In the hushed stillness of the Xerovian dawn, the moon hung low in the cobalt sky, the ethereal glow bathing the world.
The air was crisp and cool, carrying the scent of dew-kissed grass and the faint, lingering aroma of night-blooming jasmine.
Yuri, who was barely awake stood alone on the edge of the training grounds, his silhouette stark against the luminescent moonscape.
The silence of the morning was broken only by the rhythmic whisper of Yuri's breath and the distant call of a Xerovian dawn-bird.
As the first rays of the sun began to peek over the horizon, mingling with the moonlight in a dance as old as time, Yuri drew a deep breath, his chest rising and falling with the rhythm of the universe. Today marked the beginning of a new day, a new chapter in his journey.
Hearing footsteps in the vicinity, he turned around to see Ren, his grandfather approaching. Yuri smiled, his heart beating fast in anticipation. He would finally start his journey to power.
"I hope you know this training is going to be tough, for the next 2 years. It's going to be nothing but training. First, building, then tempering, and lastly conditioning your body and mind." Ren said.
"Oh, and just to let you know, while training I won't be the same loving grandpa. I'm here to make sure you go to the academy with a good foundation, not baby you."
"That's fine, I'm here to become strong. I'll take anything you throw at me. I won't progress without a bit of pain." Yuri said, his smile bearing the wickedness of a devil.
"Good, let's begin!" Ren said
Ren's eyes bore into Yuri, assessing him with a stern intensity. "Endurance," he said.
"It's the foundation of any warrior's strength. Not just physical stamina, but also mental toughness. The will to keep going even when your legs ache and your lungs burn, is what's going to help build that mental toughness. The running is obviously going to be on the physical side."
Yuri nodded, determination welling up inside him. He had been reborn into this world, memories of his past life fading like mist. But one thing remained unchanged: his desire to protect those he loved. To do that, he needed strength.
"Twenty laps," Ren declared. His demeanor had shifted, becoming more serious. The air around him seemed charged, as if he drew power from the very earth. "And if you stop before completing them, you'll owe me five more."
Yuri's legs trembled as he took off. The first lap was deceptively easy, the wind whipping through his hair, the ground beneath his feet firm.
By the fifth lap, his breath came in ragged gasps. His muscles screamed, and each step felt like lifting a boulder.
He glanced at Ren, who trailed effortlessly behind him. The older man's expression remained impassive, but Yuri sensed the challenge. He couldn't falter now, not when Ren watched, not when his own resolve burned like a forge.
Lap after lap, Yuri pushed himself. The estate blurred, a mosaic of green and gold. He focused on the rhythm of his breath, the beat of his heart. The calm and menacing aura Ren exuded seemed to envelop him too, urging him forward.
On the nineteenth lap, Yuri's legs wobbled. His vision swam, and he stumbled. But he gritted his teeth, drawing on reserves he didn't know he had. As he completed the twentieth lap, Ren's nod was the only acknowledgment he needed.
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"Good," Ren said. "Now rest for a moment. Next you have 50 push ups, 50 sit ups, and 50 squats."
Yuri collapsed onto the grass, sweat-soaked and trembling. But he knew this was just the beginning. The path before him was one of hard work and he would endure, no matter the cost.
After resting, Yuri got straight to completing the new task given by Ren. His muscles ached and his teeth gritted as he persevered, rep by rep.
After finishing the body weight workout they moved into the courtyard.
"Now we will start your weapon training. Choose from these wooden weapons" Ren said as he pointed to the stone wall of weapons.
The wall bore witness to a crazy assortment of wooden weapons: long swords, wickedly curved daggers, sturdy longbows, battle axes, great swords, scimitars, and more.
Yuri stood before the stone wall, his gaze swept across the array of weapons displayed along the wall; Wooden swords, spears, great swords, and more.
But one weapon caught Yuri's attention, a wooden curved sword, its hilt wrapped in worn leather, its blade polished to a soft gleam.
A katana.
Yuri reached out, his fingertips grazing the smooth surface. The moment his skin touched the katana, memories surged forth like a tempest.
He saw himself on a moonlit battlefield, rain-soaked and bloodied. The clash of steel against steel, the desperate cries of comrades falling around him.
He remembered the state he was left in after witnessing his grandpa in his past life die in front of him. The katanas were his salvation. The two blades he had danced with deadly grace, severing the bonds of life as easily as it sliced through armor.
"Yuri!" His mentor's voice echoed through time. "You good?
"Yes, I am sorry." Yuri said as he shook his head and gathered his thoughts."
"The weapon you have chosen is called a katana. Over the next two years, we'll be focusing on three main areas," Ren continued.
"First, basic techniques. These include different types of cuts, thrusts, and parries."
"Second, we'll work on forms and sequences. These are pre-determined sets of movements that help you understand how different techniques flow together. They're like a dance, a deadly dance."
"Finally, we'll focus on sparring and real combat scenarios. This is where you'll learn to apply what you've learned in a real fight. It's one thing to know the moves, but it's another to use them effectively when it counts."
"Everything I'm teaching you is just the basics. Once you get into the academy you'll have plenty of actual techniques to choose from."
Ren smiled, "Enough of my yapping, give me 200 vertical swings, 200 horizontal swings; left to right and right to left. As well as 200 diagonal swings."
Yuri moved into position, his smile bloomed like a lotus as he lifted the wooden katana, copying his grandfather. His crimson eyes shined as he swung his sword.
He was no longer a boy, but a budding swordsman, ready to carve his own path in the world of Xerov.
**** ( POV switch to Ren )
In the courtyard, Ren stood in a state of bewilderment, his thoughts ensnared by the spectacle he had just witnessed.
'What the fuck, he's a monster. I only had to correct him once and it's his first time wielding a sword.'
The agonized moans of Yuri reached his ears, pulling him back to reality. Yuri lay on the ground, his body drenched in sweat from the rigorous training.
"We're done for the day. Go get washed up and get something to eat. I'll meet you here tomorrow, same time."
Ren watched as Yuri unable to speak, dragged himself out of the courtyard and back into the Kaguno mansion.
**** ( POV back to Yuri )
'This body is so weak' Yuri thought as he was struggling to walk up the stairs. Every step his muscles protested against him. 'This is just the beginning,' he reminded himself, gritting his teeth against the pain.
Finally reaching his room, Yuri collapsed onto the bed, his body crying out in relief.
He lay there, staring at the ceiling, his mind a whirl of thoughts and emotions. 'Let me check my stats to see how much I've progressed.'
[ Status ]
‣ Name: Yuri Kaguno
‣ Class: ( Locked )
‣ Realm: Preliminary Realm
‣ Title: ( Locked )
‣ Passives: ( Locked )
‣ Attributes
- Strength: 1 -> 2
- Dexterity: 1
- Agility: 1
- Stamina: 1 -> 2
- Constitution: 1
- Int: 1
‣Traits: ( Locked )
‣ Arts: ( Locked )
‣Skills:
- Intermediate swordsmanship -1%
'I still have a long way to go,' Yuri thought as he closed the status panel.
As sleep began to claim him, Yuri made a silent vow. 'I'll become strong again, way stronger than my past life.'