Temper

Cinnamon jumped out of Reed's embrace the moment he set out of the house and the morning's first ray fell over him.

She was right to scamper into the shade.

It wasn't even noon but the temperature was extremely grueling even now. Reed took a deep breath.

If his previous lack of motivation in training was due to the fear that he won't be doing well, then now, it was replaced by the fear of sun and heat.

'My god it is hot!' Reed pursed his lips and narrowed his gaze slightly. Rex followed him out and he glanced towards Cinnamon. Seeing that Cinnamon was only licking her paws and then scratched the back of her furry ears.

"Young master, yesterday, it was clear that your body does not require additional physical conditioning," Rex began with a slight hesitation. He thought for a moment and continued.

"Ordinarily, a combat potential is based on physical status, combat techniques, and combat experience."

"What about Reaction?" Reed inquired.

"Pardon me, young master, I didn't quite get that," Rex stated.

"I mean... stuff like reacting. Like if a glass suddenly falls, my body might instantly react and catch it. Isn't there any way to train that?"

Rex closed his eyes and frowned for a moment.

His shoulders seemed to sway while his lips moved without a sound leaking.

'He's trying to remember the answer?' Reed thought silently.

"I see, what you mean, young master. It is indeed feasible to train one's reaction but in a combat, what is truly necessary is not reaction but response. Reaction can be loosely taken as an instinctual action based on one's ability and mindset.

If I throw a sword at you, or any untrained civilian, their most probable reaction should be moving out of the way. But more often than not, people cannot even move in face of a slightly extreme situation as such.

Meanwhile, response in a battle is to counteract the opponent's move. A body moves naturally once it is warmed up in a battle so a combat response is automatically trained while gaining combat experience. This, in return, trains our reaction.

To train reaction and response separately before beginning the combat practice is inefficient and we only have six months. Less than six months now, young master. Out of this time, you will have to study and explore totem bases eventually to understand the mysteries of the world. So, we cannot proceed with such an inefficient mindset."

'He really loves to talk,' Reed was sure by now. There were many ways to inform what Rex had just said but Reed felt that Rex purposely chose to extend his explanation for this long.

"I see. Then what are you teaching me today?"

Rex frowned and shook his head.

"Young master, I'm not teaching you anything. I'm going to spar with you. Every day, we will spar with different weapons."

"Huh?" Reed blinked in surprise while Rex entered into a combat stance.

"Young master, please take a stance you are comfortable with. In spar, you may get hurt slightly but I'm willing to take any punishment later on."

"Just..." Reed scratched his ear slightly as he felt a blade of grass suddenly floating over to him and tickling his ear.

"Ehm, let's just start. There will be no punishments later."

Reed crouched slightly. He wasn't completely unaware of the method of a fight. After all, he had thrown a couple of punches in his life. But observing Rex, Reed felt utterly defenseless. This was a strange feeling since after his body had gotten slightly buffer, he looked larger than Rex by a small margin.

'I could try copying his stance... let's see. Left foot forward and hands in front of me. Below my neck. Maybe this is the true intention of the sparring. To allow me to learn from my mistakes and Rex.'

Reed grew comfortable while recalling the condition of his body yesterday. In a word— exquisite. Just like his memory boost and possible advancement in the Spirit Capacity to a dangerous level, his body would move at his command.

If he couldn't get to have a perfect leg split the first time, by the second time, his tendons and muscles were already elastic enough to complete the task.

Reed would have never tried to push himself to a limit. It wasn't how he grew up.

But as Rex continued to pull one trick after another, Reed realized that somehow, his physical potential was fearsome.

He wasn't stingy with praises and might be considered slightly arrogant on the matter but as he intently observed the usually indifferent Rex's expression, he knew that his conclusion was correct.

'But that also means that everything special about me, be it my strength, or my learning abilities, or the system— it all came from Miracle. If I'm unfortunate enough to meet it next time, should I thank it, or hate it?'

Instantly, Reed's vision was covered by an uncovered fist. His body lowered slightly, instantly trying to dodge and yes, Reed found his feet rooted on the ground due to the sudden strike.

*Smack*

Rex probably didn't hold much back.

Reed felt his head pushed back and his gaze grew blurry instantly. His nostrils and lips felt warm while he continued to stumble back before barely remaining standing.

"Young Master, there is only one way to be an actual combatant and that is to be able to tolerate pain and view the opponent's movements clearly. However, with intense pain, the body often rejects the notion of facing further injuries and develop trauma involuntarily. Either tolerance or fear, both can only be tempered through getting injured," Rex now stood where Reed was a few seconds ago. His left knuckle was slightly bloodied.

"Gah!" Reed gasped before slowly touching his lips. His fingers instantly felt the blood pouring out but at this point, he still didn't register any pain.

"Understood," Reed shook his head slightly before sighing.

"Will you get me tissue papers?"

"No, young master. It pains me to deny you. But in a physical confrontation, your opponent will not hand out tissue papers."

Saying that, Rex took out a thin stack of tissue papers from his pocket.

"Preparation is necessary, young master. I will hold onto them until you cannot continue temporally."

Reed pursed his lips, an action that brought the taste of his blood to his mouth, and slowly, as the wind blew naturally, Reed began to feel the sting through his nostrils.

"Understood," Reed stated plainly.

'If other things are given by Miracle, I can still train other aspects of my being. Like my fucking pain tolerance!' Reed growled inwardly and took the same stance once again.

This time, he didn't let his thoughts wander into the wallowing pits of self-pity. Instead, he scrutinized Rex over his raised knuckles.

*Swish*

The moment Rex rushed forward, Reed retreated while trying to learn how Rex would charge. And it wasn't easy at all.

Once again, he was slapped by reality. His memorization skill seemed pretty perverse at first only to be smacked by biology and now his ability to learn from watching others and apparently 'command' his body was smacked by real-time coordination of mind and body.

*Thud*

Reed accidentally fell on his butt while retreating but this time, Rex didn't stop.

Instead, his charge turned heavy like he was stomping his foot all the way.

'My lord!' Reed hurriedly crawled aside but this time, he jumped back instantly, his hands spread apart to hug Rex's leg and pull him down, too.

*Swish*

For a second, even before Reed saw Rex's legs disappear, he heard the sound of wind being cut, like when a wooden sword is swung too fiercely.

*Bang*

Reed felt his temple struck and his vision darkened instantly.

---

"Huff!" Reed gasped and woke up.

*Meeaaooow*

On his stomach, Cinnamon mewled and then stood up. She walked towards Reed before snuggling against his neck while her tail would tickle against Reed's earlobe.

"Rex... what are you doing?" Reed inquired as he found Rex towering right next to him. He was in his bed and instead of his nightstand, Rex stood like a human lamp!

"Protecting young master," Rex replied plainly.

"I'm too hurt to care... what time is it?" Reed inquired.

"It is eleven minutes past five in the evening, Young master."

"Let's order Chicken Garlic Noodles from Siam's Courtyard... Order extra curry," Reed stated instantly.

"Yes, young master."

"This time, be sure to order something for yourself... I don't like sharing food too much," Reed added, recalling his dinner yesterday.

"Yes, young master. I will follow your diet."

'It's unhealthy... but sure, not like Lex's here to stop us,' Reed nodded and gently stroked Cinnamon's head.

"Oh, you're such a sweet cat. I'll call you Cinnamon from now on," Reed scratched her ears and finally, Cinnamon purred, relaying an extremely satisfied feedback.

'N... ice...'

Reed's eyes widened slightly.

But Rex was focused on a completely different matter. He gazed at Cinnamon once again with doubt but he finally stepped back slightly and ordered food online.

"Rex, I've read that Warlocks hide the true ability of their companions and even refrain from exposing them if possible. But the two of you did tell me that you own three totem beast each.

How much do they cost a week?"

This question was like a ticking time bomb for Reed.

Totem beasts are living creatures and they need resources to survive, too.

Even if Rex and Lex don't take initiative on this matter, Reed had to make sure that the two of them are at the peak of their abilities. After all, how would they be any different than Reed if all of their companions die of starvation?

"Usually, my and Lex's companions feed every week or two. But Lex's pets are easier to feed. At least, the two of his companions with a bloodline."

"Oh, yea? What is it?"

"The prime feed usually is a human being," Rex stated.

Reed grew silent.

For a few minutes actually.

"Be sure to order fried rice, too."

Reed finally changed the topic. He simply didn't know the two of them enough to give them advices on human feed. Or judge them on the matter.

'Huh... I thought I'd be disgusted,' Reed thought silently.

***

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