Chapter 41 [Body tempering]

[oh … ok I didn't know you couldn't swim, it's ok I will teach you how to swim first.]said papa.

[in mean time, Alan get changed and get doing laps.] said papa while taking Freya to lake side where it was a little shallow.

Well, since the lake was always at our backyard, papa taught me swimming very early, and I still do swim for relaxation.

I removed my shirt and with a jump dived into the lake,

While papa was training Freya I was now already at my third lap of the lake, the lake was not small neither too big. It took very less effort to do the first 4 laps and then from there my speed decreased, and by the end of the 7th lap I was out of breath.

As I came out of lake to take a little rest, I came to realize something.

[Papa what is length of course for physical exam.] I asked. It was clear that the physical exam tested something related to stamina, and the best and shortest way to build up the stamina is swimming.

[Hmm, so how many laps did you take] asked papa.

[7 laps.] I said .

[Good, I thought you would be able to do only 3 or 4 laps. Now the distance for physical course should be around 50 such lapses.] said father with a smile.

[50 such laps….] I almost chocked … and here I thought I have enough stamina and strength.

Over the course of these three years I have repeatably tested that with the help of my breathing exercise, my stamina, and strength have very much increased. I was able to out run kids that still didn't have their MANA cores.

[After some rest start 10 laps around lake parameter and in mean time I will finish Freya lesson.] said papa.

[Yes.] I said, when I sat in a meditative position to calm my breathing.

Unknowingly, I changed my breathing pattern to my breathing exercise, and soon my body started absorbing MANA. It was much quicker this time and, like a hungry wolf, my body absorbed MANA to its limit. I also noticed the limit of MANA had somewhat increased, it increased by very less margin , if not for my strong soul, which helped to monitor my body very thoroughly. I wouldn't have noticed.

Knowing that my body could not only increase stamina and strength, but also increase its MANA capacity. A smile creeped on my face, and now I was more excited to see the limits of my breathing technique.

Soon I started the laps around the lake, and finally after 10 laps I sat under the tree drenched in sweet.

At the same time, Freya also came out of at the same time.

With a wave of father hand, gentle winds blew across our face, drying the water and sweet of our body.

[I am attenuated to wind element, and my special awakening is related to energizing, so you must be felling better now. But i am no mage like your mother, she is true moster.]Said father and started laughing at his own joke.

[papa, if you are done with your joke, can we start next phase.] I asked.

[oh little Alan you sure are full of energy.] said father, afterward he told us to stand some steps back.

[Watch closely, this is the set of exercise, that is invented by a famous martial artist that is respected by hundreds, I will be performing its first set you have to repeat it same. Ok] said papa.

Soon he started doing weird poses, and also explained the way to control breathing while doing those poses. Some poses were focused on balance, while others were focused to put force on certain part of body …. While most were outright odd. Its total has 11 poses, that combined form a single set.

[This is the first step of an exercise called "Body tempering" , now you both give it a try.] explained papa.

We soon tried to start the exercise set.

The first 2 poses were focused on balancing on each leg, and meanwhile changing hand position while controlling and sometime stopping breath.

The first two poses didn't make much sense in strength training. But when we went to 3rd and 4th poses we realized the meaning of the first two poses and these two focused on our arm strength. While at the same time again changing position of leg and changing breathing timings.

5th pose was focused on leg strength while also the same time balancing. On this step, Freya breathing got incorrect and papa asked her to do it again from start.

I completed 5th and 6th step and at went to do seventh step that involved balancing on feet. Halfway through, I lost my breath and was again asked to repeat the steps.

All the way till sunset, when the sky was now filled with mellow brightness of last rays of sun and birds chirped on the way to their nest.

[So little Alan, Freya. Did you both understand now the reason we held this training section, right? The competition you are going to face would be against some children of nobles who are doing this kind of training from much young and are now much older than you. ] said papa and left both of us under the shade of a tree.

[Alan, can I ask something] suddenly Freya asked.

[yes, ask away.] I said while facing towards her.

[Do you think we would be able to win the completion and gain qualification to be blessed. My father said that only top ten and sometimes only Top 5 are allowed to go through the blessing.] said Freya, her voice was filled with doubt.

It was my first time seeing her like that, to me, she was like an easy outgoing person, who never heard anything. It always felt like there was more to her, but I was unable to see all of her. But today, seeing her like this again reminded me that we are only 3 years old.

[Well then isn't it simply let's aim for top Ranks. I will take first spot and give you second.] I said while laughing out loud.

[why are you so carefree, how are you confident I can gain second spot. You papa just said that we will have completion against nobles.] asked Freya.

[Oh it is simple, I know I will be getting first stop and the only person who can come second after me is you.] I said with a bright smile.