"Your mind is already as bright as the sun, your focus as sharp as steel!"
"Honestly, Adron, it would not surprise me if you were to become the next candidate to father our clan."
"It's not magic, it's focus. Focus is everything."
"Arceus has given me nothing. I have earned everything I have."
… … …
Adron woke the next morning with a clawed foot to the chest. He gasped silently as his mind stirred from his disturbing dreams.
The sun had risen again, though he couldn't tell how late he'd slept. Two Scyther stood above him, though he couldn't tell who they were.
"I'm surprised at you, Adron, sleeping past dawn!" a voice said from above him. "And I thought you were pretending to sleep so you could counter me. We were concerned for you since you never came back last night. Come on, Adron! Rise!"
"He does not look well," the other Scyther realized. "Adron! Were you harmed? What has happened to you? Tell me who has done this, so we may destroy them!"
"I was… struck with a psychic attack…" Adron mumbled, painfully trying to rise from the ground. "My mind is damaged…"
"Oh, is that it?" one of his companions replied. "It will wear off before this day is through, then. Wild animals are not skilled enough in the psychic arts to inflict any lasting damage."
Are these my friends? Adron wondered. They are. They're Scyther, like me. They're part of the clan. But… are they close to me? I don't recognize their voices… I need reorientation…
I am Adron, a Scyther… I don't know where I am… I serve… the clan… My purpose… home!
"Home," Adron muttered, remembering the question. "Take me home. Show me the way… I can't remember the way…"
Adron finally knelt up, his body still throbbing and difficult to move. He anchored a blade on the ground, tilting his head up and squinting into the powerful daylight.
Oh… that's Adiel, he realized, gazing upon the faces of the others. I know him. He respects me. The other… is someone else. Adarc. We are rivals.
"His eyes move so unnaturally," Adiel commented. "The psychic assault must have been strong. We should let him rest until he regains his sanity, but not here."
"I'll help, then," Adarc said. "He has done a few things for me yesterday which must be repaid, such as showing me where you've been hiding your food."
Adron felt as the two Scyther hooked their arms under his, helping him stand.
"You will tell no one about our hiding places," Adiel warned. "If I learn you've spoken to others about it, I will personally make sure you never speak again."
"It's like Adron said," Adarc replied. "I have no reason to tell anyone else. It's such a good place, why should I waste it?"
"What do you feel, Adron?" Adiel asked concernedly as they helped him walk. "Have you lost your memories?"
"See, brother? I learn, too."
"We do not capture prey. We kill prey."
"There is no beast father Adrav could not destroy without the proper planning."
"There are no fathers or sons among the Adrellos, only brothers."
Adron shook his head. "No… I remember things," he struggled to reply, the words hard for him to find and latch onto. "But my mind races… I can't focus… Too many things force themselves in front of my eyes…"
"You must rest," Adiel told him. "Your confusion will disperse soon…"
… … …
Adron cowered in the cold stone den for the rest of the day, watching as his rampant thoughts danced through the shadows. He waited for the rush to subside, like a stomachache usually would, but after many more hours the buzzing showed no signs of ceasing. It was always as though he no longer commanded his mind, only able to offer it the most feeble of suggestions which it never bothered to follow. He often found himself entranced in his nonsensical dreams, sometimes not telling whether they were real or not, before emitting a frustrated squeal and snapping himself back to reality.
"Alrac taught me something today," a voice said. "You can help me practice."
"If you can get your opponent enraged, they often forget how to defend themselves and charge in headlong to conquer you. You must use this to your advantage."
"Tell me who has done this, so we may destroy them!"
Adron shook his head, batting the ground with his blades again and clinging to the sound they made as an anchor to reality. So many useless, random thoughts pulsed through him, each with no relation to the others. They were like a dozen hatchlings clamoring for his attention, his favor, but each cry was fleeting and half-hearted, offering nothing in return for his effort. He wondered if the ghostly creature had actually lodged itself inside of him, and was occupied with browsing his memories against his will.
And it just never stopped. He could not break free from the madness.
It became more difficult as he tried to reflect on his own life. He managed to conjure images of Adron the Prodigy, evoked by the sight of the den's size and shape and the flavor of the shadows which filled it. He knew exactly who he was, and who he was supposed to be. He remembered how he had planned to play a trick on Adarc that day as a price to pay for learning his secret. He remembered how he was supposed to help the other hatchings with endurance training before they would confront the sensei. Time and time again, he tried to muster his courage and force himself out of the den, reclaiming his life and his identity—but his thoughts did not follow one another, as though great chunks of his mind were simply missing, and he always fell back into the all-encompassing daydreams.
"Are you recovering, brother?" a voice asked, causing Adron to snap wildly to attention. "Easy. It is only I, Adiel…"
Adron shook his head, afraid to babble anything.
"Alwry listened to the wind and heard you were ill, and she decided come and bully you," Adiel reported. "I chased her away."
"When Alwry was in the egg, Arceus chose to slice out her brain."
"I'm not going to fight you, Adron. I don't fight cowards."
"When you strike, keep your blades level with your direction of attack. Your limb could be ripped off if you strike at the wrong angle."
"There is a storm. I see it approaching. It will graze us before dusk."
"A Scyther can survive a fall from up to eleven body heights. Anything greater can be lethal. This is why Arceus made our wings to tire so quickly; they are not meant to let us fly, only to complement our movements."
"Thank you," Adron could only reply.
"She's bound to be back, and with her friends next time," Adiel said. "I don't know if I would hold them off. I hope you would recover. We could spring a trap on them."
"I… I fear… I am not recovering at all," Adron uttered. "How long has it been? I feel no different. I need someone to help me…"
"It has only been less than a day, and you know there are no psychics among the clan," he said. "There would be none to help you. And you still speak coherently. You understand me. You are not insane. Ride this out, my brother. Your mind will prevail."
Adron locked eyes with his brother, forcing hard to keep them still as they desired to follow the many objects which flowed across his vision. "Adiel," he returned, a slight whimper in his voice, "any semblance of… sanity… you see in me… it's an illusion. And I… I don't know how much longer I can keep it… Adiel, please. Help me."
Adiel blinked. He found it difficult to accept how desperate Adron was acting. It was unreal. Adron had never pleaded for anything, he had always been the one to take things for himself. But now, broken by this harsh blow to his mind, his face betrayed a disturbing vulnerability.
"When this is over, I will not have been the one to betray you when you needed me," Adiel decided. "I don't know what you expect me to do, but… I'll find something. You have my word. I will find some way to help you."
"Thank you," Adron said again.
"Adiel, I have always been able to trust you."
"I only trust those who are worthy of my trust."
"We could spring a trap on them."
"Try not to dodge attacks so much. Instead, block them."
"Do not open the battle with your most advanced techniques; use only those which might disable the opponent. Keep your true skills secret so that you might be underestimated."
*Thump*
Adron bumped his head forcefully against the wall, hoping that the physical trauma would help him gain some control.
… … …
On the second day, another hatchling arrived to the den bearing a message. Adron was sore and stiff, having not moved from his position in over a day, though his mind had run several laps around the Shattered Plateau and the surrounding outskirts against his will. He didn't immediately recognize the messenger and didn't care to try remembering him, but the message was quite clear to him.
"Sensei Adram wants to see you immediately," the messenger reported.
This confused him, though he didn't remember why. He stared blankly at the messenger for a moment, waiting for the right thoughts to fall into place to ask for elaboration. The messenger apparently took the hint before he remembered.
"You were not scheduled to train again for seventeen more days, but he insists," the Scyther continued. "He seemed excited about it."
"Lead me," Adron ordered.
… … …
As Adron stood before his gleeful trainer, dread mounted in his heart. He did his best to hold a dignified stance as his trainer paced around him.
"I have heard about your escapade last night," the sensei said sternly. "Heard it from downwind, I did. Quite conceited of you, not only to break my rules without a shred of regret, but to drag seven of your friends with you."
This did not feel right. At all.
It should have been so familiar. He should have known a comeback to the sensei's accusation. Yet, he felt lost, as though he was exploring a deadly forest in the dead of night. He felt fear.
"Nothing? You've nothing to say in your defense?" the elder teased. "Well, well… the prodigy is speechless. Surely you didn't expect to get away with this? What? You think I wouldn't find out? Do you really underestimate my powers of observation?"
"No, sensei."
"Didn't think you would," sensei Adram returned. "You're better than that. You knew. You knew exactly what the consequences would be. And you went forward with it anyway. Tell me, Adron, how did those Tauros steaks taste? Were they satisfying?"
"Yes, sensei."
"Were they worth it?"
Adron shuddered. This was a loaded question. His favorite type, even. It required a clever, political comeback. He had never failed to outwit one. Now, if only he could just focus…
He couldn't. After sensing the wait was becoming awkward, he accepted defeat and replied with the only thing his mind had made of the question:
"I… I don't know," he finally said, hesitantly. "Were they?"
The sensei grinned. The answer had satisfied him, somehow, for now he responded with an evil, diabolical smile. Adron knew he should have been satisfied. He knew his heart should have been beaming with pride. Instead, it sank lower.
"I have been pondering about you," Adram explained, pacing some more. "And I think I understand just what kind of challenge you crave. You are not just a warrior. You are a leader. Your brothers respect you and do as you say. Your presence gives them confidence, at least enough confidence to risk their lives for a mere Tauros steak, apparently. And you have certainly demonstrated you understand them well enough to manipulate their strengths to further your own goals."
Tauros…
They charge when they're attacked…
"Adron, even the warriors have trouble facing a Tauros heard…"
Adron bit his tongue. He could not afford for his mind to wander. Not now. He drew a deep, quivering breath and tried his best to dwell on the physical things around him, the beating of his heart, the sounds of his trainer's feet colliding with the rocky ground.
"I am your final trainer, and I refuse to be outdone by one of my students," Adram decreed. "So, this is what I have decided as punishment for you: I am no longer going to train the hatchlings. You are. All of them. But you will answer to me. You will teach them what I say, on my schedule. But the methods will be your own to decide. You want a harsher duel from me? Fine, but you can have it not as an opponent in battle, but as a rival leader, as you take command of your brothers and strengthen them. And be sure you prepare them well, for I will test them harshly…"
"Sensei… no."
"I understand that some of the hatchlings would be unwilling to take orders from you, even if they are only my orders which you are delegating to them," Adram continued, disregarding Adron's feedback. "Therefore, I will give each hatchling a choice between answering to you, and answering to me. Only, those who choose me will find that my methods have become so harsh, they would not last for eight days under my command!"
"Sensei… no!"
"And furthermore, I refuse to believe that you honestly think your skills are still inadequate," Adram rambled. "Mark my words when I say that you would be a dignified member of the Adrellos by this evening if the confirmation had been scheduled for this very day."
"Sensei!"
Adron was panting now. This was impossible. This was wrong. So wrong!
"Well, I have made up my mind, and there's no changing it! I have not a shred of regret!" the sensei proclaimed. "Ooh… look at that! You should see your own eyes right now, Adron! Is that euphoria I see? Does this proposal please you? Or… perhaps, you are overwhelmed by it? Is that true fear in your eyes? Perhaps this isn't what you wanted at all… Hmm… You are being so quiet this afternoon, it's difficult to tell what you truly think."
The elder stepped closer to the little hatchling, intimidating him. "Well… if you dislike this proposal, then I offer you a way out. Defeat me in battle! And I warn you, I will show you a little of my true skill. I may even try to kill you once or twice. It won't be easy! Show me how badly you wish to defy me!"
*Clank!*
The first attack was blocked purely by luck. Adron had cringed at his teacher's sudden movement, and managed to block the path of his opening blow. The impact felt like a jolt of raw force to his unbalanced mind, and his vision shook.
The second blow, however, was not.
*Thwap!*
A forceful, back-handed blow. Adron saw stars, and his body spun out of his control and slumped to the ground. For a moment, he felt his body submerged in a rushing stream. He saw a flash of a ghastly figure, yellow eyes gleaming. Heard its haunting cry. He was only vaguely aware of his teacher's soft laughter.
"Heh, heh, heh, heh," Adram chuckled. "I was right all along. You do want it… I'm ashamed for having doubted myself."
Shaking his head violently, Adron kneeled up and returned to his feet.
"How do you… how do you know where to block?" he said, practically without wanting to.
Adram blinked. This was a strange question, and it took him a minute to formulate a reply. Perhaps Adron was asking for advice in elementary teaching techniques, since he would soon be a teacher himself.
"The tells," he finally answered. "You learned this since you were in infancy. You read your enemy's tells. Look at the way my blade swings, watch my muscles, and you will always tell where and when I will strike. So… you want to try again?"
"Yes," Adron said, facing his teacher once more.
Adram opened the battle a second time. He swung his blade, back-handed, to Adron's left. Adron jerked his own limbs and blocked it. Adram followed with a swing to the right. Adron followed the path with his eyes and blocked that one, too. Then Adram swung to the left, but used his other blade to strike Adron's right. Adron once again flew a foot and crashed into the rocky ground, which felt like the sustained force of a waterfall against his face as he skidded to a stop.
"But I blocked," Adron whined. "What happened?"
"I deceived you," Adram answered. "Since I knew what tells you were watching for, I fabricated them… Adron, this isn't a prank you're playing on me, is it? Your pranks have always been intelligent. Never… juvenile."
"Sensei… listen."
"I am listening."
Not bothering to get off the ground yet, Adron sat up, groping in the chaotic darkness of his mind for the proper words. Whenever he found one, it would seem to flee so quickly…
"On the hunting trip… the Tauros… I was harmed."
"Oh…?" Adram said, surprised. "You are injured?"
"My mind," the hatchling said. "I was hit with a psychic attack. I am confused… still…"
Adram blinked again. "So this is your matter? You're confused? Well… I'm sorry, I couldn't tell… Well, then… perhaps we will have this conversation again when you've recovered."
"Teach me," the hatchling pleaded, climbing to his feet and standing submissively before the elder. "Teach me to fight."
"Hmm… I am not the best elementary teacher," Adram admitted. "And I don't have the time to train you from your level of infancy again…"
"No, please, sensei!" Adron cried. "Please. Teach me. The very basics. I… it'll help me recover, if I can remember the basics… Please, just one lesson!"
"Very well…" Adram grumbled, a little disappointed in how this session had turned out. "Alright… the very basics… If I can only find the words for them… Alright. The key to defeating any enemy is to understand them. If your enemy is inexperienced and has a shallow strategy, you might crush them without wasting effort. But if your enemy knows how to fight, or if you suspect they are trying to make you underestimate them, then it becomes vital to understand them. When you begin, be defensive. Learn their tells, but do not always make it apparent what you know. The battle is a rapid dance, both of learning tells and fabricating tells, so that in essence it becomes an extravagant game of fire-water-leaf… Learn to play that game to the rhythm of the heartbeat, and the battle is yours to dominate…"
… … …
It was an awkward hour of training as Adron went through all the motions he already knew so well. It gave him a level of comfort to practice the art of battle, even if the battles were slow and deliberate. It was all he could manage. He knew all those fast-paced tells, all those means of learning what's in the enemy's mind, were all beyond him now. Wherever he chose to store them in his mind, they wouldn't stay put, and would be gone the next time he would return to find them. Whenever he tried quickly to move his body, swing his blades, his mind would always ask "where?" and he would forget the answer.
And he thanked the sensei when the session had ended, but he had not the heart to tell him the practice was not helping him to recover. When he returned to his den, it was shame that now colored his thoughts. He was afraid to confront the sensei another time. He was afraid to confront the other hatchlings. He felt capable of nothing but lying in the back of the den, watching his thoughts dart around the room like shooting stars.
Adron pressed his head against the wall, feeling a reaction he hadn't experienced since the youngest days he could remember. Tears dripped from the ridges of his faceplate.
… … …
On the fourth day, another messenger entered the den.
"Adron?" it called quietly. "It is I, Adiel…"
Adron felt relieved at hearing this. He turned to look his friend in the eye.
"Come with me," Adiel urged him. "There is something you must see, but try not to raise suspicion as we go."
… … …
"I have broken a lot of rules for this to happen," Adiel said quietly as he led Adron northward past the river and into the Savage Meadow. "I would think you would be proud of me if you were in your right mind. I have kept my word to you."
Not understanding what Adiel referred to, Adron followed him across the meadow and to a small hidden valley between two steep hills. Between them, there stood an unusual creature.
It was a four-legged creature, its fur a very light shade of violet. By looking into its eyes, Adron could tell it was probably intelligent; it clearly did not look forward to the meeting, but it waited patiently all the same. It rose to stand on its four legs as the two Scyther walked near.
"This is him?" the creature questioned from afar.
"Yes," Adiel answered. "Do whatever you can to help him."
"You are lucky I can read your mind and know you are not planning to blackmail me with this," said the creature. "If my tribe learned I was assisting Scyther, I would be a laughing stock."
"I would not betray you," Adiel assured him. "Now, I have paid you. Please perform your duty."
The creature approached Adron, keeping a wary eye on his twitching scythes.
"I am Espeon," the creature said politely. "I am an experienced psychic. Your friend tells me your mind has been tainted."
Adron nodded, his eyes growing hopeful.
"I'll waste no time, then. Here, I will enter your mind," the Espeon explained. "Do not be alarmed if you feel my presence. I will only be looking."
The Espeon then cast his eyes downward, letting his eyelids fall half-closed. The pink jewel upon his forehead gleamed in the sunlight.
Adron felt as the psychic wave penetrated his consciousness. He fell back and relinquished control to it, staying out of its way the best he could. It first probed the outer surface once before plunging deeper, triggering some visions and memories as it went.
"I am Adron, a Scyther, servant of the Adrellos. I lie in the care of my teacher, Alrac. My purpose is to strengthen myself to impress the elders with my skill. I am not yet capable of fulfilling this purpose, but with more practice I will come closer."
"So this is Adron the Prodigy. I've been looking forward to this meeting."
"Surely you were not expecting me to be… easy on you?"
"The code is your identity. Never forsake it. You will later learn why it is such a vital law."
"If we can't learn to break the rules when they need to be broken, we'll be hatchlings for the rest of our lives."
"EEEEEE-Eaaaaaahh! EEEEheee!"
Adron could no longer see in front of his eyes. All he could see were mental impulses as the psychic splashed around within them.
"Hmm," the Espeon commented, twitching his ears. "I can see how you are overwhelmed. This is chaotic."
"The darkness looms. Adiel, guide them back to the den. The way is not far; you shouldn't meet any opposition."
"I should slay it, and bring it to the elders. They will be able to tell me more about it."
"EEEEEEaaaah!"
"Wait, wait, hold on for a moment," the Espeon muttered, ceasing his exploration through Adron's mind for a moment. "You said that a wild Pokémon hit him with a psychic attack. You failed to mention that it was a ghost-type."
"Ghost-type?" Adiel echoed, not understanding. "I… wasn't there when it happened. I am only telling you what Adron told me. What is a ghost-type, and what power does it hold over the mind?"
"I believe I know what happened," the psychic reported in an unfortunate tone. "Your friend has encountered one of the Watchers."
"Watchers?" Adron repeated, remembering the yellow glow of the ghost's eyes.
"Yes, the Watchers," the Espeon explained. "I have been hearing reports of them over the past five years. They appear only at night resembling the forms of ghost-type Pokémon, though we are unsure if they possess any consciousness. Some think they are only catalysts for souls, without souls of their own. But they possess terrible power we don't yet understand. They have been given their name by how they seem content to just sit back and watch the world, their eyes blank as though they only see though to the spiritual realm. They are very rare, though they are more common now than they were five years ago. We fear they might be increasing in population."
"Then, what has this 'watcher' done to Adron?" Adiel implored. "Can he be healed?"
"I will determine that next, as it's a difficult question to answer," the Espeon said. "But I will tell you this, your friend is very lucky to be alive. He has only lost his mind figuratively. I have heard of an incident where a Watcher caused a Pokémon to lose his mind literally, that is, it plucked the brain right from his skull. You Scyther would have probably liked to see that," it added with a sneer.
Again, the Espeon's gemstone became lit, and Adron felt the awkward intrusion of the other mind inside of his own. This time it was much more forceful, wading through the cascade of thoughts and appraising the very structure of Adron's mind.
"We are the shadows which extend at dusk, we are the wind which sifts the trees: unconquerable, invisible."
"Do you know how to outwit an elder? Do you?"
"I know how to outwit a wild beast!"
"Always hold your stance. Your stance is what keeps the enemy from reading you."
"Always listen to the wind, sometimes it tells you everything you need to know."
"For every move in battle, you are only allowed one thought. Never hesitate. Never over-think. Look, and see the truth."
It lasted a long time. The Espeon gave him company in his bewildered mind for nearly a half hour, testing his rampant thoughts for reactions, and watching where they would lead. He was very persistent, exploring even the corners least likely to be damaged. But even Adron could feel his tension through the mental link. The Espeon was being overwhelmed. Things did not make sense to him. Many of his tests failed. He cringed at the idea of giving the Scyther bad news, which he tried to delay for as long as possible, always searching for new possibilities. But eventually, his psychic power became tired, and he had to give up.
"I know now what the Watcher has done to you," the Espeon reported, closing the link. "To put it… in a way you would understand, it has ruptured the barrier between your consciousness and your subconscious mind. The images you would see in your dreams at night, you now see constantly, and it's difficult for you to distinguish dream from reality.
"You fear the way your thoughts flow now, but understand that they have always flowed like this. It's the very way the mind works, traveling from one sensation to the next at the speed of light. It's how you think. You were a genius, your thoughts have always moved as rapidly as they do now. But it was your consciousness which could always make sense of these thoughts, correcting them when they go off-course, and taking meaning from them. Now, because of the attack, your consciousness is disarmed, and you cannot stop the thoughts from going whichever way they please."
"I… I see," Adron muttered in reply, partially comprehending the Espeon's words. "Can you heal me?"
The Espeon bowed, taking a deep breath before answering. "I cannot," it admitted. "I consider myself a masterful psychic, but this wound is such that if I were to even try repairing it, it is too likely you could end up with no more rational thought than a rock. I'm sorry, Scyther. The damage is permanent. You will have to learn to cope."
"You must help me!" Adron insisted. "Change something in me, please!"
"I told you, I will not," the Espeon said forcefully. "The chances of doing anything meaningful are roughly the same as getting a second Watcher to attack you and hoping it reverses the transgressions of the first. I refuse to be blamed for your death, and spend the rest of my life running from your clan with a bounty on my head. I know you Scyther do not forgive!"
"What… do I do?" Adron asked blankly.
"I told you, you cope," it replied simply. "You can't be a warrior anymore, but you can still live. And really, that's all any Pokémon can ask for."
"We must never be content. Creatures who live without purpose are weak and useless; our undying hunger for power is the source of our strength."
"Someday, you will learn why."
"Do not let them escape! Attack!"
"Help me! Or I will kill you!" Adron screeched. "You can't leave me like this!"
Adron lunged uncontrollably.
There was a loud roar as the Espeon braced himself, his gemstone shining again. Adron felt as his limbs became frozen and refused to move further. He struggled, but his body had been possessed, disarmed by the psychic's power.
"Dear Arceus, Scyther!" the Espeon growled. "Stifle your bloodlust! I have held my end of the bargain! You have no reason to kill me. Please, detain him…"
Adiel made a move to hold him back, but there was no need. As the Espeon gently released him, Adron slumped to the ground. Without further hesitation, the psychic Pokémon made a quick getaway and ran behind the curve of the hill before Adron could curse at him again.
After the Espeon had left, there was a full minute of silence between the two Scyther brothers. Adron gasped for breath, hearing the ring of the psychic's voice still in his ears.
"The damage is permanent."
"You will have to learn to cope."
"The damage is permanent."
"You can't be a warrior anymore…"
"I can't… I…" he gasped. "I don't know what to do now…"
Adiel stood over the body of his fallen brother, saddened for him.
"There is only one thing left you can do," Adiel said. "Talk to Sensei Adram about this. If he doesn't understand… I don't know, either. I have done what I could. You… are on your own."
… … …
"It's permanent?"
The old Scyther looked as though someone had just murdered his best friend. He was disturbed at the news, but managed to keep his temper calmed only because he did not yet believe it.
"Yes… sensei… "
"Surely, you must be exaggerating!" Adram pleaded. "You mean to tell me the confusion hasn't even subsided in the least bit?"
"No," Adron confessed. "A psychic examined me,"
"Psychics are conniving liars, Adron! You should have known better than to trust one!"
"Sensei… I'm sorry," Adron said. "I didn't… I didn't know what else I could do…"
"I'll tell you what you need to do!" Adram screeched. "You need to wake up!"
*CLACK!*
Adron cringed, and just barely managed to block the full-forced blow his teacher had launched at him. His mind rattled. He did not fall this time; he stepped backward and kept his balance. But his perception spun in circles as though he were falling.
He held the parry as his teacher forced him back, looking intently into his eyes.
But as Adram looked closely, he could not deny it wasn't the Adron he knew which gazed back at him. It was a different, weaker Scyther. A very young, confused child.
"It's true, isn't it?" Adram whispered. "Adron the Prodigy is dead?"
"Teach me," Adron begged. "Teach me everything. From the beginning again."
Blades rang as the elder parted with the child, standing back and looking at him in amazement.
"I can't."
"Please," Adron pleaded. "It's my only chance!"
"No!" Adram insisted. "No, it is not. That isn't my job, Adron… I'm… not that sort of teacher. Those were the sort of teachers who raised you first, not me… I… have warriors to train now. I can't be… spending time rehearsing things you should already know. I gave you your one lesson, as you wanted..."
"What will I do?!" Adron blasted. "Where… is my place… now?"
"If… if this is true, and you can't snap out of this stupor of yours, then… I regret to say this, with every bit of my being, but I cannot hesitate to pass judgment… your place is no longer here. Perhaps… it is not even among the Adrellos."
"You… are abandoning me?"
"I must," Adram said forcefully. "I can do nothing more for you. It… it's a shame. Just days ago you were such a sharp little blade… And when this condition struck you, I feared for you, I had nightmares about it, and the nightmares came true. We Adrellos cannot expect nature to be merciful. Indeed, that's why I train warriors, to conquer nature… but those who fall… we must also learn to accept the loss and to let them go. It is not the place of a Scyther to sympathize where it would become a detriment."
"Sensei, listen…"
"You babble like a Vulpix!" Adram yelled. "Go! Leave me. Stop bringing me this pain."
"Listen…"
"LEAVE, I said!"
*THWACK!*
Another harsh blow to Adron's head, and this one wasn't blocked. It was the traditional parting strike, but it had been launched too quickly for Adron to comprehend. He stumbled and eventually toppled over, watching in disbelief as his trusted teacher simply left him alone.