After they finished trading with the merchant, Leon's family return to their house. Leon and his father are carrying a lot of goods they got from the merchants such as foods, clothes and materials from other villages. Leon's father, George, prefer to walk slow so he is always at the back. As they enter their house, George told Leon to play since its still early. Leyla had already fell asleep on the way to the house so Arianna had to carry her to her room.
After storing the goods they traded for, George and Arianna sat on the sofa at the living room.
"George, we should decide now, whether to teach him or not." Arianna said
"Yes, but are you sure? He is still 6-years old. It might be too hard for him." George replied
"The bandits might come sooner or later, George, and you know that! We should at least make him strong so he can protect himself and Leyla!" shouted Arianna
"...You won't regret it? You will not be able to see him for one year. Until after he is done with his body training." George said
"...If its for our children's safety." she replied
"..."
"..."
"Then I will make him strong. So, don't be worried anymore."
George rose from the sofa as he said that and walk out of the living room leaving Arianna alone.
The next day, as Leon was about to go outside, he heard the voice of father calling him from behind his house. He went behind his house and saw his father taking out some tools from the store. There were a lot of things such as logs, clothing such as gloves and shoes, and some sharp tools. Leon wonders what his father want him for so he waited until his father finish what he is doing. Taking out the last tool, his father sit on the ground while drinking a bottle of cold water. Then he look at Leon who is sitting right in front of him.
"Leon, starting today, I'm going to have you wearing all of these." George said as he gives Leon a set of clothes
"Why? Is what I'm wearing not good, dad?" he asked
"Just wear it and you will feel the differences" George ordered
Don't want to disobey his father, he wore what was given to him. Gloves, shoes, pants and shirt, it was a full normal leather set. Except for the fact that it is very heavy that Leon almost fell down to the ground because of its heaviness. Barely able to stand straight, he look at his father with a strained face
"Dad, why is this so heavy? I can't even stand straight!" Leon asked
"Don't ask. Now follow me." George said as he walk to the front of the house
"Why are we stopping here?" Leon asked
"We're going to jog around the village, what else? If you can't keep up for at least one lap, you are not going to have meat for dinner!" George said as he start to jog
"What?! MY MEAT!!" Leon shouted and start to catch up to his father afraid of the punishment.
Two hours passed. In front of a house, there can be seen two people, one man sitting on a chair and one boy collapsed on the ground. They're both gasping for air with their bodies full of sweat. The man, George, had a surprised look when he remembering what happened during the past one hour.
'What the hell?! If he is able to catch up when jogging with me, that is reasonable. But when he is wearing those heavy clothes and keep up with me for 5 laps around the village, that is ridiculous!!' George thought. 'Ah..I guess we can move the schedule a bit early'
Since then, George has been making Leon jog with him every morning. Every time, he would put more weight on Leon's body whenever he can keep up with him. After a month passed, Leon who is still in the middle of stretching his body got interrupted when his father called him.
"Leon, since you can move faster than me now, I want you to tie this rope to your body" George said
"Alright, dad. What is this rope for....logs? A-are you saying I need to jog with this on?" he asked a little frightened
"I'm happy to see my son is very smart! Now let's start our routine!" George said ignoring what Leon said
Hearing that, Leon's face starts to pale thinking how hard it will be. Wearing the clothes are heavy enough and now the log, he will be two times as tired. Like before, every time Leon got used to running with a number of logs, George would add one more to make it more difficult. At the end of the fifth month, Leon had already started to run with 4 logs tied on him.
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One day, when Leon was about to get the log at the store, his father interrupted him again. This time, he is holding two empty buckets. Leon with a look already knew that his father is going to make him do something new again.
"As you can guess, you're going to have another activity in your routine now." his father said while smiling though Leon only felt shudder from hearing that
"W-what is it, dad?" Leon asked
"You're going to jog to the river, collect the water with these buckets and put them in the well next to our house. Of course, you're still going to wear the weights and tie the log to your body, so don't worry!" his father explains
'Make it easier!!' Leon thought
Once, Leon tried to sneak away from what his father told him, he got punished eating vegetables for one whole week. As simple as it is, vegetables is one thing that he hates for food. Because of that, he no longer dared to run away from his father.
Doing the same routine everyday, a year passed since the start of the exercise. Leon has matured mentally since his father is always strict with him. The past few weeks George had been cleaning the store and taking out a lot of equipment, and tools. He also took some clothes and foods from the house and put them inside a bag.
At night, after finishing dinner, he called Leon to the living room. Walking into the living room, Leon saw his father sitting on a chair looking at him. The atmosphere is serious that even Leon can feel it right after entering the room. Seeing Leon in his view, he points his finger to a chair as to signal Leon to sit. As he sit, the silence continues until his father broke the silence.
"Leon, do you know why did I make you to do all of those things?" George asked
"Hmm..To make me become a blacksmith?" Leon replied with an awkward smile
"..." George got stunned by his guess. "...No, Leon. It was to train your body to be able to protect yourself!" George said
"Protect myself? Do you mean I'll need to fight someone soon?" Leon asked since there haven't been any incidents around the village other than the merchant's being attacked.
"Perhaps. Though I hope it doesn't come to that. Now let's go on the main topic. Leon, we're going to a mountain nearby to teach you how to fight."
"M-mountain?! Wait wait wait, does mom have a say in this? And teach me how to fight? Dad, you know how to fight?" Leon got surprised that his father wants him to go to mountain suddenly.
"I've already talk with your mom one year ago and she agreed. The reason is because she is worried of your safety in case something unexpected happens." George explained. "And yes, I do know how to fight."
After some more talk, they return to their room. Leon, although a bit sad leaving his village where he always play everyday, yet still felt a little excited because it had been his dream to go for an adventure albeit he knew it will be only for one year. The next day, after they saying their goodbyes with Arianna and Leyla, they walk to the mountain at south of the village with bags on their back.
Three days later, as they made their way to the base of the mountain at noon. Getting off the horses they borrowed from his father's friend from a village they passed by on their way to the mountain, they immediately took out their lunch to eat. After they finish eating lunch, George stands in front Leon while taking a weapon out from their luggage.
"Now I will teach you, the Panthera Arts"
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Authors' Note
Last chapter of the week~ I could only post chapters on weekends as I can't open my laptop on school days. By the way, I will not and will never stop writing this fiction (Of course, unless something happens to me) since I want to end it with water! So wait for more in the next Saturday~ (I hope I have at least one follower by then)
[Ed: Even the Author's Note has mistakes. And what does 'end it with water' mean? There is supposed to be more character build-up between the MC and the two females in his family but it seems that might not happen due to the authors slight mistakes.]