Chapter 4 Training Starts~Stamina

• Alex woke up confused on what was going on. He was currently sweating and panting like someone who had just ran a marathon. He sat up and looked towards the east where the sun showed signs of rising.
• "What kind of dream was that? I..I can't even understand anything. And that woman, why can't I remember her face? I guess all this questions are useless to think about all the time and I'll never get answers. It's hopeless to think of it." Alex thought as he stood up from where he was. He began doing a few stretches when he heard the sound of footsteps coming from outside. "Well, here comes trouble. I guess I better stop thinking about mundane things and get back to my way of life."
• Just as he finished his thinking, he saw someone coming into the stables. "Oh, so here is the family's goat. How was your night here with the rest of your family? mhm?" Mathew who had just entered spoke with a smug on his face. Alex ignored him and continued standing where he was.
• "Ooh, so you've become deaf, huh? Or are you dumb you scoundrel! Look here, you see this? This is an elemental crystal and am quite sure you've never seen one because you're just stupid. Well worry not, at least now your stupidity has reduced thanks to me showing you this crystal. Well see you around idiot," Mat said as he turned around to leave.
• Alex saw him leave and breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, that went well at least," thought Alex as he headed out of the stables to begin his daily routine.
• Truly to his words, this was a better treatment as compared to any other day. Originally, if he were to ignore him, he would be beaten to a pulp. There was no way for him to fight back as he was weaker as compared to Mathew even though he was older than him.
• At ten, he left and headed towards the edge of Maza forest. He went there to meet with Simon according to the agreement they had. Maza forest was about two miles away from their residence and it was devoid of any monsters. It was one of the places one would like to relax but in real sense, that forest had some unique traits. When one was inside, he or she would begin feeling tired as if someone or something was supping away the strength thus one cannot spend much time inside.
• Alex arrived after an hour and stood at the entrance of the forest. He stared at the forest for a while before stepping forward to enter. Just as he took a few steps inside, he heard a voice telling him to move towards a clearing at the east of the forest. When he arrived, he found Simon waiting for him.
• "It has been a while since we last talked Alex," Simon said as he turned around to look at Alex.
• "Yes, it has been a while elder Simon," Alex replied with a smile etched on his face. "Thank you for all you've been doing for me ever since I can remember," he said as he bowed his head.
• "Worry not, that's my duty because your mother entrusted you to me. But I have failed so much that I am even ashamed of myself. I was supposed to take care of you, yet here you are, things are never good for you. It's just that if I show openly that I support you, your life will become even more miserable," he sighed as he shook his head.
• "I understand elder, you don't need to worry too much, what you've been doing is enough for me." Alex said with a calm demeanor.
• "Okay, I guess we have to let that aside and deal with why I called you here. Actually, the main reason I asked you to come here is to start giving you training so that as time goes by, you'll be able to defend yourself," Simon said as he moved towards Alex.
• "But elder, I don't have any affinity with magic, so how can you train me?" Alex tilted his head in confusion.
• "Who said that I want to train your magic?" asked Simon with a smile.
• "If it's not magic, then what is it?" Alex asked still confused on what Simon meant.
• "You know, the problem here is knowledge, so I'll impart you some. In terms of ranking, we have ten levels and one which stands at the very top. Each rank has four stages, namely; initial, middle, late, peak stages. The ranks are simple to understand. There are three parts on ranking, the first stage is rank 1-3, the second stage is rank 4-6 and the final stage is rank 7-9," Simon paused and looked at Alex.
• "According to history, there should be rank 10 but only three people ever reached that stage and it has been over a hundred thousand years ever since. According to history, it's called the Lord level. But no more information other than that but the power is three folds of rank 9. About monster ranking, that I'll give you a book so that you can know about their rankings although they aren't that different from our rankings, just different abilities and so on." He finished his explanation.
• "Thank you elder for the knowledge, I really appreciate it. By the way elder, what rank are you?"
• "You are welcome. As for my rank, I am a rank 7 middle stage. Actually, our family is not the strongest in the continent because we have no one in the peak of rank 9. Your father and the grand elder are the strongest with both being in the late stage of rank 9."
• "Ooh, I see. So that's how it is. So about my training, how can I be ranked if that's the ranking for the awakened?"
• "You don't have to think too much about it now. We'll cross that bridge when we get there. For now, we'll have to start your training in full force."
• "Yes elder."
• "Okay, first, thirty laps along the inside edges of the forest. No stopping, if you do, you'll have to start over again."
• "E...excuse me elder, the forest's circumference is over three miles and if I go thirty rounds doesn't that mean I'll be running over ninety miles? And the forest drains my stamina and as I speak now I am not at my peak condition." Alex began giving some excuses.
• "Better start working if you need food and time to rest. Time is ticking you know," replied Simon with a cheeky Smile.
• Alex decided to listen to what Simon said and began running. Since the forest lacked monsters, he would be safe even if he fainted due to fatigue. He began with a casual jog with a constant pace. He had only gone the first lap but he was at the verge of collapsing. His sheer will to become stronger, a will to be treated as a human, a will to have someone to lend his strength to, began coming forth. Even though he was tired, he kept on saying, 'just 29 more, just 28 more,' as he went round.
• Simon watched him go round with a proud smile. 'He's just like you. He's just like you. He has a willpower that drives him forth. Don't worry, I'll make him strong," he muttered under his breath as continued observing Alex who was now walking.
• Alex kept going until he began dragging himself on the ground just to ensure that he managed to finish. He even crawled as he went on. By the time he finished, he fell on the ground completely tired and fainted on the spot. Simon came and picked him up and took him to a cave that he had prepared before hand. He laid him down and took out a portion out of his space ring and opened Alex's mouth pouring it in. The portion was meant for recovery, which included stamina recovery.
• He decided to leave a note and a bag pack with food for him before he left. He looked behind with sadness visible in his eyes before taking a step further and returning to the mansion.
• When Alex woke up, he found himself in a cave. He began panicking but when he saw a note on the floor, he calmed down before picking it up. 'That is how your training starts, that is the training for stamina. You'll be doing it until you can run at a pace that I deem fit. After that I'll tell you what to do. Till then Make sure that you don't miss out on your training. Good luck.' After reading the note, he took the back pack and took out the food. He munched on it before drinking water. Feeling relaxed, he decided to stay for about thirty minutes before leaving. And that's how his training began, stamina training.
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• Author's note;
• Thanks for finishing the chapter, I hope it was okay and if not, please write in the comments so I can correct it. Thanks again.