Michael didn't account for the third weapon to come flying at him with incredible speed.
"Shi-"
He hit the ground with a thud and tried to save it by rolling backward onto his feet, but was going far too fast to even try to make an attempt at catching himself.
The man just grunted in disapproval, as if he could ever stand a chance against such a-
'A monster...'
Michael thought, picking himself up from the man made depressions within the ground of his backyard.
Michael loosened his grip on the scythe and sighed, knowing that his father would not be pleased if he stopped his training early.
After all, he no longer attended Phoenix Academy and had to do something with his time.
He was nearly sixteen now, and had to find something to do with his life, sure he could join the Imperial Army like his brothers had before him.
However, he had a very clear moral compass and would not serve blindly like a dog, if he was going to be commanded... Then it would be by someone who knows what they are doing.
"Why don't you speak?"
Michael asked the faceless man, with a polished ivory mask that covered the armor clad man.
The mask was flat, and didn't even have eye holes to see through, so there was no way he was fighting a such a level without having some sort of second form of sight.
"Hello?"
Michael asked, cracking his sore neck.
The faceless man shook his head, and if it were even possible, Michael could have sworn that the man was grinning underneath the mask.
He was warrior of the first division, at least he figured he was. Which meant he was strong... Strong enough to maybe even fight on par with a Paladin.
'He's either naturally blind, or he's a seer."
Michael had a theory, and maybe... Just maybe, he had come up with a way to at least land a hit on the faceless man.
Michael rushed forward, gathering all of his courage.
Feeling ice swirl around his sped up body, he threw himself to the ground before the faceless man could land a hit with his rapier.
Rolling and dashing, Michael circled the man, studying every little crevice of the faceless man's armor.
For the god's sakes, he didn't even know what the man's affinity was.
Eventually he had to make some sort of attack or the faceless man would be forced to switch to offense, and that would be a death wish for Michael if he let that happen.
He reeled his scythe back, and lunged toward the monster, feeling his bones rattle from the amount of Axis Energy he was pouring into his attack.
Michael wanted to scream in excitement, as his eyes widened in those few moments.
His scythe was going to hit...
The faceless man wasn't even looking in his direction, he was gazing at the mansion that Michael had grown up in. Or at least that's where it looked like was gazing.
Then the man's weapon hit the ground with a rattle of silver meeting pebbles and dirt.
However, his hopes had been cut short, and a hand grabbed him by the back as his blade stopped in the span of a single second.
Another hand struck Michael in the face, and was tossed into the ground as his scythe had already melted from being out of his hands.
It took far too much concentration to keep the weapon manifested, especially when he couldn't grip the scythe.
"How!"
He stammered, feeling his body protest.
However, it appeared that the fight was not going to be reset, as the faceless man charged at Michael with a strange amount of wrath.
He struck Michael in the stomach, then once in the shoulder, knocking him back with terrible force.
Then his blood ran cold, as all of the pain hit immediately.
Not because of the pain... But because of the faceless man.
"Michael... You cannot and will not fight on par with me like this."
The faceless man growled with a metallic and deep sounding voice.
His onslaught did not end, as Michael was delt a terrible blow to the face knocking the stars into his vision.
He had never heard the man speak before, but hearing such a terrifying voice come from his mouth made it far worst than he had feared.
Michael frantically thrashed around his arms, trying his best to block the quick attacks from the faceless man.
"Ho- Ow! How- D- Ow! Do I Then!?"
He yelped, missing a block and getting struck in the jaw.
Falling on his rear, he groaned as he looked up at the terrifying force of power standing idly above him.
"You don't... Not how you are..."
He said quietly, turning his back and picking up his rapier, and even that had a strange amount of elegance in every motion.
Then as he walked toward the mansion's back door, Michael couldn't help but yell at him.
"Teach me!"
The man did not look back, but he stopped in his tracks.
"Why?"
That question seemed to anger him.
There was only one answer he could give, but it almost hurt his pride to say it.
He hesitated.
"You wish to follow orders? Like your foolish brothers? Or... Maybe you sense some sort of calling?"
He said with humor laced in his tone.
"No..."
"Ah... I see."
"How?"
Michael felt his pride sting, resulting in insulting the man's sight. Not completely out of anger, more so that he truly wanted to know how could see.
"Have they not told you? No... I don't suppose they would... I don't see with my eyes boy..."
'I knew it...'
"How then?"
"Tell me why you want me to teach you... And maybe you may learn more of my being..."
Michael bit down on his tongue, pride biting at his consciousness.
"I want to help him..."
If the man could smile behind the mask, then now was when he would truly be smiling. The mask lifted up slightly, and the corner of his mouth was revealed behind the mask.
"So be it... I am quite fond of the Stray..."
"He is no Stray..."
Michael corrected darkly.
"Once a Stray always a Stray... Blood does not change who you are born to believe you are..."
Michael had to stand there for a moment and ponder what the faceless man had just said.
"What does that mean?"
The faceless man turned around, and spoke once more with his tone lightened.
"What does it mean to see without seeing?"