Chereads / The Manaless Reincarnation / Chapter 22 - A Trip To The Training Grounds (1)

Chapter 22 - A Trip To The Training Grounds (1)

Well, I managed to keep my promise, but It look's like Eve had different a different meaning of 'Get back home early'.

Sarcastically thinking inside my head as I was grounded for a couple of days.

Luckily, Jack was there to convince Eve how young boy's are more likely to forget what they promised, saying that he was the same when he was young.

It worked, but not enough to remove the grounding altogether.

The week long house arrest was lessened to a 3 day isolation.

I spent that time reviewing whatever I was allowed to read at home with Morgana frequently visiting me from time to time.

And early this day, Aenar said something about a new kid joining in the training grounds, and how he was almost as strong as him.

I didn't now how strong Aenar currently is considering his age, so I was still clueless whether I should be impressed or not.

But, as soon as he mentioned the training ground, I became curious and asked Jack and Eve if I could check it out today, since I was finally free from house-arrest starting today.

BUT, the decision was all up to Eve.

I could still remember earlier today how Jack was glancing side to side, waiting for her reply.

Well, at the very least, Eve accepted on one condition. Jack will come today with me.

And since today was his day off, Jack accepted, and for a faint moment, somehow he felt force to oblige as he hid his true feelings.

'He probably planned to laze off today.'

Then, as soon as Aenar heard it, he became excited and said that he'll show his progress to Jack.

I had a faint curiosity about Aenar and how he wields the sword, but what peaked my interest is how they train.

Do they just jog by laps around the grounds? Swinging their swords a hundred times like in the novels? Or is there some sort of secret to it?

After all, this IS a world of Swords and Magic.

'Maybe I could copy some moves in secret. It's a bummer that Morgana can't come, she's probably picking some berries outside of the city by now.'

The walk was long, longer than I thought.

But that wasn't the problem, it was how Jack was being stopped whenever someone greeted and asked about his day, and whenever someone DID ask him, he always replied with a different answer.

An answer that I wouldn't trouble myself repeating.

Thankfully, I have experience to this kind of things.

My father from my previous life was the same whenever he caught sight of someone familiar, or closed to. The talk was long but my perseverance was longer.

Apparently, the training grounds can be found near the eastern gate of SilverCrest, where the smithy's and other weapon and armor shops are can be seen.

We passed open buildings, whilst the rest were closed. the only open buildings were one's that had already-built armor's and weapons on display. The smithy's on the other hand were closed.

Probably because they don't want anyone copying their works.

Only the sound of metal banging together can be heard as the smoke comes coming out of the buildings chimney.

'Maybe I could also try smithing? But not right now....I probably won't even be able to raise a hammer with this underdeveloped body.'

Finally, after a long and persevering walk, we arrived at the training grounds.

'It's much....larger than I thought.'

The Grounds were as wide as a track-field, there laid several barracks on the side where the trainees come out with wooden swords and leather armors.

Ten wooden dummies stood on the left side of the training grounds.

'Those are probably for archery training.'

Most were swinging their swords downward, piercing with their spears while the rest were running laps, and doing some archery training.

But what surprised me was there were also girls training.

Well, there isn't a rule for it, but still, It was an eye opener.

With each step, Jack and I grew closer to the trainees swinging their swords. Aenar who saw us in the distance, showed a happy face, but he instantly showed a serious expression as he focused on showing off.

"Put all your strength on each swing! Don't laze off your muscles! You! Your balance is off! Make sure your feet are firmly planted on the ground!" The instructor shouted.

"Y-YES!" A trainee replied.

SWOOSH!!! SWOOSH!!!

With each swing the wind was sliced and the dust flew sideways.

"Good! Just like th-" the instructor turned his head, probably heard our footsteps. "If it isn't Jack Pyrrus!" He showed a smile and walk closer.

"I thought it's your day off? Never did I thought I'll see you here."

"Well, I thought it was time to pay a visit, and see whether the young one's are doing well."

Jack gave a firm handshake, one that made a clapping noise as soon as each of their hands made contact.

"But you on the other hand, why are you here? I thought you were still on Eldoria? How did you make it back so fast? And how did you know it's my day off?"

"Are you actually asking me that? Me?" the instructor grinned and crossed his hands together.

"Ohh....I forgot how good your ear and eyes were. Well, why Are you here in the first place, Gret?"

"Well, The commander said I should do something different for once, saying how I'm becoming stiff nowadays. So I'm here as a volunteer instructor, as you can see."

Thought their chat was becoming longer, not a single one of the trainees showed laziness.

'They must be serious about this.'

"Well, since your here. What do you think? Do they pass?" Jack asked as he pointed quick with his head.

Gret glanced behind. "Some of them have talent, well most of them are, but it seems they still haven't realized it. But five of them caught my eye."

"Hoo....please enlighten me."

"Well, first of all- Ohh? is that your son?"

Before Gret started, he glanced down towards me.

"Yeah....he's turning six this year, he's a bit smaller you think?"

"Hmmm....." Gret bended and squinted his eyes.

"Ahhh...he-hello." With a forced grin, my head darted a few inches back as I replied.

Then Gret started rubbing his chin.

"You....You're manaless, am I right?"

"Haa...you really know everything, huh." Exhaling a small lump of air, Jack shaked his head.

My lips curled and my eyes began darting left to right. I didn't want to think about the past, but I guess most people still wanted to remind me about myself.

"Well...that's a bummer. I could train you at the very least, but as you know, I'm only here to volunteer." Gret straightened his posture and turned around.

"Now...where was I. Ahh...first there's Viro Kolin, he's a nine year old who's proficient with the whip." He pointed on the back where a kid was cutting grass with his whip. "A peculiar weapon, if you ask me, his control over mana is still on the beginning stage but he can defend himself from low level beasts and animals."

Then he pointed to the next. "Second is Tristan Ceral. He uses both sword and shield to attack and defend, he's an all rounder who's capable of using some mid tier magic."

Then the next, but now it was someone familiar. "Hera Vermill. Her wield of the bow is already capable enough, and how she uses her magic to imbue her arrows are imaginative and without mistake. But sometimes she tends to forget most things, such as arrows and whenever the string on her bow snaps."

Gret dropped his hands and faced towards the trainee at the front. "Then the last two. Arnold Heimach and your eldest son, Aenar Pyrrus."

'Heimach....is he related to the librarian? Vrasir Heimach?' the sudden thought entered my head.

"That's my son alright. So...which one of them is stronger?" Jack asked with a proud expression.

Although I was someone who's already an adult, so to say, I felt a slight stung on my heart as Jack showed such a proud face. Well, not that I cared the slightest.

"They're on par with each other. Aenar won last time but that's only because Arnold still haven't realize that he doesn't have talent for the sword. If only he can realize that." Gret glanced back and forth towards the two trainees.

"Arnold lacks flexibility, but his strong body makes up for it whenever he get hit. His way of using his mana to cover his body is too rough. If only he can fix his habit of flexing whenever he strikes, he can grow much more than he is."

"Well, they're still children, they have lot's of time to think about it...." Jack replied his thoughts. "...so...how about my son?"

"Aenar.....well, for me, he doesn't lack anything. He absorbs everything he learns in a tremendous pace that I even thought he was a sponge absorbing a water. He can already use magic like most adults. And he's quick to put it into action..."

'I hear a but coming.' I thought inside my head.

"But....he's too rash. Even when he knew an attack is coming, he defends and doesn't dodge at all. He could defend himself from most strikes, but sooner or later he'll reach his limit's. Well, that's my thought on these five. If they fix their bad habits, they can even stand on par of the Seven Grace's children."

"So they're capable of becoming the pillars of the continent?"

"Woah....I didn't say pillars, that's too much..." Gret replied, denying Jack's words. "....but...if you think about it. They might be capable of reaching their level. IF they work hard enough."

Amidst these chat of back and forth, a sudden question entered my head. 'Pillars? What are those? Some sort of powerhouse?'

In all of history, I've never read of something called the Pillars, so it must probably be a new topic altogether.

'Look's like I need to up my game. Maybe I should ask Vrasir on my next visit.'

"Okay, that's enough! Take a ten minute break then we'll proceed to sparring!" Gret shouted, his voice even stopped the farthest trainee from training.

'Sparring!' I shouted inside my head.

I can finally see what level the kid's in this world have. Excited as I felt goosebumps all over my body, I was left with opened wide eyes as the spar started.

'Are you kidding me?!'