Morning arrived quietly, pale gold seeping through thin curtains as Oak Village lay wrapped in mist. Birds chirped softly in the chilly dawn air.
Nova rubbed his sleepy eyes and sat up, feeling a flutter of nervous excitement. 'Today is my first real day of training…'
He quickly dressed and tiptoed out to find his father waiting outside. Joren stood barefoot on the cold grass, shirtless, faint steam rising from his skin as he stretched his arms and shoulders.
"You're awake early, son," he said with a smile.
Nova nodded eagerly. "Yes, dad! I'm ready!"
Joren chuckled softly. "Alright. First, let's see those pushups again. As many as you can. Remember to keep your back straight."
Nova placed his small hands firmly on the cold ground, taking a deep breath.
1… 2… 3…
His arms trembled slightly.
4… 5… 6…
He grit his teeth as his chest burned.
7… 8… 9…
Sweat rolled down his nose.
10… 11… 12…
His breath turned ragged.
13… 14… 15…
With a final grunt, he pushed up and collapsed onto his knees, gasping for air, hair dripping with sweat.
Joren crouched beside him, ruffling his hair with a proud smile. After that, Nova did a couple other exercises.
"Good job. Now get up – it's time for our run."
"Run?" Nova hadn't expected this.
"Yes, a run. Being strong doesn't just mean having great strength. You need to be fast too."
Nova smiled and stood up. "Alright! Let's go for our run, dad!"
Joren smiled, seeing his son's motivation. He told Nova to follow and set off at a steady pace.
They ran through the quiet lanes of Oak Village, fog curling around their legs like pale ghosts. Nova's small feet tapped softly beside his father's long strides. The village was peaceful in these hours, faint lights flickering in some homes as people woke to start fires for breakfast.
They passed the giant Oak Tree, standing silent in the mist. Nova smiled faintly, remembering playing there with Riku, Tama, and Haru.
They ran past grazing fields where cows huddled for warmth, and towards the forest's edge, where the faint roar of Mistveil Creek echoed through the trees.
Huff huff.
When they finally returned home, Nova was breathing heavily, while Joren's breathing was only slightly strained.
"How was it, son?" Joren asked with a smile. "Think you can keep up with this every day?"
Nova smiled back, "Of course I can! This was nothing."
Just as he said this, he bent over, hands on knees, gasping for breath. Joren laughed softly.
Every morning was the same – pushups, then a run. Nova's legs would ache, his arms heavy with soreness, but each day he woke up with the same determination burning in his chest.
Sometimes, he would flop onto the wooden floor after training, groaning in exhaustion. Elaine would chuckle softly as she stirred the pot over the fire.
"Training hard, my little warrior?" she teased, brushing sweat-soaked strands off his forehead.
Nova grinned tiredly. "I'm gonna be strong like dad… no, stronger!"
Whenever he trained, he removed his shirt like his father, revealing the mark on his back. Though it was normal for Elaine and Joren by now, it still made them uneasy when the thought about anyone else seeing it.
Joren had learned of a herbal paste from an old hunter's manual. Made from duskroot leaves and ash moss ground into a brownish paste, it dulled the symbol, making it look like a faint birthmark. Every few days, Elaine reapplied it gently after his bath. She told Nova it protected his back since he had started training.
Just like that, the first week passed.
At the start of the second week, after their morning run, Joren called Nova to the training patch behind the house. His expression was serious.
"Nova," he said firmly, "starting today, I'll teach you how to fight."
Nova's eyes widened in excitement. "Really? Like… real fighting?!"
Joren chuckled lightly. "Listen carefully, son. There are countless martial arts in this world. But in the end, fighting comes down to instinct and reflex. Anyone can throw a punch, but the one who can dodge and block is the one who wins."
He raised his palms. "First, show me your strongest punch."
Nova took a deep breath, set his feet apart, and threw a punch straight at Joren's palm with all his strength.
Thwack!
The impact stung his knuckles, but made his chest swell with pride.
"Again," Joren said.
Nova kept punching, each time focusing on his stance, his hips, and keeping his guard up as his father instructed.
That day, and every day for the rest of the week, was filled with repetition. Punches, punches, punches. Nova learned to twist his hips, anchor his back foot, and keep his fists guarding his chin.
When he practiced kicks, Joren made him strike a wooden post wrapped in cloth to protect his shins. The impact sent sharp pain up his legs each time, but Nova bit his lips to keep from crying out.
In the evenings, Elaine rubbed herbal salve onto his bruised shins as he winced and hissed.
"Does it hurt too much?" she asked gently.
Nova shook his head stubbornly. "No… I'm okay… how can I become strong like dad if I feel pain from just this?" he said with a grin and eyes full of resolve.
Elaine smiled softly, pride blooming in her chest.
After training and breakfast, Nova would sit by the small window with his mother, scribbling words on a wooden slate.
"What's this word, Nova?" Elaine asked, pointing at a letter.
Nova squinted, his mind tired from training. "Um… sunrise?"
Elaine smiled, brushing his hair aside lovingly. "That's right. Good job, my little scholar."
One afternoon, under the giant Oak Tree, Nova stood showing his bruised knuckles to his friends.
"Woah… that looks painful!" Tama exclaimed, wide-eyed.
"It is!" Nova laughed. "But dad says it means I'm getting stronger."
Riku punched his own palm lightly. "Haha! Soon you'll beat up bad guys like heroes in stories!"
"Yeah!" Nova raised his fist with a grin. "I'll protect all of you too!"
Back home, after lunch, Nova spoke with his mouth full. "So Ummy…"
Elaine chuckled. "First swallow, little monkey."
Nova grinned and swallowed quickly.
Just then, Joren called out. "Hey Nova! We won't train tomorrow."
Nova's face fell in confusion. "Huh? Why, dad? Did something happen?"
"No," Joren replied calmly. "It's been almost two weeks since we started. You need rest or you'll strain yourself."
"Oh… but dad, I think I can keep going."
Joren smiled knowingly. "Who do you think you're fooling, son? I've been watching. Your arms and legs hurt after all that training, don't they?"
Nova rubbed the back of his head shyly, knowing he couldn't win against his father's words. "Hehe… so you knew… okay dad. I'll rest tomorrow if you say so."
Both Joren and Elaine chuckled. They never got tired of Nova's clumsiness.
That night, as mist rolled across the moonlit village, Nova lay on his bedding, staring at the ceiling. His arms ached, his legs felt heavy, but his heart felt light with determination.
'I'm getting stronger. I can feel it. I can't wait to grow older and go hunting with dad…'
He closed his eyes, a small smile on his lips as sleep finally pulled him under.