Demir entered the kitchen as Kunt was setting the breakfast table. The stillness in his gaze and the sadness on his face had vanished, as his three-day mourning period had ended.
- Good morning Kunt.
- (Kunt, immediately noticing the change in Demir's tone, said something Demir disliked to check the accuracy of his thoughts.) Good morning, "Little Sir".
- How many times have I told you? Don't call me "Little Sir." I'm a grown man now, can't you see that? Is it so hard for you to call me by my name?
- (A slight smile appeared on Kunt's face. Demir's response was a sign that he had returned to normal.) Yes, I know you've grown, but it's also a real that I'm two hundred and twenty years old. And to me, you're still a child.
- (Demir moved closer to Kunt. Kunt was barely shoulder-height.) Look at how tall we are. How can you call me a child? I'm almost twice your height. You can't ignore this.
- Hahhahaa… Yes, you're right. But addressing you by your first name would be rude. I hope you don't mind me calling you "Mr. Demir" from now on.
- Don't say "Little Sir," whatever you say... (Demir pulled up a chair and sat down. Kunt took two serving plates from the cupboard and placed them on the table.) Where's my sister Oya?
- She left early this morning. She said she was going to Ms. Esin's to pick up some missing medical supplies and replace some. She'll probably be back around noon.
- Okay…
While they were both eating together, Demir made a request of Kunt.
- I want to work alone in the warehouse for a while. I have some moves I learned in the virtual training, and I'll try them. And if possible, I'd like you to open the wind tunnel. I need some peace and relaxation. I need to collect my thoughts.
- Of course. You can work however you want. While I'm here, no one will be able to disturb you. Besides, I opened the wind tunnel the day you arrived. So, it's ready to use now.
- Thank you, Kunt.
- You're welcome…
After breakfast, he went up to his room, changed, and came to the warehouse. He had a plan in mind. First, he wanted to try the moves he'd learned in the virtual training. He had to find out if they were real or just memories.
He took off his shoes by the door. The soles of the shoes he was wearing were too thick. If the movement technique he'd learned in the virtual training was real, he couldn't practice it with these shoes.
As he walked calmly towards the center of the warehouse, the words of old Pal Padraig about the "celestial steps of the north wind" rang in his ears.
"You call that a fast move? Since when did jumping like a frog become a move? That's all well and good, you're jumping, you're jumping fast, you're jumping high, but you're just jumping..."
"Sudden acceleration and sudden changes of direction should be ingrained in an assassin's body. Constantly jumping won't do you any good..."
"From now on, I forbid you from doing those grasshopper-like jumping moves. Forget it, tear it from your body, and replace it with this..."
After walking long enough, Demir stopped and did some warm-up exercises where he was. When he finally thought he was ready to apply the move technique, he muttered, "Let's see if what you said is true, old man."
First, he relaxed his muscle tension by shaking his arms and legs. Then, he felt the ground's texture by wiggling his toes. He then rose and landed on his toes a few times.
There was no pain or weakness in his toes. It seemed his toes had actually strengthened during the virtual training. Although he didn't understand how, the strength of his toes brought a smile to his face.
Then he grew serious and took a deep breath. When his heartbeat began to quicken, he suddenly lunged forward. Demir didn't notice, but in an instant, he had become a streak of light. Like a streak of light zigzagging through the warehouse. Only when the line of light changed direction would Iron become visible for a moment.
It was in this corner of the warehouse, then in another corner. He moved in a zigzagging pattern with no apparent trajectory, and finally, out of breath, he stopped at the edge of the wind tunnel. This movement technique was definitely applicable in real life. But just how fast, Demir couldn't grasp it.
There was nothing moving around him to compare it to. But he knew this technique was faster than the "celestial steps of the northern eagle." Moreover this technique, it allowed him to move in any direction and at any time.
This technique, powered by his toes and involving combined movements of his hands, arms, and upper body against wind resistance, seemed tailor-made for him. When the joy of success reflected on his face a sudden twinge appeared in his toes.
Demir immediately looked down at his feet. He hadn't noticed it because of the warmth of his body, but all his toes were covered in blood. Why did they bleed so much? The pain in his toes gradually increased as his body cooled.
In addition to the bleeding, he was certain that several of his toes were broken. "I wish my virtual education shoes were here," he muttered. Because those shoes were made from the skin of a four-eyed bear.
They were strong and durable. The soles of his shoes never slipped, no matter the ground. Most importantly, the soles were very thin, allowing the ground's texture to be perfectly transmitted to his feet. This gave it a flexibility that allowed for all kinds of movement.
As Demir's pain intensified, he sat down on the ground and examined his toes. The bleeding wasn't too bad. The skin on his feet had split open due to the friction and sudden tension. Aside from his toes, which broke under the strain, he had no deep injuries.
He wasn't sure what would happen to his feet if he were stronger and continued to apply the movement technique. So, until he found suitable shoes, he decided to only do the exercises for this technique. But before that, he needed to heal himself.
He was in pain, but not to the extend that it affected his emotions and thoughts. If it had, he wouldn't have been able to heal himself and would have needed someone else's help. He gathered his thoughts and calmed his heart, ignoring the pain of his broken toes. He took a deep breath and extended his right hand toward his feet.
As the mana flowed from his hands and wrapped around his feet, a light flashed deep within his heart when he wished for his feet to heal with the purest, most sincere feelings in his heart. A light born from his belief that he would heal and be able to cure.
This light didn't stop in his heart; it followed the spiritual mana's path, traveling from his heart to his hand. At that moment, the palm of his right hand began to glow faintly. Demir didn't wait and directed the light in his palm toward his feet.
As the light that followed his mana wrapped around his toes, Demir's pain began to subside. Then, all pain vanished. About two minutes later, Demir's toes were completely healed.
When the treatment was complete, he stood up and created a few drops of water from the moisture in the air to clean the blood stains on the floor. Demir was so busy directing the water, he couldn't see the small indentations left by his toes beneath the blood stains.
Finally finished, he put on his shoes, which he had left by the door, and wanted to go to Kunt to get the answer to the biggest question on his mind. Just as he opened the door, he was met by Kunt. Kunt had tidied up the kitchen and had come to see what Demir was up to.
- Kunt, I'm glad you came. I was going to come to you. I have something to ask you.
- Of course, I'm listening.
- Does our academy have shoes made from the fur of a four-eyed bear?
- Four-eyed bear? I've never heard of such a shoe, but I'll ask the department that handles personnel needs. If such a shoe exists, they're sure to know.
- (Kunt's answer was disappointing, but Demir didn't lose hope.) I hope so... I was wearing those shoes in virtual training. They're really necessary for the technique I use...
- Technique? (Kunt's eyes lit up.) Did you learn new skills in virtual training? Actually, I was curious to see what you learned in virtual training. You know, we haven't trained together in a while. If you'd like, I can be your opponent. What do you say?
- (Demir learned how to use the curved dagger from Kunt. There couldn't have been a better encounter to understand the difference between what he learned in virtual training and what Kunt taught him.) Okay. Let's get the training daggers... (Before he could finish words, the wooden daggers they used for training appeared in Kunt's hand.) You planned this, didn't you?
- (Kunt replied with a smirk.) I didn't plan it, but I brought them just in case.
- (Demir reached out and took the daggers.) Come on. I'm curious to see what I've learned.
Demir had turned his back and taken a few steps when he sensed a vague intent to kill. He reflexively stepped aside, and Kunt's attack missed. Kunt smiled innocently, like a caught child.
- I wanted to teach you that turning your back on the enemy is a big mistake. But you already knew that, Sir...
Demir knew Kunt was an assassin. Fortunately, the daggers in Kunt's hand were training daggers. So, Kunt hadn't received any orders to kill. Still, he didn't let his guard down and kept his guard up.
- You've started using sneak attacks in a way I never expected. Is this your new fighting style? Or do you have another ulterior motive?
- I just wanted to give you a lesson. I was going to say that turning your back on an enemy is a grave mistake, but I see you don't need such a lesson…
- (As Kunt spoke, Demir launched his attack, lunging forward and swinging his dagger toward Kunt's face. When Kunt stopped the dagger attack at the last moment, Demir spoke calmly.) You're right. Besides, it's not right to talk so much when the enemy is right in front of you, is it?
- (After pushing Demir's dagger away, Kunt replied with a treacherous smile.) You're right, it's not right. "Little Sir"
- You!!
Demir lunged forward again, and a fierce struggle began between the two…
…
The first evaluation meeting for virtual education has concluded. Although Dean Noyan's aggressive and irritable attitude, which was far from constructive, made the meeting tense, some decisions were still made.
Two of the four virtual rooms were malfunctioning.The information that one was completely gone and the other was partially gone was kept confidential. Therefore, the virtual education program was changed, and the second virtual education program was canceled. Instead, it was decided to prepare an education program within the academy.
Contrary to expectations, Eiderd's experience in virtual education made him worse. Durualp was already the leader of the lazy ones. The only ones who gained experience in this virtual education were Tauriel and Demir.
Still, lessons and time could provide solutions to some things. There were still eleven months until real-time virtual education. This period was sufficient for the children to observe their own situations and internalize what they had learned in virtual education.
Since the meeting decisions were made unilaterally by Dean Noyan, no one could object, and everything proceeded as Dean Noyan desired...