Frank led Leo to a quiet alley behind the marketplace, away from prying eyes. The walls were cracked, the ground littered with debris—an imperfect training ground, but perfect for what Frank needed to teach.
"First lesson," Frank said, crouching low. "Awareness. You don't just look—you observe. Every shadow, every sound, every movement tells a story. If you miss one detail, it can cost you."
Leo nodded, his eyes wide. "Like last night?"
Frank smiled faintly. "Exactly like last night."
He handed Leo a small wooden stick, slightly shorter than his own. "This isn't just a weapon. It's an extension of your body. You move it, it moves. You control it, it protects you. Lose control, and it becomes useless."
Leo held it awkwardly at first, swinging it in clumsy arcs. Frank shook his head. "No, slow. Focus. Predict the movement before it happens, then react. Don't strike blindly."
Hours passed. They practiced dodges, blocks, and controlled swings. Frank drilled Leo relentlessly, correcting every mistake with patience and precision. Sweat stung their eyes, muscles ached, but something extraordinary happened.
Leo began to move with purpose. His swings became deliberate, his steps quieter, his reactions sharper.
"Good," Frank said finally, chest heaving. "Now, the most important lesson: courage doesn't mean rushing into a fight. Courage is knowing when to stand and when to wait. Even I almost underestimated them last night. Even I can be caught off guard. But we learn, and we adapt."
Leo nodded solemnly. "I understand. Standing isn't just being brave—it's thinking ahead."
Frank placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Exactly. And one day, you might have to stand for someone else. Not just for yourself. That's what makes a hero."
As the sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the alley, Frank and Leo continued their training. The town might have thought it was quiet, but Frank knew better. Danger lingered in the corners, in the alleys, in the eyes of those who had watched him last night.
But now, he wasn't alone.
And standing together, they could face it.