Nick said, "The training you did, are you aware of what you've tried to accomplish?". I thought about it, and replied "The fact you know about my training, means you saw how I trained. In other words, you know everything. You mentioned something like Hidden Weapons, is that what you refer to?". Nick replied "Yes. You instinctively learned to hide your weapons, not without a reason of course. Can you guess why?". I gave it some more thought. 'I wanted to be able to escape. No, I needed a way to possess weapons, without them noticing anything'. I replied "Due to my situation, I can't carry stuff with me. I was trying to hide my weapons. In other words, I was going after surprise attacks". He replied while grinning, "That is exactly why you wanted to learn about Hidden Weapons". I asked confused, "But how is that out of ordinary exactly. With some practice, anyone could do it. If not for my status here, I wouldn't come up with such idea". He was still smiling when he said, "I told you, that is the exact reason. What I will pass onto you, are Arts. Art of Hidden Weapons, is one of such Arts". I was lost at this stage. 'Arts? As in performance or painting? What is he on about?' I asked myself. "Right... So what you want to teach me, is something similar to painting or performing?" I asked. He snorted, "Painting? Performing? You have no clue what you are talking about boy. Arts are the ultimate techniques of a certain style or profession. I guess villagers like you, would think about painting and such. But I'm talking about something completely different". Nick then continued, "The Art of Hidden Weapons has its own history. It was developed by someone, who was in the same situation as you. In other words, it was developed by a slave. Do you know who that slave was?". I had to admit, I was shocked. 'This skill was developed by a slave, just like me?' I thought, and answered "No, I have no clue". Nick said, "It was very long time ago. The person who developed this skill, was Emperor Endros. Yes, the one that founded this empire". I was shocked. 'He was a slave? And he founded an Empire? No, that's just bunch of garbage' I thought to myself. Nick added, "You don't know many things boy. Endros was not what history books and tales describe him as. He was evil, he was worse than me in many ways". I thought about it for a while, and asked "What if you are lying? One person against all history books. Why should I believe you?". To which Nick snorted, then replied "I never said you should believe me. I only told you where the Art of Hidden Weapons originates. If you don't want to believe me, that's fine by me". 'He doesn't seem to be lying, but that's just preposterous. An Emperor being a slave, not even children books had such tales' I thought. Nick didn't seem to care, that I didn't believe him. He continued, "Endros founded the Art, then passed his knowledge to couple of his disciples. The amusing thing is, he never perfected it. His disciples never perfected it either. It was much, much later, that people managed to perfect this Art. At least according to the records we have". I still didn't buy it, but decided to ask a question. "Have you practiced it to the perfection?". He shook his head, and said "No, I wasn't talented enough. There were people who mastered this Art, but that didn't mean it was common. Even those talented enough, might've never mastered the Art of Hidden Weapons. This concerns all Arts". I replied, "It doesn't seem too hard though. I can hide my weapon in a sleeve, and retrieve it anytime I want. I can also hide it anytime I want. What's the big deal?". Nick just smiled at me, then asked "You say those petty tricks of yours, are an actual Art of Hidden Weapons?". He couldn't contain his laughter, and finally released it. He laughed for a while, but I didn't stop him. He stopped after a while, and said seriously "No boy. The Art of Hidden Weapons is something else". Five knives suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Nick wasn't holding them, he didn't have five hands either. The knives then flew through the air, and hit the wall opposite. I asked "This was bugging me before. Are you some sort of magician?". He laughed again, but this time answered much sooner. "No, I'm no magician. It's no wonder you can't see this. After all, you are just a strong villager at best. I moved my hands so fast, it looked like the daggers were floating like this. In reality, I was constantly moving my hands around to support them". I felt a bit cheated. 'So it was his speed alone, that allowed him to do such things' I thought. Nick continued, "That's just a small demonstration. Of course, those knives could be hidden. I just wanted to show you the speed, at which I had to juggle them. You will learn with time. Just remember this, there are many different ways to utilise the Art of Hidden Weapons". I asked about something else. "You are good at hiding, right? Will you teach me about it too?". Nick replied, "Yes. I will teach you the Art of Stealth, and Art of Medicine". I was baffled, and asked "Art of Medicine? You mean stuff like healing illnesses, or taking care of broken bones? I already have some knowledge in that. I guess from you as well". His face went grim while he replied "Hmph! Treat illness? Fix broken bones? You think this is the Art, I would spend most of my life practicing? TO FIX BONES!?". He got quite worked up about it, as if I touched him, where it hurt the most. Nick took a while to calm down. "Boy, you are sometimes clever, but also dumb as hell. I can't blame you though. You grew up in some kind of small village, with no idea what is out there". I asked, "Then, what is this Art of Medicine about?". Instead of an answer, I received a question. "What do you think about poison?". This was an easy answer. I said "Poison is bad for Humans. That is why we avoid it". Nick snorted while saying, "Wrong! You can treat a lot of things with poison. Besides poison, there is the application of the Art. I know the Human body inside out. I can aim at any spot on Human body, and I know what effects this will have on the target. I can also treat myself in need. Broken arms? I can connect severed arms, if I wanted to!". I was amazed, but confused as well. I asked "If you are so powerful and so almighty, why are you in this village working as a doctor? It doesn't make sense". for some half assed Village Chief?". Nick's mood change instantly. He said "Do you think I want to sit here as well?". I asked him an obvious question, "Then why?". Nick replayed, "My master's last wish... Rand was his son's child. Rand was never talented in anything, and my master wouldn't help him. But at his deathbed, he ordered me to have an eye on him. I myself don't understand the sudden change, but he was a crazy old bastard, so everything was possible". 'Yea, talk about crazy old bastards' I thought. I still didn't have a proper answer. 'Just because he was ordered, he stuck to it?' I asked myself. I decided to ask about it, "Then, why did you want me to destroy this village?". He didn't reply. Instead he said, "I don't have much time left. I might live another year. Within that time, I will teach you everything I can. I don't want anything in return, just learn and pass my skills to someone else in the future". This wasn't something I couldn't do, so I nodded my head. I tried asking again, a bit differently this time. "Then why don't you leave? Your master must be dead anyway". He said "He is dead, but even we have rules. There is order to everything. There is master, then his disciple, then disciple's disciples, and so on. No person can go against that order". I was confused again, and asked "Why?". He responded with a rather mysterious sentence "Descended gods shall be mortals. Those who inherit, shall follow. Those who live, shall die. While those who thrive, shall pass". I was completely lost at this point, and asked "What does that mean?". Nick was lost in his thought though, I heard no answer.