Chapter 1: Daily training
"Master! Breakfast is ready" a teenage boy shouted
His name is Sifrith Fayes. He is sixteen year old. He has black hair and brown eyes. He cannot be considered short for his age. He is wearing winter clothes since it's snowing outside.
"You don't have to shout. I hear you," said his master while opening the door of his room
His master is the legendary undefeated sword god Xiles. After defeating the strongest warriors in the world, he retired and lives in an isolated place where no one disturbed him.
He becomes even stronger during this sixteen years because he spends all his time on improving his sword techniques. Four years ago he rescued Sifrith from a Nestar. He loses his memories about his parents when he get hit on the head by the Nestar. Since then they are living with each other for four years.
There are two plates on the table one is for Xiles and the other is for Sifrith. There is scrambled eggs, two sausages, and bread on each plate.
"Master, can I take a day off from training?" asks Sifrith in a casual manner while eating his eggs.
"Hmmph, when you defeat me you can take as many days off you want."
"Eh, ok."
After the breakfast, Sifrith goes outside to train. The snow has stopped and there is about 10cm/4 inch snow on the ground. Sifrith is wearing his special winter clothes. Each clothing he wears weight about 2,5 kg/5,5 pound. Not only is he wearing training clothes but he also has weights on his legs and arms. Each weight is about 20kg/44 pounds.
His daily routine of training consists off running through the mountains with all his weights on. The road to the mountains is slippery and extremely steep.
The total distances he needs to cover is 96km/60 miles. He needs about 25 minutes to finish this morning training.
(Shit, even the wind is working against me!)
(If I am going to be late, my master will surely scold me)
And sure he is right about that.
"You are two minutes late!"
"But master, there is lot of wind when I was running to the mountains
"No more excuses! As punishment, you will spend one more hour to train with your heavy sword"
(Shit, I know it I should run with my full speed next time.)
Sifrith possessed two swords. One is extremely light and sharp but it's easily broken. This sword is mainly used for fighting other races. He practices with his light sword all his moves except for the god breaking move.
He spends another hour in dodging and cutting projectiles. His master bought two machines, one is for shooting arrows and the other is for shooting stones. Both machines have a shooting speed of maximum 2000 meters/second.
After he finished this training he is going to cook his lunch.
(What should I make today?) He sees birds flying everywhere in the skies.
(I going roast some birds today.)
He takes out his heavy sword. The heavy sword weight about 100k/220 pounds. The entire sword edge is blunt. He swings his sword vertically towards the sky. The powerful wind slash caused by the swing is enough to kill several birds in the air.
He skinned the birds and went towards the kitchen to roast it. After roasting for 30 minutes, his master is back.
"It smells good. I hope its taste even better." his master said
"Of course, it will taste good!" "It's ready in fifteen minutes."
The master and disciple together consume the roasted birds.
"Sifrith, there is something I want to talk about."
"What is it, master?"
"After this winter, I am going to leave this place."
"What? But why?"
"I am going to challenge an SS-Class Nestar in the west."
"I am going with you too!"
"No, I am not even sure if I can defeat such monster. You will only burden me."
When he heard this sentence Sifrith reveals a sad look on his face.
"Don't make such a sad face You already mastered 70-80% of my Snow Blood Sword skill. You are stronger than many of the people out here."
"Do you know why I put extra training weights on you?"
"To improve my speed and strength."
"That's correct. You have never met a magic or gun user in your life but you are faster than them. If you encounter them in the future you need to take initiative and strike first!"
"I understand, thanks for teaching me master."
"Use normal swords to fight humans or the other races and use the heavy sword to fight nestars."
"Why? Is there any difference?"
"Most Nestars are huge and slow but they are extremely durable. You need brute strength to break through their defense. Humans, Velkins and Elves are faster than an average Nestar so you need speed to fight them. That's why a lighter sword is more suitable for that kind of battle."
(I could probably win against them with the heavy sword.)
But Sifrith keeps his mouth shut and he doesn't refute his master.
Sifrith continued this training after the conversation. He swings the heavy sword for three hours and he also performs the god breaking moves. After that, he takes a bath still with his training weight on.
(I already have those weights for like two years. When I am allowed to take it off?")
He spends his free time reading books or he is going to a nearby town. After that, he cooks dinner and went to sleep.
Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
He repeated this routine for three years now. In the winter he is training in the snow and in the other seasons he is training with his swords in water.
His master taught him the basics of the sword in his first year. Then the training from hell begins! In the beginning, it's really a hellish training for him. Each end of the day he falls asleep due exhaustion. He even wants to run away but after months of training, he realized he is getting faster and stronger. He doesn't complain that much anymore after such improvement.
After spending four years with his master, they develop a father and son like relationship.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The snow is slowly melting away and the cold winter is gone. Xiles prepare his departure and said to Sifrith.
"Today is the last day we spend together. I want to test your sword skills! You can remove your training weights now."
"Finally!"
Sifrith removes his training weights and feels extremely light.
(Wow, I'm so light as a feather.)
"Come outside."
They went outside and the snow is already gone. Leafs are slowly growing on the tree branches. Birds are chirping during this hour.
"Fight me with full power Sifrith!"
"I will."
Sifrith takes out the light sword and he immediately attacks his master showing zero hesitation.
He uses the third stance of the Snow Blood Sword [Sword Rush]
Xiles evaded the attack easily and he immediately counters attack with sword breaking stance.
He is moving so fast that Sifrith sees several blurs from him.
(What? He already cut my clothes!")
"I am disappointed! Four years of training and you are still so slow. Why don't you use Sword Rush and Sword Leap together?
"Master, It's you who is freaking fast! I can barely see you. You already destroyed my clothes before I can attack.
"Again!"
This time, it's Xiles who attacks first. He only uses 60% of his speed this time. He is purposely slowing his speed so that Sifrith can catch up with him.
He uses [Sword Rush] and [Sword Leap] together.
When those two moves are used together and with an insane speed Xiles instantly appeared before Sifrith with his sword aiming at his throat.
Luckily this time Sifrith could keep up with his speed and he counters it with sword breaking stance.
The two swords are moving so fast it leaves several deep sword marks on the ground and trees.
Xiles is focused on attacking and Sifrith is focused on defending his master relentless attacks with sword break stance.
They exchanged more then thousands moves in a moment.
The duel lasted for fifteen minutes until Xiles increased his speed. And moments later the sword from Sifrith is dropping out of his right hand.
"You won master!"
"You can follow my sword when I use 60% of my speed. When I increased to 70% you lasted for about fifteen minutes. I don't want to admit it but you are actually the strongest non-nestar opponent I have ever met."
"Does it mean I can follow you?" ask Sifrith full with hope
"Take your heavy sword and follow me."
They went several thousand meters to the west. Xiles stopped in front of a huge pillar. The length of the stone pillar is about 1.5km and the thickness is 1m.
"Split this pillar vertically in two." commanded Xiles to Sifrith
(I wonder If I can do that.)
Sifrith readies his sword and jumps in to the air. He raised the heavy sword above his head and using two hands to perform a vertical slash. The blunt edge touched the stone pillar and loud noise could be heard. It slices the stone pillars in two.
(It's a success.)
"You are around the strength of B-Class Nestar. If you can cut this pillar with one hand you can probably kill an A-Class Nestar."
"Is there any way I can increase my speed and strength in a short amount of time?"
"No, I only reached this stage when I am twenty-five years old."
(So there is no hope for me.)
They went back to their house for diner.
(This may be the last time I will cook for master. I will cook my most delicious dish for him.)
He is making rabbit stew with red wine and plumes. He finished cooking with the rabbit stew and he and his master are together for the last time.
After finishing the meal his master is ready for departure.
"Sifrith, you don't have to live here anymore. You can go outside and have some fun. You are strong enough to survive the outside world. This is my last gift for you."
Xiles takes out a purse full with gold coins from his pocket. He throws it on the table.
"Farewell my disciple." that is his final parting words before he disappeared in his sight.
Sifrith could not help but feel sad about it. (What should I do know?)
(Since I am free to go now, I will explore this world and find a worthy opponent for my sword just like my master.)
(Or should I uphold with justice with my sword?)
(Whatever, I will find my answer during my journey.)
With this in his mind Sifrith goes to the opposite direction of his master.