Six years ago. . . 

"Again!"

I slammed my bamboo stick into the side of the dummy for the thousandth time that day.  I turned to look at the True Master, an ancient master of all forms of fighting and meditation, otherwise known as Chu-hui.  I had been training with the True Master for years.

"Good," she said to me.  "You are done for today."

"Finally!" I sighed.  My eight-year-old self wasn't much one for manners.

Chu-hui simply chuckled as I rushed to put my staff onto the wall.  "One more thing before you go, young one," the True Master said. 

I stopped in my tracks, turning around to face the old, wise woman.  "We have someone coming up the mountain.  Be prepared for if he makes it."

The True Master and I lived deep in the Himalaya Mountains.  The True Master was known around the world as the best master among every single one in the world.  But, to get to the True Master, you had to travel through a series of tests to arrive at her dojo at the top of the mountain where it was located. 

Usually, we had a few people try each year.  So far, only a small handful have arrived at the top in the True Master's lifetime.  There were only a few exceptions, me being one.  My parents had been murdered when I was very young.  Instead of getting revenge against the man who murdered my family, the Chu-hui took me in, giving me shelter, food, and a place to train.

In return, I would help the Chu-hui keep her dojo in top condition, and help train the few people who had made it to the top.

People would usually make the journey to see the True Master because they were lost.  Many had come up to face the obstacles as a way to rediscover themselves.  They would leave, springing into a new age of their life.  

The journey always started out at the bottom of the mountain, where the True Master would be waiting.  To the many to came, she would seem like a foolish old woman who simply told them the way to go.   But, they would then arrive and the True Master would reveal her identity to the traveler, and it was always humorous to see their reaction.

"Do you really think this man will make it?" I asked as I hung up my fighting robes on the wall, now simply wearing black sweats and a white muscle shirt. 

"This man might.  Out in the world, he is known as a revolutionary.  Some even refer to him as the demon himself," Chu-hui chuckled.  "Now, Dick, you know that if men arrive here, they are instructed to arrive at sunset.  Be ready for this man."

"Will do, Chu-hui," I said before running off to my room.  My room was actually quite simple.  I had a bed, a wardrobe, a door that led to a bathroom, and a desk that housed a computer with a hard drive.  Chu-hui never busied herself with modern technology, but she believed that  since I was young and would more than likely go back out into the world someday, that I should have one and know how to use it.  I was actually quite a skilled hacker, if I do say so myself.

It was only about an hour until sunset, so I did not have much time until this so-called demon possibly came crawling towards the True Master's doorsteps.  

After three-quarters of the hour was up, I prepared for the arrival of the man.  I soon walked out of the front door of the dojo, my sweats and white shirt still on.  Chu-hui stood outside already, leaning on her tall, wooden walking stick, staring out into the sunset.  She wore her traditional simple dress and sweater, her hair in two braids, a little hat adorning her head.

"How sure are you that he will be here?" I asked Chu-hui.

"Last time I saw him, he was passing the last obstacle.  I believe he has a fairly good chance at making it here in ten minutes," Chu-hui replied.

As if on cue, a tall man made his appearance as he walked up the final steps to the top of the mountain, the sun still setting behind him.  He walked towards Chu-hui and myself.  "True Master?" the man asked. 

"Ra's Al Ghul, good to see you have made it.  This is one of my young students, Richard Grayson, but everyone calls him Dick.  Welcome to the dojo of the True Master," Chu-hui greeted.

"An honor, it truly is," Ra's Al Ghul said as he fell into a deep bow. 

"I feel you have much to address to me, and I also feel it would be best to do so in the morning.  Dick will show you where you will be sleeping tonight.  We will talk more tomorrow," Chu-hui said before she turned to go retire to bed. 

"Follow me," I said to Ra's, also turning to enter the dojo.

"How long have you lived with the True Master?" Ra's asked as I led him through the hallways. 

"Every since I was young," I replied.  "I have spent most of my life here."

"Interesting," the man commented.

"This is your room," I said, stopping in front of a simple door.

"Good night, young one," Ra's said as he closed the door to his room.

<~>

Chu-hui, myself, and now Ra's sat at the table, eating a breakfast that consisted of eggs.  A simple breakfast, but one I had often because the True Master liked simplicity and things to be done right, and she felt I couldn't mess up eggs too badly.

"Ra's," Chu-hui started.  "Why have you come here?"

"I heard that you were a great warrior, True Master.  I wished to learn from you.  I am the leader of the League of Assassins, and we plan to make the world a new and better place.  But, I feel as if I can not do that properly if I had not had training in every necessary field," Ra's explained.

"So, you feel me training you is necessary for you to rule the world?" True Master questioned.

"I feel as if I must understand every aspect of the world, I guess I should say," Ra's tried.

Chu-hui gave a grunt of approval as she put a spoonful of eggs into her mouth.  "How long do you plan on staying?" she asked after she had swallowed.

"I plan on staying for as long as it takes me to understand your teachings.  I have informed my daughter to expect me back at anytime, so I am in no rush," Ra's explained.

"I meditated on this subject this morning before breakfast," Chu-hui started.

"Oh?" Ra's said with a raise of his eyebrow.

"You do not need me to teach you how to fight, or anything else.  I have simply discovered that you need to look deep into yourself for the answers you seek," Chu-hui explained.

"But how do you know the answers I seek?" Ra's asked.

"I don't.  But you do."

"And how will I look inside myself?" Ra's questioned.

"A meditation I will teach you shall give you everything you wish to know."

<~>

I breathed in through my nose, out through my mouth.  I continued this slowly.  I was currently upside down, balancing with only one hand on the floor.  My eyes were closed, I was stuck in a deep concentration.  

Chu-hui and Ra's were in Chu-hui's special meditation room, seeking out Ra's answers.  They had been in there for at least two hours, so I knew this was an intense meditation.  

I continued my relaxed handstand for another five minutes, gracefully flipping back to my feet.  As I landed, I heard a slow clapping from behind me.  I looked to see none other than Ra's Al Ghul.

"Very impressive, Dick," Ra's complimented.

"Thank you," I said as the man walked over to me.  "Are you leaving now?"

"Yes, I am.  I have found the answers I was looking for for quite a long time.  Things are clearer than they were before," Ra's explained.

"I wish you safe travels back," I said.

"Thank you, young one.  I wish you good luck in your training," Ra's replied.

Ra's exited the training room.  I watched as he left, and as soon as he had been gone a few seconds, I heard the True Master come up behind me.  "What did you think of him?" I asked without turning around.

"Everyone who comes to see me always has darker and darker intentions.  This man has dark intentions for the world he wishes to rule.  I do not know what he came here to seek, I only know he got his answer," Chu-hui sighed.  "I fear the world is becoming rotten."

"That seems like a problem for the world," I said.  "You are here to train the worthy.  And the worthy are whoever can travel up the mountain successfully."

"But why must all worthy men think they are above everyone else.  I tried to save the world from becoming corrupt by training  the worthy in some good things, but I fear even the good things are becoming bad," Chu-hui said grimly.

"How dark was this man?" I asked.

"He was dark enough to use methods such as the Lazarous pit."

My face set into a deep frown.  I knew those kinds of pits brought the user dark thoughts, and I could only image how many times this man could have used a pit such as this.  

"Do you still plan on training the worthy, then?  If they are all so bad?" I asked. 

"I don't know if the world even deserves my teachings," Chu-hui said darkly.

"And how do you suggest to answer that question?"

"By sending in you."

I looked at my mentor in surprise.  "Sending me?  To do what?"

"As I was meditating with Ra's, I realized something myself.  I have not been in touch with humanity for many years.  I want you to be in touch with the world, so I ask of you something that could fulfill my wish for you and answer my question," Chu-hui explained.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked. 

Chu-hui gave a set look, making sure I was paying attention to her next sentence.  "Go out into the world.  Live among the heroes.  Live among the people.  Become one of them.  In ten years, come back to me, tell me if there is still hope for this world.  Tell me if I can still live on knowing my teachings are not being put to waste."

"Anything for you, True Master," I said with a deep bow.