A New Morning
Ishin opened his eyes as the morning sunlight streamed in through the small window in his room. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the unfamiliar surroundings. As he turned back to sleep, he heard a familiar voice calling to him.
"Ishin! Get up! Breakfast is ready!" Lyria's voice was a little louder.
He was groaning, rubbing his hair. He had even forgotten where he was for a moment. This was not his world. He was staying in the house of the strangers who had saved him in a hidden village.
Ishin looked up and thought for a moment before getting out of bed with a sigh. When he went downstairs, Keal was already sitting at the dining table, waiting for him with his usual smile.
"Do you always plan to sleep until noon, Ishin?" Keal joked, crossing his arms.
Lyria rolled her eyes. "Give him some time, Keal. He'll get used to all this."
Ishin came to the table, picked up a plate of bread and meat. "Keal, where did you go so early in the morning?" he asked as he tasted the food.
Keal shrugged. "I was just going to collect some firewood. I have to run to the village, you know?"
Ishin thought for a moment before speaking. "Should I come and help you?"
Keal's eyes widened slightly. "Are you sure you can do this? It's not just picking up fallen firewood. It takes a little effort."
Ishin smiled. "I think I can handle it."
Lyria smiled. "Well, if that's what you want, you can go too. Don't make him work harder than he needs to."
Into the Forest
After finishing their meal, Ishin followed Keal into the dense forest surrounding the village. The morning air had picked up a bit, and his lungs filled with the fresh air around him. Birds chirped and flew above them, sunlight streaming through the leaves, creating beautiful patterns on the ground.
Keal led them until they reached a large tree that had already been cut in half. He placed his hand on it and examined the tree. "This is the tree we are going to cut down today," he said.
Quickly, Keal raised his axe and brought it down, striking the tree with precision and ease. Ishin watched, impressed by the power behind the movements.
"Do you want to try it?" Keal asked, looking at him.
Ishin stepped forward. Keal handed him the axe. He walked over to the tree and, imitating Keal's movement, brought the axe to the tree. However, his swing lacked power, leaving only a small cut in the bark.
Keal laughed. "Not bad for a first try, but you'll have to be faster and more dangerous."
Ishin raised the axe again, frowning. This time he swung hard, managing to split a small section of the trunk.
Keal nodded in agreement. "That's good. But you need more than strength."
Next Keal tossed him a wooden practice sword. "Try cutting this log with this sword."
Ishin hesitated. "A sword? Against a log?"
Keal laughed. "Trust me, try."
Ishin adjusted his grip and delivered a swift blow to the wood. The blade made a slight scrape, and his hands trembled from the impact.
"It's harder than it looks."
Keal laughed. "Now you understand. It's not just about having the strength to cut something. It's also about precision, control, and understanding the material."
Hidden Strength
When they finished their work, Lyria brought a small basket of food. "I thought you two were hungry," she said, setting the basket down.
Keal wiped the sweat from his forehead. "You're just in time."
As they ate, Keal suddenly looked at Ishin with a thoughtful expression. "You know... you might be stronger than you think."
Ishin's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
Keal smiled and pointed to his own hand. "Slap my hand."
Ishin blinked. "What?"
"Slap me," Keal repeated. "As hard as you can."
Lyria sighed. "Keal, don't scare him."
Ishin hesitated before shrugging. "Okay, I'll do it if you say so." He clenched his fist and struck Keal's palm.
The moment their hands met, Keal stepped back slightly. His eyes widened. "Huh... interesting strike."
Lyria looked at him curiously. "What was that?"
Keal laughed. "He's stronger than he looks."
Ishin rubbed his fingers together. "Really?"
Keal's smile widened. "Oh, that's a good thing. That means we'll start your real training tomorrow."
Ishin swallowed. He had a feeling things were going to be a lot harder than he thought.