Training

Finish writes the runes' description and function, Exia leans his back against the chair and gently massage his forehead.

Writing while recalling does burn his brain a lot. Fortunately, his task is complete now. Putting the pen down, Exia got up and went straight to bed to get some sleep. Closing his eyes, Exia gradually makes his way toward the dreamland.

...

Even before the sun rises, Exia already awakes from his sleep and about to meditate. Although Mana Core is absorbing the surrounding mana continuously without stop, the best way to advance tiers faster was going into meditation.

Therefore, Exia didn't want to waste his precious time and plan to increase his rank earlier than the expected time through meditation.

This idea leads him to fully meditating for two-hours straight. The moment he opened his eyes, he could see the sun has emerged from its hiding and now announcing its arrival by radiating the whole Xinar.

Exhaling a deep breath, Exia feels his mind refreshed after meditating for two hours. It's a new experience for him, who usually still feels sleepy even after getting enough hours of sleep.

'Should I replace my sleep with meditation?' Exia mused silently before brush that idea off. Overdoing things were never good. If he sacrifices his sleep for meditating, he didn't know what consequence he'll face afterwards.

'Maybe I should just consult Sir Bernard about this matter.' Exia thought to himself as he approaches the antique mirror to check his appearance. Living in the world where he got a chance to read plenty of novels, Exia's now curious about his appearance looks like. He reads in many novels that every time someone went to meditate, their skins would become smooth as silk, while their face would grow handsome or prettier that could attract any passerby's attention.

However, when he arrived in front of the mirror, his jaw immediately drops to the floor.

'No wonder when the tenant sees me, she stares at me strangely. It turns out because of this.' Exia nodded his head in understanding. Though his appearance did change now, it definitely wasn't as he imagined. His original black-hair now turns into a complete scarlet-colour. Coincidentally, the colour is also matched with the scarlet-orb. This makes Exia more certain that scarlet-orb has more control over his body than he thought. However, he was unsure which event triggered the change. Is it when he struck by the scarlet-arrow? If it does, then what would happen if he keeps getting struck by the arrow? Would his body turn completely red like a tomato?

Because of that, Exia laughed a little at his own ridiculous thought, "Haha, hopefully, I won't become like that. Turning into a Fel Orcs wasn't my cup of tea."

After verifying his appearance and confirming that there is no other change except his hair, Exia leaves his room to get ready.

...

"Who says you can slack off?"

"Correct your posture, or I'm gonna adding another punishment!"

Various yell belongs to Ardelt keep echoed throughout Smith's Smith's Backyard. At present, Exia was undergoing intensive training from Ardelt as their agreement yesterday. Although he has resolved his mind for this ahead of time, performing the training directly was proven to be difficult since he did not have a great physique in the first place. Were it not for the orb's assistance, Exia believes he'll collapse in no time.

In a matter of hours, Exia was given several types of training. From being tasked to run for dozens of lap while wearing plate armor, maintaining a horse stance for dozens of minute, punching the dummies with his bare hands, until lastly, repeatedly swinging a sword until Exia feels his hands went numb.

'This probably the most consuming workouts I ever do.' Exia thought inwardly as he executes another swing. Back on Earth, the number of exercises he does in a one-year period could be counted with one hand. Thus, receiving an instruction to do several things instantly catch him unprepared. Luckily, Ardelt does notice his weariness and decide to end his suffering.

"Alright, let's wrap up today's session. I've promised Bernard not to tire you out, so, I had to spare some of your stamina." Ardelt clapped his hands as a stop signal.

Halting his action, Exia paused for a moment to register Ardelt's words to his brain before cheering in joy inwardly, 'Yey! Finally!'

Turning to Ardelt, Exia replied with a big smile painted over his face, "Thank you, Teacher Ardelt!"

"Heh, you sound so happy. Tell me, you didn't like my teaching style, did you?" Ardelt smirked dangerously.

Immediately, Exia shakes his head rapidly and proceed to display his tiny muscles, "I won't dare! Teacher's method is clearly working."

"Tch, such a sweet tongue." Ardelt scoffed coldly and turning his head slightly to hide his smile. For a fraction of second, tenderness flashed across his eyes. But that emotion disappears as fast as it appears.

...

After saying goodbye to Ardelt, Exia heads straight for the library. Yesterday, Exia and Bernard had agreed to meet at the library's second floor. Ever since he visited the library for the first time, he has been curious about the library's second floor interior. Like, what does the place offer to cause the entrance fee to be 1 silver. Fortunately, he can decipher that mystery now.

Entering the library, Exia's greeted by the same librarian, Ruri, "Hello...Eh? You've bought new clothes?"

"Yep, I just received a bit fortune a few days ago. Anyway, can I go upstairs?" Exia answers briefly because he does not want to engage the conversation and quickly changes the topic.

"Upstairs? Sure, but you must pay 1 silver first to do that."

"Can it be free for a day? I didn't bring any money today." Exia replied awkwardly. His thought was too preoccupied with the meditation and the upcoming lesson he'd receive today, resulting in him forgetting to bring pocket money.

"I hate to break it to you, but a rule is a rule. I can't allow you to enter the second floor without paying the fee." Ruri replied while adjusting his glasses.

Hearing Ruri's respond, Exia scratch his forehead in confusion, 'What am I supposed to do next?' Should I just mention Sir Bernard's name? Yeah, probably that'd work.'

Based on that idea, Exia's about to say Bernard's name, when his ears catch Bernard's voice from the stairs' direction, "Is it you, Exia?"

Turning their heads simultaneously, both Exia and Ruri exclaimed.

"Teacher!"

"Sir Bernard!"

After saying that, Exia shifted his head to Ruri with shocking gaze, "Teacher?"

"Sir Bernard?" Ruri asked Exia back with much puzzlement.

Clearing his throat, Bernard goes down the stairs and approaches them, "Allow me to introduce you both to one another."

Directing his hand to Ruri, Bernard introduced, "This is Ruri Morg, the son's owner of this library, and also my apprentice."

Pointing one of his other hands at Exia, Bernard said, "This is Exia Glide. He'll be your senior from today onward, Ruri."

"What??" Ruri burst out in shock before pointing his finger at Exia tremblingly, "Him? This is not a funny joke, teacher."

"I know it's hard to believe, but he's more talented than you. He establishes his Mana Core on his first meditation try." Bernard stated.

"Holy cow! Are you saying that this beggar surpasses even you, teacher?" Ruri went out without straining his words.

'This guy? What's wrong being a beggar?' Exia silently rolled his eyes.

"Hey, don't be rude. And yes, he's even more incredible than you might think." Bernard remarked before turning to Exia, "Follow me."

Under Ruri's envious stare. Exia follows Bernard to the staircase that leads to the second floor.