Mind's eye

"We humans possess five senses—vision, touch, taste, hearing, and smell. Out of these, vision is the most used because we rely on it to perceive most of our surroundings. However, our other senses have deteriorated to the point that they play, at best, a minor supporting role in our lives. If you doubt my words, just close your eyes and try completing a simple task. You'll find it impossibly hard to do.

"So your first task is to sharpen your other senses so they are not much worse than your vision. Once you have mastered all your senses, you must learn to perceive your surroundings through all of them as one. Feel the change in the airflow caused by your opponent's movement, sense the vibrations from the ground, hear the contractions and relaxation of muscles, see the slight changes in arm and leg movements, and use all of that to determine your opponent's actions.

"Your mind must then combine all that information to understand what your opponent is doing. It's not just your senses you must develop; your mind needs to grow as well, so it can decipher the clues your senses are gathering. If your senses are sharp but your mind can't process everything, it's useless. Accurately speaking, I am not predicting anything. My mind is simply piecing together the clues to tell me how you are attacking when you have already decided your move."

The headmaster paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.

Arthur stood there, overwhelmed by the flood of information. He looked stupefied, his thoughts scattered. With a deep breath, he forced himself out of his trance and tried to calm his racing mind.

Develop my senses. Perceive my surroundings through all senses as one. Use those clues to understand my opponent's actions. Let my mind process it all.

He repeated the steps in his head until they began to feel like a mantra. I'm still far from being able to do this, he thought, the enormity of the task sinking in. For a moment, despair threatened to creep in. But Arthur shook his head hard, dismissing those thoughts.

I'll focus on what I can do now. The first step is to develop my senses.

"Headmaster, how do I improve my other senses?" Arthur asked, determination gleaming in his eyes.

The headmaster studied him for a moment, impressed.

This kid is truly brilliant. His will to move forward is overwhelming, and he dismisses negativity with remarkable focus. I've found a rare gem of a student. If only he were Awakened, I could leave him my legacy.

But his admiration was tempered with unease.

What's with his monstrous strength and other physical attributes? His learning abilities and perception are beyond anything I've seen in a human. If he can master the 'Mind's Eye,' he might achieve something even the best have failed to grasp. But in the face of truly overwhelming opponents... how far can he go?

A shadow crossed the headmaster's face as he recalled a painful memory. With a deep sigh, he returned to the present.

"To start developing your senses, the first thing you need to do is close your eyes," the headmaster instructed.

"Close my eyes?" Arthur repeated, confused. He had been expecting expensive herbs or brutal physical drills—something grueling and dramatic. Closing his eyes sounded... too simple.

"Yes, close your eyes. Now!" the headmaster commanded.

Arthur complied, shutting his eyes tightly.

"Focus on all the sounds around you," the headmaster said calmly before slamming his stick on Arthur's head.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" Arthur yelped, clutching his head as he rolled on the ground.

"Use your ears to hear the movement of my body and stick. Listen to the air whistling past your ears. Once you can do that, you'll know where my attacks are coming from. I'll move like a turtle so you have time to develop your hearing."

Move like a turtle? Yeah, right. Arthur grumbled internally. How am I supposed to take my time when I'm getting beaten to a pulp every time I miss?

But he gritted his teeth and focused. The "training"—or torment—continued for months. Over time, Arthur's hearing improved. He began to hear faint sounds—the whistle of the stick, the creak of footsteps—but it was still far inferior to his vision. His persistence, however, started bearing fruit. Gradually, he could anticipate the stick's movement based on the sound alone, dodging blows he previously would have missed.

One day, the headmaster handed Arthur a small key. "This opens the hut at the back of the grounds. Inside are mechanisms to help you train your body. I'm leaving for the royal city of Krone on important business. While I'm gone, train on your own. Close your eyes and use your other senses whenever possible—not just during practice. Eat with your eyes closed, smell the fragrance of flowers, taste fruit, feel objects with your hands. Immerse yourself in your senses. Slowly, they will grow sharper."

"Yes, headmaster!" Arthur replied, his eyes sparkling with resolve. "What is the name—"

"'Mind's Eye.' It's something I learned from following a great person," the headmaster interrupted, a melancholic look crossing his face as he gazed into the distance.

Arthur noticed the shift in his demeanor. Who was this person? he wondered. If the headmaster followed them, they must have been incredible.

"Headmaster, are you going to meet that great man in the capital?" Arthur asked.

"No, that's not possible anymore. And it's 'her,' not 'him.'" The headmaster lightly smacked Arthur's head with the stick.

"So young, yet already prejudiced against women? Your punishment is to reach level 4 in the movement training mechanism with your eyes closed before I return. If you don't..." His eyes gleamed with a demonic light.

Arthur's face paled. Level 4!? I don't even know if I can handle level 1! Tears welled up in his eyes as he imagined the punishment awaiting him if he failed.

Why is my luck so bad? First, I offend a great lady, and now I'm stuck with this insane task!

But deep down, Arthur knew: this was just another step in his journey to becoming stronger. He clenched his fists and silently vowed not to fail.