Leo was staring at Kael's back until he was nowhere to be seen.
He closed his eyes for a brief moment and let out a small sigh.
He opened his eyes slowly and thought for a brief moment about what would change in his life from tomorrow onwards. He started moving, and then he suddenly realized something.
"I don't know where I should sleep."
Silence fell.
Leo started moving around, and finally, he found a maid.
He tried to ask her for help, but he hadn't interacted with anyone other than Aldric and Kael in this house. So would they recognize who he was?
While thinking this, he approached the maid and said,
"Hello."
The maid, who was almost twice his height with dark black hair tied in a bun, looked at Leo and asked,
"How may I help you?"
Leo looked at the tall lady and said,
"I am Leo. I came here with Aldric this morning, and I am new here. I don't know where my lodging is. Could you help me?"
The maid looked at Leo with cold eyes and asked,
"Are you referring to Master Aldric?"
Leo replied immediately,
"Yes," he continued, "I came here with him, and he said I am going to stay here from now on, but he didn't tell me where I will be staying."
He looked at the maid, whose intensity had increased as if he had said something he shouldn't have, and asked,
"So… can you help me?"
The maid looked at Leo for a good amount of time and finally spoke,
"Follow me."
Leo felt relieved and followed the maid. While following her, he asked some questions, but there was no reply from the lady, so he thought he should just stay quiet.
After reaching the room where Leo would be staying from now on,
The room wasn't really big. It just had a wooden bed, a pillow, and a rough bedsheet.
For a moment, he thought, Did this maid purposefully give this room to me? Then he left the thought at the back of his mind and went to sleep after the maid left.
This was a very long day for him. After all the things that happened over the past week, he slowly closed his eyes and fell asleep.
The morning came, and Leo woke up early, thinking that today would be a big day. After all, he was going to train with Kael, who was the strongest person Leo had seen in his life.
There was a pair of clothes worn by the trainees. Leo changed into the training clothes and was ready to leave for the training ground. He looked at the wooden carving and then finally left.
After reaching the training ground, he looked at the people who were already practicing their techniques and sparring with each other. He went to a corner and sat down there.
After a while, Kael came to the training ground. After talking to the trainees for a while and giving them instructions, he made his way toward Leo.
Leo, who met Kael's gaze, immediately stood up.
Kael reached where Leo was standing. He stood a few feet away from him, just looking at Leo.
Then, he suddenly said,
"I think we should start from the basics."
He added,
"Your body is skinny, and you can't even withstand a single punch from me. If you were a little more skinny, people would think you woke up from your coffin."
He stared at Leo.
Leo, who just heard those words, was silent. He thought inwardly, What do you want? An orphan to be a fat pig who could eat three times a day? But he couldn't say those words out loud.
Then Leo said to Kael,
"Sorry for being skinny."
Even though he said those words normally, Kael could feel the sarcasm in them.
Kael stared at Leo for a moment. Leo suddenly felt chills down his spine, as if he was being looked at by a predator.
Then Kael suddenly said,
"As I have said, we will be starting from the basics, and we will be training your body until it gains proper strength."
Leo could sense a faint smirk on Kael's face.
At that time, Leo didn't know that his days of hell had just started…
and wouldn't end for a very long time.
"Stand."
Kael's voice came out calmly.
Leo immediately straightened his posture.
Kael walked around him slowly, observing every part of his stance.
"Feet apart."
Leo adjusted.
"Back straight."
Leo corrected himself again.
"Too stiff."
Before Leo could even understand what was wrong
Kael lightly pushed his shoulder.
Leo lost balance instantly and fell to the ground.
"Ah—!"
His body hit the ground hard.
Before he could even recover
"Stand."
Leo clenched his teeth and got up again.
He tried to stand properly this time.
He focused more.
Tried to keep his balance.
Tried to stay steady.
"…Wrong."
A kick to his leg.
Leo fell again.
Dust rose around him.
His palms burned slightly from the rough ground.
"Stand."
Leo didn't speak.
He just got up again.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Time passed.
The sun rose higher.
Sweat slowly formed on Leo's forehead.
His breathing became heavier.
His legs started trembling.
"Hold it."
Leo froze in position.
His legs were shaking now.
His arms felt heavy.
His back ached.
Seconds felt like minutes.
Minutes felt like hours.
"I… can't…"
Leo muttered under his breath.
"Then fall."
Kael replied immediately.
Leo's body almost gave up at that moment.
Almost.
But something inside him resisted.
He tightened his jaw.
Forced his legs to stay.
Forced his body to remain standing.
More time passed.
Then Kael stepped forward.
Without warning He punched Leo in the stomach.
"Ugh—!"
Leo's body folded instantly.
He dropped to his knees.
Air left his lungs completely.
"Stand."
Leo couldn't breathe properly.
His vision blurred.
His body screamed in pain.
"…I can't…" he whispered.
"Then leave."
Kael's voice was calm.
Cold.
Leo froze.
Leave?
His fingers tightened against the ground.
Slowly
very slowly
he pushed himself up again.
His legs were shaking violently now.
His body felt like it didn't belong to him anymore.
But he stood.
Kael looked at him.
Silent.
Observing.
Then another strike.
This time to his shoulder.
Leo lost balance again and fell.
"Stand."
Leo didn't even think anymore.
He just moved.
Stand.
Fall.
Stand.
Fall.
Over and over again.
By the time the sun started lowering Leo's body was completely exhausted.
His clothes were drenched in sweat.
His hands were scratched.
His legs barely supported him.
He stood again.
Barely.
His vision was blurry.
His breathing uneven.
"…Good."
The word reached him faintly.
Leo didn't even react.
He just stood there.
Trying not to fall.
Then Kael spoke again.
"This is just one percent of basic training."
Silence.
Leo's eyes widened slowly.
For a moment
he thought he heard it wrong.
"…What…?"
He looked at Kael.
His face pale.
His body trembling.
"…This is just… one percent?"