"You Can't Stop Me," the Black Belt Sneered — Then the Dojo Doors Locked

"What is this?" Marcus demanded, his voice losing a fraction of its booming bravado. He rattled the sword in his hand. "You think locking the door will save you?" Master Kaelen stepped off the raised dais, his movements suddenly fluid and predatory, completely stripping away the illusion of his frailty. "The doors are not locked to keep you from leaving," Kaelen said quietly. He slowly unfastened the top of his gi, letting the sleeves drop to reveal forearms and shoulders corded with dense, steel-like muscle and covered in faded battle scars. "The doors are locked to keep the outside world from seeing what happens to a man who dishonors this sanctuary." Without a word from their master, the junior students quickly and silently retreated to the very edges of the room, sitting in perfect seiza formation. They weren't afraid for themselves; they were watching the intruder with an expression akin to pity.