Eli answered:
"You keep watching me."
He pointed toward Marcus.
"He watches me."
Then Derek.
"He watches me."
Then Noah.
"You all watch me."
Eli lowered his hands.
"That's why you're slow."
Silence.
Raymond smiled.
He finally understood.
Daniel had taught his son the same principle.
Don't fight three people.
Make three people fight themselves.
After the demonstration, Marcus refused to speak to anyone.
Derek sat alone.
Noah stared at the floor.
Eli left the mat.
Raymond followed him.
"Your father taught you well."
Eli stopped.
"He taught me something else."
"What?"
"Never embarrass someone who can learn."
Raymond smiled.
"That's why you stopped."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because they were angry."
"And?"
"Angry people make mistakes."
Raymond nodded.
Then Eli asked:
"Why did my father really leave?"
Raymond's smile disappeared.
"I told you."
"He was injured."
"Yes."
"That's not the whole story."
Raymond was silent.
Eli continued.
"My father didn't quit because of an injury."
Raymond looked at him.
"He quit because someone betrayed him."
The older man's face changed.
"Who told you?"
"My mother."
Raymond sat down.
"There was a tournament."
"When?"
"Thirteen years ago."
"What happened?"
"Your father discovered that another fighter had been using illegal techniques during training."
"Who?"
Raymond hesitated.
"Someone connected to the academy."
Eli's eyes narrowed.
"Who?"
Before Raymond could answer, Marcus appeared.
"Coach."
Raymond looked up.
Marcus held an old photograph.
"I found this in the storage room."