The library. It wasn't crowded. In fact, it felt almost forgotten.
Rows of shelves stretched across the room. Books. Tools. Equipment neatly arranged, waiting for someone to care enough to use them.
Newton stepped in quietly. His fingers brushed against the edge of a table as he moved forward.
He started with the equipment. One by one. Picking, examining, and reading.
Some were familiar. Others weren't. He didn't rush. He didn't skip. Every detail mattered now.
Time passed. He didn't notice how much. Then, he stopped.
A small object caught his attention. A torch, simple, and compact. He picked it up and turned it in his hand.
It felt light. Too light. Newton pressed the switch. The light burst out.
Bright, and blinding. He flinched slightly and turned his face away.."How can a small torch be this bright?"
He lowered it slowly. His eyes narrowed as he studied it again. There was something about it. Not just the brightness..The way it hit the eye.
Sharp, and sudden. "What is this used for?" He turned his head slightly. Books were stacked nearby. He reached for one. Flipped it open. His eyes scanned quickly.
Then, he found it. A diagram. The same torch. His gaze moved over the words.."It is used for darkness combat. A sudden reflection of this light on someone's eyes can make one blind for a few seconds."
Newton paused. A few seconds. He closed the book slowly. Then nodded.."This will be useful." He placed the torch back carefully.
Not discarded. Not forgotten. Stored. Then he moved on.
Another shelf. Another set of tools. His fingers paused again. A small round object. He picked it up.
He turned it, and recognized it instantly. "Smoke bomb." A faint breath escaped him. "I know this one."
His thumb brushed over the surface. "I can use it to conceal myself for a while." His eyes flicked forward.
He was already imagining it. Darkness, confusion, and movement.
He nodded again. Not as slow this time. More certain. He placed it back.
Then stepped away. He didn't need more..Not now.
That night, he didn't go to bed. Instead, he returned to the room. Samuel was already lying down. Eyes half closed. Newton didn't hesitate. He grabbed him, and pulled him up, then he dragged him to the training hall.
Samuel groaned immediately. "What are we here for?" His voice dragged. Heavy with sleep. "We ought to be sleeping."
Newton shook his head. "No." His tone was firm. "If I must defeat Gregory, I must train in secret."
Samuel blinked a few times..Trying to wake fully. Then sighed.
Long, and tired.
But not refusing. "Alright then." He rubbed his face. "I will gladly sacrifice my sleep to see you remain alive."
They moved. Quiet, and careful. The arena at night felt different.
Larger, and darker. Almost like it was watching them.
Newton stood at the center. Then reached into his pocket. The torch, he turned it on, straight into Samuel's eyes.
Samuel jerked back instantly. "Damn!" He covered his face. His body turned away.
Newton watched. Counted silently. One. Two. Three.
Samuel staggered slightly. His movements lost direction. He blinked rapidly. Trying to recover.
Newton nodded slowly. Thirty seconds. He stored it.
Then, the smoke bomb. He threw it down..It burst. Thick smoke spread quickly. Filling the space.
Samuel froze. "Where are you?" His voice echoed slightly uncertainly.
Newton moved. Silent. Changing direction, circling.
Samuel turned, and missed him. Turned again. Still nothing.
Newton stepped behind him. Close. Then he moved away again. Samuel remained lost.
Newton nodded. Again Noted, Stored. Night after night, they repeated it. No rest. No excuses.
They trained, tested, failed, and adjusted.
Again, and again. During the day, they trained with the masters.
Different skills..Different lessons. One stood out.
The blindfold..The master stood before them. Calm, and watching. "What organ do you see with?"
Silence stretched.
Tom stepped forward slightly.."Of course it is the eyes." The master nodded. "That is correct."
A small pause.
"If I am approaching you and your eyes are closed… would you see me?"
Tom hesitated. His confidence dropped slightly. "Of course not." The master smiled faintly. Then I picked up a dark cloth.
She stepped forward and tied it over his eyes. Tight, and secure. "Pick up your sword and strike."
Tom obeyed. He lifted his sword..Moved forward, and struck.
The master stepped aside easily. Tom nodded. A small smile. "I will get you."mHe shifted position, and struck again.
But yet again, he missed
Again, but he missed.
Before he could adjust, the master moved, and struck. His fist landed clean. Tom dropped to the ground, groaning.
The sound echoed. "Another person wants to try?" Gregory stepped forward. "Yes, master." He picked up his sword.
Confident.
"Then pick up your sword and strike." Gregory lunged. Fast, and sharp.
The master moved effortlessly. Then struck..Gregory hit the ground. Harder than Tom.
The cloth was removed. The master faced them again. "You must not see before you know." Her voice carried.
"Sight is not the only sense."
A pause.
"Therefore, when it is gone, you must heighten your other senses."
Newton nodded slowly. He didn't need more explanation. He already understood. When the class ended, he didn't wait.
He took the cloth. Tied it over his own eyes tight. Darkness came instantly.
Complete.
Samuel stepped forward. "Are you serious?" Newton didn't answer. He just raised his sword.
Samuel moved fast, and struck. Newton didn't see it. The blade hit.
Clean.
Pain shot through his side. He staggered. But didn't remove the cloth.
Again.
Samuel struck. Newton dodged half way. He was too slow. Another hit.
But he didn't stop. He stood again. This time, focused. Listening, and breathing.
Samuel moved again. This time, Newton heard it.
The shift. The air. The step.
He moved, and dodged, although barely, but enough.
They continued. Again, and again. The hits were reduced.
Slowly, and gradually.
Newton's breathing changed. His head tilted slightly. Listening more. Feeling more. Smelling. Tracking.
Samuel moved, Newton turned. Closer this time. Closer to the right direction.
And then, he found him. Not by sight. But by presence.
By awareness. That night, Newton didn't sleep.
He lay still. Eyes open. Mind active. The pieces came together slowly.
The torch, the smoke. The darkness. The senses.
Each one fitting. Each one forming something. The bell hadn't rung yet, but he was already awake.
Waiting.
Morning came, and the bell rang.
Sharp, and clear. Students moved again. But this time, the energy was different.
Heavier, and Focused.
Anticipation hung in the air. No whispers. No laughter. Just waiting.
Newton stood, calm, and still.
Today, he will face Gregory. The most talented student in level two, In the dark arena. For a fight to the death.