Chapter 7: Step One... Two
Slowly awaking from his slumber, Faolan laid comfortably on the bed, the drowsiness of waking up made it difficult for him to keep his head vertically up, so he consistently fell back into the bed. "Can I get up already!"
The front door opens to the sight of Mr. Nakama,
"Come, your training begins today," Mr. Nakama then pointed to where the sword Faolan had crafted in a sheath, located next to the front door where Mr. Nakama stood.
"We will not be using the sword today, only until I say," Mr. Nakama quickly made his way outside.
'I passed the test? I passed,' Faolan stood to his feet and moved away from the bed quickly. He reached for his haori that hung on a table's edge filled with steel material. Mr. Nakama had placed the coat there when Faolan was unconscious for an entire day.
Faolan after putting on his haori exited the building into the cold outside air. He observed the environment, a calming sun engulfing the forest with life and beauty. Though most of the greenery was covered by snow, everything appeared to be living as it should be, the sky was cyan clear, no clouds blocked the daylight.
'The day is beautiful, it is peaceful,' A sudden shock of memory flashes onto Faolan replacing the sky with burning ash and the darkness of night, the sight of burnt trees with little life to be felt, the snow now covered with massive drops of blood that followed a trail to something cynical. An evil presence staring directly at Faolan, consuming at him with a vibrant thirst for blood, he could not move, everything froze.
Anger built within Faolan's eyes.
A palm was placed on top of Faolan's shoulder,
"Let's go." Mr. Nakama had been calling out to a statically still Faolan, 'His spirit is colder than the forest,' he speculated. Faolan's expression grew dark again as he came back to his senses.
"I'm taking you to a certain part of the forest in which you will learn many teachings in the future until I say you are prepared, I've already informed you with all that you needed to know before," he raises his finger, "Focus on what is around us," Mr. Nakama zigs through the forest.
"Right," Faolan quietly follows.
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They continued through the forest, Faolan's expression grew stiff as he followed behind Mr. Nakama, attempting to follow his wish of focusing on the environment.
'Everything looks the same, are we going to get lost? The way the snow and trees blend together make it difficult to really know where we are at,'
Faolan held his haori by crossing his arms trying to understand the location where Mr. Nakama wanted to bring him. Instead the forest seemed never changing, nothing stood out of the ordinary for Faolan, to him every tree was like the last one he observed.
'What am I supposed to be focused on?' Faolan thought.
Several minutes to a dozen minutes of walking later
"Here we are," Mr. Nakama halts.
Faolan behind Mr. Nakama looks on ahead of him eventually standing in front of him. A spectacle lies beyond, a Marvelous View of the entire forest, as well as the wonderful mountains that surrounded it. The sun expresses a warmth upon Faolan, he reaches with one of his arms out attempting to gain the full grasp of the warmth from the sun.
'Wow, this is amazing,' Faolan then places his arm back to himself, turning back to face Mr. Nakama.
"Your training has ended for today, what have you learned? An incorrect answer will not allow you progress to the next step, we will try again the next day. " Mr. Nakama faces the marvelous view, placing his arms behind his back.
"What! Training has ended?" Faolan was wildly confused. "All we did was just walk here, how was this training?" Faolan asked desperately.
"Boy, calm yourself," ordered Mr. Nakama, and so Faolan muted himself with darted eyes looking into the deep snow.
"There is much we must take away when we walk, I witnessed many events and details during our walk, these events or details will be essential for you to live, especially as a warrrior," Mr. Nakama turns back, facing Faolan.
"We will return and you will reflect on what you have learned today," Mr. Nakama proceeded back into the forest. Faolan followed in silence trying to understand what Mr. Nakama saw that he couldn't as of right now. Faolan watched closely, noticing Mr. Nakama now makes specific movements, positioning his body in correlation to what he seemed to already know,
'Mr. Nakama was following some sort of path,' Faolan now wants to paint a picture quickly,
'What did I witness?' Faolan focuses on the environment trying to spot for anything that stands out the greatest. All he could notice was the same dark trees and the same white snow. He squinted to see where Mr. Nakama could possibly look as a sign. Faolan could not catch any clue that stood out. He decided to look up into the sky to spot anything different yet there wasn't anything Faolan could see that stands out.
'Faolan, this training will sharpen your sense of awareness. To become a warrior you must take in every detail, consider details a normal person wouldn't. You have remarkable eyes…..' Mr. Nakama, senses an odd tingle within his chest. He clenches a fist close to his mouth, feeling an incoming cough.
"Faolan,
Even if the world around you looks the same, the world to our environment lives a new day, such as you, each and everything shows you something you can use," Mr. Nakama had to instill the same demeanor to Faolan in order for him to learn on his own. Mr. Nakama can sense the impatience growing in Faolan, something the boy never showed before, when the life of the young boy stayed innocent.
'I only hope he will not lead himself to another tragedy because of me.
He is My responsibility.' Mr. Nakama felt that he had something more to say to the young boy , but he couldn't speak his mind.
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Mr. Nakama would not teach nothing new to Faolan for over a week. Faolan continued to fail, day by day not being able to perceive the environment around him and provide a correct answer. Some of the days Faolan would have hope that he's figured something out, presenting different answers to the same question that Mr. Nakama would ask, each answer would be the incorrect one, for they were too minimal. Returning back to the forgery, Faolan would contemplate to himself on what is the correct answer.
Faolan spent those nights of failure in constant thought of what would be the correct answer, he was frustrated further to the point where he wished to not speak at all anymore, keeping his thoughts bottled.
Mr. Nakama would ask Faolan the same exact question, Faolan answered with silence. In those particular nights, thoughts of vengeance lingers through his mind like a plague, volcanic anger would reside inside of Faolan's heart, still mourning over his mother, still seeing the horrific grin of the Demon.
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Two days later
The front door of the small forgery opens,
"Come, Faolan your training begins," Mr. Nakama catches a glimpse of Faolan's determination today different from the previous days. Faolan had not spoken to Mr. Nakama for the past three days in frustration to his training. Yet this was only the beginning for many failures to come.
'Have you figured it out today boy?' Mr. Nakama wondered.
Faolan, who was completely in silence, followed Mr.Nakama out the door. Once stepping outside Faolan pauses, Mr. Nakama halted for Faolan, slowly peeking over his shoulder. Faolan inspected the environment, looking upon the sky, which was a darker shade of azure with a partly amount of clouds, the wind picked up slowly gusts of chilly air, while the sun balanced the skin with it's everlasting warmth.
"You will come?" asked Mr. Nakama.
Faolan finishes inspecting the world above him, facing Mr. Nakama, nodding. Mr. Nakama turns his head back forward to the Forest.
'Today, will it be?,' Mr. Nakama followed his path to the Marvelous View.
Faolan continued inspecting the nature around them, 'The world around me… it all looks the same ...but I've been looking at the world too simply. There is more to the tree that I look at, it is it's own individual, they all look the same but they are completely different beings. How will it benefit me?' Faolan reaches for the bark of a dark tree, caressing the hardened woodwork, comparing it to another tree across from him,
'Completely different, the trees are showing me something different, each and every one of them, they can show me something, I can craft something,' Faolan looks down into the deep snow he stomped over for the past week.
'The snow though not living, is never the same thing, the snow could be denser than the snow over there, softer, brighter,darker, higher, lower,' continuing to follow Mr. Nakama, Faolan's eyes widened,
"Everything is showing me something…. something for me.. to use," Faolan made a fist against his chest in the hopes of finally figuring out the first part of his training.
Mr. Nakama still looking ahead, senses the spirit of Faolan has changed, better than what it was before, Mr. Nakama's confidence in Faolan grows greatly.
The two soon arrived at the Marvelous View once again, Faolan with his sudden realization of the world allowed him further appreciate the wonderful spectacle that faced ahead of him, "Your training has ended, what have you learned today?" Mr. Nakama, like the last few days, continuing to face the marvelous view of the landscape as Faolan expresses confidence,
"I've started to see that not everything is the same, living or nonliving. These events and details you spoke of, is what the world around me experiences, no matter how little or big, everything matters, with that being said, the world allows me to carve something that I could use just by focusing on it, it provides me something, maybe an idea." Faolan returned to silence, looking downwards at the snow.
With a short pause of silence, Mr Nakama, felt the proud young boy that Akari Okami had raised for a short moment. He faces Faolan,
"Yes, you've finally started to perceive the world closely. Always remember to use the environment to your advantage, every detail will guide you into the next step. As a warrior you must be able to understand the world around you, it will grant you an advantage. The next training will be similar to what you have been doing for the past week," Mr. Nakama headed into the direction of the forgery once more.
Faolan silently follows Mr. Nakama, he notices Mr. Nakama cover his mouth with his forearm. Faolan was unsure why, but he continued on focusing on what will come next.
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Following Day....
The next set of training will have Faolan descend to the marvelous view in a specific allotted time. Using his eyes and the environment, Faolan will have to remember the path to the Marvelous View by just his surroundings, every scratch, every change of elevation of the snow will guide him. Mr. Nakama hoped that this step will help truly enhance the capabilities of Faolan's eyes in extraneous environments and speed. The next part of the training will also amplify his physical limits, due to the amount of time Faolan has, his body will increase in stamina and cardio as he descends, as well as balancing since he needs to keep himself afloat downwards or on a bulky edge.
However, in the training Faolan struggled greatly on time, he needed to be much quicker. Mr. Nakama would consistently remind him,
"In battle you must make quick decisions or you will die."
"I will not die," Faolan states.
"You will if you're not in time, you will be your own death," rejected Mr. Nakama, he pushes Faolan over causing him to trip into the snow, Faolan lifts himself from the snow squinting.
Through days and nights Faolan would train to reach the marvelous view in time, yet he failed. The rush getting to the Marvelous View, would cause Faolan to lose track of familiar paths that would lead to the spectacle. When Faolan eventually arrives at the Marvelous View late, he would not speak a single word from his tongue. Accepting his failure, and with each failure, his desperation grew once again.
Mr. Nakama could not assist Faolan on the training, 'This is what he chose, he must learn from within, these failures, no matter how much it will cloud him, I know there will be a light.'
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Half a year later…...
For the past six months Faolan failed the second part of his training every single day and night. As the seasons change the environments becomes ever strenuous and much more difficult to focus on, his body did however, improved in shape. The snow had melted, greenery flooded the mountains completely changing everything, and with change everyday, it made recognizing the land twice as difficult for Faolan to perceive. The worst days were rainy days, Faolan would slip and fall down the mountain until he hit the trunk of a tree, the rain would fly into his face, as well as making his clothes heavier altering the balance he was growing accustomed to.
Faolan remained in silence after each failure, and Mr.Nakama would once more raise his forearm to his mouth letting out a hard coughing. Faolan would notice and make a worried look towards him, these were little instances where Mr. Nakama's hope for Faolan was reassured. Seeing the worried look of Faolan displayed his true character, though overshadowed by a silent and growing desperation for vengeance, his heart was not completely frozen.
"Faolan, come to me but not too close boy," Mr. Nakama urged Faolan to keep his distance, by stretching his palm out. Faolan approached at a distance from Mr.Nakama, his worried eyes continued to show.
"There is fine, boy… cough cough… listen closely. For the last six months you've experienced failures upon failures, there's no telling how long it will take for you to learn the next steps of your training, for a long amount of time I did not know how to express it to you, I've only been able to think of it to myself , but for me, boy, don't give up, don't allow failure cloud your mind, but allow it to expand it, for me at least," Mr. Nakama's eyes grew heavy as he bowed, pleading.
Faolan gasps quietly seeing Mr.Nakama's agonized expression, he felt his heart speak pity over his own eyes,
"Mr.Nakama… I promise to never give in," for a whole minute Faolan's vengeful silence disappeared.
'I will rid the demons.. but …. I have to make Mr. Nakama proud right now.'
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The next day was a rainy one, Faolan had to reach the Marvelous View in the allotted time.
'Breathe Faolan,' yet his breathing was uneven, like always.
Sounds of thunder were far, Faolan focuses on the environment before him. Faolan dashes, the droplets splashed on his face, he turns observing the trees, the grass,
'The mud' ,Faolan jumps into the mud, sliding down the hill and maintaining his balance, he accelerates at a quicker speed which would make his turns much more difficult,
' Ahhffff,'
Faolan's foot trips over a branch, having him roll down the mountain, crashing into the mud-pile gaining small cuts and bruises on his callused hands as he tries to stand to keep his balance from the crash. Faolan wobbles to his feet, the rain rinsed some of the mud that rested on his clothes. Lighting rages at one of the trees above Faolan, causing some of the tree branches to fall over his head, Faolan's focus was scattered,
'Breathe Faolan,'
Faolan inhales quickly, losing his breath, but his adrenaline from the moment allowed him to refocus and observe a specific path that could lead him to the Marvelous View. Faolan continued down the mountain, recognizing some trees that carried specific characteristics,
"I think I'm close, to the Marvelous View!" Faolan also recognized the level of elevation of the ground was becoming less steep, and the air less dense for him to breathe meaning he was about to reach a very expansive area.
"Will I make it in time? I need to keep going,
PUSH
PUSH"
Faolan sprinted through two trees that covered each other, he raised his voice in determination . Bursting through the trees Faolan see's the end of the familiar path, that would lead to the spectacle.
"This is it," Faolan exhausted, spots Mr. Nakama spectating the marvelous view once again, the rain pouring upon the landscape was a beautiful sight to behold, the lighting in the distance made the view all the more wonderful. Faolan gazes upon Mr. Nakama in hope that he had finally made it in time.
"Okami Faolan, you've completed the second part of your training, I'm proud," Mr. Nakama turns with sickly eyes, but the sickly eyes were overshadowed by his great spirit.
Faolan panting, expresses great gratitude for his master in silence.
"The next part of your training will be the most punishing, there will be no telling how long it will take you, you will learn how to use your sword within my style and I will be teaching you all about Breathing Styles, as well as my breathing style that I will pass down to you.
Breath Of Thunder. "
Thunder roared across the clouds at the same time as Thunder was mentioned, the rain poured heavily on Faolan's shoulder as he nodded to his master.
Mr. Nakama nods back at his hardworking student, he had a rough cough right after though. He senses the boy he had been guiding through his time as the blacksmith of the village.
'Have you put your vengeance to sleep for now Faolan? This frustration will be held, for how long?'
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
AM_Sensei
AM_Sensei Thank you for reading the chapter!
So here we are, finally starting Faolan's training. I wanted this chapter to focus heavily on how Faolan will be able to later, have great perception due to his eyes in the story. As well as his internal conflict in his mind in the training ( Thank You Mr. Nakama!).
There will be more to learn in the future... *cough cough*
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone