Dawn has broken.I was very tired last night.I didn't think that concentrating would be this difficult. It's quite challenging to rotate the energy within my body and to transfer it from one point to another or to hold it together.Master Valorant told me how important concentration is for Elestars.Elestars can be described as knights who are capable of using magic.They primarily train to fight against demons.It turns out that magic isn't just used for spells; it can also enhance the body's strength."This is the difference between mages and Elestars" Master Valorant said.And so began my practices for today.I managed to maintain my concentration better today.My concentration has been increasing day by day.
It has been a month since I met Master Valorant.During this time, I've focused solely on my concentration.I haven't engaged in any other physical activities.Therefore, I've learned more about my teacher.My master is a fan of elves, specifically elf girls.If this can be called fandom, of course.One day, while my master was sleeping,I entered his room.He was holding a book titled "journal" and had fallen asleep.Out of curiosity,I took a look and found that it was a magazine featuring model elf girls.Because of this,I concluded that my master is very interested in elves.To be honest, elf girls are indeed very beautiful.
Valorant:
-"From today onward, you'll train your body along with your concentration.Have you started to feel your energy?"
Attu:
-"Yes, I can feel it much better now"
Valorant:
-"In that case, we will begin real exercises today"
And so we started the actual training.The past month of exercises to calm and sense my energy has come to an end.
Today I ran in the forest.I didn't think he would make me run so far.After that, I did push-ups 100 times until I had no strength left. If I fell during my workout, my master would mercilessly hit me with his favorite weapon, a stick.
Attu:
-"Master! Can I take a little break?"
Valorant:
-"Of course!" - said Valorant, and Attu was very happy."But, after thirty more [reps]," he added.Upon hearing this,Attu's happy face turned a bit sad.
Valorant:
-"Remember what I said!"
Attu:
-"Which statement?"
Valorant:
-"A person who knows the value of inaction also knows the value of action.Therefore, now keep moving without rest.You haven't done anything for a month; you need to pay for that"
Attu continued to struggle.Eventually, he collapsed to the ground, face down, exhausted.
Valorant:
-"Come on,get up,there are still twenty left" -he said, striking him with a stick.
Attu:
-"Master, I have no strength left!" -he said in a weak voice.
Valorant:
-"Don't die! We still have one more task to do"
Attu:
-"What?"
Valorant:
-"Alright, take a break! Once you recover, we will continue"
Valorant walked away from Attu.Attu noticed that his master had been going somewhere frequently over the past two weeks.After a little while,Attu got up. Valorant returned as well.
Valorant:
-"Now we can start"
Attu:
-"Start what?"
Valorant:
-"From today, I will teach you how to fight"
Attu was delighted by this statement.
Valorant:
-"I will first teach you hand-to-hand combat, and then how to fight with a sword.More precisely, we will fight"
Attu was astonished by these words.Valorant took his stick and moved from the place he had been practicing in the forest to a slightly open area.Attu followed his master.
Valorant:
-"This will be the place.We can start practicing here" -he said and removed the cloth covering him.Although Valorant looked old, the muscles on his body contradicted that appearance.His forearms looked as if they were filled with strength, resembling a young man. He was wearing a black outfit without sleeves. However, he could not hide the muscles on his body.
Valorant:
-"Attu, you attack, and I will rate you based on that. Attack!"
Attu charged without saying a word.I was about to punch Valorant in the face, but Valorant simply grabbed Attu's hand.Valorant released the hand that was holding Attu's fist and said:
-"Very weak, very slow. Attack again"
Attu came running again, wanting to strike.This time,Valorant didn't even try to hold him.He just stepped aside and tripped him by placing his foot in his path.
Valorant:
-"You need to learn to stand on your feet"
Attu fell face-first to the ground.He got back up again.His anger was growing, and signs of rage were appearing on his face.He attacked Valorant again.This time he walked up, stopped, and struck.
For Valorant, these were nothing, so without even trying to dodge, he grabbed Attu's hand and used his weight to push him forward, causing him to fall.Attu landed on his waist.
Valorant:
-"That was better compared to your previous strikes.The lesson is over" -he said slowly, taking off his cloth and starting to leave.
Attu:
-"Why is the lesson just starting now?You haven't taught me anything specific yet"
Valorant:
-"Did you forget something?"
Attu:
-"What?"
Valorant:
-"Calmness, your anger is already taking over you. We will continue the rest tomorrow". -and with that, Valorant headed towards the cabin in the woods. Attu realized he needed to regain control after this.He stayed there to meditate. After meditating, until it got dark, Attu practiced striking with his hands and feet.As dusk began to fall, he returned to the cabin.There, by the fire, Valorant was sitting.Attu sat down next to the fire.Valorant handed him a container.Without saying anything, Attu began to eat the food from the container. After a while, Attu asked:
-"Where did you learn to fight?"
Valorant:
-"Why are you asking now?"
Attu:
-"I've been meaning to ask for a long time.However, I didn't know how to ask"
Valorant:
-"You can't learn this in one place.This comes from years of practice.I have learned many things since my youth when I was a general"
Attu:
-"Were you a general?"
Valorant:
-"Yes, I commanded an entire army in my time.Now, I am retired.Currently, a student is leading the army in my place"
Attu:
-"I have another question."
Valorant:
-"Go ahead, ask your question."
Attu:
-"Why do you disappear every day?"
Valorant:
-"I'm watching to see if any news comes from the messenger birds"
Attu:
-"Why?"
Valorant:
-"When you came, I thought about whether the demons would cross the border again after two weeks.If one or two demons cross, I can kill them. But what if an entire army shows up?That's why I'm writing down what happens every day for my student"
Attu:
-"That's why you go out at night"
Valorant:
-"Yes, because demons, like vampires, cannot move during the day.Both burn in sunlight.That's why they operate at night"
Attu:
-"I didn't know that.Why do they burn in the sun?"
Valorant:
-"I don't know.This has not been determined yet.But it can be said that this is a punishment for them"
Attu:
-"Punishment?"
Valorant:
-"It can be said for the sins they commit.Demons kill and eat people, and not only do they kill them, but they can also turn people into demons.For this, just a few drops of blood are enough"
Attu:
-"I didn't think demons had so many abilities"
Valorant fell silent for a while after that. Attu fell asleep in front of the campfire at night. The sun rose, dawn broke. Attu woke up and looked around. Seeing that Valorant was not beside him, he got up and went for a morning run for training.
It was time for lunch. While Attu was busy in the forest, Valorant arrived. His clothes had changed.
Attu:
-"Where have you been?"
Valorant:
-"I had to go somewhere"
Attu:
-"Well, if that's the case, shall we start training?"
Valorant:
-"Yes, of course, in a bit. I'll go to the hut"- he said, showing something in his hand.
After Valorant returned from the hut, they practiced hand-to-hand combat together. No matter how many times Attu tried, he couldn't land a single hit on Valorant. Exhausted from falling to the ground, Attu said:
-"That's enough, I have no strength left"
Valorant laughed and said:
-"Is it really that hard to keep falling?"
Seeing Valorant laugh, Attu was surprised and asked:
-"Did you just laugh?"
Valorant:
-"Yes, what's wrong with that?"
Attu:
-"I'm surprised because you haven't laughed even once in a month" - Attu noticed that he and Valorant had become quite close.
Valorant:
-"Come on, get up and take the stick in your hand. We will start fencing. I will teach you hand-to-hand and sword fighting in the same way from now on."
Attu happily got up, took the stick in his hand, and faced his mentor. Valorant said, "Start!" Attu stepped forward and tried to strike from above with the sword. However, by the time Attu lifted the stick, Valorant had already closed the distance between them. Valorant's stick was resting on Attu's neck. In this way, they practiced until evening. As night fell, they sat around the campfire in front of the hut and began to talk.
Valorant:
-"You trained well today"
Attu:
-"How so? I couldn't even touch you once"
Valorant:
-"I didn't see a single trace of anger on your face today. You've learned to control yourself quite well"
Attu:
-"Yes, of course! I tried to understand my mistake yesterday and not to get angry again"
Valorant:
-"Calmness is important for a warrior. No matter what situation you are in, always stay calm. Only then will your mind not get clouded, and it will be difficult for you to make mistakes. And I have a gift for you"
Attu:
-"Really? What did you bring?"
Valorant entered the hut carrying a bag. He sat down in front of the fireplace and took out clothes from the bag, handing them to Attu.
Valorant:
-"Here, try them on!"
Attu was very happy to see the clothes Valorant gave him and tried them on. Attu wore a black cloak, an inner white collared shirt, black pants, and a pair of boots.
Valorant:
-"These are a gift from me to you"
Attu:
-"Really? Thank you very much"
Valorant:
-"You've been wearing the same outfit for the last month, so I thought you needed some new clothes"
Attu asked in surprise:
-"When did you manage to go and come back? We are in the forest, and the city is at least a two-day journey from here..."
Valorant:
-"I sent a message through the messenger birds to my student. About the necessary things. I brought them back when I went out to check the surroundings at night"
Attu:
-"Ah, that's why you were gone in the morning"
Valorant took a piece of black cloth and handed it to Attu, saying:
-"Put this on!"
Attu:
-"Why?"
Valorant:
-"To check something."
Attu tied the black band around his eyes.
Valorant:
-"Did you tie it?"
Attu:
-"Yes, now what should I do?"
Valorant spread his five fingers wide and asked:
-"How many fingers am I showing?"
Attu looked at Valorant:
-"You are holding up five fingers."
Valorant:
-"Look behind you and tell me how many fingers I'm showing."
Attu turned around. At that moment, Valorant hid his hand behind his back in a way that Attu couldn't see it and asked, holding up two fingers:
-"How many fingers am I showing?"
Attu replied:
-"Two."
Valorant was surprised by this and said:
-"Now take a step forward and keep walking until you know how many I'm showing."
Attu took a step forward, correctly identifying his mentor's changing fingers with each step. After walking ten meters, Attu said:
-"I can't see anything now."
Valorant:
-"Right now, I'm going to throw a stone at you from behind, and you need to bend down, understood?"
Attu:
-"Yes"
Valorant picked up a small stone that wouldn't come close and threw it with all his strength. Attu sensed the stone flying towards him and bent down.
Valorant:
-"That's enough, come this way!"
Attu:
-"What were you testing just now?"
Valorant:
-"I had never seen anything like this before. When you blindfold yourself, can you see your surroundings?"
Attu:
-"Yes. I can see"
Valorant shouted:
-"How exactly do you see?"
Attu:
-"When I put a blindfold on my eyes, I can see everything around me. Just within a limited distance"
Valorant:
-"What about your eyes? Can you see with them too?"
Attu:
-"Yes, I see the things in front of me as usual"
Valorant asked another question:
-"Do you have espers in your family?"
Attu:
-"What is an esper?"
Valorant:
-"People with unique abilities. They can't use magic, but they have other skills"
Attu:
-"Yes. My mom had a very good sense of hearing. Whenever we played hide and seek, she would always find me, even if I was hiding in a place where she couldn't see me"
Valorant:
-"I see. It seems you inherited your mother's ability. That's why you can see the things around you even with your eyes closed. It's just like how bats can hear. They can't see, but they hear very well. As a result, they can easily find their way at night. But one thing is interesting, you said you can see with your eyes closed?"
Attu:
-"Yes, even if I closed my eyes, I could see"
Valorant:
-"Did you see like it was daytime?"
Attu:
-"Yes, I saw it just like I would during the day"
Valorant:
-"I'm confused" - he paused for a moment.
Attu:
-"Is everything okay?"
Valorant:
-"Yes, everything is fine. It doesn't matter, it won't change anything"
After these words, Attu felt a bit different. Then he said:
-"Can I wear a bandage?"
Valorant:
-"Don't misunderstand me, it's just... If it makes you feel good, then go ahead and wear it"
Attu:
-"Thank you"
Thus, Attu continued to practice with his mentor Valorant every day. Two months later, autumn arrived. Attu reached the first level of the Fiery Wrath technique, Fiery Mana. During this time, he never once removed the blindfold from his eyes. On that day, Attu was very happy.
Attu:
-"And finally, I have reached the first level"
Valorant:
-"Congratulations! Even though it took longer than usual, you achieved it. Do you feel your body filling with power?"
Attu:
-"Yes, I feel strong"
Valorant:
-"This Fiery Mana is just the beginning; there is still much work ahead. Let's check how well you have learned Fiery Mana"
Attu:
-"Alright"
Valorant:
-"Take this iron vessel in your hand and heat the Fiery Mana to one hundred degrees Celsius. If you can do that, you will have mastered the first level well"
Attu took the vessel in his hand and began to heat it. After a few minutes, the water in the vessel started to boil.
Attu:
-"Did you see that? It worked"
Valorant came over to Attu and said:
-"Now stick your hand in the boiling water!"
Attu:
-"Really? My hand will burn!"
Valorant:
-"Just stick it in after I say so. - and he grabbed Attu's hand and forced it into the water"
Attu had closed his eyes, thinking he would be burned. However, he felt no pain at all.
Valorant:
-"Don't be such a coward"
Attu, not wanting to believe this, tried again to stick his hand in. This time, nothing happened either. With his concentration, he had managed to not feel the heat.
Four more months passed. Winter came. Despite the cold of winter, Attu did not stop his training. He grew stronger day by day and became smarter with the help of his mentor Valorant. With Fiery Mana, he continued to train without feeling cold, even when not dressed warmly. One winter day, Attu returned to the cabin after training. Upon entering, he saw Valorant sitting by the lit fireplace, reading a letter.
Attu:
-"What happened?"
Valorant:
-"Take what you need! We have to go on a journey"