Kai had always imagined that training would involve some sort of grand adventure. Perhaps he'd be fighting dragons, defending damsels, or at the very least, engaging in something thrilling and heroic. But, as he trudged down the path alongside Master Senju, he quickly realized that "adventure" was not on his stern mentor's itinerary.
Master Senju, a man of few words and fewer expressions, walked with a rigid posture, his eyes fixed ahead as though he could see the future, never wavering. The morning mist surrounded them as they made their way to the first training site—a clearing in the forest, devoid of anything particularly interesting or inspiring. Or, as Kai would put it, "A place as lively as a brick wall."Kai sighed, glancing around in vain hope that perhaps, for once, some ferocious beast would come charging out to liven things up. But all he got was silence, broken only by the rustling leaves and Master Senju's footsteps echoing like the solemn chime of a distant bell."Stand still," Senju said, his voice cutting through the mist like a blade.Kai reluctantly obeyed, though he couldn't help rolling his eyes. "Yes, Master Senju. Here I am, standing still. The epitome of a hero's training. I feel more powerful already."Master Senju shot him a look that could've frozen lava. "Focus."Kai's shoulders slumped. He'd quickly learned that his usual sarcasm had absolutely no effect on his stone-faced teacher. If anything, it was like throwing pebbles at a mountain—no matter how many he threw, it was just pebbles hitting an immovable object.They began with basic stances, breathing exercises, and postures. For hours, Kai repeated the same motions under Senju's watchful gaze, his mentor correcting him every time he let his mind wander, which was often."Your stance is sloppy," Senju barked. "Focus your energy, ground yourself."Kai muttered under his breath, "Yeah, because the fate of the world hinges on my standing perfectly." But he quickly straightened up when he saw Senju's unamused glare.Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. They traveled across Eldoria, visiting isolated training spots that felt more desolate than adventurous. Each morning began with rigorous physical training, followed by meditation, which Kai inevitably spent daydreaming, imagining himself slaying imaginary foes with a magical flair that he, as of yet, did not possess.One chilly morning, while holding a plank position that Senju claimed would "strengthen the spirit as well as the body," Kai finally lost his patience. "Can't we just... I don't know, skip to the part where I unlock some cool powers? I'm sure the universe gets that I'm special by now."Senju's expression didn't change. He merely replied, "Power comes from discipline, Kai. Only those who are worthy can awaken their true potential."Kai groaned. "But I am worthy! I'm, like, the crown prince! Isn't that enough?"Senju's eyes narrowed. "Perhaps you're content with being the lazy prince who achieves nothing."Kai opened his mouth to argue, but he stopped. Senju's words struck a chord deep within him. The tone wasn't mocking, but rather... disappointed. For once, someone wasn't indulging him, wasn't telling him how remarkable he was. Senju was treating him like... like he was just anyone else. It was a strange, unsettling feeling.Seeing Kai's reaction, Senju added, "Strength isn't given. It's earned."Kai stared at him in silence before a slow, smug grin crept across his face. "I think I'd rather be given strength, actually. It sounds a lot easier. Any chance you could just hand it over?"Senju sighed, his expression a perfect blend of disappointment and mild suffering. He resumed his stoic stance, ignoring Kai's comment altogether and gestured for him to continue his exercises.The days dragged on, but something began to change in Kai. At first, he spent hours punching logs and swinging sticks with little enthusiasm, feeling like he was just becoming the world's most well-trained tree-hitter. But gradually, he noticed he was able to dodge faster, move smoother, and even land a hit or two against the training dummies Senju occasionally set up.One morning, as Kai yawned through yet another meditation session, Senju decided it was time for a surprise test. Without warning, he tossed a rock at Kai's head. Kai barely managed to dodge it, yelping as he stumbled to the side."What was that for?" Kai demanded, rubbing his head indignantly."Focus," Senju replied calmly. "A warrior must be prepared at all times.""Oh, so now we're adding rock-dodging to the curriculum?" Kai muttered. "Next thing I know, you'll be throwing boulders at me."Senju's eyebrow twitched. Without a word, he reached for another rock, and Kai's eyes widened."Wait, wait! I was kidding!"But it was too late. Senju hurled a series of small stones in Kai's direction, forcing him to dodge, dip, duck, and occasionally yelp in pain. Kai managed to evade most of them, but a few clipped his shoulders and arms, leaving him hopping around and muttering, "This is ridiculous...""All right! I get it! I'm focusing! Happy now?" Kai panted, narrowly dodging another stone.Senju finally stopped, though his expression remained as unamused as ever. "Focus is something you must learn. Not merely during training, but always."Kai huffed, brushing dirt off his clothes. "Great lesson, Master. Truly enlightening. I'll be sure to keep an eye out for rogue rocks in the future."This unexpected lesson became a regular part of their routine. Kai would be walking, eating, or even resting, and Senju would suddenly launch an object at him to test his awareness. Rocks, sticks, and once even a potato—no moment was safe from Senju's vigilance.As time passed, Kai began to understand. It was more than just the physical motions or the dodging. It was about grounding himself, about letting go of his distractions and truly becoming present. For someone like him, always quick with a joke or an escape plan, this was harder than any physical feat.One rainy afternoon, Senju set up an obstacle course in the middle of a muddy field. Kai took one look at it—dozens of hurdles, ropes, and even a mud pit—and nearly laughed out loud."Is this some kind of joke? You're serious?" he asked, incredulous.Senju's stare was as cold as ever. "You have ten minutes to complete it.""Ten minutes?!" Kai gawked. "How about we make it... an hour?"Senju crossed his arms, unfazed. "Ten minutes. Or else you'll be doing it again. And again."Kai rolled his eyes but reluctantly started the course. He leapt over hurdles, crawled through mud, and climbed ropes, slipping and flailing all the while. By the time he reached the end, he was exhausted, covered head to toe in mud, and more than a little annoyed.As he collapsed on the ground, panting, he looked up at Senju, who was observing him with that ever-present serious gaze."You know, you're taking all the fun out of this," Kai said, breathless. "I don't think real heroes go through this much... sludge.""Heroes don't complain about the journey," Senju replied, his voice steely. "They learn from it."Kai groaned. "Yeah, well, I think I've learned enough for today."Senju didn't respond, but he didn't have to. Kai knew he'd be back on the obstacle course the next day, and the day after that.And while he'd never admit it, somewhere in the back of his mind, he was starting to understand. He was still reluctant, still sarcastic, and still the lazy prince who avoided hard work whenever he could, but—somewhere, deep down—he was changing.Even if, for now, all he could think about was a nice, long nap.