Chapter 40: Breathing Method

Mikaela, on the other hand, was relieved hearing this. He felt like he had fallen behind ever since Lucien got to the first circle long ago. He too wanted to make progress but swordsmanship wasn't like magic. He had to train tirelessly, eat plenty, sleep enough, and take care of his body. It was a lot of work.

When Lucien moved a whole step ahead of him, his self-esteem took a critical hit. 

Thinking back on it, Mikaela was glad he wasn't a mage. He truly despised books. He couldn't picture himself stuck in a book or memorizing complicated stuff all day.

A gleeful smile formed on his lips.

Mitchell ruffled his son's hair and realized Mikaela had grown taller. He no longer needed to squat down. He stepped back and observed his Son's development. Mikaela had indeed grown taller and his body was starting to be more sturdy. He had reached Mitchell's waist height.

'I blink and he is already almost half as tall.' Mitchell was flabbergasted.

Mikaela's hair was a mess from all the ruffling. He fumbled trying to straighten it out. It being wavy wasn't any help at all. 

Ugh! 

He groaned inwardly. He was frustrated.

It had grown longer and Mikaela didn't want to cut it anymore but maintenance was another issue. 

'If not for this pretty face…' he grumbled.

He endured it since didn't like seeing the fair, blemishless, and pimple-free face behind it. It was somewhat covered with his conveniently long hair. He loved having bangs despite the inconvenience.

"So now we have reached this point, I guess it is a waste delaying it any longer. I will teach you a breathing method, Son," said Mitchell.

Mitchell's words pulled Mikaela from his thoughts.

"What is a breathing method, Papa?" Mikaela tilted his head. 

He heard of it at a dinner conversation but was never too curious about it. It was something to learn anyway. He hated the thought of learning. 

Being presented with it he figured it was unavoidable so he had to ask.

"A practice. It is breathing in and out in a specific way. You have to keep it up whenever and wherever. When walking, sleeping, eating. Everywhere! This is a breathing method. The most basic one." said Mitchell as he thought,

'The most complex beginner method, actually.'

Mitchell fished a book from his vest and handed it over.

Mitchell's words and thoughts didn't align at all. His wife, Anette had a knack for making things too perfect. Even a basic breathing method was revised multiple times, merged with advanced practices, and made the process much more complex. 

Mitchell had to take some time to secretly practice it out before teaching it to his son or he would come off ignorant by failing at the very first try. He wasn't ignorant, he simply wasn't too diligent in trying hard things. In other words, the final product of the breathing method was a very complex technique.

If that were to happen, his 'very reliable, responsible and smart father' image of his would crumble. His dignity and pride would fall apart. He did whatever to maintain some level of assurance to his son. Seem reliable at the very least.

"T-that…what? Everywhere??? L-like all the time?" Mikaela stuttered.

He was too shocked so he asked to confirm. His eyes widened more and more with horror having slowly processed what his father had said. 

This wasn't learning, it was torture. 

The book in his hands suddenly felt heavier and heavier. An immeasurable weight to bear.

'I know, Son. Blame your Mom, not me.' Mitchell pushed the blame.

His eyes softened as felt sympathetic for his five-year-old child.

"Don't worry son, it is just practice like any other. Once you get the hang of it, it will become as easy as breathing." Mitchell jested in an effort to comfort his son.

Mikaela looked at Mitchell with a scrutinizing gaze filled with suspicion and doubt. He wanted to believe those words but reality proved that training never got easier. It always took a lot of effort.

Mitchell's face was perfect. He maintained a jolly attitude, talking of it as if it was really, so simple. 

Both son and Father were experiencing the depth of Anette's meticulous preparations.

Mikaela was done with his evening practice so he got ready to go and grieve. He completely forgot about his plans to brag, What was the point of bragging about more work?

"No time like the present, Son, let's start right away." Mitchell noticed his attempt to run away.

Mikaela turned around and stared at his father with familiar crimson eyes and simply nodded after a long time. The emotion in his eyes was too complex for Mitchell to understand.

Within a room, two voices were exchanging. After a few minutes of listening, Mikaela sat in a lotus position. Mitchell sat cross-legged behind him and his palms behind Mikaela's back.

Mitchell took in a deep breath. He did so by imitating something he had read from a novel. For its effectiveness, he was just about to find out. It was the first time he had guided his aura into someone else. A soft purple stream of cool aura went into Mikaela's body. It felt like a gentle wave of cold water. 

The stream rested at his chest making Mikaela's chest feel stuffy. 

"Now, deep breath, Kaela," instructed Mitchell.

Mikaela breathe in a stream of air with his nose. A long breath. His eyes were closed. He seemed to see where this air was going through. Rather, the light particles within the air. The particles of light he had breathed in were guided to his lungs and lower diaphragm. 

"Hold your breath now," said Mitchell.

Mikaela held his breath.

They merged perfectly with the aura within his chest. The aura moved to his lower diaphragm and further down to his lower abdomen. 

Mikaela could vaguely see a cloud of light particles gathered at his lower abdomen. The white luminous light particles were pale yellow at the most central part of this cloud.

When Mitchell's aura got near the cloud, it was uncontrollably pulled toward it. It was devoured inside and merged with the cloud. There were some traces of purple strings within this cloud. But most of it had assimilated making the pale yellow in the middle more pronounced and clear.

Mitchell was taken back but he remembered his dazed son was still holding his breath.

"Breath out, bit by bit, slowly," said Mitchell.

They spent a quarter hour doing this breathing practice. 

Mikaela was in a trance-like state when it was done. He was completely enthralled by the magical sight. He never knew such a mystical thing existed within him. He felt like he had a light grasp on something but it was too abstract. His understanding of it was too shallow. 

He could not bear to stop his observation, even after he breathed out. He kept up the practice subconsciously without any need for guidance.

Mitchell watched from the side but didn't disrupt or attempt to wake him. This was a critical moment for any martial artist. 

Enlightenment!

Mitchell was taken aback. Enlightenment wasn't something that happened often but oh well, his son was a genius. He found this reason more believable.

~_~