Alphonse nodded his head in approval to what Sophie had just said. One can't be hasty with cultivation, he thought. He closed his eyes and focused on what is happening inside his body. The reason that cultivation of mana is such a tenuous job is because mana has to be controlled for what we want it to do. It is similar to how one can hold water with both their hands, they have to constantly maintain their hands in certain position to hold the water. If they lose their focus, the hand would lose its grip or fingers would relax which would eventually lead to water escaping the hand. In this similar way, Alphonse needs constant observation over what is happening inside his body and to hold/maintain mana in certain manner. As time goes by, mana would eventually gets absorbed by the body and this would improve the cultivation.
Sophie hasn't left Alphonse's side, she is observing him closely so if there is any mistake she could immediately stop him. After an hour has passed, Alphonse has opened his eyes and released his mana from all over the body with one deep breath to his lungs to get absorbed into blood. Sophie could see Alphonse's cultivation is over now without any problems. She could see that Alphonse is trying too hard and he is being bit too stiff. If Alphonse could relax and do the cultivation, it would be much more easier for hm but this is something which can't be explained. Alphonse would realize on his own soon. Alphonse could feel little bit of mana has been absorbed by his body. He is stressed from the constant control over mana and also observing his body. He tried to relax and stretch his arms but even that was hard because of the spell on his hands.
Alphonse got up slowly, trying to gather strength and he slowly walked out of room. Alphonse is walking stiff. His hands are down and his steps are smaller then usual. Herald noticed this and said, "Wait there Alphonse. That is not how you train. What's the point of having gravity spell on your hands when you are not moving them at all? You have to walk like this." Herald got up from the chair he was sitting on and he showed how to properly walk. He was swinging his hand very widely and his legs are raised as much as possible for taking the step. When Alphonse saw his father walking in such a funny manner he couldn't help but giggle but he could understand why he has walk in such a ridiculous way. It is to maximize his movements against gravity as much as possible.
Herald heard the giggle from Alphonse and he felt a bit embarrassed. He laughed embarrassingly and said, "I know it looks silly but you have to walk like this."
Alphonse replied, "Alright dad, I will be off then."
With that Alphonse left the home walking in that silly manner as his father showed him but he is still struggling with the spells. Alphonse is taking his steps slowly. It took him five minutes to just walk around his home and after a couple of rounds, he came to garden at backside where his father is doing some wood work. Alphonse wondered what he was doing and without asking anything he went back inside. Sophie is ready for Alphonse and she started teaching Alphonse how to read and write.
Alphonse finished his language class he had with mother. The script of the language his parents speak is different, it has lot of curves. Alphonse went out to the back garden where his father has prepared his some equipment for his training. There are some wooden sticks planted in ground and there is also wooden bar for sit-ups he thought. He was looking around and Herald noticed Alphonse has come.
Herald said, "You are here finally. There are lot of exercises to practice. First I will show you how to do and then you do that. For today, you will do each exercise for five minutes but from tomorrow, no excuses, you have to train to the fullest."
Herald first showed how to do one armed pushups. Herald is doing pushups on the wooden sticks he planted on the ground. His hand is on one wooden stick while legs are on other two wooden sticks. Herald told while doing the pushups, "You first have to assume the position for pushup, keep your body straight, lower your body and it shouldn't touch the ground. After the body has come as close to ground as possible you push up the body from the ground. Do it with right hand first and then with left hand. Alright now you do it." Herald guided Alphonse on how to do pushup and he made sure that Alphonse gets every detail right. Alphonse hasn't done much exercise in his past life and going straight for one hand pushups is hard for him. His arms are sore and he wanted to complain but he didn't. He gutted down his pains, clenched his teeth and continued doing pushups.
After Alphonse completed one-arm pushups, Herald gave him couple of minutes to rest and he showed the next exercise hanging sit-ups. Herald has already prepared wooden rack for doing hanging sit-ups. He first grabbed the vertical wooden rod and got both his knees hanging on top the wooden bar with his feet on other side, then he lowered his upper body so that his body is in straight line and his head is near to the ground. Herald folded his hands on front and then he curled up his body to his knees, stayed in that position for a moment and got back down again. His body is not swinging when he was going back to vertical position, he has total control over his body. Herald has shown him couple of times on how to do it and giving Alphonse meanwhile where to breath-in and breath-out, not to let the body go swinging when coming down to vertical position and let the head stay near knee as long as possible.
After Herald has finished showing Alphonse, he guided Alphonse doing hangings sit-ups. Alphonse couldn't get his knees up on the wooden bar. Herald helped Alphonse getting proper position to start the sit-ups. Alphonse started doing pushups but his head is hardly able to reach his knees. Herald was relentless in making Alphonse do proper hanging sit-ups.
Alphonse has finally finished doing hanging sit-ups which he felt was more difficult than one hand pushups. Herald gave Alphonse couple of minutes to rest and he proceeded to show next exercise, back arches. Herald first laid on the ground and raised his torso upwards curving his body like an arch. All the weight of his body is on his legs and arms. Herald then guided Alphonse to do back arches to his surprise Alphonse was able to do back arches fairly easily.
Alphonse has done back arches for five minutes and then his father showed his how to do squats. Alphonse performed squats for five minutes. Herald next showed Alphonse how to do lunges and made Alphonse do lunges for another five minutes. After Alphonse completed doing lunges, he was told that he is finished with basic exercises. Herald further told him that this is just the start. Once Alphonse develops his body, he would train with sword.
Alphonse is a bit scared when he heard this. He thought it would be easy because he has strong mana but he still has to train his body so hard. He is tired to go back to home. He just lied there on ground for couple of minutes. Herald looked at tired Alphonse and said seriously, "This is all for your own good son. We wont be always around to watch your back. This is to protect yourself in future."
Alphonse knows that his father is doing for him. He replied, "I know dad, thank you for training me." Herald smiled and said, "Thank you son. Get rest. Tomorrow, the exercises will be more rigorous."