(Sorry for late update)
Nova woke up later than usual, the morning sunlight spilling gently through the thin curtains. For a moment, excitement flared in his chest—today, he thought, he would train! But then he remembered Joren's words from yesterday: no training today. The thrill faded, leaving a dull ache in his limbs.
As he swung his legs off the bed, the soreness hit him all at once. His muscles ached in a way he hadn't noticed before. Every push, every run, every punch from the past two weeks had left its mark, and today it demanded attention.
"Ugh… this feels so annoying," Nova muttered, rubbing his shoulders as he trudged toward the door.
"Oh, you're up. Good morning. You slept in a bit today," Joren greeted, his usual calm smile in place.
"Morning, Dad," Nova mumbled, sliding onto his chair at the breakfast table. "Mom, can I have breakfast? I'm starving."
Elaine chuckled softly, placing a plate of warm bread and porridge in front of him. "Alright, alright. Just don't gobble it down too fast."
A sudden shout outside caught Nova's attention. "Nova!"
His eyes lit up. "Friends!" He jumped from his seat and bolted to the gate, nearly forgetting his breakfast.
"Mom! I'm going out! I finished my breakfast!" he called, then dashed toward the clearing where Riku, Tama, and Haru were waiting.
The day passed in laughter, games, and playful mischief. Nova forgot the ache in his muscles, running and tumbling with his friends under the gentle sun. But by evening, exhaustion finally caught up with him. He returned home, sprawled on the wooden floor, letting out a contented sigh.
"Rest well today," Joren reminded him gently, watching Nova slump into a chair. "Tomorrow, we'll be back at training."
Nova's eyelids drooped, but a spark of determination remained. "Yeah… tomorrow. I'll be ready."
---
The next morning, Nova woke up early. The aches from yesterday were replaced by a surprising lightness. His body felt sharper, stronger. He ran straight to his father, excitement bubbling in his chest.
"Good morning, son," Joren said, stretching as he stepped outside. "You know the usual routine. Let's go for a run."
"Alright, Dad!" Nova responded, sprinting to keep up.
They ran through the misty village streets, past grazing cows, and toward the edge of the forest. Returning home, Nova dropped to the ground and began pushups automatically.
1… 2… 3…
By the time he hit fifty, he sat back, astonished. "Fifty pushups… I did fifty? How…?"
Joren grinned, ruffling his hair. "All that training without rest held back your true strength. Now that your body's had a break, it's showing its potential."
Nova's eyes gleamed. "Woah… that's amazing! Now… punches!"
He moved to the training patch behind the house. Each punch struck with solid force, his form precise. Joren felt each hit but hid his surprise.
After Nova's punch session, Joren clapped his hands. "Good. Now, it's time we move to the next step—reflex and agility. You will learn how to be nimble, quick, and dodge attacks."
Nova's eyes widened. "Really? I get to learn dodging?!"
"Yes," Joren said, a faint smile on his face. He picked up a small twig, twirling it between his fingers.
"Wait… what's that for?" Nova asked, eyeing the twig.
Swoosh!
The twig flew at his forehead, landing with a light smack.
"Ow! Dad! What was that for?"
Joren laughed softly, holding another twig. "I'm not going to explain dodging to you. Reflex is something your body must learn instinctively. Watch, feel, react."
Nova spun just in time to avoid the second twig, though it grazed his back. Joren picked up a small rock, tossing it with careful aim. Nova darted and twisted while running around, trying to evade it, though a few grazed him.
"Even if you dodge by running, it doesn't count," Joren instructed. "Real dodging requires minimal movement. You should shift only as much as needed—efficiency is key."
Nova tried to stop running and dodge the attacks with small steps. He kept getting hit but slowly began reacting to the trajectory of each object. He bent, twisted, and shifted his body, but still couldn't completely evade every strike.
Hours passed. Nova even paused for lunch, then returned to training. By evening, he was huffing and sweating, exhausted. "Alright again! I think I got it, Dad."
"I think we should stop here, son," Joren said, seeing that Nova was pushing too hard.
"Just one more, Dad. Trust me. I'm going to dodge this one," Nova insisted.
Joren sighed and picked up another rock.
Nova concentrated, eyes fixed on the rock in Joren's hand. His heart raced. Joren pulled back and threw the rock. For a brief moment, Nova didn't flinch. He saw the rock coming straight for his forehead. Instinctively, he planted his left leg behind him and twisted his torso anticlockwise while staying in place.
Swoosh!
The rock zipped past his face harmlessly.
Huff, huff, huff.
Nova looked at his dad, panting. "I did it… I actually dodged it!"
Joren smiled broadly. "Yeah… yeah, you did." He knew how fast he had been throwing the rocks and hadn't expected Nova to dodge even one so quickly. Not today atleast. They continued until dinner, both exhausted but exhilarated. By the end of the session, Nova had dodged a few more rocks, though he was still hit by a lot more.
"Ha… done!" Joren said, lowering his hands. "Good work. You're learning faster than I expected."
Nova beamed. "Yeah! I still can't believe I actually dodged some of those!"
Joren patted his shoulder. "That's how it starts. Reflex, awareness, instinct… all of it builds your foundation. Tomorrow, we continue, and we'll add more complexity."
---
As the sun began to dip, Nova returned to the house, tired but exhilarated. Elaine watched him with soft concern, brushing sweat-soaked hair from his forehead.
"You're pushing yourself hard, Nova," she said.
Nova shrugged, smiling sheepishly. "I rested yesterday. I'm fine now, Mom. I want to get stronger!"
Elaine's gaze softened. "Just remember, strength is not only about your body… but also your mind and heart."
Nova nodded, taking in her words. For now, he let himself bask in the joy of movement, of learning, of feeling his own power grow.
As night fell, he lay in bed, muscles humming with fatigue and exhilaration, eyes closing with a smile. "Tomorrow… I'll be even faster," he whispered, drifting into a deep, dream-filled sleep.