Lord Batu stood up, dusting his hands off, his imposing figure casting a long shadow over Noyan. Without another word, he paced a few steps forward and turned, standing in the center of the open field. His expression hardened, and a palpable intensity filled the air.
"Our Ulaan Clan's movement technique is called Mirage Steps for a reason," Lord Batu began, his voice calm yet carrying the weight of centuries of tradition. "It's not merely about speed or agility. It's about creating illusions—making your opponent question what's real and what isn't."
Noyan listened with rapt attention, ensuring not a single word escaped him.
"This technique is difficult to master, but once learned, it's almost magical. I say it's about illusions, but more than that, it's about prediction and unpredictability simultaneously."
As Noyan concentrated, his father shifted into a stance that appeared unnervingly relaxed. His hands rested at his sides, his breathing steady, but his eyes locked onto Noyan with unyielding focus.
"Observe," Lord Batu said simply.
In the next instant, he vanished.
Noyan's breath caught as he instinctively scanned his surroundings, his sharp eyes darting to every corner of the arena. For a moment, there was only the faint rustle of wind. Then, Lord Batu reappeared just a few feet to Noyan's right, his movements so fluid and sudden that it seemed as if the air had carried him there.
"That wasn't just speed," Lord Batu said, his voice breaking Noyan's trance. "It's about disrupting your opponent's perception. To them, you aren't moving from one place to another—you're everywhere and nowhere at once."
Noyan's heart raced with a mixture of nerves and excitement. "How do I learn to do that?"
Lord Batu smirked. "Not so fast. First, I'll show you its essence, then we'll see if you're worthy to learn it."
He motioned for Noyan to take his position. "Attack me. Use everything you've learned so far. I'll defend myself using nothing but Mirage Steps."
Noyan's grip tightened on his training blade. "Yes, Father!"
Just as Noyan was about to move, Lord Batu interjected, "Wait!" Then, he examined Noyan from head to toe and chuckled disdainfully, "Brat, remove those weights from your body first. Are you looking down on me? Hmph!"
Noyan's brows twitched with embarrassment, having forgotten about them in the moment. Averting his gaze, he quickly removed the weights attached to his legs and arms. Unbeknownst to him, Lord Batu was watching him with a strange expression.
"Hah! This brat and his mother… truly strange creatures!" Lord Batu thought in amusement, marveling at Lady Naran's unique training methods for her son.
In no time, Noyan had removed the steel cuffs from his limbs, feeling suddenly lighter as if he were floating. He had been so accustomed to wearing these weights that they felt like a part of him. Removing them abruptly left him feeling off-balance for a moment. Seeing this, Lord Batu's expression became even more peculiar, his eyes twitching.
As Noyan got ready, fully prepared, the air between them thickened with tension. Noyan shifted into his stance, focusing on his breathing as Lady Naran had taught him. His father stood still, his calm demeanor revealing no openings.
Noyan lunged.
He aimed with precision at Lord Batu's midsection, but the moment his blade was close, Lord Batu was gone.
Noyan's sword sliced through empty air, and before he could recover, he felt a gust of wind brush past his left side. He spun instinctively, only to see Lord Batu standing calmly behind him, hands clasped behind his back.
"Too slow," Lord Batu chuckled. "Try again."
Gritting his teeth, Noyan adjusted his stance. He feinted left, then pivoted right, swinging with all his might. This time, he was sure he'd catch his father off guard. But once again, Batu disappeared, his figure dissolving like a mirage.
Noyan stumbled forward, panting. "How are you doing that?"
"It's not magic," Batu's voice came from Noyan's left. "It's control. Control over your breath, your body, and most importantly, the flow of the battle."
"But the most crucial thing is the footwork. This technique requires your footwork to be impeccable! Every step must be calculated yet natural. Only then can you create the Mirage."
Before Noyan could respond, Lord Batu's voice echoed from behind him. "You're thinking too much. Mirage Steps isn't about overwhelming power. It's about rhythm. Find the rhythm, and you'll find me."
Noyan closed his eyes briefly, calming his racing thoughts. He steadied his breathing, recalling his mother's lessons on mind and body control. He subtly employed the Mind's Eye technique to enhance his senses, careful not to reveal its use as it was a secret.
This time, when he moved, he didn't aim directly for his father. Instead, he let his instincts guide him, attacking where he anticipated Lord Batu would move next.
The moment he swung, his blade connected—not with Lord Batu, but with the wind, as Lord Batu had already slipped past him.
"Better," Lord Batu said, his smile widening. "You're starting to understand."
They continued the exercise, Noyan pushing himself harder each time. Sweat drenched his clothes, his muscles ached, but his focus never wavered. He started to notice subtle patterns in his father's movements—the slight shifting of his feet, the way the wind changed direction.
Batu was genuinely shocked by the progress Noyan was making. Although far from mastering the technique, Batu acknowledged Noyan's strong foundation, especially his sharp instincts.
Noyan panted heavily as hours seemed to have passed. All his attempts failed, unable to even touch his father's shadow.
This was like a cat-and-mouse game. Noyan was the defenseless mouse, but every time Batu swiped, he only touched the lingering air. The man was clearly there, yet why couldn't Noyan land a hit? Each time it seemed he would succeed, Lord Batu evaded with ingenious maneuvers.
His figure was always unpredictable. Occasionally, Noyan would spot openings to attack, but the moment he moved, these openings would vanish. Noyan felt frustrated, the sensation of being toyed with far from pleasant.
"That's enough," Lord Batu said calmly. Inwardly, he was shocked but refrained from praising too much to avoid complacency. He shrugged nonchalantly, "Not bad… but you're nowhere near mastering it. Fortunately, your affinity with the technique can be said to be barely acceptable."
Hearing this, Noyan was suspicious. He thought he was doing well, beginning to grasp the technique's essence. How was this just barely acceptable?
Lord Batu saw the doubt in Noyan's eyes, feeling awkward. He coughed, thinking he couldn't lose face, and spat disdainfully, "Hmph! Pick up the bow and arrow! Don't hesitate, let me show you the true power of Mirage Steps!"
Noyan nodded, his chest heaving with exertion. Despite his tiredness, a spark of excitement ignited. He wasn't worried about his father getting hurt, knowing his strength.
Ignoring his fatigue, Noyan grabbed the bow and quiver. There was enough distance between them, not too close, not too far. Without delay, Noyan mercilessly shot a barrage of arrows, as if holding a grudge against his father.
Lord Batu didn't even blink. Suddenly, his body relaxed, his movements fluid like water. Arrows flew with piercing force, yet always missed their mark.
It must be said, the arrows were swift, and Lord Batu had just seconds to react. Moreover, the proximity left little room for maneuver.
After some time, Noyan was exhausted, his arms twitching, muscles sore from exertion.
Looking up, he saw his father standing casually with a carefree smile, not even sweating. Though expected, Noyan still felt reverence watching his father dodge those arrows with such ease.
It was then that Noyan truly believed his father. Feeling ashamed of his previous arrogance, he lowered his head.
Lord Batu saw genuine respect and admiration in his son's eyes and felt comfortable. However, he was even more shocked inwardly, "This brat has no hesitation at all!" he thought with a lingering fear.
Contrary to Noyan's perception, dodging those arrows wasn't as easy as it seemed. If Noyan knew the truth, he'd have other thoughts.
Lord Batu felt he'd lost enough face for the day. Still, he was happy with Noyan's abilities. Approaching him, seeing his submissive gaze, he nodded with satisfaction.
"That's enough for today! You're not bad at all, but don't be arrogant! How can it be so easy? With patience and diligence, you will definitely succeed!" Lord Batu patted Noyan's shoulder aloofly and then left calmly, leaving Noyan awe-struck by his father's prowess.