"I should train my physique as it is important as well." Kaen says.
Kaen then heads out to the forest in the vicinity of the town to train.
"The doctor said that I should rest but I can't rest... I need to get stronger! " Kaen says with determination.
Kaen now spends most of his time in the forest, practicing his combat and dreaming of the day when he will be able to harness the power of his magic.
He moves through the trees, practicing his techniques, and doing push-ups, crunches, and weight lifting to strengthen his body.
He uses a training dummy that moves in certain ways to attack him when he punches the arm, the arm on the other side swings back as if to strike back, Kaen trains it to improve his reflexes.
"I feel so light, man it feels great." Kaen says happily.
"Let's go give this blow my all!" Kaen says as he is going to punch the tree with all his might.
Just then Kaen senses something.
"What's this?!" An attack?" Kaen thinks as he instinctively leans back.
However, he's too slow. He feels a sudden impact in his stomach. Kaen is sent flying backward, crashing into a nearby tree and spitting blood onto the ground.
"What the hell was that?! I sensed it but it was too fast for me to react. Is it even possible for someone to go that fast?!" Kaen thinks as he's shocked.
Kaen stands up and sees a tree falling from the sky at incredible speeds.
"What in the world?!" Kaen says shocked.
Kaen barely dodges the tree by quickly stepping back but falls to the ground due to his injury. He tries to quickly catch his breath as he looks straight and sees another tree flying towards him.
"Give me a break!" Kaen says.
Kaen tries to dodge again but gets hit slightly, knocking him off balance.
"Crap!" Kaen thinks.
Immediately after, he notices another tree flung in his direction, this time noticeably faster than the others.
"There's no way I'll be able to avoid this one." Kaen thinks in a panic.
Kaen seems hopeless just then, and a voice speaks to him.
"Use your magic power, are you stupid or what? " it said.
"Huh?" Kaen is confused.
Then Kaen feels what can only be described as a monstrous presence and immense pressure around him.
"You have the strength within you to fight back." The voice says again.
"He's right..man I can't let this be the end. No way.." Kaen thinks.
Kaen then regains his balance and stands upright.
"I swore I would grow stronger.." Kaen says.
A strange orange aura starts to envelop Kaen.
"I can't always count on others to save me, I won't be a burden to anyone ever again!" Kaen shouts.
Kaen then feels a surge of energy coursing through his veins. He closes his eyes and focuses, drawing on the power within him. And then, with a roar, he unleashes a torrent of flames that engulfs the tree, and the surrounding trees behind it, reducing them to ash.
As the smoke clears, Kaen sees his attacker for the first time. It looked to be a man, tall and muscular, with a fierce expression on his face. Kaen knew instantly he was a skilled fighter, and he also Kaen knew that if he tried to fight him. He'd be dead.
"Who are you?! Why are you attacking me?!" Kaen shouts as he huffs.
Kaen now injured and drained of power is struggling to stand. Before Kaen could repeat himself, the man spoke.
"You did good, you are worthy enough to train."
The stranger says with excitement as Kaen then falls to the ground and is unconscious.
Kaen then wakes up with a jolt. He seems to be at a campfire, Kaen then sees the stranger and quickly gets up away from the man.
"Who are you?" Kaen asks cautiously again.
"I am Akurai Hidoi." He says.
"And I have been sent to train you."
Kaen then remembers what the doctor said to him.
"Alright, I talked with the leader of the Fuseijitsu association he's permitted one person to train you. Your trainer is ruthless, he doesn't care about anyone or anything. He just does what is told. He will spare no sympathy during training. He trained someone similar to you before but that kid died shortly after. You'll have to be prepared mentally and physically for it."
Before Kaen could speak.
"You are lucky to be chosen. You better be grateful." Akurai says as he glares intensely at Kaen.
Kaen stares back in confusion.
"But man you are weak. You are the one who will join our adventuring organization? Guess that is why I am here." Akurai says.
"Are you from the Fuseijitsu Association?" Kaen asks while still being cautious.
"Yeah." Akurai answers.
"What is it exactly? It's only been mentioned to me once." Kaen asks.
"The Fuseijitsu Association is an Association that hires adventurers. Those adventurers travel the continent, seeking out ancient artifacts in the dungeons and battling dangerous monsters. They are the protectors of the world, the ones who keep the balance between this world and those mysterious supernatural dungeons." Akurai explains.
"That...sounds so cool!" Kaen says with excitement in his eyes.
"It's not all sunshine and rainbows, people die going into those dungeons, and let me tell you their deaths are not painless. I've seen people die in such agonizing pain." Akurai says with a stern tone.
"Oh. I'm sorry." Kaen says.
"As I was saying, Kaen you have been chosen as one who could join their ranks and help to save the world from destruction." Akurai says.
"Oh, I see." Kaen says.
"Now I'm sure you've heard what I'm capable of. I hope you are ready. Go get rest. We start tomorrow, this is gonna be fun." Akurai as he laughs to himself.
"Can I really make it? Can I ever get strong enough?" Kaen thinks as he clenches his fist.
But as Akurai spoke, Kaen felt a sense of conviction growing within him. He knew that he had to do something. He had to join the Fuseijitsu Association, no matter what the cost.
"No, I will make it." Kaen says as he stares up at the starry night sky.
End of Chapter