"This forest is really big, and we have finally reached its center," Kotaro said in astonishment.
"It's like Uncle Cesar said, monsters don't attack us anymore." Akina was watching around them, but saw nothing.
"That's right, this area is safe, and being limited to areas of grass without any stones or trees makes it the ideal area for training," Cesar explained. Then he said, "take some rest today and tomorrow we will start."
The center of the forest was, as Cesar described, only large tracts of grassy plains as well as a river that ran in the middle from east to west.
the next day
"Yesterday the three of you saw how I was fighting monsters, right?"
"Yes, what were those lights?" Kotaro exclaimed.
"That's what I'm going to tell you about, so listen to me."
"This world is based on mana."
"Humans, animals, plants and the rest of the living creatures cannot live without it, and it is like air present on the entire planet."
"And this mana is the basis of so-called magic like the one I used against those monsters." Cesar spoke, watching everyone's gazes in astonishment.
"I will continue." After pausing for a moment, Cesar continued, "As for how I was able to utilize mana and use magic, that is what I will explain to you."
"Firstly, not all humans are able to control mana but only half of them, and secondly, even the one who is able to do so must train hard to be able to use magic."
"Is there anyone who has been able to use magic since birth?" Kotaro asked, who was carefully listening to every word Cesar said.
"No, in my whole life I've never heard of that," Cesar explained.
"Uncle Cesar, from what I understand, you have to be able to control your mana to be able to use magic. Right?" Ryota said.
Cesar replied, "Yes."
Ryota asked again, "So since you said you will train us to do it, does that mean that the three of us are able to control mana?"
"Yes," Cesar replied.
"How did you know that?" Kotaro puzzled.
"When you are able to use magic, you will be able to feel those around you and know the nature of their strength, but it will be different if the opponent does not want to show his strength."
"Then are you going to start teaching us to do that now?" Akina exclaimed.
"No. Because if a person's body is not strong and qualified enough and he tries to cultivate in magic, the mana in his body will explode and he will be disabled for the rest of his life."
"If he does not die," Cesar warned.
"That's scary," Akena backed away from her excitement.
"So for the next three months, you will devote all of your time to strengthening your body and increasing your stamina… understand?"
"Yes," the three answered in unison.
After seeing everyone's determination and enthusiasm for the beginning of the training, Cesar took out three sheets of paper on which he wrote some instructions and presented them to Kotaro and the others.
"What is this?" Akina asked.
"Based on the results of the jogging exercises that you did previously, I was able to know the endurance of each one of you, so I wrote down a suitable training program for you to follow throughout these three months," Cesar explained.
"Let each of you review his program, and start right away," Cesar commanded.
Thus began the training of Kotaro and his friends Akina and Ryota.
The exercises varied between jogging, abdominal press, swimming in the river, digging the ground and climbing the trees surrounding the center of the forest, each of the three had these same exercises, what differed was the number of times of practice and the time that Cesar allotted to each one according to his ability.
As the days passed, everyone was doing their best trying to adapt to the exercises that Cesar put in. Once someone passed out while he was on Cesar's back and once he fell from the trees and again someone ignored the training because of boredom, and this was Ryota who was denied dinner by Cesar as a punishment for him.
After one month, everyone had adapted to the exercises, and at the end of the second month, the three of them were able to complete all the tasks before sunset, and at the end of the month they were able to finish within a quarter of the time specified.
After the three months had passed, Cesar called out to the three of them and praised, saying: "The days have passed, the time is over and you have been able to achieve results that have exceeded my expectations, so I thank you for your efforts, and thus the first phase of training will be over."
"I will leave you to rest for two days, and then we will move on to the second stage."