When Tiso finally returned from his trip, Oro was unsurprisingly unhappy with how long it took him to get back. Luckily for the ant, the curtains were perfectly clean so Oro couldn't really punish him for it

It also made for a pretty good excuse for his delay, Oro didn't need to know about his new ''friend'' so Tiso simply told him that it took him this long because he did his job thoroughly.

Still, the large bug was as unpleasant as ever, and he quickly found something else to busy his apprentice with

This went on for a few more days, Oro finding new things to do for Tiso, and the ant doing them, with only moderate amounts of grumbling. Back in the day, when his ego was substantially smaller than it was now, Tiso would often fantasize about meeting an old, wise nailmaster who would take him as his apprentice. Suffice to say, his fantasy was not going like he imagined it would

But it wasn't all bad, in fact, the method chosen by Oro seemed to be working. With each day the tasks were becoming easier, as his body slowly healed and his strength was slowly returning.

Finally, Oro deemed him fit enough for the real training to begin. Tiso has been anxiously waiting for this moment, but before anything else, they had to find him an appropriate weapon

Oro suggested a nail at first and was understandably confused when Tiso somewhat sheepishly admitted that he never had a nail, to begin with

~ You mean to tell me that you fought in the colosseum, with only this tiny, broken thing? ~ Oro said, pointing to where Tiso's shield was resting against the wall. He picked it up and gave it an examining look

~ What are you going to do with it, bash your opponents on the head?

Tiso wrestled his shield away from the big bug ~ Actually yeah, that too, but mainly I'm going to cut them in half with the hidden blades inside

That certainly caught Oro's interest

~ Really? Then why don't you show me how it works? I'm sure it'll be quite a sight!

If bugs could blush, this comment would probably make Tiso's face go red with embarrassment

~ I would...but I can't at the moment, oh don't give me that look! Can't you see the huge crack going all the way through? It's broken!

Oro gave him a skeptic look but didn't press him further for details. Instead, he asked if Tiso could fix his shield, and was unhappy to learn that this wouldn't be possible without some proper tools

As a result, Tiso got some other shield as a replacement, for the time being (of a lower quality than his own, obviously) but Oro also insisted (rather firmly) that Tiso also learn to fight with a nail. He was a NAILmaster after all, not a shieldmaster, and learning more fighting styles would benefit him anyway, especially in the colosseum

And that's how Tiso arrived where he was now, looking at the sharp piece of metal with doubt. The nail Oro has given him was a very simple one, functional, but without any ornaments or personality. Essentially just a sharp piece of metal

After granting him his weapons, Oro sent Tiso to get accustomed to his new gear. There was a training dummy near the hut, and for the past hour Tiso has been taking his frustration out on it

He was supposed to get used to both the new shield and his new nail as well, but unsurprisingly only took a few swings with it before disregarding it in favor of the shield

It was in equal measure because of his unfamiliarity with nails in general, and just because he wanted to spite his master some more for having doubts in his shield. Oro might disagree, but Tiso knew that his shield was enough of a match for any nail or any warrior

This backfired spectacularly on him when his master arrived to check on his progress

~ Have you practiced as I told you? ~ Oro's voice startled the ant, Tiso spun around to see his master standing in silence a few steps away, his tone didn't betray a single emotion, which could be considered an improvement since usually, it conveyed only negative emotions anyway

Tiso knew by now that Oro didn't like elaborate speeches when there was no need for them, so his answer was quick and to the point

~Yes master, I did - but he couldn't stop himself asking - How long have you been standing there? ~

~ Not that long ~ Oro approached the dummy to inspect what kind of damage Tiso managed to deal it - But not that short either, and during that time, not once did I see you practice with the nail, as I asked you to

He motioned to the weapon laying uselessly on the ground nearby

~ Care to Explain?

~ Well, that's because I did it at the beginning, and once I got the hang of it I switched to shield! ~ Tiso lied with a straight face, no sense in telling his (easily angered) master that he went against his orders!

~ Is that so? Well then let's see what you learned! Wait here ~ Oro said, before disappearing back into his hut, Tiso could hear him rummaging for something inside, he could already feel the regret setting in

After a while, Oro stepped back out, holding what appeared to be two nails, upon closer inspection Tiso realized that indeed they were nails, just ones made out of wood

Oro nonchalantly tossed one of them to Tiso and said ~ Well since you're so confident in your abilities, why don't you show me how you fare?

Before Tiso could even formulate a protest, the gigantic bug was already coming at him with a speed that should be well out of reach for someone of that size. The ant managed to weakly block the first blow, but the second one knocked the wooden nail out of his hands.

~ Pick it up ~ Oro's voice was calm and collected, even if Tiso suspected there was a storm brewing underneath

After he collected his nail, the two resumed their fight, and it ended in much the same way, this time Tiso managed to keep a hold of his equipment, but it was little consolation since the ant earned himself a painful blow to the side instead

Afterward, it was more of the same. Oro easily outperformed his apprentice every time, either knocking his weapon out of Tiso's hand or knocking on Tiso himself. The ant thought that maybe his master would give him tips or explain what he was doing wrong, but Oro was almost silent all the way through.

The ant was slowly becoming angrier and angrier, what was this? A private event for Oro to went his frustration? An elaborate effort to humiliate him? What purpose was in just knocking him around like that?

Finally, the bruised and aching ant was finished

~ Enough! ~ Tiso yelled as he threw his toy-nail to the ground ~ I refuse to do this a minute longer!

~ Oh? Is that so? Mind telling me why? ~ Oro's tone was just as neutral as before which only served to enrage the ant further

~ Why? WHY? Is that how you intend to teach me? Just toying with me until what? I learn on my own? Aren't you supposed to tell me what I'm doing wrong?

Oro just shrugged

~ Oh I don't know, aren't you supposed to listen to what I say ~

~ Huh? ~

~ I'm not as dumb as you thought, you know.~ Anger started slowly slipping into Oro's previously calm tone ~ I know a thing or two about nail-fighting, they don't call me a nailmaster for nothing, and from the way you are holding that thing I can say with certainty, that not for a second did you practice how I told you to.

The bigger bug started approaching Tiso as his voice grew angrier, the ant didn't want to show any weakness but having witnessed the wrath of his master once before, his body started retreating on its own.

~ So tell me, Tiso, since I'm curious, why exactly should I try to explain ANYTHING to you, if you're just gonna ignore me and do your own thing?

Tiso's back hit the cavern wall and he had no place left to escape, Oro's gigantic form loomed over him threateningly.

~ So, explain to me, if you will. Why didn't you practice with the nail as I told you?

~ I-I told you, I don't use nails… ~ He started weakly, but Oro was having none of that

~ SO WHAT?! I don't care if you're using your shield, a spear, or your own thick head to fight! As long as you're learning under me, you will do as I say and if I say that you will learn to fight with a nail as well, you're going to do so without a question!

He leaned closer to Tiso's face, uncomfortably so

~ Or if you don't like that arrangement, you can pack up your things, get your broken shield, walk out the front door and stop wasting my time~ he hissed through his teeth

~ Now which one will it be?

Tiso clenched his fists, he wanted to tell this bug to shut up, to take his nails and shove them down his throat… but he couldn't, not after Oro demonstrated his strength so bluntly, to antagonize him further would be suicidal

That, and also… Tiso knew his master was right, he deliberately ignored his master's command and got what he deserved in return, again. If he wanted to improve himself, Tiso needed to stop listening to his massive ego and start listening to his master instead. He gloomily thought how many times he would need to learn this lesson before it finally set in

He took in a deep breath

~ Master I… am sorry. You are right, I disobeyed your order and it got me nowhere. Please give me another chance, I'll promise to do better from now on ~ He would never get used to apologizing to others, but sometimes it was necessary

Oro looked almost surprised, like he didn't think the ant would apologize like that. He stepped back and started walking back to where they spared

~ Hmph, I should hope so, we'll see if you learned your lesson. For now, get back here and take your real nail, it's past time for you to learn how to properly wield it

~ Yes master ~ Tiso got his nail and walker over to his master, who was already holding his gigantic one, who knew? Maybe learning to fight with a nail will be worthwhile after all?