The next morning, right as the sun had started to shine its light over Nero's farm, he had woken Cassius up to begin training.

"Wake up Cassius, we start preparing you for whatever path you choose."

"Uncle Nero, the sun just came up. We haven't even had breakfast yet."

"We have about 2 hours before then. We're going to train until it's ready."

The words of Garth flashed into Cassius' head

"It's time to get serious!"

Cassius then immediately got out of bed and followed Nero out to their wheat field. Nero handed him a scythe and told him to harvest all of the wheat before breakfast was ready.

"It'll take longer than 2 hours to clear all of this," Cassius belted out while peering at thousands of feet of wheat.

"Maybe for a normal person, yes, but you've been practicing that breathing technique, right? It should only take you an hour and a half, which leaves time to clean up and help Fealty in the kitchen."

"No time to rest at all!?"

"I told you this training would be difficult. If you want to quit, fine, but I'll never agree to train you again."

Cassius' grip on the scythe tightened. He knew he was too weak to pass up this opportunity. A few breaths were taken, and then he started to collect the wheat. He sliced the crop time after time, foot by foot, and he cleared half of the wheat within 75 minutes.

"Uncle Nero, my arms and back are starting to get heavy. I don't think my body will let me keep doing this."

"Your breathing hasn't been steady since you started."

"Yeah, because I've been swinging around a scythe that's twice my size."

"If movement causes you to lose concentration, you'll never pass my training."

"So, what do I need to do?"

"You need to maintain proper breathing form even when doing something that strains your body, and especially when something strains your mind."

Nero went to a nearby hut where he keeps his equipment and he returned with another scythe, but this one was much larger and heavier. It looked as if it was designed for war.

He then began swinging it with such immense speed that the dirt and grass under him began to swirl around in ball of air that encircled him; Cassius could not even see the scythe being moved.

"If I can't continue moving like this until breakfast is ready, I'll admit that the training is too much for you. However, if I can, you will swing your scythe 10,000 times each day until I stop you."

Cassius grinned and faced the challenge head on.

"I just need to focus on maintaining my breathing? Easier said than done, but I won't be counted out this early on."

Cassius' thoughts, along with Nero's display of skill, brought out something powerful in Cassius.

Nero and Cassius both continued swinging their scythes, Nero not dropping in speed for even a moment. Cassius, however, began to slow down again after 5 minutes.

"I don't understand, what am I not getting," Cassius began to wonder what he could possibly be lacking.

"Uncle Nero is swinging that giant thing around like it's made out of paper. How is he so... effecti-" Cassius began to examine Nero more closely. Being able to barely make out the movements of his arms, he was still able to notice something incredibly important.

"I get it now!"

Cassius had seen that Nero was not using his body the same way Cassius was. While Cassius was swinging with all of the muscles in his arms, Nero was not. Nero would start the swings using his back muscles, unconstrict them as he uses his shoulder muscles, then the same with his biceps and triceps, then back around again, not using all of their strength at the same time; his core and leg muscles were the only ones constantly being used. Nero was using the strength and force from other muscles to lead the swing into usage of the next, optimizing oxygen usage between all the muscles being used. This allowed him to maintain and use oxygen more efficiently, which allowed him to use less breaths; therefore, allowing him to not have to go through the trouble of taking breaths as often. Nero's breathing rhythm was less likely to get erratic this way.

Cassius attempted to mimic Nero's movements and muscle control, but he found himself constricting his muscles even more so than before. He had continued cutting the wheat for another 45 minutes, but his breathing control got worse, and his body had what is essentially one giant cramp all throughout.

"AHHHHHHH!"

Cassius had collapsed onto the ground.

Just after he let out that scream of pain, Fealty rang a bell to signal that breakfast was ready. Nero stopped his movements and walked over to Cassius.

"What happened Cassius? You started off doing much better."

"I tried to copy your movements, but it only made things worse."

"What movements?"

"How you were using one muscle, then another, and then another, and would start back again how you started."

Nero's eyes started to widen. He was shocked such a young person could discern what he was doing, noting that Cassius had performed nothing short of a prodigious feat.

"I joined you in this training to try to show you how to maintain proper breathing, even when doing something as difficult as I told you to do. I never imagined you'd pick up on the advanced movements of it first."

"So doing that actually does help?"

"Yes, but only when paired with proper breathing. Doing those movements without plenty of oxygen in your body will cause what just happened to you. You need to focus on being able to maintain that breathing without even thinking about it."

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"I didn't get it at all! I thought for sure that was what I was lacking."

"Cassius, being able to see what you did is amazing. I have no doubts you'll master the breathing technique within 2 years; within your human capabilities that is."

"2 years!? That's such a long time!"

While Cassius struggled with the idea of taking 2 years to perfect the technique, Nero was left without words after having said that. Perfecting the technique in such a short period of time is unheard of, even for Siladarians.

Fealty then yelled for the two to come inside, as she had grown impatient. Nero and Cassius both felt the immense pressure from her as she screamed for them, they knew how much family meals meant to her. Cassius had only harvested 3/4 of the wheat, but they immediately rushed inside.

After their meal, Nero had Cassius start swinging his scythe 10,000 times.

"You start swinging, proper form each time, and try to finish before I get back."

"Get back? Where are you going?"

"I'm heading into the city. There's something I need to take care of."

Nero then walked off, not giving any more indication of what he was talking about.

Cassius began swinging his scythe and did all he could to focus on his breathing while also maintaining his swinging form.

Nero traveled back to the city, the capital of Siladar, Koa. It was a 2 hour walk from his home, however, Nero did not want to waste time and so he used 100% of the technique's power; he made it to the capital in 8 seconds.

Nero could not keep that speed within city limits, as it would disrupt the lives of those in it. The wind that circulated from his immense running would have left a lot of others very unhappy. After wandering the capital for 30 minutes, Nero had found his unfinished business.

Nero had found Garth, sitting under a tree next to a lake. He seemed as if he was asleep. Nero approached him and woke him up. Garth immediately jumped up, with intent to fight. He swung at Nero, but his punch was dodged with ease. Garth realized who he had tried to hit, and he instantly apologized.

"It's not a problem Garth. Were you expecting someone to harm you?"

"N-no, it's not like that. I just didn't know who you were."

"Well, now you do. I came to invite you over to our home. I'm sure Cassius would love that, and I realized we never told you where we live."

"Yeah! That sounds fun! Let's go!"

"Don't we need to let your parents know?"

Garth's face dropped for a second, and a serious aura flooded from him. It almost immediately disappeared, and then he looked back up at Nero.

"No, that's okay. I told them about you and Cassius yesterday and they said I can go whenever."

Nero knew something was off, but he ignored it for now. It was better to not press Cassius' only friend.

"Ok, so long as you're sure."

"Sure am! So, which way?"

"It's about 2 hours from here towards the east."

"2 hours!?"

"It's fine, we'll get there soon."

Nero then picked Garth up, flipped him on his back, and ran at 50% power back home; as to not harm Garth. Despite this, Garth was still mentally shocked.

Cassius had only completed a little over 1800 swings with his scythe, at this rate he had over 2 hours left before he would complete the 10,000. He was determined, focusing on nothing but his form and breathing to the point he didn't even notice that Nero had arrived with Garth. Cassius continued to swing his scythe, it seemed as if he had not slowed down at all since Nero had been gone.

"1825. 1826. 1827..."

"Wow," Garth was impressed.

"Are you hungry Garth? My wife Fealty made an amazing breakfast just a little over an hour ago. There's plenty left if you'd like some."

Garth thought for a second, looked back at Cassius, and then back at Nero.

"No thank you, I'll wait here with Cassius. He may not know I'm here yet, but I want to support him still!"

Nero smiled and then walked to his cottage. He brought back a plate of food, and reached it out to Garth.

"You can support him as well by making sure you're up to par as well."

Garth began to shed a tear, but quickly looked away and wiped it.

"Thank you, sir."

Garth then began to eat the food.

2 hours had passed, and Cassius had finally completed the 10,000 swings. He immediately fell to the ground from exhaustion. Garth approached him with water and some food that he had left on his plate. Cassius began to smile as he saw Garth, and he jumped to his feet.

"Garth! What are you doing here!?"

"Your dad came and got me from the city. Looks like it's finally time to train huh?"

Garth then balled his hand into a fist.

"He's not actually my dad, but yeah, it is. You told me to get serious and I-"

Garth then punched Cassius in the jaw.

Cassius went flying back 5 feet, landing on his back.

"What are you doing!? Is that how you greet people!? That's twice now!"

"Your uncle told me to. He said if you can't see it coming then you need to work on your reactions."

"How could I see my friend punching me in the face!?"

Nero then began to speak up.

"It's not about what you could see, it's about what you couldn't."

"What do you mean?"

"There will be times in life where people want to hurt you, maybe want you dead. You need to be able to react at a moment's notice, in the blink of an eye. During this training, anything could happen! Just like anything beyond this home!"

Cassius realized the severity of Nero's teachings. He wasn't just training him to fight, he was training him to live, to survive even in the most ridiculous situations.

"It won't happen again, Garth. I'll be ready from now on."

"Sounds like you're serious. I like that!"

The two boys then began sparring. Both sending blows at the other, but both dodging and reacting with amazing precision. Cassius tried to copy the leg sweep Garth had done yesterday, and it hit Garth, but Garth was able to land on his hands and flip back onto his feet.

"Another prodigy? And Siladarian at that," Nero had thought to himself.

Then he noticed something different about Garth.

"No, it's not a matter of being a prodigy. This kind of combat skill is forged from experience."

Tears began to fall down Nero's face.

"What kind of life has this 5-year-old boy lived?"

Nero let the sparring continue, until after 15 minutes when Garth had struck Cassius' chest with a kick. He called for the two to stop, and then he told Cassius to go wash up and help Fealty with whatever she was doing.

"I want to keep traini-"

"Cassius, do as I say," Nero's voice had turned very stern.

Cassius then walked back to the cottage. Nero approached Garth and began a very heartfelt conversation.

"When did they die?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Your parents, Garth, how long have you been alone?"

Garth's face dropped, staring at the ground around his feet his eyes began to swell with tears.

"What do you mean? They're still ali-"

"No child fights like that when they have parents to protect them."

Garth began to wail, tears streaming down his face with tremendous force. Nero wrapped his arms around him, holding him tightly.

"You helped my boy when he needed it, and you did so even after seeing that he was human. I owe you a great debt, and my heart has been opened to you ever since yesterday."

With erratic breathing, Garth managed to speak past the crying.

"Y-you know what h-happened?"

"I saw the whole thing. I was coming back from bartering when I saw Cassius go over to that merchant. I saw you approaching them, and I wanted to see what your part in it was before I engaged. I knew they were kidnappers and that they wouldn't kill him. I was hoping he'd use his breathing. You straightened him out for me after he didn't. I can't thank you enough."

"I-it was no p-problem, really."

"Garth. Would you like to stay here with us? I'm sure Cassius would love that, and my wife already knows how I am. She accepted me years ago, and the problems I bring."

"Y-you really mean I c-can stay here?"

Garth's heart had not known such happiness in a long time. This was truly a huge blessing to him, and he could not be more grateful.

"I do. Please stay with us, Garth."

Garth began to hug Nero back, getting his tears on Nero's clothing. They stood like that for 10 minutes, and then they walked back to their cottage.

"Please continue to help Cassius with his training. He needs you."

"You can count on me," Garth shouted with conviction.