The morning sun rises, casting a gentle dew on the blades of grass outside. Light filters through the window of Edwin's room. Fast asleep, the boy dreams of towns and bustling cities that his grandpa described the night before. "AAAAHHHH, OH MY GOD!!!" cried a citizen in the town. Bangs echo from the city as buildings explode. A villager runs toward Edwin. He grabs Edwin's shoulders, his eyes bloodshot and panicked. "WAKE UP, EDWIN, WAKE UP," he shakes him violently. "WAKE UP, WAKE UP, WAKE UP."

Edwin's eyes burst open. His grandpa is shaking him and yelling, "WAKE UP, EDWIN! GET DRESSED NOW." Edwin panics, his hands moving around his bed in confusion. "Wh-what's going on?" Edwin yells, bewildered. "It's time for sword practice," his grandpa says calmly. "You have 30 seconds to get dressed and meet me outside." Edwin looks at his grandpa. "Huh?" he tilts his head and thinks, "Grandpa has never done this before." "25, 24, 23," the old man counts, and Edwin rushes to his feet to find suitable clothes for the day. He turns around and finds his grandpa no longer in his room. Wasting no more time, he changes out of his pajamas into rugged day-to-day clothing and rushes out the door.

Kaynen, his grandpa, stands outside on the lawn with his arms behind his back, his back upright, and his chin lifted, exuding an intimidating presence. Edwin runs over, panting from the anxiety and confusion he just experienced. "Come now, stand tall, head up, feet together," his grandpa tells him in a no-nonsense tone. "You are exactly 5 seconds late according to the timings I gave you. As punishment for being late, you need to run around our cabin 50 times," the old man says, gazing down at Edwin with a neutral expression, devoid of any hint of a smile. "But, but, grandpa—" Edwin starts, only to be quickly interrupted. "No 'buts.' And from now on, as we train, address me as 'Sir.' Is that understood?" His grandpa states firmly. Edwin nods and stammers, "Umm—yes." Suddenly, Edwin feels a light smack on his head, but he didn't see the old man move. "Yes what?"... "Yes, Sir!" Edwin timidly replies. "Hmmmm," his grandpa puts a hand to his chin and looks up as if contemplating. "I think I just heard a mouse fart. I SAID, YES, WHAT?" His grandpa yells, prompting Edwin to shout back, "YES, SIR!"

"Good. Now, let's begin," his grandpa turns around and starts jogging lightly in one direction around the house. Edwin stands there, utterly bewildered by what just transpired. "Let's go, EDWIN! Your legs won't run themselves. Keep up beside me!" his grandpa shouts, already quite a distance ahead. Edwin snaps out of his daze and runs to catch up. They run a few laps at this slow jogging pace, and Edwin gradually realizes that his grandpa is pulling ahead. Panting, head down, he gasps for air, only to see his grandpa's hand pointing to a spot beside him as he runs. Edwin interprets this as a signal to catch up, so he increases his speed, his legs and lungs burning as he struggles to breathe. "Come on now, we've barely started, Edwin," his grandpa remarks, his breathing not the least bit labored, as if he had been sitting down all this time. "Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth, in rhythm with your steps. Make sure to inhale with your stomach," the old man instructs, demonstrating his own breathing pattern and showing his stomach moving in and out.

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Several more laps pass by, and Edwin falls further behind his grandpa. Once again, he notices his grandpa's hand pointing to the spot beside him. "Let's go, Edwin. Dig deep. We're far from finished," the old man says. Focused on his breathing, Edwin finds a burst of energy and sprints to join his grandpa. 30 more laps go by. Edwin, breathless, asks, "A-Are we almost done, sir?" "Not until we've gone all the way," his grandpa replies, sounding as if he hasn't been running at all. Edwin marvels, "How is this old man even doing this?" completely astonished by the old man's endurance. "We're going to sing a little as we run, Edwin. Are you up for it?" his grandpa asks. "Ye-yes, sir!" Edwin manages to respond. "Good. It's a call-and-response song. Just repeat after me," his grandpa explains. Edwin nods, a renewed energy in anticipation of the singing.

Kaynen: "Ol' Miss Fanny's out; better run and hide"

Edwin: "O-ol' Miss Fanny's" gasping for breath "out; better run and hide"

Kaynen: "She's got her rolling pin, looking for her pie"

Edwin: "She's got her rol-rolling pin, looking for her pie"

Edwin begins to slow down, a gap forming between him and his grandpa. "Come on, Edwin, keep up!" the old man urges loudly, spurring the boy to catch up.

Kaynen: "She had it stolen a few hours back"

Edwin: "She had it st-stolen a" gasping for air "few hours back"

Kaynen: "When she finds that thief, she's going to attack"

Edwin: "When she - When she finds that thief" gasping for air "she's going to attack"

"Good," his grandpa comments, maintaining his running pace effortlessly. The run continues, Edwin falling behind and then sprinting to regain his place by his grandpa's side. Edwin's arms hang low, his head swaying with each step. His lungs, legs, and back ache.

Several more laps go by, and Edwin finally notices his grandpa slowing down. When the old man reaches the yard, he transitions to a walk, motioning for Edwin to join him. "Now's the time to focus on your breathing. Control it. You're in charge of your breath," his grandpa advises, again emphasizing his breathing and the movement of his stomach.

Edwin finally seizes the chance to catch his breath and follows the old man, adopting his instructed breathing pattern. Challenging at first, Edwin manages to gain control of his breathing, his vision slowly returning to normal and his racing heart beginning to calm. "Now that we're warmed up," his grandpa says, and Edwin's eyes widen in surprise. "We can finally begin sword training," the old man declares with a broad grin, leaving Edwin speechless.