Volume 1: «Preparation»
Chapter 7: «Laying the Foundation (Part 2)»
***
On the training ground, early in the morning...
— Are you sure this is a useful exercise?! — Dodging a wooden pole, Aaron shouted.
At the same time, his grandfather, Bradomir, holding the pole in his hands, struck various blows in his grandson's direction, stabbing, vertical, and horizontal.
— Of course, being able to dodge in combat is very useful," he said as he continued his beating. — Especially if you want to stay alive...
Aaron decided not to argue, and sighed doomfully. Then, he continued trying to dodge the blows. From time to time he failed, and cried out in pain.
Despite the disgruntled grimace on his face during the training, Aaron knew full well from past experience that his grandfather was right. It is only naive and inexperienced young men who think that what matters in combat is skill with a weapon, or the ability to wound an opponent... In a real fight, only the one who survives wins. And if you want to live, you have to be able to spin...
In his past life, Aaron honed his reflexes through real combat encounters, which often decided who would continue his existence and who would go underground for permanent residence.
Alas, being a mercenary, a young and inexperienced demigod of death who had escaped from his native home, was the only way to earn his bread.
Aaron had no need for combat experience now, but he needed to develop his reflexes, his reactions, and his muscle memory again. Besides, he needed to justify having combat skills in the future...
After all, Aorzorun is a savage world, with brutal orders and superstitions. He would not only be considered a cursed necromancer, he would also be labeled a demon from the past who had been reincarnated.
This is not a joke, these guys really exist. Aaron even had to kill one once, because he was a violent one. In reality, these demons are simply demigods or experimental wizards who have either taken over someone else's body or rejuvenated themselves through some kind of ritual.
— It hurts, take it easy, stop hitting me so hard! — Aaron shouted, getting angry with his grandfather.
Shouting had no effect on the old man, it even seemed that the more his grandson shouted, the wider the smile on Bradomir's face became.
— Pain is the best teacher, it is very clear... — he replied with a grin. — Though... It's been half an hour, let's take a break...
— At last," Aaron snorted. — My whole body aches, I feel like I'm one big bruise...
— Well, you should have dodged it better," said the grandfather, ruffling his grandson's hair.
Actually, Bradomir was glad to train Aaron, it gave him pleasure and made him remember the young years when he himself had worked hard to become stronger. Moreover, the boy turned out to be surprisingly talented, he intuitively understands where and how to dodge. Also, he does not make gross mistakes, typical of beginners. How was the old man to know that his grandson would have easily managed his training without his lessons...
— Now archery, followed by steeplechase. In the afternoon, horseback riding, hand-to-hand combat, and fencing. In the evening — javelin training, another evasion training, and a run, but without obstacles, on endurance... — Bradomir voiced his training plan.
— Am I alone in thinking that there is too much exercise? I wouldn't have much time left! — Aaron was indignant.
— Is that a dish? Is it edible? — Grinning, Grandpa answered.
— It's not funny, it doesn't work like that... I have things to do, I can't just practice all the time," said his grandson confidently. — That's too much, I'm not a dray horse, after all!
Apart from training, Aaron had many other plans, the realization of which was very important to him. Especially since in four years' time, a war would break out that could be extremely damaging to him personally and to his family in particular.
The fact is that his grandfather is now seventy-one years old, and in nine hundred and sixty-one he will be seventy-five years old. According to the law adopted by the Council of the Great Clans, upon reaching the age of seventy-five the head of the clan must retire and appoint a successor, otherwise the clan will be removed from its position.
In the future to come, because of the death of his daughter and son-in-law, that is, Aaron's mother and father, Bradomir had to give the post of clan head to his eldest grandson, Balthazar.
Because of the war that broke out, each clan had to send at least one demigod, no older than seventy-five, to command the clan retinue. In fact, on the battlefields, involving such behemoths of incredible power as the two great clans, the Wise clan and the Vis clan. The inexperienced Balthazar, though he was a talented fire demigod, still died.
Needless to say, Aaron did not want such history to repeat itself, and his older brother, who had always cared for him, was killed in battle. To save his brother, he must replace him and fight this war in his place...
Still, he clearly has a better chance of surviving, especially given his solid battle experience in his previous life.
Besides, he wasn't going to die there, but in order to survive — you need to start preparing now. The demigod of death with a crowd is almost impossible, but if it is already a crowd of knights, mages, and other demigods, then the situation takes a slightly different turn...
— What's this all about? — Bradomir asked, raising his right eyebrow.
— Research," Aaron answered. — I may be a warrior after all, but to bury my bright head in the ground is stupid, don't you think?
— What kind of research? — The old man asked, skeptically crossing his arms against his chest.
— Lots of different ones, I'm interested in a lot of things, I'm generally quite inquisitive...
— Yes, you are... In principle, I didn't plan to burden you every day, — the grandfather agreed. — The schedule will be the same, but you will train on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Is that all right?
— Quite...
— Good, now pick up your bow and let's go practice target shooting!