration later.

“You’re a monster.”

“That’s nothing, I had to hold myself back.”

“Why?”

“If I didn’t, it wouldn’t be a demonstration.”

“Why not.”

“Because you wouldn’t see it.”

“Why wouldn’t I-”

“Oh.”

Flicker just laughed.

“Your turn.”

[p=center]* * *[/p]

In the next few days Dali did nothing but practice.

After he woke up, he would practice in the square.

After a few hours of that, he would spend a few hours doing repairs on items they found around the house.

Then he would return to Flicker for more dodge training.

This consisted of Flicker trying to hit him with a wooden sword.

Dali eventually got pretty good at it.

“Hah! Ten in a row!”

He yelled with joy.

He saw another slash coming towards him and moved back so as to be out of reach of the sword.

*Smack*

“Ow… I thought I dodged…”

He trailed off looking at Flicker’s weapon.

“What happened to your sword?”

Flicker was holding a wooden staff.

It was at least two and a half feet longer than the sword.

“Oh, that,” Flicker responded sounding almost bored.

“I switched it out for my staff when my hand went behind my back just now.”

“That- that’s cheating!”

“There’s no cheating in combat.”

“This isn’t real combat!”

“How can I prepare you to dodge real weapons, in real combat if you only are willing to dodge against one in fake?”

“You could have warned me.”

“Your enemy won’t take the time to explain his weapon to you. You must be able to judge a completely new one instantly.”

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