Aki stood in front of Beniko, panting heavily with marks of strikes on his forearms and thighs. His muscles burned with exhaustion, but he gritted his teeth and remained focused.
"Don't stop! Keep swinging and correct your posture. You still have about 23 swings left," Beniko commanded, her voice stern and unwavering.
Aki, drenched in sweat, felt his arms shake with the strain. The staff in his hands felt heavier with each swing, but he refused to give up. His mother's words echoed in his mind: "Hold the staff not at its center but a little behind. Keep its short end close, and swing not with power but with flexibility. Swing it like you'd swing your arm in a curve."
He could feel the sting of every correction, the sharp tap of the staff on his body as Beniko disciplined him for each mistake. Yet, as painful as it was, Aki knew it was necessary. Every mistake, every correction, was pushing him closer to the goal.
The first ten swings had been a warm-up, an introduction to the discipline. But the next hundred had been tormenting, each one resulting in a painful reminder of his mistakes. By the end of the first hundred swings, his arms were sore, his body marked with welts and bruises.
"Correct your stance! You're bending your knees too much. Lift your arms higher! Don't let the staff droop," Beniko's voice cut through the exhaustion, guiding him back on track. For every mistake, she delivered a swift strike to his body, a constant reminder of the discipline required for true mastery.
Aki could feel the tears welling in his eyes as he struggled to hold the staff correctly. The pain was unbearable, his limbs screaming for respite. But he knew he couldn't stop. Not yet. Not when his mother's training had brought him this far.
After finishing the first hundred swings, Aki collapsed to the floor, panting for air. His body ached, but his resolve remained firm.
"Good job, Aki. I didn't expect you to endure it till the end. I am proud of you," Beniko said, her voice softer now but still carrying the weight of discipline.
"Mom... I know... you hitting to correct my posture speeds up the process. You've explained it to me... but still... it was difficult," Aki gasped, unable to hide the fatigue in his voice.
"It's okay, my boy," she said, her hand resting on his shoulder in a rare moment of tenderness. "This is to make sure you gain the muscle memory. You'll be able to do it instinctively soon enough. Now, let's go back. I'll prepare you a medicinal bath. It'll help with the fatigue and pain."
Aki nodded wearily, allowing his mother to help him back to the house. The medicinal bath would ease his aching body, but he knew there was no shortcut to true strength. This was only the beginning.
The afternoon sun was beginning to dip below the horizon when Aki heard a familiar voice call out to him.
"Aki, your favorite grandma is here!"
Aki immediately shot up from his seat, a burst of energy flooding his exhausted body as he rushed to the door. His grandmother, Nozomi, stood there with a warm smile on her face. He threw himself into her arms, wrapping his small arms around her in a tight hug.
"Nozomi! You came to see me!" Aki beamed, his face lighting up with excitement.
"I heard you started training, good! Let grandma know all about it," she said, her voice full of pride.
Even though Nozomi probably already knew everything that had transpired, she still wanted to hear it from Aki himself. Grandparents were like that. They loved to hear their grandchild's perspective on things, even if they already knew the outcome.
Aki eagerly recounted everything that had happened: the brutal training session with his mother, the exhausting swings with the staff, the corrections, and the pain. Nozomi listened intently, her eyes widening in surprise at certain parts of the story. It was clear she was proud of him, but also impressed at how much he had already endured.
"That's my Aki for you!" Nozomi thought to herself, a gleam of pride in her eyes. "Ho ho, nobody can match him. He endured it all. I'll get to brag to the other oldies about him now." She closed her eyes in contentment, imagining herself bragging about Aki to her peers.
"I'm sure you know," Nozomi finally spoke, breaking her train of thought, "I came to teach you about the mental aspects of training. Even though two idiots simplified it to meditation... IT IS NOT." Her voice grew serious, and Aki listened closely.
"Take my words to heart, Aki. As important as it is to cultivate and practice your body, it is equally — or even more — important to cultivate your mind. This cannot be done with just meditation. This is the way of elevating yourself, and it routes into the very essence of any being's survival: adaptation. From today, you will constantly work on your mental abilities while doing everything in your daily life. Let me give you a fair warning at the start: this is not going to be easy, and your progress will be slower than a snail's breath."
Aki's mind whirred as he absorbed her words. It clicked. He had been wondering why the quests in his system had been progressing so slowly. Now, he understood. It wasn't just physical strength or combat prowess he needed. It was mental strength, an ability to adapt to his circumstances and grow from them. This mental training, whatever it entailed, would be just as crucial as his physical development.
While Aki was lost in his thoughts, Nozomi noticed the subtle changes in his psyche. She could sense his readiness, the quiet determination in his heart. It was a look she had seen in few people, and it made her proud.
"Don't worry, Aki. We'll be with you through this," she said, placing a comforting hand on his head. The reassurance in her voice gave Aki the courage he needed.
Beniko, who had been quietly observing from a distance, nodded. "Daughter, we are going now." She tapped Aki on the shoulder, and the world around him seemed to shift. Aki blinked in surprise, only to find that he and Nozomi had been transported outside. They stood near a water reserve he had never seen before, a serene, untouched part of the estate.
Aki couldn't help but feel a pang of confusion. He was barely a year old, and yet there were so many places he hadn't seen within the estate. It was strange, given how much time he spent here. But then again, he had always been more focused on the lessons at hand, not the physical space around him.
Nozomi gave him a knowing smile as if reading his thoughts. "Don't worry about it, Aki. This is just a space I created for myself. Now, this is where we will continue your training."
Aki blinked. "Where are we, Grandma?"
"It doesn't matter. What matters is that you'll learn something crucial here. Breathing. The essence of all mortal existence lies in it. In a desolate world, even without spiritual energy, breathing would be the foundation of survival. This is the first thing you must learn."
Aki nodded, eager to understand.
"Now, let me teach you something. Sit in lotus position, keep your back straight. This is not just about your body. It's about willpower. It will drain you, but this is the goal: to strengthen your will and refine your mind."
Nozomi guided him through the breathing technique, explaining the nuances of each step. But as she did, something strange began to happen. Aki's consciousness shifted. He found himself transported to another realm — the realm of his mind. It was here that Aki encountered a strange, stone tablet inscribed with unfamiliar glyphs. Despite the oddity of the symbols, he could somehow understand them.
The words read:
Methedology: एकम्
Sit in lotus position, observe your breath, listen to it speak. See it flow, feel the stillness of the flow. Keep your breath still, yet constantly moving. Feel the hunger, feel the need of your mortal body. Feel your existence controlling it. Feel it overpowering you. Only those who can suffocate themselves are truly free. Free from control, free to control, free to develop more.
At first, it seemed like gibberish, but as Aki focused, he realized that the instructions weren't just about breathing. It was about control — control over his body, his mind, and his very existence. The more he read, the more he understood that mastering this technique would unlock something far beyond his current capabilities.
Without hesitation, Aki followed the instructions, sitting down in lotus position and focusing on his breath. The task was harder than he expected. The instructions were cryptic, and the strain on his body and mind was immense. Yet, he knew this was the path to something greater.
Time passed in the mind realm. Aki continued practicing the technique, trying to adapt and understand. But he had no way of knowing if he was progressing. It wasn't until a notification echoed in his mind that he realized he had reached a milestone.
Quest Progress:
Breathing Method: एकम्
Task: Master the breathing method to improve mental control and willpower.
Current Status: 15%
Reward: Enhanced mental capacity, quicker adaptation to environmental changes, and access to future mental training techniques.
Aki opened his eyes with a start. His body felt drained, but his mind was clearer than it had ever been. He knew he had just begun to unlock the true potential of this training. There was still much to learn, but now, he was on the path.
Nozomi watched him carefully, her approval clear in her eyes. "Good, Aki. You've made progress. This is just the beginning."
Aki nodded, feeling the weight of her words. There was no turning back now.