It's been some time since my training began, and I have to say this, 'Murim' people are really cruel, and why am I saying this despite knowing that,
Well let me explain from the beginning...
*Flashback*
We were blindfolded and taken outside the 'Cult' territory into an unknown location, which looked like the inside of a cave and we were told we will be staying here for the next few years and will have to complete the given tasks in time or would get disqualified,
They explained the tasks were divided into 3 stages and each stage is divided into many different parts,
We were only told about the 1st Stage for now,
The Stage 1 tasks were really simple and were majorly based on 'memorization' and 'utilisation' but for normal 8 year olds with developing minds and underdeveloped bodies... not so much... I guess,
We also came to understand that we weren't the only ones going to train, since our father had changed the old 'clans' tradition and other 'autocratic' rules before... he disappeared,
Anyway, it was done this way, so everyone will be provided the same 'opportunities' and will only get 'resources' based on their own individual 'Strength' and 'Talent'.
There were 1000 other children including us inside this cave, all similar to us in terms of age and had a mix of both genders from the beginning,
Anyway, coming back to the tasks,
The first task was to 'memorise' the mandatory 'Academic Courses' in a certain time limit, which was skipped as we had both graduated,
So we were told to proceed with the next tasks,
This was mainly done to filter out anyone without an aptitude for 'quick learning' or 'ability' to read/learn,
The second task was to 'memorize' about the information and 'Utilisation of Medical Skills' and 'Basic Knowledge' and 'Information' about 'Internal Energy',
The medical skills were just first aid and emergency medical care, and information about herbs and other such things,
While the Basics of 'Internal Energy' included detailed information about it's 'History' and 'Versatility' and 'Utilisation' into different types, and division into different categories, which was honestly interesting to learn about and we both memorized them quickly in a few days,
[A/N : Refer to Auxiliary Chapters]
We thought it was over with just 'memorising' them but were later told we would have to learn how to 'Utilise' the 'Medical Skills' properly, later they brought injured people here everyday and would tell us to heal them and if we failed we wouldn't be getting any food for the day,
This took us 1 month to properly 'Master' their 'Utilisation' but we both finished it soon enough,
There were other children who also had joined us later on and would be doing this till they 'mastered' it too,
Meanwhile, the food we were provided everyday since the day we arrived inside the cave had small amounts of various different types of poisons and their antitodes mixed inside to increase our immunity, we all knew about them as we learned about them together with the medicines, and also because many of the cadets got disqualified after not being able to endure the poison.
Anyway, the third task was again 'memorising' about different types of 'Food, Diet and Nutritions' they provided or their effects, which was easy but seriously distracting for us but we memorised them soon and were able to proceed ahead as we only had to memorise about them,
We were still taught to train Physically and do meditation while we were completing the memorising tasks and were given a proper schedule to follow everyday in order to not get lazy or indisciplined,
Afterwards, the fourth task was revealed about 'memorising' and 'Utilisation' about 'Cooking, Hunting & Survival' techniques; memorising which made us disgusted reading about them because it felt like reading the script of a man vs wild episode, but they made sure we memorised them all completely and thoroughly and said the Utilisation tasks would be done later,
The fifth task was 'memorising' about Formations, Sign Language, Morse Code and Military Tactics which were harder compared to others but we had still completed them in a few weeks.
Afterwards we were told that the '1st stage' was now completed and we would soon begin the '2nd stage' from the next day,
Which made me think about the 3 months we just took to 'memorise' and learn how to 'utilise' everything completely in Stage 1, which had already disqualified many people just due to the time constraints,
There were 2 more stages ahead and many different tasks and I know just 'memorising' won't make me a '1st rate' or 'Master' realm 'Martial Artists' like the 'Princes' / 'Young Lord's' were during the time of 'Academy' joining, so I now need to quicken my pace,
The only reason why I was so slow was because I had planned to hide my abilities and talents from everyone till the academy training begins, since that was were our real training would begin from.
Well even so we were already being fed various medicinal pills and given medicinal baths as 'Vice-Lord Candidates' by our 'Families' since birth and were already a step ahead of others both 'physically' and 'mentally' but we weren't taught any type of 'martial arts' though so as to not affect our 'growth' in any way,
The day passed by that way with me thinking and remembering about such things and doing the regular exercises we were told to, then the next day the instructor arrived and called everyone to gather together,
After we were all gathered he announced,
"Cadets, from now on you will begin starting training as real warriors and I warn you it won't be anything like how it was until now"
He said before taking a look at all of our faces and continued,
"From today onwards you will be starting Stage 2 of your training which will be based purely on Physical 'Strength', 'Strength' on which the foundation and principles of our 'Cult' is based on, 'Strength' on which your talent is defined, 'Strength' on which your survival is defined... "
He continued On and On for a while like a Principal giving motivation speech to students on an Orientation Day and announced the beginning of Stage 2 with Vague details of what would happen afterwards while trying not to reveal anything,
He then explained the First Task of Second Stage which was just Physical Training and Exercises which we had to perform from now on for the next 6 months,
(Timeskip - 6 months later)
It's been 6 months and finally this task has been completed and many of the 'Cadets' here have been disqualified during this harsh and hellish training.
I finally got a reality check after going through the training that I am now in 'Murim' World, and that no matter how safe the environment I am born in I would need 'Strength' to survive here,
Now, you might say it's the brain washing the people of the 'Cult' do when training the 'Cadets' that I am saying so but NO,
It is what I have seen here that I am saying so,
It was during the start of our training,
It was then when I saw...
I saw the Cadets who while performing Mental Training in Stage 1 were cooperating and helping each other now beating the others weaker than them just because they other one was physically weaker and couldn't fight back now, just because they could do it now and while before they wouldn't,
I saw the Cadets who had helped the other Cadets before when asking for help in return get treated like beggars,
I saw the stronger cadets get ganged up on by groups of Cadets who are Physically weaker than them,
I saw the Cadets who asked others for help getting treated like Plague from others,
I saw the Cadets who tried to help getting beaten because of it, and many such situations,
I tried to help multiple times and I too had gotten beaten multiple times because of it, well to be honest we had not revealed our identity to anyone inside the 'Cult', only the Senior Instructors and Others related to us knew about us, and they too were told to not interfere in the training by the council,
[A/N : By related here means the people closely related to their families]
I respect that but what is happening here right now isn't right, this isn't how 9 year old children are supposed to behave,
I was in that emotional phase for a few days but after thinking where I was now or the 'Time-Period' I was in, I realised I was just being dreamy and foolish,
I mean even in the 21st Century, these things aren't rare, they are just well hidden or either ignored by people and does not get public attention,
I gained clarity that day, that if I wanted to survive in this 'Cult' no in this world in general then I needed 'Strength' and how I used that strength is totally up to me, but I needed 'Strength', To Live, To Survive, To Change or do anything for the matter,
[A/N : This was just a phase the MC 'was' going through before, you can blame me for being unable to express his emotions in detail, it was just him recalling everything that happened before]
....
That happened a few months back and now, both me and my sister have already reached the '3rd rate' rank, according to the instructors and would get to open our Meridians after the '2nd task' is completed,
Today the 2nd task was announced which was wearing 4, 7.5kg Metal Bracers on each of our limbs for the next 6 months and getting accustomed to them, [A/N : 30kg in Total]
They had also changed our Training regime, which while the previous ones were about training our body to be more 'Durable' and 'Flexible' while maintaining 'Balance' and then 'Strengthening' it,
This one was majorly focused on body 'growth' and 'development',
There was Swimming, Climbing and Hanging Exercises together with the other ones and we had to perform them daily while wearing the weights throughout the day for the next 6 months,
...
*(Timeskip - 6 months later)*
It's been 6 months now, we were told to remove the weights but I requested to have them and my sister also requested for the same as if taking it as a challenge.
I was honestly amused at her personality but also fearful about my sister turning into a 'Training Freak', I dismissed the thought at the moment as I had to focus on the current scenario,
We both are 10 years old now, and are already 'Established 3rd Rate Warriors' rank at the moment.. according to the instructors,
They had announced just now that everyone else remaining had 'now' reached '3rd Rate Warrior' rank and also that the instructors would arrive and help open our 'Meridians' soon and we will be given the 'Cults' Martial Arts to 'learn' and would then be able to start our training in 'Internal Energy' and build our foundation from now on...
To Be Continued...