The next morning, Sabito was sitting in the kitchen of the Mountaintop Inn.

       Ambrose walked in. “Yo, Sabito,” he said.

      “Hello, Ambrose,” Sabito said. 

       “Dude, you look tired,” Ambrose said.

       Sabito yawned. “I know, but it’s worth it,” he said.

        “You really are committed,” Ambrose said.

        “Of course,” Sabito said.

        Ambrose looked puzzled. “Why are you so committed? You’re like 14 years old, shouldn't you be living in a stable home, attending school?” Ambrose asked.

         Sabito was silent for a moment.

        “If it’s touchy, I’m sorry,” Ambrose said.

        “It’s not that it’s just…You know what I’ll tell you,” Sabito said.

        “I didn’t come from a group of people who lived in a city like Zone City in the urban areas. I live back that way deep in the forest in a place that is now in ruins,” Sabito explained as Bellatrix walked into the room.

        “What was that place called?” Ambrose asked.

        “Rabbit Burrow,” Sabito said as he looked down.

          Bellatrix looked at Ambrose.

          Ambrose gulped. “I’m sorry for asking,” he said.

          “No, no, it’s okay,” Sabito said.

          “I certainly haven’t forgotten about it, in fact, that’s why I’m training with Genghis Quack so I can defeat Lord Magnus and his demon hawks so nobody has to suffer at the hands of people like him ever,” Sabito explained.

           Ambrose and Bellatrix looked at Sabito. 

          “Well, we want to wish you good luck on the training,” Bellatrix said.

           Sabito took a sip of his water.

           Genghis Quack entered the room.

           “Sabito, are you ready?” he asked.

           Sabito stood up and nodded. “Yes, Master Genghis Quack,” Sabito said respectfully.

            Sabito grabbed his katana and followed Genghis Quack out of the inn.

           “That’s a good rabbit,” Bellatrix said.

            Ambrose nodded as he took a sip of his hot chocolate.

            Sabito and Genghis Quack made their way out to the fields.

            Genghis Quack looked at Sabito. “Don’t drop your katana,” he said.

           Sabito raised an eyebrow because he didn’t understand why Genghis Quack was telling him that. 

          Genghis Quack suddenly turned around and swung his katana.

           Sabito’s ears perked up as he quickly held up his katana to block Genghis Quack’s attack. 

           Sabito nearly stumbled back.

           “Whoa!” Sabito gulped as Genghis Quack jumped back and ran at Sabito at full speed.

            Sabito looked puzzled. “Oh crap,” Sabito said as he jumped up quickly.

           Genghis Quack looked up at Sabito. “Don’t drop your katana,” he repeated.

           Genghis Quack closed his eyes, and his feet were off the ground.

           “What the?” Sabito landed as Genghis Quack quickly swung his katana.

           Sabito swung his katana, and both blades clashed. 

           Genghis Quack smirked. “You didn’t drop your katana,” he said.

           Sabito looked puzzled. “Huh?” he jumped back.

          “Mind telling me what all that was?” Sabito asked.

          “An enemy could attack you at any moment. I wanted to see if you’d be on your toes by NOT dropping your katana,” Genghis Quack explained.

            “Because if you drop your katana and your enemy is near and you don’t act fast, then you’re done for,” Genghis Quack added.

             “Oh,” Sabito said.

             “You should be proud that not many warriors can do that successfully without dropping their swords, and you were able to do so,” Genghis Quack explained.

              Sabito looked at Genghis Quack.

             “Well, that did happen out of nowhere,” Sabito said. 

            “Welcome to the world of warriors,” Genghis Quack said.

             Genghis Quack looked at Sabito. “Alright, Sabito, we will officially begin the katana training,” he said as Sabito nodded.

            “Right!” Sabito said with determination.

            “The first thing in this training will be your stance because you don’t have a stance. I guess Minetaka didn’t have the time to teach you that, but that’s okay, I can help you develop one,” Genghis Quack explained. 

            “The stance I want you to stand in for about an hour is the Chudan no Kamee (Middle-Level Stance),” Genghis Quack added.

            “What’s that stance?” Sabito asked. 

            Genghis Quack demonstrated the stance. “I’ll show you,” he said.

            “Stand with your feet apart, a shoulder-length apart along with the left foot behind the right. Do you understand?” Genghis Quack looked over at Sabito.

             Sabito nodded.

             Sabito stood with his feet apart at shoulder length with the left foot behind the right.

            Genghis Quack bent his knees and kept his core engaged. “Okay, now keep your knees bent and your core engaged,” he said.

           Sabito nodded and bent his knees and kept his core engaged like he was told.

           Genghis Quack held his katana horizontally in front of his mid area with the tip of the blade pointing out like it’s near the throat of an imaginary enemy. 

          “Okay, now do this,” Genghis Quack said.

           Sabito nodded as he held his katana horizontally in front of his midsection, with the tip of the blade pointing out similarly to Genghis Quack’s katana.

           Genghis Quack stood back up. “Good,” he said.

           Genghis Quack set the clock for an hour. “Stay like that for an hour,” Genghis Quack said.

            Over at the big tree, Lord Magnus watched as his demon hawks got ready to head out tonight.

            Celestina flew over to Lord Magnus.

           “Celestina, I see everyone is getting ready for tonight,” Lord Magnus said.

         Celestina nodded. “Yes, Lord Magnus,” she said.

         “If you don’t mind me asking, what’s the plan?” Celestina asked.

        “We’ll strike that town that’s harboring the rabbit, and if we are lucky, that duck got the better of Winters will appear too, and the rabbit will be lured out because he’ll have a score to settle with me, and I’ll use his hatred to my advantage and finally be rid of that power,” Lord Magnus explained.

          “Why is this power so important?” she asked.

           Lord Magnus turned away. “Have you ever heard of Amari Jackalope?” he asked.

            “I think so,” Celestina said. 

           “Well, he was the last person to have the power, and that was many generations ago, and somehow this rabbit possesses this power,” Lord Magnus explained.

           “I will get to devour that rabbit and rid myself of that power,” Lord Magnus mumbled the last part.

            Celestina glanced at Lord Magnus and stood at attention. “No matter what, Lord Magnus, I’m behind you 100 percent,” she said.

           “Hmhmm, good,” Lord Mangus said.

            Back in the fields, an hour came and went…

            Genghis Quack was demonstrating the drawing and sheathing technique to Sabito.

            “Okay, here’s the instructions: Use your left hand to pull the saya, which is basically your katana holster anyway, pull the saya backward as you draw the katana out nice and slow with your right hand,” Genghis Quack explained. 

            Sabito nodded as he performed the drawing technique the way he was told.

            “Make sure your thumb is resting on the tsuba to guide the katana out safely,” Genghis Quack added.

           Sabito made sure his thumb rested on the tsuba.

          Genghis Quack smirked, looking proud of his student. 

          “Okay, now I’ll teach you sheathing,” Genghis Quack said.

         “Sabito, place the blunt back of the blade near your left thumb and fingers at the scabbard’s opening and carefully slide the blade into the saya with the blade’s edge facing up,” Genghis Quack explained.

          Sabito nodded and did the sheathing technique like Genghis Quack said.

          Genghis Quack nodded. “Alright, we can move on to the next part of the training,” he said.

           Sabito looked excited. “AWESOME!” he shouted.

           “Follow me,” Genghis Quack said as he started walking over to the forest. 

           Sabito and Genghis Quack stood in front of a big tree.

          “Sabito, this is where you’ll practice your katana strikes,” Genghis Quack said.

            Sabito nodded. “Understood,” he said.

           “There are three main types of slices I want you to perform on this tree,” Genghis Quack explained.