I return from the forest with the group of knights with me.
This was a productive forest trip. I found a good tree to build my base at. It is also very big. Meaning, it has a lot of space for all of the things that I am going to be putting there.
Right now is lunch time so, I should get back quickly or mother might get worried.
********************
"Mother! I am home!"
"How was your time playing in the forest?"
"It was very good! I found a big tree with some knights and one of them told me that he will go there and help me build my base when he has free time."
"Okay. That must have been fun, right?"
"Yes! It was very fun!"
"That's good. Now, it is time to eat."
"Okay, Mother!"
Mother was distracted while knitting so I made sure to tell her everything truthfully so that if she asks me again, I can say that I already told her. I also made sure to act like a kid to seal the deal.
Muhaha!
Anyway, I have to eat my lunch so that I can have enough energy to survive the sword training that father will put me through later.
********************
I finished eating my food very fast.
Partly because it was delicious.
Then, when I thought to go to my room and rest, the door opened and father came through.
"I am back!"
"Hello, dear."
"Hi, father."
"Alex, did you finish your lunch already?"
"Yes, I did."
"Good. I am just going to eat my lunch and then we are going to start the practice session."
"Okay."
Hmm.
He is already here.
I wanted to rest a bit before he came but, now I can't. Might as well go outside to the courtyard already.
The courtyard isn't big or small. It has the same length as our house but I think only half of its width. I wonder what kind of exercises humans in this age use to get better at using a sword. It might just be the same as my past life but, you never know!
I should warm up while I am here.
Time for some stretches.
One...Two...Three...Four...Five...Six...Seven...Eight...Nine...Ten
While I was stretching, I start wondering about something that is not that important. I just realized that I don't know what I look like. Are there any mirrors in our house? Maybe in my parent's room? I will ask them after the practice is done.
When I finished my stretches, my father comes out of the house and comes here. He is holding two wooden swords in his hands.
"Alex."
"Yes?"
"It is about time for you to start learning how to use a sword. Therefore, we are starting the training right now."
"Father, will I be using a sword?"
"No. Not yet. For this week, you are only going to be training your endurance and doing practice swings with this."
He pointed to the wooden swords in his hands.
Oh.
I guess no combat training yet.
But, at least I still get to do something meaningful. I should be building up power and endurance in this body at this age, so that when I get older, I can do more intense training.
"So, your first exercise is to run 10 laps around the courtyard. After that, get these swords and practice swinging it around until you get used to it. After that, you are going to watch me use some sword techniques."
"Okay, father."
I will get to see the sword techniques that father can use. Judging by the fact that he is the captain of the knights, I am pretty sure that he is strong. All the more reason to follow his instructions.
So, I start running around the courtyard.
While I am running, I think of the training that I am doing. Did father get strong because he started training when he was as young as me? If he did, who started the tradition of training their sons? What if they had a daughter? I will ask these questions after the practice training is done.
After 10 minutes, I finished all of the laps.
Huh.
1 lap per minute.
Plus, I am pretty tired. I am also sweating a lot.
Is this what I get for staying in my house for most of my life?
I will make sure that I get better.
Definitely.
"Hmm. Not bad. When I first started the training with my father, it took me 15 minutes to finish all of the rounds."
"How old were you when you started the training."
"I was 6 years old."
What!?
Why are training me at the age of 4 when started training at the age of 6!? Also, wasn't the test of power for when you are 7!?
"Why were you 6 years old when you were trained?"
"That is because my father was so busy with his work that he barely had time to train me. So, I am making sure that you are being trained at a younger age to compensate! Hahaha!"
Wow.
Grandfather, why?
Because of your negligence in father's training, I have to train three times as hard as him.
I sigh in resignation.
Oh well.
I should just do it without complaining.
Hey, wait.
"Father?"
"Yes?"
"What happens if you get a daughter?"
"Oh. If we have a daughter, we will let her be anything she wants."
Oh.
Unexpected answer.
I was so sure that he would shout, "She will become a knight as well!".
"Alex, do you want a little sister?"
Oh.
Unexpected question.
"Never mind. Here."
He gave me one of the wooden swords.
"Practise swinging them until you get the hang of it."
"Okay."
I take the wooden sword that father handed to me. This should be the easy part because, in my past life, I trained in the sword everyday. I didn't become a master, obviously, because I didn't learn any sword techniques.
I start swinging the sword.
Hmm.
A bit heaver then what I expected. Probably because I don't have the body of an adult yet.
I try swinging it.
A bit hard to control as well.
When I swing it, the sword's weight would go there, but when I try to swing the other way immediately, inertia goes the opposite way. I'll need to build up muscles so that I can defeat inertia.
Okay.
Let's try to make an imitation of a sword technique. One time, when I was cleaning, I saw Alpha and Gamma sparring. Alpha used a sword technique that made Gamma trip and fall. I think he called it 'Raging Waterfall'. He was very fast with his movements but, I was able to see them.
I put the image of what they looked like and tried using it.
Pretty hard.
Even when doing it slowly, it was hard.
I look towards Father. His face is surprised. Why?
He starts walking towards me. Oh. Is it because I never saw a sword technique before but I was still able to put one in action? That is definitely it.
"Alex. Was that a Raging Waterfall? It was slow and the movements were sloppy but, that was unmistakably a Raging Waterfall."
"Yes. I believe it was."
Father then looked at my face and smiled. I haven't seen a smile like that in my entire life. I will try to read his expression. Hmm. I think that the emotion on his face is the feeling of being proud. I am correct, right?
"Alex, you have amazing potential. You will certainly surpass me one day. Change of plans. Every time we train, I will help you perfect the Raging Waterfall."
"Thank you, father."
Ever since that day, it was a common occurrence in the village of Vulcan to see a little boy and his father practice the sword together.