As he logged out of the game, he noticed that he hardly had enough time to fulfill his daily ablutions before he went to his training. Today, he was bound to be late for training and Robert had already warned him not to be late for Lucius' training.
He quickly ran to the bathroom and once done, he ran all the way to the gymnasium at his top speed. But still he was ten minutes late. He made his way to the private room where he found Salazar waiting for him at the door.
"You are late," he said looking at Balthazar in a way that suggested concern and dissatisfaction. "What happened? Did Max's death really put your mind in such a haze that you have become so tardy? For a military man like you to become like that due to a single death is totally out of character."
Salazar was the one who rescued Balthazar at the explosion. He had seen how collected and focused Balthazar was when he learned that his subordinate Jane died. So, he couldn't understand that Balthazar would be affected by the death of his enemy. Little did he know that Balthazar neither cared about Jane nor Max and that his tardiness was because he was just excited in the game, thus losing track of time.
"Of course, I would be like this. I lost my parents and many men to that idiot's schemes. Even when we had the upper hand, we foolishly lost him. Now, we have no idea why they targeted me or on whose orders. I am regretting my actions in reporting this to the family instead of going to the military. Maybe they would have gotten answers from Max."
"That is hardly a fair assessment of our capabilities. We had almost caught up with him when a completely unexpected enemy entered the fray."
"Whom apparently, I am not allowed to know about, or no one considered that I was important enough to be kept in the loop."
Salazar could only sigh at this argument. He perfectly understood why Balthazar would be disappointed in the family. He had his neck on the line and managed to gain a bit of useful intelligence for crimes against both him and his family but they in their negligence have allowed the only piece of information escape from them. Such a failure would disappoint anyone in his shoes.
"I understand you point of view. Yes, our forces might not have lived up to your expectations. But that is no reason to neglect your training. That would be detrimental to you and you alone. I hope you understand that."
"Hmm," said Balthazar. After a gap of time, he continued in a remorseful tone, "I might have been a bit too hasty in judging the situation. But I do agree with you. I will be on time for training from now onward.
"Good," said Salazar. "Lucius will be taking the morning class. He is in with Robert. You will take his place after the first half hour. Bear with him for today. He is a bit angry that you are late. But he is a very good trainer."
"He trained you?"
"Me and your dad. He is good at what he does. After the incident with Robert, Walter decided that we need to improve your strength and physique faster. He wanted to attempt an experimental procedure for it."
"You are kidding?"
"No. But Winston finally convinced him otherwise and they finally compromised with Lucius. He is the best trainer if a person wants to improve his body capabilities. I think Walter just played around with the idea of experimental procedure so that Winston would agree to getting in Lucius. Lucius and Patriarch have a bit of unsavoury history."
"You have any idea, what it is?"
"I do. But it is not my place to tell it. Ask your grandfather, if you want to know about it," said Salazar as he opened the door to the special combat room, he had booked. In the ring, fighting ring of the combat room Robert was engaged with Lucius in a fight.
It couldn't exactly be called a fight as it involved Lucius continuously hitting Robert without giving him a chance to fight back. Initially he thought that Lucius was just cornering Robert in the middle of the fight but as the same situation continued from about 10 minutes, he began to get worried. Soon, the 30 minutes were almost up, but all the Lucius did was punch and kick at Robert without giving him a chance to escape.
"Isn't he going a bit overboard with Robert. Does he have some kind of issue with Robert too?" asked Balthazar confused by the continues beating that Robert was receiving.
"Huh," said Salazar with a surprised expression. "He has nothing against Robert. Why?"
"He isn't even giving him a chance to attack or escape from his assault. What kind of instructor just beats the person receiving instruction continuously without giving him a gap? He is totally unlike you," said Balthazar.
"Well, I am meant to make you improve your moves and learn how to fight. He has a different purpose and hence a different training method than me."
"He is supposed to another fighting coach, right?" asked Balthazar confused.
"I am. But I emphasize on other things which I consider equally important to the fighting arts. They are equally important as skills and techniques and required for survival. In fact, they are to be considered a prerequisite," said Lucius appearing behind him.
"Oh!" said Balthazar getting up when he noticed that Lucius had heard him. All his question to Salazar had been whispers. "This guy has very good hearing for a man his age," thought Balthazar as he got up and greeted Lucius.
"Come on to the floor. It is your turn now," said Lucius waving at him to enter the ring. Balthazar immediately got into the ring. "As I told before I will leave your training in martial arts and weapons practice to Salazar for now."
"You have enemies most of whom are in a generation above you. Most people of your generation are focused on gaining more technical knowledge or earning money. It is quite later in life that you realize that for either knowledge and wisdom or money to be able to provide you happiness, a person needs power and physical strength. Once, you realize it, you tend to focus on improving your strength and physique from them on. You guys had a recent brush with death and realize the need for this, don't you?" asked Lucius.
"I guess so. We do need to be able to protect ourselves," agreed Balthazar.
"Well, my work is to help improve your physique and make you as tough as fast as possible while still keeping you healthy, agile, flexible with good control on your body movement or body coordination. You might find a few things that I do a bit excessive but trust me, I know what I am doing," said Lucius.
Balthazar was surprised that Lucius explained to him in such a calm way without getting offended after he heard them. "He is either a very patient and good teacher or a very dangerous individual or could even be both," thought Balthazar.
"Just try to attack and pin me down. I need to gauge your strength and skill before we begin. I won't even counter any or your moves and just block them."
"OK," said Balthazar as he began to attack Lucius. Being taught how to fight from when he was a kid at his family and at the military, he had learnt to never let his guard down even when being trained. Even though Lucius just wanted to find out his best and really didn't have any intention to counteract his moves, Balthazar wasn't the kind to believe it.
He attacked Lucius the best he can while always maintaining his guard. Lucius and Salazar could easily notice that Balthazar had his guard continuously up against Lucius. "Attack me seriously like it is the end of life if you don't put your all in attacking me," said Lucius who was getting irritated.
"Do as he says dude. Don't get him angry," said Robert while Salazar nodded beside him indicating the same.
Balthazar trusted Robert and Salazar a bit and he thought that the worst thing that could happen is him being beaten up a bit. Thus, deciding to attack all in, he began pounding on Lucius.
Whatever he tried, he never managed to land a hit on Lucius. He got blocked by Lucius which ever angle he attacked him from. Lucius was very fast. Soon, he began blocking Balthazar's hits with only his left hand without even looking at Balthazar. Though Balthazar tried to change his attack patterns, Lucius still managed to block without even looking at him.
"Am I that predictable?" asked Balthazar unable to believe that even after getting a second chance and all his experience in his previous life, he couldn't lay a hand on this man. He stopped attacking that he couldn't land a hit on Lucius even after trying for more than 15 minutes. Moreover, fighting at that pace without any results had him exhausted both physically and mentally.
"No. You are actually quite talented. You continuously try to improve and try to observe your opponent, but you are limited by your speed. Your muscles are not fast. I could look at the corner of my eye and guess what your next move would be. I could even let you land a few hits on me and you wouldn't even budge me by a bit. You don't have muscles tough or fast enough."
"Hmm, I guess, my hardware couldn't match up to yours," said Balthazar agreeing with Lucius.
"Yes, in engineering or technical terms for you young kids, though your body has a decent software you haven't got the proper hardware to process it before the deadline. I guess, I have got the right reference, is it?"
"Close enough. So, what can be done for me to improve or upgrade my hardware?"
"Robert, he needs to improve on his speed and toughness in equal amounts. He has a relatively balanced improvement in his standards. You on the other hand have good tricks and speed. You were actually very quick. In fact, I should rather say that way you fight focuses so much on quick and sudden movement borders on the extreme. You might actually cause a muscle tear or injury."
"I am not that bad," said Balthazar slightly offended as Lucius sounded like he was criticizing his fight style.
"But I agree you got a good control on it like you have been used to this style of fighting for a long time. So, you don't need change it. Just focus on toughening up a bit for the speed to be of proper use. Though you are probably good at evasion techniques, it is always good to be tough too and not completely rely on evading attacks."
"I guess so. I realized that myself few days ago and am working towards it," said Balthazar. After the second chance he had been given, he had been trying to improve back to the stronger physique he had during the last moments of his previous life. Most of his techniques and skills would be more effective if his physique gets better.
"Good. I am glad that you realize and accept you short comings. Always try to grow into something better. You also need to work on your stamina, if you are going to pursue such a high paced style of attack. People having that style tend to have lower stamina and that is one of the biggest drawbacks and a common flaw seen among many who pursue that style."
"Frankly speaking, you have a relatively lanky build for a military man. I suggest you exercise towards that end. I will prepare a project schedule and exercise regimen towards that aim. For now, you both take your leave. No weapons training this morning. I need to talk with Salazar," said Lucius sending them both off.
As they both went off the ring and out of the combat room, Lucius beckoned for Salazar to enter the ring and have a spar. "So, how do you really think they are?" asked Salazar.
"I have told them exactly what I think. Robert is exactly what I expected him to be. But Balthazar is somewhat odd. It is just not that he fights at a high speed, but I think that some of those moves are instinctual. That is what I couldn't understand. If I didn't feel so I would have asked him to stop that quick style of fighting as it has a high-risk factor."
"Yes, he was always a bit weird. I don't understand where or under whom did he practice those. It isn't like that he got them naturally."
"I agree. There is a very low chance of him learning them by experience. We had his data double and triple checked and couldn't find anything that suggests him being taught by such an expert. So, the thing that frightens me most is that, I think he actually realized or created those tricks himself."
"That is preposterous. How can a kid like him do something like that?"
"You do understand that without someone creating them, we wouldn't know of it. He is a very good talent in that regard. Moreover, I trained John too remember. He always gave me a similar feeling like they were meant to be assassins or similar assets. He was also a bit crazy at improving his skills like his life depended on it. I never understood what inspired him to be like that," said Lucius.
"So, what is your plan with Balthazar?"
"I need to think further. He is an odd case."
"Be that as it may, but why don't we start with your training," said Lucius as he started attacking Salazar.
"What training?" asked Salazar confused with Lucius.
"You screwed up bad with Abel. There were more three of you and you were still unable to subdue him. If you are going to Balthazar's guard, you need to improve. Walter specifically asked me train on both you and SIlas up to the mark."
This a complete shock to Salazar that he also would have training sessions with him along Balthazar and Robert.