Under the scorching sun and mild breezes that occasionally gave him a little relieve.Beads of sweat rolled down Liam's cheek as he stood motionlessly while drawing his bow in a stance.His face flushed and his breathing was becoming uneven,which prove how agonizing he felt at the moment.
At first glance,this training seems to be the same as what liam did as usual with his uncle.But if one paid close attention,one can notice the pitch black bracelet and vest on Liam.
"Your arms is lower again!" Freya reminds him and Liam immediately try to recover his stance with great difficulties while groaning in agony.
Freya nodded in satisfaction.For the purpose of this crash course,it was necessary to push both his body and mana core to their limit before they break.There are two main goal in Freya's mind for this obviously child abusive training.
First is to increase liam's mana core's capacity and mana potency as quickly as possible along with his physical poweress in order to break through the threshold for liam's stage two mana core.Freya has already noticed that liam's mana core seem to be a blackhole or a glutton as it never progressed past stage one even through years of training and cultivating.
She was almost sure it has something to do with his own mark of blessing,causing his natural mana core's threshold to be abnormally hard to breach.But of course,on the bright side it also meant that his mana capacity and potency will be freakishly higher than average for the core in the same stage from others.
This may even allow him to use spell that required mana core with higher stage to function,as he will fulfilled both the requirements for casting a better graded spell.Other than understanding the spell's formation,casting stronger spell require both better control in mana current and greater amount mana.And in theory a much more potent mana core can do the same for Liam as a higher stage mana core does for the others.
Secondly,Freya is training his body to quickly adapt in order to contain his much more powerful mana core.Otherwise,his body will surely be corroded badly by the excessive mana contain in him.
"As expected of Freya's own creation,the weight vest and bracelets made the same training much more horrible than usual."Liam grit his teeth,feeling the overall increase in his weight from the gravity altering accessories.He daresay it was dozens of time harder to move his limbs and maintain the stance and he have been in this position for around an hour now.
While he was struggling to maintain this stance.Freya have him cast his flame arrow spell,which is just a variation of his flame infusion with slighly different spell formation.This of course was to sap his mana faster while training his control of mana current.
The arrow's blade glowed bright red and even start to emit a horrendous smell of melting iron from the vaporizing gas.As time goes on,his control on the spell formation falter and lossen.Sometimes over charging the spell potency and melting the arrow like now.
Liam was quite nervous as although it was nice to see that he can use his spells with more leeway because of his bigger power storage.The flame arrow spell he is casting right now can definitely Detonate on his face,if he was just a bit less careful with his control.The results will be almost certain death at this close range.
20 minutes later
"Hmm...okay stop!"Just as he was about cancel the spell because he was at his alsolute limits in both stamina and concentration.The much needed call for a stop came and he release his string right away.
Boom!!!
The boy slumps to the ground panting and gasping in exhaustion and pain,he don't even have the energy to notice the distance explosion that blown off a part of the mountain side.The dent can be seen 300 meters away from their position.
"Alright,good job liam!Take a breather and drink this then we can call for a break."Freya approached and sit next to the boy,laying a bottle of pale gold liquid next to him.
She then pulled out a few coolant bag made from ice pixel dust and lay it on liam's forehead.Liam shudder and yelp at the sudden freezing sensation but soon relaxed from the cool and comfortable feeling.
"Sister freya,can I ask you a few question?"After resting for a bit Liam raise a question that he had been meaning to ask out of curiosity.
"Sure,not my age of course.You should know at least that much."Freya chuckled at a embarrassed liam and mess his hair a bit.
"So …why did your queen ask you to help someone marked by artemis?And what does this blessing do for me?"Liam ask curiously.He wanted to know why did a foreign kingdom decided to help him,who is a foreign talents that may never offer them any assistance.And what does the mark does for him in general.
"Hmm…of course my kingdom didn't decided help you on a whim but…it is not time for you to know the truth yet.I know saying that made me sound suspicious but know that we means you or your loves ones no harm whatsoever."Freya poke and stretch liam's cheek lightly while she explained,seeing the confused look on his face she giggles as if she thought Liam's various reaction was adorable."But for your second question,I can give you some details and history about the mark."Liam perk up his ear in anticipation and Wait for her explanation at that announcement.
"First of all,the marked people are refered to as child of the gods and goddess.Of course,we don't know if that is indeed the case of not. But the important thing is that everyone that was marked by their respective deity will received a their God's blessing and parts of their power.For you,the transformation you showed during your awakening is part of that power and your abnormal mana core is most likely part of her blessings."Liam was in awe at this point,he never thought that being blessed means he may have so many benefits and may even be a child of artemis herself.He remember the strength that course through his body during his mark's awakening.If he can obtain that power, control and develop it properly,he can't imagine how much stronger he will become.
"So I guess there are many child of deity in the world right now?"From what Freya said ,it seems like that should be the case,but he asked anyway.
"Hmm …I personally have met a few in my life time such as child's of Hercule,Athena ,Hermes and even poseidon,although the I rather never met that last said person again due to various reason.That man was extremely powerful but equally disdainful to the point I think he have some been cursed by the devil of pride."Freya laugh out loud while reminiscing her long distance past.
"Wow,sister freya have manage meet so many of them?"Liam was quite curious to know more about the other who were also blessed like him.It would be nice if they are all sane and friendly people,but for some reason Liam have a feeling he should erase that mentality when he is faced with these people.
"Yes of course,I am one as well.I am the child of the primordial Goddess of gravity Kridra."Freya boast proudly and puff out her chest.Liam was shocked out of his mind that someone like that is next to him all this time and he spent the next minute staring at her in a dumbfounded expression.
"Hahahaha big sister is very cool right?But that compliment is not going to spare you from training!Let's go after you finish that bottle."Freya pat his head and go ahead to prepare for his next training.
"Yes big sister."Liam stared at the bottle of pale gold liquid curiously for a moment,then quickly finish the content after he open its lid.
The result was quite amazing,he can feel his fatigue swiftly went away while his mana and wounds all recover fully in a few seconds.He stood up and moved his limbs and found that he even felt more energetic and powerful than before.
"So this is the effect of sister freya's recover elixir."Liam was once again in awe at the various powerful item Freya have in her possession and he wonder if he could one day be as powerful and a master of craft like her.
At that he continued his various trainings for the next four days in a row.He would push his body and mana core to their very limit and recover with the elixir Freya gave him.And spent the rest of his time with his cousin since Jerome has already left for his work.He could tell that winey was still not comfortable at sending him off to a distance land,but there was nothing either of them could do for this.Hence they decided to spend these few short day enjoying their family time along with Freya to leave no regret.
Soon,the day for his departure has arrived.After packing all his necessary items and rations in his travel bag,he went of out towards the village entrance along with Freya and winey.
"Take care Liam,train well and don't waste too much time to flirt with girls at the Academy!"Liam felt his face flushed and suddenly want to leave right away when freya shout from the front of the gathering crowd that was here to sent him off.The crowd broke into laughter and cheers at the light hearted jokes.
Liam then gave freya,winey,the mayor and each of the household member that will host winey's stay a hug in gratitude.
"Please take care of winey while we are away,I am sure she will not cause trouble."Liam bowed at them and Freya,earning him a glare from his cousin.
"Take care brother,please.Don't do anything reckless and come back safely with dad and mom."Winey sighs then went ahead and gave Liam a tight bear hug " Also,remember letters and souvenir!"Winey remind him the to do list before she can let him go.
Liam smiles and hugs back."Of course,I promise so take care of yourself."He pat her head softly as he let go of her.
"Thank you everyone for your care.I will be back!"Liam bowed deeply towards his fellow neighbors,then take his first step in his lifelong journey to unveiled the mysteries this world and to sought strength to protect his loved ones from the various threats in the near future.