I handed the old mouse a signed off form indicating I was giving up one of my points or favors to him before the start of our lesson. We were meeting the morning after the pre-funeral party. “Sit down, so you can focus on your arm,” Gary said and I quickly lay down in the training room. “I am going to strike your left arm slowly, in different spots, slowly speeding up. Watch carefully,” he said.

He began working his way down my arm, striking point after point. “Knowing where the nerve clusters are takes experience and studying anatomy of creatures. But even a blow on the muscle will cause it to seize up, just not as long.”

I watched as his bony paw reached out with two digits. They then spun around along with his wrist while pushing into my arm. “Two digits, rotate them one way, while you rotate your arm the same way. Once you faster one direction work on the other, it allows more versatility.”

“I am going to speed up now, you should be able to feel the shock briefly,” Gary said, and I did. Each strike was swifter and the spin more rapid. I could feel a slight numbness and tingling with each strike. “The next part is where most creatures struggle. Digging in deep into the other creature before your paw is pushed back.”

“There can be no hesitation. While larger creatures can exert force more easily, it is spread out. That is why this next step is very hard.” Gary struck again, this time it was like when we had sparred. I lost control of my arm.

“Watch, I will do it a few more times,” Gary said and struck my arm once every couple of seconds, over and over. When he stopped, I had a hard time feeling anything. Gary then walked over to my other side and held up a paw.

“Strike my paw, focus on precision, not power or speed. That can come later,” he said. I ignored the pain and uselessness of my left arm and struck out while seated on the floor. I hit his palm using two digits and twisting them around along with the blow.

“And that is the problem, your digits are too far apart. That is why larger creatures struggle with this technique. You will need to curve your digits inwards, and it will feel highly unnatural.” I did as Gary instructed and struck his paw again. He made a comment every time.

At the end of the hour, he told me to strike his paw with full force behind the technique. I did so. “I felt a slight shock there. But going any further will require countless hours of work. My advice is to practice that jab over and over on a piece of wood. If you get your claws coated, then the technique will be next to impossible. Since your claws will cut into the creature.”

“What about a snake Master Gary?” I asked and he grew thoughtful at that.

“Hmm, I suppose you might be able to pierce through their scales and deliver an incapacitating blow with a single strike. But no cat has ever seen to master the nerve pinch.” He picked up his cane and left. I got up and bowed my heads towards him, even if he didn’t see. Tom Cat spoke to Gary at the entrance of the room for a short bit and then came in.

“So, you want to pursue the nerve pinch?” he asked me.

“No. I was curious how it worked and if there is a way to defend against it.” My father shook his head.

“Unless you have thick scales or armor, there is no defense. That was why Gary was the Warrior’s Shadow before me. I was the last person he officially took on and he retired once I rose up to the position. Also, good job with Assassin Witherheart.”

“What was he trying to do, and will she be punished?” I asked.

“It is tradition. At the pre-funeral party the lowest ranking assassin is to try and drug the Neophytes. You noted how Knaves got a bit tipsy and fell over.” I nodded at this. “Nothing serious, but good awareness to not be caught up in such a thing.”

“Did you catch it?” I asked out of curiosity.

“Yes. I was a lot more on edge back then.”

“Who would win, you or Gary?” I asked.

“What do you think?” he asked me.

“I really don’t know,” I replied, and he smiled at me.

“Well it is a rude question Mittens,” I nodded at this, but I was curious. “But every creature compares themselves to others. In a forced fight, he would win. If I could drag it out while not allowing him to retreat or attack, I would win eventually by wearing him down.”

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“His strength is the nerve pinch. While not technique is an ultimate technique, he is a grandmaster of that style. Many of the people he has trained have gone on to survive and thrive.” My father was the clearest example but there was also Veronica who used the nerve pinch.

“Now Southpaw, are you serious about wanting to be a Journeymouse under him?” my father asked me.

“I thought about it, but I would like to go on a mission with him,” I said, and my father let out a soft sigh.

“He will take you on your second mission, but I will be going with you on the first to make sure you are capable.” I nodded at this without complaint. “It is better this way that he speaks to your approval as an assassin not me. Even though I worry.”

“That he will do something?” I asked.

“No. Southpaw would never risk something like that. But he might let you get in over your head. Since I have made no secret about wanting to retire, Maximilian will be looking at you to fill my role. He will push you and keep pushing. This organization eats of creatures and leaves their corpses behind if you aren’t careful.”

“I understand father,” I replied.

“You don’t, not yet. But this place isn’t built on friendship. It is built on avarice and violence. While we use violence against other creatures, you will be put under tremendous pressure while you are in the field.”

“How can you take a break then?” I asked.

“One of the many privileges I have earned. Master Assassins can request as much downtime as they want to recuperate and recover. I am taking the time off to make sure no one takes advantage of you Mittens. My early days were rough. Thrown into battles I wasn’t prepared for. Over and over, where my life constantly hung by a thread.”

“Aren’t things happening now?” I asked.

“And it isn’t our problem. This is a job. Never forget that Mittens. Our only responsibility is to our health and the mission, no one and nothing else. Feelings are risky to have in our line of work.”

“Sorry,” I muttered, realizing that I was holding my father back. He laughed and gave me a hug.

“Never be sorry Mittens. I could care less about this job. I only worked for as long as I did, since I enjoy it. But now that you are here and your mother has passed away, I am the one that is sorry for not being there for you.”

“It’s okay,” I muttered into his chest, grateful there were no cameras on the upper floors.

We broke the hug and he smiled at me. “So that means, we can have your training session before getting your claws coated.” My father was pure evil as he handed me the rubber tips to put onto my claws.

I put them on. I was tempted to want to try and fight with the nerve pinch, but against my father that was just asking for a beatdown and him laughing at my strikes. If I couldn’t hit him with my normal strikes, I would have no chance of hitting him with a skill I could barely use.

Once we were both ready, I went right into the attack. My breathing steady and regulated. Drawing deeply each time at a constant rate to hold off my tiredness. I could smell my father’s scent growing in the air as he began to sweat a bit as I kept up the pressure.

Each swing, dodge, and counter felt natural. The openings I had were traps. I didn’t fall into the traps or counters he left. He began to attack more but I had grown used to it. Even when he rapidly adjusted the tempo of the fight and his speed, I was able to adjust as well countering him.

“Pause,” he called out. I looked at the clock. It had been half an hour. He stared at me. “You were pressuring me.”

“Thanks, I have been putting in a lot of effort,” I replied with a smile. He shook his head at me.

“Mittens. You were pressuring me. I can count the number of creatures who can do that in this organization on one paw. Now two, counting you. There were no flaws, no mistakes in anything you did.” I didn’t know what to say to that. He let out a long sigh.

“Now I know what it truly means to be old. A fighting genius. Alright. I am going to ramp it up as hard as I can go and push you to the limit. We won’t stop until one of us lands a blow. No matter how long it takes. A blow at the speeds I will be going at are dangerous. Even with these rubber tips. Just the force alone will hurt. I won’t be able to hold back.” I felt a bit nervous.

“Bring it you old cat,” I said and my father grinned.

“Very well Mittens. This old cat, shall bring it, just like you asked,” my father responded and moved. My danger sense spiked, and I barely managed to dodge to the side. I felt a slight tremor as my father landed. I spun and slashed at him.

He ducked and kicked out. I leapt over the strike right at him. He was out of position and wouldn’t be able to block both my claws. My danger sense spiked again. What?! I was suddenly flying away, barely able to breathe.

I got to my feet unsteadily. “How?” I gasped out.

“My head into your chest. Also rushing a larger stronger opponent, while leaving yourself open is foolishness. I thought you knew better,” my father replied.

“I knew your paws were out of position. No way you could strike me with a lethal blow,” I countered. Tom Cat nodded at that.

“That is fair. But still reckless. Ready to go again?” he asked, and I nodded. He came in slowly this time. I set the tempo by rushing him. I came to a halt. It was hard getting traction with my hind paws having rubber on my claws.

My father immediately launched forward, and I moved to the side and spun. Our respective paws just missed each other, our claws almost touching. He rapidly pressed his attacks, but I aimed at his arms, forcing him to be careful as we engaged in another back and forth.

This time I wasn’t going to rush in like before and was careful. Technically it wasn’t a fatal blow, since it was a headbutt, not a claw strike. So, we didn’t stop. It was hard to regulate my breathing, while under such pressure. The skill helped, but I was under constant assault. One misstep and it would be over.