"Momma! I am ready!!" Gracie exclaimed excitedly as she rushed out towards the garden with a big smile plastered on her face. Behind her, was Maeve, who had a smile on her face while she wore her skin-tight black colored training clothes, and Ace, who had worn relatively normal clothes but his expression was anything but good.
Giving a pitying look to his cheerful nightingale, he readied the towel, Gracie's favorite cookies, water, juice, healthy food, a pillow, and some new fresh clothes by his side.
Gracie, who was jumping in excitement was wearing a skin-tight white-colored training uniform, the little girl glancing at her clothes with a smile from time to time, perhaps these clothes were one of the reasons why she was so enthusiastic to train. Her glossy black hairs were tied in a ponytail while her eyes were filled with excitement and determination.
"Alright, we will start your training now, but before that; you girls, I believe that I and my husband have been gracious enough to let you record our training for 8 long years, I hope and urge you all to leave and not return here, we will be grateful" Maeve requested. Yes, a request that pretty much sounded like an imperial decree.
The girls who were hiding behind the wall were stunned when they realized that Maeve noticed them, not only that, she even knew that they were recording their training for 8 years. With blushes adorning their faces, the girls stood up timidly as they replied, "W-We are s-sorry Elder Ace, Madam Maeve, w-we shouldn't have sneaked up to you all like this"
"It's not a problem, just make sure you don't repeat this" Maeve replied, the usual gentleness in her eyes was long replaced by a noble, distant look as if an Empress talking to her subjects.
"It will be as you said, Madam Maeve" The girls replied before rushing back to their main base with a piece of very bad news.
"Now that the hindrance is out of the way, let's start with your training.
First and foremost, we have to improve your body strength and endurance, for that, you will have to run 10 laps around the whole Sect."
"What!? 10 laps!? That's too much for my litt-" Ace tried to interject but was silenced by the demonic instructor's gaze.
'Ahh~ My precious lovely little girl, papa won't be able to help you…' with a sigh, he turned towards Gracie, who was stretching like a professional athlete, combined with that small tongue that popped out of her mouth; the scene made her unbearably cute.
"Alright! It's just 10 laps, right? Easy!" With that, Gracie dashed outside the courtyard with her full speed.
'Haah~ if only it was that easy… My lovely little girl, you don't know what you are running into…' With a sigh, Ace followed the little girl from behind, while Maeve practiced with her sword.
…
Half an hour later…
"Hah~ Hah~ Hah~ I… I didn't know… ha… that our sect was so big ha… ha…" Gracie muttered as she tried to regain her breath. Right now, her naïve little face was drenched in sweat, few braids of her hair were stuck on her face. Just a single look was enough for anyone to tell that she was tired… very tired.
"Gracie, you can't stop right now, there are still 8 laps left…" Ace instructed with a heavy heart.
"Hah~ Papa… ha… I can't run anymore… haa… ha… I am tired…" Gracie answered as she panted hard.
"Little Gracie, you have to run and complete the laps, or else you mother will be angry…"
"Papa… ha… haa… please carry me… mother… ha… mother won't know… ha… ha…" Gracie requested.
Ace didn't answer as he turned around and glanced at the silvery glow floating in the sky, 'I would have done that a long time ago if it weren't for that demonic instructed following us… how else do you think we didn't gain any attention even when we are running all around the sect? My little nightingale… this time… you have to walk through this hell on you own… this is for your own good. Yes, this is for her own good…'
"Just run a bit more, it won't take long. Now, don't talk or you will only tire yourself more." Ace replied, urging Gracie to complete her target before he glanced at the silvery glow again.
Since her father said so, little Gracie stopped talking and continued running without any more questions. Nobody knows why, but even though Gracie is very mischievous, never once, in her life has she ever gone against her papa.
…
The little girl continued running and on the 7th lap, her little body couldn't take it anymore and she slipped. But of course, How could Ace let his nightingale fall? He quickly caught her and pulled her petite body into his embrace. He then turned towards the silvery glow and with a 'humph', he carried his daughter back into the courtyard's garden.
"Did she complete 10 laps?" Maeve questioned.
Gracie lowered her head when she heard the question but before she could answer, Ace replied, "Yes, she did"
Maeve glanced towards Ace and narrowed her eyes as if saying, 'You know I was following you right?'
Ace also tightened his grip around her daughter and looked deep into Maeve's blue eyes, as if replying, 'That should be enough, she has already done a great job'
*Sigh*
In the end, Maeve just shook her head and sighed. 'Haah~ How could one of the Herferd's strongest powerhouse be so weak when it comes to his daughter... I don't know what kind of magic did that cunning little girl used on him...'
Gracie on the other hand glanced at her father with a surprised expression, Ace looked in her direction and gave a playful wink, causing her to smile brightly.
"Good Job~ you did well~" Maeve walked towards them and with a pat on Gracie's head, she praised.
"Now, don't just keep laying in your father's arms and standup"
With that, Ace placed Gracie back on the ground and Maeve continued.
"Now, start absorbing the Ice Qi, but try to absorb it into your core as slowly as possible, make sure that your body bathes in it for a long time"