, what's your name?"
"Uh, my name's Doon."
Master Shinza squinted at me like I'd just insulted his ancestors. "Stop calling me 'old man.' Call me Master."
"Fine, Master Shinza," I grumbled, rubbing my head. "So, uh, what are we doing today?"
Master Shinza smirked in a way that immediately made me regret asking. "Brat, you're going to run for five hours a day, starting now. If you pass out, I'm done teaching you. Oh, and you'll need to eat a lot to regain your energy. Don't worry—I'll be watching you the whole time."
"Five hours?! Are you insane?"
SMACK! Another hit to the head. "Less whining, more running!"
Before I could argue, he literally kicked me forward. "Run, you damn brat!"
I stumbled but started jogging. "Damn it, this old geezer is crazy!"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?" Shinza shouted, pedaling alongside me on his bike.
"I said I'm running, Master!" I yelled back, gritting my teeth.
"You better not stop! If you stop, you're not eating tonight!"
I pushed through, my legs burning, my lungs screaming for air. Shinza wasn't making it any easier. Every time I slowed down, he'd yell, "FASTER! Run like you're being chased by a bear!"
As the hours dragged on, I was convinced my legs were going to fall off. "Master Shinza, I'm going to pass out!" I gasped.
"ONE MINUTE LEFT! STOP JOGGING—RUN!" he barked, pedaling circles around me.
Somehow, I managed to finish. The second I heard him yell "TIME!" I collapsed like a sack of potatoes.
Next thing I knew, I was being carried back home. I woke up to my little sister Loom opening the door.
"Big brother, are you okay?" she asked, her big eyes filled with concern.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I muttered, sitting up. Then I noticed Shinza standing over me with a mountain of food.
"Eat up, brat," he said, tossing a plate onto my lap.
I scarfed down the food like my life depended on it. Between bites, I asked, "So, uh, Master Shinza, are we doing this every day?"
"Of course," he said with an evil grin.
Loom giggled. "Big brother, you look so tired!"
I glared at her. "You think this is funny? You're not the one dealing with this old man!"
SMACK! Shinza hit my head again. "STOP CALLING ME OLD MAN, YOU BRAT!"
I sighed, rubbing my head. "This is a nightmare."
But as much as I hated it, I knew I wasn't going to quit. Master Shinza might've been a pain in the neck, but he was the real deal. If anyone could turn me into a fighter, it was him. For better or worse, my training had officially begun.