Silent promise

Lea cleared her throat, snapping the atmosphere back to the training ground. "I hope my story has impressed upon you the importance of what we're about to undertake. Now, let's talk about the physical foundation, the bedrock upon which all cultivation is built."

She began to pace in front of the young trainees, her steps firm and her posture upright. "First, understand that cultivating your physical body isn't just about being strong or fast; it's about creating a vessel capable of containing and channeling incredible amounts of energy, or Qi as we call it. Without a sturdy vessel, any attempts at higher-level cultivation would be like trying to hold an ocean with a sieve. It would be disastrous, and often, fatal."

She turned to face them squarely. "Physical training at this stage involves four main areas: strength, speed, stamina, and flexibility. Each one complements the others, and weaknesses in any of these areas can hold you back in significant ways."

Lea began to elaborate on each point:

"Strength is the cornerstone. But when I say 'strength,' I'm not talking about bulging muscles. I'm talking about functional strength—the kind that lets you control your body and perform complex movements with ease. You will need it not only for combat but also for manipulating Qi more effectively."

"Speed isn't just about how fast you can run. It's about reflexes, quick thinking, and adaptability. In the world outside, being a fraction of a second too slow can mean the difference between life and death."

"Stamina is what allows you to keep going, whether you're in a protracted battle or deep in cultivation. It's about endurance and mental toughness as much as it's about physical resilience."

"Flexibility is often overlooked, but it's what allows you to move with fluidity and grace, to adapt to new forms and techniques, and to minimize injury."

Lea took a deep breath before continuing, "To build a solid physical foundation, you'll have to overcome many hurdles. First, there's the initial pain as your muscles and bones adapt to the new regimen. Then there's the plateau, where it feels like you're not making any progress at all. This is the point where many give up, thinking they've reached their limit. But it's often just a temporary stage before a significant breakthrough."

Her eyes scanned over each young face, gauging their reactions. "And then there are external factors—weather conditions, limited resources, injuries. The path is fraught with challenges, but each one you overcome makes you stronger, more resilient, and better prepared for the journey ahead."

Lea paused, allowing her words to sink in before she moved on to the next point. "Now, let's talk about your schedule for the next month. We have a lot to cover, so we need to be disciplined and make the best use of our time."

She began outlining the schedule in great detail, making it clear that every single day had been meticulously planned. "We'll begin our mornings with warm-up exercises, followed by strength training. This includes push-ups, pull-ups, squats, and various forms of weightlifting with the materials we have. After that, we'll move into speed and reflex drills, focusing on sprints, agility courses, and some basic combat training to hone your reflexes."

"As for stamina," she continued, "we'll be doing long-distance running and hiking, sometimes with added weight to simulate carrying supplies or armor. The flexibility sessions will involve deep stretching and basic acrobatics. All these elements are essential, and we'll be cycling through them each day to ensure a balanced development."

Lea then moved on to the topic of nutrition. "A good diet is crucial for effective physical training. Our community isn't rich, but we're resourceful. After each training session, you will have a lunch designed to optimize your recovery and growth. It will be rich in proteins, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates, as well as essential minerals and vitamins. Think fish, poultry, a variety of vegetables, grains, and some fruits. Your meals will be both nutritionally dense and energy-rich to fuel your training and recovery."

She looked around, her eyes meeting those of each young trainee. "Remember, what we're doing is laying the foundation for your future cultivation. Don't underestimate the importance of these basic practices, or the nutritional plan. Your progress in the more mystical aspects of cultivation will be severely hindered if you neglect your physical foundation."

Lea looked at her young charges, an array of expressions ranging from enthusiasm to trepidation on their faces. "Alright, enough talking. Let's get started. Everyone, line up!"

The group scrambled to form a somewhat disorganized line. Some were still chatting and giggling, seemingly unaware of the seriousness of Lea's previous words.

"Quiet down! This isn't a social gathering," Lea barked, cutting through the chatter. "First up, warm-up exercises. Let's start with jumping jacks. And one, two, three…"

As the youngsters began their jumping jacks, it was immediately apparent that some of them had never done one before. Evan, eager but uncoordinated, smacked his hand into Joey's when their arms flailed too wide.

"Hey, watch it!" Joey exclaimed.

Lea, who saw the incident, shook her head. "This isn't a dance party! Focus!"

Next up were push-ups, which produced their own set of comedies and tragedies. Some kids, like Evan, strained to keep their form as they dipped low to the ground. Others, however, seemed to think the exercise was a variant of the Worm dance, squirming more than pushing.

"Are you trying to dig a hole to the other side of the world?" Lea shouted at one particularly squiggly boy. "Straighten your back!"

Finally, they moved on to a running exercise. "Alright, listen up! We're going to do some sprints. I want to see maximum effort. GO!"

As they sprinted, one of the kids tripped right at the starting line, causing a domino effect that took down two others. Laughter erupted from the spectators.

Lea sighed dramatically. "Oh, wonderful, we have comedians among us. If you want to be a jester instead of a cultivator, the circus is two villages over!"

Despite the hiccups, the kids seemed to improve as the minutes turned into hours, their bodies slowly adapting to the new regime. Lea, for all her sternness and sharp words, couldn't help but feel a hint of satisfaction.

"We've got a long way to go," she mused, "but it's a start."

And so, amid laughter and scolding, the first day of physical foundation training drew to a close, marking the first step in a long journey for Evan and the others.

As the first day of training came to an end, Evan found himself catching his breath, his muscles aching but not to the point of exhaustion. Glancing around, he saw varying degrees of fatigue etched on the faces of his peers. Some were slumped over, gasping for air, while others looked like they could barely stand.

A thought crossed his mind: "I'm actually holding up better than I thought I would."

Evan was by no means the strongest or fastest kid in the village, but he felt something had changed. He attributed his relative resilience to the mysterious events of the past few days, starting with the activation of his soul and his strange, newfound senses. Then there was the sage advice from his mother about balancing body, mind, and spirit—ideas that seemed more like fairy tales until now.

Perhaps, he thought, awakening his soul and striving for balance had fortified not just his mind, but his body as well. Could it be that his newfound inner strength was translating into a more robust physical form?

As Lea announced that it was time for lunch, Evan looked at the spread laid out before them. Though the food might not win any culinary awards, it was clearly designed for its nutritional value. Platters of lean meats, various kinds of vegetables, and whole grains were set out on long tables.

"Dig in, everyone! This meal is tailored to help you in your physical cultivation. It might not be the tastiest thing you've ever eaten, but it's what you need right now," Lea advised.

Everyone descended upon the tables like a swarm of locusts, devouring whatever they could get their hands on. Hunger, after all, was the best seasoning.

As Evan ate, he looked around and realized that most of the kids around him were older. He couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment; he'd managed to keep pace with them during the training, and in some cases, even outperform them. It was a significant boost to his self-esteem, something he had always struggled with given his earlier weaknesses.

"This must have something to do with the last few days," he thought to himself. "The awakening of my soul, the advice from Mom, and finding my balance—it's all helping."

Emboldened, Evan made a silent promise to himself: He would push even harder in the coming days. The road to cultivation was long, and this was just the first step, but he was more motivated than ever to journey down it. With newfound resolve, he finished his meal, looking forward to the challenges and accomplishments that lay ahead.