"Heup… heup…!"
"3 more laps!"
For the past few hours, all I've done is jog and do squats. I would've given up 10 minutes into this exercise, but the problem is that I'm currently being supervised.
"Do you really think you could study swordsmanship at this rate?!"
"Haah…!"
Since this morning, I've already finished 4 laps containing 1 mile each. My lungs felt like giving out, my throat as dry as the dead sea. My body's current capabilities caused this regime to be difficult to perform.
This knight… no matter how hard I pleaded with him for even a small, 5-minute break, he never budged. He wouldn't even give me a single drop of water.
"You're slowing down!! Faster!"
"Hhh– Yes s-sir!!"
All of my decisions in this life led to me suffering even more, I fear the length of my survival in the long run.
Gulp
An hour after the stamina training I had drowned myself into drinking water, parched and sluggish whilst my body felt weak. The tendons in my muscles felt stretched and all I anticipate to happen once this day passes will be my inability to move once I take rest.
'I wouldn't be able to walk tomorrow…'
"I'll let you take a break for a day, be sure you'll be in great condition once we start training again."
Jasper stated, handing me another bottle of water as he saw the one on my hand that was emptied. I weakly grabbed it but then struggled to remove the cap. He noticed how long it's taking me to open the drink and decided to steal it away and open it, before returning the bottle back to me.
"Don't overexert yourself, young master."
Several aches on the side of my head persisted as I heard his advice, knowing full well how he massacred my 15 year-old body from his strict training just earlier. Though, I was the one who signed up for this so I don't think I have the right to complain.
"You may rest."
'Did he really think 1 day of rest could suffice after that hellish work out?!'
My body still felt sore even after a day of resting. Throughout my break, I could barely even lift a finger and was bedridden for the whole day. I also thought the pain would go away after lazing around… but surprisingly, my body still feels like being stung by a thousand needles in each of my joints and muscles.
"Can we just move this session tomorrow?…"
A raspy voice was heard from my mouth, attempting to ask for an additional break to be able to rest my body.
"If you keep asking for rest days, there wouldn't be any development in your body. This training would just be wasted."
Being shot down immediately, I mentally lamented and mourned for the state of my physical health. Jasper might've noticed my displeasure, seeing his expression grow softer while I looked at him. The pain in my body then abruptly disappeared as coldness lingered on my chest, eventually realizing that the knight had placed his palm on it.
"What was that?"
"I just replenished your strength."
Ah, I forgot. Magic exists in this world. Experiencing this in person still leaves me in awe; something you could only encounter in fiction.
"If you're finished dawdling around, let's start the training."
"Yes, sir!"
"Young people…"
A furrowed expression never left his face throughout our time being together, was he that reluctant to teach me swordsmanship? On top of the harsh exercises he continued to conduct, his attitude wasn't any good either, completely ignoring my superiority.
'Our age gap is only 2 years though…'
The regime I followed was the same as what I conducted on the first day of training. He neither added nor lengthened any of my exercises but somehow, it was slightly easier to endure than before.
Jasper then told me to train by myself just for a little bit, as he was called to handle a small dispute that happened between the guards.
At the final jog, my chest felt a bit tight but my condition wasn't as bad as the first day. It made me wonder if it was due to the spell he casted on me or if my physical capabilities were enhanced. But if it was the latter, then it should've reflected on my stats. It was weird how even though I felt like my condition had developed, the numbers wouldn't budge even for a little bit. Is this what they call a placebo?
Without knowing, someone from a distance had been gazing at my place in a cold manner. I continued to be oblivious towards it, which resulted in me being startled once he leaped to my side.
"Just to make sure, is the marquis aware of this frequent training?"
"No…"
He sighed and looked distraught, it seems as if he was wondering what to do with me in case my father found out about the torture I'm voluntarily going through without his permission. Being the powerless I was, I resorted to an embarrassing method to convince him not to tattle on me.
I proceeded to hold both of his wrists gently, looking up to his head caused by the gap in our heights, and displayed an expression of pleading.
"Please… don't tell him…"
I said with a cute tone, staring at him sheepishly. I wanted to off myself there and there for doing this, I never thought I would be acting all childish once again just to convince someone. Jasper's face furrowed distinctively and removed my hands by force with a glare on his face.
"You look like a fool, young master."
Realizing that my child-like behavior didn't work on him, I sighed heavily. It was worth the shot although it did nothing but humiliate me in front of my mentor.
"Let's end the training for today."
Some moments passed and there I was being escorted to my room. Jasper immediately sent me to the head butler right after my attempted persuasion.
I had already finished doing my exercise, the exhaustion being evident in my body. This will probably be the last time I'd ever go back to my room fatigued.
"Sir, would you like to have dinner in your room? You seem quite exhausted."
Asked the butler. His gaze towards me hinted at a slight worry, something I've grown used to since waking up in place of this Coulin kid. I never expected that he'd be this sickly, considering that he's a noble who's privileged enough to have a wizard or a great doctor keep his health balanced especially now that his body's been recovering from a catastrophe that occurred.
"It's alright, I feel pretty full right now."
Although I sincerely expressed my lack of hunger he still seemed unconvinced. He stopped retaining eye contact yet his strung up mood was still noticeable from the manner in which he guided me to my chambers.
Eventually reaching the doorway, the butler then bowed as the door creaked open, initially unlocking it with the key he had. I then went inside, my body craving for the soft cushion and warm comforter that my king-sized bed could offer.
"Young master, please call me whenever you're in need of anything."
"Alright."
Right after he went outside, I found myself lying down on the bed as if it's a reflex. The pent-up unease that was being negated by my adrenaline eventually acted up. With every limb in my body aching, some bruises leaving stings from my skin, there was nothing I could do but let the soft cushion shelter my tired state.
[ DANGER: CARNATION BEING TRACKED ]
…
A loud thud was audible from the ceiling's surface. It shook the whole room, with strong vibrations rearing my body. While my eyes remained shut, a golden shine intruded within the darkness. The strength of the light didn't blind me and rather made me feel a sense of comfort.
"What the…"
Upon opening my eyes, a large message box welcomed me, displaying a set of skills waiting to be revealed.
[ Coulin Danford Lv. 5 ]
Stamina 16
Strength 12
Charm 8
Mana 30
SP: G[]LD[]N CÆR[][]TÍO[]
[ LVL. ——— ]
'What's that at the end of the box?'
An impulse then yearned to take control of my thoughts, urging me to touch the pop-up. My hand then followed, slowly making contact with its translucent form.
[ NOTICE: Requirements met ]
[ .. ]
[ … ]
[ Undergoing Awakening… ]
The surface where my fingertips lingered then glowed a familiar golden light, an icy cold temperature creeping up to my skin. The space taken by the luminescent shine grew larger, eventually filling my senses with warmth and electricity.
I remained there sitting for a while, though those moments felt like a lifetime from the afflictions I was internally suffering from. It felt like thunder struck me several times, with a frequency of shocks pummeling the deepest pits of my core, the joints in my body curling from indescribable pain.
[ Congratulations! You have acquired the title:
[]o[][]en Carna[][][] ]
[ DANGER: CARNATION BEING TRACKED ]
After experiencing such torture, I was finally able to take a deep breath. My body felt consequently numb and refreshed, feeling a slight ache from my chest.
The current situation left me bewildered, as I wasn't aware of this title that I was currently unlocking. Not to mention the warnings that I've continuously been getting since the moment I woke up. It felt exhilarating, yet threatening at the same time. I couldn't help but think that this might just be a fever dream that I've been experiencing due to my body's fatigue.
Just as I was able to receive the token the system was offering, the power whose light glowed in front of me, seemingly yearning to fuse within the core of my now-awakened body, then turned pitch dark along with an ear-piercing gunshot that shook the whole room.
My vision then started to haze once more. The exhaustion slowly disappeared, yet was followed by a series of familiar sensations as if time was rewound, being visited by the painful warmth I had already experienced before even setting foot in this world.
★
The atmosphere turned chill, with only one source of life present in the current setting. The aftermath of the loud bang was barely heard from outside, rendering the maidservants and butlers oblivious to the crime that had occured within the marquis' mansion. Small volumes of liquid droplets then echoed within the room as a rotting odor gradually propagated.
The body of a young noble lay lukewarm on the bloodstained cushions in his bed. Liquid gold flowed through his raw wound, enchantingly glistening despite the lack of light. Its glow then slowly faded, as the footsteps of an intruder lightly tapped on the adobe floor. A sigh came after. He stood there for a while, staring blankly at the soon cold corpse.
"Shit."