CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 9

280 ac

After a few hours of magic training, I tried to understand the infinite training skill, but I couldn't seem to make it work. I think it will start working after I get a familiar, but The ROB said that my familiars and I could train in it. I really can't understand this skill, and I thought of 2 more applications for the Authentication skill.

Assigning a numerical value for my strength and speed, all I have to do is give my speed and strength the value of 1 and find someone faster or slower than me, and authenticate their stats. If I witness their speed or experience their strength, Authentication can calculate their value automatically. Of course, it isn't hundred percent reliable. Because what I'm seeing or feeling is the speed and strength my opponent allows me to see.

For example, if an enemy had five times my strength, but it only used two times the strength, I would only know it has 2 in strength; I would have no idea it has five times strength until they used it and all of this made me realize something about Authentication skill, it is so much more powerful than I first realized.

I learned all of these math and physics calculations and how it is done in high school and college, but I remember them vaguely. I have the knowledge, but I don't remember half of it. This means if I have learned and comprehended it at the time. I don't need to retain the knowledge for the skill to work.

When I entered the kitchen, I saw the staff working on the supper. They were readying a venison. It was forbidden to hunt in the lord's forest without his permit. People tended to stay clear of poaching. So they wouldn't lose a hand from it.

I climbed on my stool and sat down. Now I'm able to sit on it by myself. Brise saw me and brought my food.

"How are you, sweetheart? I really don't understand why you want to be a knight so badly. Can't you choose a less dangerous job?"

"I want to be powerful so that I can protect everyone." When I said this, she started smiling and gave the food to me and said:

"The Lord must have been very pleased with you for you to be getting meat for every meal from now on. "

It was a plate of a venison stew with carrots and yam-like veggies. It was good and the best food I have ever eaten here. I devoured it immediately, but I would love to have some potatoes. Yes, there weren't any potatoes or rice here.

It was a nightmarish training for a month, but I was starting to get used to it. The 2 hours of strength training. After that, 2 hours of sword swinging, a break for 2 hours. At this time, I need to rest and eat lunch, then comes the fun part, the sparring. In the afternoon training, I would train with older kids.

They were usually 2-3 years older. I won some and lost some, but I was getting better. Now I have managed to beat one of the guys I lost before. I don't think I can keep working like this. It is not because it is hard, but it is not that useful to me. I need time to train in magic, and I want to learn blacksmithing.

I always watched blacksmithing programs on the TV and wanted to do it but never had time for it, and I wanted to learn archery too. Rodrik was teaching me archery but only once in a while. I need more free time as I grow up.

So, after the training this afternoon, I went to him.

"Ser Rodrik, can I ask you something?"

"Ask away, lad."

"Ser, can I train less, please?"

"Why? Is it too hard?"

"No, but I want to do other things, study and learn many things, so I need time for those things."

"What do you want to learn then?"

"Mmmm, archery, blacksmithing, hunting, reading, writing, and many other things."

"HAHA, you want many things, but isn't it better to get good at one thing rather than knowing everything a little?"

"For normal people, it is. But you know I'm not normal. After seeing all the other children older than me, I know I'm different."

"You have a point, but lord ordered me the train you hard. We need to ask for his permission."

"But I don't want to train all day."

He gets serious and says, "Lad, don't forget who you are and who you are talking to; we might give you a little leeway but don't be arrogant."

The day after, I saw the lord going for his inspection of the grounds; I ran to him and bowed.

"Ahh, little Aermir, how are you, my boy? How is the training going?"

"It is good, my lord, and I am working really hard for the sword, and Ser Rodrik can attest to it." And Ser Rodrik nods his head approvingly.

"My Lord, I would like to have more freedom with my time if you could please grant it to me."

When he hears this, he looks disappointed and gets a bit sad. "Did you not beg for a chance to be a knight? Are you going to be a knight while lazing around?"

"No, my lord, I'm not asking for time to laze around. I'm asking for time to study and train on other things."

"What other things?"

"Things like archery, blacksmithing, hunting, reading, writing, my lord."

He looks surprised and looks into my eyes without blinking, then says:

"I will allow it but on one condition. You will not neglect your sword training, and Rodrik will follow your development closely. If you falter with the sword, I will forbid all of it."

"Yes, thank you, my lord." I got the answer I wanted and ran away after bowing and thanking him again.

Rodrik turns to the lord and asks, "Are we not spoiling the child by doing what he wants, my lord?"

"He might be a child, but most of the time, he doesn't act like one, and more importantly, he can look into my eyes without cowering."

Rodrik asks confusedly, "My lord?"

"Do you know my sons can't look into my eyes without cowering, but he can look straight into my eyes. He doesn't have any fear of adults. Did you ever hear him whine or complain about childish things?"

"Now that you said it, no, my lord, he never does those things."

"Exactly; if we smother him, he wouldn't mind running away to do what he wants. He is that fearless. You can't hold a bird too hard, or you will smother it. You need to hold it just tight enough; it will feel comfortable and safe, so when you open your hand, when the time comes, it will not fly away."