Training With A Psycho For 24 Hours

Starrk smiled, this time with sincerity instead of hidden malice.

"Young Abraham… I never thought you would ask."

Abraham's eyes lightened up.

Baron, eavesdropping, cut in. "You know… I'd make a better teacher than this prick, right?"

Abraham shook his head. "No, no, it's cool. I want to learn from Starrk."

Baron frowned. "Suit yourself." He turned away and whispered something about 'wasted potential' under his breath.

Starrk straightened his posture, "I hope you know that at first, I will teach you to die. If you survive that, I'll teach you how to fight."

Abraham nodded in agreement. He knew that training wasn't going to be easy. He didn't want it to be easy. He wanted strength. The strength to endure the challenges life had to offer.

Starrk looked at him, a hint of recognition in his eyes. "Meet me in the lower deck in ten minutes. Unarmed."

He turned and walked off without another word.

Abraham stood there, heart pounding, not from fear but from pure adrenaline.

Solara walked up to him. "You sure you wanna do this? I mean, you don't seem like the uh, sturdy type."

Abraham nodded. "Yeah. I'm tired of only barely surviving." 

She stared at him and sighed. "Well, if you're going to do that… I don't want to be left in the dust." With that, she walked up to Baron. "Can you teach me…?"

Baron's face lit up. "You just made my day, sweetheart."

Solara almost puked. "Don't… make it… weird…"

"Whoops too late." Baron smirked.

She groaned.

"But sure," he said, suddenly serious. "I'll teach you how to fight — the pirate way."

Solara blinked hard. "And what's the 'pirate way?'"

Baron's grin widened. "How to fight dirty of course. Oh and the art of deception alongside some other cool things."

Baron paused for a moment. "You down for that?"

Solara nodded.

"Great! Meet me topside at midnight. Bring whatever you want."

Ten Minutes Later…

Abraham walked down the old wooden stairs. Each step creaked under his feet. The air had a familiar old wooden smell. It felt strangely comforting to Abraham. 

He reached the lower deck and saw Starrk sitting on a chair in the middle of the room.

"You came," he said, smiling eagerly.

Abraham took a breath and then stepped forward.

"So, uh — you said you were gonna teach me how to die," he said, trying to keep his voice even. "Do I just stand here and let you 'kill' me…?"

Starrk's smile faded into a serious look. "No, Young Abraham. I'm going to kill you over and over again. Until your instincts learn what your mind refuses to."

Before Abraham could even process that, Starrk moved. He moved at a speed that didn't make sense for his dormant human mind. It was only natural, of course. Starrk was a resonant. Two whole ranks ahead.

Abraham suddenly went flying and landed onto the deck. The air was gone from his lungs and his ribs screamed.

Starrk stood over him, holding his fist in his hand, steam coming from it. "First lesson — pain is the one teacher you must never forget."

Abraham rolled to his side, coughing blood. He stood up again, wobbling and bleeding from his lip.

"Again." He said.

Starrk smiled, with slight surprise in his eyes. "Good."

Meanwhile…

The moon hung over the night sky. Sounds of waves crashing against the ship could be heard. Most of the crew was fast asleep at this point. Solara stood on the upper deck, Murderous Frog in her hands. It resembled a staff of some sorts, with a frog head at the top.

Baron stood towards the bow of the ship. "Oh? You brought your staff. This'll be interesting."

Solara raised a brow.

"So, lesson one: deception is your main weapon."

Solara looked confused.

"You're a sorceress, right?"

Solara nodded.

"Perfect, this applies even better to you."

Solara stared at him dumbfounded.

"I'm gonna teach you how to feint cast spells."

Solara narrowed her eyes. "What?"

Baron stepped forward. "Your enemies will watch for the spell. But what if you learn to move, speak, and look like you're about to cast a spell — without actually doing it?"

"Start by mimicking a basic cast from the Murderous Frog. Not with power, just plain muscle memory."

Solara lifted the staff. Nothing happened.

Baron smirked. "Good. Now you just gotta sell it."